A Cozy New Year’s Eve In

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It happens. You had planned to go out for New Year’s Eve…but the weather turned out to be too dreadful. Or you or someone in the family isn’t feeling well. Whatever the reason, you’re home this year for New Year’s Eve and it’s going to be a quiet evening. But you still want to celebrate! How to make the best of it?

You have plenty of company, so don’t feel bad. Nearly half of Americans, 48%, spend New Year’s Eve at home. Only 9% go to a bar, special event or organized event. Another 20% go to a friend’s house. Maybe your friends will come to your place this year!

Even if it’s just you celebrating the New Year, you just have to try and stay up to midnight to welcome in 2020. Don’t be part of the 22% of Americans who don’t celebrate New Year’s Eve at all or the 30% who fall asleep before midnight! It’s only once a year. But to pull it off, you’re going to need a game plan, some supplies and imagination.

And if you really just don’t want to stay up…you can do these any ol’ time.

The Basics

Something bubbly for toasts. Sparkling wine, sparkling apple cider, fizzy seltzer or ginger ale. If you drink champagne or sparkling wine, try this yummy trick. Pour a little Chambord in the flute and pop in a couple of fresh raspberries. (The tiny liquor store bottle of Chambord is more than enough).

Something special to eat. When my son, was young, we used to make a Happy New Year cake every year. Cheese or chocolate fondue would be really fun. So would crepes. Maybe you’re going to order in Chinese food. Or you might want to rustle up some crackers, french bread, some cheese and grapes. Or shrimp cocktail. Have you ever tried caviar? This lumpfish is about $7 a jar. It’s pretty good on little toasts with sour cream and chives. Or smoked salmon and capers. Or prosciutto and olives. Something you don’t eat everyday. You don’t have to eat greens and black eyed peas…yet. That’s for tomorrow, on New Year’s Day.

New Year decorations, hats and noisemakers. You could also make this New Year’s wreath, which is rather festive.

Something comfortable but elegant to wear. I have a soft, sparkly sweater I love. I’ll wear that with some velvety leggings.

A count-down plan. Did you know 175 million people watch that ball drop in Times Square on TV or other broadcast? You can watch countdown shows on NBC, ABC and CBS, if you have broadcast television or you can watch the ball drop live from the Times Square New Year’s Eve website. But before you do, you might need to grab a nap in the afternoon.

A theme for the evening. So, how are you going to entertain yourself until the ball drops? Here are some ideas that would be fun to do on your own, with friends or with family. You can combine them or come up with your own versions.

A Self-Care New Year’s Eve

• Face masks (from drug stores, Target)
• Soothing moisturizers.
• Essential oil, like lavender or peppermint.
• Candles and fresh flowers.
• Guided meditation video (like this YouTube one)
  

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• Crystals, if you have them (especially rose quartz and clear quartz)
• Spa water (spring water with lemon slices or cucumber) or herbal tea and honey
• Notebooks and colored pens to write down things you are grateful for, affirmations about your strengths and best qualities, and positive intentions for 2020.
• Copies of 2020 horoscopes.
• Dollar Tree appointment calendars.
• Maybe an easy craft, like painting rocks or coloring mandalas.
• Your favorite kind of music, especially relaxing music.
• Yummy snacks (see above).

A Rom-Com New Year’s Eve

• A New Year’s Eve-themed movie or two, such as New Year’s Eve (ha ha), Bridget Jones’s Diary, When Harry Met Sally, The Holiday or While You Were Sleeping.
• Take out Chinese food. Don’t forget Mu-Shu. I love Mu-Shu 🙂
• A cuddly blanket.
• Candles.
• Tissues. Extra tissues.
• Make your own chocolate and white chocolate covered strawberries.
• Champagne or sparkling cider. Or hot chocolate with marshmallows or herbal tea.
• Smartphone so you can wish your Facebook friends a Happy New Year.

A Kid’s (or Inner Child’s) New Year’s Eve

• You can do this at any time of the day.
• If they haven’t written their thank you notes for Christmas (or YOU haven’t), take care of that first!
• Distribute the funny hats and Happy New Year tiaras. Decorate with confetti. Lots of confetti. And balloons.
• My sister and I used to make New Year’s parades with our stuffed animals. We made floats out of shoe boxes. That might be a fun activity they can do on their own.
• Watch Rudolph’s Shiny New Year or Happy New Year, Charlie Brown with popcorn or Chex mix.
  

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• Put a piece of poster board on a table or the wall. Let kids write down things they are grateful for or their wishes for the new year. Take a picture of it and put it on Facebook tomorrow.
• Make individual pizzas (put on sauce, cheese and toppings onto pre-made shells and bake).
• Make a Happy New Year cake – bake a cake in a lasagna pan. Let the kids frost it and decorate it with different colors of sugar. Write Happy New Year on it.
• Let them toast with whatever beverage you let them have. Show them how.
• Have a 15 minute or 30 minute dance party or do karaoke together.
• Create a time capsule for 2019. Google New Year’s Eve time capsule for kids. You’ll find lots of ideas to create one with things as simple as a Mason jar, memorabilia and photos from the year and printables.
• Find a time to hug and tell each child (or your inner child) how much they mean to you.

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