Where to Buy Bento Accessories

Blog hopping becomes a hobby and considered my way of connecting to online acquaintances or people I considered  instant friends. We share experiences, and new finds as well as getting help on things we love and enjoy doing. It's good to know that there are real people who can answer your  query on almost anything you want to know, from advice, feedback, and  where to buy stuff. Today's modern technology truly makes our life easier! (like?)

On one of my blog hopping routine, I met Anney who gives me an inspiration to come up with a 'Bento-ing' project for my B. I envied all her Bento works and find myself visiting Daiso (Japan Store) in Festival Mall, Alabang to buy my first  Bento Accessories:

2 sets: Toy Story spoon & fork
10 pcs. Matryoshka design food picks
Bunny and Bear rice molds
Bento lunchboxes with soup spoon

I got really excited and opened all of them before I even realized to take photos =P 

A week later, I  manage to drop by at  Saizen  in Robinson's Place Manila to buy these stuffs:

Cookie Cutter and Food knife decorator @ Php88 each

And when I went to Baclaran to shop for school uniform and other stuff, this one immediately caught my attention:

Mickey Bento Lunch Box for Php100

That's not all!  I ended checking out 18 items on ebay to help me get started with my Bento creations and patiently waiting for the delivery of my  'new toys'  where I can have fun while creating healthy lunch for my B. Honestly, I'm thrilled and excited to make my very first Bento, but decided to wait until all my accessories is delivered.

Husband ask why I bought more than one lunchbox and commented that "one is enough". I wonder what his reactions be when he  found out  my order in ebay (and its cost!). Well, there are things that only mommies knows and  understands (agree?). ahihi

Reward Charts for Kids

Wonderful One, Terrible Two, Thrilling Three, and now~ Fearsome Four. Among those Kid stages, wonderful one will always be my favorite! It is when I am in control of my little bundle and not the stage where I  should use my vocal chords on its highest level (woossh).

We are now on Fearsome Four, but I sometimes borrow that "Terrible Two" stage for the exact description  of what's stage  we are in. Teaching and encouraging a good behavior and discouraging the bad is a challenging task that test our patience, parenting skills and strategies.

There are many interesting approaches in reinforcing a good behavior and I thank this one for giving my throat a time-out that it deserves. =)

Husband suggested that we try using the Reward Chart to easily teach B to display good behavior at all times. As of now, the results are  in favor of nearly getting his Hulk, the Avengers Mighty Battlers as a reward:

Notice the last 3 check marks on the first row! Hmn, I think someone's been manipulating the results, with daddy's consent... tsk, tsk! 


This Reward Chart replaces the '1-2-3 warning' and I must say it works well as it offered him two choices in which he can easily choose to behave, having in mind getting additional check marks. Our first implementation is soon to finished, advance rating? Overall successful!

When he doesn't behave well, I just warned him that he will be getting 2 or more X, for such behavior. Then, he listens and stop, and just like magic, the unwanted behavior instantly change and disappears! (*wink).

The Avengers Action Figure

We actually think that B would never appreciate "The Avengers" movie, or would simply bother other people inside the cinema so we decided not to bring him as we watched. Instead, we bought him a Captain America action figure (The First Avenger!) to at least enjoy the the super hero movie craze.

Captain America, stepping out of the box to join us. =)

Days after, we also bought Iron Man to join the Captain where B delightedly exclaimed that the two are instant friends!

My B has a habit of not throwing away the box of his toys, weeks after the purchased. And, every new toy sleeps with him until it finally sink in that they are exclusively his. 

He is so into it that husband decided to watched again the movie, this time with our B (I'm at work ) where he get to experienced The Avengers in action. Husband told me that B is well behaved on the entire movie except when he got really amazed with the scenes while proudly exclaiming "That's my Toy!!!".

Oh, well... I guess B is ready enough for such movies, that he also requested to have Hulk, The Avengers Mighty Battlers aboard (hmn... we'll see).

What age can you start taking your kids to movies?

We started taking my kid to movies at age three, I took him to experience Kung Fu Panda 2 and Cars 2 on big screen. Movies that I thought would make him interested and be sit still until the end. He enjoys watching, but I soon realized that he wasn't that ready for hours of just sitting and munching on his snacks, and needed to develop  a much longer attention span. 

My advice? taking your kids on age appropriate movies wasn't enough, you still need to observe if your kids, at aged under 2, or 3-4 can actually handle longer attention to movies so as to sit still and be quiet, not to distract other people.

I would like to reiterate taking them to movies appropriate for their age, I would strongly suggest leaving them at home and find someone who can take care of them while you were out to enjoy your movie time. Don't take them with you if you intend to watch a movie for yourself. Think of other people who cannot withstand a toddler talking out loud and constantly making noise distraction. Its actually very irritating, really! especially with movies that needs a great focus and silence, sensitivity to others is required.

Yesterday, the long wait for the movie "The Avengers" is finally over. Hubby and I eagerly went to watch this much awaited team of super humans. Yep, right at the 1st showing schedule on the 1st screening day! (excited, eh?)

Overall, it brings a tremendous entertainment, it is stunning, and full of hype. Tony Stark never fails to entertain me with his charm, living a  reckless playboy lifestyle and wit, plus Hulk's remarkable bashing and smashing is truly amazing! Its a must see movie and worth the long wait! 

But, unfortunately there's a toddler at the back of my seat, I think aged 2, who is loud and I sometimes feel her tiny hands touching my head. It started to pissed me off a little, and her loud voice calling the names of super heroes irritates me. What can we do? I tried not to mind at all, trying my best to focus and enjoy the movie, hubby also tries to ignores every irritating mimic and sounds of an impatient toddler and a parent quieting her down. The one sitting next to me give me an affirming  look that says "we share the same uneasy and irritating moment". 

Hah! If  I could only give the parent an order to bring her kid outside and  let us watch peacefully, I would... but I can't (sigh). Ignoring is the best thing that we can do for the moment, not as to completely be annoyed and spoil our very good mood watching this spectacular movie.

Any similar experience?

My ZALORA Wishlist

Buying online becomes an option for a busy mom like me where choosing items for delivery saves my precious time and energy! Free shipping is my first requirement to push through with my order. Out of all my online finds, there's never a purchased that gets me disappointed as it was  exactly shown and described from the seller's website.

Creating a wish list becomes my habit to keep a record and track the item I'd been eyeing to own. More and more brands are coming its way to provide a convenient shopping experience and I love having it this way. Putting items on my cart  while having  my own time in  buying and decision making is quite drooling, but helpful. 

It makes me think twice, thrice, or up  to the nth time giving me well-informed buying decision by getting into every detail. It's best to came up with a "Wish List" to have a quick run of those gorgeous items without actually being caught in traffic and crowded  shopping malls!

Here's  my  Top 5  at Zalora:

This Sleeveless Cotton Dress is a simple and ideal sundress that creates a fresh look and comfortable feel. 

I'll pair this blouse with cigarette pants or black skirts  instead of shorts for a perfect Sunday wear, or with this 3/4 pants for a casual touch.

                                                                                                                                              

And yes, my feet silently wish to feel this wellness footwear that Crocs has to offer. (Aw... be mine!)

Lastly, this Marathon watch will add style and purposely match my recently bought running shoes for a more stylish running diva me!

If you are a blogger and a member of Nuffnang Network, feel free to create your own wish list with Zalora. Sign-up to receive a Php250 voucher introductory gift and start moving the Best 5 items you like  on your wish list and create  a similar post. Check out more details here.

Contest period is from April 23 to May 23, 2012. Five lucky winners will be chosen and prizes will be the items in the wish list and Php 5,000 credits in http://www.ZALORA.com.ph/. 

Happy Wish listing! And may the odds be ever in your favor!(*wink)

LeapPad Gel Skin: A Must Have

This green protective Gel Skin for leapPad came too late for my B, but I'd say its still worth buying for protection for any "dropping accidents" that might happen again. I have blogged about how the speaker of LeapPad Explorer malfunctioned after those dropping accidents and this is the perfect solution to provide protection on our  dear toy gadget:

After seeing this, without  second thought, I immediately bought it at Toy Kingdom for Php499 to ensure better grip that will avoid  any dropped mishap again. 

Somehow, it provides me peace of mind knowing it can lessen the possibility of costly damaged. Its totally a wise buy for continuous learning fun on the go, its definitely worth the price. When I explained to B how it functions, and how it protects the toy when it falls, he answered: "try ko" as he gets ready to demonstrate a test fall. 'Yay!

Ben 10 Jacket for Kids

This is an overdue post on my B's 4th Birthday celebration, which was held last January. It was a simple celebration where we hosted an Ice Cream Party enjoyed by kids and adults as well.

And of course, I proudly received 2 thumbs up on my  own made ice cream party balloon decorations:

toppings selection!

And my Birthday Gift?

Can you see how excited he is?!

After unwrapping, he  demanded to wear it even he is all in sweat from playing and endless round-up on family and friends.

This made to order Ben 10 Jacket surely complete his big day! I am so delighted to see my big boy enjoys having a strong sense of being the hero in action. Since he does have the Ben 10 T-Shirt which the 10-year old Benjamin Tennyson has in the original series, it is time to have his customized Ben 10 Jacket seen on Ben's  more mature character and complex plots starting in Ben 10 Alien Force Series. What can I say? I am obviously supportive  to my B especially on his wants and needs! Anything I can afford to give, surely I will. =)

totally handsome!