35 Comments
Jan 2Liked by illyanna Maisonet

Happy New Year! Your Diasporican cookbook was mentioned today in the Philly Inquirer in a story about how people in Philly celebrate Three Kings (your coquito recipe was highlighted).

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Jan 2Liked by illyanna Maisonet

We celebrated with the whole family and kids on Christmas eve. My Christmas was much quieter and laid back. I made a chicken seasoned with your blends... and my sister said it was the best she ever had! She made the mashed potatoes and my mom made homemade cranberry sauce and I made some brussel sprouts. Just kept it simple. No gifts.

I'm manifesting with you for 2024 and hope you get that California Parks Partnership and everything else! That would be so cool.

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Jan 2Liked by illyanna Maisonet

Happy New Year! Thank you for the Calirican cookbooklet! I love it and I can't wait to make some of the recipes. The envelope was beautiful too, I saved it. This year I am manifesting engaging more socially, both on the internet and irl. I hope all of your manifestations and more are fulfilled in 2024! I want to see the Diasporican teleseries soooo badly! It would be amazing - wait, no, it's going to be amazing!!

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When people ask me about being childless, I have perfected my response.

"I am healing my inner child and she deserves to have ALL the love."

It shuts up family that may or may not've been accomplices in the trauma and it reminds others that they can too choose to do this as well.

Sending you love in 2024.

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Jan 2Liked by illyanna Maisonet

Happy New Year! I actually woke up this morning thinking.... I need to get back on IG and post/tag that beautiful card from Illyanna! It was such a lovely surprise. So as I clean up and/or walk around the things I should clean up this week, that is my goal! I am always a wreck during christmas, over-tired and emotional, thinking I am keeping it tight hahaha-- I can so envision the fantasy Parade of the Tomahawk! and the reality of providing a feast that is full and nourishing and also-- gobbled down by Your Real People. Amen to that! and also, here's to that nap! May it be long and deep! cheers!

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Jan 2Liked by illyanna Maisonet

Also manifesting that California State Parks idea for you - you'd be perfect for it! We're over here waiting for our baby to be born (any minute now), so we had a pretty low-key holiday and it was nice. Thinking I'll bake some Italian Rainbow Cookies today to get myself up and moving around. Who knows - maybe that will kickstart labor! Really appreciated Mami's recipe card - want to bake them when my mother comes to visit. <3

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Jan 2Liked by illyanna Maisonet

Manifesting the best for you in 2024. I got my wish of a quiet Christmas this year-- been a year of a lot of changes for me and hard times for close friends, and I just wasn't up to the (admittedly amazing and fun) spectacle my mom and sister make of the holiday. So I didn't travel, stayed in Chicago, and made a pot roast (ate leftovers all week) and fancy cocktails for one and enjoyed the holiday on my own. In January I get to look forward to traveling to family to make up for missing Christmas, and to trying out recipes from the cookbooklet.

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Jan 2Liked by illyanna Maisonet

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou! Happy New Year! We did the hosting thing on Christmas Eve and then went to all the family Christmas Day festivities and I felt like I had run a socializing marathon. 🏃🏾‍♀️💨

I like traditions and hosting because it’s fun make things pretty and delicious and it forces me to deep clean - but damn I get drained from all the family (my partner’s family in Oregon) interactions and emotional labor. Like I’m almost 50 and I don’t have a smile for your bad jokes I just have a very judgey stare and eye roll. “You’re welcome, hope you liked the eggplant parm! See you next year!” 🛌

Still watching my mailbox like a hawk 📪 👀 Can’t wait to see the totes!

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Jan 2Liked by illyanna Maisonet

I felt the same way this Christmas. I traveled for work + family visits and I think it deflated some of the joy. Or its just as you get older, the shine starts to wear off. Everything felt like a monumental task this year. I didn't wrap gifts, I didn't do any baking, I got sick and spent a week just existing. All that to say, you were not alone in feeling lonely on Christmas. I love seeing the behind the scenes peeks at your video set up and hope your dream takes hold!

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Jan 2Liked by illyanna Maisonet

I really want to see a California Parks thing happen too! I thought of you this week, I bought a Thrifty ice cream scoop because it was finally under $20. No way was I paying $30 for that, but apparently $19 was okay with me. 😂 I love your California content, I wish I knew someone there.

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Jan 2Liked by illyanna Maisonet

Looking forward to your 2024! I made English toffee, sugar cookies, my mom's 70s poppyseed bundt cake, and my grandma's chocolate mousse. Highlight: my Italian Catholic husband made Jewish me latkes on Christmas Eve and topped them with creme fraiche, smoked salmon, and chives as one of the Seven+ Fishes dishes. You're going to have an awesome year, I can feel it.

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Jan 2Liked by illyanna Maisonet

Happy New Year! love you -and yes many of us feel a bit down and exhausted after prepping and sharing a celebration meal. Knowing it was great -but then back to the reality of everyday :-P

I am new to this newsletter and substack - I am a subscriber but not sure if you have my address- I want in on the next cookbooklet =D

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Jan 2Liked by illyanna Maisonet

We moved to a new apartment on 20 December after living in hotels for 11 weeks (the short version: apartment flooded in October and landlord all but disappeared). Managed to find the stockings in the chaos and get those up Christmas Eve, but Christmas itself was very low key. New neighbo(u)rs brought us chocolates, and flowers for the balcony ❤️.

Happy New Year! I’m excited to see what you do in 2024.

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Jan 2·edited Jan 2Liked by illyanna Maisonet

I LOVE the idea of NY manifestations. Thanks for the idea. This was one of my worst Christmases yet. Lol. It’s usually rough because my dad’s family likes to…die before January? I am really hoping next year I have the money to go on a Christmas road trip. May your 2024 be full of whatever your spirit needs!!

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*raising hand sheepishly* I received my Calirican cooking 'zine practically right after you said you were sending them, I'm just soooo laaaaazy and social media laaaaame, that I never did the cool "look what I got" post. Which was actually really cool of you to create, make, AND mail out to all of us. Not gonna lie, I adore snail mail surprises but so rarely find them in my mailbox. It feels like a type of a lost artform. This after holidays post punched me in my feels, but there was a hint of, maybe, hopefulness too and I appreciate the effort it takes to just "raw-dog" it out there. Next time I find myself splurging on a tomahawk steak I'll parade that m*tha f*cka around in salute to you!

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Happy New Year! I would love to see your partnership with CA Parks and a teleseries come to fruition! I really enjoy your writing about drives, CA history, and off the beaten path places of CA. Glad you had a nice holiday. All in all, ours was great and we are very fortunate for that. A highlight is my husband getting our niece Lego sets and she letting them build it and then come in at the last moment to take credit. Future supervisor?!?

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