We already had all the big essentials (tents, sleeping bags) for our recent canoe camping trip, but we had some new gadgets and food that turned out to be fun additions.

Food:

GoGo squeeZ Apple: One of the things I consistently miss when we’re out in the woods for a few days is fresh fruit. It’s heavy and bruises easily, so it’s not practical to bring along. Dry fruit is okay, and dried fruit strips are better than nothing. We’ve tried apple sauce containers in the past, but you need to dig out a spoon (and who wants to do more dishes anyway) and pack the containers out. So it was with delight that I discovered the GoGo squeez applesauce. We found it through my cousin and his wife, who fed one to their 16-month-old  while we were all out walking earlier this summer. Though probably meant for kids, the GoGo packets work great for grown-ups on the trail as well. You just twist off the top and squeeze or suck out the apple sauce. They come in other flavors as well (AppleBanana, AppleStrawberry, etc). I found ours at Target – I think it was about $3 or $4 for a box of 4. The packets fold up small when empty and are recyclable through TerraCycle.

Appealing to the Green-Minded: As part of their "doing good and doing well", GoGo squeeZ has partnered with upcycling pioneer, TerraCycle which they feel is a great attraction to parents… a snack that is both convenient and eco-friendly.

100% fruit, squeezable applesauce in convenient, re-sealable pouches that offer a wholesome snack for kids and families on-the-go • SqueeZ ¾ serving of fruit into your day with just one pouch • Gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and made with no artificial flavors or preservatives – it’s simply all-natural! • At only 60 calories, it’s a healthy snack to feel good about sharing with your kids • Kosher certified • Available in 7 yummy flavors: AppleApple, AppleStrawberry, AppleCinnamon, AppleBanana, ApplePeach, AppleBerry and newly introduced, AppleMango The first time I introduced Savannah to applesauce was the the GoGo squeeZpouches I found at my local Target. She enjoyed the apple puree I used to feed her as a baby, so I couldn't wait to see if she liked applesauce as she got older and ate more advanced more. Within what seemed like a minute, she has sucked the applesauce out of the pouch and was asking for more. I guess she liked applesauce. :-) So, I continued to experiment with other brands of applesauce, only to find her not interested in them. Instead of eating them quickly, she would either take a spoonful and spit it out, or just walk away. But, as soon as I gave her a GoGo squeeZ pouch, her eyes lit up and she smiled, as she grabbed the pouch from me and sat down to enjoy it. A few weeks ago, I found out that GoGo squeeZ was introducing a new flavor to their mix, AppleMango, as well as updating their packaging. I couldn't wait to try these with Savannah and see what she thoughts. So, the kind folks at GoGo squeeZ sent me a box to try, as well as a canvas tote and two apple squeeZy balls for the girls to play with. As soon as I had the pouches chilled, I took one pouch out of the refrigerator to give to Savannah. She hesitated at first, but after I tried it, she wanted some. From her initial try, she was hooked, and wanted more. Within minutes she finished this pouch and asked for another. And, that night I caught her sneaking a squirt of this tasty applesauce with her little sister. My husband walked over to them, and Arabella was licking her lips. I guess we have two GoGo squeeZ fans in our house. Have you had a chance to try this new flavor or other applesauce flavors from GoGo squeeZ? If not, you should give them a try. I especially love how they come in the handy pouches, which I can take on the go and give the girls as a snack. And, they are small enough for them to grab and hold on it. Within 2 days, we have our 4-pack box of AppleMangogone, and I found myself heading to the store this past weekend to pick up more. With summer coming, these handy pouches of applesauce will definitely be a staple in my diaper bag. ---BUY NOW--- GoGo squeeZ is available at major retailers nationwide, including Walmart, Target, Costco, Kroger and Whole Foods, for a suggested retail price of $2.99 per four-pack. For more information, please visit: www.gogosqueez.com or find them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. ---GIVEAWAY--- One lucky reader will win a GoGo squeeZ prize pack, which will include the following: · 4-pack of AppleMango · GoGo squeeZ “Always Play” canvas tote bag · GoGo squeeZ airplanes and apple squeeZy balls To enter, please complete the entries on the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck! About GoGo squeeZ: All natural GoGo squeeZ is a no-spoon, no-mess way to enjoy fruit on-the-go. These tasty pouches are jam packed with squeezable goodness that is perfect for kids to enjoy before, during and after play! Like simple imaginative play our products are always good for you, leave you with a smile and can be enjoyed anywhere the grand adventure takes you. GoGo squeeZ is focused on making the world a better place now and in the future. • Partnership with upcycling and recycling pioneer TerraCycle®, Inc. creates a way for families to recycle used GoGo squeeZ pouches • TerraCycle, Inc. is a global company that collects post-consumer waste and turns it into community playgrounds, affordable eco-friendly products, and much more

St. Joseph School recently won second place in TerraCycle’s Winter Waste Wonderland competition, a national contest. As the second-highest collector of lunch kits in TerraCycle’s Lunch Kit Brigade, St. Joseph School will receive 10,000 bonus points, which it can redeem for $100 cash. TerraCycle pioneered the concept of “upcycling,” which is taking materials that would otherwise be trash and converting them into other products by maintaining or improving the quality of the material. So for instance, Oreo cookie wrappers, have been turned into kites and juice pouches have been turned into pencil cases. Eighth grade parent Danielle Mergner has spearheaded St. Joseph’s TerraCycle program this year, recruiting the eighth graders to help direct the younger students in sorting their TerraCycle items and then in packaging them for shipment.

Community of Faith's Stepping Stones ministry participates in TerraCycle, a fundraising through recycling program. The following list of items may be brought to church and droped off in the TerraCycle bin located next to the Stepping Stones registration desk. Last year this program raised over $1,200 for use in commuity and other special projects.

I'm sad to say that I developed an unkeen, ungreen habit in 2011. Sometime after my son's first birthday, he went from eating almost everything served to him to being the type of kid who would prefer to exist off yogurt, mac and cheese, and crackers. Sigh. Frustrated, I'd wander the supermarket aisles trying to think of what I could possibly feed my picky son.

BENTON HARBOR - Two Twin-Cities area schools are finding a little gold in going green with help from a New Jersey-based recycling business. But perhaps more valuable are the lessons, say organizers.

Youngsters in Jayme Denis’ second-grade class at the Benton Harbor Charter School show off some of the items they are recycling for a profit. John Madill / H-P staff Students learning to keep more waste out of landfills BENTON HARBOR - Two Twin Cities-area schools are finding a little gold in going green with help from a New Jersey-based recycling business. But perhaps more valuable are the lessons, say organizers. "I think it's a worthwhile project for the students to learn that they can take care of the world they live in, and to promote a better way to treat the gifts that we have," said Principal Dave Snyder at Grace Lutheran School in Royalton Township. Grace Lutheran and Benton Harbor Charter School are working with Trenton, N.J.,-based TerraCycle, which specializes in collecting difficult-to-recycle items and keeping them out of landfills. The company contributes cash or gifts for the material school "bridgades" send in. The company pays for postage.

yumasun

Vicky Peck has a nickname some might find not so flattering, but she loves it when kids call her the “juice pouch lady” because it means they’re thinking about recycling. And getting kids to think about recycling is the first step. In two years, Peck and the students of Douglas Elementary School have recycled more than 55,000 drink pouches through a nationwide recycling program run by TerraCycle Inc. In return, the school has received $1,105 for enrichment programs, and the students have caught the recycling bug.