Amid the many Christmas holiday duties including decorating your home, shopping for gifts and baking cookies, it is easy to forget that the start of the  2011 New Year is nearly here. While shopping at your favorite winery for holiday gifts for wine enthusiasts, purchase a bottle of wine for New Year’s Eve.

New Year’s celebrations can be costly and it may be better to plan a party at home and watch the big ball being dropped in New York’s Time Square on television. Invite a few friends and family into your home. Decorate the house with streamers and provide music keeping the level low enough so that guests can talk to each other.

Consider serving a hot mulled wine. White and red wines are good choices also. Have plenty of appetizers or ask guests to bring an appetizer to share. Provide sparkling wine or Champagne to toast the New Year in. For those who don’t care for wine have cranberry or apple juice available. Have hot coffee available throughout and at the end of the even

You may even want to place a 500 or 1,000 piece puzzle on a table for guests to attempt to put together before midnight! A little advance planning in the coming days will provide everyone with a delightful New Year’s Eve.

Keep everyone safe. If perchance any of your guests have over indulged, ask them to spend the night.

Cheers! Kathy