*Image above from Stubbs and Wootton. Never have I seen a more appropriate pair of shoes for a New Year’s Eve. THE END to this crazy year. Love these champagne ones for a lady.
This New Year’s Eve will truthfully be no different from the past several — we have deliberately and happily stayed in the past many years. Our favorite way to celebrate the new year is by drinking good champagne and indulging in an extravagant “seafood plateau,” including oysters (you can have them shipped to you from Mook’s Sea Farm), steamed lobster (this is where those graniteware seafood pots many of you are giving your husband for Christmas will come in handy), spiced shrimp (boil shrimp with beer, slices of lemon, some whole peppercorns, and a couple bay leaves; drain; douse in Old Bay), and, on occasion, caviar. We love to serve all of this with cocktail sauce laced with extra horseradish. In years past, I have supplemented the spread with savory monkey bread topped with dill butter or hush puppies made from my favorite Southern cookbook. This year, I’m contemplating making my own pimento cheese dip (there is also a good recipe in the Southern cookbook) and serving with my favorite crackers from Firehook Bakery. I am also dying to try these special cheese crackers from The Rounds…! So special for a fun occasion. I usually make a cheesecake for dessert (no idea why — it just feels festive?), but might branch out and do something different this year. Maybe little pavlovas topped with whipped cream and currants?
To make the occasion extra special, a few little finds to brighten the mood…
A NEW YEAR CROWN AND GLITTER WANDS — MINI WILL LOVE THIS
THESE LITTLE CHAMPAGNE PLACECARD HOLDERS — I KNOW SO UNNECESSARY FOR JUST THE TWO OF US, BUT SO FUN! TOO CUTE!
A PEARL BOW CELEBRATING THE NEW VINTAGE
GALVANIZED METAL TIERED SERVER — THIS SPECIFIC STYLE IS PERFECT FOR SERVING SEAFOOD, AS YOU CAN PACK CRUSHED ICE ON EACH LAYER AND PRESENT THE FISH THIS WAY WITHOUT IT MELTING/DRIPPING OFF EDGES
THIS STAND WOULD MAKE FOR A DRAMATIC MONKEY BREAD PRESENTATION!
MY FAVORITE TAPER CANDLE HOLDERS AND SILVER TAPERS (SO FUN TO MIX THE METALLICS ON NYE)
GLITTER RUFFLE HEELS OR THESE PERFECT GLITTER-HEELED PUMPS (40% OFF!)
If you’re getting glitzed up (like I am): a BIG heads up that Matches has a bunch of sequin Saloni dresses for like 70% off. I bought this one for $127 (also comes in a silver)! Unfortunately, that H&M dress is now likely not going to arrive in time, which is such a shame because they just launched a companion little girl’s dress that would have been beyond precious…but the steep discounts on sequined Saloni at Matches almost make up for it! (This one is also major — love the green!)
THIS SALONI (DROOL…)
TRULY THE DREAMIEST JENNY PACKHAM
HILL HOUSE GOLD BROCADE NAP DRESS
SHOW STOPPING EMILIA WICKSTEAD
If you’re going more casual, love the idea of a pair of velvet pull-on trousers like these, these, or these (all under $100) with a fun statement top like this or this, or a white silk blouse like this or this. Or, dress up your favorite jeans with this velvet top (under $25!) or this (under $40).
What are you doing this year?
P.S. Some festive baking ideas as we lead up to Christmas and some festive tabletop picks, too.
P.P.S. Do you write resolutions?
P.P.P.S. Will be interesting to compare what I learned in 2019 to what I learned in 2020…