I used to think there was no reason not to use plastic sandwich and snack baggies in my boys’ lunches. They were convenient, easy to use, and kept the foods separate in the lunch bag. And then I read some statistics:

• Roughly 12 million barrels of oil are used annually to make the plastic bags that Americans consume
• On average, there are four plastic bags used each day to make lunch for one child. This adds up to almost 1000 plastic bags used each year for one child’s lunch! For this one child, they will use 9000 plastic bags while they are in school from kindergarten through 8th grade
• 100,000,000,000 plastic bags are thrown away by Americans each year. That is INSANE!
• Some scientists estimate that it can take up to 1000 years for one plastic bag to decompose

There is just no way for me to NOT feel guilty about contributing to those statistics!  My boys prefer hot lunch, but when Kaitlyn goes to Kindergarten next year I’ll be giving her packed lunches. Thanks to Stephanie at BrightBin, Kaitlyn will be all set for her lunches with the BrightBin New Generation Lunchbox plus the L’Artiste New Generation Lunch Bag!

What makes the BrightBin Lunch Box unique from others I’ve seen is it’s two compartments. The top section keeps a sandwich fresh and un-squished, but could also hold any kind of entree thanks to a rubber seal. The lower section is divided into three compartments for side dishes, with a tight fitting lid that keeps foods in their compartments without the need for extra lids.

You can use a BrightBin Lunch Box as a bento-type box, or flip up the handle and it’s a lunch box all on it’s own. It’s non-toxic and made of food safe polypropylene free of BPA, phthalates, lead, and PVC. It’s dishwasher and even microwave oven safe, too! Available in two colors – translucent cherry red and translucent blueberry blue.

While the BrightBin Lunch Box can be used on it’s own, it works really well with any of the Lunch Bags sold on the site. Brightbin’s L’Artiste Lunch Bag comes with four non-toxic, washable gel markers that your child can use to decorate their bag, and then wash off with warm soapy water and draw on again! The bottom of the bag has a zippered storage compartment for a drink bottle, too. The outer material is polyester, and the inner lining is food-safe PEVA.  The bag comes in light grey only. Check out the site for other Lunch Bag designs.

BrightBin Lunch Box only: $16.95 plus shipping

BrightBin L’Artiste Lunch Bag: $27.95 +

Sold together: $33.95 = GREAT DEAL!

To sum up, reusable lunch boxes good. Filling landfills with plastic, BAD.  Thank you to BrightBin for giving me a great alternative to packing lunches filled with plastic bags!

Not only do busy bloggers need nutritious, filling snacks, but so do their kids, and Snacktrition has come up with a line of delicious roasted nuts that provide the nutrients you need in a delicious snack!
Snacktrition Nuts aren’t oil-roasted but rather are “Health Baked” in a proprietary process by which they sprinkle the nuts with calcium, fiber, or both, oven roast them, then sprinkle them with kosher sea salt.The results? DELICIOUS!!

Snacktrition nuts come in 9 ounce containers or handy 3 ounce packs; I received the five 9 ounce containers you see in the above photo for this review. I put them on the table and my husband and sons started circling like vultures. My husband claimed the Fiber Sea Salt Cashews, Ryan grabbed the Calcium Smoked Almonds, and I stashed the Calcium and Fiber Fruit and Nut mix for my trip to BlogHer (airplane snacks!).

I did, however, insist that everyone give me a taste of their chosen variety, so that I could give my opinion, which is, YUMMY. I took the Fruit and Nut mix in my carry-on bag, and when everyone else was paying $5.00 for a “snack box”, I was munching on almonds, cashews, dried cherries, and yogurt chips! Delicious, and filling.

The recommended daily amount of fiber is 20-30 grams, and a shocking 95% of Americans don’t get that much. A one ounce serving (23 nuts) of the Calcium Sea Salt almonds has 3 grams of fiber, along with 15% Daily Value of calcium per serving (Based on a 2,000 calorie diet), 135 mg of calcium, 6 mg of vitamin E, 80 mg of magnesium, and 5 grams of protein. Visit the Snacktrition website to get all the nutritional info and to order some Snacktrition nuts for yourself. You can buy the 3 ounce Bags ($2.99 each) or 9 ounce Tubs ($6.99 each and the Fruit and Nut tub is 8.5 ounces)-I recommend the tub if you want to ensure that you’ll get some for yourself!

While you’re on the website, scroll down the home page and enter to win a Total Gym or one of 50 $25 gift cards to Foot Locker. I’m naming Snacktrition Nuts a MomReviews Fabulous Find!

20 Mule Team® Borax is an all natural product with many practical uses in the laundry room, kitchen and bathroom. It’s made of 100% Borax, a naturally occurring mineral composed of sodium, boron, oxygen and water. 20 Mule Team® Borax is not harmful to washing machines, plumbing or septic tanks and does not contain phosphates or chlorine. For over 100 years, 20 Mule Team Borax has helped the world get their clothes smelling fresher and their households looking cleaner. Borax has long been, and will continue to be the natural way to clean. 20 Mule Team is all natural and always has been!

How to use 20 Mule Team Borax in your laundry:
In Regular Wash
Add ½ cup of 20 Mule Team® Borax to each wash load along with the recommended amount of detergent. For large capacity and front-loading machines, add ¾ cup.
Pre-Soaking Stains
Add one tablespoon of 20 Mule Team® Borax per gallon of water or ½ cup in washer. Pre-soak for at least 30 minutes before washing.
Hard Water
Got hard water? 20 Mule Team® Borax works great as a water conditioner, helping your detergent to work more effectively. Add ½ cup of 20 Mule Team® Borax along with your regular laundry detergent. You’ll get clean, fresh smelling laundry.
Delicate Hand Washables
Dissolve ¼ cup of 20 Mule Team® Borax and 1 – 2 tablespoons detergent in a basin of warm water and soak them for 10 minutes. Rinse in clear, cool water, blot with a towel, lay flat (woolens) or hang to dry (away from sunlight and direct heat).
Cloth Diapers & Baby Clothes
Flush out cloth diapers and begin soaking immediately, using ½ cup 20 Mule Team® Borax for each diaper pail of warm water. Follow soaking with warm wash, using the “regular wash” instructions above.

You can also download a PDF Booklet(link is at the bottom of the 20 Mule Team page) that gives uses for around the house, such as deodorizing your refrigerator and garbage pail, cleaning and deodorizing your shower, tub, and toilet, you can even use it to preserve flowers and make candle wicks! And the best part? It’s NOT EXPENSIVE! A 76 ounce box costs $8.69 on Drugstore.com, and that’s going to last you a LONG time.

Become a fan on the 20 Mule Team BoraxFacebook page! For more fun, add the Dirty Girl Quiz application and find out what kind of “Dirty Girl” you are! I’m a Dust Bunny Diva:

I’m giving 20 Mule Team Borax a MomReviews Fabulous Find badge for their Facebook page!
Purex also makes Zout Stain Remover, which I need to buy, because my favorite sweatshirt has some kind of greasy/waxy stain on it, and I’m determined to get it out. Do you use 20 Mule Team Borax? Tell me in your comment what your favorite use for it is!