things i love: stasher bags

I LOVE MY Stasher Bags for sooo many reasons besides 'just' lunch, they're awesome for organizing all kinds of things at home and on-the-go. They're earth-friendly, super pretty and make perfect gifts for teachers, teens, moms, minimalists, neighbors, yoga teachers and just about everyone else. So while I do use them for lunch on a daily basis, I rely on them for SO much more. Now you can stay super organized, too. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

STASHERS ARE endlessly useful reusable bags made from super durable food-grade platinum silicone, so there are no nasty chemicals to leach into your food. They’re super easy to clean [you can even dump them in the dishwasher] and come in a bunch super useful sizes. Plus they’re pretty and come in so many fun colors, making it easy to keep track of stuff. I couldn’t count how many plastic bags I’ve saved by using my Stashers instead [but the company can and it’s 5.5 BILLION so far]. And they’re so crazy durable, I’ve never had a single one damaged, stained or extra stinky [and you can totally recycle them if they do eventually get that way].

MY FAVORITE USES FOR STASHER BAGS BESIDES ‘JUST’ LUNCH…

SCHOOL: Ok, yes, I totally love them for school. I use a few Snack Bags each day in both boys’ lunches [sometimes a Sandwich Bag too]. They are sooo easy to clean and I feel great about not wasting a bunch of plastic bags. You can also use them for things that live in their backpacks all of the time like hand sanitizer, lip balm, braces wax or mints and they’ll be totally protected no matter what else is floating around in there [nope, don’t wanna know].

SUPPLEMENTS: I drag a Stand-Up Mini or Sandwich Stasher full of my morning necessities everywhere we travel. It’s a little ‘breakfast kit’ with my first-thing supplements + vitamins, tea bags and a few other things that I need to start my day right. Whether we wake up on the bank of a river or in a lux hotel, I just grab my little kit and I’m ready for brekkie.

ICE PACK: My son crashed his mountain bike on a trip a while back and I used a trusty Sandwich Bag as an ice pack to nurse his jacked-up knee. It doesn’t leak AT ALL as the ice melts and I just stuck it back into the freezer when he was done to re-freeze for the next session. Stasher to the rescue.

TOILETRIES: The Stand-Up Mid is THE perfect size, shape and volume for carry-on travel. It has a really nice wide opening and the gusseted bottom makes it super spacious for ALL the stuff. I use a Sandwich for my youngest because he basically just has a toothbrush and then I make him the designated mule for the meds we drag along when we travel by air.

L’IL COOLER: The Stand-Up Mid or Mega are perfect as mini coolers for keeping snacks, lunch or even just a cold drink nice and cool. Stashers aren’t insulated, so you can’t drag your makeshift cooler around for a long time if it’s hot, but it’s perfect for bringing to work or the pool or even to the trailhead so you can dream about that cold iced tea at the finish [um, yes, I have def done that]. Pop an ice pack in there and you’re set. You can also use it as an 'ice bucket’ for drinks while you’re entertaining.

BIG OL’ SNACK BAG: I use a Stand-Up Mega or 8-Cup Bowl for ALL the packaged snacks when we travel. I fill it up with bars, meat sticks, trail mix packs, fruit strips and anything else we might need to fuel up on-the-go. When we’re ready to gear up for skiing, hiking or biking, everyone just grabs what they need to jam in their pocket or pack and off we go. Being able to easily see what’s inside is huge. I also use Snack, Sandwich or smaller size Bowls for individual snacks on-the-go, like loose trail mix, fruit + veg, dry cereal, crackers, pretzels, etc. I love that the Bowls stand up on their own and open really wide, so they’re super easy to get into.

TRASH BAG: I mean, you always end up with empty wrappers, snotty tissues, dirty bandaids, orange peels + apple cores while you’re on the trail, in the car or at the beach. Just stuff it all into an empty Stasher and chuck it when you get to a trashcan. The bags can go right into the dishwasher, so don’t be shy.

FOOD PREP + STORAGE: Apparently you can cook ramen and pop popcorn in a Stasher, but I haven’t tried it yet. I DO know that they’re awesome for keeping veggies fresh, especially when we’re camping or traveling. I cut up carrots, wrap them in a damp paper towel and stuff them into a Sandwich or Half Gallon Bag.They’re all ready to eat and stay super fresh for days [no weird dry carrots here]. Same with greens, like Romaine, which I do even when I’m home.

DOG WATER: Stasher Bowls are perfect for doggie water on the go. Whether you bring an empty just for them or repurpose one when your snacks are devoured, the wide opening is perfect for hydrating your pup in a pinch. Then toss it in the dishwasher to get all that gooey slobber off.

RESTAURANT + TRAVEL TOYS: Throw a bunch of loose Plus Plus, Pix Brix or Legos into a Stasher and you’re ready for anything. Choose a size that’s manageable for you to carry around and that provides enough pieces to allow for creative play. You’ll always have instant entertainment on hand at restaurants, appointments or anywhere else you need to keep kids busy for a bit. Check out The Best Restaurant Toys for my other favorite toys to stuff in.

GIFTS, OF COURSE: I love gifting Stashers to teachers [or kiddos] for Back to School or any old time of the year. Seriously EVERYONE can use a Stasher [or like 40] so even if they already have one, you can’t go wrong. Stuff a few fun snacks, treats, mints or a fancy lip balm inside and you have an awesome little gift for just about anyone.

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