Lavish and Lime Review and Giveaway

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Ever relish in those rare moments when the house is silent? I am. Right now. It allows me to clear my thoughts and focus on the task at hand. No distractions to get me off-track. You know what I mean? Okay, I admit it. Surfing the Internet is distraction enough. But sometimes, when you have little kids who drink more water than a beluga and are prone to spills, it's nice being able to serve up Nature's best in a bottle that is eco-friendly, natural and non-toxic, and better still, (insert hushed voice here) quiet. I am talking about CamelBak water bottles from Lavish and Lime.

If you were to ask anyone who has tried out a CamelBak water bottle, they will probably tell you how surprisingly quiet they are in comparison to other sport bottles. You don't hear that annoying squeal has you slurp on your beverage. This is why I wish all my students could have one of these in the classroom. You see, French periods can be as short as 20 minutes and so I encourage my students to keep a water bottle at their desks to avoid wasting time trekking down the halls to the water fountains. Oftentimes, they bring in (gulp) plastic, one-time use bottles which often end up spilling onto the floors. The Camelbak is great in that it has a spill-proof valve that can be retracted for travel and easily pops up by pressing on the release button. That's my daughter's favourite feature next to its colour. The 400 mL bottle also fits nicely in her new princess lunch bag.

Did I mention it's eco-friendly and non-toxic? (*smile*) It's easy to open and refill as needed and is also top rack dishwasher safe. If you buy the stainless steel version like the one we got, you'll need to hand wash it with soap and water. It comes apart fairly easily, although I sometimes struggle with replacing the valve. But so far, the valve seems very durable and able to withstand my daughter's relentless habit of incessant gnawing. You would think she was a beaver in a previous life. In any case, it is interesting to note that last year a study revealed that "participants drank up to 24 percent more water with CamelBak reusable water bottles than with other reusable and disposable bottles tested."

Lavish and Lime carries a variety of CamelBak Stainless Steel bottles and has now listed the new 750 mL Camelbak Better Bottles which are also naturally BPA-free. I love the new styles! I also love that Lavish and Lime is Canadian owned and operates out of Vancouver. They carry an incredible collection of natural and Canadian-made products from waste-free lunch gear and re-usable shopping bags. They are also very eco-conscious and are helping to make a difference in earthquake devastated Haiti. For every purchase at LavishandLime.com, they will plant a tree in Haiti through the non-profit organization Trees for the Future.

On another note, out of pure coincidence, I won another water bottle from Lavish and Lime through a contest that I forgot I had entered way back when through EverythingMom.com (which is a great site for moms, by the way.) It's a really funky glass water bottle from LifeFactory. I love the look of it and really enjoy drinking from it at work. It kind of makes me feel "cool." And refreshed, too! It is

BPA, phthalate, PVC, and polycarbonate free. And the unique design of the silicone sleeve gives it a comfortable grip and makes it virtually unbreakable. Don't believe me? Check out this video with Colin from Lavish and Lime as he tests out its durability by dropping it on slate stairs.

You can order the bottles mentioned in this review directly from LavishandLime.com. The Camelbak bottles for kids cost $25, the larger bottles for $30 and the LifeFactory bottles retail for $26. Shipping costs rage anywhere from $7.00 to $18.75 depending on your location in Canada. Shipping is slightly higher for US addresses. If you sign up for their newsletter, you can also save 10% off your first order.

One reader will win a $25 gift card towards their purchase at LavishandLime.com (not including any shipping costs on top of the $25 mark).

For you first entry, which is mandatory, visit LavishandLime.com and browse through their products. Then come back here and leave a comment on this post telling me what you would use the gift card towards along with a way to contact you if you win.

For additional entries, you may choose to do any or all of the following:

Become a fan of Lavish and Lime on Facebook for one entry. If you also leave a comment on their wall saying Toronto Teacher Mom sent you, add a second entry.
Become a follower of Lavish and Lime on Twitter.
Add my blog button to your website for one entry. If it's located on your sidebar, add a second entry. Copy code is located to the right.
Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom using Google Friend Connect.
Like the Toronto Teacher Mom Facebook fan page.
Subscribe to this blog by email or in a reader.
Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Tweet daily for additional entries. Feel free to use the following tweet:

Win a $25 gift card from @LavishandLime @TeacherMomOfTwo http://ht.ly/2TGMZ

Contest ends November 4 at 10pm EST. Open to US and Canadian residents. Winner will be selected using Random.org and must reply to the notification email within 3 days or a new winner will be drawn.

Disclosure: I received a 400 mL CamelBak for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any other way. The thoughts and views expressed in this review are strictly my own honest opinions.