The Fuel Collection For School and Work Lunches

Times have changed since the humble brown bag ruled the lunch room. Many schools have taken the initiative to be eco-friendly and require us to bring a litter-less lunch. This insulated tote bag with adjustable strap is wonderful to carry our lunch in. The quality of food, the variety and portions we take for lunch are more important than just the convenience. Making a meal that is appealing and then putting it in a container that is well designed and multifunctional, will keep our food the way it is supposed to be enjoyed. 

Day Ja View Calendar for the School Year

Day Ja View is a calendar developed by a Toronto mom in partnership with Time of Day Inc. Day Ja View helps busy families stay organized throughout the school year. This organizational tool teaches children to be responsible, get involved in their own scheduling and manage time. This simple, functional calendar is useful for the whole family.

Going Back to School with Staples

There is less than a month before school, and getting ready a little early helps in our family so we don't have to worry about school the week before it starts :) Since Staples has a wide choice of designs with vibrant colours, wild patterns, and interesting textures to suite everyone's taste, shopping to get everything we need there is easy.

Wonderful Books At The Back to School Boutique To Help Our Children Learn

It's back to school time, and DK wants to help us make the start to the school year the best ever for our children and us. There is a wonderful range of titles covering geography, history, science and more at DK Back to School Boutique for children of all ages, all specially priced for a limited time. Check out their Back to school boutique and take advantage of the sale.

These Help Answer The Big Question "What to Send for School Today?"

I like packing a variety of snacks such as fruits and cut vegetables, cheese and crackers for my children to take to school and after school programs. I find it easy to make snacks like short eats, buns, muffins and scones when time permits and leave it in the fridge so my children can have healthy homemade food whenever they want. 

Learn How to be Green When School Starts

My children enjoyed watching EPIC when they were flying to Asia this week and excited that the Blu-ray and DVD will be out on August 20th.

Soon our children will be heading back to school and will be excited to see their friends and experience new things. The new school year is a new beginning filled with new teachers, experiences, and lessons. We can start off in the right direction by being environmentally friendly in our preparations for this school year. 

Win 1 of 3 Command Prize Packs before School Starts

Command 3M products are very handy around our home, as it helps us stay organized. I use their traditional hooks and mini hooks in many places around our home. I am starting to think of ways to organize and get everything ready before school starts in September. I like that Command Clear products help us clear up clutter, keep wires in order and make the most of small spaces. They are stylish, easy to use and do not damage the surface it is placed.

We don't need nails, screws and tacks when we use Command™ Clear products they make it fast and easy to hang and clear clutter. The revolutionary Command™ Clear Adhesive Strip holds strongly on a variety of surfaces, including paint, wood, tile and more. It removes cleanly without making holes, marks, or sticky residue. 

The advantage of using Command™ Clear Strip allows us to seamlessly show our decor, without the hooks and clips being visible. Rehanging them is as easy as applying a replacement Command™ Clear Strip, so we can take down, move and reuse them again and again. 

They have a variety of clear transparent Command™ products such as Medium hooks, mini hooks, decorating clips, flat cord clips, round cord clips and utensil hooks. I just wish the packaging it comes allows to store the clips back in it until we need to use it again, since all the packages need to be saved for instructions such as the surfaces it can be placed etc.

Giveaway:

We are giving away 3 back-to-school Command™ prize packs valued $50. Your prize package will include a variety of fabulous Command products. Win 1 of 3 prize packages before August 26th by entering the rafflecopter below, this giveaway is open to everyone in Canada.
Update: The winners are Jen, Kristy and Tricia

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Win 1 of 2 Huawei Smartphones Before School Starts

These Huawei smartphones are perfect starter phones for kids and adults who are looking for their first smartphone and don’t want to be locked-in to two or three year contracts. These Huawei smartphones priced at $80 help graduate to an Android smartphone with all the apps and features. I am glad I will be hosting a giveaway so you can win one of the phones before school starts.

Win these New LunchBlox Kids Lunch Kits

We have been packing our work and school lunches using the LunchBlox for more than a year. We really enjoy using this lunch-portioned containers that snap to a Blue Ice™ chill pack that keep foods cool and fresh all day without refrigeration. During winter we don't use the Blue Ice™ chill pack, but when the weather gets warmer it is very useful.

Thermos back to school contest

Thermos is a leading manufacturer of insulated food and beverage containers worldwide.  My family and I have used Thermos brand products for a long time, so I could say it is a trusted brand.  

Making Ginger Ale from Artisan Soda Workshop book and PC products

The Artisan Soda workshop has 70 syrup recipes to make flavourful fizzy homemade sodas.  With this book, we can make our own combination of refreshing sodas at home and avoid canned carbonations.  The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow to make fruit, herb and spiced bubbly drinks.  

I like the bit of history given in the beginning of the book about carbonated drinks.  Carbonated drinks were originally produced because of medicinal benefits.  Coca cola made in 1886, derived from coca leaves and kola nuts.  Pepsi cola came 12 years after coca cola, which is made with pepsin and kola nuts.  The cans and bottles replaced the traditional soda fountains in the 1920s.

When making sodas at home we can cut down on the amount of sugar and use fresh fruit without artificial flavour.  We can also use sugar alternatives such as coconut palm sugar.  The suggested syrups can be used in pancakes, French toasts, oatmeal, ice cream, smoothie or in a salad dressing combined with oil and vinegar. I also used the syrup to make spicy hot tea.

The taste and flavours of the carbonated drinks made at home will not be the same as the ones sold in the store and it is a little bit more work than opening a can :) but it is worth it because mass produced store-bought soda has chemicals, high fructose and corn syrup.
The appendix in the end of the book has recipes separated by seasons, which is helpful to pick one and get started.

If you have a soda stream, you can use it to make carbonated water then add syrup and flavour to it.  We can also control the amount of carbon dioxide that we put with this type of machine.     
I used the carbonated natural spring water from PC to make this ginger ale.  I made half of the ginger syrup recipe from the book.

2 cups of water
6" of fresh ginger root thinly sliced
3/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp ground ginger

Bring the water, sliced or grated fresh ginger and sugar to a boil in high heat.  Add the ginger powder to the syrup and let it simmer in medium heat for about 10 minutes until the syrup is half the amount you started with.
Strain the syrup through a fine mesh and let it cool.  Add 3 tbsp or more syrup to taste into 1 cup of cold seltzer or carbonated water and serve.  The syrup can be kept in the fridge for unto 5 days in a container.

President Choice also has a few new products just in time for back to school.  We all need some pre-prepared options for the busy days.  Here is a highlight of some of the products.

• PC shelf stable milk packets are safe to send in the lunch bags or to take on the go.  It can also be stored in the cupboard instead of the fridge.
• Individual cheese portions made with 100% Canadian milk makes a healthy smart snack.
• Peanut free individually wrapped snacks such as carrot cakes, chocolate chip bars, brownies and decadent chocolate chip mini bar make delicious snacks for anytime of the day and to send for school snacks.  
• PC honey chipotle kettle cooked almonds is a lovely snack for those who like smoky flavour. 
• The sour jelly beans are chewy treats for everyone who enjoys sour fruit flavour.  
• PC also has pita crackers and flavoured chips that are delicious for snack time.

This picture goes to black and white event hosted at tomato blues.

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LunchHugs review and giveaway

Having lunch at school is a time when children talk to their friends and play.  These cards from LunchHugs will entertain children during the lunch hour at school. It is something they can show and share with their friends as well.

My children enjoyed decorating the box to put our keepsakes.  We like the variety of cards that are in the sets. The jokes in the cards are funny, it is easy for children to remember them and use it with their friends. The fun facts, brainteasers, messages of love and encouragement will be really appreciated by children.

Lovable labels back to school package review and giveaway

Lovable labels was launched in 2003 by a mom who found the need for durable, tough labels that will test time and everything children put labels through. The product line is influenced by customer suggestions and feedback. The labels are available online to make it convenient to order from anywhere in the world.

As a parent or guardian, we know daycares, schools and camps require us to label everything we send with our children.  Lovable labels offer a unique choice of colour and designs that children and adults will like.  I liked that the labels come in a convenient booklet so it would be easy to find when we need to use it.  The tabs on the booklet makes it easy to know the intended use. 

When we personalize belongings, I find children tend to take better care of it and not loose it; this in turns saves us money. 
These labels grow with the child so it is a good investment to get the back to school package with over 165 labels.  In a household of multiple children it helps to keep things organized and personal where children will feel unique.
These labels were personalized for my daughter.  She was really happy to see the cool package of printed labels with her name on it.  She helped me choose the design on the net :)  
The cool mini metal bag tags will be treasured :)  We already put the bag tags on her school and sunday school bag for September.  My daughter has placed many of the labels on all her belongings.

Loveable labels

• are waterproof and bleach safe; therefore the labels can go in the dishwasher, microwave, washer and dryer. 
• will not fade as it is UV and temperature resistant.
• are safe from tiny fingers trying to pick it as the labels are made with good quality 3M scotch marking film. 
• The labels stick on all products with smooth surfaces, shoes, clothing etc. 
• Clothing labels come in 3 sizes and aren't meant for sticking on material.  Peel n' label on garment tags, care labels or nylon lining found in jackets and snow pants without the need to iron.
• The multipurpose sticker labels, slimline, square, fun stickers stay well on flat, clean and dry surfaces. 
• The shoe labels are perfect for inside the non-shiny insole of the footwear.  

The lunch box "lil'love" messages are cute.  Children will like to see these messages in their lunch box.  I pasted the stickers on little cards and transparent plastic paper so I could place different messages inside the lunch box and bag.  This way I could change it up and reuse the stickers to make a special moment during lunch.
There are many other unique products on the Loveable label site, do check it out for yourself.  Get the labels now so you can prepare and be ready for school in September.

Use this coupon code: BTS201213 during checkout to get $5 off on your $25 or more purchase until September 30, 2012.

Giveaway: If you would like to win this back to school package of unique labels in your style with your child's name then leave a comment on this post.  Giveaway is open to Canadian and US readers. It ends on August 10th.

Follow Loveable labels and createwithmom on twitter so it is easy to let you know if you win.

Like Loveable labels and createwithmom on Facebook so you know about special deals, contests and offers (not mandatory but would be nice)

Share the love of this giveaway by tweeting or posting on your site.
Update: The winner is sweet panda

Disclosure: This product was provided for me to conduct a honest review All opinion and rights reserved on written content and photographs Createwithmom © 2012. Please Ask First