32 Bento #264 - Talk Like a Pirate Day Shipwreck & Bento Booty Blog Hop Giveaway!

Yaarr there mateys!  Today be talk like a pirate day!  All ye scallywags be in fer a real treat!  There be TREASURE at the end of this blog hop, so grab yer quill and parchment and use yer letterin' skills to record in yer captain's log the clues on the treasure map that lead to the booty! Persevere me hearties, the treasure rivals ol' Blue Beard's!

(Translation: Grab a pen to write down the puzzle pieces in each blog in the hop!  It'll reveal where the treasure is located. Every blog in the hop has a piece of the map to the bento booty treasure - a giveaway! As you go through the hop, collect the pieces and put them in the right order to find out where to enter! You'll probably need something to write with, because there are 39 blogs to visit, so 39 pieces to collect! (OR print out our handy dandy worksheet!  Click here.) 37 pieces will spell the URL, and 2 bonus pieces with words on them will get you 2 entries to win!  Stick with it, the prizes are AMAZING and sponsored by AllThingsForSale!!)

So, today's bento lunch is a pirate shipwreck in a Planetbox!  Fresh green grapes are on palm tree stirrer skewers.

Next are our inside-out starfish pirates, yaaar!  They are having an altercation amid the palm trees.  With pretend plastic swords, of course!

The buzzword of the day in cucumber.

A treasure map hard boiled egg!  With the obligatory dagger thrust through the X on the map.

Details on my most awesome pirate ship centerpiece.  With a sneaky monkey and a Siren mermaid in the waves!

A tropical banana snack in a festive pirate sack.

Isn't it fun with the pirate parrot napkin and mermaid Sigg water bottle??

Bento #264 - Cheddar on whole wheat, organic cucumber, hard boiled egg, green grapes and yogurt star.  Snack - Banana.

Okay mateys! This here's my piece o' the map!  Hurry and collect them all, the treasure hunt ends on Sunday, 9/23 at the stroke of midnight!  

If you liked this lunch, please follow my blog here, and Like Bentobloggy on Facebook!

To find your next map piece, click here to visit Myra at Mommy and Me Lunchbox!  Happy huntin' mateys!

Print out the treasure hunt worksheet here.

0 Bento #223 - Flower & Berry PB&J

I hope my readers who just enjoyed a nice Fall break had a great one!  Today we have a Lunch Punch flower PB&J surrounded by fresh blackberries.  

Accompanied by Mr. Panda and some sliced bell pepper.

Bento #223 - Organic peanut butter & strawberry jam on whole wheat, fresh blackberries, orange bell pepper and ranch dip.  Snack - Banana

0 Bento #213 - Fried Rice and Edamame

Last few days have been a little hectic (small cocktail/jewelry party last night) so what could be a simpler meal than fried rice?  It's one of my go-to quick meals.  I almost always make extra rice and keep it in the fridge for a few days in an airtight container.  This rice is made with egg, ham and edamame.

I included a special treat cookie.  I made a batch of these amazing oatmeal cookies at 9pm that night.

Bento #213 - Fried rice, organic carrots, Boursin cheese, grapes and a cookie.  Snack - Banana.

1 Bento #204 - Thai Shrimp Dumplings & Champagne Grapes

Champagne grapes?  I'd never heard of them before, at least not for general consumption and availability at my local market!  They are the tiniest little grapes you ever saw.  They are tart, but not overwhelmingly so.

And, we have the sad giraffe picks.  Poor giraffes, why so glum?  The noodles are very yummy, though, sauteed with lots of veggies.  

Bento #204 - Thai shrimp dumplings, stir-fry veggie noodles, and champagne grapes.  Snack - Banana.

0 Bento #186 - Yakisoba & Bananas

Ella just loves these yakisoba noodles with steamed veggies.  This time I added some shrimp for some light protein, which is a favorite of hers.  She also discovered that she adores water chestnut!  I don't blame her, I love them too.

Bento #186 - Yakisoba noodles with steamed vegetables, shrimp and sliced bananas.

0 Bento #184 - Tropical Mauli Ola Bento

This bento is inspired by the new video posted by my cousin James' foundation for people with genetic diseases.  The Mauli Ola Foundation has been focusing on taking kids with cystic fibrosis out surfing, which happens to be a natural (and super fun!) treatment for people suffering from this disease.  Not only that, but the Mauli Ola Foundation is going to be featured during National CF Awareness Month on the CBS show Hawaii Five-O on May 2nd (10/9 C)

The Mauli Ola Foundation exists to introduce surfing as a natural treatment to people with genetic disorders. Since 2007 we have concentrated on the amazing connection between Surfing and Cystic Fibrosis. We have taken nearly 400 CF Patients Surfing at over 40 MOF Surf Experience Days. In 2011 we look to expand our program to help patients affected with Cancer and Alpha 1 Antitypsin. We appreciate your interest and would love for you to join the Mauli Ola Foundation Ohana by becoming a member and help us with our mission to help people with genetic disorders through Surfing. 

Aloha, James Dunlop

As for the lunch, I made homemade basil pesto "sand", and set up carrots "surf boards" around it, and "palm tree" PBJ sandwiches surrounding a pool of fish.  The flowers are orchids picked up by Ella at the Atlanta Botanical Garden the other day (she picked them up off the ground after they'd already fallen off.)  We also have some cute flamingos hanging out with the other elements.

Bento #184 - Carrots, basil pesto, peanut butter, banana & honey sandwich on whole grain bread and Goldfish crackers. 

This year's events are planned from California to Hawaii, from New York to Florida, so if you live in any of these areas, check them out! Please visit mauliola.org to learn more about this great cause and see how you can help.  Click here to make a secure donation.

0 Bento #179 - Chicken Teriyaki Rice & Bananas

Back to the grind!  Spring break is over, and we are back at school for the last several weeks until summer vacation.  Today we have a family favorite, which is jasmine rice tossed with Aidells chicken pineapple teriyaki meatballs with some carrots and caramelized onions.

Bento #179 - Organic banana slices, jasmine rice and carrots with Aidells chicken teriyaki meatballs.