out with the xmas....in with the bubbly

we did it! we've all survived the stress-inducing horror that is christmas! now, just one more holiday to get through and we'll all be home free until the nightmare that can be valentine's day rears it's ugly head.

to get us sanely into 2010, i've compiled some of my favorite anti-tips to help make your new year's celebration as easy and faux-pressive as possible.

if you are like me, you still have all of your christmas decorations up around your home. if you are going to be hosting this new year's a few quick and easy changes can update the look of your home so it doesn't look like you are the lazy sack that we all know we really are.

to begin, remove all ornaments from your tree, leaving only the lights (hopefully your tree is decked out in clear or white lights, if not restring the offending lights with pretty ones and remember not to make this mistake next year). hang tinsel SPARINGLY around the tree or spray with that fake glitter snow stuff. if your tree skirt is christmas themed, go to the fabric store and by a couple of yards of silver or gold fabric to drape around the base of the tree. done.

get rid of any and all red or green themed christmas decorations. no poinsettas, no holly, no santa snowmen or reindeer. get rid off all of that crap. christmas is over. you know it, your children know it, and trust me: your guests on new year's eve know it too. replace any bows or ribbons that you remove with silver or gold ribbon (your wreaths will look fresh in no time).

find as many clear glass containers as you can and fill them with gold or silver ball ornaments (bonus: these should be marked down up to 75% off at most stores). place the ornament-filled containers on mirrored panes, surrounded by tealights or other small candles in vases and hurricane glasses around your home. be careful of your placements, however: nothing kills a new year's eve party faster than a drunk party guest falling into one of your displays and subsequently setting your house on fire.

cover all table-top surfaces with white cloth to add a touch of elegance to the surroundings.

dim the lights, light the candles, and put on an up-beat playlist that will loop on it's own (it's always awkward when it suddenly gets all quiet and someone has to rush to re-start the music...plus that quiet moment is usually when i'm at the most embarrassing point possible in a story that i am telling a close confidante because i have obviously been over-served, even though i am the bartender, and i hate that).

if you feel the need to disguise your television, cue up an old black-and-white movie and turn the sound off.....just don't invite any stoners to your party because this will totally mesmerize them and they WILL camp out infront of the moving picture box for the rest of the party.

but most of all, to ensure that you have a great new year's eve party, make sure that you, as the hostess are having a great time. your guests will take their cues from you and if you are running around like a big stress-bucket, no one is going to be able to have a good time (unless they are hammered....which may be a result of trying to ignore the fact that you are a big stress-bucket). have fun, let loose: after midnight, who cares if the decorations hold up or the food stays fresh? you can worry about all of that stuff next year.