Secret Subject Swap: Love It

Welcome to the February Secret Subject Swap. This month 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 all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. Read through mine and at the bottom you’ll find links to all of today’s other Secret Subject participants.

My subject is: I love it when . . .
It was submitted by: Rabia of The Lieber Family Blog.


I love it when it snows on a day my family has no where to go. When we can enjoy the beauty of the falling snow knowing we are all home safe and warm.

I love it when on that first semi-warm day after a long cold winter I can sit on the deck, tilt my head up and feel the sun on my face.

 I love it when, looking out over the Gulf at sunset, the sun looks like it's dropping right into the water.

I love it when I find a perfectly formed sand dollar.

I love it when I wake up to the sounds of the waves.

 I love it when the cleaners leave and my house looks and smells so clean.

I love it when, first thing in the morning, the smell of the percolating coffee makes its way upstairs into my room.

I love it when the smell of warm chocolate baking in the oven brings everyone running to the kitchen.

I love it when everyone is at the dinner table. How I miss the days when that was all the time.

I love it when I have a partial recipe idea and one of the boys comes up with a suggestion for me.


I love it when I see that certain look on the boys' faces when I try out a new recipe and know it's a winner.  

Peppermint Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake

I love it when there's a parking spot near the door or no line at the cash register. Because sometimes it's just the little things that can turn your day around.


I love it when people who believe different things are able to discuss their beliefs without anger but with respect.  

 I love it when my laptop doesn't shut down when in the middle of writing something.

I love it when I finish writing a piece based on a challenge and like how it's turned out.

I love it when I get to spend a morning drinking coffee and reading blogs.

I love it when the countdown to see PurDude again hits the single digits.

I love it when I'm standing at the airport, the plane has arrived and I see my youngest walking towards me. Especially if he's not wearing a cast.


I love it when I see my boys really excited about a subject, whether it's educational and intellectual or simply music or a television show.

I love it when the boys come to me to start a conversation. Now that they are older, they have many choices as to who they talk to. I love it when it's me.

I love it when my boys make a decision that is one I know I would have made for them. But . . .

I love it when my boys make a decision that is not one I would have made but take the time to explain the thought process, what they considered, what they rejected and why they have chosen this path.

I love it when, at the end of the day, the last thought that goes through my head before falling asleep is "today was a pretty damn good day."

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

The Bergham Chronicles 

Spatulas on Parade 
The Diary of an Alzheimer's Caregiver 

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

 Southern Belle Charm
Not That Sarah Michelle 
The Angrivated Mom 
Never Ever Give Up Hope
My Brain on Kids 
Confessions of a part time working mom 
The Lieber Family Blog 
Someone Else's Genius 
Climaxed 

 

 

 

 

Peppermint Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake

                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1 box white cake mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp peppermint extract
red food coloring
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup crushed peppermint hard candies, about 15 to 20 candies

4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 stick butter, softened
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
up to 3 TBSP milk

red colored sugar
chocolate syrup
candy pearls

Directions:
*Grease and flour a bundt pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
*Beat cake mix, eggs, water, sour cream, oil, peppermint extract and food coloring for 3 minutes.
*Mix in the crushed peppermint candies and mini chocolate chips.
*Place into prepared pan and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until the center springs back to the touch.
*Cool for 15 minutes in the pan before removing to serving plate. Cool completely.
*Beat the cream cheese, butter and peppermint extract unil smooth. Slowly and carefully beat in the powdered sugar. Add the milk, one TBSP at a time, until the frosting is still thick but can be drizzled in thick ribbons.
*Place the frosting into a piping bag or a plastic ziploc bag (snip the corner). Pipe the frosting up and down the sides of the cake. Sprinkle with red colored sugar. Drizzle with a little chocolate syrup and decorate with candy pearls.