How to Have an Epic New Year’s Eve Night In
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They say whoever you spend New Year’s Eve with are the people who will stay in your life throughout the new year. I don’t necessarily believe that but I can be a bit superstitious so you can bet I want to be surrounded by those closest to me when the clock strikes midnight and the ball drops. In the past, this usually meant putting on the sparkliest top or dress in my closet, maybe adding a New Year’s crown (because how many other days of the year can you get away with wearing a crown?!) and bundling up to celebrate with my friends and hundreds of strangers at the coolest NYE party we could find. This also meant starting my New Year hungover, broke, and let down because the reality never lives up to the hype. I took a few years off from the NYE bar scene before making a rare comeback appearance last December 31. While I did have fun, it was hardly any more special than a normal fun night out with the squad but cost WAY more. Guess what? I woke up hungover, broke, and underwhelmed. So in the spirit of New Year’s resolutions, this year I’m resolving to plan a New Year’s Night In! Pajama Party One of the benefits of staying in is dressing warm and cozy! Have all of your friends wear cute pjs or plan a theme ahead of time! I got these adorable Wondershop pajamas from Target for Christmas this year and they’d be perfect for a NYE Girls’ Night In. Adult onesies are also a big trend for parties or family get-togethers and would be a fun photo op!
Movie NightThere are so many movies whose storyline or a significant piece of their plot take place on New Year’s Eve or Day. What better way to pass the time while waiting for the ball to drop or to wind down after the big countdown than a New Year’s movie marathon? In no particular order, here’s a list of some suggestions: New Year’s Eve, 200 Cigarettes, Ghostbusters 2, Boogie Nights, When Harry Met Sally, An Affair to Remember, The Apartment, Ocean’s Eleven, Trading Places, Sex and the City, Bridget Jones’ Diary, The Poseidon Adventure, The Godfather Part II Photo Booth There are so many cute photo booth prop kits available these days so you can show off your #SquadGoals! Choose a corner or wall with plenty of open space that you can decorate. Most party stores have inexpensive banners you can drape across to set up your backdrop. If you don’t mind a little cleanup the next day, find some fun confetti to toss in the air or blow towards the camera for some extra sparkle. Then break out your prop kits and start making some memories!
NYE Drink Contest You can’t have a New Year’s Eve party without some champagne, right? There are so many great holiday champagne drinks and variations of mimosas. Tell your friends you will supply the champagne and they can bring the mixers. They can bring a recipe they choose ahead of time or you can get creative and experiment with mixing your own new drinks!
Dance Party After a few glasses of champagne, my friends and I are usually ready to dance. Some of us might be better than others (I’m looking at you, all my former dance team friends!) but hey, the beauty of dancing at home is that nobody cares! Find or create a playlist of top songs from 2017 and dance like nobody’s watching! Share Your “Resolutions” Making resolutions is a tradition pretty much everyone takes part in in some way. If these are the people who will be with you in the New Year, let them know what your resolutions are so they can help cheer you on! Have everyone share theirs and you’ve got your own little accountability and support group ready to take on 2018. Not a fan of New Year’s resolutions? Check out my blog post on alternatives to New Year’s resolutions here.
Champagne Breakfast Brunch is one of my favorite things to do with my friends so it seems only fitting to start the new year by hosting my own. Prep an egg bake ahead of time so all you have to do in the morning is pop it in the oven. Coborn’s grocery also carries an amazing cinnamon roll from Rhodes that are packaged ready to bake. Just remove the plastic, bake for 30 minutes, and frost! Finally, you can’t have a true New Year’s Day brunch without mimosas. Experiment with some fresh fruit and flavored juices for a fun twist on the traditional classic. My favorite is champagne with pink lemonade and raspberries! To make your brunch extra festive, serve your mimosas in festive glasses like these from Target!
Whether you are having a large party or an intimate gathering, I hope you find these suggestions as fun and festive as I do! I’m excited to start my New Year relaxed and surrounded by those I care about most! Cheers to the New Year! What are your favorite New Year’s Eve traditions? Who do you most love to ring in the New Year with?
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