Your guide to the best New Year’s start ever
Dec 28, 2011, 4:20 PM | Updated: 5:48 pm
New Year’s should be a fresh start: A new beginning, a time to get together with good friends and ‘let auld acquaintance be forgot.’
Whether you’re in with the kids or out on the town, from resolutions to leftover champagne, here are some suggestions for improving the start of your 2012.
People are already asking: What’s your New Year’s resolution? Too bad you can’t get away with telling your loved ones and coworkers that your resolutions won’t come true if you tell them what you wished for, (because that’s your birthday wish when you blow out the candles.)
 People post wishes and thoughts on scraps of paper that will be dropped over Times Square on New Year’s Eve in New York, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. Try making your resolution feasible this year. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) |
Instead of making a resolution in broad terms, resolve to do the small things that will lead to your ideal goal. By following a smaller resolution, you’ll be able to more easily meet that be-all-end-all result.
When it comes to making a diet goal, for example, like lose 50 pounds, you should instead make a goal of not eating desserts and going to the gym and working out for 40 minutes three times a week. If you’ve been telling your friends you’re going to take 2012 to write the next great American novel, instead, make it a goal to write 100 words of something, anything, a day. New Year’s resolutions made for getting out of debt should start with a resolute, ‘I will stop using my credit cards to pay for things.’
Now that you’ve planned for a fresh start in 2012, you can breathe easy and think about your plans for the final evening of 2011.
Those who aren’t regularly shutting down the bars on the weekend should be prepared to stay awake. Make sure to take a NYE disco nap. Before heading out the door, here is a recipe for a cocktail to keep you awake. Start by brewing some fresh coffee, (or espresso,) then, in equal parts add whiskey, Kahlua, Bailey’s, and finally, the coffee. Top with whipped cream if you so desire in your favorite mug.
 The sooner you arrive at your NYE destination, the better off you’ll be. Avoiding traffic on your way to a friend’s party and standing in line for some trendy bar will make your midnight experience much more pleasant. Getting a view of midnight fireworks off the Space Needles isn’t a bad plan either. (MyNorthwest.com Photo/File) |
If you are hitting the town, try and get tickets to your venue of choice ahead of time. If you’re heading somewhere sans tickets, count on everywhere being packed. The sooner you arrive, the better off you’ll be. Avoiding traffic on your way to a friend’s party and standing in line for some trendy bar will make your midnight experience much more pleasant.
There is no shame, on the other hand of just staying in and enjoying a Rockin’ New Year’s on TV. If you have kids, this isn’t a bad idea at all. In fact, ringing in the New Year with the little ones can be a lot of fun. If you don’t want to wind them them up too much then explore some New Year’s traditions carefully. For instance, instead of giving them sugar-filled sparkling cider to toast, give them something to sip in a flute glass that has a more calming effect. While some might think it’s fun to bang pots and pans outside the front door, opt for the kazoo and party hat option: A little less loud and a little less running around.
If you’re a parent but are planning on leaving the kids with a babysitter, leaving similar suggestions with the trusted teenager or family member isn’t a bad call. Also, it’s nice to up your caregiver’s hourly rate for the special occasion. After all, they would probably enjoy being out on the town with their friends as well.
Finally, after your head hits the pillow and you wake up in the morning, enjoy the holiday with a brunch. If you’re friends aren’t throwing some trendy posh New Year’s brunch, plan ahead to have your own with the family. It can let you put some sparkling cider and leftover champagne by adding orange juice and making mimosas. Add some eggs and bacon prepared in your favorite style and get to work on that very feasible resolution.
