Showing posts with label New Years Eve. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Years Eve. Show all posts

The BEST Ideas for Celebrating NEW YEAR'S EVE at Home

When you have kids (and even when you don't)... sometimes dressing up and heading out to a fancy New Year's Eve party isn't always desirable. So, hosting a family-friendly celebration can be the perfect way to ring in the new year. Today I'm sharing the BEST ideas for celebrating New Year's Eve at home.





Activity Bags
- I love making activity bags that can be opened each hour leading up to midnight. The bags can contain noisemakers, the supplies for a midnight toast, games, and more.


I love having one bag contain the items needed to set up a photo booth.


And including a year in review questionnaire is fun too. 

To download a FREE copy of the one I designed: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.



Special New Year's Eve Treat
- To make this festive treat, simply add candys to the bottom of a wine glass and top with a decorated cupcake. Cute, right?!?



Adorable New Year's Eve Mocktail - To make this adorable beverage, add sparkling water or 7up to a champagne flute, add a bit of cotton candy to the top, and insert a straw. Easy... but so much fun!



New Year's Eve Party Favours - Every party needs a party favour, and I have three simple options to share.

Breakfast for tomorrow - Add a tag to a small box of cereal or a pop tart.


Midnight Kisses - Add a tag a little bag of Hershey kisses.


Rings to ring in the new year - Add a tag to candy rings.


For a closer look (and full instructions), check out the YouTube video I made.



Will you be celebrating at home this year? I hope you find some of these ideas fun and helpful. Happy New Year!!!!

💗 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

2021 New Year's Eve Celebration with Kids... including 2022 FREE printable tags, activities, and photo props

When it comes to celebrating New Year's Eve, I love making the evening feel special and fun... without spending a lot of money. I always make use of dollar store finds, and simple items I can print myself. Below, I am sharing my favourite New Year's Eve family celebration ideas, and some FREE New Year's Eve printables you can use.




I always put together activity bags that my kids can open every hour as we count down to the new year. It's one of my favourite traditions, and it's a great way to keep the whole evening fun. 





Here are examples of what you can put in the bags:


5pm - Year in Review - Year in review questionnaires provide a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the past year and look forward to the year ahead. 

To download the questionnaire I designed: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

***NOTE: Grab the 2022 version here.***




6pm - Candy Rings - 6pm bags could contain candy rings with punny tags that say, "Ring in the new year!" To download your own tags for free: click on the picture of the tags below, right click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.




7pm - Midnight Kisses - 7pm bags could contain hershey kisses with punny "midnight kisses" tags. To download your own tags for free: click on the picture of the tags below, right click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.




8pm - Popcorn and Karaoke - The 8pm bag could contain popcorn and in invite to sing some karaoke. Playing a board game or having a dance party would be fun too.



9pm - Cookies and Milk - The 9pm bag could contain "milk and cookies" toast to the new year. How cute are these wine glasses (rimmed with sprinkles) and filled with milk? Add your favourite homemade chocolate chip cookies, and you are good to go. Sparkling lemonade and store bought cookies would be good too!




10pm - Sparklers - The 10pm bag can be filled with sparklers with "Bringing some sparkle to 2021" tags. I designed the tags, cut some slits with an x-acto knife, and inserted sparklers. To download your own tags for free: click on the picture of the tags below, right click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.






11pm - Photo Booth with Horns and Hats - The 11pm bag could be filled with items needed to set up a photo booth. It can contain lots of horns and hats for welcoming the new year. 



To download the photo props I designed (for free): click on the picture you are interested in printing (below), right click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 8x10 photo.




12am - Breakfast for Tomorrow Party Favours - Every party needs a favour, so the 12am bag could contain "Breakfast for tomorrow" party favours. I like using pop tarts, but small boxes of cereal work well too. To download your own tags for free: click on the picture of the tags below, right click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.





Check out how fun it is to fill a table with activity bags and party favours. There are no rules. Fill your bags with whatever you like!



How will you be celebrating New Year's this year? I hope you use some of my ideas and free printable tags and photo props.

Happy New Year!!!


Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

2021 New Year's Eve Questionnaire

***Update: Grab the 2022 version here.***

New Year's Eve is a time for reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the new one -- not just for adults, but for kids too. With this in mind, each year I put together a Year in Review Questionnaire for my boys to fill out on New Year's Eve. Here is the 2021 version.




It is a pretty simple questionnaire, and you can download the free printable by: right-clicking on the picture (above), saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 8X10 photo. I usually print mine at my local office supply store where colour copies are $0.49 each.


I love seeing what my boys come up with each year. Maybe someday I will make a book for each of my boys using all the questionnaires they have filled out over the years.

Happy New Year!


Gina Bell 
(aka East Coast Mommy)

2020 / 2021 New Year's Eve Celebration with Kids

When it comes to celebrating New Year's Eve, I love making the evening feel special and fun... without spending a lot of money. I always make use of dollar store finds, and simple items I can design and print myself. Below, I am sharing my plans for this year, and some FREE NYE printables you can use.



As always, I am putting together activity bags that my kids can open every hour as we count down to the new year. It's one of my favourite conditions, and it's a great way to keep the whole evening fun. 



Here's what we have in our bags this year:


5pm - Year in Review - The first bags contain these questionnaires that my boys fill out each year. They provide a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the past year and look forward to the year ahead. It will be a particularly interesting exercise this year given the uniqueness of 2020.

To download the questionnair I designed: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

***Grab your 2022 version here.***


6pm - Candy Rings - Our 6pm bags contain candy rings with punny tags that say, "Ring in the new year!" To download your own tags for free: click on the picture of the tags below, right click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.




7pm - Midnight Kisses - Our 7pm bags contain hershey kisses with punny "midnight kisses" tags. To download your own tags for free: click on the picture of the tags below, right click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.




8pm - Popcorn and Karaoke - The 8pm bag contains popcorn and in invite to sing some karaoke. Playing a board game or having a dance party would be fun too.



9pm - Cookies and Milk - At 9am, we plan to have a "milk and cookies" toast to the new years. We'll have milk in wine glasses (rimmed with sprinkles) and our favourite chocolate chip cookies. Sparkling lemonade and store bought cookies would be good too!




10pm - Sparklers - At 10pm, We will be "Bringing some sparkle to 2021". I designed some tags, cut some slits with an x-acto knife, and inserted sparklers. To download your own tags for free: click on the picture of the tags below, right click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.





11pm - Photo Booth with Horns and Hats - The 11pm bag will be filled with items needed to set up a photo booth. It will also contain lots of horns and hats for welcoming the new year. 



To download the photo props I designed (for free): click on the picture you are interested in printing (below), right click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 8x10 photo.




12am - Breakfast for Tomorrow Party Favours - Every party needs a favour, so the 12am bag contains "Breakfast for tomorrow" party favours. We have pop tarts, but small boxes of cereal would work well too. To download your own tags for free: click on the picture of the tags below, right click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.





Check out how fun it is to fill a table with activity bags and party favours. There are no rules. Fill your bags with whatever you like!



How will you be celebrating New Year's this year? I hope you use some of my ideas and free printable tags and photo props.

Happy New Year!!!


Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)



How cute is this little party favour for 2021? Check it out here.

2020 New Year's Eve Year in Review Questionnaire

*** Find a 2021 version here.


New Year's Eve is a time for reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the new one -- not just for adults, but for kids too. With this in mind, each year I put together a Year in Review Questionnaire for my boys to fill out on New Year's Eve. Here is the 2020 version.



It is a pretty simple questionnaire, and you can download the free printable by: 
right-clicking on the picture (above), saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 8X10 photo. I usually print mine at my local office supply store where colour copies are $0.39 each.


I love seeing what my boys come up with each year. Maybe someday I will make a book for each of my boys using all the questionnaires they have filled out over the years.

Happy New Year!


Gina Bell 
(aka East Coast Mommy)

5 Appetizers that are Perfect for any Party

I'm a huge fan of appetizers... especially at parties. What's more fun than sitting around with friends sampling lots of tasty bites? Today, I am sharing 5 recipes for appetizers that are delicious and easy to make. 



Nacho Dip - I love this nacho dip because it doesn't require any cooking. It's simple to throw together and bring to a friend's house. Trust me... the platter will be clean when you leave the party! (Find the recipe here.)




Swiss Cheese Dip - My mom always made this tasty treat when I was little, and it was always a hit. Who doesn't love cheese dips?!?! (You can find the recipe for the warm and gooey cheese dip here.)



Sweet and Sour Meatballs - Meatballs are always a crowd-pleaser, and this sweet and sour version is simple to make and tastes delicious. (You can find the full recipe here.)



Strawberry and Goat Cheese Crostini with Balsamic Glaze - Adding a little fruit to an appetizer makes it lighter and healthier. I love the combination of the creamy goat cheese, the crunchy crostini, the sweet strawberry and the rich balsamic glaze. This appetizer is an explosion of flavors in your mouth. (You can find the full recipe here.)



Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushroom Caps - Stuffed mushroom caps are always a favourite of mine... and this recipe is simple and delicious. You won't believe how easy it is to make this fantastic appetizer. (Find the full recipe here.)



What's your favourite appetizer? I know you won't be disappointed by any of these easy and inexpensive appetizers at your next party.


Gina Bell
 (aka East Coast Mommy)




You can find more recipes here.

Don't miss any of the fun....