This phrase resonated so much with me: “You can’t leave your body, the source of the threat, so how could that threat really ever go away.” That just really succinctly sums up what invisible illnesses do to the people who have them. Love how you word things!
I’ve followed you since your Delish videos, which I loved by the way and watched them over and over. You’re quite sassy which I also love 😜. Crohn’s disease is one miserable and hideous disease. My mom is 86 and has been dealing with this disease since her early 30’s, over 50 years!! I realize you have suffered with this since you were quite young and I know you have an extreme form of this disease. I remember growing up, my mom making dinner and soon as it was over, she was in the bathroom for a half hour, our ONE bathroom to share with 6 other people. She ate what she wanted and drank coffee all day long (even though that was the worse thing for her to drink). Twenty five years into the disease, my mother went into the hospital and had a benign tumor removed from her small intestine and I also think a portion of her stomach was removed as well. She had an ileostomy bag for 6 weeks and then had a reversal of that operation and learned to poop again. Well, she went right back to her old habits of eating whatever she wanted and smoking too. The stomach aches and diarrhea continued another 20 years and my mom is still here. She never leaves the house because she likes to be near her own bathroom. You my dear are a true warrior. My mom should take some clear lessons from you but you know you won’t be changing an 86 year old’s way of thinking. Keep on fighting the good fight and know there are people that care and understand (not fully, but we try).
Two other things: Whats your go to butter? Ours is Kerry Gold....omg.
Second, depression dish can be one of two things: smoked (as in on our smoker) baby back ribs OR home made beef stew (red wine in broth required...but NOT Julias Beef Bourg).
“Jesus, babe, I had no idea." I'm not going to make any trite offers of hope, condolence, or comfort, but I am thrilled that you are at least, "so fucking back" creating. What I will say is, I will always click on the links when they arrive in my inbox so that you're venting and screaming into the universe is received and heard. I found your Iconic Eats in April of 2020, and it was a way for me to escape the confines of my home to a time and place when we weren't all struggling with the possible outcomes of the times and on lock-down. Your doctor talked about focusing on ourselves and our own recovery, that we often avoid trauma as a classic strategy, but being on lock-down, I was forcibly given the time and lack of stimuli/distractions to avoid the things that I needed to recover from. It was a very painful but cathartic process, and having your wry, sarcastic wit and delightful banter on-camera provided me poignant bursts of relief and escape that helped me cope with what was very deep and severe trauma (both physical and mental). It sounds laughable, but my brain definitely paired Iconic Eats with healing and relief, and I will sometimes revisit it for a hit of that good-old fashioned dopamine relief. It's not hyperbole when I say I'm authentically delighted that you're creating once more, putting your talent and your wit into something very raw, clever, and hopefully cathartic: scream away Tess, we'll be here reading.
I’ve followed you since your Delish videos, which I loved by the way and watched them over and over. You’re quite sassy which I also love 😜. Crohn’s disease is one miserable and hideous disease. My mom is 86 and has been dealing with this disease since her early 30’s, over 50 years!! I realize you have suffered with this since you were quite young and I know you have an extreme form of this disease. I remember growing up, my mom making dinner and soon as it was over, she was in the bathroom for a half hour, our ONE bathroom to share with 6 other people. She ate what she wanted and drank coffee all day long (even though that was the worse thing for her to drink). Twenty five years into the disease, my mother went into the hospital and had a benign tumor removed from her small intestine and I also think a portion of her stomach was removed as well. She had an ileostomy bag for 6 weeks and then had a reversal of that operation and learned to poop again. Well, she went right back to her old habits of eating whatever she wanted and smoking too. The stomach aches and diarrhea continued another 20 years and my mom is still here. She never leaves the house because she likes to be near her own bathroom. You my dear are a true warrior. My mom should take some clear lessons from you but you know you won’t be changing an 86 year old’s way of thinking. Keep on fighting the good fight and know there are people that care and understand (not fully, but we try).
I’ve followed you since your Delish videos, which I loved by the way and watched them over and over. You’re quite sassy which I also love 😜. Crohn’s disease is one miserable and hideous disease. My mom is 86 and has been dealing with this disease since her early 30’s, over 50 years!! I realize you have suffered with this since you were quite young and I know you have an extreme form of this disease. I remember growing up, my mom making dinner and soon as it was over, she was in the bathroom for a half hour, our ONE bathroom to share with 6 other people. She ate what she wanted and drank coffee all day long (even though that was the worse thing for her to drink). Twenty five years into the disease, my mother went into the hospital and had a benign tumor removed from her small intestine and I also think a portion of her stomach was removed as well. She had an ileostomy bag for 6 weeks and then had a reversal of that operation and learned to poop again. Well, she went right back to her old habits of eating whatever she wanted and smoking too. The stomach aches and diarrhea continued another 20 years and my mom is still here. She never leaves the house because she likes to be near her own bathroom. You my dear are a true warrior. My mom should take some clear lessons from you but you know you won’t be changing an 86 year old’s way of thinking. Keep on fighting the good fight and know there are people that care and understand (not fully, but we try).
I’ve followed you since your Delish videos, which I loved by the way and watched them over and over. You’re quite sassy which I also love 😜. Crohn’s disease is one miserable and hideous disease. My mom is 86 and has been dealing with this disease since her early 30’s, over 50 years!! I realize you have suffered with this since you were quite young and I know you have an extreme form of this disease. I remember growing up, my mom making dinner and soon as it was over, she was in the bathroom for a half hour, our ONE bathroom to share with 6 other people. She ate what she wanted and drank coffee all day long (even though that was the worse thing for her to drink). Twenty five years into the disease, my mother went into the hospital and had a benign tumor removed from her small intestine and I also think a portion of her stomach was removed as well. She had an ileostomy bag for 6 weeks and then had a reversal of that operation and learned to poop again. Well, she went right back to her old habits of eating whatever she wanted and smoking too. The stomach aches and diarrhea continued another 20 years and my mom is still here. She never leaves the house because she likes to be near her own bathroom. You my dear are a true warrior. My mom should take some clear lessons from you but you know you won’t be changing an 86 year old’s way of thinking. Keep on fighting the good fight and know there are people that care and understand (not fully, but we try).
I’ve followed you since your Delish videos, which I loved by the way and watched them over and over. You’re quite sassy which I also love 😜. Crohn’s disease is one miserable and hideous disease. My mom is 86 and has been dealing with this disease since her early 30’s, over 50 years!! I realize you have suffered with this since you were quite young and I know you have an extreme form of this disease. I remember growing up, my mom making dinner and soon as it was over, she was in the bathroom for a half hour, our ONE bathroom to share with 6 other people. She ate what she wanted and drank coffee all day long (even though that was the worse thing for her to drink). Twenty five years into the disease, my mother went into the hospital and had a benign tumor removed from her small intestine and I also think a portion of her stomach was removed as well. She had an ileostomy bag for 6 weeks and then had a reversal of that operation and learned to poop again. Well, she went right back to her old habits of eating whatever she wanted and smoking too. The stomach aches and diarrhea continued another 20 years and my mom is still here. She never leaves the house because she likes to be near her own bathroom. You my dear are a true warrior. My mom should take some clear lessons from you but you know you won’t be changing an 86 year old’s way of thinking. Keep on fighting the good fight and know there are people that care and understand (not fully, but we try).
JESUS, BABE, I HAD NO IDEA and also, JESUS, BABE, I FEEL SEEN AND READ by the CVS receipt that breaks the camel's back, by the list of times a body can ruin the vibes, with the icky feeling of physically getting better while mentally/emotionally still traumatized. Just here to bear witness to the Cool-but-Very-Diseased-Girl content.
If I don’t get Merch with “JESUS, BABE, I HAD NO IDEA” on it, I will riot. T-shirt, sweatshirt, water bottle sticker, ect ect.
Take that terrible fucking response all the way to the mother fucking bank $
This phrase resonated so much with me: “You can’t leave your body, the source of the threat, so how could that threat really ever go away.” That just really succinctly sums up what invisible illnesses do to the people who have them. Love how you word things!
Hi Tess,
I’ve followed you since your Delish videos, which I loved by the way and watched them over and over. You’re quite sassy which I also love 😜. Crohn’s disease is one miserable and hideous disease. My mom is 86 and has been dealing with this disease since her early 30’s, over 50 years!! I realize you have suffered with this since you were quite young and I know you have an extreme form of this disease. I remember growing up, my mom making dinner and soon as it was over, she was in the bathroom for a half hour, our ONE bathroom to share with 6 other people. She ate what she wanted and drank coffee all day long (even though that was the worse thing for her to drink). Twenty five years into the disease, my mother went into the hospital and had a benign tumor removed from her small intestine and I also think a portion of her stomach was removed as well. She had an ileostomy bag for 6 weeks and then had a reversal of that operation and learned to poop again. Well, she went right back to her old habits of eating whatever she wanted and smoking too. The stomach aches and diarrhea continued another 20 years and my mom is still here. She never leaves the house because she likes to be near her own bathroom. You my dear are a true warrior. My mom should take some clear lessons from you but you know you won’t be changing an 86 year old’s way of thinking. Keep on fighting the good fight and know there are people that care and understand (not fully, but we try).
Love you Tess!
Deb
I know you need to save it for the book but I also need to know how you pooped *on* Gloria Steinem.
10/10 would read the shit book
Another "Jesus, babe..." for ya! 😜🥰😘
Two other things: Whats your go to butter? Ours is Kerry Gold....omg.
Second, depression dish can be one of two things: smoked (as in on our smoker) baby back ribs OR home made beef stew (red wine in broth required...but NOT Julias Beef Bourg).
Jesus Tess, I had no idea. Not original but holy f**k. I am so glad you are OK(ish) now. Another great article.
“Jesus, babe, I had no idea." I'm not going to make any trite offers of hope, condolence, or comfort, but I am thrilled that you are at least, "so fucking back" creating. What I will say is, I will always click on the links when they arrive in my inbox so that you're venting and screaming into the universe is received and heard. I found your Iconic Eats in April of 2020, and it was a way for me to escape the confines of my home to a time and place when we weren't all struggling with the possible outcomes of the times and on lock-down. Your doctor talked about focusing on ourselves and our own recovery, that we often avoid trauma as a classic strategy, but being on lock-down, I was forcibly given the time and lack of stimuli/distractions to avoid the things that I needed to recover from. It was a very painful but cathartic process, and having your wry, sarcastic wit and delightful banter on-camera provided me poignant bursts of relief and escape that helped me cope with what was very deep and severe trauma (both physical and mental). It sounds laughable, but my brain definitely paired Iconic Eats with healing and relief, and I will sometimes revisit it for a hit of that good-old fashioned dopamine relief. It's not hyperbole when I say I'm authentically delighted that you're creating once more, putting your talent and your wit into something very raw, clever, and hopefully cathartic: scream away Tess, we'll be here reading.
Hi Tess,
I’ve followed you since your Delish videos, which I loved by the way and watched them over and over. You’re quite sassy which I also love 😜. Crohn’s disease is one miserable and hideous disease. My mom is 86 and has been dealing with this disease since her early 30’s, over 50 years!! I realize you have suffered with this since you were quite young and I know you have an extreme form of this disease. I remember growing up, my mom making dinner and soon as it was over, she was in the bathroom for a half hour, our ONE bathroom to share with 6 other people. She ate what she wanted and drank coffee all day long (even though that was the worse thing for her to drink). Twenty five years into the disease, my mother went into the hospital and had a benign tumor removed from her small intestine and I also think a portion of her stomach was removed as well. She had an ileostomy bag for 6 weeks and then had a reversal of that operation and learned to poop again. Well, she went right back to her old habits of eating whatever she wanted and smoking too. The stomach aches and diarrhea continued another 20 years and my mom is still here. She never leaves the house because she likes to be near her own bathroom. You my dear are a true warrior. My mom should take some clear lessons from you but you know you won’t be changing an 86 year old’s way of thinking. Keep on fighting the good fight and know there are people that care and understand (not fully, but we try).
Love you Tess!
Deb
Hi Tess,
I’ve followed you since your Delish videos, which I loved by the way and watched them over and over. You’re quite sassy which I also love 😜. Crohn’s disease is one miserable and hideous disease. My mom is 86 and has been dealing with this disease since her early 30’s, over 50 years!! I realize you have suffered with this since you were quite young and I know you have an extreme form of this disease. I remember growing up, my mom making dinner and soon as it was over, she was in the bathroom for a half hour, our ONE bathroom to share with 6 other people. She ate what she wanted and drank coffee all day long (even though that was the worse thing for her to drink). Twenty five years into the disease, my mother went into the hospital and had a benign tumor removed from her small intestine and I also think a portion of her stomach was removed as well. She had an ileostomy bag for 6 weeks and then had a reversal of that operation and learned to poop again. Well, she went right back to her old habits of eating whatever she wanted and smoking too. The stomach aches and diarrhea continued another 20 years and my mom is still here. She never leaves the house because she likes to be near her own bathroom. You my dear are a true warrior. My mom should take some clear lessons from you but you know you won’t be changing an 86 year old’s way of thinking. Keep on fighting the good fight and know there are people that care and understand (not fully, but we try).
Love you Tess!
Deb
Hi Tess,
I’ve followed you since your Delish videos, which I loved by the way and watched them over and over. You’re quite sassy which I also love 😜. Crohn’s disease is one miserable and hideous disease. My mom is 86 and has been dealing with this disease since her early 30’s, over 50 years!! I realize you have suffered with this since you were quite young and I know you have an extreme form of this disease. I remember growing up, my mom making dinner and soon as it was over, she was in the bathroom for a half hour, our ONE bathroom to share with 6 other people. She ate what she wanted and drank coffee all day long (even though that was the worse thing for her to drink). Twenty five years into the disease, my mother went into the hospital and had a benign tumor removed from her small intestine and I also think a portion of her stomach was removed as well. She had an ileostomy bag for 6 weeks and then had a reversal of that operation and learned to poop again. Well, she went right back to her old habits of eating whatever she wanted and smoking too. The stomach aches and diarrhea continued another 20 years and my mom is still here. She never leaves the house because she likes to be near her own bathroom. You my dear are a true warrior. My mom should take some clear lessons from you but you know you won’t be changing an 86 year old’s way of thinking. Keep on fighting the good fight and know there are people that care and understand (not fully, but we try).
Love you Tess!
Deb
Hi Tess,
I’ve followed you since your Delish videos, which I loved by the way and watched them over and over. You’re quite sassy which I also love 😜. Crohn’s disease is one miserable and hideous disease. My mom is 86 and has been dealing with this disease since her early 30’s, over 50 years!! I realize you have suffered with this since you were quite young and I know you have an extreme form of this disease. I remember growing up, my mom making dinner and soon as it was over, she was in the bathroom for a half hour, our ONE bathroom to share with 6 other people. She ate what she wanted and drank coffee all day long (even though that was the worse thing for her to drink). Twenty five years into the disease, my mother went into the hospital and had a benign tumor removed from her small intestine and I also think a portion of her stomach was removed as well. She had an ileostomy bag for 6 weeks and then had a reversal of that operation and learned to poop again. Well, she went right back to her old habits of eating whatever she wanted and smoking too. The stomach aches and diarrhea continued another 20 years and my mom is still here. She never leaves the house because she likes to be near her own bathroom. You my dear are a true warrior. My mom should take some clear lessons from you but you know you won’t be changing an 86 year old’s way of thinking. Keep on fighting the good fight and know there are people that care and understand (not fully, but we try).
Love you Tess!
Deb
JESUS, BABE, I HAD NO IDEA and also, JESUS, BABE, I FEEL SEEN AND READ by the CVS receipt that breaks the camel's back, by the list of times a body can ruin the vibes, with the icky feeling of physically getting better while mentally/emotionally still traumatized. Just here to bear witness to the Cool-but-Very-Diseased-Girl content.