Preschool Bentos

I warned you that you would get whatever popped into my brain!

As most if you know, I am starting to really love the idea of bento lunches. However, I have only one child in school and he is preschool age. So, I started packing simple, preschool friendly bentos on his school days. He goes twice a week and I am having blast created lunches that will make his buddies jealous. Here is what I have come up with so far:

Bat Bento

Car Bento, notice the read and green "light" cereal

Pumpkin Bento

Superhero bento

Yellow Bento, for yellow day at school

pirate bento, with treasure juice box

Ben (my son) has seemed to enjoy his lunches so far this year. I look forward to creating more as the year goes by. I always use whatever I already have in the house. Other great bento supplies include:

• tooth picks
• paper
• cookie cutters
• food pens
• sprinkles
• muffin papers
• fun shaped foods

I hope this inspires a little bit of creativity for you. It really doesn't take much money or even much time to create these fun little lunches. These meals take me between 10 and 20 minutes to design, create, and pack.

Have bento fun!

Heroes of the City Baby App

Once again I have been impressed by my friends over at Heroes of the City! Last time I posted about them I was sharing an app for ages 3 and up, this time we have one for babies and toddlers. My youngest is a year and a half and is really in love with this app! He has gotten to the point where he can find and access it all on his own. Even better, this app is FREE!

The app includes:

• 3 animated short movies (Language: English and Swedish )
• Music Panel with two different themes
• Color and shape game
• Magic coloring game
• Balloon Game

If you are interested in downloading this fun new app, you can find it for both itunes and Google Play. There really is no risk and its super cute!

App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/heroes-of-the-city-baby-app/id860084935?mt=8

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rutaett.HeroesBaby&hl=en
  
 While your at it, you can also check out some of the videos that are included in the app on You-tube!

13. Join the Kids

There is nothing quite like children that make you feel old and worn out. However, that doesn't have to be the case. In fact, make a point to keep in the opposite. There is something refreshing and truly freeing about letting go and having a little fun with your kids. Not only is fun for them, but you loosen up and understand your babies just a little better.

I always feel changed when I truly let myself join my kids. It can be hard to do with all the adult pressures and stresses around us. Its just something I have to make a conscious choice to do, then go with it.

Do you join your kiddos? What is your favorite things to join them in?

My husband and I really love to get out on the playground with them. I think there is something extra special about that for us. When we were dating it was a popular date plan (because its free). We have memories of just us two, and now with our two boys. Its a precious thing to have.

All Good Things

Must Come to an End...

And so it goes with this school year's bento lunches. My sons' semester at "baby school" had its final classes today. Next school year my eldest will be taking the big step into a real preschool. I'm both excited and sad about this. He is growing up way to fast and to me he will always be my baby. All this is beside the point! I do have two fun little bento lunches to share.

I wanted to do something special for their final hurrah!

For my ninja- a fully loaded, with chopsticks, stealth packed lunch. Including ninja star gummies and a candy ninja!

 For my mini picky minion- Peanut butter pop tart minion with "banana" gummies and candies. A few little lunch meat test tubes finish off the meal!

 

Michelle Duggar

April is the month I choose to focus on ladies from both the past and present that have or currently inspire me in someway. I am purposefully choosing to only speak on those aspects of each woman.

source

 Are you kidding me? How does she do it?! By the end of the day with my two young boys I think I may die. The nights my husband and I have to get up with my youngest drain us completely.

This woman manages to care, love, and flourish with her big, beautiful family. Beyond that, she home-schools. If you know my history I was homeschooled/unschooled through half of middle-school and all of high-school. It takes an incredible about of effort to get work together, grade, and provide enriching experiences. Now times that by a lot, say 19. She has got my respect for sure.

Another aspect in which I respect her is her faith. Considering both the hard and wonderful times, her and her family still cling to their faith in Christ. They make sure that everyone is aware of how important that is to every corner of their life.

All of her children seem to be well rounded and happy. This, again, amazes me. Her relationship with her husband is real and honest. No matter what others think, they must be doing something right! Relationships say a lot about people.

Among her other lists of respectable, inspiring traits you have confidence, modesty, and plenty of patience. I say, "Amen Sister!"

30 Before 30: Seventeen

17. Return to a somewhat normal sleep pattern.

I. AM. DONE. MISSING. SLEEP. So, will someone give my boys the memo?


As I sat here too tired to remember the good ideas I formulated to write about yesterday, I decided honesty was best. I am tired! Although my husband has gladly taken on many hours a night with our youngest, I can't seem to catch up. The months of missed sleep have caught up with me. Someone tell me this gets better... please.

Day Twenty-Five: Successful Day Off

I had a truly successful day off from work today. It was basically a redo of what my weekend should have been! I brought my youngest son in for a check up, I played outside with my kids, watched a little bit of a movie, did some sewing, and I looked cute doing it! It can't get much better than that for a snow day. Let me share my day with you in pictures!

Snow Day

Henry, the Easter baby!

 We figured that since its SUPPOSED to be Spring we would make a tiny Easter basket.

Building a snowman

 My husband enjoyed playing in the snow just as much as the kids did. In fact, he stayed out when the kids and I went back inside.

Ben's baby snowman

Benjamin showing off his snowman.

My son goes through moods when it comes to books. Right now he is very interested in the book Snowmen at Night. Since we are still getting wintry weather, I suggest you check your local library or you can buy it some place like Wal-Mart. 

Sew Creations

While my children slept, I was able to do a little sewing. I got a brand new sewing machine for this past Christmas, but Ive been so busy I rarely get to use it. I was so excited to sneak away for a while and play with it. I repaired my only denim skirt. (I had ripped the seam where the slit is, making it far too revealing!) I also did a project. I made a reusable shopping bag from an old t-shirt. I was inspired by The Art of Doing Stuff's blog. Follow the link to see her instructions on how to make your own bag. I adapted mine a bit.

Here is a picture of my creation.I wish it was a better view, but this is the best I got. It takes very little sewing machine know how to complete. If you can get it threaded and going, you CAN make this! For other great sewing ideas check out my Sew Creations board on Pinterest. During Spring break I hope to do several more projects.

My Outfit

Like I said, I relived Saturday. I made it a no make-up, no hair washing day. I did go out, so I couldn't stay in pajamas, but I was comfortable and cute.

From to: small diamond hoops, cross necklace, striped cowl neck t-shirt, jeans, felt loafers

You can't really see it in this picture, but I wore my hair in a side braided bun. The whole outfit was practical, without looking frumpy. The earrings are one of my few fine jewelry pieces. They were a gift from my in-laws. The shirt was a Goodwill find of a brand new Target shirt. The sleeves and the neckline are my favorite style. The only down fall I find with this shirt is the stripes. I don't find that stripes help my figure at all. The jeans are Lane Bryant, slightly flared. The shoes are a mix between a loafer and a flat. The work well with pants in both casual and work settings. These charcoal one's I got at Rack Room Shoes. Last, but not least in the cross. Ive probably had it since I was 14 or 15 years old. As a teenager I wore it all the time. My mother recently found it, so I'm rocking it again!

Life as I know it

What can I say, I really think this blog is helping me get more in tune with myself. After the birth of my children I lost myself in motherhood, now I am Amanda- wife, mom, and woman. I'm enjoying sharing my fashion, my family, my life with the blogging world. I'm also learning about myself. I like being more than what I can see!

Mini Focus

Random acts of kindness are hard when you are away from a lot of people! I was able to accomplish something, but I really want to do more. Do you have any ideas? I don't have money to spend, but Ive got heart and time. Please comment below with ideas.