Easy Bento: The Pumpkin Version

This is another one of the post that I am doing in a hurry, just so I can get it up in timely manner:/
I made these simple bentos for the kids co-op lunches today. No fancy cutting or decorating involved. Mostly just store bought, color coordinated elements:)

I put this lunch in the kids "Lunchblox" from Rubbermaid. So even though this looks like a lot of food (and it is more than I usually pack), it's really just aLOT of containers!

The bulk of this lunch was some fun pumpkin shaped ravioli that I found at Sams club. I cooked the pasta "al dente" the night before and included a small dipper of sauce. And while I personally thing that the kids could eat this just fine cold (HELLO!! Pizza lunchables anyone!?!) our co-op does provide a microwave. So I had the kids warm the whole thing for 30 seconds.

I packed a clementine (cause who doesn't think they look like little pumpkins?) and some baby carrots with a punkin pick in the medium size container.

In one of the small containers I put some vanilla yogurt garnished with fall sprinkles, and the other held pumpkin seeds and a pumpkin shaped york peppermint patty candy.

This is my daughters set of "blox" all stacked up and ready to be packed in her lunchbag:) I also included a juice smoothie box that is pictured in the first photo.

So there you go, another easy bento for your arsenal;) BTW, my kids ate almost all of this! There were a few carrots and pumpkin seeds left. But I think they really enjoyed the change up of the ravioli.

Deployment Care Package: The "Living Dead without You" version

I am SO excited to be sharing this care package with you!!! Not because it's the best theme, or even has the greatest things in it. Mostly because it may be the LAST care package I have to send! That's right, rumor has it that my Hubby may be coming home early! 3 months early!!! We will officially be one of those Army families that other Army families are jealous of;)

Anywhoo enough about me. Here's what you really want to see:

So even though we don't do Halloween in this house, I thought it would be fun for Steve to receive a "scary" box this month. And for some reason I kinda like Zombies:/ I haven't looked to deep into this, so I am not really sure why...Maybe it started when I was pregnant and my kids hooked me on Plants VS Zombies!

Anyway I started with my usual. A box decorated accordingly. I had the kids make "bloody" hand prints and we glued them to the box flaps. I put the saying "Without you we are like the living dead" on the final flap.

Then I filled it with theme appropriate goodies. 

First up the Entertainment stuff:

The newest zombie movie "World War Z", and oldie/cheap zombie movie "Rise of the Zombies" and a Zombie slaying game for his DS.

Next I put in some goofy/ stress relieving stuff:

An tiny "Adopt a Zombie kit", some squishy Nerf zombie bombs, and a "Grow a Zombie"

Then I added the Gross parts:

Some edible sour string "brains" and a creepy zombie mask

Whats a care package without Food!?! :

So I stuck in some Gummies and a thing of "Zombie Food"

Finally I put in some fun games:

Zombie Bowling, Zombie Dice & some Zombie playing Cards.

Personally I hope he brings the Zombie Bowling home with him. I would love to knock a few Zombie pins down:)

This was the first box that I attempted to embellish. You can see that I crisscrossed some "Zombie Outbreak" Tape that I picked up at the Dollar Store across the top of the box. I am hoping when he opens the box it will look the same...we shall see:/

So this box was fun even if it was kinda gross;)

Easy Bat Bento

So I am just popping in to put up a few pics of  my kids bento. I sent these this week for their lunch at homeschool co-op. They were super easy. And I thought I better get them up before the end of the month:P

These were suppose to be "Bat" themed.But that might be a stretch... We don't really do Halloween, however there are some aspects we can't resist. And when my kids found bat shaped brownies at the store, I said yes. Bats are not inherently evil;) Not to mention once we got them home and opened them, they actually more resemble butterflies:/

I had small ham sandwich on a Kings Hawaiian Roll, embellished with a fruit strip Bat cutout and some pringles in the left compartment. The middle compartment had some olives, and smaller container with some yogurt raisins and a Bat pick. The far right had a juice smoothie box and the bat/butterfly brownie. 

This is actually how I fit the brownie in with the juice box:) See how much that goofy thing looks like a butterfly even from this angle!

I packed this in our Rubbermaid Lunchblox boxes and was a little bummed, cause once the kids got to co-op their sandwiches were soggy:( Evidently even though I drained the olives, the little bit of liquid left seeped into the other compartment. Guess from now on I will only pack dry things in the multi-compartment version of this box. We have another version and it contains individual containers that stack together, so that may be better for wet things....

Bento-Quick and Easy, a Confession, and a Resolution

So I have decided to go back to posting what seems fun to me. For about the last year I was trying to "impress" all my non-existent readers with things I found to be popular. Or I was just using my blog as a baby diary;) But I am valiantly going to try and post more often, and of things that come naturally to me and that make me happy. These are the post I like to come back and look at and read, since I seem to be my blogs' own "biggest fan".

I do LOVE making fun lunches for my kiddos. Since we homeschool I only pull out the lunchboxes once a week for co-op. But honestly I look forward to this part of co-op a TON;)
Here was this weeks little Bento Box style lunch. My son had requested that I make "less" lunch, evidently I usually get carried away and pack to much food! So this was my attempt at packing a smaller lunch.

This little lunch contained: 3 rolled up slices of Buffalo Chicken deli meat, a stack of cheddar shaped stars, a tiny container of trail mix, a row of wheat thins crackers, a small handful of grapes, and to separate the grapes from the crackers I wedged a mini candy bar in between them:)

 I apologize that the coloring of this pic stinks:/ I make the lunches the night before, and there is no good lighting for photography in this house at night! I also may or may not have been lazy and snapped this pic with my IPhone...
My son deemed this lunch a success both in taste and size, so I may be using this little lunch container more often!

Deployment Care Package: The "Sweetest Comeback" Version (Hostess Snacks!)

I had the best inspiration for a care package for my Honey when Hostess brought back out some of its products in July! Right there on the package it claimed "The Sweetest Comeback in the History of Ever.".

And I thought how cute that phrase would be to use on a care package. Plus Steve's a junk food junkie. He literally searched our little town for weeks hoping for one last Twinkie when they went out last year! So I knew a Hostess Snack Box would be very well received.

Here are the basics of my box:

The most important element: The snacks! Originally I had planned not to put any chocolate in due to melting issues, but then I decided to chance it. I figure he may appreciate a melted HoHo more than most people;)

The Box: I put some cute Hostess colored scrapbook paper on the flaps. 

Then I attached this saying " Hostess Got it Wrong... When you "Comeback" That will be the "Sweetest"!

Extras: The snacks filled the box up most of the way. So I only had room for a couple extra things.

 I threw in his latest GameInformer and a pic of our little sweetie pie munching on one of his fruit pies:)

This was my finished box. All it needed was to be taped up and have the customs form filled out:) 

Hope my Guy has as much fun opening and eating it as I did putting it together!

Deployment Care Package: The Spring Cleaning Version

Most of you that read this know that Steve deployed to Afghanistan in February. Since he left I have already mailed him an Easter Care Package. However I have several theme care packages in mind. This is the first of them. I am sure it won't be his favorite box ever, but I had fun putting it together. I call it the "Spring Clean" box.

I started with a medium flat rate box, and jazzed it up a tiny bit with of Scrapbook paper and a little quote/song lyric.

Then I added the cleaning elements. Some dish soap (double wrapped!) for the occasional travel mug washing, a sponge & disposable cleaning rags, Magic erasers, pre-moistened dusting wipes that are safe for electronics, a fuzzy duster, and of course multi-purpose wipes.

Then I added the "smelly stuff".  A plug in warmer & 2 refills. Steve loves a candle, so even though I know he won't be able to light it I couldn't resist putting in the tiny candle. 

 Of course I had to include a few rewards for chores well done;) I put in the most recent issue of his gaming magazine, some k-cups for his office, a DVD he requested, and an adorable pair of yellow submarine boxers.

Then I threw in some notes from the kiddos, and a recent picture of them:)

Here is the finished box, packed up, ready to tape up, and ship out:)

Hope he gets a little smile from it. 

A Military Wife Poem...Lots of Moving

This was on FB today, and I loved it so much that I wanted to both share it and have it in a place I could save it:)

A Military Wife

Lots of moving...
Moving...
Moving...
Moving far from home...
Moving two cars, three kids and one dog...all riding with HER of course.
Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house;
Moving curtains that won't fit;
Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours.
Moving away from friends;
Moving toward new friends;
Moving her most important luggage: her trunk full of memories.

Often waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting for housing.
Waiting for orders.
Waiting for deployments.
Waiting for phone calls.
Waiting for reunions.
Waiting for the new curtains to arrive.
Waiting for him to come home, For dinner...AGAIN!

They call her 'Military Dependent', but she knows better:
She is fiercely In-Dependent.

She can balance a check book;
Handle the yard work;
Fix a noisy toilet;
Bury the family pet...
She is intimately familiar with drywall anchors and toggle bolts.
She can file the taxes;
Sell a house;
Buy a car;
Or set up a move... .....all with ONE Power of Attorney.

She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.
She reinvents her career with every PCS;
Locates a house in the desert, The Arctic, Or the deep south.
And learns to call them all 'home'.
She MAKES them all home.

Military Wives are somewhat hasty...
They leap into:
Decorating,
Leadership,
Volunteering,
Career alternatives,
Churches,
And friendships. They don't have 15 years to get to know people.
Their roots are short but flexible.
They plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come after them.

Military Wives quickly learn to value each other:
They connect over coffee,
Rely on the spouse network,
Accept offers of friendship and favors.
Record addresses in pencil...

Military Wives have a common bond:
The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands; his commitment is unique.
He doesn't have a 'JOB'
He has a 'MISSION' that he can't just decide to quit...
He's on-call for his country 24/7.
But for her, he's the most unreliable guy in town!
His language is foreign
TDY
PCS
OPR
SOS
ACC
BDU
ACU
BAR
CIB
TAD
And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his.
She is the long- distance link to keep them informed;
the glue that holds them together.

A Military Wife has her moments:
She wants to wring his neck;
Dye his uniform pink;
Refuse to move to Siberia;
But she pulls herself together.
Give her a few days,
A travel brochure,
A long hot bath,
A pledge to the flag,
A wedding picture,
And she goes.
She packs.
She moves.
She follows.

Why?
What for?
How come?
You may think it is because she has lost her mind.
But actually it is because she has lost her heart.
It was stolen from her by a man,
Who puts duty first,
Who longs to deploy,
Who salutes the flag,
And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military Husband,
She will remain his military wife.
And would have it no other way
--Author Unknown

Muffin Tin Monday: Earth Day Version

I have actually done a few muffin tins here and there since Gwen has been born. But they either weren't picture/post worthy or I just didn't have the energy to document them:/ I was pretty pleased with today's though and wanted to share. 

WARNING: If you have issues with food dye (especially blue) this is not the post for you!;)

I got my inspiration for today's tin from these adorable cupcakes I had seen on Pinterest. I was super brave and even let the kiddos help me assemble & bake these! They turned out really well, and were pretty tasty without icing. However the kids insisted that some of them have "atmosphere" or "clouds", AKA as frosting;)

I rounded out the rest of the tin with the following: Reusable cup with Blue Kool-aid, A Turkey Bagel Sandwich with a homemade earth pick, an all natural blueberry & yogurt smoothie pouch, some sliced kiwi with frozen blueberries (my kids prefer them that way!), our little earth cupcakes, and a handful of steamed edamame pods. I offered the kids veggie straws instead of the edamame, but they are addicted to the popping of the soybeans:) 

Gideyon is always photo bombing my tins!;) The cupcakes look miniature because I serve my guys food in jumbo muffin tins. They are 9 & 10, so a regular muffin portion of most things doesn't cut it anymore.

Happy Earth Day!

Linking up at the new MTM spot: http://www.anotherlunch.com/2013/04/muffin-tin-monday-earth-day.html

Pinned It, Did It!!! Baked Tacos

I am determined to actually post something besides my adorable every growing baby! SO here is my first of what will hopefully be a series "Pinned It, Did It!"

I have had this pin on my "Just Say Yum" Board for forEVVAHHH! But I am glad I waited  because my first pin was from "One Good Thing by Jillee", however recently a new version floated across Pinterest from "Mommy I'm Hungry" and that version seemed more up my alley. This is how I made it, modified it, and what I will do different next time:

Baked Tacos

Ingredients:

1 lb Ground Beef
1 Small Onion chopped
1 Packet Taco Seasoning
1/2 Small Can Green Enchilada Sauce
1/2 Can of Refried Beans
10-12 Hard Taco Shells
2 Cups Shredded Cheese of Choice ( I ♥ Sharp Cheddar, but you may prefer Mexican Blend)
Toppings of Your Taste: Lettuce, Tomatoes, Olives, Sour Cream, Guacamole

Directions: Brown Beef with Chopped Onions. Add your Taco Seasoning, 1/2 can of Enchilada Sauce, and Refried Beans and mix well with Beef. Stand your taco shells in a dish, and then stuff with the meat mixture. Then top each Taco with more shredded cheese than you should;) Place in oven preheated to 425* and heat for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove and serve with toppings of your choice!

They look yummy,huh? Well they were tasty, however as my daughter noted "Mom the shells are soggy":/ So next time I think I will try double heating the shells. I will cook them according to the pkg directions, then fill them and bake again.

Here is the pin link for the original recipe from "Mommy I'm Hungry" :http://pinterest.com/pin/69665125458465844/
You will note that I chose not to make as a big of a batch as she did. I was only feeding myself and a 9 &10 year old. So 10 tacos was plenty with leftovers (Ok not that many leftovers, I may have eaten 2 and then like 2 bites of the leftover one:/) I also have this thing about not putting tomato sauce in my Mexican recipes, it seems more like a Italian cuisine thing. So instead I opted to leave the can of chilies out and use a can of Green Enchilada Sauce that had been hanging out in my pantry for much to long. I thought the end result was a wonderful filling, it had a slight heat from using Green Sauce but not so much that my kids wouldn't eat them. You could add more sauce or beans if you don't mind your filling a bit runny. Overall I am sure my modified version will be making a reappearance on our table!

Gwenny @ 5 Months!

I could lie and say I am going to get these post up on time one day...

I know I say it every month, but I can't believe how fast it goes! This sweet little person, who is developing such a personality has been with us only 5 short months. Yet I can't imagine life without her!

This month had lots of fun stuff in it, and some not so fun sad stuff. Here is the run down....

In your 5th full month of life (Feb 5th-Mar 5th) you:

Got your first balloon, which you quickly fell in love with and did NOT want to give up!

Started rolling over! You roll from your tummy to your back the most, but you can also go from your back to your belly.

Your first Valentine Day. Which of course included a cupcake shaped helium balloon:)

Your very first solid food of any kind! Baby MumMums. You weren't sure about them at first but quickly decided you like them, and will grunt and let us know if you drop it!

Your first family pictures. Which you were NOT very good for. However you had a really good reason. Once we got home from pics, you got really sick for the first time. It was SO sad, and mommy was really upset about it. You kept vomiting, and were so listless, and then you started to dry heave and I thought my mommy heart would break. Thankfully you were only violently ill for about 6 hours, and then you were able to keep some breastmilk down and seem to mend quickly!

The sad part of this month...Daddy deployed to Afghanistan for the next year. It was so bittersweet to see you up next to his assault pack and realize how much more he must want to take you! We skype with Daddy on the computer as much as possible, and mommy tries to take lots of pictures of all the fun things you are doing since he left, but we all know it is not the same...

 Gilly got to give you a bath for the first time all by herself! She was super excited about it, and of course you were happy because you had a washcloth to suck on!;)

SO last month it was the hands. This month DEFINITELY your feet!! You can't get enough of them. If you are fussy sometimes we just pull off your socks and you are instantly distracted:)

My first attempt to post a video. I really wanted to remember your "growling phase". It only lasted about 2 weeks, but it was SO cute, and everyone loved it:) Sorry if you get sea sick watching, hard to video one handed...

And here are so memory worthy photos but not necessarily "firsts" or milestones:

Your beloved "Jumperoo" that I mentioned last month and actually found a picture of!

Daddy teaching you to drive. You already think you are big stuff. ( I know she doesn't have a bow on! It almost killed me to post this pic. I am guessing she pulled it off in her carseat:/)

Oh those eyes...I melt a little just looking at this pic.

You are cozied up and ready for one of our many shopping trips! 

One day I won't remember how small your fingers were, but here is proof that it really is the little things in life.

You look so chubby and goofy in this pic, and I love how you are clasping your hands together.

Ok here are the stats:

• You are weighing in at 13 lbs 4 oz at home this month
• You are finally in a size 2 diaper but have plenty of room to grow.
• Wearing all 3-6 months clothes now.
• Talking, laughing and growling this month!
• Rolling from belly to back mostly but occasionally the opposite direction
• Still a champion nurser, mom is hoping to get you take a bottle occasionally but you won't have anything to do with it:/
• Napping is NOT your thing! You take 3-4 cat naps a day. However most nights you go to bed around 8 and although you nurse in the night, you won't get up for the day till around 8 the next morning.

Such a little person now! I know that you will only get to seem like more of one from here on out. My squishy little newborn is just a memory already. You are so fun though that it is a pretty good trade off:)