After years of staying home on New Year’s Eve, this year we got a great invitation from my friends J. and B. – two sisters-in-law who are totally fun – to spend the evening with them and their respective spouses.

J. and B. have an in at a local restaurant and secured one of the hottest tables in town for an NYE blow out.

And they invited us to join them.

My initial reaction: Yes! Yes! Yes!

And then I remembered the children.

Miracle of miracles, we locked in a babysitter (I will pay her handsomely, I swear) and we’re planning to celebrate in style.

Even though this year is a departure from our usual pre-11 PM turn in, I loved these tips for hosting a New Year’s Eve party from Parade magazine.

• Dress up! Even in your own home. Festive dress, is, well, festive. It sets the mood for a fun night.
• Make champagne cocktails. How about a Kir Royale? Champagne plus creme de cassis is pretty delicious. A classic champagne cocktail is also delicious; add a bitters-dipped sugar cube to champagne for a cool effect. Big impact!
• Serve impressive, retro appetizers. Shrimp cocktail. Crab dip. Caviar.
• Stream Frank Sinatra.

And my favorite tip: send guests home with hangover kits containing ibuprofen, eye masks, coconut water and lip balm.

Personally, I would add Cheetos to that kit.

Or do what my parents always did when I was a kid: serve up a huge 3 AM breakfast feast for revelers still in play. 

Happy 2015!