I have always loved New Year’s Eve! Beginning at a young age, I have felt like celebrating the new year in a special way was a requirement. I love the idea of celebrating New Year’s Eve at a big party or event, but that hasn’t always been my reality.
I remember one year when I was younger, my cousin and I were stuck babysitting our cousins and siblings so the adults could go out. So unfair, right? Well, instead of making a big fuss, we created a noisemaker craft by stapling some paper plates together and pouring some beans in between the plates. The kids had a blast shaking the plates all night long. We then turned on the countdown on the T.V. and watched until the ball dropped. We even had little dance parties as we jammed out to the musical guests performing in New York.
The point is, you can make last minute plans work, whether you’re stuck home with the kids or it’s just the two of you, the evening can still be romantic!
Here are a couple of things you can do to enjoy the night!
- Have a staycation! I love this option because you don’t have to go too far, but you still get out of the house. We decided to go with this option this year. Sure going to a hotel near you may seem like a waste of time and money because you live in the neighborhood, but trust me, it’s fun not having to do the cooking and cleaning for the night. Plus, getting away from the mundane, everyday, ins and outs of being at home can feel like an extended vacation. In a hotel, there’s no dirty laundry basket or sink full of dishes staring at you. That’s refreshing even if it’s just for a night. I’ve checked hotels in my area and there are some that are of great quality and still available. More than likely there are some in your area too. Don’t forget to use a reliable discount website and/or the hotel’s rewards program to save big on your room.
- Plan a night-in! Whether you have children or not, this option can be oodles of fun. I will admit that this option wasn’t my favorite on our first New Year’s Eve together as a married couple. It was boring and we weren’t as creative as we are now. Here’s what you could do leading up to the final countdown and what we could have done two years ago: play board games (you know I had to add that one in there!), cook a fancy meal you two have never made together, create a vision board for 2019, get a bottle of Apple Cider and have your own dance party, binge watch a show, make homemade noise makers and ring in the new year with the kiddos, build a tent or a fort and have a romantic evening in the family room and work on creating a family–for husbands and wives only ;).
- Go to dinner! Last night we got plenty of emails about making last minute reservations. Check and see if your favorite restaurant still has room for you!
- See a movie! I’m not typically big on seeing movies on holidays, but if this floats your boat, go for it! I was tempted to tell the hubby we could do this because one of the movies we wanted to see is only playing late at night now. Maybe the flick your dying to watch is playing late tonight too. A bonus would be if the theater near you is a dine-in theater. Whoohoo, dinner and a movie! Grab some movie tickets and make your way to the theater.
- Make it a party! If you don’t have plans, perhaps your friends don’t either, and if they do, they may not be committed to their plans yet. Bring the party to you by inviting other couples over to play games, sing karaoke and have a ball while watching one drop on the screen. Make it a last-minute potluck and ask everyone to bring a side dish or order take out. The possibilities here are pretty endless!
No matter what you choose to do, do something to say goodbye to the old and hello to new beginnings!
Got ideas that we didn’t think of? List them in the comments below!
