Tag: holidays

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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Daryn's Blog, Friendship, The Hard Stuff

Because Women Without Children Are Magnificent, Too

How did women without children get left out of the celebration? With all due respect to us mothers, I’m not sure how we ended up with this day to celebrate only women who have children. Women are creators and nurturers. This expresses itself in different ways. To my fellow mothers, you have a whole card aisle and the world to tell you how magnificent you are. To you, my fellow women who do not have children, I know some of

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The holidays are dead to me.
Daryn's Blog, Family, Food, The Hard Stuff

The Holidays Are Dead To Me & Other Things That Make Me Happy

The holidays are dead to me.      Which is a big reason this is one of the best times of the year. By “dead,” I actually mean THE dead, as in those who have passed.      I love how they have a way of taking a seat at my holiday table. Something tells me they might be at yours, as well.      From the moment I pull my grandmother’s pressed glass serving pieces from the cabinet that came from great

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First holidays without my mom.
Daryn's Blog, Family, The Hard Stuff

The First Holidays Without My Mom

In case you were wondering, Yes, that was me. The lady pushing her buggy down the aisle of the grocery store right before Thanksgiving. Tears streaming down her face. That was me. Tears were not the plan. Yukon Golds for mashed potatoes, Elbow macaroni for mac n’cheese. A few other things I had forgotten. That was the plan. I should remember my tears always have their own plan. Make no allowances for public appearances. And so, they picked the day

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Best Girlfriends Ever, Life Lessons Took Me Long Time To Learn, Overcoming Obstacles, The Hard Stuff

Got The Best Gift; Why I Need To Give It Back

This is a “Thank You” note to my friend, Clare. Clare, who has delivered the best gift this holiday season. A gift for me. A gift for you. Clare, which rhymes with “Share.” Clare who’s life has changed forever. That’s what she’s sharing. And boy, has she shared. Shared with her friends and Facebook community the hugest shock of her life. That routine mammogram, the one she got just because she should, it showed a lump. A lump she hadn’t

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