My New Bento Boxes... Yay!

I haven't checked in here for a number of reasons, mostly because I haven't been able to craft lately and this is, after all, my crafting blog.

But I miss being over here where things are light and fun, so I HAVE been reading blog posts, even though I haven't been posting here.

I just wanted to say that if any reads this and wants to know how my Laptop Lunchboxes are working out, I can give you lots of great testimony!  The kids are finding it fun to pack, and I've been inspired to buy or make some foods to make changing up the boring lunch a FUN lunch. 

Bento Boxes

Turkey & Swiss, veggie stix, peaches, & yogurt with strawberries

I remember when Lunchables came out.  I thought the packaging was so cool, but but I refused to buy them too often.  Not just because of the salt content, but because what I was impressed with was actually the little tray they packaged the lunch in!  So at home I just put the same food items in baggies and throw them in a lunch sack and send the kids out the door.

Just looks sort of boring compared to the top photo...

But I love the idea of a package designed like that, so I looked into the history of bento boxes - which are really just old fashioned Japanese lunch boxes. Instead of American style lunch boxes which consist of one large empty container, the bento box is a group of smaller containers - currently very similar to small Gladware containers.

I just think the different designs they have are so cute.  And I don't mean the panda style!  I like that it's a way to make lunch fun.  Even for a few months.  AND I like the fact that the portions are set, so the dietary intake is limited by the size of the containers.

So I did another search online and found:

I'm so excited!  I ordered two bento boxes like this:

Okay, but WITHOUT the food!   And like this:

...and the little containers come with lids, and they also come in a rectangular lunchbox that closes.

I can't wait to use them this week!  Plus the company sent along a free recipe e-book... well, I thought it was a recipe book until I opened it.  It is actually an e-book organized by season, full of photos like those two above, listing the ingredients in each photo.  So while it is not exactly RECIPES it is INSPIRATION!  And I love it, too!

I'll let you know if they are as practical as they are CUTE!!

Shrimpy blogger

In my last post I referenced other things that have been keeping me busy.  

I didn't tell all of them, though.  

It wasn't my kids (this photo is 2 of my 4 babies)...

Who start out small...

I DO have a wicked addiction.  

It is blogging!  Not to mention tweeting, but that's another story.

I love KitchenFunk, but the blog I have started that is nearest and dearest to my heart, though, is called... ~Creating Expectations~ 

Creating Expections will hopefully be a place parents can go to get tips on helping their children through school.

If even one parent reads it and gets inspired to work with their child and their child's school, then I will be thrilled.  So far it is a fledgling site, but I try to post on it or "Press" on it a few times a week.  Pressing is the term wordpress uses when you find an article you like on another site, and link it to your own.  This way you still give the original writer/blog their credit, but people can find it on your blog, giving you a post.

I hope to someday have other parents contribute to the site, adding their tips and views on working with their children and their schools.  Raising a child is hard enough without the added concern that they are falling short intellectually.  And for those parents who aren't aware that their child is not able to learn or is not learning what he needs to succeed, their are immense problems.  With the media's influence strengthening and parental focus straying, students today are at risk more than ever to lose their way.

Through Creating Expectations I hope to help parents understand that they MUST have a vision for their children's success, and that by keeping that vision in the forefront of their minds, they can guide their children to the future they desire...

And eventually grow up!

Oh, and if you are wondering why I called this post "Shrimpy blogger"?  No, I don't have a great new recipe.  It was Stouffer's Saute's for Two Cajun-Style shrimp Alfredo.  It was just the two of us eating tonight and it was GOOD (and it meant we didn't have to work - into the microwave it went...).

Leftover Pot Roast

Okay, I have decided I cannot keep up with my crafting because I have some obsessions that I did not expect to have.  Take quilting.  I know many people understand this.

And I have a few other projects going on that I've committed myself to.  And since quilting is so enjoyable, most of my crafting has gone by the wayside.

But tonight I come to you (is there REALLY anybody out there?) looking for recipes for leftover pot roast!  I got a great deal on 2 large cuts, plus it was buy 1 get 1, so I have cooked them both, and I have lots of leftovers.  I'm trying to premake more meals since working full-time has sent my grocery bills skyrocketing. Help me if you can!

Here is my own list, and the recipes are included:

1. Beef Fajitas

Recipe & Photo from SimplyRecipes.com

2. Barbeque Beef Sandwiches

Recipe & Photo from msflourgirl.com

3. Beef Pot Pie

Recipe & Photo from bestdietmenu.net

And I can't think of a single thing more!

Help!

Peas Make the Vase

During the summer I went a little overkill on my Sally and Goodwill shopping trips.  Here are just a few of the things I brought home:

I purchased this lamp sans shade with the intent to find a shade and put it on my desk at work.  I do NOT need  light, but I thought it would add a certain homey atmosphere to my cubicle (ha ha).  Guess where it ended up?  Hubby's side of the bed - he loved it! Oh, and I paid $5 for the lampshade, which was $1 more than for the lamp! Sorry for the mess, he's a big reader and even though I dusted, the table still looks beat.  Its ready for a remodel but I don't have time!! Maybe I'm shopping too much?

Another trip was done with the intent to find some vases.

I also found the dragon fly to the left of the lamps.  I'm not sure what it is but I liked it. I suspect that it might have once held a glass vase, but I'm not sure.  This haul was also $4.

I wanted to mimic THIS project, but use something like Candy Corn.  Happily, I found the vases.  Sadly, I realized that the amount of Candy Corn needed for this project was going to be highly fragrant - so whether on my desk at work or at home it would cause problems.  First because the animals would eat them, and second because I can only take so much of that sickly sweet Candy Corn scent!

But I used PEAS instead!

And here is how I started the vase project:

Now I just need to decide what I'm going to put in it...  sorry for the bad picture!  

Maybe its just that green is my favorite color, but I think the peas go with EVERYTHING!  

I hope you get the chance to be creative today!

Wall Decoration

What do you think about this?


This looks pretty funky, and I might give it a try in the hallway or family room.  Its from the online shop called Trading Phrases.

Something else I am thinking about is this simple modge-podge wall art from Blue Cricket Design:


Honestly, though I love the idea of using vinyl for wall lettering, I would just hand-paint the tree on myself.  The same goes for the birds in the bottom idea, but Blue Cricket Design gives a GREAT suggestion on how to create the bird shapes if you are artistically challenged by paint!

One more thing - I rescued an old pair of closet doors (yes, doors - but shutter style) and I'm not sure what to do with them. Any ideas?

I have been sewing my quilt squares this week (finally!) and I was getting SO excited as I was ironing them this weekend.  I can't believe I'm making a quilt.

I think I'm more excited than I should be - but I can't help it!

And I've also been sewing some other things.  I made some napkins out of some gorgeous fabric as part of a house warming gift for a young woman from our church who just bought her first house.  I will try to post some pictures this week. The few pictures I have aren't great, but I have some leftover fabric and I am thinking about making some more out of the fabric for other gifts.  Okay, maybe also for myself.   The fabric is so pretty!  

I do hope you get the chance to be creative today!  

Mid-Week Chaos Clean-Up ~ Link Party #1

Mid-Week Chaos Clean-Up!

If you are like so many of the crafters I know, your PASSION for your craft(s) is immense.  And this might mean that you are super organized, and you have a place for everything.  Or this might mean that you have so many activities going on at once, that you have little piles of craft supplies throughout your house!  

At our house, the latter is the case.  Thus, I have a HUGE interest in all things organizational.  Though it LOOKS like a losing battle, the process is half the FUN!  And I love to see how people put things together, clean things up, and (dis)organize their lives. So I'm going to try hosting a link party for the next few weeks.  

I hope you'll join in.  The rules are simple:
1. You can link up a room, a drawer, a building, or a shoe box. It just has to show how you organize, or disorganize, your craft supplies!
2. Link to the specific post and not to the main page of your blog.

3. Add the Kitchenfunk button to your post, side bar, or linky party list.

<br /> <a href="http://s1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff418/mygirlJanuary/?action=view&current=kitchenfunkbasicbutton.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff418/mygirlJanuary/kitchenfunkbasicbutton.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /> 

4. Visit at least one other project and leave a comment. We all love comments!

Then I'll feature some favorites on next Wednesday's Mid-Week Chaos Clean-Up Party!

*By linking up, you give me the permission to use your photo(s) from your post.

Check out last Wednesday's post for some popular inspiration.  

And here are two ideas to get you started (they are NOT mine!)

The blog Making Memories uses this magnetic
Ikea knife  strip to hold craft tools.  Useful & inexpensive!

Allie of Miss Lovie Creation shows off her messy desk on her blog.
But she does note that it is more fun to create than CLEAN!

Okay, let's get started!