Almond Orange Banana Bread

In an attempt to live my manifesto and be creative, I "created" a new version of banana bread. Feel free to drool.

From May 2011

Want the recipe?

I thought you might. 

Morgan's Almond Orange Banana Bread

3/4 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
4 brown, mashed bananas
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp almond extract
1-2 tsp orange extract*
1/2 tsp salt**
1 cup white flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour***

Preheat Oven to 350
Cream butter, sugar, eggs and bananas together. Mix very well.
Add extracts, soda and salt, Mix lightly.
Add flour. Mix well.

Grease a large loaf pan, bake 1 hour (ish).

Optional:
*Add half a cup of chopped almonds.

*Replace the orange extract with 1/2 cup orange juice, but if you do, you MIGHT have to add a bit more flour.

1 tsp of orange extract gives the bread the tiniest hint of tang, and two packs a bit more punch. Do what feels right.

** If you used salted butter then leave out the 1/2 tsp of salt.

***Don't be freaked out by the whole wheat flour. It adds a bit of girth to an otherwise not so healthy "bread." If you're too terrified, you can use 2 cups of white, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the wheat. TRY IT before you judge, all righty?

And P.S. this is fantastic hot, but it's even better the next morning. Mmmm.
Let me know how it goes! 

7th *and final* Manifesto Day

***
Manifesto Day Seven

I am a family. I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, and an in-law (to name a few.) My life is filled with relatives I love. I am my family. I live and breathe my husband and children. They are my number one priority. Every day I will make sure I give them my best and make sure they know I love them.

***

Today was a crazy! I just got to my computer now! I'll spare you the details, it was NOT a bad day, just long and nuts. How I love these days. Really, being too busy to veg makes the chance to veg at the end of the day absolutely luxurious.

And now the manifesto project is done. Are you writing yours? I hope so.

Manifesto Day Six

***
Manifesto Day Six
I am a teacher. One of my favorite things to do is teach. Did you know every member of my family is a teacher by profession?  Every single one. Except me. And yet, it is one of my loves! I adored the prenatal part of being a doula because it was my opportunity to educate. I love directing theater because it's "education in motion."

 This past year as we've carefully and slowly embarked on our homeschooling adventure, I have discovered I am a teacher of littles as well. I love it. As we continue to rocket toward kindergarten, I am honing my teaching and loving every minute of it!
***

Can you believe I found my camera?

I KNOW! Be excited. So Easter pics a week late. I KNOW!

The Egg Hunt that took Three Minutes, Ala -Ing Family Style

From april 2011

From april 2011

From april 2011

From april 2011

From april 2011

From april 2011

From april 2011

From april 2011

In other news I ate bread sticks from the same restaurant three days in a row. Pretty much fantastic, they were. I think I *might* have gained four pounds, hard to say. I suppose I could weigh myself, but I probably won't.

Tomorrow, friends, I'll wrap up my manifesto. I KNOW!

Writing your own Manifesto (And Day Five!)

If you're all, "Huh?" then here's some links for ya:

Premanifesto Morgan
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four

All caught up? All right, let's GO!

So, if you decide to dip your pen in the manifesto ink, don't stress!

Here's what I did:

1. Make a list of all the things you like to do, things you like about yourself, things you wish you were better about. This list might be long or short. Do not berate yourself in any way shape or form. No, "I suck at..." NO! Be positive! The whole point is to build yourself up.

2. Categorize your list. As you've seen over the last four days, I have "Daughter of God" wherein all gospel-y things fall, "Creator" wherein all things "crafty" and "make it myself" falls. I include writing in this, "Student" where all things academic and scholastic fall, and "Musician" in which I wish to be better with my talents. There are three more, but you'll just have to wait! But you get the idea right?

I suppose your manifesto *could* be just a long list from step one, but I decided to simplify it. For me, deciding to look at small statements with large meaning is much less overwhelming. I can handle seven little things that "define" me far better than a list of 100 things.

 There are things I'm choosing to let go of at the moment (being a doula...) it's not a death sentence to those aspects of my life, rather a prioritizing of my life right now. I can't be a good mom to four littles AND be a doula right this minute. Someday, yes. Today, no. Because I have chosen motherhood, I am choosing to not do everything I'd like to do right now. The things that made the cut are things I can do AS I mother (my list is completely inclusive of mothering small children. When that phase passes, I'll rewrite my manifesto).

3. Write it up. I don't care how. I decided to spread mine over days, but that's just because I thought hitting the interwebz with a giant manifesto in one day was a bit much. It was a bit much for me too. The main thing is it should be an, "I am ____ therefore I will ____" statement. That way you're staying positive and making it attainable. I considered adding photos, which I still think would have made it better, but my CAMERA IS MISSING!

4. Share it. Put it on your blog, put it on your Facebook status or your Twitter... um, thread? (No idea what that's called). Put it on your on line forum, type it up and put it on your fridge. Share it with your sisters, your mom, your spouse. Share it at book club. I don't care. But put it out there. It's a bit scary, to share something so personal, but the thing is, I think if you do, you'll feel more accountable for it. I told everyone I was a musician. So, um, I better get on that! Ya know?

5. Live it. Don't put all this effort in and then forget about it. Make it a part of your life. The whole point is to remember your goals, where you're going and why you do what you do. If you forget it, then what is the point?

So there ya go, my super easy (HA!) steps to creating your own manifesto.

***
Manifesto Day Five:

I am a friend. I love dearly the people in my life. I love good conversations and relating with other women. If I get to count you as my friend, I'm blessed. I continue to make efforts in my friendships, be that communication, service or just prayers on their behalf.
***

Manifesto Day Four

Firstly, I promise eventually I will wrap up the manifesto thingy. (Three more days, just three more days!)

Secondly, I have heard from a few different people that they kind of like the whole idea of a manifesto! (ME TOO!) So perhaps you ought to write your own. I know it SOUNDS easy, but narrowing down and deciding exactly how I want to define myself was actually harder than I thought it would be. So, write one. Go for it. If you do and you blog it (or facebook it, or whatev) will you let me know? Send me the link! I want to see! I won't think you're a copy cat AT ALL! We all need to know where we're going and WHY!

Don'tcha think?

I have enough followers and subscribers that if you do and then tell your followers and subscribers that darn it all, we could start a manifesto revolution. MANIFESTO MAYHEM we'd call it. It'd be AWESOME!

Thirdly, I mowed my lawn today with Ezra in the Moby Wrap. It's dry today, tomorrow, not so much and it HAD TO BE DONE. The back still isn't done, but at least I'm embarrassing our neighbors less. He didn't love it, but he didn't cry. Sadly, we lost a binky. It was green, the grass is green, you see how it happened?

Fourthly, um, I forgot where I was going with my "fourthly."

Fifthly, my camera is still MIA, and since I have no idea when it will return, I'm going tell you about Easter. It was fine. Henry pouted all day about the gifts the Easter Bunny left for him, because Spencer's were "better." Except, the Easter Bunny knows Henry better than he knows himself. The Easter Bunny KNEW that he'd hate everything he was given on the first day and wish that he had the same things as Spencer. But the Easter Bunny also knew that within 36 hours, Henry will have fallen in love with his own gifts and get over Spencer's, for a much happier existence in the long run.

And darn it all, that Easter Bunny is fletching wise because that is exactly how it worked out.

Oliver and Ezra don't care, so whatever. Oliver is always happy with whatever he gets and Ezra got $3.00 links and is in Heaven. Babies are easy.

Then I gave/threw away all the Easter candy because that D-A-M-N bunny brought good stuff and I was eating it all, and I can't be doing that, no I can not. And the kids never even missed it!

Sidenote: Spencer impressed the heck out of his Sunday school teachers when he pulled out the word "sepulchre"  in reference to Jesus' resurrection. I was so proud.

And finally, what you've all been waiting for:

***
Manifesto Day Four: 

I am a musician. I KNOW! Hard to believe, but I sing, play the piano and can even squeak by on the violin. I have moved so far away from these roots it's scary, but I am going to reincorporate making music in my home. Henry is starting piano in the fall, but I need to get back to making it myself. I will be the musician I used to be.

Manifesto Day Three

My children were hell-bent on destroying themselves and the house today! By 8am, Ezra had lost bodily fluids out of every orifice that he could IN MY BED. Bath time for Mr. Ezra.

Then Oliver found a bottle of black paint.

Paint on Oliver, paint on the floor, paint on my feet.

Then Spencer (via help from Oliver) got himself covered in dirt, I MEAN COVERED! Shower time for Spencer.

Dirt all over my house too.

Which turned into MUD in the bathroom. SILLY!

See? Silly boys.

And I never did tell you about Easter. And I'm not going to yet because I can not FIND MY CAMERA! Silly.

***
Manifesto Day Three 

I am a student. I love learning. I never ever want to quit learning. I will continue learning even though most of my days involve nothing but mommy-hood. I will have at least one book in process at all times.

***

Manifesto Day Two

I went running *walking* this morning. It was freezing. It snowed. I didn't wear a hat! It was SOOOO ridiculous, and I loved every minute.

I loved breathing and moving just for me!

See, usually, my  movement is directly tied to someone else. I'm saving a baby from an over-zealous brother, I'm keeping a toddler from flushing something straight to the ocean, I'm saving a boy from an outdoor mishap. I move a lot. Nearly constantly even.

But unless I specifically make time for it, I don't move just for me.

This morning I did.

It was beautiful.

I'm going to have to do that more often.

***

Manifesto Day Two:

I am a creator. Not just in the literal "Look at all the people I've made" sense (although there is always that), but in the sense that I love to create something from nothing. Be it a meal for my family, a sewing project with no pattern (or with...) or an art project with my kids, I am a creator.

I will create something every single day.

***

Manifesto Day One

 I'm at MMB today. Check it out. I won't lie. It's a good one.

***

I have had the blessing of being at the laundromat twice in one week! Today? It was because Ezra went #1 on my bed, and we all know king sized comforters do not fit in the washing machine at home.

So special.

More than anything it makes me extremely grateful for my washer and dryer at home.

Beautiful thing, it is, to have laundry at arms' length.

I was watching the little owner/attendant running around helping people, putting in loads of laundry and thought to myself, "Gosh, imagine doing laundry for a living..."

Then I realized... wait. That is EXACTLY what I do.

Hmmm.

***

Manifesto Day One: 
I am a woman and a daughter of our Heavenly Father. Not only do I need to keep this in mind, I need to be better about connecting with my Father. Prayer is vital.

***

Stay tuned for more. I KNOW, it is SO exciting.

PreManifesto Morgan

I am writing a manifesto.

It's a "Me Manifesto."

I'm not trying to be self-centered, honest I'm not.

It's just that I am sort of floundering in diapers and snot-nosed little kids.

And while I honestly wouldn't have it any other way, this is the first time in ten years that I don't have some sort of other "job" (minus a short stint of no doula clients here and there) and have no plans for any sort of work.

So here I am.

Just me.

Morgan.

It's odd and slightly disconcerting, being just me.

Besides, who the holy heck is that anyway?

See?

And what is it that I'm doing here, exactly, day in and day out?

By absolute truth, I'm raising children.

And I'm not entirely sure if that's it. And if that's it, is that all right?

So, the manifesto is a'comin. What do I want? Where am I going?

These are the things to which my ponderings are being directed.

I'll get back to you on all this, manifesto ablazin'.