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Monday, January 30, 2012


Valentine's Day Bento Lunch #233: Love Letters

Love letters aren't only for lovers, they are for anyone close to your heart. If your letters have far to go, it is time to mail them out. I know it took me 2 weeks to send them half way around the world! 
This lunch is linked to bentolunch.net
and Thematic Thursday at http://www.dianarambles.com/  and BBN
Also linking to kitchenfunwithmy3sons

love letters valentines lunch
  • Envelope shaped sandwiches. Used rolling pin to flatten bread. Stamp is colby and fruit leather heart. Heart shaped fruit leather seal for behind the other envelope.
  • Seedless green grapes topped with heart shaped strawberry.
  • Veggie stix topped with heart shaped colby.
Here are the items or similar that I used to make this lunch.


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Sunday, January 29, 2012


Tic-Tac-Toe Sandwich, Bento Lunch #232

N loves tic-tac-toe. We went to Farmers Market and I bought these delicious grape tomatoes and this is the first time I am adding them to his school lunch. Hope that he will eat them up. Did I mention before that N is a very picky eater? I try not to label him as picky but his lunches are almost always with the same foods so that he would eat them. Whenever I include something new, he would come home with unfinished lunch.I try not to give up on adding new varieties of foods but at times it is discouraging to open his lunch box after school. If you have a picky eater you get what I mean. I am linking this lunch to BBN,red theme



Bento of the Week Winner

  • Tic-Tac-Toe shaped turkey and Asiago sandwich. Organic strawberry fruit leather lines,O's are strawberry cut-outs and X's are Colby colored with food safe marker.
  • Grape tomatoes
  • Strawberries with food picks
  • Cheese-it crackers in heart container
Here are the items or similar that I used to make this lunch.


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Friday, January 27, 2012


Smiley Bear, Bento Lunch #231

This is a last minute bento that I had to come up with. I thought that I did not need to make any bento for today as planned few days ago,but N told me he changed his mind about  having school lunch . Reason is because on Fridays, he attends his gifted class and his teacher likes to have lunch outside near the playground. That is quite a distance from the cafeteria and I appreciate his explanation:) I thought to myself, lunch time is only 25 mins which 5 mins or more standing in line,around 5 mins walking to lunch table and that leaves him 15 mins or less to eat......I don't know,he is a slow eater and the time is not enough.Packed in double tier Old Navy lunch box.


  • Top tier- Italian style meatballs,halved. Bear eyes, nose and mouth are made of Colby and nori for the heart shaped pupil.
  • Bottom tier- Goldfish crackers,cantaloupe,cucumber slices and Panda cookies.

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Wednesday, January 25, 2012


Valentine's Day Bento Lunch #230: Red Hearts

Red is one of my favorite colors. Finally, N saw something that he would like to eat at school lunch on Friday on the cafeteria menu. The school usually sends home a monthly menu. That will give me a break from making his lunch. Making lunches 5 days a week could be draining at times.
Will be linking this lunch for the theme red at BBN(BentoBlogNetwork.com). You could find lots of cute lunch inspirations there or just admire the work of other participants. It is FUN:) This lunch is packed in our favorite RED lego box.




Bento Blog Network
  • Mini heart shaped ham and cheese sandwiches,stacked. 2 topped with strawberry fruit leather and 2 topped with Colby and colored with food safe marker. Strawberry fruit snacks below.
  • Red goldfish crackers.
  • Heart shaped strawberries(I love cutting strawberries to heart shapes throughout the year to show my love:) Couple of red picks.
  • Heart shaped red container has veggie stix. Found the container at $1 section at Target last week.

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Fishies, Bento Lunch #229

Mommy, can I have a fish pet and an aquarium?@-@ I told N that I have to think about it and discuss with Daddy but could make him a fish shaped sandwich for today.

  • Fish shaped turkey and cheese sandwich with Colby fins and candy eye. Seaweed(nori) cut on the bottom.
  • Fish shaped mozzarella cheese,stacked
  • Strawberry and blueberries with fish shaped picks
  • Fish shaped pretzels in fish shaped snack box
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Monday, January 23, 2012


Koala on Sandwich Thins, Bento Lunch #228

This is for Tuesday as we have to leave the house earlier than usual tomorrow. I am afraid I might not be able to get ready on time.

  • Koala shaped colby on whole wheat turkey and cheese sandwich thins( candy eyes and raisin nose)
  • Bear shaped cucumber
  • Cantaloupe and grapes
Here are the items or similar that I used to make this lunch.


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Happy Chinese New Year- Dragon, Bento Lunch #227( 1-23)

Wishing you all a very HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS YEAR OF THE DRAGON! Also wishing everyone good health,joy and success all year long!! Gong Xi Fa Cai :D
We came home very late last night,tired,no inspiration and low on groceries. The dragon head is supposed to look like the small dragon head beside the bento box.

Happy Chinese New Year, Dragon, Bento School Lunch

  • Top tier- Chinese raisin bread,home made pak kwa(long yoke) cut out to be like a dragon head, strawberry slices.
  • Bottom tier- Yogurt covered raisins, Chinese cookies.
Here are the items or similar that I used to make this lunch.


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Friday, January 20, 2012


Thermos Food,Lunch Bag, Bento Lunch #226

I woke up late today and made my lazy and easy version of Mac 'N Cheese and transferred it to thermos to keep warm. Included some fruit and goldfish crackers in snack box.Can't always be a supermom!

I'll like to THANK Diana Rambles (bentoblognetwork.com) for emailing me  yesterday about what might have caused my blogging problems and possible ways to fix it. She is always so very kind and sweet and I REALLY appreciate her help!!







Here are the items or similar that I used to make this lunch.
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Thursday, January 19, 2012


100th Day Of School, Bento Lunch #225

Today is the 100th day of school at N's school and I decided to make a simple lunch with round foods to celebrate :)

  • Round shaped sandwich with Cheddar accent, grapes
  • Bagel rounds and carrot slices
Here are the items or similar that I used to make this lunch.


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Wednesday, January 18, 2012


Monkey Veggie Burgers, Bento Lunch #224

N was born in the year of the Monkey according to the Chinese Zodiac.I received a small hamburger cutter from Japan last month and decided to use it. N does not eat meat burgers for some reason and whenever we make meat burgers, we have to make separate veggie burgers for him. I decided to use Morning Star Grillers Original veggie patties for his school lunch today. I  heated the veggie burger in the microwave for 1 min, cool down for a min and cut it with my monkey cutter.

  •  Monkey shaped veggie burgers stacked. Monkey shaped cream cheese sandwiches.Made the ears with baby carrots,eyes for the sandwiches are made from nori and green peas for the burger,Provolone nose.
  • Grapes(halved) and pretzel snaps
Here are the items or similar that I used to make this lunch.


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Tuesday, January 17, 2012


Simple Bento & Chinese New Year, Bento Lunch #223

Packed in our favorite Sassy lunch box.N saw me having tostitos with guacamole and salsa yesterday and said he wanted some for school. He is not keen on guacamole and I gave him cheddar cheese dipping sauce instead.

Chinese New Year(Year of the Dragon) or Lunar New Year is around the corner and I am still contemplating whether to cook or not on CNY's Eve(this Sunday)?  I have been cooking a feast yearly but thought of just going out for dinner this year since most Chinese restaurants are open. I need to go to Asian grocer today to buy 'ang pow/lai sze/hong bao' packets. The envelope is usually decorated with images or symbols that bestow luck, health and prosperity to the receiver.They are red envelopes that are given to children as 'lucky money'.

Traditionally, red packets are passed out during the Chinese New Year's celebrations, from married couples or the elderly to unmarried juniors. Red packets almost always contain money, usually varying from a couple of dollars to several hundred. Per custom, the amount of money in the red packets should be of even numbers as odd numbers are associated with cash given during funerals. The number 8 is considered lucky (for its homophone for "wealth"). The number six is also very lucky as it sounds like 'smooth' in the sense of having a smooth year.

  • Left- Ham and cheese sandwich, pretzels
  • Right- Organic baby carrots,strawberry slices,blueberries
  • Snack container- Tostitos scoops and cheddar cheese
 Here are the items or similar that I used to make this lunch.


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Friday, January 13, 2012


Shu Mai, Bento Lunch #222

All these bento supplies and more are given to me over the years by my ex-colleague/best friend from Japan,Tanaka-san. We worked for the same company over a decade ago, she being based in Japan and she is the one who introduced me to the bento world. Speaking about my previous job,I kind of miss it at times. I got to travel to different countries for free during company trips and more. Thanks and love you Ai.

  • Large bento box- Shu Mai,cucumber slices,grapes
  • Small bento box-Yogurt covered raisins,Koala cookies,Pretzels

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Thursday, January 12, 2012


Butterfly On Sandwich Thins, Bento Lunch #221

This is another lunch box that I purchased for $1 and some change from Old Navy the other day.


  • Top Tier- Sandwich thins. I cut the top of the bread out with a butterfly cookie cutter. Colby and fruit leather accents.
  • Bottom tier-Organic baby carrots,yogurt covered raisins,bagel thins(cinnamon raisin),strawberry slices


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Wednesday, January 11, 2012


Heart Onigiri, Bento Lunch #220

I usually make onigiri with sushi rice but was out of it. Made with Jasmine rice this time which did not turn out as nice. This double tier lunch box I found at 'Crocs' shoe store last year. Surprised me and I was excited. They only have two designs though, one blue and one pink.


  • Top Tier- Organic baby carrots,heart shaped onigiri,baked chicken
  • Bottom tier- Yogurt covered raisins,goldfish crackers,clementine

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Tuesday, January 10, 2012


Music note kebab, Bento Lunch #219

Today, Nick will be having a dance party at school. It is for all students who have achieved their AR(accelerated reader) goal for 2nd quarter. Nick also exceeded his Bonus goal and will have an additional treat from his class teacher another day. We are so proud of him !!


  • Cream cheese sandwich with 'Have Fun' colby cheese
  • Honey ham kebab with music note picks
  • Cucumber slices
  • Organic strawberry slices
  • Pretzels in small blue lego box

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Monday, January 9, 2012


Airplane on Sandwich thins by hubby, Bento Lunch #218

I am feeling under the weather and my wonderful hubby made this simple bento. The strawberries are from Farmers Market and they taste amazing.


  •  Whole wheat sandwich thins topped with Asiago and Colby shaped airplane
  • Cheese-it crackers
  • Organic strawberries with airplane picks


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Saturday, January 7, 2012


Nick's Vehicles

I am so behind sending photos to family and friends. Here are a few that I linked from my flickr.
These are some of the vehicles that Nick has or had. Collecting these vehicles are my other hobby besides making bentos:) I would say it's one of my husbands hobbies too. Nick also has a cute Firetruck, Cadillac( Black and Maroon), 4x4 Kawasaki etc and I can't seem to find where I saved the photos. Will work on that soon. He has no interest in them lately + has outgrown them :(
My new hobby- collecting Bicycles. It saves a lot of space compared to Power Wheels.
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Corvette his favorite

Corvette at Golf Course by Rina BentoSchoolLunches

All in all, I think the Corvette is his favorite.
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Power Wheels Jeep Fire Truck

Power Wheels Jeep Fire Truck by Rina BentoSchoolLunches

With his best friend Sami!
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Harley Davidson bike

Harley Davidson bike by Rina BentoSchoolLunches

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JD tractor

JD tractor2 by Rina BentoSchoolLunches

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Peg Perego Jeep

Peg Perego Jeep by Rina BentoSchoolLunches

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JD tractor

JD tractor1 by Rina BentoSchoolLunches

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In his Chevy Silverado

Powerwheels Chevy Silverado by Rina BentoSchoolLunches

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In his Gravedigger

PW Gravedigger by Rina BentoSchoolLunches

This is my hubby's favorite
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Nick in his Corvette

Vette3 by Rina BentoSchoolLunches

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Nick in his Corvette

Vette4 by Rina BentoSchoolLunches

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Friday, January 6, 2012


Tic-Tac-Toe Onigir, Bento Lunch #217

Happy Friday! I have made tic-tac-toe bento with bread before and used rice instead this time. Packed in LunchBots Duo.


  • Left-Tic Tac Toe onigiri with carrots,peas,nori and sugar snap peas.
  • Right-Italian style meatballs,clementine.
Here are the items or similar that I used to make this lunch.
Shop LunchBots

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Thursday, January 5, 2012


Beary Happy New Year 2012, Bento Lunch #216

Happy New Year! Wishing everyone Good Health, Happiness & Prosperity in the year 2012.
I found this lunch box at Old Navy under the clearance section for $1 dollar and some change. It is larger than my usual boxes with the top tier being shallow and the bottom tier deep.



Happy New Year 2012, Bento School Lunch







  • Top Tier- Happy New Year 2012 made with carrot.Yogurt covered pretzels
  • Bottom Tier- Bear face ham and cheese sandwich with Colby and Asiago cheese and icing eyes. Seedless red grapes.
Here are the items or similar that I used to make this lunch.


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