[Food that makes it feel like Christmas]

fruitcake and fudge (we have great recipes - and NO marshmallow creme! blech.) and christmas cookies.

 

I also found dilettante chocolates have the *real* frango recipe! (through a series of store failures and take overs - Macy's now has the name trademark - but they've drastically changed the recipe. and even in seattle where they originated, the frango's they sell are icky. - I even did a blind taste test one year. NO ONE preferred the frango's.)

costco gets the mint "truffles" in with their christmas stuff - but amazon carries them. not all costcos do, as my dd in tx didnt have have them.

Do you have a link? Buying real Frango’s at the State Street Marshall Field’s all decorated for Christmas was always fun. And so yummy!

[When I actually go to sleep at 10:00...]

I’m seriously never this productive so early. Thanks for celebrating my successful morning with me! :)

[When I actually go to sleep at 10:00...]

I woke up before 5:00am, and managed to get my workout done before I even poured my first cup of coffee at 6:15. Then I emptied the dishwasher, showered, and got out for a walk with the dog before dh had to leave for work. I’m on my third load of laundry, and hit 10,000 steps by 10:00am. Today it worked anyway. I’ll probably completely crash by the time dh comes home.

[Favorite Christmas Songs]

I love all the Bing Crosby Christmas songs. I have very happy memories of decorating my grandparents’ Christmas tree with that album playing on their old record player.

 

For religious music, my favorites are Dona Nobis Pacem, Adeste Fidelis, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Holy Night, and Silent Night. Almost all Christmas music makes me teary thinking about the gravity of what Mary said “yes†to.

[I've never taken dayquil]

It really depends on how you react to the ingredients. I still remember the one time I took it in college because I was miserable, but had to get through the day. I had a meeting with one of my professors and I felt like I was watching myself have this conversation in which I was not making any sense. Dh can take it and just get on with his day without any weird side effects.

[If you’ve used a freestanding range within your cabinets...]

We only have one large oven, but I do like our GE range/oven. The slide-in range in an odd island was the deciding factor against a house we looked at last year. It was so weird, and just made me anxious thinking of how we’d keep kids safely away from it with so many possible angles to reach the stovetop.

[Could a little prayer tonight...]

I’m sorry. That stinks. Praying for you tonight.

[Guilt, emotional manipulation & the holidays]

I’m sorry you didn’t get the family you deserve. You are completely in the right to have nothing to do with your abuser and his enablers.

[PSA: Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Bodywash]

I got the shampoo in my eyes once. It was awful. But the smell certainly helps wake me up.

[Pregnancy Hormones]

Hugs. I had a juvenile temper tantrum at my parents for spending more time with my siblings than my family (they really hadn’t been) the week before I found out I was expecting my third. I thought I was being completely rational at the time. I hate out of whack hormones.

[Because this is so logical]

Well my Catholic grade school celebrated Halloween (and we do as a family, as well as All Saints Day), but your friend might not consider Catholics Christian either.

[Potential early sign of allergic reaction to something???]

I’m not sure about that specific medication, but my dad had an allergic reaction to one of his heart medications after years of taking it. His whole face swelled up while on an airplane for a business trip. He felt off, and then decided to drive his rental car to the nearest emergency room when he saw his reflection in the airport bathroom mirror when he landed. My mom was not thrilled that he drove himself in a strange city instead of calling an ambulance. Apparently it can happen suddenly after years of the medication being totally fine.

 

Edited to add: His cardiologist just kind of shrugged, and said it happens, and put my dad on a different medication.

[urgent prayer request]

I just saw your post. I will be keeping your family in my prayers. Whether your kids know it or not, they are so incredibly lucky to have you as a mom.

[Can you be allergic to maxi pads?]

Yes. I thought I had some sort of infection towards the end of postpartum bleeding with my second. It was just a reaction to something in the pads I was using.

[When you are PMSing so bad, and need to just lock yourself in the closet...]

I keep telling myself that I need to plan educational videos as school for days like that, but it still sneaks up on me and we have a few miserable days. Or we have too many outside commitments those days. It’s somewhat nice to know I’m not alone.

[All Saints Day Mass]

Does your church have a “hangover mass� That’s what we called the very late Sunday mass in college. It was much easier to go to 7:00 pm mass than 10:00am after staying out until bar close Saturday night.

[What to do with a cat during house showings?]

We trusted our cat would hide during showings. Dd also made a cute sign for the door that said, “Please do not let the cat out,†with a drawing of our cat. We just made sure the liter box was extremely clean in the corner of the basement.

[Which holiday would you eliminate?]

I voted Black Friday because I hate the consumerism that starts the Christmas season. It’s such a contrast from spending Thanksgiving appreciating what we have, only to be told that we must fight the crowds to buy more.

[Rant about drunk dudes at baseball games]

Ugh. I like our local minor league team, but I really have no desire to take my kids to Wrigley for a Cubs game until they’re much older.

["Mass" on the spine. Can somebody tell me what to expect?]

I don’t know anything about the medical stuff, but your husband (and you!) will be in my prayers.

[Hilarious breakup songs]

"It Wasn't Me"cracks me up every time.

That song reminds me of sophomore year of college, dancing with my friends at one of the few bars that I could get into underage. I totally sing along when I hear it on the easy listening station, driving my minivan.

[Hilarious breakup songs]

I don’t think Pat McCurdy is very well known outside of the Midwest, but his song “Screw You†is a pretty funny breakup song. The lyrics are here https://patmccurdy.com/song.php?447

[8 am and ready for a nap]

Pregnancy insomnia is the worst. I hope you’re able to get some rest today.

[There's an Amazon package on my porch]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

[I have a confession to make (regarding Bridget Jones's Diary)]

I liked the first one. The second was horrible. The third was ok, but the actors all looked too old to still be behaving so immaturely. But I don’t think you can ever have too much Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.