Category: Daryn’s Blog

jello mold holiday fail
Daryn's Blog, Food

Lessons from a Thanksgiving Jello Mold Fail

For the record, I did ask for advice. When planning our family Thanksgiving, my sister and I decided we should include our late grandmother’s jello mold. I can still picture it on Nana’s table: canned Mandarin orange slices magically floating in orange Jello making up the top layer. More orange jello mixed in the Cool Whip on the bottom.  Yes, it is icky sweet and laden with more artificial colors and flavorings than you’ll find in a polyester dye factory.

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Most of my stories begin and end with these two.
Animals, Daryn's Blog, Dogs, Dogs, Friendship, Life Lessons Took Me Long Time To Learn, Love Stories, Pets, The Hard Stuff

The thing NOT to tell a first time dog lover

I certainly didn’t want to be the one to tell him.      When a friend came home with his adorable gray fur ball of fun seven years ago, I did all the things a fellow dog lover does to welcome a new pet lover into our tribe.      Well, almost all the things.      Deliver a basket full of puppy toys: check.      Coo, snuggle, and make a big deal over that pink puppy belly: check.      Offer up my

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Daryn Kagan and Trent Swanson on 10th wedding anniversary trip in San Sebastian, Spain
Daryn's Blog, Marriage

When it’s time to stop asking questions in your marriage

I knew the answer to the question.      And, I knew it was best to not answer it.      At least not 100% truthfully.      This is a story about what I’ve learned about questions and marriage.      I’ve made a 180-degree pivot in my views.      Let me start by explaining that the foundation of our entire marriage is based on questions.      Before Husband and I got married we went through a book of 289 questions prompting us

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Video shows friend had the richest parents in the world
Daryn's Blog, Family, Good News, Love Stories

Video shows the richest parents in the world

The things you learn about your friends on social media.      I’ll give this friend the benefit of the doubt.   I don’t think he meant to brag.      Yet, there he was on Facebook talking about how his parents died as the richest people in the world.      He had video evidence, as well.      It shows his 90-something father, his mother, and other members of their family enjoying their riches.      His brother even makes a cameo appearance, giving

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Label this marriage conflicted
Daryn's Blog, Food, Good News, Love Stories, Marriage

Label this marriage ‘conflicted’

I’m armed and I’m told, dangerous.      No thing, no person is safe.      Hello, my name is Daryn and I’m a recovering slob.      Perhaps, “lazy clutterer” is a better label.      Speaking of labels, Husband says this is the problem. The messy beginning      We begin with the mess.      First there was me. I passed my lack of tidiness off to being single for so long.      Then, there was Husband. Surely, getting married would be the

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Awkward question from neighbor how daughter and I look nothing alike
Daryn's Blog, Family, Good News, Parenting, The Hard Stuff

Neighbor’s question shines light on our different family

“Where do you get your pretty blue eyes from?” a neighbor asked Daughter, looking at her and then over to me. “Certainly not from you,” she peered into my dark brown eyes. Daughter and I both paused. We travel through our daily lives like most mothers and daughters, loving and annoying each other. It’s moments like these that make us stop. They remind us of what was so obvious to the neighbor. We look nothing alike. They remind us that our family

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poinsettia plant lives on
Daryn's Blog, Life Lessons Took Me Long Time To Learn, Marriage, Overcoming Obstacles, The Hard Stuff

Rescued Poinsettia plant takes root in husband’s undying love

It’s the kind of love you root for.      You know that top notch person you adore who just hasn’t found her person?      That was the story with an old friend and work colleague of mine.      The beauty of social media as we lived in different cities and took different career paths meant I could follow along as she found love later in life.      This friend’s new husband clearly adored her. That was evident from the photos

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Daryn Kagan with Kuwaiti soldiers
Daryn's Blog

My mother made me do a crazy thing before I left to cover a war

(I’m pulling out a column from way back in honor of the brave journalists covering the mess in Ukraine.) 10 years later I still can’t believe I did this. But, I guess when your mother catches you keeping one of the biggest secrets of your life, you do as you’re told. Rewind the tape to 2003 when President George W. Bush had declared the US would invade Iraq. If you remember correctly, he just didn’t say exactly when, which, it

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Daryn and youngest daughter at Howard University
Daryn's Blog, Parenting

When the tears and time come too quickly

I spoke too fast.      Maybe I was simply defensive.      Husband was so sure the answer was, “Yes.” I wouldn’t be surprised to discover the family was placing bets on the “when?”      The question was simple.      “Did you cry?”      Who, me? I resemble that reputation Me, who has the reputation in this family of being the crier?      Especially at the milestones.      Like the time I cried when I took our daughters to get their

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Daryn's best worst day shows her running in front of a graphic mural.
Daryn's Blog

How my best worst day put me right where I didn’t know I needed to be

As bad days go, it was one of my worst in a long time. I say that knowing in the greater scheme of things, I have nothing to complain about.      Usually, I can reset the day by focusing on something I am good at.      But on this day, everywhere I turned, I seemed to be disappointing someone.      A client.      A family member.      A friend. Enough is enough      I made it until 3 pm when

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