Happy New Year!

Happy New Year's Eve to all of you!  What will you be doing?  Getting engaged, perhaps?  Approximately 20% of all engagements happen over the holidays in December, according to a study by Conde Nast Bridal Group!  That's probably why we get so busy in January.  ;-)  I'm enjoying my last day of unofficial low-season vacation, because we here at Tradewind Tiaras always see a huge jump in activity on January 1st.  Something about all the new engagements and the rest of the brides realizing that they've just taken a three month holiday break from wedding planning!   To the bride who put in her order on Christmas Eve--smart girl, getting ahead of the crowd!  You might not need your veil until March, but it will be mailed out on Monday!

We're having a casual, family-friendly gathering to celebrate the new year.  We're inviting over a few families, firing up the wood-fired pizza oven I built in the backyard for some delicious food...

...playing fun German-style Board games like Settlers of Catan and Puerto Rico, and I'm sure we'll pull out the Wii...

..and of course, wear silly hats and make lots of noise come midnight.

 Leftover Christmas crackers are excellent for those who don't bring their own silly hats.

It's too late to order the supplies this year, but bookmark this tutorial and source of materials for making your own Christmas crackers for next year.  These are the supplies and directions I used for the ones I made for the Sugar Plum Fairy party.  It was easy and fun, and I loved being able to make my own custom fillings.  Fill them with noisemakers, notes with hopes for each person in the new year, a pen and paper to write down a resolution, and of course, a silly party hat, and you have a perfect New Year's Eve cracker!  (And do I have to mention what a marvelous DIY favor homemade crackers would be for a December wedding?)

Our oldest has always been incredible at staying up late--never cranky or difficult, so she'll easily make it to midnight.  Our 19 month old...no way.  So I'm going to use the brilliant idea over at the Frog Prince Paperie blog for an early celebration for little ones.  Inspired!

Wishing the happiest of new years to everyone!  See you in 2011.