Bento 248

The weekend was busy as usual. The two elder girls were involved with some last minute request to lead an activity which finished on a high note. LC Thank you for the invitation.

I haven't had time to replenish bento stocks yet. I also didn't plan this morning's menu so I had to make sure my alarm clock gave me a one hour head start this morning! *Aggghhhh...hate it when this happens*

Woke up at 6.00a.m. and began cooking the spaghetti. Chopped some white onions and mashed them with canned Tuna and mayo (this seems to be a staple).

I rummaged the fridge for fruits and found some frozen tangerines, Kiwi and mini pears. I figured the lack of color would be resolved if I used all three fruits. Finally I still had to add the tomatoes for a splash of red.


This was really a "think on the spot menu" and felt quite chaotic trying to put it together. I'm going grocery shopping TODAY!

Bento 247

Friday classes for #2 is only an hour. Technically there's no need for a bento and that gives me a break. I welcome that, thank you!

But...being passionate as I am about packing bento, I can't stay away. I'm happy packing bento and it gives me a great sense of satisfaction, so I packed one for myself today. *grins widely*

We're normally on a seafood diet on Fridays, so today's bento is basically fried (pepper and salted) sole fish fillet coated in corn flour, beaten egg and pounded cream crackers.

There was a mixed salad in EVOO and lemon juice, salt and pepper, some freezer stock of Ratatouille and baby tomatoes as fillers.

It was quite a hearty meal and I enjoyed my treat! *grins again*

Oh brother!

Ok! So I'm a dud when it comes to photography. I hear people talk about shutter speed, light, settings, exposure, aperture, etc, etc. It makes no sense to me and I'm not interested to know.



In my world, "the simpler the better". I told my husband "please buy me something which I only need to press a button and the process is complete and over". Well, I've learnt over the years that it's not as simple as I wished it to be. *rolls eyes*



This was my first 'personal' camera. It died on me after a couple of years. We got it repaired at the Olympus centre in Hartamas. It finally gave way anyway. The flip lock for the batteries broke and from my unprofessional observation and point of view, it looks like the entire camera frame needs to be replaced. *shakes head*

So, we got this baby. One week later we found that it 'sucks the energy DRY from my poor batteries. It was giving me about a dozen or less pictures everytime I used FULLY charged batteries. I thought at first that my rechargeables were getting old and so I replaced new ones but the result was the same.

The first time it went bonkers (something wrong with the shutters), I got it repaired at the Olympus center and complained to the technician. Guess what! It's a common complaint and that's what you get if you don't know how to ask before you buy! *I felt so smart* (sarcasm meant here).

So, this baby died too at the end of last year.

For a time, I had to try make do with #1's toy. I don't know why she calls it a 'toy' because I'm absolutely NOT amused by it. Neither either by it's weight nor size! Hmmmphhh...couldn't handle the monster.

Too many buttons and issues to deal with.

I finally settled with this little retard. This belongs to #2.

No! Those colorful crystals didn't come with the camera. She bought them and bedazzled the camera. She had to add them one by one - so much patience!

I think I like this little retard because it's really easy to use. Just press 'food' on the menu and snap my bento. No hassle, no problem and no stress! Yippeeee!!!!

Bento 246

It's getting more and more difficult to pack #2 Bento. There are so many restrictions because of allergy reasons, a need to nurture and preserve supple vocal chords.

No cheese, no milk, no chocolates, no spicy or fiery flavors, no chicken, no rice (except when it's sushi time), no fried stuff, no food with sauces (sometimes it spills), no, no, no!

It's a challenge twice over to pack bento and sometimes I ignore signals of warning when I pack a certain type of "NO" food. Problem is, #2 would also ignore it and it'll be left in the box! Aggghhhhh!!!

Today's bento is as plain as it can get. Plain spaghetti Aglio Olio with some furikake and a box of peas in between apple slices and some plump baby tomatoes.

Bento 245

#2 was sick yesterday. All the bad air and weather resulted in a day of rest at home.

Nonetheless, we had sushi last night. I fried some Chicken Katsu and it tasted delicious in the sushi.




This was #2's bento for today. One sliced up mini pear and a mix of sushi rice, Chicken Katsu, carrots, kyuri, kewpie mayo and sakura denbu. A yummylicious mix!

Bento 244

All three girls had morning classes and it was all hurry burry!

I made Onigiri and it took longer than usual to pack this bento. Cooking the rice over the stove (as I commonly do now) and allowing time for the steam dry process took about 12 minutes in total.

Check an old blog post for the method to make Onigiri.


The top bento had a box of apples and vegetables in a mix of passion fruit pulp. I packed an energy bar for snack.

Cha Soba

Friday classes at college for #2 is only an hour and a half. Breakfast is a healthy rolled oats so there is no bento required.

Tonight's dinner below:


Cold Cha Soba! Yums!

Bento 243

Today we had noodles for lunch and #2 had a fruit bento to go. College begins at 2.oop.m. and she didn't want to bring a bento with her. I offered a fruit bento and she welcomed it.

I froze some tangerines last night and at noon today I cut some apples into cubes and mixed them all together with the pulp from a passion fruit.

It's a simple and refreshing fruit bento for a quick snack.
If you notice, I used the bento box with the cold pack from the freezer.

Bento 242

I am relishing this wonderful 'drive' for packing bentos. I was exhausted this morning because friends came by last night and we were up till past midnight. My wake up call for 2010 is at 6.15a.m but I couldn't drag myself up till 6.40a.m.

Whoa! So late! Thank goodness for my paranoid planning ahead habit. I already had a menu and layout sketched out for this morning's bento and I just had to put it together.

Yesterday's leftover spaghetti Aglio Olio from lunch came in handy and luckily I had the good sense to pull out a box of Bolognaise sauce from the freezer for use this morning.

I took fifteen minutes to put this bento together. There's chopped baby corn with some rollo rosa and julienne carrots, all tossed in some sesame seed dressing.


There is left over fruit cake from Christmas for dessert today and a mix of Spaghetti and Bolognaise sauce for a hearty lunch. Mmmm....college lasts for seven hours today with three back to back classes and a short break in between. I hope #2 has time to eat.

Bento 241

It's a wonderful, fulfilling emotion to be able to pack bento again! I have begun planning and clearing my freezer for future stock purchases. I've always been passionate about packing bento despite the time and commitment constraints.

I'm just too happy that #2 still wants her food packed even though she's already off to college.
#2 obtained a one year full scholarship of her choice from HELP University College under its annual School Achiever Scholarships Awards (SASA). Orientation was yesterday and today classes begin.
There is music in the air, everywhere! There are University auditions, competitions, multiple choir practices, camps, music exams, college exams and the entire works for another busy year ahead.

For energy and passion, surely there must be bento! LOL!
This morning I packed two mini Laugen sandwiches stuffed with tuna mayo. There was some leftover teriyaki chikuwa from last night's dinner. It's quite delicious and simple to cook. Just toss the sliced chikuwa into some oil in a pan and fry lightly. Then add some mirin, sake, shoyu and sugar, cook down the sauce till it gets a little sticky. Yummy!

I blanched some peas and mixed them with some corn and salad cream. Simple and delicious.

Bento 240

Happy New Year everyone! It's been an overdrive of camps, short trips and an overload of activities and caroling. All in all, it's been tiring but exhilarating!

I think it's been almost three months since my last bento post. Sorry people, end year activities needed critical attention and erratic exam schedules pushed bento packing to the bottom on the priority list.

But...I'm back and this is my first bento for 2010!
It's basically blanched broccoli and carrots with a drizzled top of sesame seed dressing. Today's main meal is a roasted chicken and ham sandwich in a cluster of rollo rosa.


Both meats were leftovers from Christmas. #2 was sweet to help me cut up all the roasted chicken shreds and a small block of pineapple ham. Mixed them together with some Kewpie mayo and pepper and viola a delicious gourmet spread.

You were there

You were there
soloist: Tom Cully

You were there in everything I knew
From the moment I began.
Always there in every way I go.

Saved me falling, held my hand.

You are shelter from the storm.
The shadows fade away, all cares pass away.

As hour by hour, day by day
Your love lightens up the sky

As it shines across the night.
Ave, regina caelorum decora
Virgo gloriosa, ave!

And when the end of day is come,
Stay with me through the dark and bring me home.

You are there whichever way I go.
Keep me safely night and day.
Always there, whenever I'm alone,

Hear me calling, show the way.

You are shelter from the storm,
The shadows fade away, all cares pass away.

As hour by hour, day by day;
Your love lightens up the sky

As it shines across the night.
Ave, regina caelorum decora
Virgo gloriosa, ave!

And when the end of day is come,
Stay with me through the dark and bring me home.

Stay with me through the dark and bring me home

No Matter What

Boyzone Andrew Lloyd Webber (music)/Jim Steinman(lyrics)

No matter what they tell us
No matter what they do
No matter what they teach us
What we believe is true

No matter what they call us
However they attack
No matter where they take us
We'll find our own way back

I can't deny what I believe
I can't be what I'm not
I know I'll love forever
I know, no matter what

If only tears were laughter
If only night was day
If only prayers were answered
Then we would hear God say

No matter what they tell you
No matter what they do
No matter what they teach you
What you believe is true

And I will keep you safe and strong
And sheltered  from the storm
No matter where it's barren
A dream is being born

No matter who they follow
No matter where they lead
No matter how they judge us
I'll be everyone you need

No matter if the sun don't shine
Or if the skies are blue
No matter what the end is
My life began with you

I can't deny what I believe
I can't be what I'm not
I know this love's forever
I know, no matter what

Will You Dance With Me?

A quick check in my inbox brought this very realistic and heart jerking message to light...


Will You Dance With Me?

READ THIS VERY SLOWLY.... IT'S PRETTY PROFOUND.



Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because
they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't
know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who
passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut
back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband
didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been
thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while
you watched ' Jeopardy ' on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, 'How about going
to lunch in a half hour?' She would gas up and stammer, 'I can't. I
have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known
yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain.' And my
personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' She died a few years ago. We never
did have lunch together.

Because Canadians cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule
our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to
ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve
toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room
carpet... We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out
of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter,
and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we
awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of 'I'm
going to,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a
bit.'

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to
adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new
ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for
five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of
Roller blades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord..

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's
just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a
spatula and eliminate the digestive process The other day, I stopped
the car and bought a triple-Decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on
the way home, I would have died happy.

Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to......not
something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and
had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what
would you say? And why are you waiting?

Make sure you read this to the end; you will understand why I posted this.

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to
the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butter fly's erratic
flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through
each day on the fly? When you ask ' How are you?' Do you hear the
reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred
chores running through your head? Ever told your child, 'We'll do it
tomorrow.' And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let
a good friendship die? Just call to say 'Hi?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened
gift....Thrown away..... Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the
music before the song is over.


'Life may not be the party we hoped for.. but while we are here we
might as well dance!

Early season greeetings!

I leave you this fun clip till I begin updating my blog next year when the school term begins.

Thank you to those who have sent me e-mails asking about the silence and scarce updates on Bento.

Year end programs are keeping me very busy and much as I want to share with the world all the exciting happenings, time is a huge constraint at this point.

God bless all Catholics for the upcoming Advent preparations and here's wishing everyone an early "Merry Christmas"! God bless you with a blessed year ahead!