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Making Lunch Boxes Fun – Toy Cell Phone

15 Sep

There are many days when I wish that I could sit at the Happy Buddy’s lunch table with him, my knees up to my chest in those tiny preschool chairs, chatting with him about his day.

But since I cannot, I thought I would send my voice along in his lunch box!

First, grab one of these fun toy cell phones from Target.

(Or just go order it from their site.)

Record a little message (you have like 3.2 seconds to share something – so make it good). :-)

And then slip it into your Happy Buddy’s lunch box.

They will be so happy you gave them a ring in the middle of their day – even if the conversation is a little one-sided.

Happy Toy Cell Phone-ing! :-)

*To see other great ways to make your Happy Buddy’s lunch box fun, go here, here, here, and here!*

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Making Lunch Boxes Fun – Funny Photos

14 Sep

I like to find ways that I can slip a little bit of myself home into the Happy Buddy’s lunch box so that he doesn’t fall in love with his teachers and forget me will always remember what a great place home is.

:-)

During one of my 3 am pumping sessions I played around on PicMonkey (get ready ‘cuz this site is gonna change your world FOREVER) and created a few fun photos to slip into the Happy Buddy’s lunch box.

A little step up from the Post-It, so to speak.

Here’s what I came up with…

One from me. :-)

One from the Happy Baby.

*Note – Here’s a little bonus idea!  Maybe one day have siblings write the lunch box notes for each other!  What a great way to encourage kindness between brothers and sisters.*

And crazy awesome silliness with his daddy.

*I think the Happy Hubby looks pretty good with a ‘stache!*

These photos are just the thing to give your Happy Buddy a little piece of home while they chew their lunch box goodies.

P.S. Do you have a pet?  You could totally spice up a photo of Oreo the cat or Spot the dog doing or saying something goofy - that would really inspire some giggles at the lunch table.  Have fun!

Happy Funny Photo-ing! :-)

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Making Lunch Boxes Fun – Stickers and Post-Its

13 Sep

On those hectic mornings where lunch boxes are thrown together in like 15 seconds…

And you don’t have that extra pocket of minutes to add Googly Eyes or Gift Wrap…

You can simply add some stickers.

And a funny Post-It or two.

There, doesn’t that look happier?

It’s the little things, friends!

Happy Lunch Box Sticker-ing! :-)

*I get all of my stickers in the Target Dollar Bins, the Dollar Tree, in the greeting card section at Wal-Mart, and at Michael’s Arts and Crafts!*

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Making Lunch Boxes Fun – Gift Wrap

12 Sep

*Hey Pinterest Friends!  Thanks for stopping by Happy Home Fairy!  You can check out a ton of other easy, fun Lunchbox Ideas by clicking HERE!*

Here is a fun lunch box idea that is a real celebration!

Take your ordinary lunch box filled with ordinary items…

Grab a roll of wrapping paper…

(I got this happy wrapping paper from Wal-Mart.)

And individually gift wrap each food!

Who doesn’t love opening a present, right!?

Happy Lunch Box Gift Wrap-ing! :-)

*Disclaimer – Having been a teacher, it did occur to me that if your Happy Buddy is in preschool, like mine is, then their teacher might not appreciate the extra effort you put forth to make the lunch box so special…  I mean, it might be an uber distraction and take a long time to unwrap each thing.

Instead of gift wrapping EVERY item, maybe just wrap up a special treat – like homemade brownies or chocolate milk (a rare blessing for the Happy Buddy!).

But for the sake of fun, I texted the Happy Buddy’s teacher this morning, “Please excuse the Happy Buddy’s lunch today…  Just roll with it.  I promise it will never happen again! :-) “*

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Making Lunch Boxes Fun – Googly Eyes

11 Sep

The Happy Buddy eats THE SAME thing for lunch EVERY DAY.

If I try to sneak in something different (unless it’s in the form of chocolate) he will revolt.

This means that I can’t do all those fancy pants Bento Lunch Box Ideas that are out there, so I had to come up with a few ways to make his lunch fun and exciting, even when it looks exactly the same from day to day.

Here is my first idea (with more to come)…

Take an ordinary lunch box filled with ordinary items.

Pick up a package of these babies from Wal-Mart.

Stick them on those ordinary items.

You could even include a funny note.

Now this is what I call a lunch box with personality. :-)

Happy Lunch Box Googly Eye-ing!

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Going Bananas

10 Sep

On average, Americans consume about 12 billion bananas a year, which is approximately 26 pounds, or almost 150 bananas per person!

Since they are America’s number one fruit, I’ve stumbled across several cute ways to jazz up a banana as a happy lil’ lunch box surprise.

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Twig and Thistle has these adorable FREE Printable Fruit Stickers to print and put on a banana.

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I love these Secret Message Bananas from Stars and Sunshine.

All you need is a slightly ripe banana and a toothpick!

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Do your Happy Buddies have any temporary tattoos hanging around the house?  Like a Spiderman or Hello Kitty rub on?

Grab one and give a banana some ink – the kids will love it!

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This lil’ monkey is a FREE Printable from HERE that you can print and wrap around your Happy Buddy’s banana.

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How about sticking a Banana Dog in their lunch box? :-)

Find this clever spin on the classic PB&J over at The Village Cook.

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Finally, how absolutely darling are these Banilla Sandwich Cookies from Bakers Royale?!

What a cute and simple lunch box treat.

I hope you go bananas over these ideas!

Happy Banana-ing! :-)

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A Tribute to the Lunchbox Staple

7 Sep

Every day I fix the Happy Buddy a peanut butter sandwich for his school lunch.

Just the PB – no J.

(The Happy Buddy’s not one to try new things easily.)

But one of these days I will introduce him to the J.

Because there’s nothin’ quite like it!

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Case in point…

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Start the day right with these deliciously simple PB&J Pancakes from Finding My Feet.

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Check out these yummy PB&J Cookies at Celebrations.

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Ever thought to stick a PB&J in your freezer?

Weelicious did with these scrumptious PB&J Pops!

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You Happy Buddy might not like maki, but maybe food the resembles maki?

Find out how to make these PB&J Sushi Rolls from Shine.

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You don’t need to spend any extra money on those Uncrustables at the supermarket.

Make your own using a sandwich pastry press from Tasty Kitchen.

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Framed Cooks made a batch of PB&J Bars that look better than the sandwich itself.

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Betty Crocker shows you how to make easy peasy PB&J Cupcakes – starting with a cake mix.

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I want to jump into that fluffy mess of Fruity PB&J Yogurt Dip from The Wannabe Chef.

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Munchkin Munchies threw a Back to School Party for her grandkids and made this super awesome Peanut Butter and Jelly Cake.

What a fun tradition to celebrate year after year!

After all this PB&J inspiration, I think I better go fix one for myself…

Happy PB&J-ing! :-)

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Lunch Boxes – A Reality Check :-)

15 Sep

I hope you all had fun with Lunch Box Week at Happy Home Fairy!

But it’s not over…yet.

While you saw a lot of neat and inspiring lunch box ideas last week, I wanted you all to know the reality of my own Happy Home’s lunch box.As you can see, nothing super fancy.Just a peanut butter sandwich (with the crusts cut off) in a regular ole’ random, mismatching Rubbermaid container.

Veggie Straws (in a super exciting Ziplock bag).

Vegetable Puree (because even if I put broccoli in a cute little Bento box, the Happy Buddy still wouldn’t eat it. :-) ).

Larabar.

That’s it, Happy Home Friends!

Is the pressure off?? :-)

I also try to include a love note, joke, or special surprise each day.

This is what the Happy Buddy discovered in his lunch box a few days ago…I found a whole pack of transportation-themed erasers at the Dollar Tree the other day, so I snatched them up and have been sneaking a few in with his lunches.

When the Happy Buddy saw me after school he held up his eraser shouting, “Big Surprise!  Big Surprise!”

His joy made it all worth it!

****

And one last thought on Lunch Boxes before our little celebration ends…

Many years ago, a mom (quite like you and me) packed her son’s lunch.

It was a simple lunch.  Just some loaves of bread and 2 small fish.

But that lunch crossed the path of Jesus -

Who took that lunch and used it to feed over 5,000 people.

Want to read about it for yourself?  Go HERE.

Your Happy Buddy’s lunches don’t have to look museum-ready.

They don’t even need a lot of expensive accessories.

What they need is your love and faithfulness to prepare them.

Because you never know how God is going to use that lunch for His glory.

Happy Lunch Box Make-ing! :-)

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Lunch Box Surprises – Junk Mail

10 Sep

Here is a clever way to bless your Happy Buddy’s Lunch Box with a special treat.

Send them to school with a piece of Junk Mail!

What you need:An envelope

Your Happy Buddy’s favorite candy bar or candy (aka Junk)Slip the candy bar into the envelope.Write the special message on the envelope.Seal it up and place in your Happy Buddy’s lunch box!

Now that is one piece of Junk Mail I think anyone would love to receive!

Happy Lunch Box Junk Mail-ing! :-)

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Lunch Boxes – Beating the Blahs

8 Sep

After awhile, packing the same ole’ peanut butter and jelly sandwich on regular bread may get a little boring.

Every once in awhile, why not spice things up?

All I am talking about is a simple switcher-oo of the kind of bread being used!

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How about using pita bread?

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Or a wrap?

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You must check out these adorable PB&J sushi sandwiches!

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Mix it up by using waffles.

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Mini bagels are super fun.

Happy Buddies like small things.

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And then there are hot dog buns.

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I am always up for an English Muffin.

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Crackers just make me happy.

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You could also use a piece of whole wheat and a piece of white bread to make this jazzed up sandwich.

So cute.  So simple.

Go ahead and add some pizzazz to the PB&J!

Happy Beating the Blahs-ing! :-)

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