Today was BUSY. Busier than normal. Actually the last few days have been kind of crazy, and it’s not ending until probably this weekend. This week we’ve had open house at the elementary school, dental appointments, grocery shopping, a home visit from Ryan’s case manager, Aaron had duty, and more. I didn’t even look at a computer until 10:30 pm today! I have so many emails, blogs to read, reviews and giveaways to write, my Mac Kid newsletter for the week needs to be published- and that’s just the stuff online!
I’m really excited about some upcoming Halloween costume reviews and giveaways that I have lined up for you guys! I hope you all don’t mind dealing with weeding through them (and the couple of others I have in the works) if you’re not interested. I’m just really thrilled to be able to offer you guys some fun stuff!
I’ve had several people ask me about the lunches I make for the girls and Aaron. I’m going to try to answer them, hopefully I’ll remember what I was asked! If I missed something, feel free to ask again! I’ve been posting the lunches I make daily at Mrs. Tate Creates (where I will be cross posting these questions) if you want to see more pictures.
Where do you get the containers and accessories?
I really have a ton of containers- I most frequently use my Easy LunchBoxes (where I’m an affiliate) set for Aaron, and I have two more sets on the way for the girls. I can’t wait to get them, they are fabulous! I wrote a review of the system right here. I also use traditional two tier Japanese bento boxes often for the girls. I’ve purchased them from a few places, such as All Things For Sale (use code tatertwins for 5% off), Bento Crazy, and another online retailer who recently closed their doors to internet sales, boo.
These places also carry the majority of the accessories I use, including food picks, belts (elastic to hold the tiers together), egg molds, food cutters, and bags. I use the silicone muffin tins in various shapes to keep food separate, instead of the disposable paper ones. I bought those at Michael’s, where you can also find the food-safe markers I occasionally use.
How long does it take to pack their lunches like this?
I really think it takes only a few minutes longer than throwing a sandwich and some chips in Ziplock baggies. I try to stock up on bento-friendly foods, which helps. By keeping small things like raisins, cheese sticks, cherry tomatoes, canned fruit, etc in the house, I can fill up gaps in the boxes after I put the bigger things like the sandwiches, crackers, yogurt in.
What do you do with the leftover scraps of food?
When I make cut out sandwiches or decorate with cheese slices, I am left with scraps. I hate to waste it, so I generally feed them to the twins. They don’t seem to care at this point that they get the leftovers! They eat lots of PB&J crusts for breakfast. Also, sometimes I’ll tuck the smaller scraps, like the pieces left from the cheese shapes, underneath the sandwich where you can’t see them if I don’t give them to the babies.
What do you send them to drink?
The girls each have a SIGG water bottle that they bring. I only put water in them, because I figure the one day I fill it with juice or milk they’ll leave it and it will get nasty. Aaron used to reuse an old Gatorade bottle, but the other day I finally bought him his own aluminum water bottle as well.
Ok that’s all I can remember right now… LOL
And because you guys are so freakin awesome, I am going to give away a little bento starter kit! I love shopping for bento supplies, and picked up a few things to offer one of my readers.
Included is one two tier bento box, with a matching belt, a set of food picks, and two egg molds. There may or may not be more items included, depending on how much shopping I do before the giveaway ends…
All the items are brand new, and purchased by me. This giveaway isn’t sponsored by anyone.
Update 9/18/10-
Since there has been so much positive response to this giveaway, I’ve added to the prize!
Now, in addition, you will receive an adorable brown bear bag (it’s got a tail on the back!!) a coordinating side car box, a set of four mayo/ketchup/dip cups, and some cute food cutters!
Update 9/27/10-
Even more extras to the giveaway!
This update adds a set of three silicone cups to help keep foods separate in the boxes, a utensil set that includes a fork, spoon, and chopsticks in a plastic case, two soy sauce bottles, and several sheets of baran (also used to separate foods).
Want to win? Simply leave a comment on this post by October 1st. Winner will be drawn on October 2nd. Open to the US only, please!
Want extra entries? I’ve got several more! Please leave an extra comment for each entry you complete.
- Follow The TaterTwins on Twitter.
- Follow The TaterTwins via Google Friend Connect.
- Grab either my blog button or Ryan’s button and put it on your blog & leave me a link to where it is located. (You can find in the tabs above.)
- Subscribe to The TaterTwins via RSS feed in a reader or email.
- Like The TaterTwins on Facebook
- Because of the extra stuff, every time you tweet about this giveaway, leave a comment- and I’ll give you another entry! You can tweet as often as you like! Just be sure to leave a comment each time on this post for it to qualify for an entry! And to make it easy for you- here’s a tweet you can copy & paste- Win even MORE Bento supplies from @tatertwins now during the bento #giveaway! http://bit.ly/chb125
- And one more way to enter- click on the Picket Fence button below to vote for my blog. Leave a comment saying you do for the entry- and you can do this once a day.
Disclosure: No one sent me anything for this giveaway.
Ooooo — I LOVE Bento Boxes; I haven’t actually made one yet, but I’ve been religiously reading how to do them and looking at blogs that feature them. I think they’re adorable!
I love what you do with the lunches. You make it seem easy! Are your kids picky eaters at all?
Yes, a little bit- but I tend to only give them stuff they like, or I’ll give them only one thing they are iffy on. They aren’t fond of tomatoes, but I keep putting them in their lunches to try to encourage them to eat them. One doesn’t like eggs… one doesn’t like pickles… etc
I love looking at your lunches:) well, your blog completely.lol
I “liked” you on FB.
pick me! also can you tell me wtf an egg mold is, per se? and i need some links, i’m overwhelmed-been wanting bento boxes for ages, b/c it’s basically how i pack our lunches anyway but just w/o the cuteness. a couple beginner sets please!
Here’s an egg mold tutorial. It’s basically just a hardboiled egg that is shaped. http://www.cookingcute.com/using_egg_molds.htm
I LOVE looking at all the lunches you make.. it gives me great ideas for myself!!
I “like” you on facebook!!!
I love seeing your Bento lunches! I can’t wait until Brianna takes lunch to school so I can pack her cool lunches.
I “like” you on Facebook
I am newly obsessed with Bento thanks to your blog! lol! I have been scouring the internet for a couple weeks trying to decide what to buy for my 2 little ones! I want to start packing lunches for the little ones, even if they eat them at home so I can get an idea of what they will and will not eat out of a lunchbox. When they went to daycare, I either packed too much or not enough! I want to find a happy medium before Hannah goes off to Kindergarten next fall! (WAHHHAHHHHH)
following on twiltter and I tweeted the giveaway!
My nieces would LOVE this stuff! I wish I could pack stuff like this for Joe but he’d either a) lose it all b) throw it away or c) tell me that it’s WAY too lame and humiliating to eat cute food.
I love how creative you get with your bentos!
I follow Tater Twins on Twitter
@gypsymommy
I follow on GFC
piggypie76
Your blog button is on my blog’s sidebar
http://gypsymommy.com/
I subscribe via email
I like Tater Twins on FB
Judy C
Oooh! Birthday present plx!
Liked on facebook!
Following on Twitter!
I pack lunches every morning for my kiddos. {My hubby packs his own.} I think they would just LOVE to open their lunchboxes and see those cute lunches!
If I move to NC, will you make my lunch, please?
Yes, so move now!
Me. Me. I’ll have to buy 3 more if I win, though, as my Bento box kid will think he/she’s my favorite.
Already follow The TaterTwins on Twitter.
And Google Friend Connect.
And RSS reader.
And Facebook.
I love the bento lunches. I wish I could do that….my lunches are boring and my kids always want to buy lunch instead!!
I LOVE reading your blog and seeing your pics!
I love these Bento boxes and I love how you put your daughters & husbands together!
I’m following on Twitter (@Emmersynsmom)
I added Ryan’s button on my blog [on the side bar under Buttons], but it’s not showing up. It’s giving me the photobucket error saying that the image or video has been moved…
I liked the facebook page.
I love seeing all the lunches you pack for your kids. You are inspiring me to start getting some Bento supplies and start doing the same thing.
Ohhh…. Enter me!! Ive been so inspired by your lunches. I got one of those 3-section gladware boxes & I’ve been using that for pretend bento lunches for Devin & Georgie. I think I may already have likes the twins on FB, but if not, I’ll do that now
Great giveaway! Someone will be very lucky
I’ve been dying to get into Bento lunches….
Aaaahhhhh! I *need* to win this! Jack could use some more stuff for his lunches!
I am totally going to get some bento stuff for Maddie’s lunches, I can see making her sandwiches and things like that into shapes making her eat more, she is a strange kid! hahaha
I think i have you beat on the worst housekeeper ever thing.
Love bento. Count me in.
Now following on twitter.
I’m going to try really hard to remember to do the ‘entry’ things when I don’t have a baby on me and I’m not interwebbing on my phone. Do I get an entry for that?
Yes, actually it does count as an entry
I want this so bad it hurts.
The bento stuff I was going to order is on hold (bentocrazy) and I am soooo sad!!!!!
Awesome giveaway!
Try allthingsforsale.com
follow on twitter
follow on GFC!
Fan on FB!
I’ve been doing a bento type lunch for Madison and she loves it. I would love a set
I like you on facebook
I follow on twitter
I know I won’t win, but I’m going to leave a comment anyway, because that is the cutest set!!
I love them!
And after your giveaway is done, and I didn’t win, you need to call me, so I can send you $$ to make you go bento supply shopping for me. We have NOTHING here for it!!
HUGS to you friend!!
We don’t have anything here either- I have to shop online.
aaahhhh I see….ok, off to shop where you shop then! LOL!!!
Any other sites??
jlist.com, but it comes from japan so I have issues with waiting that long ROFL
allthingsonsale.com has the same stuff but comes super fast since they’re shipping from the US
er allthingsforsale.com
FOR not ON…
Entering my name in to the hat….
Google friend connect
Ryan’s button
Google reader RSS feed
Tatertwins fan on Facebook
I already follow tatertwins on facebook and twitter.. and livejournal! ha! i’d love to get this for my daughter.. also.. are you doing any tie dying in the future?
Yes, I plan on reopening soon! I just need a new name.
Also leave a separate comment for each entry
Okay Bento Master Mama!!!!
I have a bento for each of the kids that I got from a co-op and girl…you gotta help me figure this out! How in the world do you keep things from sliding into the other sections? Like if I send pretzels or small stuff, they all roll into the sandwich
Help!
ps…your boys are getting SO big!!!
Love,
Maura
Silicone muffin cups! That’s what I use to keep stuff separate
Plus if you pack it in there tight enough, nothing is going anywhere
I’ve been wanting a bento box! I’m entering
Also, since I Like you on FB…here’s my second entry comment!
I just got into bento. I am a full time student, this makes it easy for me to stay on my diet after losing 100+ lbs! I love ur blog btw!
I follow the Tater twins on facebook:)
I need some of these. Where do you find them when you’re out shopping?
I shop for this stuff online, we don’t have any local stores here.
GFC Follower
FB Fan
Twitter follower @jurenpamis
Following you in RSS feed
My kids look at your lunch pictures and want them so bad!! They think they are the coolest looking lunches ever!!
I follow Tater Twins on Facebook!
I love this giveaway,so cute this things …
•Follow The TaterTwins on Twitter (@woodfacesami)
I •Follow The TaterTwins via Google Friend Connect.(Samanta/sammy)
Subscribe to The TaterTwins via email.
I Like The TaterTwins on Facebook(samanta tancredo galvão)
I’m just now getting into bento boxes for my kids! Would love to win this….it would get me jump started!
I love making Bento lunches!
tweet
http://twitter.com/GypsyMommy/status/24864894350
Those are awesome! My dh and 14yo dd would totally love bento lunches. Looks like i need to do some shopping.
I like the tater twins on facebook.:)
Sticking my name in the hat another time because I already “like” you on FB
I love these! I’ve been watching your posts and trying to figure out how much work it would be…I think I could do it
It’s totally not a lot of work- I bang out lunches for the kids and my husband in maybe 5-10 minutes?
Oh! Pick me!
following on twitter!
Google friends connected!
Like you on facebook!
Like you on facebook and follow you on twitter!
Tweeted! @Emmersynsmom
Awesome giveaway
Tweet
http://twitter.com/woodfacesami
Oh I would LOVE to win this!! What a wonderful prize package
My kids are such picky eaters, that this would definitely come in handy to spruce up their meals and make it more fun! Thanks for the chance!!!
I follow you on Twitter @shopwithmemama
I follow you on GFC: Shop with Me Mama
Like you on Facebook! Kim Delatorre
Would love to win!
Follower of your blog!
I really like this product
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Thanks so much for the generous giveaway!
Following you on Twitter @steph2pigs
Following you on GFC
Following you on twitter @steph2pigs (sorry if this is a duplicate entry)
Thanks for the chance to win!
I like you on FB
I follow you on twitter
twweeett!!
http://twitter.com/ItsJustMeClaire/status/24895946673
How FUN! My daughter doesn’t start school until next year…but I would SO pack my hubby a bento lunch. Hehe
Enter me please
Like on facebook
I tweeted at @christineseipp
so excited about all the new goodies!
Enter me, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have tweeted a 2nd time – @Emmersynsmom
My boyfriend worked in China for a few years and he’s obsessed with Bento boxes. I haven’t gotten into them yet but I definitely should! It seems like a great way to give yourself variety when you have lunch. And if you have variety… you’re much less likely to go order out at work!
I love this stuff! I would love to win.
I follow The Tater Twins on twitter (ZNR8507)
I follow via Google Friend connect
I have Ryan’s button on my blog
http://thecroissantfamily.blogspot.com/
I like the Tater Twins on Facebook
I have never heard of Bento Boxes before, they look really great, I just this year started using a sandwich box for each of my kids instead of sandwich bags, which is workig really well, and I use water bottles that I can refill instead of paying 50 cents for a milk at school, and I usually toss in a flavor packet for the water. I would love to have something for them to have their fruit, and other goodies in. Thanks for a great giveaway
I love this idea and have been wanting to try it with my twins! Pick me…please! : )
that is seriously adorable!!!!
I HAVE to win this! =)
I follow on blogger.
im leaving a comment to enter!
invisible_fairy_05@yahoo.com
i follow you through gfc!
What a great giveaway!
Following The Tater Twins on Twitter (SOJAnnette)
Following you via GFC
Liked The Tater Twins on Facebook (Annette Fr)
Tweeted the contest
Hey Jayme, what if you don’t tweet. Any other way to get extra entries?
I would love to win this giveaway, everything is so cute and adorable! I especially love the food picks!
luckysluna(at)yahoo(dot)com
I follow you, TaterTwins on twitter as @luckysluna.
luckysluna(at)yahoo(dot)com
I follow on you on GFC
luckysluna(at)yahoo(dot)com
I Like/fan of TaterTwins on facebook as Luckys Luna.
luckysluna(at)yahoo(dot)com
I tweeted as @luckysluna!
http://twitter.com/luckysluna/status/25003519579
luckysluna(at)yahoo(dot)com
I follow you on Twitter.
I tweeted your giveaway this morning. I’m @JoeNLiamsMama.
Tweet! http://twitter.com/ItsJustMeClaire/status/25036091239
I follow you on Twitter
janae13
Following you on Google Friend Connect.
Tweet http://twitter.com/janae13/status/25036856868
Yout button is on my blog. http://www.starcreekcreations.blogspot.com
Please include me.
Thanks for the chance to win.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Hi Jayme!
I am loving this giveaway. So Cute!
Tweet Here: http://twitter.com/OceanStateLove
Of couse I “like” The Tater Twins on FB!
http://www.facebook.com/TaterTwins#!/DGoodison0809?v=info
Ryan’s adorable face is located on my right side bar
http://thefuturemrsperry.blogspot.com/
Tweeted again!
http://twitter.com/SOJAnnette/status/25055443455
I love putting bento lunches together! I have no proper containers/tools though so all this will be so fun!
Thanks for the giveaway, that was so nice to add items.
hmhenderson AT yahoo DOT com
I follow via GFC as hendy
hmhenderson AT yahoo DOT com
love the bentos!!!
portion control! just what I neeeed! LOL
Count me in J !
Oooo– I want a bento starter kit!
tweet
http://twitter.com/GypsyMommy/statuses/25128769997
I’ve just discovered all the bento goodies available – I’d love a starter kit!
Awesome giveaway! And I love how you put together lunches they look so nice and well put together and nutriously balanced.
This giveaway is fantastic! I admire the preparation that goes into crafting a bento box creation… hopefully I’ll get the chance to think up my own!
I tweeted the giveaway today .
I’m following you on Twitter!
I’m following you on Facebook.
I have both of your blog buttons on my blog! http://alison-ourlittlefamily.blogspot.com/
I’m following the TaterTwins!
I subscribe to the Tater Twins in my Google Reader
I really want to win this!!! What a great giveaway Jayme! I would LOVE to start trying Bentos, at least for Dave and I and then when Charlotte gets older.
I tweeted about the giveaway! http://twitter.com/AlisonMarie2
I’ve always wanted to start packing lunches in a bento but it has always seemed like a lot of work and i didn’t have any supplies to use. This would be a fun start.
HOLY Giveaway batman!! Amazing how many entries you have! That is so awesome. I am an absolute SLACKER in the area of packed lunches so i figured this would be a wonderful start to help me on my way…. (or maybe at least make the failure of lunches look a little more fun, and doesn’t that ALWAYS make them taste better?!) The biggest bonus, maybe my children would actually EAT a packed lunch.
I have liked you on Facebook. Let’s up those chances by ONE more! =D (which is about all I can do as I have yet to figure out that twitter stuff. =D)
Riley would seriously love if I made him cute lunches like that.
I have never tried Bento Boxes, but the many compartments seem to make it much easier to bring variety into lunches
enter me please, thank you for the giveaway
following you on twitter @left_the_stars
Google Friends Connect – following your blog publicly as Louis
I subscribed to your feed via google reader
I like your blog on facebook (Louis Here)
here is my tweet
http://twitter.com/left_the_stars/status/25526735763
This is the cutest set. I pack my 3 year old’s lunch every day and think she would love a bento set up. I think I will get one even if i don’t win
http://twitter.com/GypsyMommy/statuses/25557332613
tweet
http://twitter.com/GypsyMommy/statuses/25609609944
I’ve always wanted to try those egg molds! And that bear bag is too cute…
I’m following on google friend!
That bear bag is so cute! I follow you on FB!
I posted on facebook! LOVE this stuff!
Subscribed via email – Thanks!
voted on the picket fences blog – Thanks!
voted on the picket fences blog.
I subscribed to Tater Twins via e-mail
I tweeted this morning
http://twitter.com/ZNR8507
I voted! Thanks for the chance.
I voted! good luck to you too!
I tweeted!
Tweeted this morning.
And up to 200+ entries? Way to go!
I voted for you today!
I found you through Muffin Tin Mom and I’m so glad I did! Great blog — I’ve just recently started Bento lunches for my 7 year old and she loves them. This is an awesome giveaway — wishing & praying for the winning number
Thanks for taking the time to share!
I liked you on FB.
I follow you on Google Friend Connect
Hi and Happy Monday!
And boy am I hungry just by the picks — but yep, I’m in for the giveaway, even if it won’t actually come with the food! LOL 
Lois
OV_099@yahoo.com
and follow via GFC. . .
Lois
OV_099@yahoo.com
and follow via email. . .
Lois
OV_099@yahoo.com
and voted for today too!
Lois
OV_099@yahoo.com
What an awesome prize pack! I’m hoping to be lucky….
I follow you in twitter
@goodieslist
I follow you on GFC
I have your button on my blog
http://goodieslist.blogspot.com/
I subscribe to your rss feed
I like you on facebook
niecey docherty
I voted for you on picket fence
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/goodieslist/status/25712570693
I tweeted again
http://twitter.com/goodieslist/status/25712932544
Oh I would love to win. So many fun goodies!
I am a blog follower.
tweet….
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25730921442
I tweeted this evening
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25742464154
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25753312908
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25786983676
I voted today on picket fence
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25799002536
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25800389807
ok, so I clicked FOLLOW your tater twins on twitter….thru my google. Hope that works/counts!!!
Steph aka houseplantgirl/hopefullytrying
I “like” the tater twins on FB!!!!
I clicked on the picket fence and voted. so yay, entry!! whoot!
I subscribed to tater twins on my google reader!!!
I signed up for twitter, just so you know….so add me dood. houseplantgirl, as usual.
oh, and I “tweeted” this giveaway!! LOL!!!
I cannot find the “button” to put on my blog….otherwise I’d do that also. hahahaha
loves to you!!
Friended ya on Twitter
And my button is in the sidebar- at least I think- there was a tab that said BUTTONS hehe
I apparently can’t link to sidebar crap, if it was on a page I’d send you directly there.
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25826475653
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25829723461
http://hopefullytrying.livejournal.com/715314.html
blogged you on my LJ, and BTW, please please please turn your comments ON on LJ!! thankyoudrivethru!
I can’t seem to get it to work and still auto publish.
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25840190408
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25848077880
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25849692923
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25898827013
I voted on picket fence
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25904211936
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25907749224
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25939023750
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/25944639473
Cutest prize ever! I want to win!
ape2016(at)aol(dot)com
follow on twitter
@ape2016
follow via GFC
email subscriber
follow on FB
FB ID april yedinak
voted on picket fence
ape2016(at)aol(dot)com
Voted on picket Fence
Voted on Picket Fence!
tweet
http://twitter.com/GypsyMommy/statuses/25992216181
I tweeted
http://tinyurl.com/38qeomx
I voted for you on picket fence
nieceyd at gmail.com
Love your blog – I’m new to the whole bento box idea, and am getting lots of inspiration here. Thank you!
Clicked on the pciket fence!
wow, I think I *may* have just figured out this whole twitter thing!! (I know, I know, totally behind the times!) I am now officially followoing you on twitter!
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/26011648252
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/26018719711
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/26031845608
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/26040043948
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/26043069259
I tweeted again, but I’m too dumb to know how to show a status? Anyway, I’m @JoeNLiamsMama.
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/26109723919
I voted on picket fence today 10.1.10
I like TaterTwins on FB.
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/26131795065
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/goodieslist/status/26144167873