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Champagne Centerpiece Wreath, from Crate and Barrel

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY ACTIVITY:

Chisel Glassware, from Z Gallerie

Invite five to twenty-five friends over (depending on the size of your home and the amount of money and energy you can muster up) to celebrate the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012! Serve appetizers, finger foods and desserts, but no entrees - too much work after a month of 31 Christmas Parties!

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY DECORATIONS:

Rapid Ice Champagne Cooler, on Amazon

Gold Goblets, from Neiman Marcus

Remove as many Christmas decorations as you feel comfortable with; then dress up your home with silver or gold sparkles, glitter, tinsel and anything shiny.

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY MUSIC:

Auld Lang Syne Scene from "It's a Wonderful Life," on YouTube

Buy the "Auld Lang Syne" MP3 by Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra on Amazon

Buy "Christmas Auld Lang Syne" MP3 by Bobby Darin, on Amazon

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY APPETIZERS:

Dill Oyster Crackers Recipe, from Kitchen Belleicious

Mini Asian Crab Cakes Recipe, from Martha Stewart

Spicy Spinach Dip in a Sourdough Boule Recipe, from Restless Chipotle

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY BEVERAGES:

Sorbet and Champagne Cocktail Recipe, from Martha Stewart

The Golden Ring Sparkler, at The Hip Stir

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY DESSERTS:

Moonstruck Chocolate Champagne Truffles, on Amazon

No Bake Snowball Cookies Recipe, from Peas and Thank You

Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies, from MyRecipes

Green Tea and Raspberry Trifles Recipe, from Raspberri Cupcakes

BOOKS FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY PLANNING:

The Bubbly Bar, on Amazon

101 Champagne Cocktails, on Amazon

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY INSPIRATION:

Shimmery Silver and Mocha Dessert Table, from Hostess With the Mostess

Peppermint Twist Party, from Hostess With the Mostess

RELATED LINKS:

How to Pour Sparkling Wine (CHOW)

New Year's Eve Cookies (Bake at 350)

New Year's Eve Party Food Ideas (Mommy's Kitchen)

New Year's Tree (Our Best Bites)

Non-Alcoholic Cocktails for New Year's Eve (CHOW)

6 Fun New Year's Eve Party Ideas (The Glitter Guide)

30+ Appetizers for Your New Year's Eve Menu (Foodie Bride)

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Merry Mistletoe Candle, from Bath and Body Works

CHRISTMAS PARTY ACTIVITY:

Holiday Scrabble, on Amazon

Invite six or seven adult friends over for a relaxed, leisurely afternoon or evening of board game playing. Set out several different board games, and set up two or three tables for separate gaming. Serve snacks and goodies, but not a sit down meal.

AFTER CHRISTMAS PARTY DECORATIONS:

Your guests might be Christmased-out at this point, so remove a few decorations (if you are one of the people who don't take your tree down until after New Year's) and keep your game tables clutter-free.

CHRISTMAS PARTY MUSIC:

Dean Martin's "Baby, It’s Cold Outside" on YouTube

Buy Dean Martin's "Baby, It's Cold Outside" MP3 on Amazon

Julie Andrews "Ding Dong Merrily on High" on YouTube

Buy Charlotte Church "Ding Dong Merrily on High" MP3 on Amazon

CHRISTMAS PARTY APPETIZERS:

Candy Cane Pretzel Kisses Recipe, from Cookies and Cups

Mini Eggnog Doughnut Muffins, from Two Peas and Their Pod

CHRISTMAS PARTY BEVERAGES:

Candy Cane Martini Jelly Shots Recipe, from Tablespoon

Salted Caramel Mocha, from Annie's Eats

CHRISTMAS BOARD GAME PARTY ENTREES:

White Chocolate and Peppermint Popcorn Recipe, from Skip to My Lou

AFTER CHRISTMAS PARTY DESSERTS:

Ghiradelli Chocolate Walnut Brownie Mix, on Amazon

Eggnog Ice Cream Recipe, from Sweet Pea's Kitchen

Chocolate Peppermint Roll with Chocolate Ganache Recipe, from Joy the Baker

Cranberry Crumble Bars Recipe, from Dashing Dish

Candy Cane Bark Recipe, from Better Homes & Gardens

BOOKS FOR PARTY PLANNING:

The Games We Played, on Amazon

The Christmas Kitchen, on Amazon

RELATED LINKS:

Game Night With the Kids (Tater Tots and Jello)

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Merry Berry Soap and Lotion Kit, from Crate and Barrel

CHRISTMAS PARTY ACTIVITY:

Peppermint Mug, from Crate and Barrel

Invite eight or ten friends over, encouraging them to bring silly or unwanted gifts they recently received. Provide one actually useful or potentially wanted gift to keep things interesting. Encourage guests to swap gifts and trade. Meanwhile, serve festive snacks and treats, but not a full sit-down meal. Play music (perhaps easing off on the holiday tunes a bit) and provide board games and card games after the gift exchange is over.

CHRISTMAS PARTY DECORATIONS:

Peppermint Dish Towel, from Crate and Barrel

Peppermint Floating Candles, from Crate and Barrel

CHRISTMAS PARTY MUSIC:

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time, on YouTube

Buy "Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time" MP3 by Paul McCartney on Amazon

We Three Kings, by Ella Fitzgerald, on YouTube

Buy "We Three Kings" MP3 by Olivia Newton John on Amazon

CHRISTMAS PARTY APPETIZERS:

Chocolate Chip and Cranberry Biscotti (Little Toast)

CHRISTMAS PARTY BEVERAGES:

Rosemary Gin Fizz, from Once Upon a Recipe

Gingerbread Man Cocktail, from The Hip Stir

Whiskey Sour Punch, from MyRecipes

CHRISTMAS PARTY ENTREES:

Cinnamon Chip Scones Recipe, from Sweet Pea's Kitchen

CHRISTMAS PARTY DESSERTS:

Chocolate Raspberry Forest Cake Recipe, from Chocolate and Carrots

Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes Recipe, from Erica's Sweet Tooth

Moonstruck Chocolates Peppermint Bark, on Amazon

Eggnog Cheesecake Bars, from Brown Eyed Baker

BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS PARTY PLANNING:

The Book of Holiday Awesome, on Amazon

CHRISTMAS PARTY INSPIRATION:

Mermaids sand Martinis' White Elephant Christmas Party

RELATED LINKS:

White Elephant Gift Exchange, on Wikipedia

White Elephant Gift Exchange

4 Tips for a White Elephant Gift Exchange (MSN)

How to Throw a White Elephant Party, on Squidoo

How to Throw an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party (Serenity Now)

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Poinsettia Serveware, from Pier 1 Imports

CHRISTMAS PARTY ACTIVITY:

Invite five or six adult friends over for an all-day-long video game party. Encourage people to dress comfy or come in their pajamas. Set up your Wii, Playstation, or Xbox for a day of gaming. Ask people to bring extra controllers or games you might not own. Try to select games that multiple people can play together rather than single person shooters. Make snacks and tasty drinks available later on. Serve breakfast type foods earlier in the day; switch to popcorn and salty snacks as the day wears on.

CHRISTMAS PARTY DECORATIONS:

Velvet Snowflake Pillow, from Pier 1 Imports

Snowflake Mixing Bowls, from Crate and Barrel

Set out popcorn, chips and other salty snacks in these festive snowflake bowls.

CHRISTMAS PARTY MUSIC:

Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters' "The Twelve Days of Christmas," on YouTube

Buy The 12 Days of Christmas MP3, by Bing Crosby, on Amazon for 99 Cents

CHRISTMAS PARTY APPETIZERS:

Cranberry Almond Streusel Muffins Recipe, from Daily Homemade

Eggnog and Cranberry Scones Recipe, from Vanilla Garlic

CHRISTMAS PARTY BEVERAGES:

Orange Cranberry Milkshake Recipe, from The Pearfect Pear

Merry Margarita, from The Hip Stir

Eggnog for Breakfast: 5 Festive Recipes (TheKitchn)

CHRISTMAS PARTY ENTREES:

Christmas Pancakes Recipe, from Raspberri Cupcakes

Snowflake Pancake Molds, from Crate and Barrel

If guests come over early enough, serve them snowflake-shaped pancakes.

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes (Little Toast)

CHRISTMAS PARTY DESSERTS:

Bourbon and Brown Butter Brownies Recipe, from Raspberri Cupcakes

BOOKS FOR PARTY PLANNING:

Christmas With Family and Friends Cookbook, on Amazon