Field Trip (Pacfic Mercantile Denver)

{Japanese candy}

{Variety of chopsticks, including 3 way chopsticks - fork & spoon on one end, chopsticks on the other end.}

{Origami supplies}

{Bulk spices}

Until you move away from a major metropolitan city like Los Angeles you don't realize all you took for granted in the way of diverse cultural offerings. In Los Angeles everything is at your finger tips, from Little Tokyo and Chinatown to Little Armenia.

Here in the Denver Metro there are a few marketplaces scattered around the city. Since I'm on this Bento kick I was excited to find out about a little Japanese market called Pacific Mercantile. I thought for sure that I would find a few supplies to help make those super cute lunches for the little princess. Sadly they did not have much in the way for Bento hobbyists.

I did have fun browsing the aisles. I adore the way the Japanese market and package products, everything looks so darn cute. I am not Japanese, but I did recognize a lot of the product and grocery items that they had available. There were also lots of Hawaiian ingredients and food items that are hard to find.

{Pacific Mercantile loot}

{Bento items}

{I've been looking high and low for this Hawaiian sea salt.}

I bought a few things including Hawaiian Salt. If you have ever visited Hawaii, you've probably had the delicious Kalua pork at a Luau. You can recreate the same flavor of that underground Imu cooked pork in in a crock pot with Hawaiian salt. It is super easy. Recipe here.

I did pick up a small Bento box and package of cute molds. The molds are typically used for eggs, but I have plans for jello since the little darling is allergic to egg. Also in my loot, are Japanese rice crackers and rice seasoning. The rice seasoning is new to me, it was hard to choose since nothing was in English. It seems like these seasonings are a staple in Bento. Hopefully it will taste as good as it looks.

(And for you Islanders, I bought a bag of wet li hing mui and ate the whole bag on the way home. That made the trip totally worth it.)

Although not a place I'd frequent because of proximity, I am glad that such a place exists. If I ever have a sushi party I know just where to go.

Lookbook (Bold Stripes)

{Top: Sparkle & Fade Silk Tee, Jeans: Jolt,
Shoes: Faryl Robin Madison, Necklace: Target}

You know I love me some black and white stripe. I had to have this silk stripey number when I saw it at Urban Outfitters. They had just put it on the floor, but I wished I had the will power to hold off on the purchase because this top ended up hanging in my closet for at least a month. And guess what I spotted on the sale rack last week? You guessed it, this very top. Darn. Darn. Darn. I had the notion to return it and buy it at the sale price. Couldn't do it though. So here we are me and my stripe top.

The little princess is doing well and doesn't seem to mind that there is a cast up to her armpit. At least the scorching heat is over and I am at peace that she's not uncomfortable. The doctor made it clear that she should take it easy so that she doesn't fall and dislocate the broken bone or God forbid, fracture her other arm. So what would you think happened last night when I took her out for some fresh air? Yup, she took a digger and fell right onto her cast. Can someone please tell me where I can buy a bubble so I can put her in it?

We took the field trip that was abruptly postponed. So I'll be posting about the little Japanese market in Denver. Stay tuned.

More Faryl Robin...

Firsts

Yesterday started off wonderfully with a great first day of school. As parents we experience many great "firsts", first giggle, first steps, first birthday. Unfortunately, yesterday evening we ended up with our first broken arm. :::sob, sob:: This is the part I hate about parenthood. I wish her pain could be mine. She is fine now, but boy was it a rough 24 hours. I think I might have gone prematurely gray overnight. She is in great spirits, and at the very least got to choose a cool purple cast. Finally got her down for a much needed nap.

Parents beware of the evil jumpy castles. Grrr.

New Milestone

Today marks a new milestone as the little princess heads off the preschool. No tears were shed, it is just as if she already knew this was her new routine. What was a surprise on my part is my involvement in the process. I really never thought that I had to do anything besides drop her off. Ha! Surprise! Now I have to wear the hat of "involved parent." don't get me wrong I am all about being the involved parent, I was just not prepared for this now, at 2.5 years old.

For the first day of class she..eer...me...uh...WE had to bring a "Me" board to showcase all of the the princess' favorite things, pics of mom, dad, pets and friends. Hmm. Why didn't anyone tell me that this was the start of me going back to school? They need to teach these things in Parenting 101.

Not only did we already have a project due on the first day of class, I now have to make sure she has a lunch packed. The little rug rat has begged for those Luchables thing-a-mabobs. These things are packaged in cute little section containers with mini cheeses, meats, and crackers; just enough to feed a small mouse. (Oscar Meyer is making bank on these suckers.) But alas my kiddo has multiple food allergies and most convenience foods are out of the question. Enter the Bento Box craze. It was just an innocent search for some type of Tupperware that has cute little sections so I can make the little princess her very own Luchable. This was her lunch today.





And this is why I am so conflicted with being a SHAM and going back to work. I live to do little things like this. How could I do this if I had to go back to a full time job? Who am I kidding I would pack my own lunch like this too.

I am actually obsessed with this whole Bento Box culture. Field trip tomorrow! We are going to check out one of the few Japanese stores in Denver to see what I can find for my new Bento adventures. I am sick aren't I?

I'll leave you with a few inspiration Bento Boxes from Happy Little Bento.