Articles archived for April 2010
Disclaimer: Easy Lunch Boxes provided me with a 4-container set and lunch bag (as shown in my photos below). However, I was not asked to write a favorable review in exchange for the free products. I wasn’t asked to write a review or mention them at all. The opinions in this post are my own.
Thank you, Kelly!!!
If you love the environment and the convenience of eating well, you’ll love this giveaway!
Updated to add WINNER
Woo hoo! Finally time for you to find out who won! 
There was 131 entries. I visited Mr. Random (www.random.org) to select a winner.
He chose comment # 55.
And who did comment #55 belong to?
Well, that would be….
Julia, from the eco-friendly blog: Easy Eco To Go! Julia is raising her children to be aware of our beautiful environment, and I know this prize will be a wonderful Mother’s Day surprise for her!! Way to go, Julia. Keep up the great work!!
Julia @ Easy Eco To Go said:
I follow you on twitter @easyecotogo
Julia @ Easy Eco To Go´s last blog ..2 Green Thumbs Up For Gardening!
Congratulations, Julia, and Happy Mother’s Day!!!
Please read the contest rules before entering. Comments are moderated so you won’t see your entries right away. Thanks!
Contest Rules
Note: The reason I ask you to leave a comment for EACH, SEPARATE entry is because I enter the total number of comments at random.org once the contest has ended – and each comment represents your entry number.
There is only ONE required entry for this contest – but if you REALLY want to win, there are several (fun) extra ways you can enter following…
But first, you may want to read my in-depth Easy Lunch Boxes review. Just in case this is your first time visiting Healing With (Raw) Juices, or you missed my review, you can check it out here:
Winner receives an eco-friendly Easy Lunch Box System (a 4-container set + a lunch bag cooler)!! And you get to choose the (lunch bag cooler) color!!!
ONE Required Entry
Visit www.EasyLunchBoxes.com and come back and leave a comment letting me know something you learned or like, or which color cooler bag you’d most like to have, OR which colors they should offer if you don’t see your favorite color. That’s it – easy peasy!
AND… If you want to put in a little extra effort….
(and receive a LOT of extra entries – aka chances to win) keep reading…
Numerous ways to get extra entries!
There are 20 ways to enter this contest!!
2. For FIVE EXTRA ENTRIES, share this contest on your blog, linking back to this post. Leave FIVE SEPARATE COMMENTS to let me know you did. (Yep, you’ll really leave FIVE different comments for this so you’ll be able to get five extra entries. 
)
3. Become a fan of Easy Lunch Boxes on Facebook. Then, come back here and leave a comment to let me know you did that – or that you already are.
4. Become a fan of Raw Juice Girl on Facebook. Leave a comment on this post saying you did -or that you already are.
5. Follow Healing with (Raw) Juices on Facebook’s Networked Blogs. Leave a comment on this post saying that you did – or do.
6. Do you use Twitter? Follow @RawJuiceGirl on Twitter. Comment on this post, saying you did – or do.
7. Follow @EasyLunchBoxes on Twitter. Leave a comment on this post that you did that.
8. Tweet about this contest and then leave a comment with your Twitter name. You can use this tweet (or your own, just be sure to include via @RawJuiceGirl @EasyLunchBoxes) – Then, leave a comment that you did – with your Twitter name or status link.
Win an #ecofriendly @EasyLunchBoxes set (via @RawJuiceGirl) Enter now!! ( http://tinyurl.com/2cqy7uz )
FOR EVEN MORE ENTRIES: For tweets, Facebook shares, or Plurk you may share the contest up to 5 times a day, but each tweet/share must be 1-2 hours or so after the previous one. (Thanks so much for understanding my position of keeping things fair and square, y’all!)
9. Comment on another recent eco-friendly post of mine (Organic Companion Gardening, Sunny Days, Flowers, Fresh Air) and let me know if you garden. Do you take your eco-friendly bottle to the garden with you? Come back here and leave a comment so I know you did. If you’ve already commented on that post, just comment here letting me know you already have a comment there.
10. Visit my eco-friendly Easy Lunch Boxes Review and leave a comment letting me know what you like about my review, the company, the water bottle, the design, living green, etc. Come back here and leave a comment letting me know you did that. If you’ve already commented on that post, just comment here letting me know you already have a comment there.
11.Comment on one of my Recipes posts and let me know which recipe you’d love to pack in your Easy Lunch Box system. Then come back here and let me know you did that. If you’ve already commented on that post, just comment here letting me know you already have a comment there.
12. Subscribe to Healing with (Raw) Juices via e-mail (sign up here) – be sure to verify your subscription or this entry won’t count. Then comment and let me know you did – or that you already are.
13 Subscribe to Healing with (Raw) Juices via RSS (sign up here). Then leave a comment telling me you did – or that you are.
14. Subscribe to my brand-new newsletter (sign up here). Then comment here and let me know you did - or that you area.
15. Do you Plurk? Plurk about this contest and leave a comment with your Plurk URL.
16. Add me as a friend on Wellsphere . Leave a comment saying that you did- or do. 15. Add me as a friend on RawFu. Leave a comment saying that you did- or that you area.
17. Add me as a friend on Give it to Me Raw. Leave a comment saying that you did- or that you are.
18. Subscribe to Raw Juice Girl’s YouTube channel. Leave a comment saying that you did- or that you are.
19. Are you a Stumbler? Stumble and review any post you want to–just leave the link to your SU review in (its own) comment.
20. Do you have a Digg account? Digg this post. Come back and leave a comment on this post with a link to your Digg post.
NOTE: Please leave a comment for each entry (tweet, plurk, etc.) because each comment will be counted as a number when I enter the total number of comments at Random.org once the contest ends.
Contest Deadline
Contest ends Friday, May 7. I’ll accept comments until midnight. (Central Time). Winner will be posted the next day.
That gives you TWO WEEKS to get your entries in. Hurry and spread the word. The more entries you have, the higher your chances of winning an eco-friendly Easy Lunch Boxes System! Go tell all your friends and have FUN!!!!
Let the contest begin!!!
Don’t forget to read my eco-friendly A Sense of Place Water Bottle Review if you missed it—and you can win your own in my giveaway!! It’s a $30 value!!!
Dislaimer #2: This post contains affiliate links. I signed up of my own free will – after I personally used (and LOVED!) the Easy Lunch box system. So, if you click on any of the links or graphics and end up purchasing something, I will receive a small commission. Thank you in advance for your understanding, and your support of my hard work and in-depth reviews of healthy, eco-friendly, user-friendly, Raw Juice Girl-approved products!
Disclaimer: Easy Lunch Boxes provided me with a 4-container set and lunch bag (as shown in my photos below). However, I was not asked to write a favorable review in exchange for the free products. I wasn’t asked to write a review or mention them at all. The opinions in this post are my own.
Thank you, Kelly!!!
You don’t have to be in school to appreciate a lovely lunch box system. If you are passionate about the environment, chances are you’ve taken great measure to lessen your carbon footprint—including taking your meals and snacks to work with you, or while you’re traveling.
Finding the perfect, user-friendly containers isn’t always an easy task. One reader mentioned recently that she found two-part containers—but the Easy Lunch Box system has three! How convenient, huh?! 
Today, you’ll learn about an eco-friendly company who is on a mission to make our meals healthier, easier to transport, and also bring awareness to our beautiful Earth, and preserving it.
Easy Lunch Box Tip:
“Instead of an ice block, place a frozen juice box or water bottle in the lunchbag. It’ll keep the food chilled and will be thawed by lunchtime.”
About the Company
Easy Lunch Boxes is an eco-friendly company that makes reusable lunch bags and containers so you can enjoy the ease of packing your children’s lunches every morning. No, Easy Lunch Boxes aren’t just for your children or teens – you can also use them to take your food to work with you, or even if you’re just traveling a short distance or want to have a picnic with friends or family.
This fantabulous, environmentally-aware company was created – and is owned – by Kelly Lester. A woman of many talents, she decided to improve her normal routine of packing lunches for her three daughters.
Unable to find a system that worked for her, she had a brainstorm and voila: Easy Lunch Boxes!
You know I love sharing who is behind the company so you can get a good idea of not just what the company is about, but the passion and heart of the people who make the company what it is. Easy Lunch Boxes is no different. I love finding out that the owner has heart and soul and just isn’t in it for money. And I’m happy to report that I definitely feel I’ve struck gold here.
See for yourself…
From Easy Lunch Boxes About Page
KELLY LESTER is the owner, creator, and mom behind Easylunchboxes.com. During the last two decades she has been an entrepreneur, wife, and mother of three. She is also an actress and singer.
A graduate of UCLA’s theatre department, Kelly has appeared in dozens of plays and musicals in the Los Angeles area. Kelly left show business for almost twelve years to found and run Art Plates, her own highly-successful gift manufacturing business and raise her three girls. Her handcrafted switchplates and soaps were sold in hundreds of museum stores across the country and direct to consumers via the Art Plates website.
After selling that business in 2006, Kelly defied the old adage that there are no second acts. In fact, sometimes there are actually many different acts. Since returning to performing, Kelly has appeared in a number of stage productions, films and TV shows. More about Kelly’s performing career HERE.
Easylunchboxes.com was born out of Kelly’s innate ability to do things efficiently while on a shoestring budget, and her desire to send her daughters to school with simple, healthy food, with little to no extra packaging or ingredients. Her past struggle with weight control inspires her to teach and model healthy eating habits for her children, and has fueled her dedication to always send them off to school with a great lunch.
Kelly combined her self taught business-savvy with her natural inclination to think “what would other parents want?” — to develop the perfect lunchbox system. She is thrilled and proud to share her Easy Lunch Boxes and lunch bags with other families who will benefit by their simple design, great price, and amazing functionality. Additionally, by promoting the waste-free lunch movement, EasyLunchboxes.com is helping the planet one lunch box at a time.
About Easy Lunch Boxes
These lunch bags and containers are so awesome! Not only are they green, they’re colorful, convenient—and frugal!
A 4-container set is just $13.95 and the lunch bags are only $7.95!
“We are proud to report that EasyLunchbox products have passed the strictest FDA testing and are COMPLETELY safe for use with food The testing was performed by SGS, the world’s largest control and inspection company, represented in more than 130 countries by 210 affiliated companies. SGS provides inspection, testing, certification & verification services to ensure that products, services & systems meet quality, safety & performance.” – Easy Lunch Boxes
Arrival Day!
“The lunch bags are 9 x 6.5 x 6.5” (the sides flex out a bit to hold the container securely and without wiggle room, ensuring that the container does not shake around in the bag, thereby keeping the food stabilized).” – Easy Lunch Boxes
The containers are 9.48 x 6.1 x 2. This is a really nice size!
Easy Lunch Box Ideas
I’m going to share a variety of my (easily transportable) recipes below, but first I just have to share the overnight oats I made in the Easy Lunch Box container.
Of course, I wasn’t going anywhere today (freelance, remember?) but I know a lot of you may want something (other than a juice, smoothie, or granola bar) that you can grab in the morning on your way out the door and eat once you get to work. If you aren’t driving, you could eat this on the way.
These overnight oats were so delicious! I enjoyed the chewy texture of the dried apricots, the juicy bursts of sweetness from the pineapple chunks, the crunch of the macadamia nuts and the volume of the 7 grain oat flakes themselves, with the creamy richness of the (honey) Greek yogurt. Oh my! What a fantabulous treat for breakfast on this rainy morning!
And this would be a super fun afternoon snack to help pull you through the rest of the work day as well!
7 Grain Overnight Oats Recipe
Ingredients:
Directions:
Note: I think I’ll add 1/2 cup of oats next time, or eliminate the milk. I personally prefer my oats (including overnight) to be super-duper thick.
This Morning
NOTE: Just click any of the following recipe titles for some other healthy meals and snacks you could take to work or travel with you.
Raw Juice Girl’s:
Raw, Vegan Tuna Fish-less Salad
Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus + Veggies
And for dessert?
Chocolate Banana Avocado Pudding
Inside-Out Coconut Peanut Butter Cups
Pros
Easy Lunch Boxes are easy and fun to use, affordable, convenient—and so much more. I can’t say enough good things about this eco-friendly lunch box system, or the company!
And I simply ADORE their passion for the environment and providing us, their valued customers, with safe, affordable, user-friendly products…
“Easy Lunch Boxes food containers are made of non toxic, food safe, polypropylene (PP or plastic #5). They are BPA, PVC, and phthalate free. Safe for refrigerator, freezer, microwave, & dishwasher.
Easy Lunch Boxes lunch bags are safe and lead-free. The test was for the following: Lead in accessible substrate materials, specifically for “children’s metal jewelry,” including fabric, zipper, liner, strap, insulation, grommet and rivet.”—Easy Lunch Boxes
Cons
The one thing I discovered that you may not like, is that the containers aren’t leakproof. Of course, if you take a little salad dressing or sauce, you can use a small, reusable container and pack it on top of your meal container. Not a real hassle, right? And how many times do you take something runny to work or school anyway?
“Although our Easy Lunch Box containers hold food securely, they are not designed to be leakproof, and we don’t recommend putting really wet food or liquid into any of the compartments. For a compartmentalized container to be completely leakproof, this would require carefully sealing all of the compartments, every time. We have found that most children are not able to do this consistently, and if you send such a container to school properly sealed, it may not come home that way; leftovers could be dripping out everywhere.”—Easy Lunch Boxes
Updated to add:
“Good news! I’ve just figured out how to portion out the yogurt directly into our EasyLunchbox containers and not have it leak!
I haven’t recommended runny foods (like yogurt) for use in the container. Until now. Here’s my little ’stop the leaks’ trick:
Cut a square of wax paper or plastic wrap to cover the compartment you want to put the runny food in. Then put the lid on (firmly), and the cut square you added will act as a leak barrier!
To make things even easier, I was shopping at my local Smart & Final warehouse and restaurant supply store and I came across pre-cut (dry)wax paper sheets. Like 1,000 in a box for something ridiculous like $6. These would last me a year!” – Easy Lunch Boxes Containers Can be Leak Free!
Verdict/Grade?
Eco-friendly? Check. Pretty? Check. User-friendly? Check. Affordable? Check. Practical? Check. Fun to use? Check. What’s not to love? I simply must give Easy Lunch Boxes an A+ for all their hard work to ensure that their products are all-of-the-above. Don’t you agree?!
Do you send your children’s lunch to school with them? Do you take food to work with you? Or maybe when you’re traveling a short distance and will be gone several hours? Are reusable containers something you’re interested in? What do you love most about the Easy Lunch Box system?
What’s that? You’d love to own an Easy Lunch Box system? Um, you know me! Yep, a giveaway is comin’ your way!!
Updated to Add:
The contest is now live and you can enter to win your very own Easy Lunch Box System! Click HERE to enter now!!!
Don’t forget to read my eco-friendly A Sense of Place Water Bottle Review if you missed it—and you can win your own in my giveaway!! It’s a $30 value!!!
Dislaimer #2: This post contains affiliate links. I signed up of my own free will – after I personally used (and LOVED!) the Easy Lunch box system. So, if you click on any of the links or graphics and end up purchasing something, I will receive a small commission. Thank you in advance for your understanding, and your support of my hard work and in-depth reviews of healthy, eco-friendly, user-friendly, Raw Juice Girl-approved products!
I know some of you may gasp but “Earth Month” or “Earth Day” never seems to cross my mind. I mean, I don’t even think of it until I see it mentioned on a blog or site. Why? Because I feel like every day of my life is above and beyond respectful to Mother Earth. That might seem a little too confident, but I feel it’s true. Why? Because honoring Mother Earth is my LIFE—not just a day or month to me.
I’m very passionate about living green, preserving and replenishing our beautiful Earth, and sustainable living.
“Every day is Earth Day.” –Author Unknown
How do I live green (every day)?
Well, for starters I:
- live on an Amish farm (that my family bought from the Amish—not with the Amish like some of you have asked)
- buy used clothes (Goodwill, yard sales, consignment shops, etc.)
- have a 100×100 organic, heirloom garden
- hang laundry on the line 99% of the time
- use locally handcrafted natural and organic soap and lotion
- support local farmers and artisans
- compost
- use natural remedies and medicinal herbs and plants for my health
- travel with reusable bottles
- don’t use chemicals to dye my hair (that I feel harm the environment AND my body/health)
- don’t use chemicals to artificially tan myself (that I feel harm the environment AND myself)
- use food for beauty products, such as coconut or olive oil, avocado, etc.
- carry reusable shopping bags in the vehicle at all times (sometimes I forget to use ‘em, but most times I don’t)
- buy natural, local, or organic as often as possible (soon I’ll be able to shop from my own yard)
- take food and drinks with me when I go somewhere instead of purchasing food/drinks served in plastic/paper containers
- use natural teas, tonics, and other remedies to fertilize and care for plants/trees
- eat as much real, raw food as I possibly can—avoiding as much processed, packaged, altered food as I can
- make my own washing detergent
- sometimes make my own “perfume” from essential oils (Jasmine is my all-time favorite!)
- have only eaten a teeny amount of meat in the last 5+ years
- eat mostly a raw, vegan diet (but don’t call myself “vegan” because there’s the rare occasion I eat a farm fresh, organic egg (from my farm) or a small amount of fish
- am a green writer (see my article just published: 5 Ways Writers Can Honor Earth Month)
- and more
Some things in my life that aren’t green:
- vehicle – and since I live in the country, I can’t “just walk to town”
- computer/Internet
- using too much paper (although I’ve cut back tremendously and rarely even print anything out anymore)
- occasional use of hairspray (rarely, but I do sometimes use it)
- buying some frozen/canned food (hopefully after this year’s garden yield, I’ll have my own food canned and dehydrated and won’t have to purchase as much)
- etc.
To me, living as green as I possibly can, is NOT easy. I get frustrated sometimes and just wish for all the luxuries life has to offer—even if they do harm the environment! But then I step back and take a breath, and remember why I live this way; why I’m so passionate about it. And it comes to me: I want to live a self-sustainable lifestyle, not only for my own health and future, but so I can feel good about walking lightly on Mother Earth.
Am I perfect? No, but I think Mother Earth is very pleased with me. What about you? How do you live respectfully for our beautiful Earth? Do you live on a whim, or do you make each choice based on how it will affect the environment? Oh, and don’t forget to check out my eco-friendly water bottle review if you missed it.
"Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children."—Kenyan Proverb
Don’t forget to read my eco-friendly A Sense of Place Water Bottle Review if you missed it—and you can win your own in my giveaway!! It’s a $30 value!!!
Disclaimer: A Sense of Place Photography provided the custom, steel water bottle (and interchangeable lids) for this review; however, I was not asked to write a favorable review in exchange for the free product(s). The following opinions are my own.
(Thank you, Katie!!)
Updated to Announce the Winner
I’m pleased to share the winner of the “A Sense of Place” Steel Water Bottle with you! I know it’s an exciting time for you all – especially those of you who have worked extra hard getting those bonus entries in (like lotsa tweeting, eh’?)!
Okay, I’ll get to the point…
There was 107 comments total and I visited Mr. Random (aka www.random.org) to select a winner.
Mr. Random says….
Comment #86 wins the prize!
Who owns that comment?
Angie Bishop said:
I just tweeted about this!
Angie Bishop´s last blog ..ran away today barefoot, perspective and morning fuel.- 2 May 2010 at 1:51 pm
Congratulations, Angie!!! I’ll be contacting you soon and anxiously awaiting your response!
And a special thank you to A Sense of Place Photography for their beautiful work, generosity, and desire to spread the word about eco-friendly living!
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Anyone who loves the environment and has a desire to walk lightly on Mother Earth, will love this giveaway.
Please read the contest rules before entering. Comments are moderated so you won’t see your entries right away. Thanks!
Contest Rules
Note: The reason I ask you to leave a comment for EACH, SEPARATE entry is because I enter the total number of comments at random.org once the contest has ended – and each comment represents your entry number.
There is only ONE required entry for this contest – but if you REALLY want to win, there are several (fun) extra ways you can enter following…
But first, I thought you might want to read my in-depth review. Just in case this is your first time visiting Healing With (Raw) Juices, or you missed my review, you can check it out here:
Winner receives an eco-friendly water bottle with interchangeable lids—and gets to choose the design!!!
ONE Required Entry
Visit A Sense of Photography Etsy Shop and come back and leave a comment letting me know what products you think you would buy or like most. That’s it – easy peasy!
AND… If you want to put in a little extra effort….
(and receive a LOT of extra entries – aka chances to win) keep reading…
Numerous ways to get extra entries!
There are 20 ways to enter this contest!!
2. For FIVE EXTRA ENTRIES, share this contest on your blog, linking back to this post. Leave FIVE SEPARATE COMMENTS to let me know you did. (Yep, you’ll really leave FIVE different comments for this so you’ll be able to get five extra entries. )
3. Become a fan of A Sense of Place Photography on Facebook. Then, come back here and leave a comment to let me know you did that – or that you already are.
4. Become a fan of Raw Juice Girl on Facebook. Leave a comment on this post saying you did -or that you already are.
5. Follow Healing with (Raw) Juices on Facebook’s Networked Blogs. Leave a comment on this post saying that you did – or do.
6. Do you use Twitter? Follow @RawJuiceGirl on Twitter. Comment on this post, saying you did – or do.
7. Follow @ASenseofPlace on Twitter. Leave a comment on this post that you did that.
8. Tweet about this contest and then leave a comment with your Twitter name. You can use this tweet (or your own, just be sure to include via @RawJuiceGirl @ASenseofPlace) – Then, leave a comment that you did – with your Twitter name or status link.
www.HealingwithJuices.com is giving away a $30 #ecofriendly water bottle!!! http://tinyurl.com/yyunyfo (via @RawJuiceGirl @ASenseofPlace)
FOR EVEN MORE ENTRIES: For tweets, Facebook shares, or Plurk you may share the contest up to 5 times a day, but each tweet/share must be 1-2 hours or so after the previous one. (Thanks so much for understanding my position of keeping things fair and square, y’all!)
9. Comment on another recent eco-friendly post of mine (Organic Companion Gardening, Sunny Days, Flowers, Fresh Air) and let me know if you garden. Do you take your eco-friendly bottle to the garden with you? Come back here and leave a comment so I know you did. If you’ve already commented on that post, just comment here letting me know you already have a comment there.
10. Visit my Eco-Friendly A Sense of Photography Water Bottle Review and leave a comment letting me know what you like about my review, the company, the water bottle, the design, living green, etc. Come back here and leave a comment letting me know you did that. If you’ve already commented on that post, just comment here letting me know you already have a comment there.
11.Comment on my Garden Squats post and let me know if you use the beautiful outdoors to get your exercise in, or if you prefer to stick to the gym. Then come back here and let me know you did that. If you’ve already commented on that post, just comment here letting me know you already have a comment there.
12. Subscribe to Healing with (Raw) Juices via e-mail (sign up here) – be sure to verify your subscription or this entry won’t count. Then comment and let me know you did – or that you already are.
13 Subscribe to Healing with (Raw) Juices via RSS (sign up here). Then leave a comment telling me you did – or that you are.
14. Subscribe to my brand-new newsletter (sign up here). Then comment here and let me know you did - or that you area.
15. Do you Plurk? Plurk about this contest and leave a comment with your Plurk URL.
16. Add me as a friend on Wellsphere . Leave a comment saying that you did- or do. 15. Add me as a friend on RawFu. Leave a comment saying that you did- or that you area.
17. Add me as a friend on Give it to Me Raw. Leave a comment saying that you did- or that you are.
18. Subscribe to Raw Juice Girl’s YouTube channel. Leave a comment saying that you did- or that you are.
19. Are you a Stumbler? Stumble and review any post you want to–just leave the link to your SU review in (its own) comment.
20. Do you have a Digg account? Digg this post. Come back and leave a comment on this post with a link to your Digg post.
NOTE: Please leave a comment for each entry (tweet, plurk, etc.) because each comment will be counted as a number when I enter the total number of comments at Random.org once the contest ends.
Contest Deadline
Contest ends Tuesday, May 4. I’ll accept comments until midnight. (Central Time). Winner will be posted the next day.
That gives you TWO WEEKS to get your entries in. Hurry and spread the word. The more entries you have, the higher your chances of winning a $30 A Sense of Photography Eco-Friendly Water Bottle!! Go tell all your friends and have FUN!!!!
Let the contest begin!!!
Disclaimer: A Sense of Place Photography provided the custom, steel water bottle (and interchangeable lids) for this review; however, I was not asked to write a favorable review in exchange for the free product(s). The following opinions are my own.
(Thank you, Katie!!)
I’m always elated when I find an email from a potential sponsor for a review. Not only does it mean I’ll get to try out something fun, new, and share it with you, it usually means an awesome giveaway for y’all, too! And it’s always, always a bonus when the product promotes eco-friendly living—something I’m very passionate about!
There are countless ways to live green, but a super easy habit to get in to is carrying a reusable bottle to drink out of. Whether it’s water, tea, a smoothie, juice—or even coffee—reusing the same container does not only give you green points, it’s not even a hassle.
So when I was contacted about this company and what they’re doing, I immediately responded, asking if I could review their eco-friendly, steel water bottle. When Katie answered with a yes, she told me I could choose any of her photos for my water bottle’s design. I browsed through her selection and ended up choosing this beautiful photo. Katie happily obliged. I’m overjoyed! I LOVE flowers and the Swiss Meadow scene—it’s beautiful!
“Welcome to our shop! We sell peaceful atmospheric prints from around the world. Our wish is that everyone might have a sense of place.”—A Sense of Place Photography
I could tell from corresponding with Katie that she’s a very warm, generous person, but I could never have dreamed just how much of herself she puts into her business! Before long, my package arrived and I saw for myself how much of Katie’s heart and soul is in everything she does….
Opening A Sense of Photography Package
LOVE the attention to detail!!!!!
Oooooohhhhhh, Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!! SO beautiful!!!!!
About the Company
A Sense of Place Photography is owned by Katrina (Katie) and her husband. She refers to him as “the King”.
It’s always nice to learn more about not only the company—but the people behind it. So let’s get to know them…
From A Sense of Place Photography Etsy Bio
We take pictures; we are in love.
See profile for more selection & information. Giclee prints available in sizes 8X10 and up.
Please try our gallery view blog: www.theyouandmeshow.com
our music while you browse: http://www.myspace.com/uswiththekingsLike Our Landscape Photography? View more at http://tiny.cc/landscapes15. We’d be happy to create a custom listing for you! Do visit our abstract http://www.thedadafactory.etsy.com & vintage http://www.goldenmustard.etsy.com photography shops
The Short Story
Welcome to A Sense Of Place Photography
by Katrina & the King!
http://asenseofplacephotography.blogspot.com
Katrina likes mountains.
Katrina is not a hurricane, or a 80′s pop rock band, though Katrina likes Paleo quite a lot.
Katrina loves her husband: theyouandmeshow.com
Katrina is an american indie photographer, poet & songwriter. in that order.
~If you are in Norfolk, you might like to have a look on our series at 208 East Plume Street, Suite 2, inside the Walls Fine Art Gallery.To read “The Long Story” click HERE. Or, to learn even more, click HERE.
Wait, you want to know more? Okay, okay…
Who is Katie?
Instead of writing this in my own words (like I always do!) I thought it would be way more fun – and entertaining – if I shared snippets of Katie’s About Page with you—in her words. To be even more specific, the following information is taken from The You & Me Show, by Katrina King ~ a journal on modern marriage & the mayhem of it
Q. who is me {katrina}?
A. i’m a freelance writer, photographer, actor, singer, world traveler, design-lover, napper, Christian, avid dog lover {yet only has cats}, avid NYC lover (but country bumpkin at heart) wife, and blogger. a housewife is really the last thing I ever thought I’d be and I’m still always trying to find ways to get out of it! I also do not have any obsession with cupcakes…at all. i am *always* looking for a job. i am *always* up for travel. i’ve recently been dreaming of designing clothes with photography. my dream jobs are 1. La Fuerza Bruta 2. The Ad Council 3. National Geographic 4. Writing a book*
*I actually just finished my first poetry book. You should buy it. Here [contact seller if sold out]
exhibitionist. idealist. loves mountains.
Q. if i was an animal: A. white flamingo
And the King?
Q. who is you {the king}?
A. old fashioned lover of sailboats, poetry, Judaism, history, language, coffee & chocolate. also by far the sexiest man I have ever seen. he has magic in his hands and in his lips. he is *always* up for ice cream. he is *never* one to whine. his dream jobs are 1. circumnavigating the globe 2. designing sailboats 3.owning a ranch 4. writing a book {and if truth be told, he can sing and act better than I ever could despite all my years of training….though he’d never admit it)
internal. cynic. loves the ocean.
Q. if he was an animal: A. dodo bird
we both have sunshine love
A Sense Of Place Photography takes dreams and puts them into tiny pixels, provides professional & unique artistic documentation for your event & creates fine art for galleries and interior decorating for your home and business. Run by husband & wife photographer team, Katie & Steven King.
-Analog & Digital, Stark & Vital, we knock your socks off. – www.asenseofplacephotography.com
Pretty awesome, huh?!
And they’re in favor of preserving our environment…
100% Recycled Packaging!!!!!
More detail!!!!
Personalized Note!!!!
Even MORE detail!!!!
Interchangeable Lids!!!
My favorite one!!!
(I love this one ‘cause I can just loop my finger through the hole and go.)
Another awesome lid!!!!
The whole kit and kaboodle!!!
A Sense of Photography Business Cards
(photo courtesy of their Etsy Shop)
Easy to Pack with Easy Lunch Boxes!
Pros
Of course the main pro of this water bottle is that by using it, you’re helping our beautiful environment, but there are other pros as well.
A few pros are that it’s:
- eco-friendly
- easy to grab and go
- easy to clean
- beautiful and cheerful
- fun to take with you
- holds a variety of drinks: water, tea, smoothies, juice, coffee
- and more!
Oh, and don’t forget it arrives in 100% recycled packaging!!
Here’s even more information from A Sense of Photography…
Description (from their Etsy Shop):
Be green and take your sense of place with you at the same time!
To work
To school
To play
and be hydrated with good old H20 on the way!
With buying this water-bottle, you pledge to
Say goodbye to plastic bottles that are harmful to our environment!
Our new bird on the wire water-bottle is dishwasher safe and comes with two screw-top options.
Explanation of the photos to the right:
1-Water bottle you will be receiving: Front
2-Sport’s top and back of water bottle
3-Trendy Screw Top
4-Tags, Business Cards, and sew on labels that come with your order.
5-A Sense Of Place Photography Logo
This thing is as tough as a brick, and looks great too! Be careful, soon it will want to go everywhere with you
Please visit: www.theyouandmeshow.com to learn more about how being in love helps us make our art.
Please visit http://www.asenseofplacephotography.com for our website, manifesto, and photo blog.
I love shipping overseas as well. Just quote me a price!
And the flowers make me HAPPY—they’re so cheerful!
It even has a built-in coaster!
Cons
As those of you who read all (or a lot) of my reviews, you know that two of the biggest cons I look out for are cost and taste. Well, taste doesn’t apply here, but cost might (in your opinion). This bottle costs $30 but even though that might make some of you cringe, it’s still hard for me to consider it a con (and y’all know how frugal I am!) because this is an investment that you’ll enjoy over and over again. If you think about it, you spend that much on 6 lattes—and they come in throwaway cups!
The only other “con” I can come up with (and y’all know I have to find SOMETHING because cons have to be listed in reviews due to FTC rules) is the fact that you’ll have to wash it. That’s no big deal (at all) to me. But to some of you who despise washing a dish—or even using the dishwasher—you might not enjoy washing a to-go bottle.
Verdict/Grade?
Overall, I must give this beautiful, eco-friendly, reusable bottle – and A Sense of Photography company – an A+ because not only do the folks behind the business put their heart and soul in to everything they touch, the bottle is something that won’t harm our precious environment any more than it already has been! And that’s a HUGE plus in my book!!
If you haven’t tried a reusable bottle, I urge you to start today! Get your own HERE!!! And not only do they offer a Steel Water Bottle with an Interchangeable Top, they offer a beautiful Eco-Tote-Woman’s Sailing Bag!!
Time for a GREEN drink!
After chugging a few (DELISH!) sips…
Ginormous Green Banana Juice Recipe
Ingredients:
Directions:
Toss everything in to your blender and process until smooth and well blended. Pour and enjoy!
It was DELISH—and it held me over extremely well. I wasn’t even the least bit hungry until after 2 p.m. in the afternoon!
I’ve also enjoyed lots of yummy water in my eco-friendly bottle. And I plan on enjoying many more to-go juices and smoothies in this beauty.
Do you carry your juices, smoothies, water, tea, coffee, etc., in a reusable bottle? Or do you always buy bottled water or other drinks that come in paper or plastic cups? Does it bother you? What about just an occasional treat—like a latte or smoothie in a to-go cup? Is that okay with you? I’m not judging here—just curious as to how you all feel about needless paper and/or plastic products. Also, do you like your smoothies super-duper thick, or runny? This smoothie is runny and that’s why I thought the name was a fun one. Of course, it isn’t technically a juice because you don’t juice bananas.
Oh, and are you wishing YOU had one of these beauties? Awesome! ‘Cause guess what’s coming up next? Yeah, you know me—a GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!
Stay tuned…
Updated to Add
The contest is live!!! You can now enter to WIN your own A Sense of Place Water Bottle!!!
Hi, y’all! Hope your week started off beautifully – mine sure did! Although I am TIRED, there has been LOTS of fantabulous sunshine (woo hoo!!!!!) and I’ve been soakin’ it up!
More sunny days also means more time spent outside WORKING. Ah, the garden and all the other outdoor chores.
While I fantasize about snoozin’ in a hammock, I know I won’t have the nutrient-rich produce I crave (daily!!!) if I don’t get busy moving and do something about it.
And who needs a gym? Seriously!
Burn, Baby, Burn!!!
Garden squats make ya feel the BURN.
Think about it: When gardening, you squat and plant, get up, move down, squat and plant some more – unless you crawl around, that is.
But if you’re squatting (like I do!) it’s a pretty good workout! And…
I AM S-O-R-E!!!!!!!!
Yikes!!!
After that first day of planting, I could barely walk the next morning. And I’m still a little sore. Phew!
If you do a lot of computer – or other sedentary – work, I urge you to “get gardening” – you’ll wake up all those muscles that sleep while you work.
And the best part? With garden squats, something (more than muscle!) comes from all your hard work: FOOD!
I was feeling a little ridiculous silly this evening after all those outside chores (including pulling a big wagon – twice!!! – filled with 5 gallon buckets of water, to water the baby orchard) and took some pictures of myself.
Note the PINK gingham bandana I’m sportin’. Who has time for doodying up hair – there’s chores to do!!!
I was actually WAY more tired than I looked in the above pics – and the wind has chapped my lips (big time!).
But this is how I really felt. I think the sun got to me…..
Exhaustion = SILLY with me!!! LOL
And tomorrow is my brother’s birthday, so I won’t be online – but I PROMISE there’s LOTS of AWESOME reviews, giveaways, recipes, and all sorts of fun stuff coming SOON!!!!
Do you go to a gym? Do you do squats at home? Do you garden? Have you been getting outside and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine? Whatcha been up to?
P.S. I actually remember seeing pictures of me when I was two or three, wearing a red bandana. Maybe I’ll come across ‘em and scan ‘em to compare.
Oh, don’t forget to check and see if you won the iHerb shopping spree giveaway!!!! CLICK HERE to find out!
‘night!
Hi, y’all!
I know you’re probably dying to know who won the iHerb shopping spree giveaway, right?
No, I didn’t try to make you squirm with anxiousness all day (on purpose, anyway!) – I was crazy busy cleaning and doing this, that, or the other on the farm. Honest!
Soooooooooooooooooooooooooo, who did Mr. Random make happy tonight?
CLICK HERE to find out!!!
$5 Savings
And don’t forget that if you have online shopping planned, you can save $5 off your first order at www.iHerb.com. You can use the following coupon code to save $5:
TUN499
Hi,y’all!
I haven’t forgotten about all the upcoming reviews, contests, and information-packed posts – I’ve been soaking up the sunshine and gardening!!!
You know me, I’ve been snapping photos all along the way. Folks are calling me “shutterbug” lol!
(Organic) gardening is definitely therapeutic and as I recently wrote, you can be reinspired by stopping to smell the roses.
There aren’t any roses to smell yet, but I’ve been taking my own advice!
It’s hard sometimes being a freelance writer and blogger because naturally, I tend to throw myself in to my work and as you know, I’m pretty thorough in the reviews I write – and everything else I do. Some days, hours have past before I realize it and I haven’t taken time to stretch or enjoy a little fresh air.
I’m working on changing that. Life is precious and we need to absorb all we can while we have the chance.
Gardening is perfect for that! Besides, it gives me even more to blog about.
I took some photos of various flower blooms and veggie and fruit plants around the yard and edge of the garden to share with you….
Lilac Bush
Redbud Tree
Daffodils
Amish Windmill
Rhubarb
Brussel Sprouts
Rainbow Chard
Brussel Sprouts + Cauliflower
Potatoes
The posts and string are temporary – we’re planning to eventually have all raised beds with pathways all along the way!
Far back is the potatoes, right top corner, strawberry patch.
As you can see, this garden is HUGE (100×100!!!) – the above photo doesn’t even show 3/4 of it! There’s still a LOT to plant and TONS more work to do. And to the left, there’s a long row of thornless blackberries!
Also not shown: peony bushes scattered around the garden’s edge, tulips (coming up, not blooming yet), an iris bed, more lilac bushes, comfrey, mock orange, and also several rose of sharon bushes.
Grapes
And the orchard (not in the garden, a different area)
So far, our orchard consists of the following trees:
-
2 apple
-
3 (tart) cherry
-
2 peach
-
2 elderberry
-
2 paw paw
-
2 plum
So exciting!!! Can you just imagine all the yumilicious raw treats, smoothies, and juices I can make??!!
And not all of those are visible in the above photo – several are back to the left and out of the camera’s eye.
For fun: the old silo (not in use)
Why Companion Gardening?
Companion gardening is RAWsome. Why? Because there are certain plants that do exceedingly well side-by-side. There are also some plants you need to avoid placing next to others. There’s not enough room in this post to share all the information, but here’s a few examples:
- Spinach + Lettuce + Peas + Beans. We planted spinach and lettuces so they’ll be at the bottom of snap peas and green beans. This way, the lettuce and spinach work to crowd out the weeds, helping the peas and beans grow and the spinach and lettuce are shaded by the peas and beans. Win-win!
- Basil + Tomatoes. Sounds like ingredients for a salad, sandwich, or sauce, right? Then doesn’t it make sense to plant basil and tomatoes together? How RAWmazing is it that basil enriches the taste and growth of tomatoes??!! So, you know where these two will be found in my garden, eh?
- Flax + Potatoes? That’s right! The linseed and tannin oils found in flax helps fend off the potato bug!
And that’s just the beginning! I also love that if you plant garlic near your roses, it repels aphids!!
If any of you are interested in learning more about companion gardening, let me know and I’ll post more about it as I plant and tend the garden!
I’ll also be talking more about heirloom, organic plants and gardening.
Are you in to gardening? Do you have a garden? Want one? What do you have in your garden (or what would you plant if you had one)? Do you strive for heirloom, organic gardening?
I’m off to fantasize about all the RAWsome smoothie, juice, and salad concoctions that will come from my garden…. Yum!
Giveaways!!
Janetha, from Meals and Moves, is having a Kombucha giveaway!!
I’m hosting a shopping spree giveaway – there’s over 400 comments!!! Eeeek!!! Have you entered yet?? Why not?? Hurry!! Deadline is TOMORROW!!!!
Get Your Discount!
10% Discount code – You can get a coupon code for 10% off ANYTHING in my OpenSky store until Wednesday, April 14th.
Save $5 on your www.iHerb.com order by using the following code at checkout: TUN499
So, if you’ve been (cyber) window shopping, now’s your chance to take the plunge and go for it!
Coming Soon
In no particular order…
- Review of the Paderno World Cuisine Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer
- Review of Aurorae Sport Sweat Towel
- Review of Aurorae Slip Free Rosin Bag
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- Tart Cherry Concentrate Health Benefits – And Why I Drink It
- More recipes
- More reviews and giveaways – lots of surprises!
This giveaway was actually different than any other giveaway I’ve hosted. And the prize was this awsome…
12-Speed Oster Blender
There was only one required entry and a winner was chosen randomly within 48 hours. OpenSky took care of that, so the winner actually knew BEFORE I did. That was a first. LOL
And the winner?
Katy Widrick (aka Silly Tator Tot)!
BEST.LUCK.EVER. 1) Broke a blender. 2) Wished on Twitter for a blender. 3) Won @RawJuiceGirl‘s @openskyproject blender giveaway. ROCK.ON.
That is AWESOME… Congratulations, Katy!!!!!
You can STILL enter to receive your 10% discount coupon code until Wednesday, April 14th. It also expires that same day – so please hurry and get your shopping done if you have anything in mind!
And a HUGE thank you to OpenSky + Oster for this RAWsome opportunity!!!!
Other Giveaway
I’m hosting a shopping spree giveaway!!!
Coming Soon
In no particular order…
- Review of the Paderno World Cuisine Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer
- Review of Aurorae Sport Sweat Towel
- Review of Aurorae Slip Free Rosin Bag
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- Tart Cherry Concentrate Health Benefits – And Why I Drink It
- More recipes
- More reviews and giveaways – lots of surprises!
Including details about the contents of these packages!
Hi, y’all!
For those of you who celebrated, I hope you had a blessed Easter holiday – I most certainly did!
Remember a while back, when I shared the news with you about my new partnership with OpenSky? No? Okay, here’s an excerpt from that post:
Why I HEART OpenSky
I quickly fell in love with OpenSky and what they’re doing. What exactly are they doing, you ask?
OpenSky is bringing old-fashioned charm to Internet shopping. They are creating harmony for bloggers, readers, shoppers, and merchants. They are opening the door to a warm, inviting shopping experience; one that will be memorable, enjoyable — and so fun that you’ll want to do it again and again!
I am super excited to announce that I’ve teamed up with OpenSky to host a giveaway! Details are at the end of this post, but don’t skip the middle; there’s some good stuff – including a free recipe for my latest raw, vegan smoothie concoction: The Cabbage Patch! It’s smooth, clean, and delish. Perfect for a warm Spring day!
I will share the prize with you, though: a 12-speed Oster Blender! Eeeek! If you love smoothies, raw chocolate pudding, banana soft serve, raw crackers, raw nut milks, etc., you’ll love the Oster Blender. Why Oster? Well, my Oster Blender (which happens to be 10-speed) was a gift from one of my favorite people in the whole world – one of my aunts. She passed her (very) gently used blender on to me when she found out mine had burnt up. I was elated! Seriously, I was in smoothie withdrawal!
12-Speed Oster Blender
At first, I thought the Oster Blender might not be a very good one. Honestly, I had my doubts regarding its ability to whip up thick, creamy smoothies – or whatever else I concocted.
I was wrong to doubt!
My Oster Blender does a fantabulous job of chomping ice until it’s smooth and blending ingredients beautifully. I’ve yet to be disappointed – and I use it a lot. It’s super easy to clean, fun to use, and I highly recommend it – especially if you love smoothies and raw creations as much as I do!
Some things I’ve made in my Oster include:
Raw Flax Crackers
Chocolate-Banana Avocado Pudding
Pearadise Smoothie
Chocolate-Covered (Tart) Cherry Smoothie
Happy Hemp Smoothie
Raw Cashew Milk (!!!)
Voila: Raw Cashew Milk
What’d I do with my fresh cashew milk? Make a smoothie, of course!
Banana + cabbage, anyone?
Enter: The Cabbage Patch
See the hint of green color??
Cabbage Patch Smoothie
Cabbage Patch Smoothie Recipe
Serves one
Ingredients:
1 cup raw cashew milk (1/2 cup cashews + 1 cup water, blended – and not strained)
1 cup cabbage, chopped
1 banana, frozen chunks
4 ice cubes
Directions:
Add ingredients to your blender and process until well blended. Enjoy!
Note:
My cashew milk was freshly made so it wasn’t cold enough for my preferences. Although the frozen banana did cool off the smoothie, I felt it needed to be colder, so I added the ice cubes.
OpenSky Oster Blender Giveaway Rules!!
This giveaway is different than any I’ve ever hosted – and I’m SO excited!!! You don’t have to leave a gazillion comments or flood social media to qualify for this contest (although I won’t complain if you do! )
There’s only one required entry. It’s super easy to enter and you’ll be on your way. When you enter, you’ll automatically receive a….
10% discount coupon code!!
The coupon code can be used for anything in my shop – but remember to use it quickly as it EXPIRES FRIDAY!!!
ONE winner will be selected randomly within 48 hours and notified (via email) immediately. You can enter for your 10% coupon code until Wednesday, April 14th.
CLICK HERE for a chance to win your own 12-Speed Oster Blender (valued at $35!!!) and get your 10% discount coupon. Have fun!
And look at the fancy schmancy page OpenSky created for us!!!
Don’t forget to have a look around my OpenSky shop once you’re entered. New products are in the works, so check back often to see if your favorite product has been added. If you don’t see it, let me know and I’ll work with OpenSky to try and get it for you!
And a HUGE thank you to OpenSky + Oster for this RAWsome opportunity!!!!
Do you have an Oster Blender? What do you use it most for? Smoothies? Banana soft serve? Chocolate-avocado pudding? Have you ever used cabbage in your smoothie? Did you like it? I love it myself. Of course, I love cabbage (raw or cooked) – and it’s so good for us! Now, go get yourself entered for that FREE Oster Blender!!!
Wow, what an exciting contest – there were over 200 entries in this giveaway! Thank you so much to each and every one of you who entered and helped me promote this contest. You all are just awesome!!
So…. you’re waiting to see if you won, right?
CLICK HERE to find out who won the creamy, decadent, raw, wild honey!!!
