Tuesday, November 2, 2010

WFLW - Autumn - ECO Lunchbox

I never got around to doing this week's Muffin Tin Monday, which had a "Trees, Leaves, Harvest" theme, since I didn't have any inspirations on what to do, and I was busy with Halloween. So I decided to make this week's What's For Lunch Wednesday bento an Autumn/Harvest theme instead. I just got my new ECO Lunchbox from CSN Stores, plus the extra one I ordered to give away! Really quick turnaround, considering I first posted about it on 10/25, ordered them on 10/26 and my package arrived 11/1! FIVE DAYS, including a weekend! (technically 6 days, but I ordered it in the afternoon, and it arrived in the morning, so I'm not counting them as 2 full days.)
Top section, left to right: Pear leaves, cherry tomatoes, Ranch cup, carrot flowers.
Bottom: Acorn PBJs, mozzarella leaves.
In the little separate container, I sliced up a pear (lengthwise) and used some leaf cookie cutters to make shapes. I sloshed them and the leftovers in some apple juice to prevent browning.
I sliced up a carrot and used my veggie shaper from Daiso to make them into cherry blossom shapes, and used a silicone muffin liner to keep them together. I put some Ranch dressing into a Tupperware Smidget for dipping and tossed in a few cherry tomatoes too, as they're starting to get wrinkly and soft. I need to finish them off quickly.

I used graduated acorn cutters to make 3 little PBJs. I can't stack 2 halves of a sandwich in the bottom half of this box, since the upper segment comes down into it a little. I might be able to on the top half, but I had already filled it and didn't want to take it all out and try. Probably could, actually, with maybe a little bit of squishing, but no worse than the Easy Lunchboxes.
My Colby Jack is getting a little moldy, so I opted for mozzarella instead and made 6 leaves out of 2 slices off the end. (The cheese we get is more of a large flat rectangle, rather than a stretched cube, like Tillamook and other brands. So 2 slices is just a little larger than a regular square slice.) I used a plastic grass baran to keep the cheese separated from the PBJ.
"I doan wanna neef peers. Jyoo eaddem."
She ate some carrots and dip, and 2 cheese leaves. I ate the tomatoes and the largest and smallest sandwich. She ate the middle one in order to get a tootsie roll from her Halloween stash. She shoved the pears at me right from the start, and refused to try any for the hour we dinked around after gym class. So I ate them. She did eat a box of raisins that I found in the diaper bag, so we got some good fruits in there at least.
Bento Lunch


ECO-Lunchbox Review and...
My VERY FIRST Giveaway!
It was a little harder to unlatch than I thought. I was able to open one side just using one hand, but I had to grab the box with both hands and cuss make a manly sound to open the other latch. One reviewer I had read said that her preschooler was able to open it himself. I doubt Z can, but we'll try.
All the reviews I read said that it's very durable and still stays nice after months of uses and washes. Mine probably won't be shiny after the first wash, because we get water spots like nobody's business! I hated touching it, since it looked so shiny and pretty! I didn't want to smudge it up. But it still looked good after packing this lunch in it, and I know I had pear and apple juice, carrot, cheese and PBJ all over my fingers as I was handling it! But it buffed up nicely with a quick swipe from a paper towel.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the little separate compartment came with it, as everywhere I found it, it was called a 3-piece set, which, for most products, includes the lids. This is actually a 5-piece, 3 compartment set. It was in the pictures, so I was assuming it came with, but nothing in the descriptions mentioned it.

To win one of your very own ECO-Lunchboxes, there are several ways to enter! [Contest ends 11:59PM on 11/15/2010, although I may take my sweet time forget about generating the random number to select the winning entry right away.]


  • Follow my blog, and comment on this post letting me know that you did. (If you are already a follower, just comment that you are!) - 1 entry
  • 'Like' my Facebook page and comment below (same as above if you already 'like' me!) - 1 entry
  • (Read and) Comment on any of my other posts between now and midnight 11/15/10 and comment below letting me know you did so - 1 entry per comment, limit 3. 

Comment separately for each entry. And (unless I already know how to contact you) either leave your email address or Facebook link on at least one of your comments, or follow up to see if you won and click on my profile, and the 'Contact Me' button to let me know where to send it! [I see people type their emails as "myemail (at) wherever (dot) com" which might help prevent spammers. *shrug*]


**I was compensated for the review of this product in the form of a $35 credit at CSN Stores. I chose an  ECO-Lunchbox for myself to review, and another to give away.**


_______________________________________________________________


I had 35 entries on my giveaway post and went to Random.org to generate the winning number! #13! Congratulations Leesa!


I sent you an email, so get back to me on where to send it! Congrats again! And thanks everyone for entering!

We are loving our ECO Lunchbox, and they aren't terribly expensive. $15.99 through Amazon (plus $6.50 shipping, but you may save if you get multiples) so $22.50, or $16.60 plus $5.95 shipping through CSN Stores for a total of $22.55 (and you definitely save on shipping for multiples, plus you receive it lightning fast! Everywhere else (including the manufacturer website!) it costs more than $20 before shipping.

I just received my new KidsKonserve round food containers that I ordered when Jasmere.com (a group-buy deal site) was having a deal (I paid $13 for a $32 code to spend on their products... actually I bought 2 codes!) I'll try and use the containers soon so I can tell you if they're worth it!

35 comments:

  1. wow looks like a handfull to get those leaves from the pear. I would probably eat up all the leftovers while cutting them away! I just followed you, let's see how lucky i get at winning. So far, no luck yet! haha.

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  2. Uh, what do I have to do to follow your blog aside from read the entry?

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  3. I like you, too. And since there aren't currently any other comments, and I have two, can I just get it. :) Do I get another entry if I make you smile? I should really just go to bed. Stupid coffee to keep me awake for stupid class cleaning.

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  4. I follow you and I LOVE The blog-
    kacyhoulton AT yahoo DOT com

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  5. I am also a Fan on your facebook page!!!

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  6. I commented on the gratitude project!

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  7. Read it! Love the lunch box- and your blog!
    -Danielle Gould

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  8. Hi, just found you through What's for Lunch Wednesday! I would love to win your giveaway! These boxes just look so neat! I am now following you here on your blog!

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  9. Found you through the What's for Lunch Wednesday...your title description is great! Wouldn't it be awesome if our husbands realize how much we do. I'm adding you to my blog list. Just beginning the bento box exploration, wish me luck!

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  10. I am now a follower! I love your blog and the bento you made is too cute and looks yummy!

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  11. I "like" you on Facebook, too.

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  12. I've read a few of your other posts and you had me cracking up. Great writing style!

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  13. I hath commented on 3 other posts. Good night and I'll see you in the morning.

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  14. Carson's 3rd comment entry [I do it this way - or you can - to make using random number generator easy! So I don't have to tack some extra numbers on at the end and try and remember which number went to whom.

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  15. I follow you on FB and read your blog. I have 3 laptop lunch boxes (1 for me and my daughters each have one) and I was finding it challenging at times to come up with a variety of ideas. You certainly help! I bought some fruit and veggie cutters and I found affordable butterfly shaped muffin cups at the Christmas tree shop! Thank you for all of your ideas and tips !

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  16. I love the leaf pears. And mini-sandwiches just might be more tasty to the eye than "regular" ones!

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  17. Oh, forgot to add - I also commented on 3 other posts: your MTM Goldilocks & the 3 bears post, the Creepy Blood Worms post (that still sends shrudders down my back!) and the donut post. I said it on the MTM post, but it definitely is worth repeating: the Goldilocks and incorporating MTM into your stories is really special for her. Awesome.

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  18. New follower! Although I thought I already was...lol

    stephd(at)sewfierce(dot)com

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  19. Stretching My Imagination comment entry #3

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  20. Love it! YAY for giveaways. I FOLLOW YOU!

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  21. I also LIKE you both in real life and on facebook ;)

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  22. So cute! I'm glad I found this blog - I really need the inspiration!

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  23. Commented on your Halloween candy post

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  24. Thought I posted yesterday that I followed you too, but I can't remember ;)

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  25. I am now one of your loyal bloggers who follow your blog. Thanks for all info you give.

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  26. You have a good Facebook page and I "liked" your page.

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  27. I like your Nursery Rhymes and the recipes you posted as well. Thank you, lots of people will enjoy those. Thanks

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Go ahead! Tell me how awesome I am. Or ask a question. Whatever.

(Please note that I had to disable Anonymous comments. Too many spam comments coming through the filters.)