Sunday, January 3, 2021


15 Festive Quarantine 2021 Ideas to Still Ring in the New Year


Bring on the best party activities, glittery decorations and bubbly champagnes, but New Year's Eve 2021 will look much different than last year's celebration.  Instead of heading out for a night on the town, many of us will be settling in for an evening at home.  And in lieu of ringing in 2021 with dozens of friends, our guest lists will be limited to the people who ive in our households.   Just because your 2021 holiday is different doesn't mean it can't e just as festive, celebratory and meaningful as years past.  With the right amount of planning you can throw an incredible New Year's Eve bash right at home! 

This year, holidays are even more important than ever.  The past few months have been challenging for many of us and New Year's Eve is the perfect day to reflect and reset.  What better time is there to look back on all you've accomplished and overcome than the last day of the year?  Before the clock strikes 12, grab a favorite bottle of bubby and get ready to celebrate with these festive quarantine New Year's Eve ideas.  From settting a creative New Year's resolution to planning an incredible New Year's Eve brunch, you're bound to find a few celebratory ideas you love.

 

 1.  Make a New Year's brunch!  Brunch is the best meal and so you'll want to include it in your plan for the last day of the year.  A festive dish might be strawberry cheesecake flapjacks will do the trick in a pinch.  And you'll definitely want to pour a mimosa as it's never too early for champagne on New Year's Eve!

 



 2.  Decorate for 2021! It wouldn't be New Year's Eve without a glittery decoration or two.  Add a festive touch to your home with over-the-top 2021 balloons.  They're the perfect photo backdrop if you decide to take photos and you definitely should! 

  3.  Make a scrapbook!  There is no denying it: 2020 was a year to remember. Commemorate the past twelve months by putting together a scrapbook or photo album.  It's a great way to get creative and look back on all the incredible memories you made.




 

 4.  Get dressed up! Just because you're staying home doesn't mean you have to wear your PJs (although if you want to, you should).  Throw on your favorite holiday dress and some bold New Year's Eve makeup.  Who cares if the only one who sees it is the cat?





 

 5.  Take some pics!  Everyone loves a good photo booth.  Buy cute props and set them up in front of a backdrop.  To make a backdrop quickly, tape silver and gold wrapping paper to the wall preferably one in front of a window for natural light.  



 
 
 6.  Write down your resolutions! Since you're staying home this year, you'll have extra time to work on your New Year's resolutions.  Try to cover a range of baskets .. things like career, health, finances and self care then get ready to have your best year yet.




 

 7.  Play a game!  The best thing about parties are the games so make sure you've got a few on deck for New Year's Eve.  You can find a ton of games like Scattegories, Bingo and Family Feud on Etsy.  If you're calling into a party on video chat, there are also penty of games to play on Zoom. 







 8.  Mix a cocktail!  New Year's Eve is all about the bubbly, but that doesn't mean you can't kick your glass up a notch by mixing a fabulous champagne cocktail.  A cherry bomb fizz requires just a dash of maraschino liqueur and a cherry garnish!   The ingredients are 1 cherry, 1/2 oz. maraschino liqueur and sparkling wine.  Drop the cherry into a champagne flute, top with marsaschino liqueur then add sparkling wine.  




 
 9.  Make a memory jar!  Here's a fun idea for New Year's Eve:  Decorate a "Memory Jar" to keep over the next 12 months.  Every time something incredible happens, write about it on a piece of paper and put it in the jar.  You can even include mementos like ticket stubs and cards.  On New Year's Eve 2022, you can open the jar and take a walk down memory lane.




10.  Make a festive dinner!  The best way to ring in the new year is with a delicious dinner. You can never go wrong with a roasted chicken and some tasty side dishes.





11.  Watch a movie!  Sure, the New Year's Eve movie genre isn't as established as the Christmas ones, but there are a few classics you can always turn to.  Light a few candles and settle in with ssome snacks and champagne for a cozy holiday you'll always remember especially this NYE since going out .. is not an option. 





12.  Bake a delicious dessert!  After a year like 2020, we all deserve a treat.  Pick out a few dessert recipes you want to try annd start baking on the morning of the 31st.  That way, you'll have delicious snacks to enjoy all day and night because the best thing to do after the ball drops is eat a cookie. 



13.  Make a toast! Pop a bottle of champagne and raise a glass to all the incredible expriences you'll have in the New Year.  Bonus points if you serve it up in a beautiful glass.





14.  Make some noise!  As soon as the clock strikes midnight, you'll want to get loud!  And the best way to do that aside from banging on pots and pan is with a few trusty noisemakers.  These gold foil ones will look cut in all your NYE selfies, too. 





15.  Watch the ball drop!  To encourage social distancing, the Times Square ball drop went virtual this year.  Fortunately, the event still featured performers and speakers just like it has in years past.  "The world desperately needs to come together symbolically and virtually to celebrate the people and things we love and to look forward with a sense of renewal and new beginnings," said Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance in a press release about the event.  





Happy and Healthy 2021 from the Chautauqua Lake Pops!

Pat Locke
Maestro Muse