Where's Abby (+ Dylan and dogs)

I'd say this was one of the most unique Christmases I've had. I guess that starts to happen as you add a second half, double your family, and work schedules alter your traditions.  We had our first Christmas Eve brunch with the future in-laws, Mom, Dad and Mimi, and  Christmas night, we enjoyed dinner with Dylan's parents. I attempted to relax in a hot tub, but I confirmed they're not relaxing for me.  With Dylan working Christmas afternoon, I studied a bit for the GRE before texting Meryl to see what she was up to and got the nicest invite for dinner with them. So I strolled on over with the pup, arriving at their house soaked for the second holiday in a row. We ate the most delicious pork and learned about Puerto Rican Christmas traditions and Meryl's character of a dad. Down their street I walked to join Benton and his parents for hours of board games and a beach walk before heading back home. Codenames is quite a fun, thinkin game.  The goodn...

Christmas time is my favorite time of the year, and today reality hit me that it was Christmas time and I hadn't decorated! I woke up this morning and went straight to Publix for meal prepping and became overwhelmed with excitement at the little details I wound up with. Candles and flowers were all I needed to send my hormones to euphoria.  Later we went to get our first real tree, had Dylan's parents over for dinner and finished decorating this humble abode. This place has gone through a lot of changes since last year .          I hope everyone else is enjoying the holiday as much as I am. If not, get on my excitement level! It's joyous!   Thanks Benton's parents for these lovely candle holders Peter the Pine And thanks, Mama for these Christmas sand pipers! They don't call these Christmas cacti for nothin. Look at that cool bloom! I didn't even know it did that! Ol' Nelso...

Holy mackerel guys, I knew I'd been failing miserably at this whole blog deal, but I didn't realize it had been since MAY. Since then, I said "Yes, of course!" to a man with a ring on his pinky in the Atlantic Ocean. That man and I trekked around Costa Rica and Panama for two fantastic weeks. I jumped back into the craziness of Lindamood-Bell and am thoroughly enjoying it. We have the most intriguing, fun kiddos. In July, I witnessed another of the Bests become a wife to her very comical hubs. Such a fun wedding, as you can see from a snapshot below. One weekend, I finally visited Ms. Leslie Wiles in her new Georgia home and had our senses overloaded at the Buford Farmers Market . That place is nuts. We filled our cart with fruits we never heard of that needed intensive cutting instructions and safety warnings. I started on my track to GRAD SCHOOL for speech language pathology. Now I've covered four types of colleges: private Christian college (King Colle...

"Bring clothes you don't mind trashing,"  they said. "It can't be that muddy," I said... This caving festival opened my eyes to a new kind of dirty and adventure. First of all, the setup was a unique one with a bunch of caving enthusiasts camped out on someone's large property with music, barbecue, and camp fires.  We only did one day of caving which wound up being ok, considering the adventure that was to come. We entered Hollow Ridge cave and started off finding a huge viewing room with crazy structures that looked like crystals and giant lady parts. A "lights out" had us in the darkest moment I've ever experienced. I started out feeling pretty confident, feeling the benefit of the ab part of yoga classes kicking in. We continued on and started a tight section where I kept hitting my head on the top, so I just chose to look down and crawl forward. My light fell off my helmet getting covered with mud, so not really d...

Weekends are for... Hiking new places. Little Talbot was the place this Saturday. A duney, driftwood delight. First time ferry rides. Sierra, being scared of a car was not a fan of a car on a ferry.  Cafe sitting . Cafe Karibo in Fernandina was the perfect backyard oasis after our hike. Dog friendly, tree canopies, and a caramelized onion, basil, turkey sandwich creation.  Post hiking cuddles. Barbecues and laundry according the the smells on my run. (That's actually what inspired the idea for this post that I think I'll make a regular). I did the laundry but missed out on the barbecue.  Running! Got two runs in this weekend, even after the hike! *pats herself on the back* Green Room f or a tequila-infused beer special, Cards Against Humanity and adult convos about grad school, babies, and the housing market.   Helping brother and sister-in-law paint their very first house!  Sunday morning naps. The...

The month of March was one of sadness, family time, story sharing, tears, and laughs. It was the month we lost our Papa. He passed in early March and it's, as I'd expect, still hard to believe it.      

Somehow when Amy said she "went Trudy O'Connell on our Galentines Day Brunch," I wondered what she could've planned.  Clearly I just wasn't thinking.  Growing up, any occasion my best friend's mom hosted was worthy of a magazine article or Downton Abbey scene. You'd find three kinds of cookies, at least two cakes, maybe a pie or two, rice crispy treats, jello, homemade candies, perfectly decorated tables, trinkets, party favors and all.  These party throwing expertise have certainly been passed down to Mrs. Sapp.  I showed up to an entry table decked out with adorable signs of love and glitter. Walking into the living room, I find a table set with the sweetest rosette tablecloth and tea set. A handmade cross-stitch made by Trudy herself, perfect for the occasion, was found displayed with a book of Shakespeare love sonnets that I attempted to bless the group with later. A chandelier was draped with glittery hearts, the sweetest flowers were bur...

This Valentines Day was made special and sweet with a beach walk with the babe and pup, one of the best  seafood dinners at North Beach Fish Camp ; scallops and shrimp broiled to perfection, and the oh so romantic movie, Wall-E.  In honor of, nej, due to coincidence, we cruised over to Washington Oaks State Park on Washington's birthday. We explored the (short) Florida trail* and mused at this unique, rocky beach. Never seen one like it before. The rocks, the palms. the rocks . Glad we didn't skip over that beach when my thoughts tried to tell me, "oh it's just another beach." It was an overall perfect weekend. How was your Valentine's Day/Washington weekend? *Florida trail makers, please get some longer, continuous trails around here with no gift shops in the middle. Thanks. Min Lille Havrmanden

Hosted the first of hopefully many of these ridiculous fests. Our Mardi Gras celebration was complete with Shrimp and rice  that turned out even better than expected Abita beer, first tested in New Orleans  Bananas foster, thanks to the Neighbs  A Benton-made Ouija board  An attempted seance And Dr. John... A must.  Next year, we're hoping for some warmer weather to satisfy our beads and parade dreams.  Here's some Dr. John for ya. 

Biggest confession for today is how the thing that makes me the maddest is forgetting a crucial ingredient in the process of transporting between my and Dylan's houses. Once it was the brown sugar for the chocolate chip cookies. Another time it was the flour for the blueberry muffins. Today it was my healthy leftovers for dinner... Nearly ruined my whole night. I went from a super positive, motivated, healthy mood to a 1 Publix Chicken strip, banana, and cake, I don't wanna do any work, don't wanna watch a movie because I'd feel bad about not doing work Mood. I'm spending one night away from the pup, for her to have a day with dad tomorrow, and I miss her already.  I'm terrible at estimating things with numbers, be it wedding, party, or class attendance, amount of chocolate kisses in a jar, or temperature. Today I estimated "it was about 50* outside." This was the reality.  And it's a short one today, folks, as I'm hitting the p...

It's been a tough couple of weeks over here. Stressful situations at work, a worrisome diagnoses for our fur baby... The best cure in times like these, is to express gratitude.  Lately I've been grateful for... The loveliest day last Sunday, finally executing our Riverside exploring day. An out of this world appetizer and sammy at Biscotti's , strolling all around the sweet streets, and a quick swing and game of fetch by the river made me happier, or at least as happy as our pup with a giant stick. My goofball babe making me laugh in the midst of my eyeball waterfall the other day. These sweet critters and morning cuddles.

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 ...