My 365 Project - 56

I love a good Chocolate Chip Muffin and I've been trying to substitute some healthy into my baking lately and some are misses and some are a hit. This one is a hit. Mashed banana and applesauce in place of vegetable oil. Not sure how much healthier it actually is with all those chocolate chips, but that's ok. These are delicious!

Ingredients: 

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 mashed ripe banana
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 18 muffin cups with muffin liners. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Mix mashed banana, applesauce, egg, melted butter and milk in medium bowl. Stir banana mixture into dry ingredients just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips, reserving some for sprinkling on top. 

Divide batter among prepared muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full. Sprinkle a few chips on top of each muffin. Bake muffins until tops are golden and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Transfer muffins to rack; cool. ENJOY!

Ready for snow...only we don't have any.

Not that I'm complaining because the last thing I want in March is snow, but the girls were definitely excited about all the rain we were getting today thinking somehow it would turn into snow. Poor things, they just want to play in it and build a snowman.

I can't believe this one will be 5 one month from today. Man oh man is that crazy. She's showing me in this picture how she put her gloves on without getting frustrated. It's the little things. 

Picnic with Olivia

Twice a month Sofia stays later at preschool for Lunch Bunch and she's been enjoying it a lot. We pack a lunch, she gets more playtime with schoolmates and it's good practice for when she'll be in school all day long. Olivia loves the time too. More one-on-one time with mama. I can't say that I don't love it either. While, naturally, I miss Sofia, it is nice to have that solo time with my other little love. Sometimes we run errands, go shopping, make a craft at home together or just bake something together and hang out. All the time we have an indoor picnic. Olivia knows to clear the floor for the blanket, grab her water and napkin and take a seat for whatever we're eating for lunch that particular day.

Indoor picnics are a favorite for the girls and while we have them once a week, they think they're pretty special. Which makes me smile since sitting on the floor with a picnic blanket and our lunch ranks up there on fun things to do with my girls.

Of course, mommy's brownies for dessert are always a sure way to have fun too.

My 365 Project - 55

More of the daisies from my husband but in a different room. Love the old milk bottles, started collecting them last year and am addicted. Should try to make a nice arrangement sometime using my little collection.

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Just because...

Anthony brought me some favorite flowers yesterday, for no reason at all except that he knows they will make me smile. And they do.

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Nonna Lisa and Chase playing with a music box. Can't believe he will be one in just a few short weeks.

My 365 Project - 52

Gotta love date night! At home and whipped up a fun little meal for the two of us topped off with tasty mini desserts from the bakery. Delicious!

More from the DR

Just a handful more from our trip to the Dominican Republic last week. I loved the details of our balcony...the floor tile, the drape closing us in and the wonderful bed which was the perfect spot for reading in the afternoon while the girls napped right inside the room.

On our way to breakfast on our last morning...

While Daddy and Sofia went ahead to breakfast, Olivia stayed with me while I eyed up these lanterns that I have to have...the search begins for some for our home.

And then she started getting very silly so I decided we should have breakfast too

My breakfast. Every single morning it was THAT good.

Ready for one last ride in the golf cart, the girls loved it and I'm sure wouldn't mind riding around in one of these daily.

Love Sofia's little head peeking out from the other side of Anthony's arm

My 365 Project - 51

All smiles.

Scenes from a Dominican Beach

We spent a whole day down at Serenity Beach on the resort and from start to finish it was a perfect time. I walked along the beach to collect seashells for the girls while they "helped" daddy build a sandcastle, Olivia enjoyed her first glass of Strawberry Daiquiri (non-alcoholic of course) and the girls took little cat naps to the sound of the waves. Sheer bliss.

Thank you to my husband for capturing this moment...complete awesomeness having my little girl nap on me while swinging in a hammock. Under a beautiful blue sky and towering palm trees nonetheless.

My 365 Project - 50

Here comes the sun! After a few on and off days of rain, we had a few days of pure sun. Warm, bright and deliciously fun!

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Seriously. I love this picture so much my heart hurts.

My 365 Project - 48

After a pretty long day of traveling last Saturday, we finally arrived in Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic. The resort was beautiful, right out of a magazine. We arrived very late at night so we couldn't fully appreciate what she had in store for us until the next morning. Blue skies and a bright sun welcomed us after a good night's sleep. The girls had a great time by the pool and our first day was going really well.

The next few days it rained.

Rain is very common in the tropics and comes and goes as it pleases. Well it came and kept on coming Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Needless to say, not too many pictures taken outdoors on those days. But with the kids indoors we made the best of movies, coloring and books. When the skies did clear during those three days we went down by the pool, took golf cart rides around the resort, Sofia and Anthony visited the Kids Club on the resort (which she loved) and Olivia napped beautifully. I read two books. In one week. I made very good use out of naptimes and bedtimes.

Tuesday was Valentine's Day and Sofia was sad to have missed her Valentine's Day party at school. I came prepared with a playfully wrapped book each and some red and pink m&m's. Girls were very happy. 

Adios for now!