Bella eating a bento

I kept Bella home today to give her one extra day to get better. She has been sick over the weekend. Nothing major but just trying to prevent a big croup flair up. Anyhow, I made her bento last night before deciding to keep her home. This is my Bella eating her bento. Love her.

At home with sick Bella. We are just hanging on the couch, watching movies. I thought I would catch up on blogging. Here are the past few bento lunches I made for Bella plus a new Ladybug sandwich cutter. My Morgan found it at TJMaxx....love her!

Bento Reorganization

I have a small kitchen and minimal storage space. I have to be creative with my bento storage, so it does not get out of control and take over. I some time reorganize, including purchasing new storage containers. Check out my new storage.

Fall might be on it's way but it sure feels like summer!

From the feel of the weather outside, I should be making fishy or summer themed bentos. I guess I wont complain since this means maybe trick or treating will be mild :) In preparation of Halloween, here is my Happy Face Pumpkin Bento. Once again, I made the sandwich using the cutter on each separate piece of the sandwich....Why didn't I figure this out?

Pumpkin Ham and Cheese Sandwich
Grape tomatoes
Pretzel sticks
Apple (that Bella picked herself at the farm yesterday)
Candy Icing spider

I figured out how to use my Lunch Punches!!

Thanks to a follower of my facebook page for Bentos for Bella, I now know how to use my lunch punches for sandwiches. I was making the sandwich first then using the cutter. I was told, and I can't find the post right now, to use the cutter on the two pieces of bread first, then make the sandwich. IT WORKED! Thank you, Thank you....I never understood why my sandwiches didnt look as neat as other people's! Now I love my Lunch Punches.

Here is Bella's bento for tomorrow. I used my crown lunch punch to make a princess and butterfly themed lunch.

Crown and Heart Shaped Sandwich - Sunflower Butter and Fluff
Grapes
Butterfly shaped cereal bar
Butterfly Shaped Cucumber
Raisins

Bento of the Week!!!

My LOVE Bento got Bento of the week at Bento Blog Network.......go check it out!!!!!



I missed a few bento posts this week :( Here is Bella's bento from Friday. She came home and told me she loved eating her happy face lunch! Makes me so happy knowing she eats all of her lunch.



Hard boiled egg
Grapes
Star Cheese
Star Fruit Cereal Bar

I love fall......especially for bentos

I love the fall. The weather change, the color changes, and fun bentos. I know it is a bit early for Halloween, but I couldn't resist breaking out some of my Halloween supplies. Now if I can just find my leaf cutters :(

THIS BENTO:
Turkey and Cheese Quesadillas (cut in shape of pumpkin, ghost, and bat)
Sour Cream for dipping
Carrots
Black Olives (Bella's fav)
Carrots
Veg snack sticks

I need to get my creative juices flowing

Busy busy night...Horsebackriding lessons for my oldest, grocery shopping, making dinner, dishes, and searching everywhere for the place I hid my fall cookie cutters. I only found the halloween ones. I can't seem to find my mini leaves. I am so bummed. Will have to look again tomorrow.

Tomorrow's bento:



Yogurt
Ham and Cheese Rolls
Red Bell Pepper Slices
Sugar Snap Peas
Ranch dressing for dipping

APPLE UPDATE: Just thought I would follow up the apple and gingerale post. Bella ate 1/2 of her apple slices from today's lunch. The pieces that were left in her bento box had the slightest edge of browning....not much at all....Not bad...

Lunch Punch take #2

I didn't have much luck with my Lunch Punches last time I tried using them. I tried them before with cheap white bread. The sandwich didn't hold up after punching. This time, I tried it with a heartier bread, the kind my girls should be eating, anyway. It worked much better! Here is a bento I made for Bella for tomorrow:

Sunflower Butter and Fluff sandwich in shape of a frog (eyes made from fruit leather)
Cheese crackers
Cut up cheese stick (funny, she won't eat it whole)
Apple slices (soaked in gingerale to keep from turning brown)

P R I Z E T I M E

PRIZE TIME.........How does it work??

1. You refer people to my Bentos for Bella FB page
2. They like my page
3. They post on my wall who sent them (that would be you)
4. They go to my blog and follow it

You get a point for every person you refer to my page, who does 1-4. The person who has the most points by Wednesday, 10/5/11 5pm EST WINS! You can also get an extra point for posting on my wall yourself ;)

WHAT DO YOU WIN??

A brand new BENTO BOX, as seen in this picture. Of course, your's will be brand new.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=214390485292554&set=a

How to keep apple slices from turning brown.....

I did some research to find some ideas for keeping apple slices from turning brown. I have tried lemon juice, but it alters the taste of the apples. I read about using gingerale. So, I tried it.

1. Slice up apple
2. Soak apple slices in gingerale for 10 minutes
3. Pack in lunch

Now, I tried this at home before sending to school with Bella. I put the apple slices in a baggie in the fridge overnight. They were perfect the next morning.

Leftover Bentos

I have been exhausted lately.....This past week, I did a left over bento or two. Didn't feel the same. I felt like I was cheating. But Bella ate it all. So slacking isn't cheating in Bella's eyes, or tummy ;)

My goal for this blog is to continue to post pictures of my bentos but also to review products, research about bentos, and share cool ideas. I need to work on the latter two. Please be patient with me while I learn to fit these in :)