KirDevries

Eco-Friendly Shipping at Kir With Geami

I realize that not everyone shares my passion for packaging but I’m so excited about our  new (even more) eco-friendly shipping materials that I just had to share it with you.  At Kir we have always re-used every single piece of shipping material that comes in. Everything  from boxes to bubble wrap is  reused in our outgoing shipping. Thats not going to change but we are adding to the mix this amazingly eco-friendly box filler known as Geami. Geami is a paper based cushioning wrap that fully protects delicate and fragile products while protecting the earth at the same time. It is lightweight, compact and  made from certified sustainable & recycled materials. To top it off it is also 100% recyclable itself. So when you see that white Geami in your box please be sure to re-use or recycle it to keep the cycle going.

How To Pack A Bento Lunch

Bento boxes are all the rage and it’s no wonder- they are fun, easy to use and help you pack healthy portions. You can pack lightly with a double deck bento box or add a single deck for larger lunches and more food options.  Our new bento accessories also make it easy to add even more charm to your bento lunch. One of my favorites is the ringo mayo holder. This adorable little apple container holds your mayonnaise separately so you can add the mayo when you are ready  keeping your sandwich fresh and not soggy. The Furikake container is a great bento accessory that allows you to pack and sprinkle seasoning separately as well. The egg mold is also a great way to add fun hard boiled egg slices to your salads or other dishes. All of our bento boxes feature inner lids and tight seals enabling you to pack yogurt, apple sauce, dips etc without the messy leaks and spills. Here are some of my favorite items for bento lunches:

-          Apples and peanut butter

-          Veggies and dip

-          Salad & sandwich

-          Rice molds topped with shrimp and sauce

-          Veggie frittatas

-          Bagels with cream cheese

-          Pasta salad

-          Cheese and crackers

-          Fresh fruit

-          Stir fry

-          Leftovers!

 

Kir DeVries: Featured in the July issue of Better Homes & Gardens

What an honor to be featured in the "fresh finds" section of the July issue of Better Homes & Gardens. They featured the To-Go Ware Repeat Bamboo Utensils and it even made the cover! I keep my To-Go Ware utensils in my bag so whenever the boys and I grab lunch on the go I can feel a little less guilty knowing that I'm not polluting our environment with four more sets of plastic utensils. I also find the compact bamboo spork to be really useful for packing in their lunch bags with their bento boxes. So here's wishing you all a warm and festive summer, be sure to grab the July issue of Better Homes & Gardens while your out and about.

I Encourage You To Visit Iceland

One thing I  love about running Kir is making great friends all over the world. So when we received an order for Whiskey Stones from Iceland (a beautiful place that I have been lucky enough to visit) I just had to reach out to the buyer and say hi. Oddly enough this was just one week before the Icelandic volcanic ash disrupted air travel and brought the worlds eye on Iceland.  And so a new friendship formed as we banter back and forth about the amazing beauty and charm  of this often overlooked vacation destination.

Iceland is such a short flight from the east coast, in about the same time it takes to fly to California you can be enjoying all of the natural and cultural wonders that Iceland has to offer for much less than a European vacation.  Although I had gone for the fall Airwaves music festival, the lasting memories that I have of Iceland are all about the beauty and natural wonders (okay and the Blue Lagoon… I wish I would have gone back for a second day at the Blue Lagoon…). I just cannot say enough about this amazing country and  the lively and gracious people who live there. Below you will find some of my favorite hot spots and some actual pictures from our family vacation there. 

 

The Northern Lights: Photo: Arnar Valdimarsson, Flickr

The Blue Lagoon

 

Codie checking out the amazing waterfalls

 

Tris & I enjoying the natural wonders (and binkies...)