What is fluteloop.com about you ask?  It’s all about.. Being a Mom, making pretty lunches, not putting apostrophes in the right places, cake decorating, and pretty much anything else that comes to my mind.  Keep in mind that I rely heavily on the wonder that is spell check.  If you’re wondering about the name "fluteloop" it began as a nickname given to me by my woodwind quintet on a road trip to L.A. and has lived on as my online identity.

About me:

I am a Mom of one 4 year old little tornado of a girl.  We live in the Southwest where I am a stay at home Mom who teaches flute lessons on the weekends.  I am also a freelance flutist which is code for I hardly play anymore.  I hope to change that when my tornado starts school.  Outside of the blogisphere I enjoy reading, listening to music, online gaming, bento making, drawing, painting, dreaming, and coming up with fun preschool activities.

Bento:

What is a bento?
I make Bento lunches for my little girl and myself.  If you’re as new to the word ‘bento’ as I was, they are defined (as I understand it) as a single serving take-out lunch traditionally served in Japan.  Some are purely functional and others are amazingly detailed and down right adorable.  My interest started when I came across photos on Flickr of bentos’ made for a toddler.  I started out just adding cutesie touches to Ara’s meals and it’s snowballed from there.

How much time do you spend?
I enjoy doing this, so I make time whenever I can.  It’s a creative outlet and when my little girl’s eyes light up I am rewarded for my efforts x10.  I usually pack lunches after the little one is in bed so that the house is peaceful and I can relax.

What do I need to get started?
Nothing, really.  You need food obviously, but the box doesn’t have to be anything special.  Alex just recently told me to just go out and buy some real bento boxes but a plain old Rubbermaid or dollar bin container works just fine.  There are plenty of tools, picks, boxes, and accessories you can buy but it doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby.

Why do you do it?
First and foremost I just find it rewarding.  I love my family and I think the lunches I make for them say that.  Packing lunches is also a money saver.  I find that a plain sandwich in a bag isn’t enough to make me want to skip eating out.  However, if I know I have a yummy and adorable bento to look forward to I can summon some will power!  Which brings me to the health factor.  The serving sizes are built in for you and fresh fruits and vegetables beat out a burger and fries any day.