Most of us have been looking forward to the end of 2020 for the past 8 months, but that does not mean you have been preparing your plans to say goodbye to 2020 for that long.
Have no plans for this Thursday night yet? Don’t worry, you are not alone! There are millions of people who don’t know how they are going to bring in the New Year – COVID safely. CDC guidelines still strongly suggest that our plans be modified to keep family and friends safe.
The word safe is not usually associated with fun, but there are some things you can do to make the end of 2020 fun, safe, and memorable.
Here are a few last-minute ideas – safe and fun – for New Year’s Eve.
#1 DRESS UP
Let’s face it, you have gotten your money’s worth of your yoga and pajama pants this year. Why not give them a rest and go all out and dress in your best this New Year’s Eve? Put on that lipstick you haven’t worn because of your mask. Pull out the heels that have collected dust in the back of your closet for months.
All dressed up and no place to go? That’s okay! You are in good company! Pull out the tripod and take all the pictures you want! If you are feeling humorous and a little adventurous, insert yourself in Paris or NYC Time Square (2019 of course) with cool photo apps like Snapseed and PicsArt.
#2 PJ PARTY
Can’t bring yourself to get dazzled for the big night? Then do the opposite! Put on your favorite pajamas and grab all things cozy – pillows, throws, blankets, teddy bears, and don’t forget the sleeping bags!
Do you remember the sleepovers you had as a kid? Get ready to recreate it! Arrange your furniture and build a cozy fort! Snuggle up with your favorite stream hub and chill the night away. I would strongly suggest taking a nap if you go this route… I’m feeling sleepy just typing about it!
#3 MAKE A MEMORY JAR
As much as we have joked about erasing 2020 from history, there have been some amazing things that have happened this year – beginning with you witnessing the end of it.
Take a few moments to create a jar to hold special memories. Begin with a few memorable moments from 2020, and don’t forget New Year’s Eve. If you have never created a memory jar, here are a few ideas.
#4 COOK SOMETHING SPECIAL
Didn’t get around to making that special Christmas treat? Pull the recipe out for New Year’s Eve! Better yet, try a new appetizer – how often do you get to make those these days? Here are a couple of websites to get you started:
#5 HOST THE LAST ZOOM PARTY OF THE YEAR
I can not tell you how many Zooms I have been to over the past couple of weeks – I was Zoom-ed OUT by Christmas. But I can’t say that I wasn’t delighted to see certain family and friends each time. After a few days of rest, I think I may be able to handle one more Zoom of the year!
Haven’t hosted one before? That’s okay, register at Zoom.us, and create your own meeting. Don’t forget the Zoom games.
#6 DANCE PARTY
Why not dance the night away to your favorite party playlist? Make it a family event and let each person contribute their favorite songs. Let the kids teach you the latest dance and you show them how you use to groove back in the day.
Don’t forget the decoration and fun lights! Need help starting a playlist, try these songs to spark an inspiration.
#7 MAKE 2020 CONFETTI
I spoke with my sister about ideas for New Year’s Eve and she lightheartedly mentioned holding a mask burning ceremony! Unfortunately, we are not ready for that yet, but why not make 2020 confetti instead?
Find several colorful sheets of paper and use them to write down everything you hated about 2020. On New Year’s Eve, set aside a moment to cut each sheet into smaller confetti sized sheets (the size depends on how much time you want to spend cleaning it up the next day)
At the stroke of midnight 2021, toss your confetti and party on!
#8 STARGAZE
When was the last time you went stargazing? It may not be a full moon on New Year’s Eve (the next full moon is December 29th), but the moon will definitely be bright enough for stargazing. If you missed Jupiter and Saturn’s conjunction a few weeks ago, no worries! The stars are cool every night.
Grab your blankets (lots of them) and spend some time gazing at the stars. Try and find the Big Dipper and other easy to find constellations. Stargaze with a special someone that is not in the home with you. We are all underneath the same big sky!
In summary, there are many ways to make New Year’s Eve special, because 2020 was definitely a special year. Make the most of it!
One thing I have learned from 2020 is that tomorrow is not promised, but neither is it written out for me. I am reminded of this through the words of Natasha Bedingfield’s song “Unwritten”.
Are there other ways you plan to safely enjoy bringing in 2021? What are they? Let me know!
Enjoy and Happy New Year!
Traci D. Fuller, Pearls and Pretty Pens © 2020
Pearls and Pretty Pens 