Friday, December 7, 2012

Take 1-December Secret Subject Swap

Welcome to Take 1 of December’s Secret Subject Swap, the first of two this month. This week, 14 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. 


Secret Subject Swap | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swaps. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

Baking In A Tornado
Raising Reagan
The Insomniac's Dream
Just a Little Nutty
Follow me home . . .
DeBie Hive
My Brain on Kids
Chewylicious
Life on the SONny Side
Sanity Waiting to Happen
Big A and little a
Sorry kid, Your Mom Doesn't Play Well With Others
The Mommy Chronicles
It's a Dome Life

My prompt is: share a photo of your life for each day in a typical week. It was submitted by: My Brain on Kids. Here goes:


Monday
Yay, Monday! Survived the weekend. Maybe a little worse for the wear and tear but I’m going to be optimistic about this day. After all, the kids just drove off to school. How bad could it be?  

Baking In A Tornado at home, family pics | www.BakingInATornado.com | #humor


I had to ask, didn’t I? The boys didn’t open the bathroom window. I better do it, they can literally peel the paper off the wall.


Baking In A Tornado at home, family pics | www.BakingInATornado.com | #humor
And while opening the window I made the mistake of looking out. Please tell me that’s not a possum digging up my back lawn.


Baking In A Tornado at home, family pics | www.BakingInATornado.com | #humor

I’m thinking my go-to fly swatter may not be enough firepower here.



Tuesday

OK, so I have access to all of the boys’ attendance, grades and missing assignments in their on-line grade books. I know better than to look, I know it.

Eggnog Toffee Squares | www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe
Eggnog Toffee Squares


Baking.     Relieves.     Stress.


Wednesday

I’m three quarters of the way through a library book on my kindle and the book automatically returns itself tomorrow. Going to my bedroom to desperately try to finish it. Will I ever get to know the ending of a book or will something always come up that requires immediate attention?
Baking In A Tornado at home, family pics | www.BakingInATornado.com | #humor

Like so much dirty laundry it’s literally pushing the door of the laundry chute open:

Baking In A Tornado at home, family pics | www.BakingInATornado.com | #humor

and I’m kinda thinking that backpack sticking out of the locker there is something someone needed to take to school with him. Expecting the phone to ring in 3 . . .2 . . .1 . . . 


Thursday

“Mom, there’s nothing to eat”:

Baking In A Tornado at home, family pics | www.BakingInATornado.com | #humor

Mom, there’s nothing to do”:

Baking In A Tornado at home, family pics | www.BakingInATornado.com | #humor


Friday

Aaaaah, fought the kids out the door and off to school and I’ve got dinner marinating. Before I jump in the shower and start my day I think I’ll just sit, have a nice cup of coffee, and contemplate a relaxing, uneventful weekend.

Baking In A Tornado at home, family pics | www.BakingInATornado.com | #humor

No, I'm not online. I'm almost never online. But maybe I'll just take a peek:

Baking In A Tornado at home, family pics | www.BakingInATornado.com | #humor

 Unless some turkey comes to the front door:

Baking In A Tornado at home, family pics | www.BakingInATornado.com | #humor

Voting ended a month ago buddy, give it up already.


Saturday

Baking In A Tornado at home, family pics | www.BakingInATornado.com | #humor

        Don’t ask.


Sunday

My Mai Tai | www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe
Click here for My Mai Tai recipe


        Again, don’t ask . . . 



Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Eggnog Toffee Squares
                                 ©www.BakingInATornado.com
1 stick margarine, softened
1/2 stick butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg yolk
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt

Toffee:
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 stick butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup eggnog
1 tsp vanilla

Topping:
1 (10oz) package of semi sweet or dark chocolate chips

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 X 13 glass dish with non-stick spray.
*Beat butter, margarine, brown sugar and egg yolk for one minute. Mix in the flour and salt and form into a ball with your hands.
*Press this mixture into the bottom and just a little up the sides of the dish.
*Bake until it starts to get a little brown, approx. 15 minutes. Take out of oven and set aside.
*Microwave corn syrup, butter, brown sugar, eggnog and vanilla for 1 1/2 minutes, stir and then microwave another 2 minutes.
*Spread over the crust and bake for 20 minutes.
*Remove from oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the toffee layer. Put back in oven for another minute or until the chocolate chips have melted enough to be spreadable.
*Remove from oven and using a knife, gently spread the melted chocolate chips over the top of the toffee layer.
*Cool for 15 minutes, then continue cooling in the refrigerator. Once it’s cooled, cut into squares.

60 comments:

  1. Turkeys and possum and children. Oh MY!
    If I lived at your house I would be sitting in that reading chair, eating toffee all day! Kidding...I'd actually be driving that car and eating toffee.
    Girl, that computer center all makes sense now....

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    1. LOL, the minute that picture was taken everyone grabbed their laptops out of the office and put them back in their rooms . . .

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  2. I love the whole "there's nothing to do/eat in the house." I see yours is like mine - really nothing there. ;) Thanks for sharing your pictures.

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    1. Yes, the kids do have a hard time realizing how good they have it, but then most kids do!

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  3. ROFL!!!! Another AWESOME post!!
    But I have to know, where on earth did the turkey come from????? LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The turkey lived in the woods behind my house for about a year. He appeared one day and was limping, I think his flock had moved on without him. I could not believe how comfortable he got seeing me all the time. I was amazed to find him at the front door that time and as I walked towards him he just stayed there. The following winter, around Thanksgiving, I stopped seeing him . . .

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  4. Oh I LOVE that chair in the pic you posted about reading! It looks COMFY!

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    1. That chair is SO comfy. When my kids were younger and they had homework that required reading a book we'd grab books and pile on that chair together.

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  5. I love this photo prompt. How fun to have a glimpse into your life. I hope you got to finish that book!

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  6. That so soooo cute! I loved it! It was like I was there! Thanks for your sharing your life with us hun xoxox I can't wait to read the rest!

    The toffee looks amazing! The kids look too much to handle! The seat looks comfy! I should let you go read instead of bother you! REALLY?? 3 Laptops? I can hardly handle one screen! Nice RED car! Loved the turkey and the possom!

    Make hubby do the laundry =ppp

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, the toffee IS amazing, the kids ARE too much to handle, the seat IS comfy and the laptops are out of the office and back in everyone's room, they were just on loan for the pic (and yes, I know my flash didn't work in that pic but it was 1/2 hour till time to post and I just gave up)!

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  7. haha ~ Did you ever finish your book? A Turkey? What's he doing prancing around your yard?

    I love the fact that your kids have nothing to do with a game room like that and a pantry that is that full!

    Lanaya
    www.raising-reagan.com

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    Replies
    1. No, I never finished the book and I was less amazed that the turkey was prancing around my yard (we back up to woods) than I was that he came up to the front door and stood there looking at me!

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  8. Karen, I LOVED this! What a brilliant idea from Shannon! You did an awesome job with the challenge! Fun to get all the visuals of a "Week in the Life of Karen"!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I loved Shannon's prompt, it was really fun to do.

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  9. you have such a nice house!! And your kids are just super-cute and funny!! Nice to know about your typical week!! ha!!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Roshni. Wish my kids were still young and super-cute but they went behind my back and grew up!

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  10. You know what? I LOVE that prompt. I love the pics too. It makes me feel like I know you IRL only better.

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    1. I loved the prompt too, although I have to admit in 3 Secret Subject Swaps so far, I haven't seen one I didn't like!

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  11. Ha! I love your comment moderation warning! If someone would ask me to take pics of my house I would have had to go to google images and find stuff a little less of a mess than mine! That animal... Ick possum? Raccoon?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Possom! And I don't have 5 kids with a 6th on the way so yes, my house may be neater than yours (although you'll notice there are no pictures of the insides of my closets)!

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  12. This was so much fun to read! Your home looks lovely. The photo of your kids is the best one. Hilarious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, it was fun to write too. That pic of my kids is old but fun!

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  13. Karen, your life is so comically like mine it's not even funny......I laughed out loud at the nothing to eat and nothing to do photos. Boy can I relate!!!! Looking forward to the January swap!

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    Replies
    1. I think most Moms get the "nothing to eat, nothing to do" line, and I think we're all amazed by it.

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  14. What a fun idea! :-D

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  15. I have MAJOR reading corner envy right now. That looks so inviting and cozy. I just want to grab my kindle, a cup of Earl Grey and snuggle in for a good novel. This was a fun idea from My Brain on Kids!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is SO comfortable, and it fits more than one! I agree, I got a great prompt!

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  16. I LOVE THIS!!!!! What a great prompt you got! I think my favorite part is the possum--and yeah, a fly swatter wouldn't work on that critter. The pictures really give us a glimpse into your life (and BTW your home looks beautiful!). I just love this. Well done, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was so much fun. Hope you're working on your for next week!

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  17. This was such a fun post!! My fav was the photo of your full panty and the kids quote saying "there's nothing to eat". I HATE that! I always wonder what else could I possibly buy to make these kids happy lol.

    Thanks for linking up with my NO RULES Weekend Blog Party :)

    Paula
    lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, every week I fill up that cart at the grocery store knowing I'm going home to kids who will say there's nothing to eat.

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  18. Did you get a chance to finish your book before it was returned? The next time the kids say that they are bored or there's nothing to do; just tell them that only boring people get bored. By the way, the Mai Tai looked very refreshing and I'm quite sure that it was? :)
    Jae Mac, I'm Just Sayin'...(Damn!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, I didn't get to finish it. One of these days. A Mai Tai can make me feel better though.

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  19. Is my email showing now? Hope so!

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  20. Is it a normal occurrence for you to have random possums and turkeys in your yard? Next time the boys are bored, send them pest chasing.

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    1. We back up to a little patch of woods so we do get some wild life. It's fun to see them, except for the possums and racoons, who can do some damage!

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  21. Karen - oh my goodness the opossum!!! Living in NYC, I forget that things like that exist (sad I know). But they sort of scare the hebbie gebbies out of me! And the "nothing to eat" - Oh how I understand that!! Did I ever tell you that I love how your recipes compliment your posts? xx - Monica

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That possum was just a baby. You should see the bigger ones!

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  22. What a fun project....and the Eggnog Toffee Squares look amazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really is fun to do, sometimes a little scary but always fun.

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  23. The pictures you place in your post tell the whole story! Lots of laughs!

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    1. Thanks, it's rare for me to put personal pics up (other than food), but this post called for it!

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  24. Hi there I found you through the bloggy moms blog hop and am a new follower. Ha I loved the photo'd week in your life, it seems as crazy as mine. Although my kids are considerably younger than yours. And I think if I had a turkey showing up at my door I'd be like "Buddy do you want to be Christmas dinner?" Lol, sorry couldn't help it. I wish my pantry looked like yours, I think my kids would be in heaven if our pantry was stocked up like that.

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    Replies
    1. That turkey mysteriously disappeared a short time ago. Don't know if he's hiding or if one of my neighbors got to him!

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  25. Bhahahaha LOVE it! It was awesome seeing pics of your life and I have to know???? Did you finish the book? This was great, and I'm pumped you got my prompt. Now I need to send you my new ones!

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    1. I did not finish the book, yet again. I loved your prompt, thank you so much. Yes, get those new ones to me!

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  26. In appreciation of my readers and commentors, I posted this today: http://www.bigaandlittlea.com/2012/12/top-commentors.html. Do come over and check it out!

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  27. Lol, boys are just awesome aren't they...That was sarcasm...just in case you were wondering... You're an amazing mother Karen! I hope your family knows that they have a gem! xo

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    Replies
    1. LOL, got the sarcasm (after all, I live with it daily)!

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  28. I have to try this recipe. It sounds delicious!

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    Replies
    1. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do, we're on our second batch of the season.

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  29. I'm contemplating egg Nog recipes. I'm not sure I like egg nog, so I'm nervous. I loveeeee toffee. These look amazing.

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    1. You can taste the egg nog in this recipe, but it's not overpowering. Let me know if you try them, they really are delicious.

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