Seven years ago, my husband and I came up with the idea of having a dinner party on New Year's Day - we call it First Dinner. It's a sit-down, pot-luck style dinner for our absolute closest friends to start the year off on a good note, with people we love, and delicious food. 

Each year, we invite a limited number of guests to join us in our home for this special dinner. And each year, its harder and harder to squeeze just "one more" chair around the dining table, but we do it. It's one of the toughest invitation lists we make – I have a hard time leaving people out, but I know they understand. As the kids get bigger and our circle grows, I am sure we'll have to update our format a bit, and we're okay with that too. One of the best parts about this dinner is just that it is just that, a sit-down dinner.

My husband makes the ham, the last couple years smoked in his awesome hand-made smoker. I make about 10 pounds of my delicious buttery mashed potatoes and gravy, and each family is asked to bring a salad, vegetable or dessert. Sometimes we get lots of vegetables, sometimes lots of desserts, but it always works out just fine!! 

Some years we write new year's wishes for the coming year, seal them up, then read them the next year, that is always fun! Some years we clear away the plates and pull out the board games. No matter what we do, we're happy to be surrounded by, and start the new year off with our dearest friends! 

I don't know about you, but I can hardly believe another year has whizzed by us! How on earth has Christmas gone already and we're prepping for New Year's and dare I say, Valentine's day! 

As I look back on the year, I am so thankful for all of the new opportunities and adventures I (and the Speckled Duck) have been able to do with the support and love from family, friends and customers. I am very much looking forward to 2012 and a new list of goals! 

Thanks to the Speckled Duck's new website, and our Etsy Shop, SD customers range from coast to coast in the US and Canada! 

We attended our first bazaar in November, the Cowgirl Handmade Bazaar. Thankful for the help of my dear friend, Jen. Looking forward to many more craft shows and fairs next year! 

A wonderful partnership with a dear college friend and her letterpress boutique, inviting. Working together gives us both a little boost and a helping hand.  

And of course my fabulous and supportive family.