Sandwich bags

I finally made some sandwich bags. We took them to the park filled with cheezits, so the bags are already greasy. Oh well. They're meant to be used. I'll make some snack size ones soon. I'm excited to have another reusable bag for school, park days, and random snacking. Less plastic= good. And it's fun to see my kawaii fabric in use, not just in a drawer.
I lined it with yellow quilting fabric and used velcro to fasten it. Which turtle is your favorite?

I'm here!

I have so many things to write about, and haven't had the time to get any of them out. Two of my dearest friends (and relatives) just had birthdays. Happy Birthday to Sienna the delightful youngest sister of my dear Jesse. And to Pam, the best mother in law a girl could ask for.

And if you've been wondering, I'm still making bentos every day for little M. Here's todays creation. You like the police car fishcake? She had rice in the bottom tray. A star, a bear, and a heart shaped onigiri from the dollar store. I love that place. I'm down to the dolphin, penguin and lion toothpicks. They've all gone down the drain or tossed. Unfortunately, they are no longer at the store. I'm sure that when school starts again in April, the selection will be better. Until then, I may have to deign to using wooden toothpicks (gasp!).

Bento IV

It's December and at M's Youchien that means we've switched to the two tiered obento box. The teachers heat up the rice for the kids. Of course I got it at the 100 yen store. They're about 1000 at Akachan Honpo for the cute Miffy double bento box. I love Miffy, but not that much. Today's obento looks good, but as I suspected, M didn't eat the cherry tomato or the dumpling. For some reason she doesn't like them, though they add variety and color in my opinion. Theh quail eggs are a recent addition that Uta's mom told me about. She only ate half of the rice, but she says it's because she prefers her rice cold. Umm, how do I explain that to her teachers? Do I even bother? G insisted we take a picture of her lunch today. She usually eats it around 10 because she doesn't eat enough of a breakfast. The picture of her obento is fuzzy, so I'm not going to post it.

Bento III

I'm getting faster and more proficient at making Obento. I'm out of carrots, so the orange color is missing. The fried concoction is cheese filled chicken nuggets that I get from Co-op. They're frozen and you just have to fry them in the morning. It's an incredibly unhealthy shortcut, but I no longer wake up at 6 to make chicken katsu. My cucumber flowers are getting nicer. I also got some precut nori from Co-op. They're shaped like animals, flowers, cars, etc. I put one on each side for the girls. My friend Kara gave me the triangle shaped onigiri press. It's so tech. The inside is textured so that the finished onigiri doesn't stick to the press. Stay tuned...

Undo Kai

I didn't post any pictures from Undo Kai (sports day festival) which was about two weeks ago. So now that we've finally set up my computer, thanks to our bishop's cast off keyboard and mouse, I'm getting back into my blog. M had fun on her big day. It's the youchien's biggest activity. The kids have been practicing their dances since school started back up this fall.

I woke up early that Saturday and started my rice cooker and got my oil frying for homemade chicken katsu. I made a huge bento for our family, only to see that most of the parents bought bentos or had pretty simple ones. Liana Otsuji said that at her Youchien, the bentos are a big deal and the women start on them a week ahead of undo kai. Kind of crazy.

The program consisted of lots of dancing and group games for the kids. I hear the undo kais in grade school get pretty competitive, but our stayed tame. Except for one dad who knocked his kid over with a mat accidentally while trying to win one of the games. It was pretty hilarious.

Another of the games had the parents playing jun ken po (paper rock scissors). If you lost, you had to go behind the person who won. We were a growing caterpillar. But get this. I kept winning. I was trying to lose, because I had no idea when to start and I had to introduce myself. I finally lost...to the overall winner.

I'll try and get a video together of the festivities. If you're ever in Japan on the second Saturday of October, I'd strongly suggest finding an undo kai. Very entertaining.The Caterpillar family. I love G's hand on my shoulder.

G's Penguin Club danced to the "Penguin Samba." I wasn't sure if she would wear the costume at the actual festival, so I snapped this. She surprised me and did come dance with me.

M and Uta, one of her English speaking friends. Her other cohorts are Shakira and Takuma. Uta's dad is American. Shakira's mom works in an English immersion school, and Takuma is only 1/4 Japanese, but has lived in Japan his whole life.

Everything Miffy?

Ok, I found this site while I was googling "Miffy fishcake." Right. So first, the site is of a lady in Hawaii who makes an intricate bento every day. She's pretty amazing. M would be in heaven if I could make a bento half as fun as these are.

And second, the Miffy fishcake. This Christmas, Amy found some Miffy-ware at Marukai and said that "she loves everything Miffy." Now, I want to know if that means everything. Including the Miffy fishcake that I will be purchasing this next week. Yes, it's fishcake that when sliced is adorable Miffy smiling from your bento. M put in a special request for said fishcake, and at only 168 yen, (about $1.50) how could I deny her. I can't find an image online for you, but just use your imagination. Usual round fishcake is white, with a little pink. Just imagine a slice of fishcake with Miffy's kawaii image on it. Ta-da. There you have it. And in just two weeks (that's how long it will take to order it from the co-op deli grocery delivery service) it will be in M's bento.