DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

   New Year's Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. It’s a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes. This is a list of the ten most popular New Year resolutions. 10. Reorganize Life    On just about every New Year resolution top ten list, organization can be a very reasonable goal. Whether you want your home organized enough that you can invite someone over on a whim, or your office organized enough that you can find the stapler when you need it, these tips and resources should get you started on the way to a more organized life. 9. Be More Charitable    A popular, non-selfish New Year’s resolution, volunteerism can take many forms. Whether you choose to spend time helping out at your local library, mentoring a child, or building a house , there are many nonprofit volunteer organizations that could really use your help. 8.

   The traditional song for bringing in the new year in most English speaking countries is " Auld Lang Syne ". The song is well known and sung at the stroke of midnight as the new year is ushered in. The words were passed down orally and written down in 1788 by Scottish poet Robert Burns. Robert Burns is usually given credit for the poem, but some lyrics appear to have been taken from an earlier poem by James Watson. The phrase "Auld Lang Syne" is also used in similar poems by Robert Ayton (1570-1638), Allan Ramsay (1686-1757), and James Watson (1711) as well as older folk songs predating Burns.    It soon became traditional in Scotland and the British Isles for the folk song "Auld Lang Syne" to be sung to commemorate the beginning of the New Year. As the people from that area of the world emigrated to other places and to the United States, they brought the tradition with them and it became an American tradition. Although the song

   Just as the parties from Christmas begin to dwindle, preparations are started for the celebration of New Year. It is a time when even the least-likely party-goer will ready himself for a night of booze, singing, and food. This list looks at 10 of the most common and interesting traditions of New Year from around the world. 10. First Footing    First-footing is an ancient European New Year’s custom that continues into the present in many areas. The first person to enter a home after midnight on the first day of the year should be a male, preferably with dark hair. Blondes may have been associated with Vikings – visitors who never brought good luck. The first-footer should carry a gift, such as a coin for prosperity, bread for food, salt for flavor, or whiskey to represent good cheer. The first-footer can be a resident of the house, but must not be inside during the hour leading up to midnight. No fair stepping outside and coming back in again! 9. Iri sh

   Celebrate and stay sober while ringing in the New Year with these holiday drink recipes: Golden Fruit Punch Recipe 21 Servings Prep: 10 min. + freezing 10 10 Ingredients 4 maraschino cherries 1 medium navel orange, thinly sliced 1 small lemon, thinly sliced 1 small lime, thinly sliced 1 can (12 ounces) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed 1 can (12 ounces) frozen limeade concentrate, thawed 1 can (12 ounces) frozen pineapple-orange juice concentrate, thawed 2 liters diet ginger ale, chilled Directions Arrange fruit in a 5-cup ring mold; add 3/4 cup water. Freeze until solid. Add enough water to fill mold; freeze until solid. Just before serving, in a punch bowl, combine juice concentrates with 2 cups water. Stir in ginger ale. Unmold ice ring by wrapping the bottom of the mold in a hot, damp dishcloth. Invert onto a baking sheet; place fruit side up in punch bowl. Yield: 21 ser

   Having the perfect New Years Eve party that will be enjoyed by all isn’t always something easy to do. You have to do a great deal of hard work and study to try and make your event one which will be talked about by all of your friends. You would like the party that you plan to have all the things that you want and so much more. This will probably be the equation which will end up getting you the most spectacular New Years Eve party that you can be proud of.    Whenever you are looking to have your event stand out from all the rest, you need to do a couple of things initially. You want to think of ways that you can bring some fun and excitement to your wonderful occasion. You need to add some pizzazz to your party so that you are able to take your invited guests by surprise. You want them to be thrilled by coming to your party. Simply by incorporating some of the sparkle that you want, you’ll be bringing life to it for everybody.     The most that you are able to do fo

   On December 31, 2011, people all over the world will welcome in the New Year watching the 2011 Time Ball drop in Times Square in New York City or by dropping objects like pickles and acorns to pursue prosperity in 2012. Many celebrations focus on time balls to calculate and welcome the New Year. Other towns and cities across the country drop a variety of items, according to local tradition or just plain tradition. Talbot, Maryland will feature a Crab Drop at its first night celebration, Mobile, Alabama will drop a twelve foot moon pie at its New Year's Eve celebration, and Atlanta, Georgia, will drop an 800 pound peach at its celebration to ring in 2012. The 2011 Times Square Time Ball The Times Square ball that will drop on December 31, 2011, measures 12 feet in diameter, weighs 11, 875 pounds and is covered with 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles of varied sizes. The crystals produce millions of vibrant colors and countless patterns, and

   No other drink on Earth can capture the romance and euphoria of a single moment of celebration into such a tangible act as when the seal of a bottle of champagne is broken. The cork pops, the bubbles fizz and the wine bursts out of the bottle with the enthusiasm of lava erupting from Krakatoa. Like all good wines, champagne possesses the depth, character and prestige to command a special place on the dinner tables of many royals, celebrities and businessmen in the uppermost echelons of society. Because of its unparalleled position in the global wine market, this list focuses exclusively on sparkling wines from the Champagne region of France, there are no Cavas, Sekts or Spumantes to be seen here. Oh – and happy New Year! Hopefully you are able to enjoy some delicious champagne while reading this New Year’s list. 10. Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill    This very unique prestige cuvée was introduced, in 1984, by Pol Roger, in honour of their most loyal and ardent cu

   COUNTING DOWN the minutes until the start of 2012 will be sweet indeed…if you include this chocolate treat among your festive decorations! The hourglass confection is the work of our kitchen crew, who reveals that the design tastes as good as it looks. That’s right—it’s completely edible! And, though it appears time-consuming, the figure is easy to make.Mostly, it’s a matter of forming cones from chocolate using kitchen funnels, then assembling the pieces. 1 Servings Prep: 45 min. + chilling 45 45 Ingredients Materials needed: 1 pound white candy coating, melted 1/2 pound milk chocolate candy coating, melted 2 large pretzel sticks (each 7 inches long x 3/8 inch wide) White candy coating curls and shavings, optional Two plastic funnels ( each about 4 inches wide) Waxed paper Masking tape Small metal spatula Bowl Cup or glass Sharp knife Pastry brush Serving plate Foil