If nothing else, 2020 has been a year to remember — and I, for one, couldn't be more jazzed to remember this year instead of cope with it.
While these past 12 months have, at times, felt less like a calendar year and more like the most dramatic season yet of your favorite reality show, there's still a lot to be said for approaching New Year's Eve with a sense of optimism and excitement. For me, that usually means ending my year by enjoying some Barefoot Bubbly and counting down to midnight with a group of my favorite people. But now that we're all focused on social distancing and keeping our quarantine crews small, this year's NYE strategy is going to take a bit of creativity in order to reach those same celebratory vibes.
To help you end the current year on a positive note, Elite Daily teamed up with Barefoot Bubbly — the official bubbly sponsor of Times Square New Year's Eve — to round up some very of-the-moment ways to wrap up 2020 and ring in 2021 with a bang. No matter if you're going for a chill night filled with relaxation, or if you're trying to recreate the magic of NYE festivities past, these ideas have got you covered.
Lean into that festive mood by kicking off your day with an at-home bubbly brunch. If you feel safe doing so, invite a couple members of your quarantine crew over for a socially distant gathering complete with a carb-y menu (cinnamon rolls and French toast, anyone?) and a next-level DIY mimosa bar with grapefruit juice, orange juice, apple cider, fresh fruit garnishes, and plenty of Barefoot Bubbly (obvs).
And by "hottest trend," of course I'm referring to wearing your finest athleisure all day — even if you do have plans to socialize with other people. (Why break with the norm now, amiright?) So go ahead and bust out your warmest sherpa quarter zip, track down those fuzzy slippers, and slide into your coziest sweatpants, because we're going to party like it's 2020.
And while you're at it, you may as well make this the virtual party to end all virtual parties. Send out an invite to your friends and include a link to a shared playlist where everyone can add their best year-end tunes. Then hang up some decorations in the background of your computer's camera, set up your own personal bar and snack table, and plan a fun game night as you wait for the clock to strike midnight. (My friends and I have personally found a lot of success with virtual trivia, bingo, and charades!)
Looking for a way to take your night up a notch? Barefoot Bubbly is giving away 100 epic celebration kits that include champagne flutes, a wine chiller, and plenty of sparkling swag that's sure to start 2021 on an exciting note. On 12/1, head over to Barefoot's social page and look out for the Bubbly NYE Sweepstakes post to enter to win!
One of my favorite things about NYE is that it gives me a chance to reflect on my goals from the year past and set new ones for the year ahead. Last year, I wrote down my 2020 goals on my phone's notes app, and in years past I've cut up magazine pages to create a vision board. This year my plan is to create a goal book, which is essentially a DIY book of smaller vision boards, with each board representing a different goal. I'm hoping it will be a physical reminder for me to make 2021 the best year I can.
Not much of a crafty person? That's OK — the important thing is to simply set aside a few minutes, think about what you want your year ahead to look like, and find a way to keep those goals top-of-mind as you move into January.
Listen, it's been a long year. There's no shame in washing your face, getting into your coziest PJs, and jumping into bed before the sun goes down. On the bright side: New Year's Eve is going to look different for all of us this year, so the chances of feeling a sense of FOMO as you drift off to sleep before midnight are, quite frankly, slim to none.
Charmat Method California Sparkling Wine: Secondary Fermentation Before Bottling, ©2020 Barefoot Cellars, Modesto, CA. All rights reserved.
This post is sponsored by Barefoot Bubbly.
