New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are full of traditions for many. The most popular is likely to be resolutions. Everyone is hopeful for a great new year and New Year's resolutions are one of the biggest topics for the New Year. Other traditions include New Year's Eve dinners, parties, eating certain foods for good luck, watching the Times Square Ball drop and toasting with champagne.

Music is also a big tradition and the song Auld Lang Syne brings in the New Year for many people.
Why do we make resolutions?

Traditionally, people start talking about their New Year's resolutions as the new year approaches. More than likely it's a show of confidence that the next year will bring good things and prosperity. It is a time to reflect upon the last year and consider what one has achieved, missed, forgotten to do, and what one thinks one should do in the upcoming year.

What is the most frequently made resolution? There is no "poll" that shows us this, as typically a resolution is very personal. However, many people aspire to lose weight, get in shape, save more money and spend more time with family and friends.

Dinner traditions for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
New Year's Eve is a major social holiday. Many people go out to dinner to celebrate the incoming new year. However, with the economy keeping budgets a lot tighter, a number of people are staying home to enjoy dinner with family and friends.

From a formal standing rib roast and full sit-down dinner to a cocktail party with great appetizers, there are many ways to celebrate New Year's Eve by eating at home. Check out some great New Year's Dinner ideas on www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties.

New Year's Day is a day to enjoy the first full day of the New Year. Many make a special dinner built around good-fortune foods. There are many foods that are supposed to bring luck, like black-eyed peas, collard greens and ham. They are often made into a soup called, "Good Fortune Soup."

New Year's Eve Music
The most popular New Year's Eve song is the traditional Auld Lang Syne. It's commonly played at parties as the clock hits midnight. An old Scottish tune, Auld Lang Syne literally means "old long ago," or more simply put: "the good old days."

The lyrics to Auld Lang Syne are memorable to many:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,And auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,For auld lang syne,We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,For auld lang syne!
And there's a hand my trusty fiere,And gie's a hand o thine,And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,For auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear,For auld lang syne,We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,For auld lang syne!

However you celebrate the incoming New Year 2010, make sure you add your own traditions to make it special for your family.

I know, I know. Salmon again.
I had salmon and rice. It was soooo predictable but so good.

Alison Church

So I got off work super early today to start planning for my big trip home. But first things first....CLEANING! Call me superstitious but I don't do laundry or any of that other stuff on New Year's Day. So, I'm trying to do everything tonight before me and The Mister head to Atl to meet the fam. Yes, meet the fam. ***deep sigh** There is a first time for everything. I don't know what the future holds but I know I care a great deal for him and hopefully they will love him just as much.

We'll see.

Beautiful.

You know me.... I have a weakness for a neutral palette. This room screams perfection.

Gucci makes the best clothes and shoes in the world. I just wish they were more affordable. Oh well, I will keep adding looks like these to my 'Look Book.'

Miu Miu

Whew...so I finished my Christmas shopping today.

Strange, yes I know. But remember: I work in TV so I didn't get a chance to go home for the holiday which meant that I had more time to shop (Hooray for after Christmas sales)... and I had more time to wrap presents.

This year I opted not to do the comic book paper and ribbon. Instead I opted for gold wrapping paper. Pretty!

Mmmm. Fresh garland and Moravian Stars. So pretty.

Martha Stewart

Merry Christmas Eve!

May 2010: Get Carrie'd Away!

you're welcome.

Delight

Chilewich

I don't have an I-Phone but if I did, I would have to buy one of these fashionable cases.

I especially love the Chilewich bamboo case. Nice.

Hermes Fall/Winter

Apartment Therapy

I always say that the design is in the details. This is in someone's window in their bathroom.

Just in case you forgot, Christmas Eve is tomorrow!!!!! OMG!

Good morning!!! It's my favorite time of the day...breakfast! This is the unhealthiest part of my day. Yesterday I was a good girl but TODAY it's a different story. Ego waffles smothered in syrup is my pick this morning. No fruit, no grain, just SUGAR!

I deserve it. This week has been a you know what!

Whether I get in the Christmas spirit or not, Christmas is on its way. Can you believe we are just a few days away from Christmas. I've finished 95% of my shopping. I bought Mr. Hailey's gifts yesterday just in time for our first big fight! Perfect timing!

Anyway, we'll be fine. And I am sure I will find some good gifts after Christmas for my mom and my grandmother. I found a few things for them but I still have a couple things I want to pick up.

For now, it's off to work....somebody has to pay for all this. Then again, maybe Santa will leave a stack of cash under my tree (or my door mat since I don't have a tree. lol)

Have a great day!

Getting to know your blogger

1. Respond and rework. Answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention; add a question of your own.
2. Tag another blogger.

What is your current obsession?
love.

Who makes your favorite kind of hot chocolate?
me. because i always add a little something extra.

Do you nap a lot?
not nearly enough.

Who was the last person you hugged?
The man.

What’s for dinner?
not sure. i'm still trying to fiure out breakfast.

What was the last thing you bought?
some goodies from VS

What are you listening to right now?
my fingers hitting the keypad.

What is your favorite weather?
it was a nice spring day but since the view of my first snow in 5yrs this morning is starting to change my mind.

What’s on your bedside table?
way too much stuff! phones, notepads, and a bunch of other stuff that doesn't belong.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be?
Right here.

Favorite vacation spot?
Considering I haven't been on vacation in ages....anywhere!!

Name the things you can’t live without.
family, friends, internet, Bravo TV, money, power, fresh flowers

What would you like to have in your hands right now?
a big fat check to shop til i drop.

What is your favorite tea flavor?
i don't really do tea..unless crystal light counts.

What would you like to get rid of?
this week, the extra fat on my body!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
to atlanta to visit my nephew.

What did you want to become as a child?
a tv news anchor

What do you like better, e-mail or telephone calls?
neither. i'm all about te face-to-face.

What is your favorite sport to play?
football.

What was your favorite concert you attended?
new edition.

Favorite carbohydrate?
donuts. so bad, i know.

Who makes you smile?

my nephew and the man.

The best part about love is..

falling into it.

Unit #M: Perfectly Imperfect

Look at these! Aren't they interesting... I bought them at some swanky furniture place and I love them for my bar area.

While I'm at it. Here's what Unit #M is looking like these days.

I'm still working on a couple of things but for the most part, this is it!

Happy Saturday morning! It's still snowing here and I'm loving it.

Guess what...
It's snowing, it's snowing!

It just started coming down about an hour ago. I luv snow days!

It's Friday! Add a touch of sparkle to your life. I will!

Pillow Talk: Aren't these cute!

These are some CUTE pillows. Check out Etsy to add these specially made pillows to your home.

Found these on Go Jane for under $25!

No luck though unless you wear a 7 or 8.5. Dangit! They are so cute too.

In addition to planning for Christmas, my NYE trip home and the visit from the girls, I have to find a cake for my bday party.

I make my birthday a BIG deal every year.

I figure, I've always had a big bash since I was one...why stop now.

So I've been browsing around on the web for cake ideas...here are the top contenders:

CAKE #5
This purse-cake is cute... a little girly, a little materialistic but cute nonetheless. It's not my fav but it's still in the lineup.


CAKE #4

Take away the Greek stuff, and I LOVE this number cake.

CAKE #3

This cake would pay homage to my profession. Of course I would switch up the colors a bit but I like the creativity.

CAKE #2

This is number two on the list. I love the two tiers (hate the colors) but I love the theme of the cake.
My only concern is that it will be too much cake for the number of guests I will have...and probably too expensive for a "non-milestone" birthday.

CAKE #1

This was a little girl's cake... but it is the top contender for my "grown woman" sassy birthday cake. Woo-hoo! I love it. The colors are great and the bow is fabulous. I'm visiting cake shops this week to see if we can come up with something VERY similar.

Let me know what you think.