Thursday, December 31, 2009

New Years Eve

Confession: I hate New Years Eve. Seriously. I read Nora's post about it earlier this month and thought - YES, that's exactly how I feel about this stupid holiday! I think it is such an over-rated holiday. I've had a couple of fun NYE nights, but most of them have been a bit lack luster. I'm not going to be all whiny and get into why I dislike this holiday and feel like it is a couple-centric holiday.

Instead, let me tell you how I will be spending it! Instead of going out and facing the crowd, prix fixe menus, and steep cover charges, I will be heading north to my parents' lake cabin. I can't wait to bring in the New Year with my parents and 2 of my 4 siblings. We are making a big family dinner and will probably play games and watch movies. It's going to be fan-freaking-tastic!

Last year I posted about resolutions, but this year I won't be doing that. Why? Well, in about 6 weeks, I will be posting a '30 before 30' list on or around my 29th birthday. It's going to be a challenge to tackle 30 things in 12 months, but being a list-lover, goal-oriented girl, I am confident I can accomplish everything on my list! So stay tuned for that...

I do have one resolution that doesn't fit into the whole '30 before 30' list, though. So my 2010 resolution is to cut down on the lattes. It's kind of getting out of control. Do I really need to drink a Large, ~$4 latte every day? No, I really don't. Yes, it makes me happy, but it went from being a treat to being part of my daily routine. If I keep up with this habit, I will spend close to $1,200 on coffee in 2010. So my goal for 2010 is to have a latte on Friday. It will be my treat for making it through the week. How will I survive Mon-Thur? I am going to make coffee at home and bring it to work. Much cheaper.

How about you? Are you making any New Years resolutions? How will you be celebrating tonight?

22 comments:

Abby said...

I honestly cannot thimk of a better way to be spending NYE than with our family! It has been a few ts since I have celebrated it at the cabin and am so happy!

I agree it is totally an overrated holiday. I have a few resolutions and goals brewing up for the year.

Becky said...

Oh, NYE is totally over-hyped! It's fun to say Happy New Year at midnight, but then what?

We're going to a friend's house for a small gathering (literally there will be five of us including the hubby and me) and are going to play games, have champagne and watch movies. We're all crashing at our friend's house so tomorrow morning we'll have a big breakfast together too which I think will be fun.

Your plans sound awesome - take lots of pics! And I can't wait the 30 before 30 list! (You know how I love lists).

I'maNolaGirl said...

I agree on NYE, too mych unfulfilled hype. We're going to a friend's house where they are doing a children's NYE celebration around 6:00 and putting all of the kids down for bed. Then the adults will just lounge around and hang out and chat. I like that it is low key and focused on friends and not fuss!

aimee said...

thank you-i feel the same way about NYE! i went out once on NYE and never will again. i'll be at home with family..eating and probably watching some movies. i wouldn't want to ring in the new year any other way. i hope you have a great weekend!! happy new year!!

Carolina John said...

i love new year's. never thought about it being a couple's holiday though. imagine a giant kiss from me at midnight ***smootch***

i love it because it's like getting a do-over from life. you can reset your mindset, change your attitude, set new goals and targets, get a whole new set of things to look forward too. 2006, 2007 (especially), and 2008 were really rough years for me. so every new year brought an optimism that life would then crash down in some way. i enjoyed that newfound optimism while it lasted.

plus we get the best college football games of the year tomorrow. might not be that exciting for you, but gawd I love it.

we never do anything exciting for nye ever. lay in bed and watch the ball drop in nyc. complain about the Seacrest taking over for Dick Clark. that's about it.

Emily Jane said...

I've had lots of rubbish NYEs too! That sounds like a wonderfully fun way to spend it. I have a few resoloutions but I still have another... 12 hours or so to finalise them :) Tonight we're just going to some friends' places and then, depending on cab service at midnight, hitting an 80's party :)

Happy new year!!

The Many Thoughts of a Reader said...

So far my plans include dinner with my husband. Will probably watch some movies, drink some wine, maybe play some games and read. I have only had one NYE when I went out. That was when I went to visit my friends in Tennessee and we went out to some club. Other NYE's have been spent on Ft. Myers beach with family, few friends in my apt, a party at a friends, alone with my hub and last year we had two friends over.. this year looks like alone with the hub unless our 2 friends form last year want to come over.. or maybe over to my parents for awhile.. it bums me out because i never have anything cool to do but at the same time i never want to go out haha..

Kyla Roma said...

My new years resolution is just to slow down. That's it. I think it'll make me really happy! lol

I don't like parties at the best of time, and running around when it's cold and miserable and there are drunk drivers everywhere just really takes it to the next level of bad for me. So we provide a service now: come to our house as your first stop. Have a glass of something bubbly, say hi to your immediate group of friends, and then hit the road by 10 pm and get onto all the rest of the places you want to be seen.

And that's when we curl up in bed =)

Amber said...

I've never been a fan of NYE either. Me and Eric are not that type of people - we are couch potatoes! Lol, I'm also spending the evening with family and friends, playing board games!

I am really excited for your 30 before 30 list!!!!

That's a great idea about the lattes. I NEED to cut back on expenses this year too because of all the traveling I want to do. I need to figure out the best way to do that and I think it's food. I eat out too much and also spend too much on groceries. Must cut back. I like the idea of giving yourself one treat a week though. Maybe I'll do that with eating out.. Hmmm....

Have a safe trip up to your parents cabin and a wonderful New Year!!! XO

Allison Blass said...

I live in NYC and it's snowing today, so the odds of me making it outside are pretty slim. Our plans are to join some friends for dinner and then I'm going over to another friend's house for cupcakes and champagne! We'll be ringing in the New Year with good friends, all nice and warm and cozy. It sounds perfect to me, and so do your plans! I hope you have a wonderful New Year!

Cheers,
Allison

Little Fish said...

Three years ago my resolution was cut back on my Starbucks intake too (I don't drink coffee, but their peppermint hot chocolate is my version of heaven!) and I was able to accomplish it by haveing a predetermined day too.

For me it was Starbucks Wednesdays and my former coworker and I, who were close friends outside of work, would take our lunch at Starbucks and sip and gab.

Coincidentally, that would be the same close friend who I was reffering to in my last post who hasn't bothered to acknowledge my existence in the last year, but reads my blog. The friendship may be over, but I still love thos peppermint hot chocolates :)

Brooke said...

I am so not a New Year's Eve fan but I like the thoughts of a fresh beginning. To me New Year's is refreshing.

Sarah said...

I don't celebrate New Year's either - I like to use the time to reflect on where I am and where I want to go/what I want to accomplish over the coming year. I love resolutions, I think that they're so much fun! It's a list thing.
I'm looking forward to hearing about your 30 before 30 list!

crystal said...

Great post! I have multiple comments so I am organizing them... :)
1) I love your NYE plans, this is exactly how I feel about the holiday. I used to do the whole party and go out thing, but I agree, it was always more hyped up than it was worth! Spending the night relaxing with family sounds ideal!
2) I love the "30 by 30" list! I have a list of things to do before I die and I have been considering seperating them out by decade (to do by 30, to do by 40, etc..) I think it is more motivating that way.
3) Finally, the latte thing was a problem for me too. Then I went down to Americanos because they are cheaper (and stronger!) and now I do coffee at home. I got a frother thing (I think it was $2 at Ikea) and it makes a world of difference. I put the creamer in first and froth it by itself, then add coffee and walla! homemade latte! Go get one, it will help I promise!

Mandy said...

I think your NYE sounds heavenly. I grew up spending NYE with my family, my best friends family all at her grandparents house playing games, drinking champagne at midnight, then immediately eating pork and sauerkraut (its supposed to bring good luck or something like that?).

I don't really make resolutions but I am determined to have an amazing 2010.

Happy New Year, Lisa!!

Anais said...

I can't wait to see your 30 before 30 list, and I have no doubt you'll be able to tackle them all!

I also hate NYE... It is totally overrated. Last night wasn't TOO bad. It was spent with my family and wasn't as boring as other years :P

ps: Good luck on cutting back on lattes... What you could do is just put some money into your starbucks card (a certain amount per month) and you can only use your starbucks card and nothing else! :)

Nicole said...

You are so right that NYE is all about the couples. It's kind of weird that I do have a boyfriend, but I didn't spend the holiday with him. I spent the night with my mom instead. I think I'm just kind of over all the holidays.

Kelly said...

I completely agree with you about New Years- I only like it now because I have a tradition with my fiance, sister and best friend- and it's only 6 of us and relaxed and stress free. Before I was with Eric, New Years was by far my least favorite holiday. It's still not at the top to be honest, or anywhere close.

Can't wait to see your 30 before 30 list!

Marlys said...

I love New Year's Eve because it is usually a very quiet, relaxing event spent with family, eating a great home-cooked meal, which by the way was absolutely awesome! Thank you, Kevin, Julie, Abby, Ryan and Lisa! Playing games was so much fun, but we forgot to open the bottle of champagne at Midnight because we were all in bed! Oh my!

Lisa-Marie said...

Happy New Year Lovely!

My resolution is to be more healthy. As this is a bit ague, I've decided that specifically, I'm going to make sure I excersize every day - even if it's just a long walk, and that I eat less rubbish, and more fruit and veg.

Lauren @ Sassy Molassy said...

That is going to save you a ton of $$. I know I've cut back on my starbucks consumption over the last year. It's never been a daily thing, but those $4 drinks sure do add up. Plus, I enjoy them more when it's just a treat!

Katie said...

I hate NYE too! We did remarkably similar things. I spent it with my family watching movies. We toasted in the New Year, but it was very low key.

I had a few NYE right in a row that were so terrible I left/made the people I was with take me home at about 11:30. After that I decided I could have a much nicer night if I stayed in.

I'm excited to see your list!