Here is today's "Throwback Thursday" lunch post linkup. This is to give everyone a chance to post their past fun meals! The rules are simple. Anyone can post their fun lunch, but it has to be at least 6 months old. Not the lunch itself, the post. A 6 month old lunch would be gross and no one wants to see that. The lunch also has to be your own, not one that you saw on someone else's site. So dig up those old pictures and post them for everyone to see. Please share the linkup on your social media networks as well so everyone can join in on the throwback fun.

My Throwback Thursday bento lunch for today is:

A My Little Pony Applejack Lunch! Since I did a Pinkie Pie MLP lunch earlier this week I thought it would be fun to bring back this old one. You can see the whole recipe HERE:

An InLinkz Link-up

Review: ips Egg White Chips, Big On Health But Are They Also Big on Taste?

Egg whites...and chips? That is the thought that first ran through my mind when I heard about ips (Intelligent Protein Snacks). Honestly, when ips first offered to send me samples to review, I thought the idea of these chips sounded crazy. I almost said no. Then I saw the flavors, and said to myself, "Why not give them a shot? I'm always looking for healthy alternatives"

Founder Sean Olson started ips with cooking eggs in his kitchen. His kids liked the crispy edges and the idea for egg white chips were born. ips states that their chips have 7g of protein in every chip, 50% less fat than regular potato chips, and less carbs than leading baked chips. They also have no artificial flavors or colors. They credit their patent-pending Pressure-Puff process for the taste.

Although I like to find healthy alternatives, especially to snack foods I love, those healthy alternatives still need to taste good. ips chips come in four different flavors: Barbeque, Sea Salt and Black Pepper, Aged White Cheddar, and Cinnamon Sugar. I not only wanted to see if these chips could win me over, but my kids as well.

The chip's shape and texture are similar to other baked chips. They also are very light and don't make you feel like you have a pint of grease on your hands afterward. The Sea Salt and Black Pepper impressed my kids. They weren't sure at first but they said this flavor was great. I thought it was a little heavy on the pepper, but if you enjoy that, you will really like this flavor. The Aged White Cheddar tasted similar to other baked cheddar chips on the market, but it didn't have quite the distinctiveness of the Black Pepper flavor. I felt the Barbeque chip's taste fell short. They didn't have smoky flavor I enjoy, but my kids disagreed. They finished off the bag with no problem. 

The last ips chip we tried was the Cinnamon Sugar. This was hands down the best of the four. I usually prefer savory chips, but the perfect balance of the sweet with the light and fluffy texture worked perfectly. My whole family were wishing for more long after the bag was finished. These are healthy enough for an afternoon pick-me-up snack and sweet enough to be dessert. If you are only going to try one flavor, get these.

ips snacks might be too different of a taste to fit everyone's desire, but if you are looking for a healthier chip with a lighter feel, give ips a try. They might surprise you. For more information check out www.ipsallnatural.com.

Disclosure: intelligent protein snacks sent me their products to review. I have received no other compensation for this post and the opinions I’m expressing here are solely my own.

#foodreview

Review: Annie Chun's Seaweed Snacks bring variety to your snack time

Everywhere you look today you see roasted seaweed snacks for sale. When I attended the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco last month you couldn't turn around without running into another seaweed snack booth. The market is getting crowded and the problem is that most of these taste the same. If you love seaweed snacks, then a little variety can spice up your snack time. 

Seaweed snacks can be an acquired taste. I don't usually eat them myself but my daughter cannot get enough of them. If I let her, she will sit down and eat a whole package. My son will eat them also. He doesn't go crazy for them like my daughter but he still enjoys them from time to time. 

I always review products from a whole family's point of view but my kids were the main judges on this one. My wife and I also tasted them but I was most interested to see if these would work in school lunches. Annie Chun's sent me two flavors to review, but in addition to those, their line also includes Sesame and Wasabi.

We started with the Brown Sugar & Sea Salt flavor. They were sweet and definitely a different taste. My wife and I didn't prefer this flavor but my kids loved it. They kept grabbing the snacks, and when I went to change the flavor, I was lucky my hand didn't get taken off. Their vote was a resounding "thumbs up!"

The second flavor we tried was Cracked Pepper & Herbs. My kids both said they were too "spicy." However, my wife and I really liked these. They weren't spicy as in hot, just seasoned well. If you don't normally choose seaweed snacks, I would give this flavor a try. My wife and I both gave these a "thumbs up."

So there you have it, a split decision. I will keep the Cracked Pepper & Herbs for myself and send the Brown Sugar & Sea Salt to school or serve them for healthy after school snacks. If you want to serve your family something a little different, try Annie Chun's Seaweed Snacks. Even if you don't normally eat roasted seaweed, you might just be surprised with what you find! You can see all of Annie Chun's Seaweed Snacks at www.anniechun.com.

Disclosure: Annie Chun's gave me their product to review. I have received no other compensation for this post and the opinions I’m expressing here are solely my own.

#foodreview

My Little Pony Pinkie Pie Lunch

Year 2, Week 23: My Little Pony Pinkie Pie. This is my first character lunch of 2014. To say my family has had to adjust since the new baby has come would be an understatement. If you have been following my blog, you know that I have posted some new reviews and even some longer parenting posts, but this week I am returning to my roots. I love doing character lunches for my daughter and creating Pinkie Pie has been a goal ever since I did my Rainbow Dash mashup at the beginning of the year. I hope my daughter loves it, because it was fun to make for her!

This lunch also contains some great products from Redwood Hill Farm and Green Valley Organics. The colorful snacks you see above the yogurt are from Redwood Hill Farm and are called "Perpetual Goat Stoppers." They won "The Perfect Bite" award at the first West Coast Cheesemonger Invitational this year. My kids absolutely love them, and so do I! See the story behind them and the recipe HERE. This lunch was made in an Easy Lunch Boxes container.

Remember not to miss any news, fun pictures, recipes, or stories by following me on my social media sites. You will want to check out Lunchbox Dad on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and more.

Ingredients

3 pieces thin slice sandwich rounds
Strawberry cream cheese
Fat free cream cheese
Black, blue, and pink food coloring
1 handful raspberries
1 serving peanut butter
1 serving spinach leaves (or another background)
1 serving yogurt
3 M&Ms (2 blue, 1 yellow)
6 Redwood Hill Farms "Perpetual Goat Stoppers"

Directions

1. Cut thin sandwich round in the shape of Pinkie Pie's head. It is actually a fairly easy shape. Cover whole piece with strawberry cream cheese.
2. Use a ball of fat-free white cream cheese and flatten into a circle. Place on top of head. Use a toothpick to paint the facial features as shown. 
3. Place head on top of second sandwich round and fix in place with a little peanut butter. Make it a sandwich by spreading peanut butter on on third round and press the whole thing together. 
4. Attach raspberries around head for Pinkie Pie's hair. I used a little strawberry cream cheese to do this. Place whole sandwich on top of spinach background.
5. Use recipe to make Redwood Hill Farms "Perpetual Goat Stoppers." Place in side dish.
6. Tint your yogurt pink with food coloring. It only takes a drop or two. Place in side dish and top with two blue and one yellow M&Ms. A little tip is to put these in the yogurt as close as possible to when your child will eat the lunch because the color will bleed some. This is Pinkie Pie's cutie mark. Well, it's close. If you want to somehow make balloons, feel free!

Disclosure: Redwood Hill Farm sent me their products to review. I have received no other compensation for this post and the opinions I’m expressing here are solely my own.
#lbdbento

Review: Is "Disney On Ice Rockin' Ever After" A Show Your Whole Family Will Love?

Disney On Ice is touring the country and there happened to be some stops where I live here in the San Francisco Bay Area. I had the opportunity to take my family for the first time to the SAP Center in San Jose to experience the Rockin' Ever After tour. Here at Lunchbox Dad I always review products and experiences from a whole family's point of view. So you will see if Disney On Ice is worth your hard earned dollars.

Whenever attending an event such as this, I recommend arriving early. Fortunately the SAP Center has easy parking and we were able to find a spot and get to the door in no time at all. Before long, my family and I were wading through the halls looking for our section. Here's a handy tip, don't forget to use the bathroom before you go to your seats, you don't want to miss any of the show.

One of the first things you will notice at this Disney On Ice event is the merchandise and concession booths. They actually have some pretty cool stuff but if you want to invest in toys or shirts find a booth at the end. Every station has the same merchandise and the end booths will be less crowded. The prices are fairly expensive, but not any more than what you would find at your typical ball game or similar special event. The selection includes princess gear, as well as shirts with characters such as Maximus from Tangled, so both your girls and boys will be begging for it. 

We found our seats in plenty of time and were immediately impressed with the setup. My kids were very excited because we didn't tell them what we were doing, we just surprised them when we left in the morning. There were many kids dressed up in their Disney best so don't be afraid to get your children into the spirit of the event.

The show itself started off in typical Disney fashion with an appearance from Mickey and Minnie mouse, as well as a few other assorted characters. It was a good warm up number but my kids were ready to see the main parts of the show. There were four sections of the program and each section summarized the story of one Disney princess. I do have to say my kids were really hoping to see FROZEN characters, but I'm sure Feld Entertainment, the creators of Rockin' Ever After, will include them next year. FROZEN is way too big of a hit and I'm guessing that the movie was released too late to capitalize on it for this year's ice show.

The Little Mermaid was next and Ariel did not disappoint. The whole routine was extremely impressive. The costumes and design were eye catching. For my wife and I, our favorite part was the "Under the Sea" performance. You really have to see it to appreciate the effects and lighting. I have to admit that I am not a figure skating fan, but throughout the morning I was constantly awed at the amount of talent it took these professionals to skate, fly through the air, and act. The Little Mermaid was a tremendous example of that. The skater who played Ariel, Kristin Cowan, was amazing. She not only skated well, but also did an acrobatic rope trick that was unexpected and thrilling. 

The next act featured the characters of Tangled. Obviously this is a popular one, because of the recent hit movie, and my kids would tell you this was their favorite. After the high flying Little Mermaid, this was a bit different. The skaters did well but this portion of the program didn't stand out for me as much. That is with one exception. The character Maximus the horse was hilarious! The costume was spot on and the two skaters inside did a fabulous job moving as one. While my kids loved Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, Maximus was the highlight for me.

After a needed intermission the show was back with an appearance from Brave. One thing to stop and mention is that although we love Disney movies, they can be scary in parts. Rockin' Ever After did a good job of including most villains, but not making it too frightening for smaller children. The bears from Brave were not included and I imagine it was because the directors felt it was too scary. However, the actress who played Merida did a fine job and my wife was astonished at how much she looked like the actual character from the movie. Even though I haven't seen the movie myself, it was easy to follow along with the story and the costumes for Merida's brothers were pretty funny. I won't give away what they were, you will just have to see the show.

The last portion of the program featured the story of Beauty and the Beast. Along with the "Under the Sea" performance from earlier, this section contained our favorite time of the morning. "Be Our Guest" is obviously one of the most beloved songs from the movie and the production behind this part was superb. There was so much going on, and from the costumes to the set, it represented the movie well. My kids definitely came out of their shell and sang along for this number. I also have to mention here the actor who played Gaston. He was hands down the all around most entertaining male in the show. He was expressive, funny, and really drew you in. 

I know this is a review and I'm supposed to tell you both good and bad, but as far as the actual performance goes, it was too impressive to be negative. The only drawback for some might be the price of merchandise and food, but it's what you expect from a show like this. As adults, we enjoyed the pageantry and athleticism. There wasn't one mistake and the fun factor was high. However, the main point is to entertain the kids so the deciding factor should be what they thought. My son and daughter both gave it two thumbs up and would excitedly go again. I would highly recommend you attending Disney On Ice Rockin' Ever After if it comes near you. 

The show will be in San Jose until Feb. 23, 2014 and in Oakland from Feb. 26-March 2. You can check www.disneyonice.com for more tourstops and go to www.ticketmaster.com to get your tickets.

Disclosure: Feld Entertainment gave me tickets to review this show. I have received no other compensation for this post and the opinions I’m expressing here are solely my own.

#parentproductreviews

Disney On Ice: "Rockin' Ever After" is here in the San Francisco Bay Area!

I couldn't be more excited right now! If you have seen many of my lunches you know our family are big fans of Disney. My wife and I have always wanted to take our kids to see a Disney On Ice show and we finally have the opportunity to go this Friday. The Rockin' Ever After Tour is coming to the San Francisco Bay Area and I have heard that it is amazing. We get to take our kids to the SAP Center in San Jose to catch it the first weekend that it is here. Just don't tell my kids, because we will be surprising them with this special family experience on Friday morning! They are going to go bananas.

The best part is that one of our favorite family movies, Tangled, is part of the show. We also get to see performances from the movies Brave, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast. The music and skating is supposed to be first rate. Rockin' Ever After features skaters who have won national championships and knowing Disney my kids will be dancing and singing along to the music just like they do in our living room.

I will let you know all about it when I post my review of the show next week. 

I don't know what will be more fun, revealing the surprise to my kids in the morning or watching their faces during the show. Not only have they never seen Disney On Ice, but they have never seen ice skating in person either. I remember taking them to Disneyland last year and seeing the wonder on their faces. There is nothing quite like it as a parent and I know this show will produce some of the same magic! 

If you want to know a little more about the fun before you go, you can watch the video below or read more about the action from Feld Entertainment: "Jam to a Scottish jig as a group of royal contenders from the Academy Award-winning Disney•Pixar film, BRAVE, competes to win the heart of adventurous, sharp-shooting Merida, making her on-ice debut! Experience a show-stopping performance as Sebastian breaks out of his shell for one night only to make waves with Ariel. A chorus of harmless hooligans from Tangled unleashes musical mayhem when they get a visit from the sassy and spirited Rapunzel and her charming ally Flynn. And, get your feet moving as the Beast and his castle’s enchanted entourage take center stage in a spectacular show for Belle. It will be a rockin’ remix of royalty when Disney On Ice brings this superstar line-up to the Bay Area!"

This tour is going all over the nation but if you are here in the Bay Area like me, you can catch it at the SAP Center in San Jose from Feb.19-23 and at ORACLE Arena in Oakland from Feb. 26-March 2. Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster.com.

Disclosure: Feld Entertainment gave me tickets to review the show. I have received no other compensation for this post and the opinions I’m expressing here are solely my own.

Throwback Thursday Lunch Linkup #3

Here is today's "Throwback Thursday" lunch post linkup.  This is to give everyone a chance to post their past fun meals! The rules are simple. Anyone can post their fun lunch, but it has to be at least 6 months old. Not the lunch itself, the post. A 6 month old lunch would be gross and no one wants to see that. The lunch also has to be your own, not one that you saw on someone else's site. So dig up those old pictures and post them for everyone to see.  Please share the linkup on your social media networks as well so everyone can join in on the throwback fun.

My Throwback Thursday bento lunch for today is:

A Mulan Princess Lunch! You can see the whole recipe HERE:

An InLinkz Link-up

Winter Family Olympics 2014

The Winter Olympics in Sochi aren't the only games around. Maybe you have competed in some of these competitions at your house this winter?

Pacifier Racing: This is the race to keep up with the daily demand of pacifiers around the house. Do you have the endurance to stick with the pace of washing these things and then within 3.5 seconds seeing the same pacifier on the floor, ready to be washed again?

Vegetable Wrestling: This is the battle of wills that happens at the dinner table. First match involves peas, your kid's stubbornness, and your patience. Who will be victorious?

Staring Contest: Let's be honest, a one month old can stare down even a trained veteran. Their whole existence revolves around eating, pooping, and staring. Notice I didn't say sleeping?

Speed Relay to the Car: There are many legs to this race. You have the mandatory five reminders to the older kids that it is time to go, the passing of the baby in the car seat carrier, triple checking of the diaper bag for extra supplies, and the all important u-turn to pick up the forgotten school homework.

What family competitions do you have to add to the list? Are you enjoying the Olympics at your house or maybe just focusing on winter survival? Let me know in the comments below!


#fatherhood

9 Things Not To Say To The Parents Of A Newborn

(This article was also published on the Huffington Post on March 25, 2014)

(Note: This post is meant to have funny observations. Due to the large amount of traffic this has received from being published on the Huffington Post, there have been many hateful comments that have nothing to do with the content of the post. I have and will continue to delete any comments that personally attack me or another commenter. You are free to post your opinion, even if you disagree with mine. Just be respectful. Basically, don't take this too seriously and play nice.)

Now that I have a one-month-old child again, it has become abundantly clear that there are times when people just don't know what to say to me. This is the third time I've been through this stage and the comments are always the same. Sometimes people who don't know you well are just grasping for topics to talk about and sometimes people with no kids are just clueless. It's not their fault; they just haven't been through it. 

So consider this a guide to inform you what not to say to those people who are in the middle of trying to figure out life with a newborn. Some of these are questions, some are statements, but none should ever leave your mouth when speaking to a new parent.

1. "Are you getting much sleep?"
What do you think? Parents of newborns generally walk around like extras in the show, "The Walking Dead." If you see parents of newborns who don't look like this, they are most likely numb to the sleeplessness. Another possibility is the grandparents have just swooped in like heavenly angels and have woken up throughout the night with the little devil, uh, I mean baby. This is the number one question asked of me. Just don't go there, the answer is always the same.

2. "Let me know if I can do anything for you."
I have a newborn. Like I have the time or energy to remember who told me to, "ask them if I need anything." My mental capacity is near empty. If you want to know why, see #1 above. Some good questions would be, "What can I bring your family over for dinner on Thursday?" Or even, "Can I pick your kids up from school tomorrow and take them to the park to play?" Either of these are like miracles from above. Don't make me call you and ask, just tell me what you can do and when. And bring dessert with you. Dessert is never bad.

3. "How is your wife doing?"
She's fantastic. She just pushed a watermelon through a hole the size of an orange. She's never been better. In fact, she might just run a marathon next weekend on a whim. Instead ask, "I hope your wife is recovering well, what's one thing I can do for you so that you can have a little bit more time to take care of her?"

4. "Is the baby sleeping through the night yet?"
Why yes. At two weeks old he is a medical freak of nature and sleeping all the way through the night. With all the extra time on my hands from him sleeping so much, I have been researching new fashion trends. The one I am trying right now is called "Death Warmed Over." Do you like it? It is the newest look, especially among parents of newborns.

5. "I just got a puppy, so now I know what having a baby is like."
Really, do you now? Last time I checked it is still illegal to lock up a baby in dog kennel when it's in the way or you just can't handle anymore of the messes. Did you have to get up to nurse the puppy at 2 am, 4 am, and 6 am? I also don't think you woke this morning to a screaming little one covered with poop up to their armpits. I swear diapers aren't designed to hold it in, they actually are just there to channel poop up the baby's back. I could go on and on with this one but you get the picture.

6. Usually said by a stranger in a store when the baby is screaming and you are just trying to make it through your list and keep your sanity: "You know your baby is probably tired/hungry/has a dirty diaper/etc."
Listen, I didn't ask for your advice and I probably know exactly what my baby needs. Unfortunately, I am barely holding it together, haven't showered in four days, and honestly couldn't care less what your opinion of the situation is. If you want to actually help, give me your place in line so I can get out of the store faster.

7. "When are you going to bring the baby over?"
You need to understand that getting a newborn out of the house can sometimes feel as daunting as diffusing a bomb in under 30 seconds. Besides that, stupid people always want to touch newborns hands which spreads germs and sickness all over the place. And sick babies don't sleep...ever. So thanks for the offer but our newborn will come out to play when we are good and ready.

8. "When are you having the next one?"
While adding another pooping machine to the fold is awfully tempting, we will hold off making that decision for now. You should never make important decisions while exhausted, stressed, or in the middle of a major life change.  Well guess what? Having a newborn means we are in the middle of all three of those. Also, if every parent of a newborn made that decision right away, no kid would ever have another brother or sister.

9. "Is having a baby worth all you give up for it?"
This baby is a miracle and having him is one of the greatest moments of my life. We are a month in and I would do anything for him. Every dirty diaper, sleepless night, and mind numbing children's song is nothing compared to the joy of being a parent. I will never have a regret about giving up some of my freedom (and sleep) to raise my child. I just pray that I can be the parent all that my children deserve and have a ton of fun at the same time!

#fatherhood

No new post today because of the holiday weekend but check back tomorrow!

I don't have a new post today because of the holiday weekend, but tomorrow you will have the chance to read my "9 Things Not To Say To The Parents Of A Newborn" article. I think you will find it funny and helpful, especially if you have ever had a newborn! I will also be sharing some more food ideas this week.

Until then, here's a little video of a fox that wags its tail and also reveals what exactly a fox actually says. Thanks to Sandra of One Crafty Thing for sharing it with me. You should check out her blog too, its amazing!

Review: McConnell's Fine Ice Cream & Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich Recipes

When I do a review of a product, it has to be something I'm interested in and something that will be applicable to the whole family. Good ice cream certainly fits into these two categories. Even though my blog is mainly about healthy alternatives for lunches, sometimes a family needs a great dessert as a treat. When McConnell's Fine Ice Cream approached me about reviewing their new flavors, I couldn't resist. In fact, our family and friends couldn't resist either! We invited a number of them over to taste all the interesting flavors.

Before I tell you my take on McConnell's new flavors you need to know a bit about the company. McConnell's is a family owned dairy in Santa Barbara, California. They actually make their own ice cream base from scratch, which many ice cream companies don't do. They use local raw milk and organic cage free eggs. In fact all of their ingredients are all-natural sustainable and organic! There are no no stabilizers, fillers, or additives. Even all of their jams, caramels, chocolates, etc. are housemade. Their use of all-natural ingredients is one of the reasons I was interested in their ice cream in the first place. They also use their one of a kind ice cream machine to stir and freeze their products. So before even tasting their ice cream, it was evident that they took great pride in their ingredients and recipes. I could tell in the creaminess and texture that this was going to be a different sort of dessert than I am used to.

With that said, all of the above doesn't matter if the taste of the ice cream is not appealing to kids or adults. I was given the opportunity to taste these flavors: Eureka Lemon and Marionberry, Oaxacan Chocolate, and Milk Chocolate and Raspberry Jam. McConnell's also carries other fun and different flavors such as Olive Oil and Salted Almond, Churros Con Leche, and Dark Chocolate Orange. Here is my review of the three flavors along with some of the opinions of my family and friends.

After the review be sure and scroll down to see my two delicious recipes 
featuring McConnell's ice cream!

Eureka Lemon and Marionberry

This was the all around favorite by most people including myself. If you like intense, fruity flavors then you will love this. It is bright and refreshing. The lemon flavor is tangy but doesn't overpower the rest of the flavors. Kids and adults alike loved this. When I took the ice cream to work to take pictures, my wife told me I better bring this flavor back home!

Oaxacan Chocolate

(See Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe below)

This one took some getting used to for me. Since it is a dark chocolate, I expected a bitterness to it. There was no bitterness but I was surprised at all the different nuances this ice cream has. There is a cinnamon undertone with a hint of a chili pepper finish. I know this sounds strange, but it is what good Oaxacan chocolate is supposed to taste like. I felt the flavors worked very well together and this was my second favorite overall. Some of my friends really liked this as well, but the kids were not impressed. This is definitely more of an adult flavor.

Milk Chocolate and Raspberry Jam

(See Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe below)

This was the kid's second favorite flavor. This duo of chocolate and jam is good, however I felt it needed a little something salty to go with the sweet. When I paired it with homemade peanut butter cookies, they added the saltiness that I wanted and made the taste almost like a chocolate PB&J sandwich! It is very good with or without, but I preferred this flavor paired with the saltiness of peanut butter.

You can find out more about McConnell's Fine Ice Cream, and also where to locate it in your area, by going to their website at www.mcconnells.com or on Facebook HERE.

Recipes:

McConnell's Oaxacan Chocolate Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich:
1. Start with your favorite all natural Chocolate Chocolate Chip cookies. Since McConnell's ice cream is all natural, you don't want to ruin that by using cookies with artificial ingredients. You will need two cookies per sandwich. 

2. Spoon out a small amount of McConnell's Oaxacan Chocolate Ice Cream onto one cookie. A little goes a long way so you will want to use it sparingly. 

3. Place the second cookie on top and push down lightly until the ice cream reaches the sides of the cookie all the way around. Use a knife to even up the look of the ice cream if desired.

4. Wrap in wax paper and put back into the freezer if not serving immediately. 

McConnell's Chocolate PB&J Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich:
1. Start with your favorite all natural peanut butter cookies. Since McConnell's ice cream is all natural, you don't want to ruin that by using cookies with artificial ingredients. You will need two cookies per sandwich. I made my own peanut butter cookies using all-natural peanut butter. Softer cookies are better.

2. Spoon out a small amount of McConnell's Milk Chocolate and Raspberry Jam Ice Cream onto one cookie. A little goes a long way so you will want to use it sparingly. 

3. Place the second cookie on top and push down lightly until the ice cream reaches the sides of the cookie all the way around. Use a knife to even up the look of the ice cream if desired.

4. Wrap in wax paper and put back into the freezer if not serving immediately.

Disclosure: McConnell's Fine Ice Cream sent me this product to review. I have received no other compensation for this post and the opinions I’m expressing here are solely my own.

#foodreview

Throwback Thursday Lunch Linkup Week 2

Here is today's "Throwback Thursday" lunch post linkup.  This is to give everyone a chance to post their past fun meals! The rules are simple. Anyone can post their fun lunch, but it has to be at least 6 months old. Not the lunch itself, the post. A 6 month old lunch would be gross and no one wants to see that. The lunch also has to be your own, not one that you saw on someone else's site. So dig up those old pictures and post them for everyone to see.  Please share the linkup on your social media networks as well so everyone can join in on the throwback fun.

My Throwback Thursday bento lunch for today is:

A President's Day Lunch! You can see the whole recipe HERE:

Now get your throwback posts, link them up, and share this with all your friends!

An InLinkz Link-up

Spider-Man Has My Back in the School Parking Lot

Its the time of day that is feared by many. It takes dexterity, athleticism, and cleverness to make it out alive. That's right, its time to pick up your child from school.  Thankfully, Spider-Man has my back when I pick up my daughter from elementary school. The parents who believe their suburban tanks are to be driven like sports cars are no match for this superhero. I hope you have one to guard your back as well, you never know when they will save your life. Be safe, never leave home without your superhero!

#fatherhood

A Heart Dog and A Cutie for Valentine's Day!

I'm going to be leaving town for work on Valentine's Day so I thought I'd make a little early Valentine's Day lunch for my daughter.  My wife was sick all day, so with three kids needing my attention, I had time to do a simple but special lunch for this morning. When you are trying to make sure the kids don't destroy the house or disturb your sick spouse, some things have to take priority. In between the madness of bedtime for the older two, and feeding time for the newborn, I was able to throw this lunch together. Remember that you always have time for something, whether it is this lunch, a sandwich shaped like a heart, or even a simple note. Kids remember these moments, and it might just make the difference in their day!

This is an easy lunch to reproduce so please feel free to take my idea and make it your own! One of the fun things about this lunch is the Lunchbox Love note. The note you see is a valentine with a fun fact on the back. I am including a whole set of these valentines in my daughter's lunch so she can pass them out to her friends at school. I also packed some of my daughter's most well liked foods in this lunch. 

Cutie oranges are one of her favorite fruits (mine too). She also loves a good hot dog. Well, this is actually a sausage which she likes even more. I sliced it up so the amount included only amounts to about half of the sausage. This lunch is made in a Planetbox Shuttle lunchbox. It is great when you need a smaller container for less food.

Ingredients

1 hot dog or sausage
1 hot dog bun
1 slice of cheese
1 Cutie orange
3-4 strawberries
1 serving yogurt covered raisins
1 serving Greek nonfat yogurt
1 Valentine's Day Lunchbox Love note

Directions

1. Cook hot dog, slice it into small rounds, then chill in refrigerator. Put hot dog bun in your main container. Arrange chilled hot dog slices in bun. 
2. Cut heart shapes out of cheese slice. place on top of hot dog slices.
3. Slice strawberries in half, then trim to look like hearts. Skewer the the strawberry halves and place in side dish.  Spoon yogurt into small container and top with strawberry heart.
4. Drop yogurt covered raisins around strawberry skewers.
5. Use sharp knife to slice the shape of a heart out of a Cutie orange. Put in side dish.
6. Finish lunch with a Lunchbox Love note if desired.







I hope you have a great Valentine's Day and are able to show love to your kids and your significant other in a special way. Check back later in the week as I hope to post some more great stuff on here as well as on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

This is also part of a great Valentine's Day blog hop and link party. Click the picture below to get some fun ideas for Valentine's Day!

#lbdbento

New Throwback Thursday Lunch and Linkup!

Starting today, I am beginning a new "Throwback Thursday" lunch post linkup. I will bring back one of my lunches from the past but I also want to give everyone else a chance to post their fun meals as well! The rules are simple. Anyone can post their fun lunch, but it has to be at least 6 months old. Not the lunch itself, the post. A 6 month old lunch would be gross and no one wants to see that. So dig up those old pictures and post them for everyone to see.  Please share the linkup on your social media networks as well so everyone can join in the throwback fun.

Today's Throwback Thursday bento lunch is:

A Valentine's Bento! The original post and recipe can be found HERE.

Now get your throwback posts, link them up, and share this with all your friends! Here is the new button for this Linkup as well:

I Love You Lunch (Breakfast For Lunch For National Pancake Month!)

Did you know that this month is National Pancake Month? In honor of that, and the fact that it is February, I decided to do a "hearty" breakfast for lunch bento today. See what I did there?  Cheesy, I know but I haven't had my coffee yet today so it was all I could think of. This is a fairly easy bento lunch to do. In fact you probably could think of some more creative things than I did. Let me know below if you have a fun idea that you would use for this lunch.

Before I get to the whole recipe, you should know that the great people at FlapJacked sent me some of their protein packed pancake mix for free in honor of National Pancake Month. It is very easy to use, you just add water! There are no additives, no preservatives, and no artificial ingredients used. Not only that, but it has 15g of protein and 7g of fiber per serving.  It is also comes in a few different flavors. I used Cinnamon Apple here. I actually made more and used the rest for breakfast the next morning. Even reheated my kids loved the pancakes and were begging for more. FlapJacked is having a contest that you should enter. Here are the details:

Enter to Win! For the month of February, FlapJacked is celebrating National Pancake Month by giving away FREE PANCAKES! You will simply share a photo of your favorite way to enjoy pancakes for the chance to win. 3 Prizes awarded weekly! For full details, click here!

This breakfast for lunch is made in an Easy Lunch Boxes container and also includes a fun Lunchbox Love note. You can also get Valentines Lunchbox Love notes for your child's class!

Ingredients:

--3 small FlapJacked pancakes

--1 handful of berries that your child enjoys (I used raspberries and blackberries)

--1 strip of bacon, cooked, with the fat cut off

--2 slices of white cheese

--1 hardboiled egg

--1 serving of Greek yogurt

--A small amount of sprinkles if desired

Directions:

1. Prepare FlapJacked pancakes according to package instructions. Use a sharp knife to cut out the letters "I" and "U." Also cut out a heart shape. Use the pancakes to cut out the same shapes (only slightly larger) from white cheese. Also cut out two small hearts from the same slices of cheese.

2. In main dish, arrange berries as shown. In the middle lay the strips of bacon.  I only used about half a piece total. On top of the berries arrange your cheese letters. Place the FlapJacked pancake shapes on top as shown. Stick cheese hearts where desired.

3. Shape hardboiled egg in heart egg mold. These can be found online if you don't have them locally. Be sure to peel and heat up the egg in a bowl of hot water before putting it in the egg mold.

4. Place heart shaped egg in your side dish. I put it in reusable silicone cups to dress it up a little and to keep it in place. Spoon yogurt into second side dish and top that with a few red or pink sprinkles if desired. You can finish off the lunch with a Lunchbox Love note or even write a note to your child yourself!

Have fun with National Pancake Month and remember to enter the FlapJacked contest. If you are having pancakes you might as well snap a few pics and enter. You might just walk away with a prize. Have a great week and remember that I am on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and more!

#lbdbento