Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Seven Great Last Minute Ideas For Throwing A Fabulous New Years Eve Party

1. Sugar those rims - Nothing screams fabulous like a decked out sugared rim. Think margarita salt but for mocktails. Use superfine sugar and a couple of drops of food coloring in a Ziploc bag. Seal and shake so that the food coloring distributes itself evenly. Use a lemon wedge to wet the rim of the glass and dip it in a shallow plate of colored sugar (or graham crackers, cinnamon-sugar, crushed candies, etc.)


2. Accessorize! - It's tough to be bummed when you've got choices. Offer your guests individual candy canes to hook on their glasses, mini cinnamon candies to drop into their "cocktail", frozen cranberries to jazz things up and even fun mini fruit skewers (think sliced star fruit or kumquats).

3. Have cool options - Nothing is worse than screaming "I'm the designated driver!" by requesting the only non-alcoholic beverage at the bar, bubble water with a twist. Offer your guests lots of non-alcoholic alternatives using interesting juices, flavors and mocktail combos they might never thought of. Think passion fruit juice, real ginger soda, fizzy lemonade and sparkling peach juice.

4. Go shopping and get colorful - Sitting at home trying to get creative can be a little challenging so get online and go and visit a few major liquor store chains and search out some cool non-alcoholic additives. These days there are tons of mixers that don't contain any alcohol at all but can look like the full on martini (for adults or kids!)

5. Get decorative - Use funky vinyl decals to trick out all of your basic holiday glasses so everyone can focus on the visual feast or just rent frosted glasses, different colored martini ones or throw in a few lit ice cubes or neon stirrer sticks!

6. Don't forget the kids - Most of us don't want the little ones running around half cocked, nor do they want to be left out of the fun. Come up with drinks that they already enjoy and jazz them up. Think pink milk (with a little red food coloring), a sugared rim and a candy cane stirrer.

7. Remember the hot stuff! - The holidays are as much about good friends and festive decorations as they are about wonderful smells of the season. Why not put some hot cider on the stove with cloves and cinnamon or some hot, fresh ginger tea? You can even make "cappuccinos" by brewing a pot of coffee and frothing your own milk with a little hand held number from IKEA. As long as you have alternatives, your guests will forget they aren't totally trashed!

I got these ideas from a Leading Entertainment Expert, Entrepreneur, TV Personality, Coach, Author and Sought After Speaker, Marley Majcher.  She is the CEO of The Party Goddess! and publisher of the ezine, "How To Be A Party Goddess". http://www.howtobeapartygoddess.com/



Best Wishes,

Tiff
http://www.diamondeventsbytiffany.com/