Holiday - December 30, 2021

5 Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Home This Year

brighton butler new year's eve

Hi, friends! It’s been a bit since I’ve posted on the blog. I decided to take some time off for the holidays to really enjoy Christmas with my family. You may have seen on Instagram that Duncan and I are in California at the San Ysidro Ranch. It’s been the perfect way to cap off 2021 and get ourselves ready for the year ahead.

Duncan and I will get to celebrate New Year’s Eve here in California (we will head back on New Year’s Day) but I wanted to share a few fun ways you can celebrate! I’ve heard from so many people who are planning to spend the holiday at home this year, so I thought it’d only be appropriate to cater this post to activities at home.

Stay In and Watch the Ball Drop

I have such great memories of being a child and begging my parents to stay up and watch the ball drop. Even though I’d be struggling to stay awake until midnight most years, there is something so “official” about ringing in the New Year with the Times Square ball drop. Now as an adult, I still love putting out all the snacks, making my own cocktail, and cuddling up on the couch watching all the fun performances in the hours leading up to midnight.

Have a Movie Marathon

I can think of no better time to have a binge-watching session than on New Year’s Eve. It’s the perfect way to ensure you’ll stay up until midnight and you can finally cross a show or movies off your list! Don’t forget to stock up on all the movie-watching essentials like the best popcorn, plenty of candy, and a cozy robe or blanket to keep you warm.

Host a Game Night at Home

I love attending (and hosting) game nights. It’s such a fun way to bring together friends with a fun activity that will keep everyone entertained. Have everyone bring their favorite game and then play as many as you can! We love classics like Monopoly and Pictionary — or you can take things up a notch with a game like Cards Against Humanity (don’t recommend this one if there are kiddos there but it sure is fun!).

Make Dinner With Friends

Hosting dinner with friends is my favorite! From planning out the menu to getting my tablescape set up, it’s all so fun to me. I’ve hosted dinner parties on New Year’s Eve in the past, and it’s such a nice way to kick off the year ahead. I like putting out a charcuterrie board for everyone to snack on beforehand, making some creative cocktails that everyone can enjoy, then having everyone gather around the table for a nice dinner and great conversation.

Create Your Goals and Resolutions

If you prefer to spend the evening solo, a great way to prep for the New Year is by taking time to create your goals and resolutions. I always like to set some intentions for the year ahead, including personal and business goals. It can be easy to feel the pressure from social media to set unrealistic goals, but it’s important that you keep your goals specific and attainable. Cater them to what’s going on in your own life — they should be achievable, not created to put unnecessary pressure on you. You can check out the self-assessment I do every year in this blog post.

No matter how you celebrate this year, I hope you enjoy and stay safe!