Allison Cafe

Apron Giveaway at Happy Find

Have I told you that I am slightly apron obsessed? The talented Venus and team at Happy Find are giving away one beautiful piece of art, a hand-made apron to one lucky blog reader. I am not kidding when I say that these are quite simply the most finely crafted aprons, and stylish too. Simply visit the post here and follow the instructions to enter the giveaway. May the best hostess win!

cute pincushions

And the fun doesn’t end there! Happy Find also has a fabulous sale going on right now at their Etsy store as well, visit the store here to browse their creative hand-made goods.

For many of us in the United States, New Year’s Eve parties conjure up memories of watching Dick Clark’s Rocking New Year’s Eve bash on television, sipping champagne at midnight, and unfortunately crowded bars and restaurants with ridiculous cover charges. I have long loathed that last one. To me, New Year’s Eve has been more about spending time with close friends and family, and of course that special someone to kiss at midnight. It has been less about needing to attend large parties and spending ridiculous amounts of money just to be there. Do not get me wrong, those events can be fun sometimes, but many times I would much rather be in a smaller setting ringing in the new year with the ones I love and not hundreds of strangers.

I think that is why a lot of people decide to create their own party and host it at home. Not only is it a lot more affordable, it also can be a more intimate event. And it can still be just as chic and fun as the trendiest clubs, if you take the time to decorate. And do not be afraid to ask guests to contribute to the menu. Hosting it as a pot luck can actually be a lot less work for the host and make guests feel like part of the planning committee. And let’s be honest, not all of our friends want to cook for the party, so task those guests with bringing other key ingredients like beverages.

New Year’s Eve should (more…)