Abby Shroll New Year's can be a fresh new start where many feel as if they can finally achieve perfection. It’s like you just wiped your car clear of snow or cleaned your room spotless. Any regrets from the past year are able to be forgotten in order to become the most successful person you can possibly be. What's better than that? Not much! As you wake up on New Year's eve (hopefully late in the morning, as a long night awaits you), there's endless possibilities for the day. This New Year’s, you won’t be bored sitting on your couch: here's a guide to the best New Year’s yet! What to Do Write a letter to yourself A fun tradition to do with your best friend is writing yourselves letters at the end of each December. In the letter, explain details about the past year, whether it’s events or some of your favorite things. Then bury these letters and don’t open them until next year and see what happened. Be sure you know where you bury these letters to avoid frustration and hours of fruitless digging. Both opening and writing these letters gives you the opportunity to reflect, and you’ll be surprised at what you forgot happened in the past 365 days! Another thing to include in the letters are resolutions, a classic for this holiday.  Photo courtesy of: meetup.com (fair use) Invite some family or friends along with you to hit the rink and enjoy a quality winter activity before the ball drops! The Cube is always a great and close option, and there are also outdoor ice-skating rinks at Fallen Timbers and the Toledo Zoo to switch it up! While the cold may have you saying “brr” at moments, it will be worth it. As long as you're bundled up, it's guaranteed to be hours of fun! Try to make some new moves on the ice or race someone! Afterward, you can curl up with some hot chocolate as you count down to the new year. Have a gathering with all of your friends Invite friends over for a party in anticipation for the New Year to come. A fun thing to do for your guests is to set up a banner and have everyone write a resolution on it. Or you can purchase sling shots that can be used to rocket confetti when the clock hits midnight. Another great way to use your confetti is to fill balloons with it and then pop them for some messy fun! I know the wait for the New Year can often drag on, so playing some games is a great way to pass the time. Consider playing Scattergories or having some friendly competition over Taboo. When the ball drops, see how many people can be the first to do things in the new year. (Ex: the first to eat an Oreo, or the first person to give a high five.) You might be surprised at how competitive it gets!Stuck on What to Wear?  Photo Courtesy of: pinterest.com (fair use)  Photo Courtesy of: pinterest.com (fair use) These outfit ideas are great for both casual and fancy affairs! Girls: You can never go wrong with a little gold or some glitter! Flashy is a good thing with this holiday. For a casual outfit, a big sweater and scarf is cozy and cute. For a dressed up occasion, a skirt and a nice blouse is an easy way to look great and still remain comfortable. Boys: Flannel or a nice jacket paired with jeans is a must for the winter. If you’re attending a fancy party, suspenders are a great way to shake it up while looking spiffy. Yummy Recipes
Whether you’re planning to stay at home or go to a party, these recipes are complete hits for the holiday and are sure conversation starters! No Bake Peanut Butter Bars Ingredients: -1 cup butter melted -2 cups graham cracker crumbs (use the boxed kind, or grind them in a food processor. Tiny granules.) -2 cups confectioners’ sugar (aka powdered sugar) -1 cup + 4 tablespoons peanut butter -1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips Directions: In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, confectioners’ sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9×13 inch pan. (I did mine in a 9X9 square pan because I wanted them thicker) In the microwave, melt the chocolate chips with the peanut butter, stirring every 30 seconds until melted until smooth. Spread over the peanut butter layer. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares. Spinach Dip (Copycat recipe from Cheddars--yum!)  Photo courtesy of: momsownwords.com (fair use) Ingredients: -10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained
-1/2 cup shredded white Cheddar cheese -1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese -1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese -2 teaspoons minced garlic -1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt -1/2 cup sour cream -1/2 cup salsa -Corn tortilla chips Directions: Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, combine the spinach, onions, cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, mozzarella cheese, garlic, and seasoned salt. Stir until well blended. Spread into a 1-quart casserole dish and bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until the top is nice and bubbly. Serve with the sour cream, salsa, and tortilla chips on the side. Whatever you do this New Year’s, make sure it’s one to put in the books! Surround yourself with family and friends, (maybe try one or two of these ideas), and enjoy the clock ticking down to your next adventure; 2014. |
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