Where's Abby (+ Dylan and dogs)

When your dog is comforting you after a tougher day and she pukes on you, you just kinda say "that's ok."  Thanks, Sierra, for your silliness, calm kisses, and cuddles.  Happy Friday, everyone!  What can always turn your frown upside down?  

Last Sunday was a day filled with one of my favorite things: entertaining .  First, we hosted a brunch at my place with Dana, Martin, and Kristin complete with eggs, biscuits and homemade tomato gravy, fruits, bacon, sausage, mimosas, blueberry coffee and Cuban coffee thanks to Kristin. The tasty food, warm coffee, and mimosas warmed us up on that chilly morning.  That night, we hosted a chili dinner party with Dylan's side of the friends, followed by some Settlers of Catan. I did mostly that recipe plus a bunch of extra spices.  Planning, preparing for, and hosting friends in my home is the best. It's such a pleasure to serve friends tasty grub, drinks, and fun. Our Beach Friendsgiving two years ago satisfied that urge to the max.  What are your tips, favorite things to serve/do/listen to while hosting friends?

Sharing my first "confessions" for a change today, linking up with  Sarah . I confess... This post has been saved for over a month. Finally committing to it.  I just wasted a groupon for two months of unlimited crossfit. I mean, technically I still have like a week left, but I don't see it happening. I have been running more and started three months of yoga though, so that's something. My embroideries have been "saved as drafts" on Etsy forever now. I've said I'm going to do the art walks first and then go more public, but that hasn't happened either. Next art walk! Here's one of em.   My favorite original so far. $18 for this cute little guy!  Pubished this one just for you guys! (Or you can just comment/email/whatever so I can ship it to you! :) At my pottery class the other day, I got excited and proud of myself thinking, "This vase is way better than I remembered! Alriight!" Then my sculpting friend came in

A little trip to New Orleans? For New Year's Eve? By all means! We drove through a street we thought looked rough I wasn't so sure if my selection was good enough But "you've reached your destination" was the GPS's notification A book in the home called New Orleans' Unfathomable  We thought it looked like it could be habitable  With all the character in the French buildings  We thought we could overlook the increase in killings  Our tourist selves drank hand grenades and hurricanes  walking down Bourbon certainly entertains  We toured the oldest house and learned about D-Day And how Europeans came to change our sinful, American way Our bellies were stuffed with beignets, coffee, rice and beans jambalaya, muffaletta , African , and Japanese Cafe Rose Nicaud was my favorite place to rest writing and sipping gingerbread cappuccino was simply the best Took a trolley to the romantic Garden District around the beautiful