KnittedFox

BENTOS! Today’s post is all about bentos- those little cute and healthy Japanese style lunches. I am definitely a beginner when it comes to this so mine aren’t perfect and all that, but I love them.

The tradition bentos use one basic guideline: a food ratio of 1:1:2 (carb:protein:vegetable). I find this hard to follow so I just do my best in getting something from all the food groups in there. Aaron and I aren’t super great when it comes to veggies, but we’re getting better. Bento boxes are smaller than American lunch boxes, so you cram a lot into small space making it easy to sneak in a tiny bit of a new veggie or something we don’t like as much as another veggie.

Here are some pictures of bento’s I have made recently for Aaron and myself:

Upper left hand corner-pea salad (my favorite new food, super easy recipe to follow). Lower left hand side- chunks of grapefruit and apples. Right side- crackers, a small rice ball, and sliced cheddar cheese.

Pea Salad Recipe:
(Note- I just eye ball everything)
Peas -frozen or fresh. About 1 1/2 to 2 cups. If frozen, boil until thawed.
Cheese – about one cup cut into little cubes
Bacon – about 4 slices of microwavable bacon, crumbled and cooled.
Onion – about 1/8th cup finely chopped
Mayo – couple tablespoons
Salt and pepper – to taste

In a bowl add peas, cheese, bacon, and onion. Stir. Add just enough mayo to make everything stick together. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve or store in the fridge.

One day I was making this and found out I didn’t have any peas but I did have edamames, so I used them instead. They are a great substitution. This recipe is something you can play around with until you find something you like. Add other ingredients or omit some from my recipe.

Left box is Aaron’s lunch- stromboli (a baked sandwich type thing), mini rice balls, carrots, and celery. Right box is my lunch – stromboli, carrots, olives, and a strawberry. While the lunch looks small, the stromboli is surprisingly filling! I got the recipe for stromboli here.

This was a quick one I made up for Aaron one day. He had an instant ramen bowl he wanted to take to work so I made a small bento with ramen toppings: green onions & leeks, sliced peppered turkey, carrots, cabbage & spinach, and bean sprouts. It looked so yummy his coworkers all commented on it. d(^_^)b

Writing this post makes me wish I had made bentos for lunch today… I might go home and whip up a quick gyoza & rice one once my coworker gets here.

There are a few really awesome resources for getting familiar with making bentos which I find very helpful and visit on a regular basis. Just Bento is probably my favorite. She has a great Bento Basics post that is worth checking out if you are interested in learning a bit more about making bentos.

Other awesome bento sites/blogs:
Not Exactly Bento
What’s For Lunch At Our House
Krajee Bento Mom
Soy and Pepper

Have a happy lunch everyone!!

I wrote a little article about the Dancer job in Final Fantasy XI over on Sunken Treasures. Aaron and I have been playing FFXI for years and I’ve been sticking to mage/support jobs so Dancer is a big change for me since they’re damage dealers and can even be played as tanks. I want to be tank!

This is my in game character dreaming about becoming a dancer. *^_^*

Alright! New layout is complete and I love it! Now I need to focus on other important things, like getting my Kawaii/Zakka swap package sent, send out my two special order from The Fox Shop, take pictures of the knitted items I sent my sister, and get her package finished and shipped out. o.O; There’s also some new work stuff on my plate that has me a little… blah!… but I’m not going to worry about it until I have to.

ALSO! PLEASE check out Sunken Treasures Games (our video game blog) I kinda deleted the database and we’re trying to put things back together. Any comments would be awesome! xD

Time to get ready for work!

*waves*

Like the new layout? I DO! I’m going to be tweaking it a bit over the next few days because it’s not 100% perfect just yet. A spurt of creativity has grabbed me and I will be taking the current layout and making it a bit more personal. *^_^*

Later!

My goodness, pacing myself with knitting has been a struggle. Finishing projects has taken longer than I like, but my wrists haven’t been
hurting so I guess it’s a good trade off. About a week ago, I finished my Mrs. Darcy cardigan:

It turned out a bit more snug than I had anticipated, but I still like it. This morning I put it on to wear to work, but I noticed the edges
were curling like crazy. So I am in the process of unraveling the crocheted edging right now and I will re-crochet it
with a thicker edging. Hopefully, this will fix the problem. *fingers crossed*

When I’m finished with Mrs.Darcy, I will finish a second cardigan I’ve been working on. It’s from an old issue of Knit.1 magazine. It’s knitted
almost entirely in P2,K3 ribbing. I haven’t found very many finished projects of this, and the ones I’ve found don’t look super cute. But I
will make it work. My gauge is different than the one the pattern calls for (of course, that’s nothing new for me. xD) so I am knitting size
medium and I think it will end up being snug. I’m fine with snug because I think it will be more form fitting and will look nice. I’m having
trouble figuring out how to attach the collar so I’m going to head over to Knitty Gritty after work to have them help me out.

Once I’m done with both of these projects, I am going to tackle another blanket. It’s going to be the Hemlock Ring
by Brooklin Tweed. I purchased the same yarn that he used when he made his so I can’t wait to get started on this. My goal is to start either
tonight or tomorrow.

Last Friday, we celebrated my FIL, BIL, and my birthdays. I got a mini-food processor (which I love), two crazy sharp kitchen knives, and Aaron
bought me a bookshelf and telescope:

LOVE IT!

Posted my pictures for Project Yarnway yesterday. Here they are:

Aaron did such a great job taking the pictures! Voting started today, and so far I am not in the running, but that’s ok. I didn’t join the
challenge to win, necessarily. While winning would be great, the purpose was for me to push myself creatively so I can design better items.
This challenge was a challenge for me in multiple ways so I am glad I did it:
~ My wrist acting up has made me learn to pace myself, something I never cared to do before.
~ I had to get past the fact that I wanted to knit something to blow everything else out of the water and just knit something I wanted to knit.
While I have designed a few of my own patterns before, I am still a newby and I have a lot to learn. I’m not going to make something to blow
everything else out of the water- that is an unrealistic goal. It’s good to want to knit something excellent, but setting my goal too high was
inhibiting my ability to knit anything. Once I got over that, finding something to knit, and then knitting it was easy and enjoyable.

This months challenge is called “Innovation” and we’re supposed make a design using materials that aren’t sold for the purpose of knitting.
So this means no yarn. I can use plastic bags, t-shirts, rope, etc. I think everyones first though was plastic bags, which I think is very cool.
I have always wanted to try doing something with old t-shirts. Maybe something like on Glampyre’s website.
My dad has a great idea for using this really neat looking frayed rope he found at the hardware store. He said it’s a little stiff, but he thinkgs
it would knit up really neatly. It sounds pretty cool, so I think I’ll try to find some.

My Mrs. Darcy is almost 100% complete! I am working on the cap of the second sleeve, then I need to sew it all together. So I’m thinking that’ll
be done either today or tomorrow, maybe. It is knitting up beautifully! Lion Brand “Pound Of Love” is a surprisingly nice yarn to knit with.
I rediscover it every time I use it. xD Once I wash it with hair conditioner it will be even nicer. Seriously, I can’t wait to wear this!!

On a sidenote, I have some new loot I wanted to post about:

Aren’t those shoes absolutely perfect?! For the past two years, I have been looking for the perfect pair of yellow wedges. CutesyShoes
is the best place, I have found, to buy shoes. I also bought a cute pair of red plaid flats with a black ribbon weaving around the edge and a
black bow on the front (these haven’t arrived yet). I got both of these for about $40 including shipping! Lovely! The small book is the fourth
book in the Sword of Truth series. The ginormous Inuyasha books are these really cool mega mangas that have 3 volumes in one. Very
awesome!

Hmm… time to get back to work! *waves*

Mood: Crampy. Boo! But otherwise pretty darn good!
Looking forward to: Wednesday- my boss said he’d come in and give me the day off. Yay for two days off this week!
Watching: Well, debating on whether or not to attempt to watch “Princess Mononoke” at work.

My Project Yarnway cowl is finished! Yay! It has been washed/softened/dried and is ready to have pictures taken. Aaron is going to take
pictures tomorrow. He had a great idea of where to take pictures instead of the river. Directly behind our apartment is a small grassy area
with trees, bushes, and a nice brown fence that will make a beautiful background for our pictures. I am excited!

OH! I just realized- I finished a cardigan and never took pictures of it. Looks like I’ll do that tomorrow as well. For some reason, I am
on a cardigan kick right now. A few days ago, I started the Mrs. Darcy cardigan in a pretty bright lavender color. Not quite sure what I’ll
wear with it, but it will be a killer little cardi. Since I knit loosly, (and since I need to keep taking it easy) I bought needles 2 sizes
smaller than what was called for in the pattern. That way my gauge will even itself out. Hopefully, anyways. xD

My Mother-in-law dropped off my copy of Interweave Knits and I found another cardi I want to knit. It’s a lacy one, and it’s darling and would
look beautiful in the magenta Lion Brand Cotton Ease yarn I have.

Mrs. Darcy is calling out to me from my knitting bag- I think I’ll give it a little attention. xD Later!

Mood: Dandy
Playing: Been playing a bunch of Wolfenstein 3D on the computer and Fat Princess on the PS3. Ranked 1st out of 40 and went on a
Reaper killing spree, it was so cool. I have ranked 2nd a few times before, but never 1st. It was awesome. xD

Full speed ahead with Project Yarnway!! A few days ago, I opened up my Big Book of Knitting Stitches to three
different pages and picked a stitch pattern from each and started knitting a cowl. And guess what? It’s turned out really cool looking. Here’s a
preview of what I have knitted so far:

There’s a big “floppy” looking cable, a chunky looking rib, and a neat lace pattern.

Even though the doctor said my wrists are well enough to knit, I am taking it fairly easy. I have been knitting for 15-30 minutes at a time
then taking a break for about 30 mins. Hopefully, my wrists won’t flare up! *crosses fingers* Aaron said he would
take pictures of my cowl when I am done with it. I want to go down to the river and take some really hip/stylish pictures. Presentation
is a big part of this, so I want to make sure I have great pics. (That’s why Aaron’s taking them!)

That’s all for now! Later!

Mood: Happy
Listening: Asobi Seksu, a new band Aaron found who is on the same label as Of Montreal. It’s a two person band, a little
electronic/pop/chamber mix. Check them out!
Drinking: My new drink of choice is a coconut/white chocolate latte. It sounds weird, but it’s super tasty!
Playing: OH! We finished Valkyria Chronicles on the PS3 yesterday. OMGoodness! It was SOOOOO GOOOOD!
Honestly, I can only think of one game that was better than it (Final Fantasy VI). If you own a PS3 and you like RPGs you should
definitely play this game! Afterwards, I started up Odin Sphere (again) so Aaron can watch. It is such a fun game! The 2D graphics are
awesome, the color pallet is beautiful, and I LOVE how it makes the PS3 slow down because so much stuff is on the screen… lol!

Finally! The doctor said it was alright for me to start knitting again. So guess what I’ve been doing? Playing computer games…
I know, right? Well, there’s a good reason for that: I’m having knitting block.

A few weeks ago, I found this group who is doing a “Project Yarnway” competition and thought it would be fun to join in.
I want get published in a knitting publication, so I figure this will be good practice. February’s challenge is called
“Stash Happy”- you use yarn and materials you already own in your stash to create something spectacular.

My problem is that I can’t decide on what to make. Should I make a cowl? Or Shrug? Or Cropped cardi? Ugh! I can’t decide.
The deadline is Fed. 28th so I need to hurry and pick something. Since I only have 2 weeks (and I need to take it easy
for my wrists sake), I should pick something fairly small/not too time consuming. My first instinct was cowl, but a few
of the other participants are doing a cowl. That doesn’t mean I can’t do one, but me being me, I want to do something
other people aren’t. Maybe that’s my problem. I should just go with my instinct and do a cowl- regarless of what other
people are doing. I’ll just do one better than everyone else. Maybe instead of fretting
over what other people are doing, I need to just knit. Once I start knitting, I know I’ll figure something out.
That’s how it generally goes.

Oh wow! It’s time to go home! Yay for being done with work! *waves*

Mood: Excited to go home and see Aaron <3
Thinking: I wonder what we’re having for dinner at Aaron’s parent’s house.
Listening: Nana featuring Mika Nakashima (Don’t know why, but it’s the music for the last few days. Great stuff!)

Good evening! No knitting has been had by me yet- I must continue to wait patiently until next Tuesday so the doc can
say I can start knitting again. I have still been productive though. The embroidered book cover was finished a day or two
ago:

There is kanji in the sun and cloud. Taiyo = sun, and kumo = cloud. “Fukurou” is written below the owl, “hon” is
written on the spine (hon = book), and “Owari” is written on the back (owari = the end). I am very happy with how it
all turned out. I wrote Japanese on it to help me practice my Japanese skillz.

Hehe, Aaron and I are listening to music while I’m writing this post, and we’re talking about our favorite Led Zeppelin
album. My first instinct is to say “IV”. Let’s face it, “Stairway To Heaven” (while it maybe overplayed, it’s still pretty much perfect)
is probably one of the best songs ever. “The Battle of Evermore”, “Going to California”, “Misty Mountain Top”- these are
all awesome songs! But then Aaron said his fave album was “Houses of the Holy” and I knew he was right. “The Rain
Song” “Over the Hills and Far Away” and mostly “D’yer Maker”. Don’t get me started on how “D’yer Maker” excites me.

One thing that is not so exciting is this sinus headache I’ve had all day. Blah! What’s worse
is that it’s only 9:35 but I am ready to go to bed. Lame. Maybe I should go make a cup of tea… that will also
help settle my stomac… yeah I’m falling apart can’t you tell? ;P

On that note, I am going to make myself some tea. Nitenite!

Mood: Headache-y, tired, and full. (I are a full platefull of homemade nachos!) Some tea should definitely help.
Listening: Aaron has music on random so… Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, of Montreal, E.L.O., St. vincent, The Strokes. etc.
Reading: National Geographic
Thinking: As much as I want one, I really should NOT have the yummy delicious looking cinnamon roll that I bought
earlier. I’m way to full, and oh, it’s after 9:00pm so I’m cutoff anyways. (Did I ever mention I don’t eat after 9:00pm?
Yeah I do that because I end up falling asleep anywhere between 10pm – 1am and I don’t want to fall asleep with a full
tummy. It’s just about the worst thing you can do! Icky! Mostly, I just dont’ like the feeling
of going to bed full. It’s wierd I know. xD)