1-1-11 The First Party of the Year

New Year's Eve is an ironic pairing of playfulness and depth.
The depth is the weaving within our heart's desires to find our goals, resolutions, and passions. And the playfulness is enjoying the moment and celebrating LIFE.

Overall, New Year's Eve is simply celebration. We celebrate the fresh, clean, no-mistakes-yet, time in our lives and we celebrate another year on this great big/little beautiful world that we live in.

We celebrated with chili
and friends
and of course a pretty table. {wink}

I used winter white fun feathers for the centerpiece,
accompanied by countdown numbers,
party poppers, and apples painted with edible paint!

Our green delicious
apples with edible paint!

Silver tinsel tied around every glass for some extra sparkle and glam.

I stuck countdown numbers in the feathers,
symbolizing the countdown to the NEW YEAR.

The kids couldn't wait to dig into the centerpiece!

For a few years, we've had a fun New Year's tradition. I cover the table in craft paper and toss markers on the table for us to draw pictures or write down our favorite moments of the year and what we want out of the upcoming year. When we are done, it's easy to cut out and tape to the inside of our closets for some nerdy fun. I shared this tradition last year too, in my New Year's post.

This photo is from LAST year's table memories.
We used brown craft paper that year.

The kids love to join in this tradition too...

Kid's table

This year I made paper clocks for our table centerpiece
then we used them to write down our 2011 resolutions
as a family.

They are hanging in our hallway now to painfully remind us to stay on track.

The warm n' cozy winter PARTY food...

Chili in the crockpot...

And all that good dipping stuff while we wait until MIDNIGHT...

homemade yumminess:
fresh salsa and guacamole

Hello 7 Layer Dip
(the 7th Layer fits for the January healthy eating plan)

For the sweet stuff I made some Oreo Truffles...again.
This time I made them in some fun colors
with gold sprinkles for the NEW YEAR.

Classic banana dessert with some sinful twists in the recipe
to make it extra delicious
(sweetened condensed milk and cream cheese).

And the friends...

Lots of laughs for crazy reasons...

One of my brother's new masterpieces with his company, XLR Industries.

And these other photos you can add your own captions...

My husband is the one in the middle, hmmm.

2010 was such a fun year and I already miss it!
I am ready to see what these next 365 days hold,
good or bad.
Bring it on.

This fortune cookie is for EVERYONE!
Enjoy.

"Look for the dream that keeps coming back. It's your destiny"

This post is linked to: DIY Showoff, DIY Living, Seasonal Sundays, It's so Very Cheri, Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, It's So Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, I'm Lovin It, Funky Junk Interiors, Fabulous Friday Finds, Tickled Pink*, Be Different Act Normal, Weekend Wrap Up