Love this boy more than anything.  

He brings purpose to my life, happiness, joy, and well...just about everything.

I started planning and gathering his 1st birthday party this week.

Crazy how time flies.

I've been attempting to get some freezer-cooking done in the morning while LJ plays.  However, it has to be quick since LJ only gives me about 45m of independent play before he's demanding my attention.  I've made this recipe several times before.  The first time it turned out great, second time not so much, but decided to give it one more try.  This time, instead of making one big loaf, I decided to break out my mini-loaf pan to see if they turn out better.  And boy did they!  This recipe is pretty easy, uses up the Cocoa powder and chocolate chips I've had, and they freeze great!

The most efficient way for me to get cooking done quickly is to pull up your recipe, gather all your supplies and measure them out ahead of time, then follow the instructions on mixing.  I tend to get things done quicker that way, and seems to create less mess, clutter, and frustration!

I found the recipe over at Money Saving Mom, and I'll definitely be making them again.  Not sure what happened the second time I made them.  I think I made it with whole wheat flour, and I'm just not a fan.

Mini-loaves: FAN!

Here's the recipe if you'd like to give it a go yourselves...

Chocolate Banana Bread

• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 stick butter, melted and cooled
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed well
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Stir the mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. Carefully fold the banana mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined. Mix in the chocolate chips.

Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 65 minutes until the bread has risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool and wrap in plastic wrap and foil or in a ziptop bag. Store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Adapted from Joy of Baking

As mentioned in a previous post, reading one book a month on a topic that can help better myself, or teach me something is one of my goals of this year.  To start off and kill 2 birds with one stone, here's a BLOG post about the first book I'm reading.  Positive Energy by Judith, Orloff, MD is a book I found while searching for self-help books on dealing with stress, cause I suuuuuck at that.  I read the sample, and wanted more so I decided to give it a go.  So far I think I've learned quite a few things and I'm only on Chapter 3 (it's hard to read with a 10m old getting into everything around here).  It's about reading energies and using said energies to tackle obstacles.  It's a pretty interesting read, thus far.

My new Mantra from this book..."Let it be."

Now, if I can just put it into practice regularly...hopefully she gets into that.

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So...every year I try and set myself a bunch of goals.  Most of which last through the week, and then are forgotten about until the following year.  I'm sure some of you know how it goes.  This year I've decided I'll pick 5 and stick with them (instead of 20).  I've thought it over and here are the lucky 5 goals that made the cut:

1. Be a caring, creative, loving, calm and relaxed mom and wife.
2. Read at least one book a month that will help better me...or my life.
3. To make a plan for the week every Sunday night and stick to it (this includes meals, and cleaning!).
4. Keep up on my blogs (I miss them so much).
5. Save and budget for our next house (this may be far in the future, but for what we want and need, better start now).

So there they are.  Written in stone in cyberworld.  Not in my head and "sorta goals" to be forgotten about at the end of the week.  And you know what, if I don't meet or accomplish something, I promise to not feel guilty about it.  Life happens, and not everything goes the way you plan, but all you can do is try, right?  If I don't accomplish something between #2-5, I don't want it to make me fail at #1.

There we have it.

Goals of 2013.