For the past few years we’ve been having New Year In. Which is no bad thing: I was never a huge fan of New Years Eve as it held such enchantment yet never seemed to fulfill on it’s promise. Check out the Handbags and Wellies girls discussing our thoughts on New Year for more information.
Since The Girls arrived, and the pressure has been off, I’ve actually begun to enjoy it so much more. We have friends to stay, plan elaborate meals and generally enjoy the event. And if it finishes at 10.30 pm it doesn’t matter: we saw New Year in somewhere in the world!
This year we have the added treat of our Lucky Voice machine to help while away the evening, but if you didn’t get the full kit for Christmas, no matter. Download the Lucky Voice App on your phone and enjoy all the fun of the famous karaoke experience. Stream your favourite hits instantly and sing anytime, anywhere with the click of a button! And for a limited time you can use the code: NYE2014 for a free month’s singing time!!
Once they have exhausted their vocal chords, The Girls (and guests) get supper by candle light, with added glowstick fun. They take the Glowsticks to the bathtub and then off to Bedfordshire.
We adults indulge in Champagne and canapes, maybe a few cocktails, fabulous food and a Ferrero Rocher Parfait. If you can’t be bothered with all that whisking though, you can achieve the taste of creamy chocolate and hazelnut with a delicious Green Triangle dessert. DH won’t share his though, so guests will need to bring their own. The Green Triangle chocolate dessert pots are available from all major supermarkets at RRP £1.98 for a 4-pot.
Later? More karaoke, a board game or two: my current favourite is the 5 Second Rule which is a fast-paced game and proved a great success at my cocktails & board games night earlier in the year.
And New Year’s Day will be a chance to reflect: empty the memory jar and remind ourselves of the funny, insightful and special things our children said in 2013. I write them down and put them in a jar throughout the year. A chance for the children to think about what they did in 2013 and what they would like to do in 2014: it’s quick to create a New Year’s Interview Printable. A chance for us to get some fresh air and a family moment to plan the year ahead.
This past year has seen some wonderful experiences, such as our Center Parcs trip; some special family moments- birthdays, holidays and our Tots 100 prizewinning trip to London; some unexpected surprises- our house move was not on the agenda at all at the beginning of 2013, and some inevitably tough times. But we greet the New Year together as a family, in our new home, with great excitement.
I sincerely hope that the same is true of you, dear reader.
Happy New Year.
*Dsiclosure: we were sent the Green Triangle Desserts with no obligation to write about them. I earlier in the year wrote about Lucky Voice and chose to share information about the new App with you though I haven’t tried it: Android version is due early 2014, but available for iPhone now. We won the Tots 100 trip to London and were Center Parc Ambassadors for the year 2012/13. All opinions are my own.
Sounds wonderful! We have an evening planned with friends round at ours this year. Having just received a text to say one of the children has been sick, I’m not convinced it’s going to be happening! Could be a cosy one with just he 5 of us. Happy new year!
and to you @suzanne!
This is exactly my kind of NYE – lovely idea on the memories for New Year’s day – I’ll try that with mine this year
Thanks @actuallymummy. It’s a lot of fun more than anything.