Ian and I are spending New Year’s Eve at home with the kiddos this year…again! It’s kind of become our thing with them, and to be honest, I like it way more than when I used to go out on the town on New Year’s Eve! I love everything that the new year represents, and celebrating a fresh start, but if I’m being honest I’ve never really been a fan of partying like crazy to ring in the New Year. One year I actually spent the clock striking midnight in a taxi, in traffic, in a huge fight with my then-boyfriend. It felt as depressing as it sounds, and thankfully I can now spend the holiday surrounded by my three little humans and my extra big soul mate! LOL.

Now that we have a few fun New Year’s Eve at home under our belts, I thought I’d share some of my tips for making it cozy, comfy, fun, and festive! There’s absolutely no reason why a night in can’t absolutely beat out an overpriced night on the town! Check out my tips and let me know if you have any great ones to add. Wishing you and your families a bright, beautiful, healthy, and prosperous 2024!

Cozy Elegant Dress Code

Even though it’s just “us” for NYE, I like to make sure that it feels more special than any given Tuesday! We make sure to pick comfy but elevated outfits that feel like we could wear them to a party out someplace. I let the kids pick their own LEWKS, which ends up being so fun because anything goes! And you don’t have to worry about getting a coat on over it!

Snacks For Dinner

I think the official term now is “Girl Dinner”, but for NYE, I normally make platters of charcuterie, pickles, crackers, fruit, veggies, and dips. It’s nice to graze instead of sitting down to a formal dinner, and I even make a dessert platter for us to share after! My kids love eating this way because it feels extra special, and I LOVE not having to beg them to finish their dinner.

Bubbly All Around

I love having champagne on New Year’s Eve, so I’ll usually make a classic champagne cocktail or even something fun like this Blackberry prosecco cocktail! I also always have sparkling cider for the kids, along with shatterproof champagne glasses so we can toast the night away!

Decorations for 2024!

We like to order streamers, headbands, and anything else to make the evening feel festive! Those year-specific glasses are always so fun, too! Don’t forget to take lots of pics so that you never forget which NYE it was!

Make Wishes + Watch Them Fly

One of my favorite traditions is sending wishes up with Wish Paper! We all, kids included, write our wishes for the new year on the paper, and then you light it and watch your wishes fly up into the sky! It’s super fun and a great way to have the kids set meaningful intentions, as well as to learn what some of their goals are for the year

Games Galore

Now that Mateo is old enough, our favorite New Year’s Eve pastime is playing games as a family! Some of our favorites are Apples To Apples, What Do You Meme, Headbandz, Zingo, and Life!

The NYC Balldrop…Cheater’s Edition

At around 8pm, I cue up the Time’s Square Ball drop…on Youtube! It’s so fun to watch the last 30 minutes or so of the excitement from a past year, celebrate “Midnight” and then get off to bed.

Caviar, Cuddles, and A Classic Movie

Once Ian and I get the kids down a reasonable hour, we like to snuggle up with a classic movie (think: black and white) and a snack of Caviar and crème fraiche on potato chips. This is one of my favorite combos ever, and a must-try! We normally pass out before midnight, but we make sure to set our intentions and seal them with a kiss!

Photographs by Julia Dags | Copyright © 2023 Happily Eva After, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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