bento madness. madness I say!!!

Before I left for Canada I ordered some cute lunch boxes and accessories that I learned were called Bentos. I bought them because I wanted something cute and fun to help me with my portion control and it turned into something else.
A monster!!!

And so it begins. The pig head is a single level box found at the Dollarama. It was the only one left in the store so yoink. I so wish we had a Dollarama here in Orlando. It seriously rocks!  The shark box is a snack box found at Publix and the Hello Kitty box along with the top left and top middle box were bought at the T&T Super Market while in Edmonton. I wish we had one of those here in Orlando too. *sigh* I'm getting homesick already. How is that possible?

The two yellow rectangle boxes and the triangle boxes were purchased from this cute online shop BentoBonanza. I love that they have a spot for the cutlery and chopsticks and that it fits the Target dollar spot cutlery I buy for me Maribel.

I seriously can't wait to try out these egg molds. Basically you boil your eggs and while they are hot you peel the shell and gently fit it into the mold and submerge in ice cold water to cool down and they come out in that shape. It still boggles my mind a bit but I couldn't resist the chance to try them out. I'll let you know how it goes. I also fell in love with the little monkey jam containers. I think the banana as the spoon is so darling. Maribel gravitated to those right away and are already a favourite.

No Bento box is complete without some way to cut the sandwiches into fun shapes for a cute presentation and well, it's also one of the only ways to get them to fit into those tiny boxes. I found the butterfly and dinosaur sanwich cutters at one of Target's dollar spot and ordered the fun animal shaped cutters from BentoBonanza along with the food picks. Maribel liked eating her rolled up lunch meat from these sticks so much that she used the sticks to pick up every bit of her sandwhich. So silly.

Other Bento goodies include: silicon grass food seperaters; little animal cups from the Dollarama; purple trainer chopsticks for Maribel from her Aunty Vic; Wilton silicon cupcake cups from Michaels, little sauce containers with animal heads.

So I think this is a good start. And upon further research on what to fill these little treasures I came across a couple blogs that are so inspiring and have since added to my ever growing blog reader list. Wendolonia and Another Lunch. I think what I love so much about these is that they use leftovers which makes lunches easier for the busy morning rushed mom that I am.

So here is my first Bento. This is Maribel's for daycare today. I'm a long ways away from my lunches looking like any of the fun ones linked but I'm a newbie and will pick it up as I go along.
I fear I may turn into a Bento monster. It is a full moon after all.

>^..^<

aww that's so kawaii

"kawaii"

cute in Japanese

I can't help it. I've been putting little faces on everything these days. I think it comes from wanting to personify everything too. I'm always talking to my monitor at work and it has reached the point that my coworkers just keep walking. They are used to me by now. Or at least they fake it really well ;o)

(hand embroidered dish cloth with rain drops; Kawaii digital embellishments from Two Peas: I printed them on white cardstock and glued them to a magnet backing to pin up M's schoolwork on the fridge; hand painted a face on my paint brush cup from Joann's; Hello Kitty bobby pins: Target; embroidery floss I use to make kawaii faces; super cute "flair" buttons: Hot Topic; cute bread cutter and sauce containers for making lunch time fun from this Etsy shop; Mmm yummy Belly Washer Hello Kitty juice)

Since I have to pack my lunches now I was a little tired bringing them in plastic shopping bags so I found this cute frog lunch bag-or at least I think it's a frog- with icepack at Target last week and fell in love right away. It holds everything perfectly and the little icepack keeps it cool until I need to eat. Which seems so be more often now that I'm watching what I eat. Why is that??? Oh and I made the apple sack too so my pommes don't get bruised. There's nothing worse then a bruised apple from being packed carelessly in lunch boxes. Oh wait yes there is, bananas. *sigh*

I have been making quite the list of crocheted goodies for my new little niece. These books are so fun and easy to follow and super quick to whip up too. The apple and pear are from the first book they really took me no time at all as Amigurumi style is a single crochet all around. So simple and super rewarding. Keeping the brain sharp one stitch at a time ;o)

And if you haven't seen enough things that are super kawaii, here is my fresh little niecey poo, Magnolia Ka Wing Seaker-Wong. She is so tiny but super adorable. I can't wait til I get to pinch those cheeks!! Yes. I am the cheek pinching Aunty. I can't help it.

>^..^<

summer lovin'

Summer sure came in full force this year. We've been experiencing Hi 90's with lots of humidity and August is still yet to come. Aye yi yi!
So instead of hiding away indoors this summer, I thought it would be more fun to embrace the outdoors with some fun in the sun activities. Starting with the family favourite, the beach.

I couldn't resist these adorable beach molds seeing that in July we will be spending a week in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina with the ocean at our every beckoning call. But of course will will have to break them in at our favourite, Cocoa Beach, first. Maribel already tans better then I do, so not fair!!

I saw this movie for the first time last year and loved it. I wondered how I never saw it sooner. And while there will be enough family there to play with M in the sand I will be able to sneak in some time to catch up on my reading. This has been on my reading list for awhile so what better time then while on vacay!! I don't know what it is about reading a good book while the ocean waves crash at my feet. It's so calming. So serene.

Other finds include:
*Fun beach towel: Found at Target
*Lip gloss: SPF 20 which I need or my lips burn. True story.
*Red nail polish: Red toes always look so pretty in sandals ;o)
*Straw floppy hat: No beach experience is complete without one of these floppy straw hats.

Happy Summer!

>^..^<

kiss me, i'm green

As I sit outside on my lunch break soaking in the beautiful sunshine sucking back a Shamrock Shake I thought I'd share some lovely's I'm sweetin' on today. It's a wonderful day to wear green don'cha think?

-Pairs in Pears game: Finally a game where I smoke Joe's toosh! Come on, he wins at every other game we play, I can at least have this one .
-If I Only Had A Green Nose-Max Lucado: I love his books. They always have a great message presented so sweetly and in adorable artwork.
-Rolled rosette made into a hair piece: I made a bunch of hair pieces for my darling sister in-law and then one little one for moi. It won't be long before M steals it from me for her red hair. But I don't mind ;0)
-Altered Couture magazine: seriously so much inspiration here, I don't even know where to start...
-Stamps in glass holder-Anthropologie: If I've been good I get to play in Anthropologie.
-Jeweled centered flower: A converted flower made into a hair clip for little M. She loves it when I make her stuff. As long as she wants it, I will keep making it.
-Green earrings: that inspire me to make more jewelry ;0)
-Shirt, picture frame and file folders-Liberty of London: EEP! I was squealing with delight when I saw that Liberty of London was hitting the shelves stateside! I really had to refrain myself from over indungance so I brought Joe shopping with me, he keeps me grounded.

It's a shame I have to head back in when it's so beautiful out. But the sooner I go in and finish my work the sooner I get to go home to my lovlies and play Wise Man and Foolish Man.
Note to self, find a nich so I can work from home, or outside at least... 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

>^..^<

hey cupcake

With the busy holidays in November and December I got caught up with the hustle and bustle of the holiday crazyness so I couldn't post my fab finds and before I knew it January came and went. But this month I can't seem to get enough of cupcakes. I really have to contain myself from buying all the cupcakes I see as I've yet to meet a cupcake I didn't like. Yes, I love them that much.

I found some super cute material and trim for an upcoming project for little m&me; Hello Cupcake book with some awesome techniques for succulent cupcakes that are bound to woo any crowd coming to a plate near me; making clay cookies that I since turned into earrings heehee they are so fun; Valentine M&M's that I have to hide from the ever so sneaky almost three year old, I swear it's like they are born with a spidey sense or something for detecting sugary goodness; making dishwashing fun with a cute cupcake tea towel; serving JoeJoe some love toast on a heart plate; and of course some scrappy yumminess with some Doodlebug cupcake brads, Basic Grey Nook and Pantry paper, and a dollar cupcake stamp sprinkled with buttons. Ah L'Amour!

It's all I can do from not enjoying the sugar rush of creamed icing spread over a sponge of baked battered goodness everyday so I found that the more permament kind are the way to go. Plus they won't pass my lips straight to my hips *wink*

***My Fabulous Finds were inspired by Elizabeth Kartchner's blog entry called Monthly Merriment. She is very inspiring and it's such a fun blog to read. Go check her out here.

>^..^<

october finds

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I'm a little late posting this months finds but seeing that last week was pretty much a write off, better late then never ;0)

Hocus Pocus!
That is this months theme. I don't know what it is, or why, but this year I really have been getting into the spirit of Halloween. Maybe its that I finally got around to pulling out my Halloween decorations that I have been hording over the years. Or it could be the excitement of my dad coming down for another visit. Either way as I was digging out my Halloween stuff, I fell in love with my black cat candle holder all over again. I'm actually tempted to keep it out all year... just looking at it reminds me of my sweet black kitties back home, Spooky and Tansai, that I grew up with. I also stumbled upon this old photo of me as a child dancing with my Gramam. She's been gone almost a year, I miss her so.



Some other favourites include reading Harry Potter #7...again, kissing Joe with my Vampire teeth tee hee, finding a cool pumpkin soup recipe from my mother's "Old World Kitchen" cookbook, painting Maribel's toes all Halloweenie, burning my Hocus Pocus and Orange Sherbet candles *sniff* ahhhhh, practicing riding my witch's broom for the big night, lacey ribbon-man I'm such a sucker for lace, and googly eyes. My great deal was my eek. I had a 50% off coupon burning a hole in my pocket and so I found the last one of these so for $1.50 I snatched it up, and so glad I did as I haven't seen another since. Woot woot!

Have a spooktacular holiday!

>^..^<

j

september finds

It's that time again for my monthly finds for September which has turned into my favourite things with some good deals thrown into the mix. I have been drawn to purple and green as you can see ;0)


I love a good deal but lately I have developed a greater appreciation of what I already have. I believe it’s due to Joe still searching for work in this tough economic time and rediscovering lost things whilst throwing out the unwanted clutter.

But I couldn't resist picking this flick up-on sale of course. If you are a fan of Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas, then you would enjoy one of Maribel's movie choices of the month, Coraline. I think the record for the most watched in the day is 5 times. I really don't mind but when I'm about to brush her hair, she will cover her eyes with her hands and say, "You not sewing buttons in my eyes!" it's time to cut back. So we watch it 2 times a day now instead of 5.



Top left: We've been making a lot of cookies lately and this new gravestone cutter will be making an appearance this coming month. Along with the cute mini loaf pan that's holding my new fave mustache necklace.
Top right: Georgie was one of the first of Owlishly's little guys I made. I love his little grape suit, despite it taking me forever ;0)
Bottom left: My sister introduced me to this little book, and it explains a lot. If you are a Tim Burton fan, then you would enjoy this twisted story book. At least it gave me a better understanding into my sister's brain-HaHa
Bottom right: Another mini loaf pan (found at Michaels for $1) that will soon be filled with some delish Pumpkin Bread-yum! For now it holds buttons that Maribel keeps getting her little hands into. Again, I don't mind.

It's been so refreshing as I get rid of the clutter, that I have noticed that there is more going out then coming in. Ahhh I finally get it!

j

Other favourites and finds include: drinking hot chocolate in my Mike Wazowski mug; New wallet and hobo bag (the bag was on wicked clearance but the wallet was regular price so together it averaged out to be a good deal. At least that's how I justified it in my mind); chewing 5 gum; New crochet hooks with a bamboo handle-much more comfortable; New rosette heals (on clearance at Ross-love it!); tissue cozy I sewed with some cute clearance fabric; Coconut Lime Verbena hand sanitizer (I cant' get enough of that stuff); and of course watching Coraline in 3D!

august finds-and giveaway winner

I wanted to share some of my favourite things this month plus some good deals. With Joe still out of work, we've been watching our pennies but I can't help myself when I come across the "too good to pass up" deals. It also seems that red is my colour for August.



Mastering the Art of French Cooking; Throw out 50 Things; new Martha punch (love hoe it folds up for easy storage); Dr Martan's for $15 at Ross I remember paying $120 for my oxford docs several years ago; strawberry purse I crocheted for Maribel; stackable measuring cups from Anthroplogie; strawberry dish from Joann's; pin cushion that was my mother's; crocheted fruit from Ana Paula's book "Seriously Cute Crochet"; Sassafras "Me Likey" pp line; and Tucan earrings my dad bought me one business trip

And the winner of my lil giveaway is.......



YAY! Send me an email (the address is on the side) with your addy and I'll get this little sussie in the mail pronto!

Fabulous Finds!

Who doesn't love a good deal right?

Check out these wonders that happened into my shopping hands! Tee Hee!

Yellow top, Glass votive holder, and the little dish from Anthropologie (my new favourite store); Cute kickers, and Mossimo clutch, from Target; Serving trays from IKEA; yellow photo clutch; sweet new apron from Ross (gotta *heart* Ross);0)


I also included some of my favourite things that I have been diggin' these days. As you can tell, the colour yELloW is one of them. ;0) along with some studio g alpha stamps; my sweet iron turtle yarn holder; and of course Joe and I's new found love for the Bananagrams game! (We just won't mention how many times he kicks my butt. Nope. Shhhhhhh) LOL

Milo's tie (something that always makes me smile); some cute earrings; silicone cupcake bakeware. When I'm not chasing my subjects for pics, I'm caught playing my favourite game LocoRoco (this game is seriously the cutest ever! ;0)


If you notice the table I have everything on, it's one that my Grandaddy made many years ago. It's been at my parents house for as long as I can remember and when my Dad came down earlier this month, he brought it with him. I feel so blessed to have a little piece of his legacy. Family is so important to me and here is a photo of my mom (as a baby) with my grandparents. (My Grandaddy that built the table) They have all passed on so this family photo is extra special to me.



And just for kicks here is Mr. Milo sporting his spiffy tie. He looks like such a stud when he wears it around the house.



***I was inspired by Elizabeth Kartchner's blog entry called Monthly Merriment. She is very inspiring and it's such a fun blog to read. Go check her out here.

cheers!