Yeapies' Bento Place

Bento # 407 - Gong Xi Fa Chai back to school

2012-01-30T10:15:00.000+08:00

After one week almost “rotting” at home, finally today I’m returning at work. Not that I like working so much (I’m no workaholic); but having your blood & sweat hard-earned annual leave being deducted (we have shut-down) to sit at home is absolutely NO NO fun at all. After Baby Jo recovered, it was Zo’s turn to fall sick. She had missed school for 3 days on the last week before CNY and we even had to bring her to the doc on the 2nd night of CNY due to her worsening cough and fluctuating fever. The extremely hot and humid weather is not helping at all; hence we had spent most of the CNY holidays rotting at home. Thank God she is recovering well despite still a bit of cough but most importantly no more fever. I’m seriously very very phobia with “cough” after all the agonies we had gone through.

Today Zo and all her schoolmates will be wearing their own CNY clothes to school in conjunction with this auspicious occasion. This is actually the 2nd year the school is celebrating CNY this way. In order to make the day more ‘special”, I just had to do at least one CNY theme bento since I know I had been really lacking of late. {blush blush} For religious reason, we do not “believe nor promote” the “dragon” sign so I think it would be more “appropriate” to make a “Chinadoll” (representing Zo) to wish all her teachers & friends (and of course you too) 恭贺新禧，万事如意!!!

PS. Zo commented that the “Chinadoll” somewhat looked like Pucca. Well, it does as I had used it as an example and thinks she fitted well in the theme. Don’t you think so? = )

And the below pics showed how "bored I was.... =_="

Bento # 406 - Back to school 2012!

2012-01-11T22:14:00.001+08:00

Hello there everyone!!! Before I go on to swipe-off the “cobweb” on this blog, I would like to wish all of you a very Happy & Blessed New Year 2012!!! Some of you must be wondering where I have been for the past week since school had already re-opened. Well, if you are my FB friend, you would already know the reason. We did not start the New Year well and it indeed was a “blast” – A bad one that is. =( Baby Jo was diagnosed with pneumonia and had been admitted to hospital for a week. She was only discharged yesterday under the condition that we had to monitor her closely as she is still not 100% recovered. The doc had “pity” on mum whose annual leave had gone negative even before she started work in 2012! Today was the 2nd “official” day I’m back to work physically as I had been working from the hospital for the past one week. Well, do not want to elaborate more on our nightmares and I could only be grateful to all the prayers and love showered on Baby Jo. Am also very thankful that God had blessed me with the bravest baby ever! Can you imagine a 2.5yrs old whom had gone thru all the sagas for the past one week had not made a single squeal nor shed a tear and still remained her cheerful (not forgetting cheeky) and bubbly-self. It’s as if she knows and wouldn’t want us to be worried. It really touched our hearts deeply as well as broke it too seeing her like that. Am glad it’s over now (it better be!) and I surely do not want to go through it again, EVER!

All of us were anticipating for school to re-open as Zo was already missing her buddies dearly (as much as grandma is missing her 7hrs of “peace” at home without her. LOL). I had promised Zo to make her a nice “back to school” bento. But due to the above (Baby Jo was admitted a day before school starts), so much that the soul would want to, but the situation just doesn’t allowed. Well, a promise is still a promise; moreover it’s the first day of school. I’m already feeling very bad for not able to be there for Zo on her first day of school, so with hubby’s help to relief me for an hour so that I could just pop home and prepare the bento the night before and kept it in the fridge for Zo. This was the best I could do.

The “STD 3” back to school bento was mini sealed mayo meatfloss sammies. Zo initially asked me to just use alphabet picks for the words but I told her her mum could do better than that. Haha. I had used a girl pick to sort of represent her. There are some pitted fresh cherry and cherry tomatoes in the box.

This is the first and only “proper” bento I had managed to make since school starts. Had been packing Zo easy and super speedy bentos such as cookies etc as I really could not do much with the limited time I had to pop home to collect Baby Jo’s meals from MIL and pack clean clothes. This entire week hubby is away again so my schedule is still pretty much in a mess. Hopefully everything will go back to normal after CNY. If I do not manage to update this blog again until after CNY; I would like to wish all my Chinese readers

GONG XI FA CHAI 恭喜发财，身体健康，万事如意！！！

Bento # 405 - Happy "Oink-day"

2011-12-21T08:43:00.000+08:00

"Visitors" @ Sunday School

2011-12-19T13:18:00.000+08:00

we had some "visitors" @ Sunday school yesterday.... hahaha.... just something to "reward" the girls (dancers) for a great job at our church Christmas children outreach program.

(P/S: and I just realized "Ms. Pink" is missing her mouth. ooppss...)

Bento # 404 - Happy Bisssss-day gift bento

2011-12-14T14:47:00.000+08:00

Today we celebrated our Sec Manager “lunar birthday” as her actual birthday falls on our shut-down week. I had a lot pf pressure with today’s bento as I had never made a “snake” bento before and at the same time couldn’t find any references online too. Well, to be honest, who would make a “snake” bento for no reason right…. Finally, saw the one and only “edible snake” on the web using kiwi slices and I “improvised” mine with mini swissroll. I was quite happy with the result and hope lady-boss likes it too.

The only bummer was I could not find any quail egg for my “pearl” so just had to made-do with the smallest egg I had at home. The reason for the “pearl” was she is also the President of JCI Pearl this year. But was happy enough that I managed to grab the last packet of ciku (sapodilla) at the fruit stall, which is her favorite fruit.

老师，祝你永远青春，快乐，健康！

Bento # 402 & 403 - Doggies birthday gift bentos

2011-11-17T15:47:00.001+08:00

In the past 2 weeks alone, I had made 3 sets of “birthday doggie” bentos for my colleagues. I sure have lots of “puppy friends” eh?! LOL.

These are the 2 I made on Mon & Today respectively. Hubby and I had been hit with bad flu over the weekends and still struggling to recover especially hubby whom will be travelling again next week. I had threathened to destroy his driving licence should he dare to leave without being fully recovered. {evil wife} Due to this reason, my “brain” wasn’t at its best condition hence I had to “steal” the idea from my “inspirator”. Hehe.

Anyway, I’m glad that they all love it and I would also want to wish them a very very BLESSED BIRTHDAYs.

Bento # 401 - Happy "woof-woof day" to our 小妹

2011-11-04T13:24:00.000+08:00

I just found out that I had forgotten to upload this yesterday. It was for a fellow colleague’s birthday. Actually our dept is very closely knitted like sisters (except our boss whom is like a “papa” to us). I had been making birthday bentos for this colleague for the past 3 years and after looking back all the previous pictures. Am very proud (*ahem) that I had really improved a fair bit on skills. (must pat our own shoulders from time to time for some "self-motivation" ma. LOL)

So 小妹, wishing you a very happy “woof-woof” day, again. And hopefully I can still make you many more birthday bentos in years to come.

Bento # 400 - No trick but just a box full of treats! ^ ^

2011-11-01T10:35:00.000+08:00

Despite d girl’s objection, I think I at least needed to make 1 Halloween theme bento, just to join the fun. Though it’s a day later, but hey, better be late than never right?

Zo wanted to have some “meatfloss puffs” so I just cut some nori to decorate the puffs into Halloween ghost. Since it’s quite a last minute idea, I can’t seemed to find any carrots in the fridge so I just made use of the mini apple Zo got from TY’s birthday party pack (she kept bubbling this is the first time she ever sees an apple in a party pack) and turned it into “Jack O’lantern Apple”. I just love those candies pick. Don’t you think they made great “treats”?

Oh btw, I got this Halloween cuppie from a well known hotel together with the invitation to their Halloween party 2 weeks ago and had Zo brought it to school the next day. But I had told her to discard the sugar paste and only consume the cake. However, she only managed to finish half as she complaint the cuppie was too hard. So much of a well known 5-star hotel bakery eh? But since it's a gift, can't complain lar. LOL!

Bento # 399 - Eggtart "angry couple" birthday gift bento

2011-10-31T14:21:00.000+08:00

Just as I was over-thrilled that school closes from Tue onwards (until today) for Deepavali celebration, Zo told us that she was invited to her school buddy TY’s birthday party on Sat and that TY is her usual lunch partner (with other 4 more) and always admires the bentos I made for Zo. Ok lor… I got the “hint”. Thank God birthdays only comes once a year. LOL!

Zo said that TY’s favorite was the “eggtart Angry Bird” I made before. So I had asked hubby to pick up some fresh eggtarts from the famous Min Xiang Tai on his way back from the hospital (MIL had a minor eye opt) on Sat morning. I dig and I dug on Sat morning and thank God I found this new set of 2-tier bento box I bought from Japan yonks ago (that time Pg don’t even have a 100Yen Shop). And I “hated” myself for not even knowing what on earth “bento” was then when I was “so near yet so far” to all the tools I’m dying to buy now! So you think it’s “fated”? I’ll leave that for you to decide.

I had made her a yellow angry-bird couple on the upper tier. There were some boiled edamame (Zo said everytime she brings edamame to school, TY will asked to share), Korean grapes, cherry tomatoes and choco éclair as treats on the lower tier. Now looking back at the picture, I think the “female” bird kinda look like Garfield’s girlfriend, Arlene. Do you think so too?

Anyway, I’m very happy that TY love the bento to bits. And now I just hope that the mum won’t come after me if her daughter started to ask for a bento daily. Hahaha.

Bento # 398 - Happy Piggy-Day - NO angry-bird allowed!

2011-10-19T10:57:00.000+08:00

I’m not going to blow away the dust on this blog cz it’s no point of “sweeping” them off now and let it gather-up again. LOL!

Just a short post to wish my fellow comrade @ work – Cris

A very HAPPY PIGGY-Day

(no “angry bird” allowed ya! ^.^)

Bento # 397 - Happy Birthday to "My Melo-Yii"

2011-09-30T11:19:00.000+08:00

Today is one of my colleague’s birthday and she had shown her “interest & excitement” towards the birthday bento I made for this colleague last month; so I had planned to “surprise” her since then.

She was born in the year of the rabbit (oops… now you could guess her age. hehe) so it’s pretty easy for me to get ideas (since this year is the year of the bunny, I have tons of brilliant ideas from all the bento-ing mums). And when I saw the breadstall selling some steamed fluffy rice cakes; it just gave me the idea of my favorite bunny – My Melody!

I had used a small slice of a hardboiled egg as the face of My Melody instead of cheese as I think cheese would taste funny with the steam rice cake. Moreover, I’m not sure if she fancies cheese. Besides a bunny shape hardboild egg, I had also put in some boiled edamame, cherry tomatoes, green seedless grapes & choco candies as treats.

Wishing “My Melo-Yii” a very “Hoppy Birthday”! ^ ^

PS. Some update on the waffles. So far we had managed to try 4 flavors in total – Fresh egg vanilla, Cinnamon, Blueberry & Wholemeal Maple (still yet to sop any Banana) and I tell you, ALL of them tasted AWESOME! I have tried spreading them with Nutella & Peanut butter for Zo and personally, I still like mine the “classic” way – butter & maple syrup. I’m so going to savor them with a scoop of ice-cream on top and a cup of coffee this weekend and I’ll be floating in heaven!

Bento # 396 - Gardenia Waffles

2011-09-28T09:57:00.000+08:00

Yo Ho! My oh my… I can’t imagine it had been more than 2 weeks since my last post. No wonder the thick “cob web” on this blog. LOL! The economy is going down of late and all the companies are trying to cut cost in all the way they could. We as employees also have to buckle-up ourselves in order not to be the next “victim” (if you know what I meant). Besides the economy, my “bento moods & motivations” had been on the low side as well. Packing bento now had become more like a routine (sometimes even felt like a drag) for me more than a passion. I need a long break – seriously!

Ok, the thing that got me on today’s post was this – Waffles! I had heard the advert on radio few times and it got me, a waffle-avid very interested to check it out. Zo was very happy to spot them at the bread stall last night and literally squealed “Mummy, see see.. They have it!!!” (blush blush… a bit embarrassed as passer-by were staring at us). I’m not sure how many flavors they had but we only found 2 – vanilla & blueberry at the stall, so I bought both to try out. Zo wanted the blueberry ones and I just heat them up in the microwave this morning before spreading some Nutella on. I had used a giant Australian strawberry flower to decorate the waffles but later to found that it’s way too huge for the lid to be on. So I had to move it to the side on top of the grapes & cherry tomatoes before I could close the cover. On "convenience" point of view, it sure got full marks from me. As for taste wise…. I can only update you after I picked Zo from school this evening and until my next posting….. But my guessing was the only thing she would complain would be the strawberry is too sour. After having those sweet Korean strawberries, now even Baby Jo is not interested in any other strawberries except Korean ones. Yeah, my girls are really spoilt. Blame it on the mother! +_+

Bento # 395 - Blessed Mid Autumn Festival

2011-09-12T12:53:00.000+08:00

Happy Monday everyone. This is going to be a very short post as I had been packing speedy bentos for Zo last week (what else is new huh?!). But I packed some mini cartoon moonies with marshmallows and decorated with some heart shape balloon pick for some of her buddies in school in conjunction with Mid Autumn Festival today.

And since today is Mid Autumn Festival, I had packed Zo another speedy bento which consists of 4 different types of jelly mooncakes given by a relative to my mil. I just used some cute bunny picks to decorate making it look like bunnies playing on the moon. Since I do not have any “moon pick”, I just used the “yellow lolli” pick to represent the “moon” LOL!

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone

Blessed Mid Autumn Festival 中秋佳节快乐!

Bento # 394 - Love bugs on sunflower garden

2011-09-07T10:39:00.000+08:00

Hello hello! Don’t you agree with me that “good” times past faster than rocket speed? Well, that’s exactly how I felt on Mon morning. It was almost impossible for me to gather myself and goes to work. Even now it’s already Wed, I was still struggling this morning. Sighs. But one “consolidation is we did had an enjoyable and fruitful holiday which we got to spend a lot of time together (hubby took leave too tho he still need to work on call most of the time) and got most of the “to-do-list” done.

I’m still packing Zo speedy bento for the past few days until my “inspirations” return from its long holiday. LOL! While at the bread stall last evening, Zo requested to have eggtart for her bento today. So it’s another super speedy bento but the reason I’m posting this is to specially thank a colleague for the cute bumblebee chocs she gave me as souvenirs from her holiday trip. Thanks SH for today’s “love bugs in Sunflower garden”.

Bento # 393 - Happy "baaa-day" & "Sheepy Zo" bentos

2011-08-25T09:40:00.000+08:00

Hi there! Have not been updating this blog for a few days due to I had been packing speedy bentos for Zo for the past few days. Lately, I just couldn’t find the motivation to drag myself up from bed to make bentos and sure is glad that the holidays are coming. Hopefully I could find some “inspirations” after the break though I quite doubted it. LOL!

This coming Sat will be one of my colleague’s birthday but since we are not working on Sat (start of holiday YAY!!!) and she is off tomorrow, I had to give her this gift bento by today otherwise it’ll be too late until we resumes work on 5/Sep (Yes, we have a shut down of 1 week for Raya & National Day celebration. But don’t envy me as we had to take “force leave” for them! ISH!).

The birthday girl was born in the year of sheep same as Zo. I had seen this sheep onigiri long long time ago (way back when I first started, I think) from a blog and had been procrastinating to make it until now, which is just the perfect timing! However, due to some “technical problem”, the hard boiled egg cracked in the pot before it was properly cooked. So in order to “cover” the flaws, I had used it as the “filling” of the sheep onigiri. I just used cling wrap to wrap the whole egg with rice and let it stay to set for a few minutes before decorating it with ham & nori. Other goodies in the box are 2 pink cheery tomatoes and a skewer of blueberries.

Zo’s sheepy bento with mayo & meatfloss filling.

I’m not sure if I will be able to post anything tomorrow (holiday mode is set ON); if I don’t, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Malaysians “Happy Birthday” and all Muslim friends “Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri”. Drive safe and have a wonderful holiday!

Bento # 392 - HK farewell bento

2011-08-22T09:13:00.000+08:00

Good morning everyone… {oh.. it’s morning already???....oh my, seem like I just closed my eyes and it’s already morning….} Yes, you had guessed it right. I hardly had enough sleep yesterday and I blame no one except the few sips of coffee I took at 6pm from hubby’s cup!!! My eyes were still wide open at 1:30am and by the time I managed to doze off, my alarm clock rang! And now, I’m trying to type this post with “one eye” – ½ + ½ eye = 1 eye! LOL!

For the past few days I had only made speedy bentos for Zo (same goes with today due to the reason above) so I did not take any picture of them. Yesterday I made a “farewell bento” for our Pastor’s 2nd daughter E (R & H’s sister) whom is leaving for further studies today. She was very impressed with the 2 bentos I made for her sisters last week so I think I should make her one too before she leaves. I asked her what was her favorite cartoon and she said “HK or/and PPG”… PPG… so much that I wished I have the time but I really could not spare any time to make those colour egg sheets which I really sucks at. So HK saves the day.

HK is just a plain rice onigini using the HK metal stencil – a gift from this buddy. Since it’s just a flat stencil (quite big actually), I had to mould the rice using the help of some clig wraps with the stencil on top as guideline. Since its just plain rice, I had thrown in a packet of HK furikake to go with it and some HK shape SPAM. Side goodies are some blueberries and a “pink” (that’s what the label said) cherry tomato.

We would like to wish E all the best and we will miss her dearly and hope that we will meet again soon!

Bento # 391 - Speedy rib eye ham in potato bun

2011-08-16T13:56:00.000+08:00

Just realized that I had still not posted up today’s post as was tied up with work this morning. As usual whenever hubby needs to leave early for his trip, I’ll pack him an on-the-road bento to take along. So it’s logical (and practical) for me to pack both him & Zo sammies without charaben.

Today’s simple and speedy rib eye ham in potato bun. I just decorated the cherry, seedless grapes, cherry tomatoes and plum wedges with some cute picks and it still looks great (besides nutritious) even without any “intricate” work. So who said you need to spend a lot of time packing a good bento? Eerrmmm… did I said that myself? Heheeheee…. Anyway, I’ll be getting a “day-off” from bentoing tomorrow as it’s a public holiday. Eventhough my co doesn’t recognise it (Yes, I’ll be WORKING!) but at least I can sleep in a bit longer and does not need to worry about the crazy traffic since it’s a school holiday. Wishing everyone a great day!

Bento # 390 - Hey Whatcha Doin?

2011-08-15T13:24:00.000+08:00

No, you are not seeing double. As expected. When I did Isabella yesterday for R, I had already “anticipated” Zo would request for one too. True enough, she asked to have the same for today’s bento and even listed out the characters she wanted for days to come {slap head and fainted!}!

Since it’s the second time I’m making Isabella, so it was quite easy for me this time round and I think the “effect” is better. Well, as they said – practices makes perfect eh?! So much that I wished I could put in her famous tag-line; but I do not have so many alphabet picks to form the sentence, not to mention the space. So I just “summerized” it into “HEY”. LOL! Isabella is a Nutella spread sammie (I had used only white bread as I do not have pita bread at home and the hair & features were cut outs from the bread skin) with half a Chilian plum, a cherry tomato & a red cherry.

And if you would excuse me now; as I’d need to go find out how to make Candace (P&F sister) next. {sweat sweat..}

Bento # 388 & 389 - HK & Isabella birthday gift bentos

2011-08-15T13:20:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone. How have your weekend been? After nearly “drowning” myself with warm salt water the whole of Fri, I felt A LOT better and regained my voice on Sat. Tho still feeling a bit of sore throat (specially the waking-up moment), but it was nothing compared to Thu/Fri. Hence I was able to prepare 2 gift bentos for 2 very special sisters.

It was our Pastor daughters’ birthday yesterday (H - the youngest whom is same age as Zo) and this coming Wed (R- the eldest whom is already an “adult”). It was pretty easy for H since she is same age as my Zo (she is btw, one of Zo’s buddy in Sunday School) so it was pretty easy for me to know what girls that age likes. So her’s was a HK butter & sugar toast in a HK gift bento box. I added in a HK choco cookie, some Éclair chocs, cherry tomatoes & seedless grapes as treats. Simple yet easily charmed a 8-years old heart.

As for R – I got to know that she likes the cartoon (hey, even adults also deserve to keep a part of her childhood with her right?!) Phineas & Ferb (actually I personally kinda like this cartoon myself too LOL!) and her favorite character was Isabella. She is a very cute girl with the ever famous tag-line of hers “Hey, whatcha doin?” (in a very very cute tone). Hahaha. I happened to came across this super sifu’s blog weeks ago that she had been making Phineas & Ferb series bento which came in as my “perfect savior”. What I love most of this sifu was that she made the “awesomest” bento using the simplest ingredients and tools. I had taken her idea of Isabella with a slight twist of my own make-doing with the ingredients I have. Both girls were really thrilled and happy with the bentos and I’m very glad that I managed to add some joy to their already happy birthdays.

Bento # 386 & 387 - Happy "Monkey Day" birthday gift bento & Monkey girl bento

2011-08-12T09:40:00.000+08:00

Guessed I’ve over worn myself as I lost my voice out of a sudden last night without any warning sign. I was still “doing well” in the office but somehow I felt that my throat was a bit “tight” in the evening and I lost my voice just like that. It became worst at night as I can feel the pain even when swallowing my saliva. I had to get up few times middle of the night to gargle (and drink) with warm salt water. And this morning, I came to work with a super “sexy” voice. {blush} However, the girls were pretty happy about it because mummy has no voice to scold and shout at them. But then, I had forewarned them that since I do not have the voice, I’ll use the cane to do the “talking”. {evil mum! Hehehe}

Today is one of my dept colleague’s birthday and she was born in the year of the Monkey. No, she doesn’t look nor behave like one, in fact she is kinda gentle and an opposite to the animal’s behavior. So I was actually contemplating if I should make a monkey or a teddy bear which suits her more. Then I recalled I saw this very cute idea from this “sifu” blog long time ago so I gave it a try. I would consider it as a success as Zo could tell it’s a monkey. LOL! (I did it last night before bed and kept in the fridge in an airtight container as I expected I would wake up miserable today with a bad throat, how little faith eh?!).

It’s a monkey sandwich with chicken ham (ham bologna) as the ears and cheese face with nori eyes. Other goodies were a heart shape egg, boiled edamame, black seedless grapes and cherry tomatoes. Wishing BL a very very happy & blessed birthday!

Zo is having USA plums instead of grapes & tomatoes.

I hope everyone will enjoy your weekend and I also pray that my voice will come back soon. For now, I’d need to take a trip to the plant clinic and looks like a trip to the Chinese medical hall in the evening is also inevitable. Sighs.

Bento # 385 - Rib eye ham sandwiches in "Candyland"

2011-08-09T09:14:00.000+08:00

I had been suffering from “3S” since I opened my eyes this morning – sorethroat, stomachache & sleepiness and how I wished I could stay in bed with Baby Jo this morning. {To self: Yeah… keep wishing gal!} Hubby left for his trip again this morning while today is Zo’s first day of exam. Yes, what “coincidence” huh?! Anyway, back to reality where I had to drag myself out of bed and pack all of us some rib eye ham sandwiches.

I had made Zo’s into a 3-tier round shape just for fun and just decorated it with the other designs of the dessert picks. That’s all for today folks and I’m off to add another “S’ to my day – Sulk! =_="

Bento # 384 - Chip& Dale Nutella sammie and some "sweet" picks

2011-08-08T09:59:00.000+08:00

Good morning! This is going to be a very short post as I’m suffering from my Monday blues and feeling very sleepyyyyy…. Really hope that I could just sleep in for another 5 more mins…. Zzzzzz

There’s no big deal with today’s Chip & Dale Nutella sammies; but I just wanted to “show off” these news “candies & sweets” picks I got on Sat. It was quite a surprise for me to found them in one of the local supermarket. I first spotted them on one of the local online store last week but was very surprised to see them in the supermarket where I did my groceries shopping on Sat. I was initially contemplating to get them or not as I thought of popping-by the 100 Yen shop which is just downstairs; but luckily Baby Jo made the choice for me and refused to let it go so I had to pay for them. Then later, I found that the 100 Yen shop is not even carrying them yet. If you are a Penangite, you would have guessed which supermarket I’m talking about so quickly go and get your set as there are only limited units left.

Bento # 383 - Party bear kaya bun

2011-08-05T10:03:00.000+08:00

My cafeteria boss’ daughter recently spent hundreds ($ that is) for a baking course and had “taught” her mum what she learnt. So the mum uses her recipe of some homemade kaya bun and uses us as “guenea pigs”. My colleagues gave their thumbs up for the buns and since hubby is a “kaya fan”, I bought some home for him. I had used one of them to make today’s bento for Zo. I personally had not tried it as I’m not a “bun person”, if you were to know me by now.

Just a way to express my cheerful mood; I just made the bun into a “party bear” with the usual strawberries, cherry tomato & seedless grapes. It’s weekend people, let’s get the party moving! (ok ok.. I'm just trying to "de-stress" myself before the exams starts next week) = (

Bento # 382 - Silly o'l bear PB sammie

2011-08-04T10:06:00.000+08:00

This was “supposedly” what I had planned to make yesterday. But due to the bread stall was not open on Tue’s night; therefore I didn’t manage to get the homemade mini milk loaf which only this particular stall carries. Since the milk loaf is in the perfect yellow color, I do not need to use any cheese to help me with the ‘coloring”. And the size is also just nice for minimal wastage (it’s only the size of my palm minus the fingers). Plus Baby Jo loves it as she is getting bored with the plain ‘o white bread.

Today’s bento is a 3-tier peanut butter Pooh sammie with strawberry, cherry tomatoes and seedless grapes as sides.

Bento # 381 - Funny-faces fish nuggets

2011-08-03T09:35:00.000+08:00

Besides the normal cheesy nuggets that Zo likes, I had also bought a packet of “fish nuggets with seaweed” during my last grocery shopping. I made myself think that fish would be a “healthier” alternative even though, process meat will still remained as process meat. Since Zo is not a fish fancy (except fish & chips), I recon this would be a good way to add some fish into her diet, in a way.

I oven baked (I always oven baked my food compared to deep frying as a healthier way of cooking too) the nuggets and since I had some time to spare, I just punch some nori features to decorate them. And the bone picks just added to the cuteness. >.< There’s some tartar sauce in the HK box which I saved up from last night’s dinner to go with the fish nuggets. There are also some seedless grapes, strawberry & a cherry to complete the box.

Bento # 380 - HK choco cookie speedy bento & goodies from Germany

2011-08-02T09:32:00.001+08:00

I have friends and colleagues whom have been asking me if I pack bento for Zo everyday. Well, I do as long as it’s a school day because my dear picky princess is still not “open” to the idea of buying canteen food on her own yet (not to mention the canteen food sucks!). So as long as she goes to school, I will need to pack her a bento. But, just as some of the working bento-packing mum, I don’t always have the time to make kyraben (cute character bento) though I will try my best to make the bento as “interesting” as I could and if I have it, I’ll spend more time on the fine details. But sometimes, the soul is willing but the brain just won’t budge at all – if you are on the same boat as me you’ll understand perfectly how I feel. So what do I do during these periods? I’m sure all the bentoing mum would unanimously shout out – bento tools and decos!!! LOL! So hubbies listen (read) up, we do not just buy buy buy and spend on the tools for no reason (tho sometimes we do as they are so darn irresistable… hahaha), these tools (pics, cute barans etc) are real live savers specially when one’s brain is so blank and uninspired and trying not to be late for work. So hubs keep your peace otherwise you take over the bento packing department! {evil grins}

I’m taking today’s post as the opportunity to thank my sweet sweet niece for all the goodies she got for my girls from all around the world (she is a flight stewardess). And one of them “saved” my life today – the HK choco cookie! Zo had actually requested to have one at home last night but I told her off! The price and the inconveniences for my niece to bring them back to us aside, how can I let her just “waste” my “life savers” like that?! {muahaha… evil mum strikes} Since the HK cookie is already cute enough to kill, all I need to do is to decorate the fruits with some food picks and done! Isn’t it easy? Oh, I also added-in 2 M&S fruit juice gummies as treat after seeing Zo with the disappointed face (after being shooed off by me).

Bento # 379 - 4-tier rib-eye ham sandwich

2011-08-01T11:55:00.001+08:00

Today’s bento was rather simple and speedy and I had wanted to clear the rib eye ham in the fridge. So I had made Zo a set of 4 tier rib eye ham sammies. I know you may be wondering why the 4-tier sandwich looked so “low”. Well you see; I had initially wanted to make it into ‘rolls” so I had flattened the bread with a rolling pin. But then, the bread doesn’t seem to roll well and was in a mess. So I had no choice but to stack them up and decorated them with strawberry in the end. There are some seedless grape and cherry tomato skewers in the box too.

Bento # 378 - Sports Day HK SPAM & shaped pasta

2011-08-01T11:54:00.002+08:00

Good Monday friends! Hope you have had a wonderful weekend. Our weekend had been hectic but fulfilled. In conjunction with my eldest sis birthday yesterday, all my nieces & nephew went back to KL (my nieces are flight stewardess therefore they stayed/travels in foreign lands) to celebrate their mum’s birthday with her. And they also took a trip back to PG to visit my parents over the weekend so we got to have a “family reunion dinner” & enjoyed my mum’s cooking which we have not had for a long long time. In fact it had been more than 1.5 yrs since we last seen my eldest niece during our trip to SG last Mar. We had a good time catching-up and were sad that they could not stay longer (as 2nd niece needs to report to duty on early Sun). I hope that they will have more chances of visiting in the near future so that I could keep my promise to cook a scrumptious homecook meal for them.

Part of the reason that our weekend was so hectic was Zo had her school annual sports day on Sat. So I had been up and about and been busy since 6am that day. I gave Zo a choice of shaped pastas or dry noodles for her bento and she chooses the former. So I had packed her some shaped pastas drizzled with olive oil and baked HK shape SPAMs. The lower tier consisted of some seedless grapes, a packet of HK furikake, 2 cherries and a strawberry. I was also very happy and proud that Zo won the silver medal for her telematch game eventhough they could have gotten the gold medal if not of some “miscommunications & misinformation” among the teachers. But we are still proud of her for being a good sport.

Bento # 377 - SPAM bread onigiri

2011-07-27T10:19:00.002+08:00

I was surprised to found the 2 cherries from Monday’s bento on a plate in the fridge when we returned home. Later I found out from MIL that Zo told her she wanted to keep those to eat at home as there had been a girl (one of her classmate, AZ) whom had been ~~stealing~~ taking her food everyday despite her protests. She said she knew those imported fruits I gave her everyday were expensive so that’s why she wouldn’t want to bring them to school and ended up not being able to eat them. My heart sank upon knowing this so I told Zo to give AZ a “stern warning” that I’ll make sure to talk to the teacher or even her parents this Sat when we go to the school for the sports day if she continues on with her behavior (taking other people’s food with permission). It’s unfair to Zo and us as we did not pluck the fruits right from the tree at our balcony! We too need to work hard for the money to buy them and give the best we could for our children. I do not think of us being selfishness (even if I am, I'm just acting out of a normal mum whom wants to protect her own child). If I had packed extra for Zo, then its ok for her to share with her friends once in a while. But not everyday when Zo has only just sufficient for her own and AZ has her own food (she caters from the canteen). MIL had asked me to not give her those expensive foods in her bento anymore but later I found out that AZ not only took fruits from her (she had asked for a piece of her rib eye ham from yesterday’s bento) but also other girls whom brought “good food”. So does this means that I had to even stop packing Zo any bento just because of one bad behaved girl? It’s unfair and silly isn’t it? I had asked Zo to tell AZ this will be my last warning as I’m serious with my “threat” (talking to the teacher & parents) if she still doesn’t stop this nonsense!

Not being able to pack her any imported fruits for the time being (Zo said she is still having phobia, poor girl), I had to just give her some seedless grapes and cherry tomatoes which obviously AZ is not interested in. It’s not that these fruits are of any of the “inferior range” (and they are not cheap too) but it just saddens me that Zo would not be able to enjoy the berries that she loves in her bentos like she used to. Today will be the last day for Zo’s sports day practice until the actual even this Sat. So I had packed her a 3-tier SPAM bread onigiri for the “energy”.

Bento # 376 - My latest "obsession" on "Korean Flower"

2011-07-25T11:33:00.000+08:00

Besides hubby’s crazy schedule which left me limited time to breath, I was also being occupied by my latest “obession” – Korean drama. Erm… to be more precise; only 1 particular drama and 1 particular “character”. I’m not a person whom is drawn to all this idol craze easily, even since school time. But somehow, when I first watched the show at my hairdrasser’s, I couldn’t get my eyes (and mind) off it. I know, I know… I’m a bit “overaged” for all these. But hey, life is too short for one not to reward herself with some “eye candy” once in a while right? Heh heh heh…. And I seriously think that hubby should be “thankful” to the guy that now that I’m so “preoccupied” by this craze that I hardly had time to bug or nag him. Kakakaka….

Trying out my new tool and not having any idea what to do with them until I saw this flower seaweed puncher. If you are also a Korean drama craze, you may have guessed which show and which actor that had gotten me so obsessed and you would have also guessed my bento today was using their “team name” as the theme. Yes, you have guessed it right – F4 (which the F stands for Flower). I punched 4 flower noris to decorate the 4 mini heart egg mayo sammies representing the 4 main casts and the middle with a smiley face as the lead girl. Then as you can see, I have also skewed some edamame with 4 flower picks too. There are some really fresh and sweet cherries in the box as well as some black seedless grapes. Ok. I’d better stop here before hubby’s eye balls rolled out of its orbit skull. Wahahahahaaaa….

Much needed "retail therapy"

2011-07-25T11:30:00.001+08:00

I had been contemplating to get this sandwich mould for the longest time. What had kept me from getting it for so long? Knowing my “stingyness”, you would have guessed – the price! {blush blush} It may not sound that big of a deal to most but to me, for that kind of price for something that I knew I won’t be using often, it’s a BIG deal! So what got me to finally make up my mind? Well, let’s just put it that with the recent stress caused by hubby’s travelling and work, I do need some “retail therapy” to comfort my emotions. LOL!

Top left: Animal rice mould/cutter set, mini heart sandwich mould and a bento book by a local author – fount a bit “cheated” by the title. It’s basically a recipe book with very limited bentos. And those “bentos”… personal thoughts – you can pick anyone of my “sifu” here from my blogroll and I’m 101% sure they could do so much better than her! But the only compensation is that the book only costs RM18, so I’d just considered it as a “bowl of bad ramen flushed down the drain”. =_="

Bento # 375 - Minnie onigiri for sports' day rehearsal

2011-07-25T11:28:00.000+08:00

Hi there everyone… eerrmm… if there’s still “anyone” around… hehehe…. Life has not been a breeze (as if it had ever been..ish!) for us for the past few weeks due to hubby’s crazy turned NUTZ travelling schedule. I told him that we are now like living in the “Chipsmore spell” – now you see him, now you don’t! Besides not having the time to pack some “decent” bento for Zo, it certainly takes away the “mood & motivations” as well. I do still pack Zo bento daily otherwise she would have nothing to eat in school. But mostly were super speedy and simple ones so I did not bother to snap any picture or post them up.

This was actually the bento I packed on Sat for Zo’s Sports day rehearsal. I asked if she wanted pasta or rice and she gave a long thought and said “rice” and requested them to be in “ball” shapes – for some unknown reason. I was guessing it may have something to do with the telematch she will be playing on her sports day. Duh!

Instead of just making them into plain looking rice balls, I had turned them into a giant Minnie with meat floss & mayo fillings. This also “compensated” for my boring, plain looking speedy bentos for the week. Ok, I do feel a little bit better now. LOL!

Bento # 374 - "African Mickey"

2011-07-14T13:52:00.000+08:00

I was caught up by work this morning until I have totally forgotten about today’s posting. During my weekend trip to KL, I managed to pop-by this bento pal’s recommended baking supplies shop for a quick stroll. Since I have almost everything I needed from the shop with her help (thanks again dear!), I just thought of popping-by to see if they have any new stocks before we depart for home. And true enough, nothing new except this 3D Mickey cutter. So I didn’t really left the shop emptied handed and hubby’s effort for driving me all the way there was not wasted. LOL!

No, I did not burnt Mickey while toasting it if that’s what you were thinking. Hahaha. We still have ¾ loaf of the chocolate raisin bread at home so I’d better finish them before getting a new loaf of bread. That’s why you found “Mickey from Africa” in today’s bento. LOL!

Bento # 372 & 373 - Speedy "ready made" bentos

2011-07-12T10:38:00.002+08:00

Hello good Tuesday everyone! How was your weekend? I actually flew down to KL to meet hubby on Fri night as we had a function to attend on Sat morning. Then we drove back together on Sat evening. Everyone was thinking I went there to attend the rally. LOL! But honestly, if I could leave the girls with MIL for longer (can’t do so as MIL is not “indepenadant” and she deosn’t have any transport in case of emergency), I would (attend the rally). This was the first time both hubby and I were away same time leaving the girls behind with MIL alone since Zo’s birth and the first time Baby Jo sleeps without mummy since her birth. We called back on Fri night and Sat morning to check on them and were pleased to know that they behaved & coped well. But, I was “welcomed” by an “angry baby” (crossed hands, head down with a “HHHMM” and walked away to hid behind the sofa) upon returned. :{ But she was back to her normal self in no time after I pulled out all the “souvenirs”. That’s my “drama queen”! LOL!

I bought a lot of snacks during the short trip from Mark&Spencer and Lavender Bakery as hubby is off again for another (yes, I knew he just returned) week so I would want to save myself from going “insane” with all the rushing and juggling. My company was off yesterday for replacement holiday for the governors’ birthday which fell on last Sat. But I literally spent my off day on the road driving around the island running errands and looking for parking! Ish!

These are the 2 simple and speedy bento I packed for Zo. Yesterday was a peanut dorayaki from Lavender in the new Disney Princess box I got from the trip.

Today she requested for the raspberry puffs from M&S. we just loves M&S’s cookies. And this trip, I think I spent the most in M&S food section. Hahaha.

Bento # 371 - Shaun the Sheep is baaaacckk...

2011-07-06T10:38:00.000+08:00

I was sooooo flat out yesterday that I nearly fell asleep at red lights while on the way to pick Zo from school. Thank God I managed to keep myself “awake” and survived. By 10pm (that’s when I usually settled most of the housework and try to “wind down” the girls to prepare for bed) I was already 80% “out of my mind and soul”. I only managed to spoke to hubby for a short while (like less than 1min) over the phone before I completely konk-out. While I’m 98% off, I could still hear the girls giggling and bolster fighting in bed, all I could recall was I turned over and “scolded” them and next thing I knew, I was completely “unconcious”. So do not ask me what time the girls actually fell asleep or who won the "fight" as I had absolutely no idea. Hehehe.

This morning I woke refreshed… err… sort of (if I could still sleep in a bit more would be even better) and went to the kitchen to remembered I had cooked some rice for today’s bento. I had planned to make Shaun the Sheep onigiri for a long time but somehow it had been pushed and pushed until further notice {blush}. Since today Zo will be having her sports day practices again, I recon it’ll be more practical to pack her rice which is more filling. So here comes mayo meatfloss filling Shaun. Stay tuned people as Shaun the Sheep is bbaaaaaack! LOL!

Bento # 370 - Disney character toasts with egg mayo dip

2011-07-05T09:45:00.001+08:00

I woke up (or rather slept with) sore palms. Today is our boss birthday and we had planned for a small party in the office during tea-time for him. Thinking it would be easy with the help of my cookie cutter collections, I volunteered to make some mini “Disney character toast with egg mayo dip”. And oh how wrong I was. Thank God I only had to prepare for 30pax (just finger food) so I only bought a loaf of bread – the big one which consisted of 30 slices (with bonus 3 slices). Each slice could yield me 3 normal sized + 1 tiny sized (HK or Pooh) characters. So 31(I did not use the crusts) x 4 = 124pcs! But I had to confess, towards the last few slices, my palms are so sore (from pressing and punching on the cutters) that I had to “cheat” out by making 4 giant Mickey (1 slice yield 1 only) for the birthday boy. But still 27 x 4 = 108pcs + 4pcs = 112pcs is still very much a “killer”! X_X"

It took me almost 2 hours to complete them as I only had a small toaster oven out. The small tray only could fit in 8pcs of characters at a time of 3~4mins/toast. So you could imagine me, punch punch punch, goes into the kitchen, place them on the tray, set the oven on, goes out to the dining table (with fan, as the kitchen is too warm), punch punch punch again, goes into the kitchen, take out the toasted ones to cool down and reload again…. Repeated for more than 15 times!!! After I’m done with the toast, I still need to mix the egg mayo dip, but thank God this was an easy one. By the end of the evening after I have finally settled Zo & Baby Jo in bed, I was completely flat out but then I still had to wait for hubby to go online so that I could chat with him. And of all nights, he had to “choose” last night to be caught up by work in the office until late. ARGH! So much of hoping for some "comfort" from him eh?! : (

Anyway, I’m glad that I only had to do this once a year and if you ask me again, NO WAY I’m going to volunteer anymore no matter how many tools I have. ISH! Hope that boss will know the efforts I’ve put into it and boss, if you are reading this, you “sek cho” (know what to do) lar next year during review time. Kekeke….

Bento # 369 - Weird looking Hello Kitty cheese

2011-07-04T10:31:00.001+08:00

I was contemplating to post this up or not to. Had been feeling a bit “demotivated” in my bento making lately. Many a time, my brain just feel so blank and out of idea. And sometimes I just packed Zo cookies or just fruits. Which of course, made me feel like a completely lousy and bad mum! I’m beginning to feel tired and lost my “passion” for bentoing and started to feel like it’s a “duty” nowadays. Oh oh…. Not a good sign hor? Well, hopefully this will be just a short phase caused by tiredness & stress at work and home.

Today I just made Zo a simple sealed round sammie with meatfloss and mayo fillings. And I have topped it with a HK cheese. When I look back at the picture here, found that HK looks a bit weird here but I just couldn’t tell what went wrong. Maybe it’s the corn that I used as the “nose” was a bit too big and the eyes weren’t in the right position. Oh well, it’s too late to do anything now anyway and I don’t think Zo would even realize it. =_="

Bento # 368 - Miffy Puzzles

2011-06-30T10:12:00.000+08:00

I was supposed to make a “white angry bird” bento for Zo yesterday. But on Tue night, I was hit by a sudden food poisoning attack. I had literally spent most of my evening shuttling between the washroom and the bed. So the doc gave me a day of MC yesterday which I spent half of it sleeping. As for Zo’s bento, I only managed to pack her a plain boiled egg and edamame with some fruits. Very pathetic because even the edamame was over boiled. Though I felt a lot better today but I still feel some cramps and giddiness due to the medications.

I had learnt from this mama a creative way to use the Lunch Punch recently. I do not have the time to “decorate” them so nicely like her so I just made used of the Miffy cutters and punch to make a speedy one. I tried to toast “Miffy” to give it some tan but I don’t know why, the tan only shown on the back and not the front. Weird hor? To give some “colour” to the sammie, I had put a pink ribbon pick on Miffy. And this made me wonder, is Miffy actually a male or female? Hmm…

Oh ya, if you spotted something “new” in the box; yeah, there’s some new comers in 100Yen Sunshine Farlim. I popped by there yesterday afternoon to get some groceries and saw some new picks and boxes on the shelves. But I think I really had to stop buying anymore boxes but they are sure darn cute wor….itchy itchy hands…. So all you bento mamas in Penang, maybe you can start to plan a trip down there ya!

Bento # 367 - M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E or "RAT"?!

2011-06-28T09:06:00.000+08:00

“M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E. It’s the Mickey Mouse club house…” If you are thinking what you are thinking, you are wrong! AHAHAHA. Today’s bento has actually nothing to do with the cute M&M Mouse but instead was “inspired” by “rodents”!!! Yes, you “read” me right. I did mentioned RODENTS, RATS (they were actually toddler rats) to be exact! Lately our office had been infested by some rats and despite our facility personnel had set up traps and caught 2, but there seem to be more. I had the pictures of the animals but I will not post it up here to spoil your appetite and the purpose of this blog and scared all of you away. My "readership" wasn't much already so don't want to make it worst.

Some the colleagues in my department had put our “brain juices” to the test and came out all sorts of ~~funny~~ creative ways to get rid of the rats. There were some ideas by putting a picture of a cat on the table; drawing a picture of Hello Kitty and hang on the cubical wall etc. (now I realized I’ve been working with a group of “artist”!). It prompted me that why my cubical wasn’t in the “victim” list maybe was due to I had a picture of Zo taken with Minnie in Disneyland on top of my CPU. Maybe the rat thought I was one of its “kaki lang"(member) so “member don’t attack member”. LOL!

In the box is a couple of M&M Mouse cheese sammie using crab filaments as the “attires”. There’s also some plum wedges and a strawberry for the vitaC.

Father's Day replacement dinner

2011-06-27T08:53:00.001+08:00

Happy “rainbow Monday” everyone! (I had come out that in order to beat the Monday blues, best way is to “colour” them rainbow. LOL!) Days come, days go; weeks come and weeks go. Don’t you agree that time flies and especially when you are busy; they seem to travel in full speed? Just when I thought I could spend a relax weekend since hubby is back from his trip, he was down with fever and “bloatiness” (if there’s ever such a word) after an overdosed of “the king” on Sat. Blame it on gluttoness! Tsk tsk tsk! After a straight sleeps of almost 24hours (with occasions waking to go to the wc and food); he was back on his feet last evening (Phew! And I almost drop dead due to tiredness!)

Since we were both down with a bad course of gastric on Father’s Day and thereafter he had been away on biz. I had taken the opportunity to cook a meal of home cook dinner as “Father’s Day replacement dinner” for the family last night. Nothing fancy but just something that he and the family enjoys. Most importantly, is the "presences" that made this meal most enjoyable.

Top left to right down:-

Nestum prawns, corn-in-a-bowl (req by Zo), the dinner, butter baked cod (for Baby Jo), “bangkuang” stir fry, fried onion rings. MIL chipped in the “bangkuang (yam bean or jicama) stir fry” & “pork tummy soup” which was not in the pic.

There’s no bento posting today as nobody remembered to get bread so I just packed Zo a simple cookie bento with lots of fruits. Have a wonderful week ahead!

Bento # 366 - The "angry egg tart"!

2011-06-23T08:54:00.000+08:00

And the bird strike again!!! LOL! One of the project managers just got a promotion recently and to “appreciate” our supports to him for the past years, he had bought us some egg tarts from a famous local bakery as tea yesterday. There were some extras and I took one home and made them into today’s bento for Zo.

Initially I was just planning to punch some nori features and just decorate it into a smiley face egg tart. But then the bright yellow colour of the egg custard just striked me (yea, very “dramatic” hor?). Who says the yellow angry bird must be triangle in shape? Heh Heh. Best part of this bento is I could prepare it last night and keep in the fridge so I got to sleep in 15mins more this morning. Muahaha! I do not have any green pig pick so have to make do with the pink pig picks instead.

If any tool supplier is reading this; maybe it’s a good chance for you to bring in some “angry birds” tools now. LOL!

Bento # 364 & 365 - Disney's rice onigiris

2011-06-22T09:29:00.000+08:00

Hi there everyone! Have not been posting any updates for the past few days because of laziness. LOL! Actually I was down with a bad course of gastric attack again on Fri night. Then hubby also got it on Sat night with a fever too. At the end, it completely spoilt our weekend and Father’s Day celebration. As hubby will only leave for his trip after he visited the doc and a meeting in the office, I do not need to prepare him any on-the-road bento. So I took the opportunity to make a simple fruits bento for Zo on Mon. Weather had been really crazy lately and with so many people falling sick, I just had to boost her immunities with more fruits and water. Yesterday she wanted mini-cuppies for her bento hence; there was no update as well.

It had been quite a long while since I made rice onigiri for Zo and since today is her PE day, I thought it would be just nice to make her a rice bento which will be more filling and gives her more energy. The teachers are in the mist of selecting the members for the sports team for the upcoming sports day, so Zo definitely needs all the energy she could get to sustain her.

I had made her a Pooh rice onigiri with meatfloss and mayo filling. There are some plum wedges and strawberries to go with it. With ample left-over rice, I had also made 2 Mickey & Minnie rice onigiries each to share with my colleagues in the office. Of course, they love them to bits. Oh, and I have also used this very sweet and cute new bento box which was a gift from this great bento pal.

Bento # 363 - Not so perfect Marie Cat butter sugar toast

2011-06-16T09:10:00.000+08:00

As mentioned yesterday, I’m going to make Zo a Marie Cat bento today. But I wasn’t really satisfied with the end results. Tho I pressed hard on the puncher (even until the bread are as thin as a cookie), but the feature imprints doesn’t seemed to be prominent. I thought it would help for the features to be more obvious by toasting it, but then I guess I’m wrong. Maybe it’s because I had spread butter and sugar on it before toasting? Hmm.. I wonder….

Today’s no so perfect Marie Cat butter & Sugar toasts in the perfect match Marie Cat bento box.

Anyway, I think Zo would be quite happy with today’s bento as this is the very first time she is having Marie in her box. But I surely need to figure out how to resolve the imprints issue. Any advices from any of my “si-fus” reading this?

Bento # 362 - Miffy SPAM sammies & goodie bag from KL

2011-06-15T10:24:00.000+08:00

Hubby finally came back from his business trip after being away for 8 looonnngggg days. YAY! \^o^/But he will be leaving again on Mon early morning for another week. BIG BOO!!! :'((( During this trip, he managed to pick-up the cutters which I got the help from this bento buddy to purchased from her usual baking supplies shop (been there personally and lurvsss the shop to bits!). Thanks a lot dearie and you really made me so “pai seh” for the “extras” you have gotten me. Love ‘em all!

Today I’m using the Miffy cutters to make 2 sets of SPAM sammies. I tried toasting the bread to give them some “tan” but I guessed I didn’t toast them long enough for the tan to be visible. And found that the toasted bread doesn’t “stick” well to the SPAM well so I had to give Miffy a ribbon picks to hold them together. In the box are the usual plum wedges and half a heart shape strawberry.

Zo was exceptional happy to see the Marie Cat cutters (I have never made her any MC bento before due to no tool). So maybe I shall make her one tomorrow.

These are what I got in the goodies bag. Thanks again dear!

Bento # 361 - Kungfu Panda cookies

2011-06-14T10:56:00.000+08:00

Zo missed the last day of school due to we have an important even to attend. I had her passed the letter to her teacher on the Mon of the last week of school it self and also had her reminded the teacher daily for any holiday homework in advance. But the reply came back “nothing” until Thu. And yesterday, the first day of the school term, she came home with 9 homework (which 6 out of them were holiday homework)!!! The teacher was “kind” enough for her to complete them in 2 days (which I’m so tempted to send her a “Thank you” note for being so “kind”)! Zo had to rush to complete them until almost 10pm last night and only managed to finished 7. She still has 2 “major” ones which I had asked her to continue on this morning and I’ll check them tonight as she was already very tired. I was truly put-off with it as it’s clearly not our fault as Zo did not missed school last minute like B. And being so (last minute absent), Zo told me B had more homework than she (excuse me??? I was like WT…. o_O)! The PTA will rest assured that I will surely give them a piece of my mind during the next meeting. ISH!!!

Ok enough of rantings and back to today’s bento. I had had a colleague of mine whom recently went to Hong Kong for vacation to look out for me these cute Panda cookies from Kee Wah Bakery. But unfortunately, she could not locate them in any of their outlets. And lo and behold, during our short break at Ipoh last weekend, I spotted them on the shelf of Jusco Kinta City of all places! I do not recall seeing them in Jusco or any supermarkets in Penang at all. Wonder why these supermarkets never standardize their products. Tsk tsk tsk! Zo was more than delighted when I asked her if it’s ok for her if I just give her cookies for her bento today. So today is yet another speedy Panda theme bento. After looking at the picture, I thought the cookies kinda resemble “Po” too, don’t you think so? Oh, and just in case you are wondering, I had also snapped a picture of the original packaging of the cookies for your reference.

Bento # 360 - Kungfu Panda back to school

2011-06-13T09:18:00.001+08:00

HEEELLLOOOOO Monday and everyone! How have your school holidays been? Today is the first day of school and I’m having mix feelings. Am so looking forward to it as the longer Zo stays at home, she drives her baby sister nuts and grandma up the wall. But yet I’m also so not looking forward to the crazy after school traffics. Haihs. Guess one can never have the goods sides of both worlds huh?!

During the holidays, I had a day off for King’s birthday replacement on the Monday after our Ipoh trip. But hubby had to leave for his 8days long business trip (BIG ARGH!) so I took Zo for a “mother & daughter day out” and brought her to the cinema for 3D Kungfu Panda 2. Since Baby Jo is not “qualified” for the show, I had to leave her behind with grandma , reluctantly. {sobs}

Since today is just the first day of school after the 2-weeks holiday; the “engine” is still not running at its peak and needed sometime before it could “warm up” itself. So I just started off today’s back-to-school bento with something real simple and speedy – Kungfu Panda hard boiled egg. We do not keep black beans in the house so I had used 2 edamame wrapped in nori as the ears. There’s boiled edamame in the panda container and some plum wedges and a strawberry for the vitamins. Pretty simple huh?!

So what great bento had you whipped up for your child’s back-to-school bento today? ^.^

Princesses' party 2011

2011-06-01T16:45:00.001+08:00

Am so happy that I’m finally on my 2-weeks bento break after a whopping 50 sets of party bentos to pack on Sun! Yes, 50! Due to all the exams etc, we had to push Zo & Baby Jo’s birthday party until last Sun. It’s just a small party as hubby said cannot spoil them by throwing big bash every year wor. True also la, we must count our blessings of what God had blessed us and not simply spend unnecessarily right?

I had thought of having cupcakes instead for this year as mainly there will be a lot of young children involved. Just avoid the hassle of cutting the cake, serving them on paper plates (oh yes, can save the environment for not having the paper plates too), bits and pieces dropping all over etc. I do not have a maid (I’m the “kakak” ok?!) to help me clean up after the kids. So having cupcakes is definitely a better idea. The children could even bring the cupcake home if they do not want to eat it there.

My initial plan was to ask for this bento pal whom happens to be a brilliant cupcake baker to help me with the cakes. But then, by the time we could have the party, she is (and still is) already holidaying with her family in USA. Then she recommended me one of her son’s classmate dad whom also is a very talented baker. But alas! He said he had stopped making cupcakes for more than a year already…. What to do ar? Who ask this mummy is a lousy baker wor. So had to quickly get to the Internet and search lo. Finally I found this home based bakery which is near to my workplace. I have not seen any of his works nor any testimonial. So I guess I have no choice but to take the risk as the girls party is just days away. We just communicated through emails on the designs etc and he (yes, it’s a he, an uncle) told me that he does not have the tools to make the designs I wanted. Then I recalled I bought some Princess icing sheets from a baking supplies shop by recommendation of another bento pal during my last Christmas trip there. It’s just the perfect timing to put them into good use! Not just this, initially I had wanted to make some tuna toasted bread pies for the bentos but I later found out this baker also made good pastries which was highly recommended by many customers. So I just ordered some mini eclairs and cream puffs for the bentos and everything turned out to be so AWESOME until I think this baker is heaven sent! LOL!

All the kids & teachers were so happy and impressed with the cakes and bentos (which mummy packed till almost 2am on Sat night/Sun morning) ahem!). And most of all, the birthday girls had a great time as well. Here are some pictures of the cuppies and food for the party to share.

Bento # 359 - The black bird strikes!!!

2011-05-25T09:00:00.001+08:00

And YES!!! It’s strikes again!!! LOL! As mentioned before, I was so addicted to the Angry Birds game until I couldn’t stop myself from completing levels after levels… until I had completed all and no more games for me to play. To satisfy my “craving soul”, hubby had recently downloaded the latest version of the AB game called Angry Birds RIO for me. And not just I, even Baby Jo recently was so engrossed whenever I’m playing the game that she also wants a hand on it. And I tell you, sometimes she even out beats me! {blush blush}

Since I still have more than half a loaf of the chocolate raisin bread; I wanted to make something more “special” than the normal teddy bear. While I was playing the game (again) last night, the idea of the black bird just strikes me. Among all the birds, I can say that the black bird is my favorite “weapon” as it explodes upon lading on the obstacle and blew everything away. {Just fyi if you have no idea what I’m babbling about, there were different kinds of bird in the game with respective functions}

Today’s ~~mania~~ bento consisted of a black Angry Bird Nutella sandwich with strawberry wedges. Go go get those darn green piggies!!! Y^o^Y

Bento # 358 - A "Beary" special bento

2011-05-24T10:28:00.002+08:00

After passing by the bread shelf and stall day-in day-out, I have finally bought a loaf of the chocolate raisin bread. Due to this experience, I had always been very careful with the food/bread I use to make Zo’s bento. Surely another call from the HM is most unwanted. LOL! So what got me into buying it yesterday? I can just say that Zo did something that made us very dissapointed with her (don’t want to elaborate here) so, I just told her if she kept dissapointing us, why should we still need to please her? From now on, she eats what I buy/prepare and that’s final!

I’ve always admire how this bento pal made her 3D bear sammies so nice and neat. So with my limited memory of how her cutesie bears look like, I have came out with my own version. Since I do not have any big sized bear cutters, I used 2 different sizes of round cutters instead and “glued” them together with some Nutella spread. Rest of the features was smoked cheese and nori. There are some strawberries and marshmallows in the box as treats.

Bento # 357 - Mayo egg toasted flower cups

2011-05-23T09:55:00.001+08:00

Hello everyone and hello Monday blues. LOL! However, today I’m not feeling that “blue” anymore as exam is finally over. YAY! I’m also so looking forward for my upcoming 2 weeks bento break from the school holidays. Double YAYs! But before I could start my 2-weeks break; I’ll have to come out with 50 sets of mini bentos for the girls’ combined birthday party in the Sunday school this Sunday. Yeah, it’s almost suicidal and I’m still wondering how I’m going to pull though. But I’ve got most of the stuff ready and now just waiting to assemble everything on Sun morning – very morning that is. =_=”

Made hubby 2 sets of on-the-road mayo egg sealed sandwiches bento this morning but thought that it’ll be a bit “boring” to make Zo the same. So instead of sealed sandwich, I made her mayo egg toasted flower cups. I took out the mini wiener to defrost last night as I initially wanted to make some “mini crabs” to decorate the sealed sandwich. But the lazy bug strike again so I just sliced them up and arranged them onto the flower cups as “petles” because I thought it will be kinda weird to have 2 "crabs" on top of the flowers right? {excuses excuses}. LOL!

Bento # 356 - Chirp~chirp~chirp

2011-05-19T09:32:00.000+08:00

Can you believe that even though I have packed more than 300 bentos but yet I have never make any tamagoyaki before? OK, that’s how ~~lazy~~ busy I am. LOL! But I guess the main reason was Zo doesn’t really like those sweet tasting tamagoyaki which was found in most Japanese restaurants and sushi. I had 2 tamagoyaki pans (note the "past tense".. cz I no longer have them as of last night =_=”) but they were never used for making tamagoyaki. Lame hor?

Yesterday, my initial plan was to make some fried egg omelet to make sandwich for today’s breakfast so I have added some shoyu & pepper to the egg mixtures. Then suddenly I just had the “urge” to try out making my very first tamagoyaki. All goes well until the last 2 layers where the egg somehow got stuck onto the pan and wouldn't roll nicely. Impatient me – I had used a fork to scrap it and yes, there goes my pan… and my tamagoyaki too! So at the end, I had to unroll my tamagoyaki and make them into omelet sandwich! Super lame of me!

There’s nothing fancy about today’s bento except that I want to say a BIG thank you to this bento pal whom gave me this neato lace silicon barans as pressies. Thank dearie. Love them to bits! And I have used a bird baran and some mini musical note picks to decorate the fruits like the bird is “singing” (or maybe “cursing” me for spoiling yet another pan). X_X".......

Bento # 355 - 3D piggy

2011-05-18T10:31:00.001+08:00

Hello everyone. How are you today? After a 4 days break from packing bento at the “ungodly hours”; I sure had the “lazy bugs” attacking me badly. LOL! Eventhough yesterday was a public holiday to most but it’s not to my company so I had to take a day of my annual leave to babysit as my MIL have some plans of her own. Initially; we were supposed to go to Taiping for our church family day outing but I had decided last minute to stay back with Baby Jo as she had gotten the flu bugs from che-che. = ( But while daddy and che-che were away in Taiping, Baby Jo & mummy had a good day out shopping too though we didn’t get to buy anything because it’s almost impossible to view anything with an active baby whom wants to get her hands on almost everything on the shelves/racks! {slap head!}

I had adapted today’s bento from this mama’s idea. Just that I had used nori instead of drawing the features with Nutella as I had forgotten to leave the bottle of Nutella out last night to let it softhen. So this morning, the Nutella was as hard as rock and I can’t even use them as spead {blush}. This is actually the first time I’m making a 3D (or 2D?) sammie after admiring all the cutesy 3D sammies made by other bento-mamas. Love the results to bits. In the box with the butter & sugar piggy are some strawberries, wedges of guava and some boiled edamame in the pink piggy container.

Bento # 353 & 354 - Happy Teacher's Day gift bentos & Little mousy camp out

2011-05-14T21:14:00.000+08:00

I have been trying to update the blog since yesterday morning but couldn’t log-in. Apparently Blogger has been having some technical problems and is in “read-only” mode only until further notice. Don’t you just hate it when your host is doing this to you?! Argh!!! But since its FOC, we couldn’t complain lor. Bummer!

Zo’s school will be ~~celebrating~~ celebrated Teacher’s Day ~~tomorrow~~ today but the younger students (std 1 & 2) need not attend. And for this, they get a special holiday on Mon. It’s a public holiday on Tue (Wesak) so in all; they get a 4 days holidays. How nice! And good news to mum too cz no bento needed. Yay!

I have wanted to make some “thanksgiving bentos” for the teachers last year but did not get to do it due to the school ends earlier last year and I was caught off-guard. And now, it’s just the right timing for me to put my plan into action. The cupcakes were store bought though I would wish I have the time to bake them myself. I have decorated them with a Winnie the Pooh cheese which I prepared last night and kept them in the Tupperware in the fridge. This morning; I just had to assemble them on top the cupcakes with a heart wiener and a red & orange cherry tomato each. I had used some padded stickers and toothpicks to make my own picks to hold the heart wieners. Initially I was planning to put each teacher’s surname (using cheese which I could cut out the night before) on the individual pack but then I had to forgo that as I was running late (the nori punching and sticking was quite tedious and took me a long time) and Baby Jo was already making noise and took her milk bottle to me telling me that it’s her milk time! Lol! After everything was done this morning, I had only realized that I had run out of party bags and the “Felling paper” I got from Daiso was too small. Thank God I recall I still had some leftovers of party serviettes from Zo’s birthday party years ago. The colour was a bit striking but I had no other choice. Oh ya, I had also put a “Thank You” sticker on top of the box as it was too tedious to be punching out 6 sets of "Thank you"s from cheese in the morning which I need to rush for work. @_@"

5 Thank you bentos for the teachers and 1 for the headmistress. Hopefully they will like it.

Yesterday Adventist Bakery was at my canteen so I got a butter sugar roll for Zo which she likes. One whole roll would be too big for her to finish in such a short recess time so I have halved it and that gave me an idea to make a “mouse” using the extra mini cheese wieners from the teacher's gift bentos and slotted it into the bun. Looking at the picture, I think the miss mousy looks like she is comfily tucked into a “sleeping bag” at a camp out. LOL!

Bento # 352 - Angry birds take 2

2011-05-13T08:57:00.000+08:00

No matter how hard I tried to avoid and prevent it, I think one really can’t beat the “power” of nature. The weather had been super crazy and it’s not improving at all if not gone worst. I was shocked to pick up a coarse voiced Zo yesterday from school. She told me she was already like that when she woke up in the morning. So off we headed to the Chinese medical hall right away! I had to force her to gulp down a big mug of “voice regaining tea” no matter how hard she protested. But she was pleased after that as her voice came back almost immediately. Besides Zo, Baby Jo is also having heat rash again due to the heat. Thank God it rained this morning tho not for long. I sure do hope the rain will at least cool down the weather and take away the haze.

I had just completed my Angry Birds Seasonal (Valentine) levels yesterday and now starting on the Halloween theme. Ya, I’m having a different kind of “fever” myself. LOL! Due to Korean Strawberries are out of season now; so I have no choice but to go back to the super gigantic USA strawberry and it gave me an idea to make the red bird out of it. Bought some pandan cakes for the green piggies too and since it’s not the first time I made them, so it’s quite easy and fast. The red bird took me quite sometime to make as it’s the first time I’m doing it. No more cheating with picture editing this time. Did all by my own hands and am so proud of myself. Kakakaka..

In the box are a boy & girl green piggies and a giant red angry bird with some cherry tomatoes. I have used some heart picks to match the Valentines’ theme.

Bento # 351 - Butt-er or Boot-ter

2011-05-11T08:56:00.001+08:00

Zo’s English is so ‘good” that she always pronounced Nutella as “noot-te-la”. So I asked her how she pronounces “NUT” and she could pronounce it correctly. She claimed that words with "double alphabets" eg. tt, ll etc) always confuses her. So I did another test and asked her to pronounce “b-u-t-t-e-r” and she said it without any problem! So you tell me, who’s confusing who now?! @_@”

So I jokingly told her today I’ll make her a “boot-ter” & sugar sandwich for bento. LOL! I have used a slice each of white bread and the crust for the color contrast on the “puzzle bread”. Yeah, realized the Lunch Punch had been sitting there collecting dust again. Hehe. To add some “cheer” to the bread, I have imprinted them with Winnie the Pooh’s designs and filled the remaining space of the box with a USA strawberry (Korean strawberries are out of season… sad..) and 2 cherry tomatoes.

Side track: Zo told me that her teacher told them they will be playing badminton during today’s PE but her daddy had “accidentally” took her racket to KL – he just took the entire bag with Zo’s racket inside! Oh dear, now… maybe I should give her a “frying pan” as subsituite instead? Wakakakaka….

Bento # 350 - Honey cured ham potato cross bun sammie

2011-05-10T09:45:00.001+08:00

Woke early this morning as hubby wanted to depart for his trip early to beat the traffic and before the “heat” starts to rise. Talking about heat; weather for the past few days had gone haywired. The temp was extreme hot even at night. We don’t even need the covers with both aircond and the fan full blasting! And this morning, the sun was so burningly bright but yet we are having thunder sounds. A sign of the second coming is drawing nearer. So have you made your “choice” to follow Him? ^.^

Managed to get some freshly packed honey cured ham and potato cross buns from Tesco last night so I have packed hubby an on-the-road bento. Same goes with Zo’s bento with a honey cured ham potato cross bun sandwich, some cherry tomatoes & a strawberry. Simple and easy; and most importantly, not heathy.

And to all the children who are starting their exams today. All the best and “add oil” 加油!!! And to all mummies - breath in ~~~ breath out ~~~ stay cool... relax.... Ok... I'm talking to myself. LOL!

Bento # 348 & # 349 - Toy Story gift bento & mother's love bento

2011-05-09T09:28:00.000+08:00

Happy Monday everyone! Before I begin with today’s bento, I would like to take this opportunity to wish every mother reading this a very BLESSED BELATED MOTHER’S DAY!!! I hope you had a great time with your family like I did. I would also want to specially thank dear hubby for taking the efforts to make the day happy and enjoyable for me.

OK now back to today’s bento. But first I would like to share what I made on Sat. Sat was Zo replacement school day but there’s nothing special about the bento I packed for her (yea, mummy is getting lazier nowadays). Can’t blame a blank brain at 5:30am on a Sat morning. But when my brain was in its “sound” stage, I made this specially for a cute little boy’s 3rd birthday on Sat. He is a big fan of Toy Story and like Buzz Lightyear. But then hor, this auntie needs to rush out the bento so that it could be delivered to the hospital for him before his mum discharged by noon. Oh, I forgot to mention; his mum just gave birth to baby girl on the same day as Zo’s birthday! I told her that I’m so going to “adopt” the baby as “god daughter”. LOL!

I did my “homework” before planning for the bento and learnt from his mum that he loves eggs. So I have made him an egg mayo sealed sandwich with the “Toy Story” logo on top which was made of hanpan, cheese & red crab fillement stick. I “cheated-out” abit by using the green space shuttle pick to substitute for Buzz Lightyer. Kekeke. In the specially bought Toy Story bento box were a chick egg, a flower kamaboko, starwberry, cherry tomatoes and edamame. I was very glad that he loves the bento very much and kept telling his parents he wanted to go home NOW to eat it!

Oh, and today. I just made Zo 2 simple yet filled with “love” (literally!) bento. Zo is starting to get a bit heathy the past few days and her exam is starting tomorrow. So I need to really buckled up and stop giving her any heathy food. Please bear with me if you see boring bentos for the coming weeks (ya, the exam will drag for 2 long weeks due to some holidays in between. Bummer!). In the box are a heart sammie spread with strawberry jam and another with smoked cheese. There are also some cherry tomatoes, marshmallows and a strawberry as treats.

Bento # 347 - Blessed 8th Birthday Princess Zo Aurora

2011-05-05T11:01:00.001+08:00

8 year ago today, my gynea brought us our first “treasure” after a long 23.5 hours of “treasure hunt” in the delivery room. We were pronounced first time proud parents to a beautiful princess. Yes, our dear Princess Zo turned 8 today!

I have not been packing any “decent” bento for her for the past few days as I need to clear the fruits and Calciyum in the fridge before they turn bad. Plus, Zo had not been really taking any fruits (vitaC) for the past few days we were in KL. I could not afford for her to fall sick as her exam is just around the corner. So I have only packed her fruits and yogurts for the past few days. But this doesn’t mean I had been resting my brains. I had been cracking my head thinking what to make her today (wanted it to be special since it’s her special day) and for the girls’ joint birthday party end of the month. Zo told me she wanted nuggets or a cake made out of bread. To make her happy; I made both.

Zo’s birthday bento consisted of a two-tier “mock cake” with Nutella spread and decorated with sugar flowers and hearts and a "Princess tiara" pick as the "candle"; a “Zo cheese” on top of a pc of Merina cheese nuggets. I have also filled the gaps with a Korean strawberry, 2 cherry tomato balloons and some heart shape marshmallows. Besides the bento, she is also taking a box of Ferrero Rocher chocs to share with her friends.

Wishing our Princess Zo a very blessed birthday

with lots of love from daddy, mummy & JoJo.

Good buys - Bento books

2011-05-03T09:54:00.000+08:00

Hi there everyone! How was your long weekend? We had a wonderful time in KL spending some “bonding time” with hubby. I flew down to KL with the girls and hubby picked us up from the airport on Sat morning and we drove back together yesterday after lunch. Since we have no specific agenda for the trip, we took it easy and just spent it together as a family. The girls really enjoyed it as they seldom get to pillow fight and have ‘chips munching competition” on bed with daddy without getting scolded by mummy. LOL!

I had basically “cleared” the fridge before we left so the fridge was quite empty and I had nothing to pack for Zo’s bento today. Since we weren’t at home; MIL didn’t cook for herself (she had her own agendas) hence didn’t replenish the fridge either. So today I just packed Zo a very simple and “healthy” bento which consisted of a cup of Calciyum and some rose apples which we got from the highway stalls.

I did not get any more bento stuff on this trip as I really think I had more than enough (not to mention I had basically mostly what they had in Daiso/100Yen). But I did got myself a Disney character bento book which is 50% off the original price due to it’s the last copy left (display). It’s still in superb conditions so I wouldn’t mind. Happy!

And the 2nd book was a preorder from NST months ago which was a translation from a Japanese version to Chinese. I saw the Japanese version in Kino and the price was higher than this translated one and what made me happier was I could understand the Chinese version. I’m a happy and satisfied customer.

Bento # 346 - Chirpy chicky egg

2011-04-28T09:27:00.000+08:00

I found out yesterday around 5:30pm that Kaerenmama made the same Minnie onigiri as I did (and we even used the same ribbon pick!). But I “out beat” her by posting it up 8hrs earlier. How cool could that be huh?! I was trying to “siok sendiri” (self admire) a bit by thinking she “copied” my idea. Wakakakaka…. {no shame of me ya. LOL!}

Ok, time to pull myself down from cloud9 back to earth. MIL had some spare corn from yesterday’s soup and Zo had asked me to make her corn-in-cup with butter. But I could not do so as the butter will “solidify” when cooled and it'll be very yulky and oily. So I came up with this idea to make an “egg chick” with the boiled corn bits in the panda cup – making it look like the chick is trying to have its “breakkie”. Hopefully Zo’s imgination is as “good” as I am. On the lower tier of this cute 2-tier bento box that I recently acquired are some juicy Korean strawberries and marshmallows. I have also put in a bottle of shoyu in the chick bottle for the egg.

Bento # 345 - Minnie rice onigiri

2011-04-27T09:57:00.000+08:00

I did pack Zo a very simple bento yesterday and it’s just a round sealed sammie with meat floss filling. I just used a heart & HK mould to punch some deco on it. It was nothing to shout out about so I didn’t take any picture or blog about it. When I took Zo back from school yesterday, she told me in the car that they will be having a drawing competition on their next school replacement day and the theme will be “Your favorite cartoon character”. I asked her if she knew how to draw Sleeping Beauty since it’s her all time favorite but she told me she tried to draw Minnie (easier in comparison to SB) today in the art class and she did badly.

This gave me an idea which I read from Kaerenmama’s blog yesterday on how she made Mickey onigiri. Zo had been asking me to make her rice/sushi for a long time but due to time factor; I had not even make her any bento with rice this year. Since she will be having PE class, I thought it would be just right (more filling and gives more energy) to make her a rice onigiri bento today.

Instead of Mickey, I had made her Minnie with the help of the ribbon pick and the polka-dot “skirt”. Did a bad job on the red “skirt” as I can never get a good slice of the red crab meat. But I recon maybe I had not defrosted them to be soft enough. The onigiri was stuffed with smoked rib eye with mayo filling. Got some fresh replenishment of Korean strawberries & lettuce from Jusco yesterday so has filled up the box with 3 big juicy ones. Gotta finish them before our weekend trip. But that shouldn't be any problem as my girls could whallop the whole box within seconds! o_O"

Bento # 344 - Choc chip cookies with "mutated" bunny cheese

2011-04-25T10:05:00.000+08:00

This morning the pain wasn’t that intense anymore (thanks to the painkillers) but I was still physically very tired. So much that I wanted to make something nice for Zo but my body just doesn’t want to “obey”. So I just packed her 2 giant chocolate chip cookies from M&S and decorated them with a cheese bunny. Ok… I know the “bunny” looked like a “bear” instead. I really do not know what went wrong as I was clearly using a “bunny cutter” (the same one I used for the hotcakes). Oh well, let’s just take it as a “mutated bunny” lo.

Zo had caught some of Baby Jo’s flu bugs over the weekend. Oh dear… we have a trip coming-up to meet up with hubby and spend the long weekends with him (it’s sort of an early birthday trip for Zo and early mother’s day break for myself) and thereafter the “exam tsunami”. I couldn’t afford to let Zo fall sick. So out comes the kiwi. LOL! Gotta make sure she takes lots of VitaC and water from now on. There are also some marshmallows as treats and to fill up the gaps.

Bento # 343 - Easter bunny hotcakes & Easter goodies

2011-04-25T10:03:00.000+08:00

Blessed Easter Monday everyone! How was your Easter? We had a BLAST! Our church had an Easter play yesterday entitled “The Choice” which I was honored to be the “make-up artist”. It was extremely tiring and “painful” and all my limbs felt like dropping off last night. I had to take 2 painkillers to bed. But this is all well worth it and also made me more amazed what Jesus had endured on the cross for us – WITHOUT painkillers! How great is His love for us! So, have you made your choice to follow Him yet?

Sat was Zo’s replacement school day so I started my day since 5am (her replacement class was in the morning session) to make her some “bunny hotcakes” to share with her friends. I have also made some “marshmallow bunnies” and packed some goodies for some of her buddies. I know. I did a lousy job on the marshmallows. They were harder than I thought. {sad sad}. Thank God the hotcakes turned out well. Even Baby Jo had her share of the miniature bunnies as breakkie. But you could guess where did the remnants go to lar. There were 9 bunny hotcakes for the friends to share among and I have given them some chocolate sauce to go with the hotcakes in the HK containers. There were also some Korean strawberries in the box.

Bento # 342 - Pizza bento and a kawaii gift

2011-04-22T09:28:00.001+08:00

Hello Hello everyone!!! I have not been updating this blog for the past few days due to I had not been packing any fancy bentos for Zo. Mostly are very simple and speedy that I don’t even bother to snap any picture to post. You see, Baby Jo had been sick for the past week and I had been very deprived from my sleep. Not that she fusses a lot at night but because of her fever and flu (runny & blocked nose); I could not turn on the aircond in the room at night. But if I don’t, she will sweat so extensively until she had developed heat rashes all over her body. So besides I had to constantly wake to monitor her temperature, I also had to adjust the room temperature (off the ac when it’s too cold and on when it’s hot) to suit her. Because of this, you can just imagine my mental and physical state in the mornings. Don’t say packing cutesy bentos, I had to thank God that I could even drag/drove myself to work and I literally survived on caffeine for the past one week in the office. Thank God that she had recovered though she is still having some coughs and phlegm. Otherwise I really do not know how I am going to pull through a HYPER busy weekend with a replacement school tomorrow and a big Easter play in church on Sun.

Actually today’s bento was super speedy as well. It was Thu yesterday and as usual, it’s Zo’s declared “Pizza day”. The only reason I wanted to post this is non other than the super kawaii souvenir which a colleague I got for us from China. Have you spotted it yet? Yes! It’s the tiny little “panda”! They were actually 2 tiny white chocolate balls packed in a printed plastic bag that made it look like a panda. Aren’t they adorable?

To all my readers (if I have any.. haha). I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very

BLESSED GOOD FRIDAY & HAPPY EASTER

May your days be blessed because of what Jesus did for us on the cross 2 thousand years ago on the cross!

Homemade dumplings - 1st attempt

2011-04-18T14:35:00.001+08:00

I love dumplings and my family too, specially those fried ones. Sometimes we would just go to the “lok lok” stall and pack a bunch home as an “add-on” to our dinner during weekends. However, the idea of making my own had never come to me because I had always thought that making dumplings are quite a big “project” and I seriously do not have the time for it. Until I read this post and was skeptical how easy it was said to be.

To satisfy my “curiosity”; I bought the ingredient and gave it a try on Sat. and now if you ask me, besides not buying the same brand (store bought) of wanton skin, I am so definitely going to make my next batch soon! It turned out to be quite a hit on the dining table. So hit until my neighbor whom saw the pictures I posted on my FB and rushed over to found the last piece left. LOL! Eventhough hubby & Zo prefers fried ones but due to the skin I used turned hard and chewy after a short while; it made the boiled one tasted so much better.

I have adapted the filling recipe from this wonderful cook but I have used minced pork instead of chicken and omitted the carrots as I’m afraid it will be too hard. I have also added-in a pc of prawn into each wrap.

Bento # 341 - Minnie bread onigiri

2011-04-18T11:02:00.000+08:00

Last night, I asked Zo what she would want for her bento today as I have ran out of idea. She requested for Minnie onigiri at first, but after some negotiations, as Baby Jo is still not recovered. Tho her fever had subsided, but she is still having very “phlegmy” coughs and runny nose. And she had developed heat rashes due to the “heat”. So, with sleepless nights having to adjust the room temparature to suits her and making sure that she is “breathing well” and checking her temperature, I told Zo I don’t think I could wake up so early to cook rice. So she agreed to Minnie bread onigiries instead

In the box were some Minnie bread onigiri with meat floss fillings, a Pooh mini-sammie (which yielded from the remnants of the bread), 2 Korean strawberries and I have given Zo 4 Resse’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups as treats for being understanding. But I have requested for her to share with her friends instead of finishing all 4 on her own. Also specially reminded her to check with her friends if there’s any PB allergy first before sharing with them. It’s better be safe than sorry; sure doesn’t want to get into trouble with the parents.

Bento # 340 - Flower garden

2011-04-18T10:59:00.002+08:00

Zo requested for me to pack her a bento for her lunch after church on Sunday before her Easter Play practice. Initially I was a bit hesitant as Baby Jo is still not well and I’m not sure if I have the time to make her any. But Thank God that MIL cooked for Baby Jo (we only gave her steamed pork & egg as she is still having slight fever) so I have sometime to spare for Zo’s bento. Still have 2/3 loaf of bread which will be expiring today so better used them up soon. I have some pre-cooked pasta sauce in the fridge so I just made some flower cup pizzas for Zo. In the box were 2 kamaboko roses which I learnt from Hippomum’s book which I think was pretty neat. Oh and the 2 cheesy bumblebees too which I added after I found the flower cups a bit too “dull”. I just love this book to bits! There are also 2 Korean strawberries and a cup of Calciyum (yogurt) as treats.

A gift from hubby and some new loots from 100Yen

2011-04-18T10:56:00.002+08:00

I had been an avid follower of Hippomum’s blog. She is one of the most excellent bento making mum that I really admire. Her bentos are actually very simple (she made it even easier for her readers by showing step-by-step pictorials) yet super creative. If you are one of her follower, you’d know what I meant. What more that her blog is in mandarin – a language that I could understand so it made her more “superior” than the rest of the Japanese blogs that I follow.

So you could imagine my thrill when I read that she is releasing a bento book, in Mandarin! After clicking here and there…. Oh my… the postage was even more than the book itself. So sad… But as the Chinese saying 皇天不负有心人(translated as the heaven would not disappoint a “genuine” heart), I got a SMS alert from this bento buddy that one of the bento mama had posted on her blog that our local Popular Bookstore had brought in this book. I almost jumped up from my chair due to excitement. So I quickly message hubby to check out fro me in KL if they have it (just in case our miserable small island doesn’t has it in stock yet). Then at night, hubby messaged me telling me he had got the book for me as a gift! Yes, yes yes…. No need me to elaborate how I felt…. Woohooo hooo (feel like kissing him at the moment but he was too far away. LOL)!!!!! And if you are a Popular Card member, you’ll even get a 20% off for it. So those of you whom have still yet to get you copy, what are you still waiting for? Quick get to your nearest Popular branch and grab one or two… or more!!! LOL!

And the lower pic were what I got after a quick swing to the 100Shop on Saturday. They have some new boxes which was just literally “hot from the oven/box”. I know I have way too many boxes and way too limited storage space already… but… aren’t they too darn cute to say “no” to? Even Baby Jo dotted them and happily declared them “hers”, so you can imagine che-che making noise and wanted another set too. =_="

Bento # 339 - Another plain o'pizza again

2011-04-15T09:04:00.000+08:00

Zo found out that the pizza van would sell at the coffee shop where we usually get our dinner take-away from on every Thursday (he would open at other areas on different days). So she had already “planned” in her mind that every Thu will be “pizza dinner” day (except if it’s near to exam because I would ban her from heathy food) and how many pieces she would eat for dinner and how many she would leave for her next day breakfast and bento. {slap head}. This girl ar, I’d be happier if she has this kind of attitude towards her studies!

I was a bit “reluctant” to post up today’s post as I think it’s too simple. So simple until I felt a bit embarrassed to even call it a “bento”. So if you are bored with my “pizza posts” already. You may skip this post and I’d fully understand. The only reason I post this up was to have it in the “record”.

As I was ready to leave the house for work this morning, Baby Jo woke and she was feeling a bit warm with slight runny nose and cough. But at the same time, she was also sweating. I took her to mil’s room and asked mil to give her the meds later after her milk. Oh dear, pray that she will be ok and the fever will subsides and not come back. :(

Bento # 338 - Angry Birds mania!!!

2011-04-14T10:25:00.001+08:00

Good morning everyone. I had insomnia again last night. My body was already drop dead tired but my brain is still too active to fall asleep. After much struggle, I finally fell asleep around 1:30am but woke again at 4:55am and had been dozing on and off since then. So you could imagine how blank and blur my brains are right now. Oh gosh, I just hope that I won’t fall asleep in the meeting later. +_+”

If you own an iPhone or iPad or a Tablet (or maybe even if you don’t have any of them); you would very likely know this game that had got the whole “cyber world” (which yours truly is one of them. ~Ahem) gone totally MAD about it. Yes, you are right! I’m referring to none other than ANGRY BIRDS! Hahaha. At once, I had gone so “addicted” to it that I had actually spent nights playing it and refuses to go to sleep until I have passed the level, and another and another…. {**blush blush}. And guess what, I had even passed ALL the levels on my iPhone and won the “Golden eggs”!!! Yes, that’s how crazy I was. And now, Zo is starting to get a hang of this game on the Tablet. But I do control her time spent on the game so it wouldn’t jeopardizes her studies and bedtime. Hubby said this game is supposed to be a “stress reliever” but I said it gave me more stress especially if I couldn’t get pass a certain level. LOL!

I have seen a few bento-ing mama (& papa) had been making Angry Birds bento and thought I should do the same too. And yesterday, after I got the loaf of mini pandan cake from the bread stall just gave me this brilliant idea from this great bento mama to make the “bad green pigs”. Though it might look simple but the nori cutting/punching took quite a bit of my time. Luckily I had made this last night and kept in the fridge; otherwise with my “zombieness” this morning, I don’t think I will even be able to cut the shape at all. While I was doing the editing of the picture, I had realized that I should have made the red Angry Bird using the giant strawberries. Oh well, as I always say: there’s always a next time. And I think the “photo editing” did a great job by turning the strawberries into the Red Birds. I bet you didn’t even realize they were strawberries, do you? Hehehehe.

Bento # 337 - Was it a cow or a bug cupcake?

2011-04-13T10:29:00.000+08:00

Zo told me in the car last night when I picked her from school that one of her good friend’s mummy (whom is a Japanese married to her Chinese dad) made her daughters (they are twins. What an “interesting” family huh?) teddy onigiris and had 2 extra for Zo and another friend. She asked Zo if it was grandma or me whom made her bento and was it an everyday ‘event”. So Zo told her it was me and yes, it’s a daily thing. Zo said her friend’s mum was very impressed and told that her daughters had been bugging her everyday after seeing Zo’s bento. Oops! I think I’m getting myself into some trouble with the all mummies and the worst is; they actually stayed at the same condo as us (different block). I think I’d better detour next time if I happen to bump into her. LOL!

Back to today’s bento. It was a colleague’s last day in the company yesterday so as “customs”, we would buy her a farewell gift and she would return the gesture by buying us cakes or some snacks/souvenirs. She had ordered some yummy homemade cupcakes and gave me 2 extras for my girls. How sweet hor? Between the choc-chip and butter/choc; Zo chosen the latter to be her bento today and said that she would share the choc-chip with Baby Jo & grandma this morning as breakfast.

I have no idea what to do with the 2 tone cuppie and was thinking to make it into a “cow”. But then I think I had done a bad job. When I called back just now, Zo even told me “Oh you have made me a cute BUG!” {slap slap slap head!} Well, at least the strawberry flower and cherry tomatoes garden looks good. =_=”

Bento # 336 - Toasted jumbo veal sausage

2011-04-12T09:45:00.000+08:00

After stuffing myself silly with vitamin C and almost “drowned” myself with water; thank God the sore throat was gone. I’m crossing my fingers that it won’t come back. Zo asked if she could have ham & sausages from the western food stall as dinner last night but I reminded her that grandma cooked dinner by HER request so she better don’t waste grandma’s efforts!

This morning, to “compensate” her, I have made her ~~grilled~~ toasted jumbo veal sausages as her recess bento. I marinated the sausages with some sweet soy sauce last night and planned to grill them on the 4-in-1 snack maker this morning. But once I powered on the machine, it tripped the electricity of the entire house (slap head)! I guessed I have not been using it for too long and the components had gone haywire inside. I guess it’s time for a new machine. Heh heh heh. Thank God for plan B – toaster oven! So I quickly moved the sausages into the toaster oven and toasted them. Phew! Luckily it was only a power tripped and not something more "serious". {wiping cold sweat from forehead}

In the box were 2 skewers of half jumbo veal sausages (sliced, I took the other half to work as my brekkie), and two Korean strawberries. In the cute little piggy container were some boiled edamame and some mayo in the HK sauce container too. So happy I finally got the chance to use the HK container which I got from Bento&Co on my first purchase with them. I'm a very happy customer. ^.^

Bento # 335 - Pooh Nutella toast

2011-04-11T08:57:00.000+08:00

Good Monday people! The weekend sure zoomed past like a gush of wind huh?! Hubby was back on Fri night then left again last afternoon for another week. {sobs sobs} I was almost drop dead tired after a super busy weekend but thank God both girls were behaving well and didn’t give me any problem. I guess they have already grown to know that daddy is always away so better don’t misbehave and turn mummy into an “evil stepmother” or else... LOL!

And “good news”! Zo said her friends did not comment anymore on her cookie bento. Heh Heh. This morning I was awoken around 5am+~6am by mil’s noise from the kitchen (she was up since 4am to cook for her brother’s family prayer. I will not and would not elaborate on that! DUH!!!) I had a hard time getting back to sleep so I just got up and pack Zo’s bento. I have made her a 2D Pooh toast with Nutella spread. I have drawn the features with the food markers and realized that I have accidentally had a “smear” of Nutella at the corner of Pooh’s mouth. Oh well… this is a “greedy” Pooh after all. Kakaka. In the box are some yellow cherry tomatoes and Korean strawberries. And now as I looked at the picture, I just realized I had forgotten to draw the "eyebrows". Hmm...

As I was preparing this post, I have felt that I’m going to have a bad sorethroat soon and I haven’t even tasted my first durian of the year yet. Oh bummer!!!

Bento # 334 - M&S choc-chip cookies

2011-04-08T10:44:00.001+08:00

OK… yesterday we did have the same comments again! But my Zo was clever this time and persisted her friends to explain what do they mean and the answer was: “Why she always brings bento to school and not any simple biscuits or cookies etc?”. (I nearly fainted after knocking my head on the wall upon hearing this) So I asked Zo if she wants me to stop packing her bentos from now (or stop for a period) but she protested that was what her friends said, it doesn't represent what she thinks! So guess mummy’s “escape plan” failed jor. LOL!

In order not to get the same comments again and to make Zo’s friends “happy”; today I have only packed Zo 2 giant M&S’s choc-chip cookies which hubby bought a big bag home last week. So easy till I felt a bit “guilty”. Hahaha. To make the “box” still look nice and appealing, I have decorated the Korean strawberries with 2 panda picks and separated the cookies with some nice silicon leaf barans and a “sun” to brighten things up. Inside the cute panda container were some boiled edamame. Let’s see what they say today ya.

As I was chatting with hubby (whom is away again) last night, I got a Twitter news that Japan was being hit by another 7.4 magnitude earthquake and a tsunami warning was issued to the same Miyagi prefecture and this time, it's near to the Fukushima nuclear plants! My heart just sank to rock bottom upon reading the news. We really need to pray hard for this country and pray that no major damage or casualty this time. God please help Japan!

Bento # 333 - Egg mayo sealed pocket sandwich

2011-04-07T10:55:00.000+08:00

Zo came back and told me last evening that her friends commented that she is having the “same old thing” again for her bento. I was rather caught aback as what they meant “same old thing” as I seldom repeats the same design/filling in the same week. Last I made her SPAM onigiri was like 2 weeks ago. Zo said she questioned them too but they could not give an answer. Oh well, I guess this is what they say “Kids says the darndest thing” huh? But then… hhmm….

Hubby will leave for his trip again today and since it had been quite sometime since I last make any egg mayo sandwiches (OK, I have checked a few times from this blog to make sure it’s not the same old thing again today!), so I’ve packed everyone egg mayo sealed pocket sammies as on-the-road and school bento.

To make the sammie less dull, I’ve tried to punch some HK prints on the bread but it just doesn’t turn out/visible. So I just used some musical note picks to decorate them. There are some kiwi slices and a Korean strawberry in the box too. I hope I won’t get the "same old comments" again today….. T_T"

Bento # 332 - Puff pastry pasta pie w Ratatouille ala Bolognese sauce & SPAM bread onigiries

2011-04-07T10:44:00.001+08:00

Hi everyone! There had been no posting from me for the past 2 days as Zo’s school was closed for cheng-beng (tomb sweeping) on Tuesday and I was down with 2-days medical leave due to a bad muscle. I woke on Tue morning with a sore back muscle. Then the pain got a bit unbearable after I have worked for an hour in the office. Even breathing had became quite a “painful” gesture so I had to go to the doc. The doc did some “evaluations” on me and told that he suspected my muscle was a bit “inflame” as there were slight swell. Good news was my bones were ok. So he gave me 2 days mc to “rest” at home. Yes, I know. Being home means there will be no “rest”. For sure, the lil one will stick to me like glue. Thank God the pain subsided and I’m feeling a lot better today and back to work though there were still some “numbness” felt; maybe caused by the medications.

There was no bento on Tue due to no school and the below was Zo’s lunch and bento for yesterday. I have a bottle of Baby Jo’s Heinz baby Ratatouille in the cabinet to get rid off as she doesn’t like and refuses to take them. Zo said that it doesn’t taste nice either. I personally think the capsicum “smell” is too strong so I do not blame my girls from rejecting it. I really don’t know what the producers are thinking. Even adults couldn’t stand the taste/smell and they expect the babies will like them? Well, or maybe mine was too picky?

I’ve added some minced beef, Shitake & button mushrooms, ketchup and some spices to the baby food and came out with my own “Bolognese” recipe and Zo said it tasted nice now. I have initially wanted to make some flower baskets again but then… MIL ate the white bread and the remaining is not enough to yield Zo’s lunch. With a quick thought, I quickly took out the ready made puff pastry and made a “puff pastry pasta pie with Ratatouille ala Bolognese sauce”. Phew, I had to hold my breath while reading/typing this loooonnngggg name. LOL!

And with the last 2 slices of white bread; I have made 2 SPAM bread onigiries for Zo’s bento. I have finally got to use the new puncher which comes from Kaerenmama’s book and it looks just great! I have also given the onigiries a cap picks each to add to the “cuteness”. In the box there’s also a Korean strawberry and some guava cubes (hiding behind the leaf barans).

Bento # 331 - Funny face Nutella sammie

2011-04-04T10:14:00.000+08:00

I had insomnia last night and couldn’t sleep until almost 2am! So you could guess how blank my brain was (still is) this morning. If you were to realize, I have never use Nutella spread in my bentos. Despite asking a few times, Zo had rejected the idea for no apparent reason. But out of the blues on Sat while we were doing our grocery shopping; she requests to “try” them. In order to reduce the “risk”, I’ve gotten the smallest tub; just in case.

Initially I have wanted to make “bread onigiri balls” but when I wanted to mould them, found that they do not have the “volume” of the filling to hold them up hence the ball looked very small and “pathetic”. So I quickly unfolded the bread and just stack them together to make a round sammie. I have wanted to make a smiley face and after I have punch and stick all the features in place; I realized it had turned out to be….. I don’t even know what it was! So I just put a party hat on it making it look like a funny “clown” face lor. {blush blush}

There will be no bento tomorrow as Zo’s school will be closed for “cheng beng” (tomb sweeping). So I wish everyone a pleasant and productive week ahead. And wishing myself to stay awake! LOL!

Bento # 330 - Flower basket pizzas with DIY tools

2011-04-04T10:12:00.000+08:00

Hellloooo everyone! How was your weekend? I did not post anything on Fri as I was on leave at home taking care of the girls as my MIL had gone for her side of “cheng beng” (tomb sweeping) with her siblings. I had a quite fulfilled day preparing Zo for school in the morning and I took Baby Jo for shopping after dropping off Zo. I think both of us enjoyed it very much (not mentioning this girl ar, already “inherited” mummy’s shopping genes and was really busy “helping” to load the shopping basket.. **faint!).

Friday’s bento was actually “inspired” by this por-por. As ~~stingy~~ cost saving as I am, I did not buy the tools required to make these “flower baskets” as I think they are a bit overpriced for such simple tools (top pic). So, I have to “improvise” with what I have and the bottom right was what I used to make my version of the flower basket.

I have cooked shaped pasta with Bolognese sauce for lunch by Zo’s request so I just used a bit of the pasta sauce as the “filling” of the basket. Just sprinkled some grated mozzarella cheese on top before placing them into the toaster oven and toast and there I have – toasted flower basket pizza with Korean strawberry and some black grapes. But due to I only have 1 cup, so I had to make one at a time which is a bit time consuming. Zo loves them so much that she requested to have them as dinner and Sat lunch again… (slap head!)

New arrivals @ Daiso QBM

2011-03-31T14:11:00.003+08:00

I need to go to the post office during lunch today. Since the mini post is located just below Daiso QBM, I though of just take a quick swing inside and was surprised to found that they have loaded the racks with bento tools. Finally!!!

But... I only managed to took 3 pictures of the racks (because the staff were already staring at me thinking I'm some spy from the competitor or what). Do you believe me if I say that I came out empty handed? Well, you'd better do; because I only bought the heart/star egg mould and a packet of the heart picks - both were requested by my colleagues. I didn't get anything for myself as basically, I ~~have all~~ do not need anything there. Heh heh! {wink wink}

So, fellow bento mamas & friends in Penang... you know where you could spend you weekend now eh? So quick, grab the key and head on! ^.^

Bento # 329 - Jigsaw PB sandwich

2011-03-31T10:09:00.000+08:00

And again, the broke-ins happened continuously for 4 days! It had been 8 cases in a week and it’s really getting out of control. The police told that they couldn’t do anything much as they are very “short of hands” and the best they could do is to send someone to petrol once a while. WT@%#^*&……. (please excuse the language but I think you can't blame me if you are in our shoes). Coming to work nowadays became a big dread to us as we will be worrying who will be the next victim.

I did not get any bread last evening since we still have a few slices left from the previous loaf which is still not due for expiry yet. With worries on the broke-ins, I really couldn’t think of something fancy to make for Zo, so I just pulled out my Lunch Punch and made some puzzle peanut butter sandwiches for her. I have used the crust to make the color contrast. After packing everything into the box, I realized that the box was a bit “dull”, so I just took out the alphabet picks and build Zo’s name on them. I have also used the new baran (which hubby got for me moons ago) which could be “converted” into a food cup for the kiwi. There’s also a halved strawberry in the box and some grapes which was not in the picture that I have slotted in (after I took the picture) by Zo’s request.

Bento # 328 - Rainbow Smarties mini cuppies

2011-03-30T09:15:00.000+08:00

We got shocking news that 5 more cars were being broken-in yesterday afternoon of one belonged to a colleague of another department (the other 4 were of other neighboring companies). This is really getting out of control as the police actually just came in the morning! Some of the employees are planning to carpool to work but as for me, I could not afford to do so as I need to pick Zo from school after work. Oh dear, oh dear… just had to pray real hard for God’s protection and to wake up earlier in order to get to the office earlier in ensuring a good lot!

I had “planned” for a simple bento for Zo today so that I could leave the house earlier; so both of us were very happy to see the mini cuppies at the bread stall. It’s a super easy peasy bento as I just need to arrange the cuppies into the box and sliced the kiwis with a strawberry tulip and I’m done. Oh, not forgetting the cute lil bunny which is sleeping comfortably on top of the kiwis. ^.^

Despite all the “early arrangements”; I still did not reach the office as early as anticipated due to the rain. Traffic was really bad and I got caught-up for a while by the crawl. But anyhow, I still managed to “squeeze” my car into a very narrow lot right infront of the gate. Well, when one is desperate; couldn’t care less already. And I really don't know how long this will go on and if I still have time to pack bentos for Zo.

Bento # 327 - Love bunny sandwiches

2011-03-29T08:33:00.016+08:00

Ah finally! The picture is working again on the blog. There has been some problem with the picture format on this blog yesterday. No matter what format I used or how many times I deleted and reposted, the picture still doesn’t show. Only a tiny “white box” shown on the posting and readers can only view the picture when they click on the white box. Bummer! I tried again at night when I’m home and it worked! So I guessed something must have gone wrong with the office pc cookie. Anyway, am so glad that it’s working properly now (without me having to do anything, I can never understand all these technical syndromes!) so I don’t have to wait till I’m home to update the posting.

There have been a few cases of car broke-ins in my company recently. 2 cases in 5 days!!! Both are also from my department. You see, even though I worked in the FIZ, but we are facing very serious parking constrained as majority of the “land” were being used for expansions. So it left the employees with no extra parking spaces and we have to park our cars by the roadsides (talking about MNC’s benefits huh?!). It’ll be your lucky day if you could get a nice lot right in front of the factory unless you come to the office real early. With the recent broke-ins, it sure got everyone panicked and are all trying to arrive the office as early as possible just to ensure we get a nice lot which is within the security guards’ “visualbility”. Due to this, it actually left me with limited time for too complicated charaben bentos unless if I sacrifice more of the beauty sleep and wakes up earlier.

So today’s bento is again a non-charaben one. But thanks to all the neat tools, at least the bento doesn’t look so dull. I have used the new leaf baran to separate the 2 sets of turkey ham sandwiches and decorated them with 2 cute bunny picks. There’s also a cup of sliced kiwis and strawberries in the box. If you’d realized, I have lined the box/basket with a sheet of very nice “feeling paper” which I got from Daiso recently. I have absolutely no idea why they were called “feeling paper” but the texture is like “crepe paper”. I was just, being “attracted” by the nice colour tone so I just had to get it. But most of all, they were sure a lot cheaper than those printed wax papers. LOL!

Bento # 326 - HK mini sammies & 2nd package from Kyoto

2011-03-28T10:40:00.003+08:00

Helo helo everyone! Yeah, I’m sounding like I’m very “cheerful & awake” this morning. Well, at least I’m trying to; keep myself awake and alert that is. LOL! Hubby is supposed to depart for his week long business trip last evening but due to the horrendous traffic yesterday; he & mil took 7 hours for the initial max 4 hours “cheng-beng” (Chinese “all-souls” day)! So I had “forbid” him for driving long distance on the same day after such a tiring outing. His training in KL starts at 9am, meaning he will have to depart PG latest 5:30am this morning to make it on time. And his “hardworking wife” woke-up at 4am this morning to pack breakkie for him from McD. Kakaka…. I went back to bed to catch another hour of sleep after he departed before I woke again to prepare Zo’s bento and get ready for work.

A friend asked me on FB how come my days started earlier and earlier and do I get zombier and zombier? Well, my answer to her was, I really couldn’t tell because my brain was basically too blank to determine. LOL! This was clearly shown on today’s bento. I was staring blankly at the tools and somehow I just pulled out the HK cutters and made these mini butter & sugar sammies. Zo and I went for groceries shopping yesterday and we realized it had been quite sometime since I last bought kiwis for her. So there’s the return of the kiwis in the box plus a Korean strawberry.

I think the Korean strawberries will be out of season soon as those on the cold shelf looks rather “miserable”. And with the end of the season, I’d had to scratch my head on what to feed my “high class taste buds” baby whom only likes imported fruits. =_="

PS>> Something “landed” on my table which made my day “brighter” today despite the gloomy weather outside. YEAH! My 2nd package from Bento&Co is here; without any radiation! LOL! They have me a 10% off for my 2nd purchase so a colleague of mine just tagged-on. Actually, I don’t know who tagged-on to whom as among the big box; I only have 3 items since I already ~~have~~ not in need most of the tools. Kekeke.

Cinnamonroll Japanese curry for kids

2011-03-28T10:34:00.007+08:00

This is a short post on what I’ve cooked for Zo’s dinner on Sat. I got this packet of Cinnamonroll Kid’s Japanese Curry last week from Meijiya. Since I’m cooking Japanese curry for dinner, so I thought might as well I do the same for Zo. I tell ya, this box sure doesn’t come cheap and it’s only 1 serving. I think you would have guessed the catch. Yes! It comes with a Sanrio Cinnamonroll sticker free. Big deal eh?! Those Japanese sure knows how to rip parents off. {tsk tsk tsk}

I have added the same ingredients as the adult curry (easier for me) ie. Carrots, potatoes, onions, Bunashimeiji & Hiratake mushrooms. It’s a “vegetarian curry” as Mil doesn’t fancy beef and I doesn’t like chicken Japanese curry. So gotta make it “neutral” to suit everyone lo. Ok, next, Zo is asking for the Pokemon design…. Oh dear….

Bento # 325 - Pizza to the rescue!

2011-03-25T09:13:00.000+08:00

OK OK.. I know what are you thinking but I seriously do not have an answer what does Princess has to do with pizza. With only less than 5hours sleep, I could only say thank you to the pizza van uncle for opening yesterday. LOL!

My mind was so blank this morning that I can’t even figure out which pick to use so I just grab whatever that my hand could get hold of and poke! {blush blush}. Well, I think I should be thankful that at least today Zo still has a bento to bring to school and I still am able to snap a picture of it. Haha!

TGIF! But then and again, will have to wake up early tomorrow morning to bring Baby Jo for her routine jab which she had missed last week due to fever. A special note to my sleep:”when will I see you again….???” =_="'

Bento # 324 - Turkey ham sandwiches

2011-03-24T09:47:00.000+08:00

I did not make any charaben today as I need to wake up at the “ungodly” 5am to fulfill my “airport limo” service. I have packed hubby some turkey ham sandwiches as breakfast but it ended to be my own breakkie as hubby said he had already made breakfast arrangements with his colleague whom will be picking him up at the other end. No, he didn’t tell me this at the last minute (cannot simply blame him mar), just that since I’m already awake and need to pack for the girl anyway, I just packed an extra set lo. Also I’m foreseeing myself skipping lunch today to catch back some sleep in the office. Hehe.

Zo’s bento today consisted of some very simple and straight forward oven baked turkey ham sammies and 2 Korean strawberries.

And now, I’ll need to go ask for some toothpicks from my cafeteria caterer since fish hooks are not available in the office ….. X_X”

Bento # 323 - Ganbatte Japan onigiri!!!

2011-03-23T09:39:00.000+08:00

After seeing this mama’s bento yesterday, it also triggered and motivated me to make a “bread onigiri” bento today. I used the L size onigiri box which I got as a gift from a friend to pressed down lightly on the bread before cutting the shape out using exacto knife. I have wanted to use the new punchers which came with the latest Kaerenmama’s book but to found that it was too small for my “giant onigiri”. So, I had to use the punchers I got from Daiso instead. The onigiri was actually a SPAM sammie. And I did use “something” from the Kaerenmama’s book. Yes! You are right! It’s the ribbon pick! LOL! I think nobody in the “sane mind” would thaw a crabstick at 6am just for the 2 “cheeks” (at least I know I won’t) when you can just use 2 dots of ketchup and make wonders. Why burn the whole forest when you just want to toast a pc of marshmallow right? Kakaka. In the box there’s also the usual Korean strawberry and cherry tomato.

You can still continue to show your supports to Japan via Bento4Japan. Ganbatte yo!!!

Bento # 322 - Sakura in honour of Japan's "unsung heroes"

2011-03-22T09:33:00.000+08:00

I believe that recently, all you read/hear from the news are mostly about the recent catastrophes that strike Japan on 311. I used to work in a Japanese MNC years ago and had the privilege to visit this beautiful country a couple of times on business (which also reminds me to “hate” myself for not knowing what on earth BENTO is earlier so I’ve missed out all my chances of getting all those cool tools! Bummer!!!). I just simply love the country. Not just because of its culture, sceneries (and shopping of course, ahem) but also the disciplinary and hospitality of the Japanese people that always never fails to impress me. And through the 311 incident, I believe that Japan doesn’t just impress me alone but the whole world on how selfless they are to be sacrificing themselves for the sake of others. I have made this simple Sakura sealed sammie with meatfloss fillings in honour of those whom had sacrificed themselves for others. Our prayers and hearts are with you. You are truly the “unsung heroes” of the world.

I have a lot of wastage from the Sakura cut-outs so in order not to waste anymore food (with the quake & tsunami victims in mind); I decided to only make one sammie. I knew it wouldn’t be enough to fill Zo so I’ve slotted in 3 pcs of Baby Jo’s Japanese corn crackers which Zo also adores (ya, this girls always wants to fight for her baby sister’s food) underneath the sammie. There’s a Korean strawberry and a cherry tomato in the cherry food cup.

I knew a few of the bento-ing mamas had already been doing so; so I think I should do the same to show my support for Japan too. If you are thinking to help but don’t know where to start, please do visit Bento4Japan to know how you could play a part in helping.

Bento # 320 & 321 - Transformers gift bento & back to school bento

2011-03-21T10:45:00.001+08:00

Last Fri 18/Mar was B’s brother E’s birthday. But due to its still school holidays so I did not managed to make anything special for him. Since today is the first day of back to school, I’ve prepared a Transformers gift bento for him.

Knew since past experiences, both E & B doesn’t take any vegetables nor fruits. So as you can see, the bento consisted of non-vege items only except for the lettuce which only serves as garnishing. I have prepared extra portions so that E could share them with sister B. I have cut the transformer logos last night and placed them on top of heart shape cheese slices and kept them in the airtight container in the fridge, so this morning, I’d just had to place them on top of the baked chicken nuggets (that explains why the slightly “lopsided” logos huh?!). Besides the BBQ sauce to go with the nuggets, there are also 2 heart wieners and an egg in the box. I have got this very cool T3 bento box which comes with utensils (on the top tier) from a recent trip. Too bad it doesn’t come in any “girly” designs; otherwise…heh heh heh…(I could almost hear hubby giving a relief sigh and saying "thank God"!)

And this is what Zo is having in a newly acquired Pooh box which I got from the same trip.

JCI Pearl Charity Fair - STOP child sexual abuse!!!

2011-03-21T10:42:00.000+08:00

As posted here, I’ve promised my colleague to make 20 sets of bento in conjunction with the charity fair. So that’s why I was so so so busy and tied-up over the weekend. Some of my friends even told me that I could actually start my own home bento business soon. Seriously, I could really die fast fast if so. LOL! It’s really not an easy job and very time consuming. I’ve started the preparations since 7pm on Friday until midnight and again from 8:30am on Sat until mission completion at 2:30pm before I delivered the products. I nearly drop dead in exhaustions after I handed my colleague the boxes. Thank God for my supportive family and specially hubby who helped a lot despite feeling unwell himself. Thanks daddy, I really appreciate it a lot! ^.^

I have learnt a lot through this and if I ever wanted to consider this as a full-time job in the future. I’ll better think a thousand more times again!!! HAHAHA! But nonetheless, I do enjoy the process and knowing the proceeds are for a good cause, I know all the hard works are well worth it!

Kaerenmama's book - FINALLY!!!

2011-03-21T10:40:00.001+08:00

This is a short post to express my appreciation to this bento buddy of mine for her help to get me this book which I have been searching hi and lo with no avail. Even my niece and friends went to Japan to search for it also to be told that it was sold out! OMG! Now you know how “hot” is the book ya?

To be honest, I could hardly understand the book as it’s in Japanese. With my very half-past-six limited Japanese knowledge… I could only say thank God for the step by step pictorial. And the MAIN purpose that I wanted this book so badly is none other than THE TOOLS which comes FREE with the book of course. I’m sure a lot of the bento-ing mama out there will be nodding their heads in agreement with me. LOL!

It had been a real hectic week for me so until now I still do not have time to sit down and read the book yet. In fact the tools are still in their original plastic wrappings! {blush blush}… stay tuned to know why I was so busy over the weekend.

Bento # 319 - It's HOLIDAY!!!!

2011-03-11T10:13:00.000+08:00

“Hooray hooray! It’s a holi-holiday!” If you were from the late seventies, you might remember this song by Bonie M. I almost grew up with the tune blasting on the players by my 2 then teenage sisters and it’s kinda difficult to get the cheerful tune out of one’s mind even until now. Today is the last day of school then all the school children gets a week holidays, so I get a 5-day off from “ungodly hours” bento packing. Hooray! And I just couldn’t help myself from humming this tune while packing the bento. LOL!

The pizza van was open again last evening and of course; Zo wanted that for dinner and even planned to have one piece to be kept as her bento today BEFORE I could even park my car! This morning, I heated up the pizza in the toaster oven before packing it into the box with some strawberries and a cup of boiled edamame. I have used the new alphabet pics to build the word “HOLIDAY” to decorate the pizza and, I’m also using the new cheery food cup too; both newly acquired from Bento&Co.

I guess I will be “missing” for a week from bentoing. Life had been real hectic and stressful for me the past months due to hubby’s intensive travelling. We have only seen him for less than 7 days for the past one month as he only comes back during the weekends. A friend jokingly said that now he had became a “weekend husband & father”. It may sound funny but yet very sad as it bears some truth. Anyway, I hope that I will be able to get some rest for this holiday even though it’s just a week; but still better than nothing. Hope everyone has a joyful and fun filled week ahead!

Bento # 318 - My first Rilakkuma & Korilakkuma & new loots from Kyoto

2011-03-10T12:48:00.001+08:00

I’m a happy customer today because while I was telling this bento pal of mine that I’m quite worried that my package maybe lost from Japan (because I was too stingy to use express post). Then after dinner, Zo came into the kitchen and told me there’s a package outside on the side table. My eyes lit up immediately and quickly dried my hands and rush out the kitchen thinking “Could it be….?” And YES!!! Finally, my package from Bento&Co had arrived! YAY! YAY! YAY! I’m very happy with their product quality, price and service. And now, the fingers are “itching” again… LOL!

So much that I like San-X characters and thinks they are absolutely adorable, can you imagine I have never made a single Rilakkuma bento before? I do not have a single of the tools as I think they are a bit overpriced. Yeah, I’m quite a ~~stingy~~ careful buyer. LOL! I don’t know what got into me to make Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma today, but these were what I’ve made today. Rilakkauma was using the skin part of the bread with smoked cheese ears whereas Korilakkuma was the normal white part using some pink marshmallow as the ear. Since I do not have the tool/cutter, I’ve used my ever so “faithful” bear rice mould to cut the shape and sealed with meatfloss fillings. The bread yields 3 sets of “bears” but I just placed the 3rd set without any feature underneath the 2 “Kumas”. Now as I was typing this, an idea just pops up that I should have made used of it and make a Kiiroitori. Oh well, there’s always a next time. In the box, I’m also very happy to be using my new pea-pots food cup from the package for fruits – strawberry, guava & cherry tomato. One of the good buy ever and more to come. Yay! \*o*/

Bento # 316 & 317 - The return of mini-cuppies & A "Longevity" birthday gift bento

2011-03-09T10:14:00.001+08:00

I was so so so sleepy last night that I even planned to use toothpicks to hold up my eyelids. LOL! I only managed to go to bed after completed the daily housework around 11pm while waiting to chat with hubby online; which I did not get to do so as he was stuck at the office until almost midnight without food! : (

Zo squeal in excitement when she finally spotted those mini-cuppies at the bread stall even before I parked my car! I guess God must be having “mercy” on me and sent the cuppies to “save” my life. Haha! I just had to assemble all the cuppies into the box with some fruits which took me not even more than a min and I’m done.

But I didn’t sleep in this morning as I need to make a surprise birthday bento for a colleague’s birthday today. The stupid calendar I checked gave me the wrong information on her zodiac year. The calendar said that she was born in the year of the dog but to my horror, I only found out that she was actually born in the year of the HORSE!!! OMG! I have already got all my ingredients and had my “sketch” in mind for a puppy, now where and how on earth am I going to create a horse??!!! Yes, at that moment, I do feel like suing the calendar printer! ARGH! With a totally blank brain due to lack of sleep and still in shock, I had been left with no other choice but to forget about making any cutie charaben bento (she is kinda “overage” for that anyway. Hehe). I just steamed the ‘longevity bun”寿桃 (to have the “good meaning”) with lotus paste filling and put it into the box as it is and decorated it with a self-made pressie pick. On the other side of the box; there’s a candy cheesy wiener, a heart shape egg, some cherry tomatoes, a Korean strawberry and some shoyu in the sauce container. Luckily she doesn’t mind and was very thrilled to receive the bento. She said it was the heart that counts and wanted to keep it to show her teenage son tonight. Hahaha!

Bento # 314 & 315 - World Womens' Day "sample" & Pooh sweet shoyu rice

2011-03-08T10:41:00.002+08:00

[SLAP SLAP SLAP]... Oh hai! Is it morning already? LOL! I slept at 11pm+ last night which was usual, but what was unusual was I had to wake up at 5am this morning! Hubby had an emergency (work lar, what else eh?) so he had to fly down to KL on the first flight he could get on today. So yours truly needs to operate my part-time “airport limo service” lo. I reached home after dropping hubby about 6.20am and I couldn’t be going back to bed and wake again 10mins later, so I went straight to the kitchen and prepare Zo’s bento and a “sample” for a colleague.

A colleague of mine whom is also the President of JCI Pearl had requested for me to make some bento sets for a charity drive on 19 Mar in Queensbay Mall Penang. I was hesitant at the first place as all the while, I’m doing this just for own consumption and I’m not “pro” at all (not even anywhere near!). I considered her request as VERY challenging that I don’t know if I could meet her expectations. A lot of “ifs” came into my mind and when I was about to decline her; hubby thought otherwise. He gave me his support to give it a try. He said who knows maybe this is an open door from God that maybe in the near future; I could actually start my own business in this field and leave my job which I’ve been dreaming of. (Yeah right, in my dream, that's why I'm still dreaming..). After given much thoughts and considerations; I have decided to give it a try with only 1 goal; that is to support the charity which aim is to fight against sexual abuses. I had purposely chosen today to make her the sample in conjunction with “World Women’s Day” which I felt is quite appropriate for the charity theme.

My initial “sketch” of the bento was to have the quail egg representing the “pearl” sitting in a set of hotate shell. But too bad, time was too limited for us to find any shells so I just had to make-do what I had in my fridge and she had to “imagine” the shell herself. LOL! I had mixed the rice with some sweet shoyu to give a “sandy” feel (which the shell is supposed to be on - beach). The “JCI” letters were cut-outs from white kamaboko soaked in blue food coloring for a few seconds as the original JCI logo is in blue color. Other goodies in the box were: A heart shape mini wiener, a section of corn, broccoli florets with butterfly & flower carrots, a pc of Marina cheese nuggets, a pc of cheesy potato croquet (I had a big problem frying this darn thing so going to sub it with 2pcs of nuggets instead for the bulk), 3 cherry tomatoes and a bottle of self-mixed BBQ sauce.

I had cooked extra portions of rice and nuggets for Zo’s bento today. Zo will be very happy as it had been a long long time (I think none for this year yet) since I packed rice into her bentos. Zo gets Pooh sweet shoyu rice with a pc of Marina cheesy nugget with BBQ sauce, 2 Korean strawberries and cherry tomato.

PS. My colleague is very happy with the “sample” and she already had other colleagues’ supports on the “sale”. It was indeed a big boost to my confident and I hope that she will get more supports on the day itself and the charity drive will be a huge success with the right message being passed through. Now, it’s time for me to go dig out some shells from the beach and figure out how to pull through the “mass production” on the day! Ganbatte!!!

Bento # 313 - Puzzle lunch punch take 2

2011-03-07T10:44:00.000+08:00

I had a hard time dragging myself up from bed this morning. I felt so so tired and have the feeling of some flu bugs is “visiting” soon. Oh my. But at least Zo’s exam is over so I’m not so worried if I fall sick now. I guess my body is trying to send me some “protest” for hectic schedule and work load for the past weeks. I think I seriously need some rest, better still – a RETAIL THERAPY!!! Heloooo.... “Anybody” hear me???? LOL!

I just realized the new loft of bread I just bought on Fri evening expires today! Don’t you just hate those “etiquetteless” sellers??!! Tsk tsk! Where on earth am I going to find “plan B” at 6:45am in the morning???!!! So out of no choice, I just had to make use of the bread (praying hard that they won’t go stale) just for today. I’m using another set of the puzzle lunch punch today on a slice of white and the skin each to have the color contrast. Thanks to this mama’s advice, I have punched them individually so I get the nice contrast. But the bread looks a bit plain just like that so I had used the HK veg cutter to give them some cute HK prints. In the box are also some Korean strawberries and cherry tomatoes.

Now, would you excuse me as I need to go “flip a coin” to see my chances of getting a MC from the panel dr.

Hubby's birthday

2011-03-07T10:35:00.003+08:00

Hello everyone. It’s Monday again and I’m sure having my “Monday blue, green, yellow, purple, red...”. Whatever color you can name it. I’m very tired this morning after a very busy and hectic weekend. Hubby reached home almost 1am on Fri night/Sat morning which I stayed-up and waited for him. How can I go to bed without seeing him home safely wor. Then on Sat morning, I woke up at 7am+ and started cooking since then. As we are going for a buffet at night, I thought of not going out to eat so much so I prepared some home cooked breakfast and lunch at home.

I made a Sunflower smiley egg adapted from this mummy’s blog but have used homemade “white” sausage (w/o preservatives) instead of the store bought ones and kampung (farm) chicken egg. Besides the sausage egg, each got a slice (hubby had 2) of homemade turkey ham and a heart butterscotch toast (mummy got the cut-out remnants). I only gave Baby Jo the fried egg whites and not the sausages as I still do not want to expose her to processed meat yet until she reaches age 2.

As for lunch, I have boiled a pot of “Lor Sung” vegetable tomato soup (for 5 hours!) by Zo’s request. Hubby’s teenage niece was a big fan of my soup and was so “co-incidentally” at our house that morning, so I offered her a big bowl and she licked the whole thing squeaky clean. This girl adores all my cooking, oh don't I just love her. LOL! I had 2 mains – Yakiniku (thanks to this por-por’s recipe sharing) and salted egg yolk prawns to go with “yong chow” egg, carrot & shallot fried rice. Yum Yum! Even Baby Jo gave me her thumb up for her Pooh fried rice. Well, at least someone is appreciative of my hardwork. ^.^

Bento # 312 - "Fast food" pizza is not allowed?

2011-03-04T10:31:00.001+08:00

Yay! Yay! It’s already Friday! My spirit had been “lifted” up a bit despite the horrible traffic I had gone through yesterday because the long anticipated weekend is here! I thought I was going to be late to pick up Zo from school but thank God I managed to arrive the school just in time. But it took us a long 30mins to get home from our usual tapao (take away) place which normally it’s just a mere 10mins drive.

We spotted the mobile pizza van open (it only comes like 1~2 times a month) outside the coffee shop last evening. Zo was more than thrilled as she had been asking to have pizza for her dinner for the longest time. Since her exam is over, I think I’d just make the girl happy so I ordered a small one with tuna toppings for her. She only managed to finish ¾ of the pizza and told me she left the ¼ for me. Seeing her liking the pizza so much, I asked if she wanted to keep that for her bento today. Guess what was her reply? She said that her school afternoon head had warned them not to bring any “fast food” to school and pizza is considered as “fast food”! {Slap head...}. To convince her that it’s ok, I told her I would pack them into a bento box as if mummy made it so the teacher would not suspect. Her eyes lit up in delight upon hearing this. {Kids. They are just so innocent.}

This morning I just re-baked the pizza in the toaster oven before packing them into the box with some boiled edamame and some Korean strawberries.

Tomorrow will be a very jam-packed day for me as it’s the “boss” birthday. Yours truly will be busy in the kitchen from breakfast till lunch and I have reserved us for a scrumptious BBQ seafood buffet dinner at a hotel by recommendations of this cool mama. Hope everyone will have a blast this weekend!

Bento # 311 - Twiggies butterfly garden

2011-03-03T09:27:00.000+08:00

Happy morning everyone! Yes! I woke up with a good mood today (thank God!) not because “someone” patched the “hole” but because beyond my expectations, Zo got very good marks for her Chinese math paper which was one of her weakest subject. She told me this was because I thought her to do out the sum on rough paper first before writing down the answer (otherwise she would just “imagine the answer”). And also, today is finally the last day of exam. YAY!!!

We were searching for breakkie for Zo at the bread stall last evening and she suddenly said she felt like having Twiggies for both her breakfast and bento (it comes in a packet of 2) today because the mini cuppies that she like is still not having any stock since before CNY. I guess the baker must be having a lloooong vacation eh?! Of course this request is more than a “life saver” for this ~~lazy~~ busy mummy lar. Nothing is more delightful than having a happy customer right? LOL!

Ok, finally today I could rest my “vocal cords” from “singing” my “soprano” for Zo to do her revisions. And now I’m already feeling my sore throat coming for a visit. Oh NO!

Bento # 310 - My dear Princesses

2011-03-02T09:04:00.000+08:00

I didn’t had the most wonderful day yesterday and I found out something that didn’t gave me a pleasant evening either. So this morning, I woke up completely unmotivated. Needless to say, I really don’t have any motivation for the bento at all. Thank God I bought some mini-sausage rolls last night and with the help of a newly acquired Princess tiara pick; I have packed Zo this super simple bento today. But I think she would be happy enough just seeing the pick.

Sorry that this post may sound a bit “grey” for the morning. I’d better stop here before I spread my “moody germs” on the cyberworld. Hopefully “someone” would “patch” back the “hole” and show some appreciation.