Love in a Lunch Bucket

I have picky kids. No really, I know it seems shocking, but my kids don't want to eat anything "different". I know I'm probably the only one out there with this problem, but just in case I'm not, I thought I would share some of my ideas for fun lunches that have kept my kids happy this first week of school. Please allow me to present to you, "Love in a Lunch Bucket".

Step one: go to the bread outlet store and buy 4 loaves of bread for $5. I love the bread outlet store.

Step two: use your favourite cookie cutter to cut out the bread for mini sandwiches.



Don't waste those crusts, they are perfect for bread crumbs. The yield of one loaf:



Put your sandwiches together. My kids like plain jam but you could cut up deli meats or cheeses in the same way and put that in the sandwich, or cream cheese and ham. I have images of some sort of mashed banana and peanut butter concoction, but I haven't tried it out yet. Place assembled sandwiches on a tray lined with freezer paper (you could use parchement paper, but freezer paper is so cheap, and you get to make custom stencils with it, so why not) and flash freeze.



After a few hours put them into a plastic storage bag, now when you are making lunch just grab a few out and you're good to go! I have a section of my freezer dedicated to grab-and-go items to build the boys' lunches; sandwiches, home made cookies, quesadillas, pizza buns, etc.

Another idea I love is the use of a Japanese egg mold for different treats. We had some pre-made Fruity Pebbles treats that my husband had bought for a road trip, and the boys didn't show any interest in them. I heated one in the microwave for 10 seconds, popped it into these molds, and sent them along for lunch. I've since made Cocoa Krispies treats this way, and next I plan to see if it works with granola bars. I wouldn't think the intricate molds, such as the ones with faces, would work as well for this purpose, but the shaped ones work great.

So, what are some of your best ideas for school lunches?

Let's give this another go, shall we?

Well after ... I don't quite know, I'm afraid to look at the last time I posted, I am going to give this blogging thing a go. My kids are back in school and I suddenly find myself with all this free time, so I think I should find something to do with it other than cleaning or cooking, don't you?

First of all I need to admit that I have become one hundred and twenty percent hooked on Pinterest. If you have not, make sure you have a few extra hours a day before you sign up. If you are signed up, feel free to add me!.

One of the things I have actually made, instead of just pinning, from that site is the spiral bead ring. I am very proud of mine, if I do say so myself. Unfortunately I don't have a great photo, but here is what I do have.

Then I gave it to a dirty gnome for good luck. At least, he TOLD me it would be good luck!

Another great discovery from Pinterest are these stuffed taco shells, definitely one of my new go-to recipes for dinner.

If all else fails, browsing Pinterest makes you FEEL more crafty.

(image from here)

Tour de Fleece

What? It has only been 9 months since my last post. Perhaps I was gestating a baby.

Okay, I wasn't. I was just lazy.

My latest obsession has been spinning yarn on a drop spindle for the Tour de Fleece on Ravelry. Since I'm lazy I'll just post the pictures.






And still on the spindle:

Book Binding

I have a fun new little hobby, book binding! I have a Twilight-obsessed friend and we are going to see New Moon tonight so I made her a blank notebook using a copy of the New Moon cover. It was fairly amatuer (there was glue on the pages!) but it was fun, and I learned a new skill. Then when I was away at a retreat a couple of weeks ago I learned a new way of book binding, with no adhesive, it's more of a Japanese form of book binding. While there I made this:



For a ravelry group I'm on we are having a November challenge - my challenge was 50k words for nanowrimo (which I finished, by the way, go me), others are knitting sweaters, finishing projects, etc. As a prize incentive I am throwing in some books, I've made three so far, I hope people like them!





What do you think, too amateur?

The spoils

I finally got my camera battery charged and got a photo of my final secret pal package - though I ate most of the goodies before I got it charged! Sorry Penny!



I am still in shock over those books. I can't get over it!

I also realized I never posted the photos of what I got from the gift certificate, the second package. I got this beautiful Dream in Colour Smooshy yarn, and then some roving to attempt to spin - yikes good luck to me!



This is going to be another hat for me :)

Sprint to the finish line

Thirteen thousand words to go. I have found this year to be extremely easy, even though I didn't think I had anything to say. I hope to actually complete this novel, I still haven't finshed last year's though!

Now that I've put this out there, you KNOW I'm going to have a difficult time with this last bit!

Secret pal

I am in shock as I am typing this. I have not taken photos because I just put windows 7 on my computer and don't have all my software installed, but I just recieved my final gift from my secret pal and I actually got tears in my eyes as I opened it. First off there were some wonderful smelling avon products, including a really nice hand lotion which I NEED, because my hands are always so dry! Then there were some yummy Canadian treats, which I always miss living here in the US. And then there was not one, but two books - the first and second Barbara Walker Treasuries. The books I have been wanting for so long, that I have been hunting through used book stores for, that I was going to use as my incentive for finishing nanowrimo (maybe). I can't even believe it, I am in such shock! I swear she must have had a telescope poking into my room to know me so well.

Thank you PENNY!! This was the most amazing package I've ever recieved and I'm so glad you were my secret pal!