Old Traditions for a New Year

For as long as I can remember, New Year’s has been my favorite holiday. The glittery dresses, the champagne towers, the noise and excitement—I love every single aspect of this optimistic holiday. And even with celebrations looking a little different this year than in years past, I’m still just as eager to ring in the new year as ever.

And I think the best way to stay in the spirits of this New Year is to stick with all your favorite New Years traditions. After all, being at home doesn’t mean you can’t still go [all] out with your celebrations!

Glitz and Glam

New Year’s is one of the biggest and grandest holidays of the year. It’s the perfect excuse for us lay folk to bring out our nicest gowns and party til the break of dawn.

When it comes to New Year’s, the shinier the better. This exquisite dress from Lulus screams party time. While it is a little bit on the pricier side—coming in at $84 without tax or shipping—it’s also the kind of show-stopping dress every girl needs in their closet. With a dress like this, you’ll definitely be prepared for any kind of party that comes your way in the new year.

If you want to go a little bit more simple, I’d definitely consider this beautiful brown velvet top from LOFT. It’s half the price—only $39.99—and it’s simple enough that you could dress it up or down, depending on your needs. I think this would pair perfectly with a pair of jeans and maybe some wedges. Add a couple pieces of jewelry to sparkle it up.

For the most comfortable of looks, go sweater. This fuzzy, light-colored sweater from Express is only $35 and it looks like something I could sleep in if I wanted to. Like the velvet piece, this is another versatile item that can be reused time and time again.

Cocktails and Mocktails

Obviously, it’s not a party without a fancy drink or two. Even if you’re not an alcohol lover, a lot of cocktails can actually be made spirit-free! And they’re just a delicious!

This bubbly concoction, for example, is incredibly simple to make. All you need is a berry-flavored vodka, come champagne, and pomegranate juice. You could also use a couple of raspberries to garnish the glass.

For a non-alcoholic recipe, just replace the vodka and champagne with a red grape or darker flavored sparkling grape juice.

Seven Courses

It’s not a party without a fancy dinner. Seven courses might a bit much, but adding just a light appetizer or a sweet dessert to your menu for the evening makes all the difference in creating a night like no other.

There are hundreds of ways to make a spinach dip. Some are creamier than others, and some take hours longer to make. Think about your situation and taste preferences when deciding what kind of dip to make.

I went with something easy and quick because patience isn’t my best virtue. This recipe is also a little bit on the cheesy side, so that’s definitely something to consider before making it.

The blog I took this recipe from has a lot of great tips and tricks for making a good spinach dip. There are also some variations and ideas for similar party dips.

For dessert, you could try a traditional chocolate cake or some chewy cookies. I added this cheesecake recipe for those of you adventurous bakers with a little bit more time on your hands. I’ve never actually made a cheesecake before—despite my great love for the dessert—so naturally I decided on a recipe that publicized its simplicity.

Like any great food blog, this recipe goes through all the basics of how to make a good cheesecake while also addressing all the areas where it’s easy to make mistakes so you’re aware before you even begin. Another great thing about this recipe is that once you’ve gotten the hang of it, it’s easily adaptable to different flavors or crusts. I’m definitely going to be spending this week leading up to New Year’s trying to perfect my cheesecake-making abilities.

Confetti and Champagne

Confetti and champagne are the staples of any good New Year’s celebration. They also make great additions to any photo op. And in this day and age, if you didn’t get a pic then it didn’t happen. So don’t miss out on getting ahead of the Gram Game with a knockout first post of the year.

Ring in the New Year

No matter how, where, or with whom you’re ringing in the new year, part of what makes celebrating it is this idea of starting fresh. And I think after the year we’ve all had, we might benefit from looking forward to something new.

Take some time this New Year’s to set some goals for 2021. Now I know some of you might be skeptics of the New Year’s Resolution, but consider writing a manifest of all your goals instead of just the one-off resolution. If you’re not too sure what I’m talking about, check out my last blog post for a little bit more information.

While you’re coming up with your own manifest list, turn on the TV and watch the virtual New Year’s Ball Drop. Grab another glass of champagne while you’re at it! Trust me, there’s no better way to celebrate the coming of a new year than to party hard and think forward.

What’s your favorite part of New Year’s celebrations? Share with me your plans for welcoming 2021 in the comments section down below! And maybe add something you’re looking forward to in the new year!

A special thanks to all the blogs and retail websites that made researching for this post that much easier—all the sites are linked to this post, so make sure to check them out!

Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog and follow me on socials if you haven’t already. It’s the best way to stay up-to-date on my work while also supporting me with your follows. Thanks for reading along through this craze of a year—I can’t wait to see what the new one has in store for us!