Reviews

Planet Box Lunchbox Review – Back to School

I’m wild about the new Planet Box lunch box. I found them online and the more I learned, the more eager I was to try it out. Caroline was kind enough to send one for me to sample and after receiving it, I promptly ordered (and gladly paid full price for) another one.

Here’s What I Like:

Made of Stainless Steel. There’s no worry about BPA, it’s dishwasher safe, and should last indefinitely.

Compartments. The Planet Box includes well thought-out compartments to hold a variety of lunch items.

Recycled Materials. The carry bag is made of recycled bottles and comes in three colors: red, green & purple. It also contains an insulated pouch to hold a reusable bottle and an area for napkins and silverware.

Cute magnetic designs. There are several magnetic designs to choose from. There should be something to suit every kid.

Cool Factor. It’s just plain cool. My kids love their new lunch boxes and can hardly wait to take them to school.

Small, family-owned company. This is a small company created by a husband and wife team, Caroline and Robert Miros. They designed the boxes and run the company themselves. They care about safe materials and children’s health. I’m happy to support their efforts.

If your kids need a new lunch box this year (or even if you do), definitely give the Planet Box a look.

Disclaimer: Other than the free sample I received, I have no affiliation with this company and receive no compensation for writing favorably about their product. I really do like it – enough to choose these lunch boxes for my own daughters.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: lunch box

Want To Build Your Own Empire?

by Beth 1 Comment

I’m going to stray a bit from the usual green-talk here today to let you know about something really cool.

Chris Guillebeau of The Art of Nonconformity is one of my favorite people on the web. As I told a friend recently, there are a lot of snakes in the pit, but Chris is definitely NOT one of them. Chris has two primary goals: 1. To visit every country in the world before he turns 35; 2. To help people build their own empires doing work that matters.

I’ve purchased a couple of Chris’s products and have never been disappointed. I bought Working For Yourself which is one of Chris’s Unconventional Guides and I participated in the $100 Biz Forum he co-produced with Pam Slim. Chris is honest and the information he provides is genuinely helpful. He has achieved success himself and simply sets out to show others how to do the same — but his focus is on helping you achieve success with your dreams rather than merely replicating what he’s done.

One of the things I really like about Chris is that there’s very little hype around his products. There are no pictures of him driving fancy cars (he doesn’t even own a car–this is by choice, not because he can’t afford one) or promises of earning millions while you sleep. His life and his message are about achieving freedom, not about amassing huge quantities of money. His advice is specific and actionable.

I’m telling you about Chris Guillebeau today because he’s opened up his most ambitious product to date. It’s called The Empire Building Kit and it comes with loads of case studies of regular people who have managed to earn between $50,000 and $150,000 per year doing things they love. The people profiled in these case studies run their own very small businesses with 3 or fewer (often no) employees. The most impressive part of The Empire Building Kit is that Chris will send one email per day for 365 days that helps you build your empire one step, one day, at a time.

If you’ve ever thought about building your own empire or about designing a life based on your own goals rather than someone else’s, I can’t recommend Chris’s products enough. Give The Empire Building Kit a look and see if it’s right for you. There are three different price points to make it affordable for all would-be empire builders.

Do yourself a favor and let Chris help you Build Your Own Empire in 1 Year. What have you got to lose?

[Disclaimer: I'm recommending this product because I truly believe in Chris Guillebeau and the quality of projects. Should you purchase The Empire Building Kit through any of the links in this post, you won't pay any more, but your purchase will help support Smart Family Tips.]

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Chris Guillebeau, Empire Building Kit, Self-Employment

Tiny Prints: Green Printing

by Beth 1 Comment

Today I’m highlighting one of our sponsors, Tiny Prints. They design beautiful greeting cards, thank you notes, business cards, invitations, birth announcements and more. A couple of months ago, Tiny Prints offered me a gift card so that I might try their products. I ordered a set of personalized notecards and couldn’t be happier with the ordering process and the quality of the cards that arrived. The design I chose is called “Perched Birds”. We have two children, so the four birds were perfect for us. The paper is heavy stock and the printing quality is excellent.

There are numerous designs to choose from in everything from sleek to cute and beyond. The best thing: their company actively works to green their business practices. All of the paper they use is either FSC certified or made from 30% post consumer waste. When I asked a representative from Tiny Prints, what steps they are taking to be more green, this was the response:

We went through an extensive checklist and walk thru with a member of the County of Santa Clara Green Business Program. They checked our appliances, recycling program, what kind of lights we use and more. After determining that we were a fit for the Green Business Program, our company was then reviewed by various compliance agencies in the area. We passed everything and are now certified green!

We:

Buy “greener” products (i.e. recycled office and kitchen supplies, items that are not harmful to the environment, etc.)

Send out Spare the Air updates weekly

Track energy usage

Turn off all electronic items that are not in use (shut off computers at the end of shifts)

Recycle proper items

Encourage staffers to use public transportation and carpool

While Tiny Prints is a sponsor of this site, I was not paid to write a positive review of their company. I am truly pleased with the quality of their products and with the efforts they are taking to green their business practices (otherwise I wouldn’t have accepted them as a sponsor). I’d encourage you to visit their site and see the designs for yourself. They are running a series of promotions and discounts on the site right now, too.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: eco-friendly cards, tiny prints