Spider Cootie Bento

Spider Cootie (fruity onigiri), spider eggs (blueberries), wacky pasta, hot dog flower, carrots blossoms, red bell pepper spears, snap peas and salami/cheese roll ups with pickles, a gummy spider (or it could be an octopus..I dunno) and flower melons (under the gummy spider)

Today lunch once again made itself. I started with my strawberry fruity onigiri and that turned into a spider cootie. Bento Summer School Week 2 was focusing on kids finger foods and the feature was making onigiri cooties! Yes I realized I am working back words, but last week was just too busy and really I my brain just spun when trying to think of an idea for cooties. But because I hate not finishing what I started, I had to complete week 2.

After the spider was finished I wanted to incorporate this weeks theme of color. I used leftover wacky mac and tossed in butter and garlic. I got the idea for adding the spider eggs (blueberries) from a facebook post I saw from Katie at Katies Nesting Spot about spider egg sacks...lol Everything else that is thrown in there is things the girls requested for lunch..hot dog, cheese, fruit..so it worked out well.

The containers I used are these cute sandwich boxes I just found in the dollar bin at Target..so cute and a perfect size. You would think they are too small, but I was amazed at how much food I crammed in it today.

Today is What's For Lunch Weds Week 4 at Shannons blog What's For Lunch! Stop by and see all the awesome bentos from the past week!

Bento Summer School Week 3

C's lunch box:

Salami and cheese star sami with sliced grapes, blueberries, pickles, snap peas, cucumber flower, red bell pepper spears, mini orange on a bed of alfalfa sprouts, strawberries with Cool Whip and star sprinkles and star yogurt covered cookies.

M's lunch box:

Same as C's minus the pickles and her sami is PB&J

I have now come to the realization that I can no longer make a simple lunch. I honestly set out just to throw a sami and some fruit into our Easy Lunch Box containers..but before I knew it the box was unfolding in front of my eyes and ideas and colors were swirling through my head. I found myself rummaging through my bento supplies to find picks and cups...I couldn't stop.

So while I was on this path of creating I figured I might as well turn it in as my homework for Bento Summer School Week 3. This weeks theme is "Color" using fruit and veggies and not food coloring. So this is what I came up with. Wish I had more red leaf lettuce to layer in my box, but I ran out a few days ago. So I made due with what I have at the ready and I think it works, plus as always, it was a hit with my girls ;)

p.s. Isn't the mini orange cute with the stamped flower. Got the idea from Hapa Bento and because of the flower the girls were able to peel the oranges themselves!

Problems With My Email

*&$^%$#! Sometimes I hate technology! Saturday some program calling it's self Firefox (my browser)changed my proxy server settings and was trying to high jack my computer. I was not able to log on through Firefox or Internet Explorer. I called my internet provider (AT&T) and spoke to actually an amazing guy who knew exactly what the problem was an how to fix it...it was awesome, 10 minutes and I was back online.

However I still can not open Firefox. Not only can I not open it, I can not uninstasll it from my computer nor can I download an updated version..what the hell! I can only get online using Internet Explorer, which would be fine except all my settings, folders and saved info is on Firefox! It also seems that I can not access my emails. I can get into my box but apparently I am not receiving any. I have no freakin clue what is going on, but I can not live without my email.

To all my sponcers whom I am writing reviews for I offer a huge appology and ask for your patience while I try to get some technical support to fix these problems. If any of my lovely followers out there know anything about tech support or my problem I would LOVE the help. Just leave a comment since you can not email me at this time. I hope to be up and running again very soon!

Muffin Tin Monday - Surprise Leftover Tin

Perfect For 2

Left over El Pollo chicken breast, carrot sticks, leftover spaghetti & sausage

apple flowers and pieces, vanilla pudding with stars, melon and mini oranges.

Happy Muffin Tin Monday hosted by Michelle over at Muffin Tin Mom! I did not have time yesterday (as previously posted) to do my tin so I saved it for lunch today. I call this our "surprise" tin because as normal the girls put in their food demands requests of what they would like and when I set the tin on the table I said "SURPRISE". Obviously this tin was not what they had asked for (minus the apples), however I was pleasently surprised myself when they both looked at me after examining the tin and M explained "yummy", and C said" it's beautiful"!

Grandma's House Bento

M's Box: PB&J Owl sami with bologna for the wings and ears, thin sliced grapes and nori for the eyes and carrot beak. String cheese and salami roll ups with carrot flowers, melon stars and an apple rabbit.

C's Box: Cheese sami music notes with carrot flowers. Grapes melon stars and string cheese and salami roll ups.

Mommy Bento: Leftover rice and chili brisket from the night before. Spinach salad with artichoke hearts, grape tomatoes, car and flower shaped carrots and radish slices. Salad dressing stored in the adorable bunny and elephant condiment containers.

Yesterday the girls and I spent the afternoon at my grandmother's house. She is going through all her boxes of photographs so we (I) went over to help. Knowing we would be there for quite awhile I prepared the three of us lunches to take with. My grandmother got a kick out of them. Although she has Internet connection she uses it mainly for work so she doesn't get to my blog, so this was a first for her.

The girls as usual ate up all their food and I enjoyed going through all the old pictures. I found pictures of myself back in the late 70's, my mom as a toddler in the early 60's, even my grandmother as a child in the 40's. I loved seeing the old cars that today are now classics. Pictures of family members in their teens, when I have only known them in there older adult life. Pictures and memories of grandparents whom are now past.

I also now know where my love for motorcycles came from. Finding pictures of my great grandmother all suited up on the back of my great grandfathers motorcycle in the 30's. Seeing a picture of my great uncles fixing up their bike before a drag race in the early 50's...and so on down the line to me today.

I had the most amazing day of exploration into my family and my heritage and can not wait to someday share it with my girls.

Family Dinner Bento #1

Steamed green beans with red bell pepper flowers, sticky rice with carrot fishes, sliced brisket in a not to spicy, more savory chili sauce with sliced grape tomatoes and snap peas for filler. My "guitar picks" (get it) have nothing to do with this dinner but I got them while on vacation and have been dying to use them somewhere...lol

Dessert Box:

Cantaloupe hearts and stars, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, checkered apple and apple rabbits. Cool Whip is in the center flower cup for dipping...yummm!

Tonight it's just me and the girls so I thought it would be fun to make our dinner different....a family style bento. Never doing it before I thought it turned out well and C said it was the best dinner ever! I let the girls pick our their own dinner and arrange it on their separate plates, but when it was time for the dessert box we all gathered around it and dug in with our little hands and fingers. It was so much fun and the girls laughed and laughed all through dinner. C asked if we could do it again tomorrow...I said we'll see...lol

I had forgotten all about this box until a few weeks ago. Last year for my birthday our buddy "Cruzer" whom also happens to be C's God Father gave me this gorgeous lacquer 3 tier box for my birthday. He is half Japanese and is always buying me gorgeous soup bowls and table ware. So finding this box in my cabinet was perfect timing! I only used 2 tieres obviously tonight. Could not think of what to do with the other. I guess if there was more dinner quests I could have filled it. As it was the girls and I finished off both tieres with nothing to spare!!! Guess we were hungry..lol

Zojirushi Mr. Bento Sainless Lunch Jar WINNER!!!

CONGRATS to #70 Kiki 

 

 

I apologize for being a day behind on posting this..with so much going on I got my days mixed up and just realized this morning it was not Friday but Saturday...lol

Thanks you everyone for entering. I hope to have another fun bento giveaway in the future!

Mommy Bento #4

Last night it was just me and the girls. My mom was visiting with my grandmother so I didn't have to worry about cooking. The girls are always easy when it comes to a :throw it together" dinner as long as it includes mac n cheese..lol For myself I wanted needed something easy yet healthy with a side of fun.

So I came up with a spinach salad (the normal stand by) with carrot flowers, halved cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, a radish toadstool,  left over bbq chicken from the night before and topped with crumbled Gorgonzola cheese. A heart shaped onigiri with sweet/spicy chili sauce and strawberries drizzled with chocolate syrup for dessert. It was quick and delish! All served nice and pretty in our Easy Lunch Boxes containers.

Starry Bento & Bento Storage

 
It is good to be home! As much fun as we had visiting family, friends, taking trips and shopping, there is nothing like your own bed, kitchen and TV..lol The girls and I (along with my mom) drove back to San Diego on Monday. Mom is here for the week hanging out then she'll fly back to NorCal this weekend.

So while I am finally trying to catch up on all my emails, missed blog reading for the week past and finishing a 3 outfit custom order the girls asked for a bento lunch. Of course they did because I ahve nothing but time...lol

Granted it has been a few days since I made one for them and while I was brainstorming on what to do for my Bento Summer School Week 2 assignment, they shot down all my ideas. So I finally asked what they wanted and they said "stars". Lately C has been teaching M "twinkle twinkle little star"..not just the 1st verse, but the 2nd and 3rd as well. So a Starry Bento it became. Personally I think the real inspiration was the yogurt covered cookies we bought last night at Trader Joe's, but whatever.

So they both got identical boxes made with our Easy Lunch Boxes containers. Turkey and cheese pocket sandwiches, onigiri, strawberries, cantaloupe, blueberries, snap peas, yogurt cookies and banana chips.

I now have happy campers again so maybe I can get some work done..lol Speaking of but not really...Target has this awesome 4 drawer storage chest for $14 bucks!! I got mine last night and was too excited to fill it up with all my bento stuff. Now it is all in one place, organized (some what) and is easy access now that it is in my kitchen. Loving it!

Drawer #1

Small cutters, picks, mini cups, dividers, sauce cups

Drawer #2

Larger cutters, egg molds, onigiri molds, sami cutters

Drawer #3

Tins

Drawer #4

Cookie Cutters

FYI it's Whats For Lunch Weds #4 at Shannon's What's For Lunch blog so stop by and see all the yummy bentos from the week!

Happy Fathers Day & Left Over Bento

Happy Father's Day to all you wonderful dads! I am truly blessed to have a man whom is not only an awesome husband but an amazing father.Unfortunately we are not together for this special day but we have plans to celebrate together later.

"Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices
call him father!" ~Lydia M. Child, Philothea: A Romance, 1836

 

The other day the girls and I met up with my brother and soon to be sister in law for lunch at the New Lai Wah's in Sacramento. This used to be my "after the bar closed" hangout, only then it was just Lai Wah. While new owners come and go and the decor was different the food was just as amazing as I remember it. The highlight as always for me is their spicy/salty calamari..OMG amazing! M loved it so much she got upset when uncle Dave ate the last piece..lol

For my lunch I ordered the broccoli beef with lo mein and potstickers...simply  fabulous. With big pieces of beef (not the small strips you get at most places) the girls and I fed off this one plate and still had a full order to take home! So I thought it perfect for a leftover bento. It was just as delish as when I first ordered it.

It all packed up perfect in the new box I bought for myself before I left for vacation. My mom laughs and asks how many I need..hmmmmm.....guess we'll see...lol

Winners - JumpStart & Culturelle

JumpStart Giveaway Winner is......#35 Birdy's Boutique
 

Culturelle Winner is....#14 aledol 


Congrats to our winners and thank you to everyone who entered!

Bento Summer School Week 1 *Completed*

This has been Week 1 of Bento Summer School. The lesson plan for the week was about bite size bento foods. Along with a great tut on making adorable Toodstools and Snails, great muffin tin recipes, a video tut on how to pack a bento box and more. This was a great kick off to a 10 week course.

The assignment for the week was to adapt a favorite recipe to a muffin tin. Now besides muffins, cupcakes and Muffin Tin Monday, the only other thing I have ever made in muffin tins was mini meatloaf's. However that was mentioned in the BSS post so I didn't want to do that. I thought about something we make often and that the girls would eat. I quickly came up with spaghetti and sausage.

I bought this cute square mini muffin tin, used somen noodles, sauce and topped with mild Italian sausage and grated Parmesan. I "over cooked" my tin so that the edges could crisp up like when you make lasagna and that it would hold it's square shape. Surprisingly the noodles where still nice and soft and not over baked and dry. It was very tasty.

Snack Bento #1

Whale crackers, spider bellies (aka dried apricots), banana chips

blueberries and grapes

2 cheese sami's. C decorated her butterfly and M has a "high five" with "nail polish". Girl monkey condiment box with light mayo and salt water taffy we bought in one of the candy shops also in Old Sac.

Closed box..isn't it cute and only $9.00!

Bowling night. C has been bagging to go bowling again with her uncle since we hit the road Sunday, so that is the plan for tonight. Knowing my girls even though they will have dinner before hand, they'll tell me their starving and I'll spend too much money on crappy, unhealthy (yet still tasty) bowling alley food. So instead I decide this is a perfect opportunity to not only use one of the super cool new boxes I bought yesterday in Old Sac, but save me some dough too.

Mommy Bento #3

I got into a tuna salad kick after my last mommy bento, so here is another reworked box. Tuna salad with cheddar cheese on Orowheat Sandwich Thins. Cantaloupe and cucumber slices. Leftover Somen noodles tossed in EVOO and garlic and a strawberries and Cool Whip for dessert.