Advent Bento Surprise

Christmas is few more sleeps away and I should be starting my Christmas Bento Surprise last week for Big Sissy but been too busy lately with so many things. But as the cliche goes, "better late than never",  so here goes my first Advent Bento Surprise. I am sharing this to all the mommies so they too can think of something creative for their kid's bento this holiday.

Since it's not yet our schedule for family grocery,  I am just picking some left overs in our fridge so this might not be an ideal bento box but I'm happy with how the little surprise made the difference. I mixed rice with garlic butter and use the sushi rice mold to form the logs. I also put ham tidbits inside the sushi logs because that's how Danya loves to eat rice (and she calls it Sushi Surprise :-). I put some carrot sticks on the side ( this is from Chef Michael's Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet) and paired it with Beef Sweet Ham. And the most exciting part of all...the little box for the Advent Bento SURPRISE! Yes, it's something you want to put to surprise your little ones  - may it be her favorite chocolate, jelly, shopkins, or a note saying " you will be receiving your favorite toy on 16th Dec."  or any creative stuffs you can think of to make your little ones extra happy this Christmas.

 

Read more @http://www.littlechillsbento.com/#!Advent-Bento-Surprise11-Days-Till-Christmas/c21kp/566d67910cf2bbe8cab73a29

Color Crazee Banana Ketchup

Red ketchup, yes that is simply radiant! Green...a little bit goofy but would be interesting. Blue, ohh that would be bubbly. Yellow, that must be banana yummylicious! Yes, these are the four fun and exciting colors of the new UFC Color Crazee Banana Catsup: Radiant Red, Goofy Green, Yummy Yellow and Bubbly Blue.

Being used to a tomato ketchup for years, I find it crazy to see there are still other colors of ketchup aside from red. And me and my little chills are going crazy as well trying the different colors on our bread, rice,  and meatballs and even experimenting with mixing each to form new colors. I'm not sure if this product was just launched this year but it's the first crazee colors ketchup in the Philippines from UFC. It comes in a twist-cap and easy to squeeze bottle recommended for kids, especially those picky little eaters and mommies like me who love to prepare bento meals for their kids. Although all ingredients are FDA approved and safe for consumption, I still dont like the idea of using a lot of food colors and artificial flavors in my kid's plate so even though I am color crazy with this ketchup,  I will try to limit the consumption of this product or perhaps just use it as  garnishing or design to my bento meals.

Read more http://www.littlechillsbento.com/#!Color-Crazee-Banana-Ketchup/c21kp/565dc0240cf2c000e929d79d

Wacky Wednesday Bento

It's a cold, rainy Wednesday! Everybody needs a warm hug and a wacky face to brighten up the soggy day.

Sharing with you what I prepared for my Big Sissy's lunchbox. Wacky riceballs with surprise ham and cheese inside, girly cheeses ( one for her BFF Malak)  made from Babybel cheese, some fruity loops and a banana!

Read more @ http://www.littlechillsbento.com/#!Themed-Bento-1-Wacky-Wednesday/c21kp/5655602e0cf20a760c4ca99b

Cute O-nigiri Faces Bento

My little chills were not so fond of eating rice  before. But when I started doing the onigiri or rice balls, they have turned into avid rice eaters!  I am also happy to learn that I can flavor, color or shape rice balls into different characters. So I now make sure I include in my Big Sissy's weekly lunch box some rice balls so she can eat it on the go.

O-nigiri also known as o-musubi, nigirimeshi,  or simply rice ball, is a Japanese food made from white rice formed into triangular or cylinder shapes and often wrapped in nori(seaweed). (Source: Wikepedia)

Read more @http://www.littlechillsbento.com/#!Step-Up-Bento-3Cute-Onigiri-Faces/c21kp/56497bfc0cf2f51f323cdb76

 

My Sleeping Ladybug Bento

It's beginning to feel like winter is coming soon. The early Sunday morning air was a little bit cold, the chilly water in the bath made me shiver and my Big Sissy Danya was still sleeping like a ladybug! Though after some few excuses and quick whining, she managed to drag herself out of bed and came up alive and kicking! (Oh, thank goodness!)

Just like me, I am full of beans, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as I prepare my little chills bento box today. So many things in my head that even in my sleep I kept on dreaming  little critters, talking hello kitty sandwhiches and different faces of onigiri rice! Whew, I think my love for bento box has now turned  into an obsession!  I wanted to do more, to step up one baby step at a time and advance my bento craft everyday. Yes I know it takes a lot of effort and planning to prepare a nice bento box just for a few minutes of munching but I will keep on doing this because I am greatly rewarded everytime I see the bright smiles in my little chills surprised faces. (Oh this is  heavenly - more than enough to compensate my labour of love.) 

Read more @ http://www.littlechillsbento.com/#!Step-Up-Bento-1-My-Sleeping-Ladybug/c21kp/5648041d0cf2e1ca2798ee90

When A Crafter Cooks

I admit I'm not a natural cook, it took me seven months ( after my graceful exit from my career) to learn how to at least bake a simple banana cake or see how tools and equipment in my kitchen actually work. Though the ordeal of learning the basics of motherhood was hard, I manage to create a wonderful bond with my daughters through experimenting in our kitchen. This has become our place of learning and discovering new things - even answering daily assignments while I do the cooking! My little chills are my greatest supporters - even Big Sissy suggests if ever I return to work someday I should work in a bakery or restaurant because I'm a great baker!  (ohh she is really my daughter!) Although my husband would use to tease me when I try to cook before. He would say, "ohh you will get tired, let's order food instead!"  Yes, I know I am a no cook or a baker or any food expert but I said to myself I'm a crafter so there's still hope for me- I can make food tasty and yummy by creatively making it look good!

So this is my inspiration why Little Chills Bento was born. I wanted to prepare foods for my daughters and make them feel so loved and taken care of everyday. I want my Big Sissy to be surprised when she opens her lunchbox in school and be happy that her mommy prepared something nice and beautiful for her. I also want to be assured that my daughters are eating healthy while I'm not there to look after them. (Oh mommy stuffs, drama!)  I'm quite happy that so far, the results are great.  Big Sissy has now open her world  to other food aside from pasta and cheese. She has improved her eating habits and is now trying foods that she thought she would never like before.  Although I will be working much on the veggies and fruits as we (excluding daddy!)  are not so fond of these stuffs!

Read more @   http://www.littlechillsbento.com/#!When-a-Crafter-Cooks/c21kp/55b8afc90cf27acb2d8ba492

Remembering Beautiful Lives...

Tito Raffy, Tita Chona & Mika...

"they were born to amuse, to inspire, to delight..."

They may be gone too soon, but they will always be remembered well and dearly, not just by family and friends but to all those complete strangers whom they had shared the unconditional love of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

How could we forget these three beautiful lives?  The perfect poise and faithful aura of Tita Chona, the fatherly strength and humility of Tito Raffy, and the youthful gracefulness and passion of Mika . They were and will always be a perfect family symbol of FAITH and PASSION. They lived beautiful lives, showed exemplary deeds, and even up to their last hour on earth, they continue to inspire us to do something bigger, greater than our own selves.

And who would have missed the greatness shown by Tito Raffy and Tita Chona's eldest daughter Bambi and only son RL ... we could not help but admire these two for their strength and faithfulness. Indeed, their parents have embraced their souls with so much love and faith that they are not quickly shaken with any test or trials. We will always pray for you Bambi and RL,  that God will continue to prepare you both for another greater journey in sharing God's goodness.

Again, Tito Raffy, Tita Chona and beautiful angel Mika... THANK YOU for sharing your brief, yet beautiful lives with us. We are forever grateful that you had been part of each one of us especially here in your  CFC Qatar family.

Thank you... we will always remember and love the three of you dearly.

Gone Too Soon But  Will Never  Be Forgotten

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Cherry Blossom Wreath

I've always loved Cherry Blossoms, but have never seen one for real. That's why when I saw some faux cherry blossoms at the shop it just melted my heart and compulsively wanted it to be mine. I thought of a nice and creative way to put it in our home and I'm elated how it turned out as inspired by my favorite creative discoveries in the world...Pinterest. 

                                                   

Yes, I just made a wonderful Cherry Blosson Wreath. Not only have I brought to the limelight our not so popular umbrella, I have also created a lovely bouquet of cherry blossoms. And who says I need to go somewhere else when I can look at the Cherry Blossoms everyday -- right in front of my door!

I think now is the perfect time to say goodbye and replace our old Christmas wreath which had been boringly hanging in our door for so many Christmas years. You may now take a rest, you have done your role well... thank you dear!   

In case you want to ginger up  your door this Christmas, here are some materials that you may need to make an umbrella flower wreath:

• Umbrella, any color you want

• Artificial flowers of your choice

• Ribbon to match your theme

• Any thing you want to add (buttons, lace, twines, etc.) 

 Happy holiday craft-making!

 

An Apple A Day Keeps Little Miss Yurie Happy

One of my Little Chills is a one-year-old Little Miss Yurie. She eats almost anything and has an appetite and attitude of a grown up. If you are in my kitchen, you will be inspired to bake some more because all that goes to her mouth are superbly YUMMY to her taste. 

Unfortunately, she has a mom who is  neither a cook nor a baker. But with the help of YouTube and other food blogs, surprisingly, I had slowly transformed into a pro...  (hahaaha..wish it's true!) And since we love apple in the house, I googled some easy apple recipes for my Little Chills to taste and nibble.

Here are some of the Little Chills' Favorites:

Baked Apple Cinnamon Crisps 

This is actually inspired by the Baked Cinnamon Apple Chips at http://sallysbakingaddiction.com. But instead of baking it at the oven, I baked mine using the Philips Airfryer.(Philips HD9240/94 Airfryer Avance, X-Large, Black) You may visit the site to see her method but as as always you can do your twist in baking this recipe.

I also use my favorite Mandoline Slicer (Swissmar Borner V Power Mandoline, V-7000, Red) to quickly slice the apples very thin and beautiful. 

Baked Apple Crisps inpired by sallysbakingaddiction.com

 Baked Apple Roses

This may not look stunning as the other Baked Apple Roses you can find on the web, but I'm happy I can actually make my own Apple Roses.Check  http://tiphero.com to see how these beautiful roses are made and you will be happy with what you can do.

Baked Apple Roses inspired by tiphero.com

Charger Plates Makeover

In the long years, I didn't notice my obsession for charger plates have gone so far that all the plates have been piling up high in my kitchen cupboard. Some are already worn out and broken while others are good as new. We thought, there should be something nice for these plates aside from being service plates for years. They have already served their purpose well and there must be something MORE than just plates!

So, we did a little makeover and look at how it turned out! We just made a festive and elegant Christmas plates for you! For sure, these decorative plates will be good additions to your Christmas tables or special gifts to your friends and family this holiday season.

Please check out our site http://chillsdte.wix.com/thelittlechills#!decorative-charger-plates/y6j5y  to see other designs we have created out of charger plates and vinyls.

The Little Chills Christmas Projects

L'usine Squares: A Modern Way of Preparing Sandwiches

One of  mother's great joys is to find ways how to make their little ones happy with what they are eating, especially when they are in school. Last week, as I was looking for breads in the supermarket, I found L'usine Squares . (By the way,  "L'usine" means 'the factory' in French) 

This little discovery is very timely since schools will start next week and one of my concerns and I know other mothers too,  is what to put in my child's lunch bag.  

So what are L'usine Squares all about? As the package says, "L' usine Squares are the new modern bread which can be topped, grilled, toasted with a variety of ingredients. Deliciously soft and white, they are perfect as a quick and tasty snack for anytime of the day." 

Indeed those things are true!  L'usine Squares are really great and a modern way of preparing sandwhiches. I am not being paid for endorsing these breads but I just love to share this with my other mommy friends as it really works great for me and my daughters simply love the new sandwhich.


Again, why do we love the new L'usine Squares?

•  Breads are readily sliced for your convenience. There are 6 sandwich slices per pack so if you think your kid can only finish this much in a week, then just get 1 pack and buy again if you need one. This means less food waste.
•  Resealable packaging -it is packed in a resealable plastic as compared to a plastic bag with twist tie closure so less space in case you want to put it in a fridge. Although, they say fresh breads are not recommended to be stored in a fridge because it dries out much faster. 
• Longer expiry date than the regular breads. This one has 7-8 days shelf life while other bakery sandwhich breads have 2-3 days shelf period.
• Quality bread for a reasonable price - Ohh sorry, I actually forgot how much it cost but I think less than QR5 per pack. I'll try to update when I buy the new pack this week.
•  Quick and easy to top, grill or toast with a variety of ingredients. You can fill or top it with cheese, eggs, chicken, meat, turkey, jams, or anything your child loves. You can even make pizza squares! But for now my daughters' favorite are just the easy grilled cheese sandwhich! 

So, to all my mommy friends (especially the busy, working moms)  try these new L'usine Squares in preparing sandwhiches for your kids and you will simply love the difference!

The Mother Goose in YOU!

Who would have not known a famous nursery rhymes like Jack and Jill, Three Little Kittens, Three Blind Mice and Baa Baa Black Sheep? I'm sure you had  your own favorites rhymes and fairy tales when you  were a kid and probably now  you enjoy rhyming it with your little ones. And where else can you find these  but from the great book of Mother Goose. 

Yes, the famous Mother Goose... and me and my daughters just love her!

But is Mother Goose real? 
This sounds silly, but Danya asked me this question few weeks ago but I did not have a ready answer that I have to google and research some information just to give a decent answer. I told her, Mother Goose” was not a real person.  But the name was simply invented and used as a moniker or an alias  for  "every woman/ mother" who loves to tell many tales and rhymes to their children. Though for me, it's not just about telling stories, it's about creating memories with your little ones every time you spend real time reading and sharing stories with them.  

So how do we show the Mother Goose in us? 
Oh in so many ways and you can be as creative as you can be. It can be a fun reading time before bedtime or a special  family puppet show of their favorite rhymes or special parties or events with family and friends where they can show off their nursery rhymes. All of these creative ideas need not be expensive to be fun. All you need are friends, foods and some scraps in your house!

I am sharing some photos from the recent birthday party of our Little Miss Yurie which obviously, was inspired and created by one true Mother Goose!

The Mother Goose Family

 

The Three Blind Mice

The Three Little Kittens

Everything made with love!

The Wheels on the Bus Driver Family

The Kittens Family

 Old King Cole and the royal Family

The entire Mother Goose Family had fun on this day. Till next time.

Season of Discontentment

Each of us, probably, goes through a season of discontentment. A season when we tend to acquire that irrational craving for something new and something better. It could be a craving for a change in career, a change in lifestyle, a change in relationship, a change in friends, or simply a change in attitude. A season when simple things become complicated and the complicated becomes more extra-complicated. Complexities that perplex our once simple life. Complexities that burden us with more difficulties. Complexities that made us difficult to thrive, difficult to believe, difficult to be satisfied. Should we allow this craving complexity to take a higher form and eventually direct us somewhere or face it and mortify its intensity.

Photo by Story & Shots: Little Miss Yurie meditating on the oval track.

Remember, our primitive time as children? All we needed were few basic material things -- food, clothes and toys --- to make us happy; and a kiss and a hug from our mom and dad-- to make us safe. When we could not have new toys, we simply used our imagination to conjure up make-believe scenarios using recycled gadgets and playthings. What we had then, seemed like a treasure to our childlike dimension. The teenage days of our life were not that complicated either. There were no VCDs or DVDs to watch till dawn, no CDs to quiver with, no cell phones nor e-mails to send messages, no cyber cafes to hang out with our friends, no internets to connect us to the rest of the world. But we enjoyed a lot more with a lot less, right? (Probably, because back then we didn’t know what we were missing yet!)

But, hey, look at people, nowadays. See how the jet age and cyber-technologies and modern lifestyle have transformed them. Some of them have turned into idealistic and transforming individuals who are brave enough to stand up and ready to be ridiculed for their convictions. Others are plainly contented to what they see or hear and numb enough to question the traditional philosophies imposed by the world they happen to live in. Some of them may keep on searching, and moving, and changing for an unfound reason. Some of them may just go on…hoping there is something better to see at the end of the tunnel.

The message here is this: those who refused to go out from their hard-core shells and learn to explore new things in the world and stand up for their convictions will remain in their own shell forever, but those who update their knowledge and skills; those who read, research and learn; those who perform mental gymnastics constantly; those who crave for change and create a difference in the lives of others will thrive in the playing field of life. We have to acquire a high-speed mindset, a fast-track sense of doing things. We have to develop a taste for higher convictions and consequential living to reach higher grounds.

Now, we can’t exactly speak for all people, whether the season of discontentment that passes through our life, is a bane or a boon. If we are discontented because we always want to explore what is there to explore, to harness what is there to harness, to learn what is there to learn, then good! Keep on with our discontentment. But if we are discontented because we have this notion that life itself is a plain discontentment, then we have to change our direction. You see, this vicious cycle of dissatisfaction goes on and on and on. We will never be contented with what we have or what we have accomplished, not because we are insatiable beings. Rather, discontentment resides in us because we know we have not fully shared what we ought to share to the world. So, treasure that moment of discontentment when it comes to you. There’s so much to learn from that unfulfilled mission, unconsummated vision, or unfinished journey of existence.

As Joan Atwater beautifully said in her book called The Simple Life:

Our lives are overburdened, and living often seems to us a terrible complicated affair. The problems of the world are so incredibly complex and we see that there are no simple answers. The complexity always leaves us with a feeling of helplessness and powerlessness. And still, amazingly enough, we go on, day by day, always half subconsciously yearning for something simpler, something more meaningful.

So how we look for our lives and living becomes tremendously important. It’s up to us to bring this authenticity, this simplicity, this directness, and this unburdened clarity into our looking. If such a thing as living life fully interests you, then it’s up to you to learn about it and live it.

Create Your Own Hole in the Sky

Photo by Story & Shots: Hole in the Sky

Perhaps the best way to achieve freedom in your life is to know and decide when and where you want to put your own hole in the sky. Luckily, I’ve seen myself thriving in this dimension. I may had exerted an ordinary effort, or spent an ordinary time, or found an ordinary place, or make friends with ordinary people, yet the learning I’ve had weren’t ordinary at all. Each of us goes through a transition stage. We don’t exactly know what we want, where we should be or what we see ourselves to be. Perhaps, I am passing through that time now. There is this feeling of wanting for more, of giving another best shot, of harnessing what I believe is there to cultivate, of taking risk, of learning more . There are a lot of things I want to do... there is my passion to publish and author a book... there is my vision of seeing myself as a great speaker and trainer... there is my hallucination of being a psychologist... there is my hidden cry to become a nun... there is my desire to be like Ally Mcbeal, the lawyer... there is my fervent prayer of becoming an angel in heaven... so many things I want, so many dreams I wish...thank God, dreams and wishes are freely given! Yet I found myself gasping for air, breathlessly confused of where I am now. It seems like life offers me with so many beautiful things, yet I keep on craving for other things...and I’m afraid to see myself holding with nothing!

Opportunities, I said to myself, are not circumscribed to one soul and so is bad luck. Everyone must have his own chance of taking a win or a loss in the gamble of life and so am I . I know I won’t have it all at the same time but I can have those things in its own time. As the maxim goes, ‘do one tick at a time.” And the flower will die or bloom in its own time...and the bird will rest or soar in its own time...and the waves will rise or fall in its own time...and love will hurt or inspire in its own time...and life will perpetuate or cease in its own time... for everything has its own season, every season has its own dimension, every dimension has its own reason, and every reason has its own time.

So I won’t let that moment slip through my fingers, it may not come to me again. Rather, I would savor its presence while its there. I would take time to smell the roses, or see the butterfly flies, or appreciate the moon and the stars as they shine at night. I would rather talk less and listen more to what the experience is telling me. I would say more ‘I love you,” and more “I am sorry,” even if the circumstance does not require. And mostly, I would give my best shot at life, seize every moment, look at it and really see it and live it and love it --- for it will never come back!