A New Look for 2013

I have finally made it happen.  A new look for the new year.  I have been blogging for about 1-1/2 school years and I just knew I should have given it a good look before, if I wanted to go far and beyond. I was referred to a fellow bento blogger who customizes blog designs by another great bento blogger, Ludicrous Mama.  When asked to do a mock-up of what I like, I drafted in a piece of paper how I wanted my blog to be seen.  I made sure to impart the logo I have envisioned long before. Something that symbolizes my seal of love's approval for every lunches packed from home.

I have been preparing and packing school lunches for my children.  I must say that I really enjoyed it and have always sealed each lunches with LOVE.  That's how I thought about my logo and header design. It was tough, but I had a very awesome web designer, CustomBlogDesigns, who worked with me so well.  She's very patient, kind and understanding.  Best of all, she's very professional handling her clients and presenting her works.  And I say, I have done an excellent choice.

Thank you very much, Diana!  You have done a marvelous job.  This is the best Christmas project in my entire blogging life. You delivered so well amidst our holiday crazy schedules.

Happy 2013!  May you have more blessings to come for years to come!!

Christmas 2012 and a Winner

One of our most favorite holidays is Christmas.  Perhaps because of its festivity and the month long celebration filled with love, joy and peace for all of us.  It was indeed a long process to prepare for the event, but worthwhile to enjoy with the rest of your loved-ones. It has always been magical for us each year.  Things always turn out pretty well even when the tide gets tough.  God always find a way to make each puzzle piece fits into our not-so-ordinary lives.  That's one of the major things we are mostly grateful for.  The birth of Jesus is a symbol of unity, forgiveness and happiness.

This year I am also thankful for Goodbyn, a lunch gear that has given me the opportunity to know and truly love through my kids' school lunches. It was a pleasure reviewing their awesome product, and a real treat to give away a set to YOU in time for Christmas.

I have drawn my winner and it is my greatest honor to congratulate:

Kendra Peterson!

for winning a set of Goodbyn Mix and Match Set.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An email has been sent to you!

Please respond within 48 hours to claim your price.

Have the merriest Christmas to each one of you!

Thank you for all your love and support.

*Disclaimer: I have been provided a set of the said lunch gear to facilitate my review, and another set for a giveaway to my readers.  All reviews found herein are solely expressed by myself and my daughter's, as our own opinions based on my experience packing meals on the lunchbox, and hers using it.

Goodbyn Mix and Match Set Giveaway

Finally my Goodbyn Mix and Match Set giveaway has been set to go live for my Christmas Giveaway Event. 

Tis the season to share and give. SO, If you haven't read my review about Goodbyn's Mix and Match Set 2 weeks ago, here's the link for you to read first before entering so you know what you are winning for.  

Goodluck to all and may my luckiest reader win!

Happy holidays to all!!

xoxo!!

~Marie

The Hobbit {A Blog Hop}

I'm in on another interesting blog hop with my fellow Bento Bloggers and Friends.

This time to welcome the premier showing of "The Hobbit" in theaters today.

In my own honest opinion, this must be the toughest blog hop I've ever done.
I can't believe I've done a back to back hop.  Thought I wouldn't be able to deliver today since not a single idea is popping in my mind.  Since I am doing this lunch for my son, and there are no other ingredients I have on hand, Mr G brainstormed for his main entree. And I think, he's awesome.  He even mentioned that this is his most favorite lunch ever.

Ho-Ho-Ho!!! A Holiday Blog HOP

It is that time of the year again when the globe is lit with festive tea lights, air filled with holiday music, people dressed in fancy attires, everywhere smelled of scrumptious cuisines and delicacies, children opening presents, while everyone shopped and ate till they drop.

My families are Catholics and we live to its practices and doctrines by heart.  We grew up with the Christmas traditions of the Nativity, Christmas Eve Mass, Noche Buena, Christmas carols, Santa Claus and its reindeers and elves, exchange gifts, joyful celebrations, and everything else Christmas-sy.  My children believe in Santa Claus, and so did I when I was growing up.

To celebrate the holiday tradition, my Bento Bloggers and Friends Group are hosting a weekly blog hop with a FESTIVUS Theme.  Nothing religious.  Since there are a huge number of participants, we decided to break the hop into 4 weeks with 16-17 participants on each week.  It's the second week, so if you haven't seen the first week, find a link at the BBF Blog where you can revisit all the passed Christmas lunches.

I was originally going to make use of a book to inspire my entry for this week's hop. But things were not well for us to brainstorm a lunch based on a book.  For the spirit of Christmas, we have to celebrate and observe the holiday season with my fellow BBFs.

For this hop, I have packed a simple lunch to represent the ornaments we put up every year. It doesn't look as much festive as you see them at my home, but my children enjoyed them pretty much.

Missy A had a Gingerbread Lunch with a family of Gingerbread cookie (Dad, Mom, and Boy & Girl) all stacked together, which symbolizes togetherness. She also had a Sun Butter & Jelly sandwich with gingerbread rings as ornaments.  The grapes served as the festive lights that we wrap around our big tree and cozy home on Christmas holiday. All packed on her Lunchbots Trio container box.

K-Bento: Turkey Cheeseless Meal

It's the cracker bento days once again. 
This time it's Turkey Cheeseless Meal.

This is one of Missy A's favoured lunches ever.  Aside from it's easy to eat, it's healthy and filling.  Plus she can have a little bit of everything in front of her in a small box, except cheese. She's not a fan of any of it. So she has yogurt drink (not pictured) on the side instead. Perfect for the preschoolers and kindergartners, and toddlers alike.  Just adjust the portion size.

In her Goodbyn Small Meal Box, which appears to be her most favorite, is 4-5 pieces of whole wheat crackers, About 2 pieces of turkey coldcuts, cut into squares, and was held by a purple lion food pick.  She also has a portion of her brother's cubed red pears, and a Holiday Edition Oreo. Not sure if you can see the Snowman on the Oreo. But the kids are loving it.  It has a red filling.  The sad thing is, it has artificial food coloring. So be wary if you're someone allergic to it.

Be happy!

Happy Birthday, Missy A!

It's been 6 years now since I've given birth to our little angel.  She is the daughter that we've always wanted and a wonderful sister to Mr G.  They are inseparable. We love to think that they're the best of friends every parent would want their children to be.  And no, they're not perfect. As a matter of fact their imperfectness filled each other's needs to grow and learn better.

This day marks the birth date of Missy A. Nothing spectacular planned as compared to last year.  This time she opted for a smaller and simpler party.  Since it's a school day, we sent in 3 dozens of Krispy Kreme Christmas Sprinkle Donuts, juice boxes and apple slices for her class of 24 + 2 of her BFFs and 4 Kindergarten teachers.  We successfully pulled out 2 of her best buddies, which normally aren't allowed, from their respective classes to celebrate with her.  Thanks to their K-teachers for such kind accommodations.

I also sent in her birthday lunch bento on her Goodbyn Lunchboxes - Mix and Match - Small Meal Box.  I made chicken taco this morning, but she opted out for the corn tortilla shell. So she just had the chicken filling and a cracker instead with red pears and Golden Oreos.

 

After school, she requested for a playdate party at Chuck E Cheese. We booked a party package for 8 kids (for her 3 friends and sibs, plus Missy A and Mr G).  It was a blast! Since it was a weekday, the place was not even packed.  It was just us and another walk-in party group who graced the venue.  We almost had the place to ourselves. It was a fun, cozy evening for all of us. Parents got to catch up on everything and chowed the night away while the kids played and had fun. We liked it better this way. Invite only guests your kids truly interact with, and parents whom you know and care about.  That's what we call a stress-free party. Don't you agree?

 

Missy A had very few presents, but had her wishlists filled.  So for her it was the best night ever. We plan to do it that way from now on. Have the birthday child write up a wishlist and distribute them to inquirees. Whatever left unfilled is what we purchase for our birthday child.

 

Hope you had a fabulous and fun Wednesday!

~Marie~ 

DIY Chicken Taco

I am fond of Latin foods, which probably why I was so keen on learning to cook their dishes.  Of all the members in my family, only Missy A gives me a tough time to convince her to at least try before saying no. She did try it and had it for her lunch this day, which can be found on this post.



The lunch you see above was Mr G's. He had a shredded Chicken taco on a soft corn tortilla shell.  I made it double so as not to tear. He opted out for any cheese, and just asked for freshly diced tomatoes and salsa verde. YUM!  He also had red pears on the side.  All packed in his Easy Lunchboxes.

My chicken taco filling was made with chicken breast, boiled and shredded apart.  I stir-fried it with cumin and taco powder, salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm over corn tortilla.  Top with your favorite toppings.

This post has been linked up with
Grown-ups Gotta Eat Week 3.



Make lunch fun. Happy eating!

My Bento Tools:

Grilled Chicken Quesadilla & Holiday Napkins

It's my 2nd day to send something Christmas-y for the kiddos today.  I was planning on doing the 12 days of Christmas themed lunches, but as soon as I could find the needed supplies. For now, it would be just a touch of festivity.

Today I thought of putting out my electric grill for a chicken quesadilla.  I was thinking of cutting them into candycanes and  christmas tree, but before I could do it, the kids stopped me.  They don't like anything fancy today so I have to turn the triangular-shaped quesadilla upside down, and ignore the drive to decorate the tree-shaped quesadillas on their Easy Lunchboxes.



I am so glad I purchased Christmas napkins to go with the their school lunches. I got it through a good friend from Red Poppy Cards & Crafts over at Etsy.

She has a wide selection of gorgeous lunch cloth napkins for all occasions.
Need a specific design? Contact her and let her know that I sent you over.
I honestly adore all of her creations.  They're oh so affordable too.



Their lunches are similar except that Mr G had olives on one of his sides. Missy A doesn't like olives so she has broccoli instead with ranch on her pink cup.  Keeping my fingers crossed that she'd eat her veggies.

I hope you had a great lunch!

Aknowledgements:

Momables Lunch: DIY Pizza Buns

It's the first day of December and Christmas is almost here.
We plan to make all or most of our lunches Christmas-sy for the remaining 10 school days this December.  We don't own any Christmas themed cookie cutters, so it might be a little bit tougher for us  to pull our lunches together.  But we'll try our best and do the countdown.

It's the third today, so there are
22 
more days before Christmas

Today's lunch is inspired by Momables,

The Pizza Buns!

As all of us know, Momables always have an easy fix lunch. That's why I love them for always being so reliable and for fixing kid-friendly lunches all the time.

I don't have mini bagels on hand this time, so I made use of hotdogs buns instead. Actually I like the buns better because of their flexibility to fold together and  eat them like pizza sammies.  Missy A is not a fan of pepperoni, so she had turkey bacons on top with Mexican blend of cheese.  I made them a little bit festive by adding the gingerbread girl on the mandarin Cuties.

Mr G had a similar lunch except that he had pepperoni toppings on his pizza.  He also had  red globe grapes and red pears on the side.  Both lunches are packed on an Easy Lunchboxes.

For her snack recess, Missy A had some fudge coated pretzels and red globe grapes
with a mini apple juice. Snacks are packed on her Goodbyn Lunchboxes - Small Meal Box.

Tools used: