NY Kids
NY Kids

I admit that I am a bit of a sap. I can’t watch Bambi or The Lion King without rocking myself, I have a difficult time watching the local news, I put my hand over my heart when listening to certain Adele or Jill Scott songs, I’m a big ole pile of goo at weddings, I gush with unabashed joy at my kids’ birthdays. Yep…a true sap (with a side of ratchetness). During the holidays, my sappiness gets kicked up a notch with a side of pomp and circumstance, and the New Year is sort of the perfect storm.

Each New Year’s Eve is special to me because it symbolizes a reset button on life. It’s a time when I can effectively compartmentalize things that didn’t go as planned in the current year, celebrate what went well, and be hopeful about what’s ahead for the next 365 days. I’ve gotten my kids into both the celebratory part and the reflective part. But this New Year’s Eve — December 31, 2019 — is not just the last day of the year; it’s the last day of the decade. (Pause for dramatic effect.) It deserves respect and documenting.

My household usually celebrates the New Year by creating time capsules, having festive drinks, dressing silly, making lots of noise and setting our intentions for the next year. Here’s how we make this magic happen without a lot of stress.

Document with Time Capsules

I often think about legacy, memories and traditions that my children will carry. My phone is full of photos that will never be printed and my mind is full of stories that may not ever get told. But time capsules allow me to help my kids and me document our year in the most simplistic way.

You’ll need:

  • Mason jars with lids (one for each person)
  • A time capsule questionnaire for each person (There are tons out there on Pinterest. This is one we have used in the past.
  • Sharpie or puff paint
  • Pen
  • Your thinking cap
  • Photos or anything you might want to toss in the jar

Directions:

  • Each person in your household should write their name on a mason jar (with the sharpie or puff paint) and complete their own questionnaire.
  • Share highlights with each other.
  • In each jar, toss in any objects or photos you may want included in the capsule along with the completed questionnaire.
  • Close the jar and put it away for reference in the future.

Get Festive

Buy inexpensive plastic or acrylic champagne flutes (colored ones, if possible) and rock candy on swivel sticks. Fill the flutes with sparkling cider or grape juice and add the rock candy and watch it fizz. Kids love it! (It fizzes with real champagne for the adults, in case you were wondering.) Grab some sparklers, a few hats, horns, boas, confetti, big glasses, etc. Don’t spend a lot of money on these items; the less expensive the more overboard you can go and then toss away guilt free the next day. (The Dollar Tree, Walmart and Party City are your friends.)

Vision Boards

Vision Boards

I am a firm believer in the power of manifestation…that if you dream it and believe it, you can put the work in behind it to make it happen. Vision boards allow us to dream out loud and visualize the future we desire. It’s a way to creatively set intentions and be able to see and touch those intentions when we want.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  1. Imagination
  2. Poster boards
  3. Sharpies and/or markers
  4. Old magazines
  5. Glue sticks
  6. Scissors

Now go to town! Flip through those old magazines for images and phrases that speak to the future you want to create; cut them out and glue them onto your board. Write messages of affirmation or true goals. Write, cut, paste, draw — do whatever your heart desires to make your board a living, breathing thing.

Take a little time to usher out the current year and welcome the next year. The future is bright!

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