• ABOUT
  • PODCAST
  • BLOG
    • MINIMALISM
    • HOME DESIGN AND RENOVATION
    • DIY
    • SEW
    • EAT
    • TRAVEL
  • BOOK
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
  • PODCAST
  • BLOG
    • MINIMALISM
    • HOME DESIGN AND RENOVATION
    • DIY
    • SEW
    • EAT
    • TRAVEL
  • BOOK
  • CONTACT
Shiny and New, New Year’s Day Party
January 3, 2012

Once we had Milo, Dave and I decided we’d celebrate the New Year in style… but on New Year’s Day, so the kid could join the fun. At midnight we snuggle in our pajamas at home, watch the ball drop, share a toast and a kiss while the boys are snug in bed (as they should be). Then on New Years Day, we party.

 This year, our New Year’s Day get together was more glitzy and glam than in years past.  I began thinking about it way back a couple months ago when I won a giveaway on Cupcakes & Cutlery for some custom party supplies from For Your Party. The only party I had on my horizon was the annual New Year’s bash, and so I designed a simple triangle motif and added the words “Shiny and New” knowing that I’d be able to plan around that simple concept when the time came (post- Thanksgiving and Christmas rush.)

When my party supplies arrived at my door, I was giddy! The design was exactly as I had uploaded it, and the gold metallic foil stamps were funky and fun. The giveaway was for customized napkins, stir sticks, and coasters. Napkins, of course, were useful…but stir sticks and coasters?

 I didn’t want to serve hot drinks, but when I pulled the stir sticks out of the bag I immediately thought they would make perfect marshmallow roasting sticks. So it was decided. We were having s’mores!

I set up the table very simply. A roll of brown kraft paper as the tablecloth allowed me to draw the serving dishes exactly as I wanted them. I also was able to add labels and instructions right to the table. I’ll for sure be using this idea again.

Of course, for s’mores, you need fire. And even though the weather here has been beautiful, it hasn’t been outdoor s’more weather. I spent two months thinking about and googling and researching indoor s’more bars, and the only things out there seem to be sterno cans or natural gas flames. Roasting my sugar over chemicals didn’t seem safe or delicious. I finally gave our panini grill a try, and in 3 minutes, I had a perfectly browned marshmallow!

I think it could be used with the plates in place, but I found the electric coils to be nice and hot by themselves. With the door locked at 2″, there is a perfect slot for inserting and roasting the mallow.

Of course, if you touch the coil directly, you get that wonderful flaming sugar that tastes so distinctly of summertime in the canyon. Mmmm. Just blow it out quick (and don’t let my landlord spy this photo:)

For variety and ease, I chose to use Ghiradelli chocolate squares for the chocolate. I found a variety pack at Costco and called it good. Of Raspberry, Mint, Milk, Dark and Caramel, my favorite was the Caramel. It was also the messiest. Lucky for me, I had some really cool napkins to use:)

To keep the kids away from the heat of “the fire” I made a bunch of s’more pops by dipping a marshmallow into milk chocolate then rolling it in graham cracker crumbs.

They were a hit, even with the adults.

For the coasters, I created a little resolution station where folks could jot down a goal or two on the back of a coaster and then take it home and set it somewhere as a reminder. Since I was using plasticware, and don’t worry about rings on my furniture, I wasn’t totally sure what else to do with them. 

I initially planned on creating a pendant banner with the coasters, but then I got all crazy with my silhouette and decided to make a bunch of triangle decorations instead.

For these babies I simply designed a square cut into 8 triangles, let the machine do the cutting, then I zipped down the middle of them with my sewing machine, turning them into a cool sort of flying geese banner. I had to make some big ones with the party theme “Shiny and New” cut OUT of them, just because I can.

(You better believe there will be some fun paper projects forthcoming on One Little Minute, thanks to my parents and their perfect Christmas gift…)

Back to the party. We served several kinds of “bubbly” in the most darling petite plastic wine glasses. It lent a fancy feel that even the toddlers could enjoy. My favorite beverage was the Trader Joe’s sparkling clementine juice. Of course it was. TJ”s never lets me down.

Along with the fun treats and great company, we were excited this year to set up a little photo booth in the boys room. I borrowed a tripod and set up my camera on self-timer. For the backdrop, I cut strips in metallic gold crepe paper then hot glued them to the kraft background. Then I added an entire roll of cheap metallic gold wrapping ribbon to fill in a little more. I just wanted a little glitz back there. People could grab a prop or two, press the button, then run over and smile!

I also used the silhouette to create some fun photo booth props. I cut them out of kraft then spray painted them gold. Oh, and I also bought and quickly spray painted the border of a mini white board, so that guests could jot down a resolution for their mugshot, should they want to. Here’s one of mine: floss daily. What? You remember that being my resolution last year? Oh, well, guess I’m still working on it. I’m great at brushing…(since buying these two months ago, I haven’t missed a day flossing, either:)

My other resolutions include: reading the Book of Mormon every day (ahem…also familiar), sending birthday cards to all of my family members, and organizing my craft closet.

The goal for this stud? More exercise. I guess after three years of sitting at a desk in school, and now three months of, um…sitting at a desk at work, he’s ready to move again. And we just got gym passes (on Jan 2nd, so predictable), so he will.

The photo booth was a hit. These are just a few of the awesome shots I had on my camera post-party. Tonight I’ll email them all out with a little “thanks for coming” (“hope it’s okay I posted your mug on my blog today…” tee hee hee)

That’s all. It was fantastic. I can’t yet bring myself to take down the table backdrop because I just think it’s fun. We’re dining under gold streamers over here. Feels like a very happy new year already!

How was your New Year? Did you celebrate? What are you going to try to do this year?

Share

Holiday Parties  / New Years

  • ABOUT

    Welcome! I’m Miranda, the maker mama behind Live Free Creative Company.

  • More Than Enough Book


    Have you ever felt like you were running a race you couldn’t win in life? Like there was always something more to buy or to achieve in order for you to feel like you had “made it”?In this book, I share how my heart changed and I began to find real, lasting peace, abundance, and joy through focusing on what matters most and disregarding the rest.

    Find out more here.

  • ConvertKit Form

    Five Days to Freedom: Tips for Choosing Less Stuff and More Adventure in your Daily Life

    Five lessons with practical tips and exercises to help you feel more in control of your life!

    Success!

    There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

    We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit
  • Recent on Instagram

    livefreemiranda

    Packing up for our 15th anniversary getaway (Costa Packing up for our 15th anniversary getaway (Costa Rica ☀️🌺🌴🥰) and grateful for this past month of relationship-focus. 

All of October the #livefreecreativepodcast episodes centered on ideas for a more intentional, connective marriage, in partnership with our fave all-natural intimate body oil @coconu 🥥 (watch my story highlight for more info!)

As I taught and implemented some simple tips, I noticed a measurable difference in my own partnership with Dave, and we’re so excited to continue building on that with this next week away together. 

Some of my favorite takeaways from the episodes are these: 

• Take care of yourself so you can take care of your relationship! (Ep 155)
• “Foreplay is everything that happens in between sexual encounters.” -@kristinbhodson (Ep 156)
• Have more fun simply playing together! (Ep 157)
• Learning to love one another is an ongoing process. (Ep 158)

The biggest takeaway is that great, loving, balanced marriages don’t happen on autopilot. They require an investment of intentional time, emotional energy, and commitment and can be so worth the effort!

Use LIVEFREE for 15% off your order of @coconu (it’s a perfect sexy stocking stuffer 🎁😉) and tune into the show for all of these tips and more.
    Slip-sliding into the holiday season this weekend. Slip-sliding into the holiday season this weekend. 🎃🦃🎁
Here’s a quick reminder that the most meaningful gifts of the year might not be under the tree (or on a cargo ship in the ocean. 😜🚢)

#lessstuffmoreadventure
    How well do you know your partner, TODAY? Do you How well do you know your partner, TODAY? 

Do you know their current stressors? Dreams? What they love to spend time doing and what they wish they could set down?

The Gottman Institute has found that one of the foundations of a solid, long-lasting relationship is what they call “marital friendship”. 

Marital friendship looks like getting to know your partner and then CONTINUING to get to know each other as life changes, circumstances shift, and your own core identities and understandings progress. 

This week on the #livefreecreativepodcast I share some ideas for building and updating your personal “Love Map” and even include a free, printable PDF to get the conversation started! 

Tune in on your favorite listening app. 💕
    Hi there! It’s been a little while since I intro Hi there! It’s been a little while since I introduced myself and thought I’d take a minute to share: 

1. I’m an RN patient educator turned online educator and intentional living specialist. I’m applying right now for a Master’s Degree program in Applied Positive Psychology, and look forward to adding new research and understanding to what I share in my podcast, online courses, and retreats! (🤞 I get in!)

2. I have been married 15 years, have 3 kids, 2 cats, 6 chickens, 1 dog, and love the mild chaos of our small and quite full house, #ourrichmondfixerupper.

3. I teach and share principles for wellbeing and living life on purpose in four main ways: 
• my free weekly podcast #livefreecreativepodcast
• one-on-one monthly creative mentorship
• 2x annual group online masterclass, opening again in January 2022
• small group work retreats #livefreecreativecamp and #lfcgrownupsummercamp, 2022 dates coming soon

4. I’m the author of More Than Enough, a non-fiction book about the lessons I learned during a year of not shopping. The experience and book were pivotal in my relationship to stuff and to myself.

5. I love reading, nature, tacos, running, diy projects, kitchen dance parties, loaded French fries, traveling, sleeping, teaching, making lists, trying new things, and the feeling I get when I still my thoughts for long enough to settle into the wholeness of the present moment.

6. I’ve been sharing online for over 14 years (first blogging, then Instagram…) and sometimes feel more disconnected because of the perpetual nature of these platforms. I crave the true connections we can make as humans in the real world and love using IG as a jumping off point to meet and gather, teach and learn with women in other, longer-lasting ways. 

7. I’m an Aquarius , enneagram 7, Generator, and a nuanced, unorthodox Mormon who truly believes we are all meant to walk our own pathways in this life, discovering our truest selves and finding alignment with her wholeness. ✨

Okay, that’s enough about me. Did you learn something new? 

Now, tell me something about you!! 

(Headshot by @heathermildenstein at Fall 2021 #livefreecreativecamp)
    Spending the weekend in a little corner of heaven Spending the weekend in a little corner of heaven called Idaho. 💛

I read a great article last week about how experiencing “moments of awe” and creating space to feel all of the perspective that feeling brings, can increase our overall wellbeing. 

Just stepping outside here feels like entering a wonderland— add in having fun with good friends (redesigning and styling @3in30podcast main floor ✨) and I feel pretty great. 

How will you take a moment to feel awed today? A walk outside? A quiet corner with a good book? Delighting in a lovely bite of delicious food? Remembering how lovely life can be invited even more of that loveliness into our experience.
    How much effort and intention do you put into your How much effort and intention do you put into your marriage every day? Week? Month? 

Did you know that some super simple (fun and easy) practices can keep your relationship running smoothly and help reduce the uncomfortable friction that comes when we work against— rather than in alignment with— our partner. 

Tune in to episode 157 of the #livefreecreativepodcast to hear more about these 5 practices! 

Which one jumps out to you as something you could implement easily today?
    Simple, beautiful, functional storage for the win! Simple, beautiful, functional storage for the win! ✨

In our little home (1400 sq ft) I am always on the lookout for forgotten spaces we could maximize with easy and affordable design solutions.

This over-the-keyboard nook is a perfect example of a little-used wall that transformed into an efficient family command center with about $150 of shelving supplies and 2 hours of effort.

 As soon as I finished I thought “Why on earth hadn’t I done that earlier! It’s MEANT to be like this!” 

Sending you a bit of confidence and creativity to use your own home to its fullest most meaningful potential! ✌️

#ourrichmondfixerupper
    “As long as you’re dancing, you can break the “As long as you’re dancing, you can break the rules. 

Sometimes breaking the rules is just extending the rules.

Sometimes there are no rules.”

— Three Things To Remember, Mary Oliver ✨

This whole week of #livefreecreativecamp was a gift— stepping outside of the passing of time to pause, reflect, gather, and connect.

Sometimes, even over a dozen years into this hobby-turned-business-turned-career, I wonder what I am even doing. If I’m doing it right or well. 

And then I remember: we’re all just sort of making it up as we go and doing the best we can with what we have. 

Dancing along to the beat of our own heart, and hopefully spreading joy along the way. 💛
    It’s impossible to put the experience of Creativ It’s impossible to put the experience of Creative Camp adequately into words. One part incredible community of supportive women meets one part deep solo work time, mixed with a beautiful location, thoughtful meals, inspired masterminds, and the kind of synergy that fills your heart to the brim. 💛

I am honored by the women who chose to step into the space I create for them, and fill it with such generosity and love.

I’m headed home with an added dose of gratitude, confidence, and friendship in my pocket. (Plus a solid first draft on an exciting new essay.✌️)

#livefreecreativecamp

Beautiful photos by @heathermildenstein
    In this week’s podcast, I sat down for a chat wi In this week’s podcast, I sat down for a chat with my friend and sex therapist @kristinbhodson to answer some community questions about sex. 💛

Our chat feels like and approachable, candid conversation with a friend, and I hope you’ll tune in and learn a little something new to increase the connection, desire, and pleasure in your own most intimate relationship.

For most of my own childhood I thought “sex” was a swear word 😂 so needless do say, there has been lots of learning, growing up, developing myself not only so my own personal relationship flourishes. Also because I know as I model a healthy, whole understanding of sex, my kids will grow up with so much more of that perspective. 

Tune in, save, share, and let me know your favorite takeaways! ☺️

#livefreecreativepodcast
    Last week we hosted our first annual #Coopstock ba Last week we hosted our first annual #Coopstock backyard bash! 🐓🎉

Celebrating our cute backyard chickens as a #HenUpOrganicsPartner was a great excuse to bring family, friends, and neighbors together to eat, chat, and enjoy live music (isn’t Luna amazing?🎶). 

I wanted a backyard flock for years before we finally made it happen, and these past three years have been a dream come true. We love taking care of our girls and @henuporganics ingredient list reads like our own grocery list: ancient grains, fruits, and vegetables. 💛

The whole night was magical, and I’m already looking forward to next year. 

Follow along to learn more about Hen Up® Organic Chicken Food by visiting https://clvr.li/HenUpCoopstock (also linked in my IG story and profile!)
    Four years ago, during our first fall living in Vi Four years ago, during our first fall living in Virginia, I rented a convertible for a day to take the kids on a leaf peeping drive through Shenandoah National Park. 🍂🍁😍

Tonight I finally spent 30 minutes compiling the video I took that day into a short montage, and remembered the fun and whimsy of that little adventure. (The kids have grown so much!! ❤️) 

I think it’s time for a repeat this year! ✌️

#lessstuffmoreadventure
    Follow @livefreemiranda on Instagram
    This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
  • FAVORITE CATEGORIES

    • DIY
    • SEW
    • DECORATE
    • EAT
    • LIFE
    • TRAVEL



© Copyright 2021 Live Free Creative Co | View our Privacy Policy