Elevate Your COVID NYE

It’s no surprise as we round out 2020 that this year has been more than a MAJOR STRUGGLE. Small businesses closing their doors for good, hospitals filled, nurses working hours on end and not being able to spend as much time with your family and friends. Through all of this, we have started to get the hang of what we can do to limit all of those things from happening. This is your guide for how to celebrate your NYE by supporting local, staying safe from COVID and still getting to “see” your family and friends!

Decor

If you couldn’t tell by my DIY Wine Tasting or Birthday Brunch, I am a HUGE fan of decor. A simple balloon strand and a little sparkle can really heighten an event for a low cost! Decorating the room you are celebrating in whether it’s a nice dining area, a cozy chill basement or your family room, will make the holiday that much more exciting and glamorous! Some of my favorite places for cheap decor are listed below!

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• Party City– photo props, hanging decor, centerpieces, balloon banners
• Five Below– photo backdrops, balloon arches, word banners
• Dollar Tree– champagne glasses, confetti, serving trays, helium balloons
• Schorin Company– party kits, cutlery, tableware
• Target– plates, party sets, tabletop decor, champagne bottle pinata

Food

Obviously we are ALL about supporting local eateries here so here is a list of some of my fave places that are doing takeout and their specials!

• Cioppino– Surf and Turf pickup; can pick up hot and ready on NYE or cold ahead of time to reheat
• The Commoner– Prix Fixe menu with an appetizer, main course and dessert for $85
• Dianoia’s Eatery– set menu, family-style for $75 per person; add-ons and morning after menu options available
• The Vandal– $55 3-course Duck Confit dinner
• Mad Mex– 2 frozen house margs, an app/wings, two entrees and a brownie!
• Casbah– take and bake four course menu or meals for two; sparkling wine to go as well!
• Alta Via– Midnight Toast & Snack package

Drinks

My recent blog post covers all my fave festive cocktails to go in the Pittsburgh area! If you’re looking for an at home cocktail try my Mulled Wine or Santa Clausmopolitan 🤤

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Activities

For activities, this is where we need to get a little more creative. There’s of course the obvious watching the ball drop on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin Eve special or catching the local First Night Pittsburgh coverage at 11pm on CBS.

If you’re looking for some Zoom fun, there are plenty of online games to give a try like Kahoot quizzes. They have premade quizzes on things like movies, music, books and more. There’s something for everyone!!

If you just want to chat and have some conversation, have everyone add a virtual background from their favorite city’s New Year’s celebration or a picture from a funny memory of years passed and share your stories! You will likely get some good ones and create new memories for the next year!

Another Zoom idea is to make hors d’oeuvres over a Zoom call. Pick a recipe or two everyone agrees on and make it a fun activity (you might even see some cooking fails 😂). After your delicious snacks are done, cheers and enjoy!

This last idea is one of my favorites for NYE. Make some predictions for the next year! Who will get engaged? Move to a new city or state? Get promoted at work? The list is endless. If you want to get crazy you can make some celeb predictions like Taylor Swift will get engaged and release a BANGER album or low rise jeans will make a come back (let’s hope not). It’s fun to think about the future and all it can hold in a silly game style way!

Outfits

Alright so dressing up is arguably one of my favorite parts of NYE. Sparkles, glitter, leather, fur, you name it, I love it. If you’re looking for an affordable but fun outfit, I recommend using bottoms that you already own (leather skirt, black jeans, dare I say LEGGINGS??) and then a statement shirt and accessories.

For statement shirts you’re going to want check out Apricot Lane Boutique in Shadyside! They are having awesome end of year sales and have EVERYTHING New Years could dream up. Check out their NYE Look Book here 😘 If something you love isn’t on sale already use the code ‘FERRANTE15’ for 15% off your order!

For accessories I’m talking earrings, tights, headbands, necklaces, rings and MORE. You can get black tights perfect for under a dress or skirt at Dollar General. YES, I said Dollar General. Festive novelty headpieces and necklaces can be found at Party City, Walmart, Target, pretty much any big store (I know not supporting local but we are trying to do something on a budget here!).

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