This weekend, I hosted my first ever dinner party. This may not be a big deal to most but I’ve never actually cooked for 6 people or had a space to adequately entertain... & for a latchkey kid who grew up on fast casual and takeout, I mostly just wanted to see if I COULD. ✨ It took almost 3 full days: I bought decor, scoured party city, asked about allergies, created a menu, grocery shopped, ABC shopped, set a table, planned games, cooked for 6 hours, & surprised my friends with sparklers + confetti cannons. We danced, teared up, shook cocktails, ate way too much, broke flutes, discussed the past year & our hopes for the future and screamed happy new year to the neighborhood while watching an impromptu fireworks show. It was the perfect beginning to a year where my only goal is community. So cheers to a new year, finding out I’m capable and learning ordering in takes 7 less hours.