So Tonight We're Going to Party like it's 2009...

Ashley hosted a New Years Eve Gathering,

for a few of her girlfriends, on the 31st.

For decorations, we hit the After Christmas Sales looking for "anything cheap and sparkly," at Pier 1, Family Dollar, and Maxway, spending less than $20 .....and lots of imagination.

My MIL gave me a CRICUT for Christmas. It is one of those things I couldn't justify buying myself, but absolutely am thrilled to get it as a gift. Ashley and I both love it!

Ashley read the directions, (so she can explain it to me later, LOL!), and made the little '09 cut-outs.

Monogrammed place cards made with the CRICUT.

Place settings...

Goodie bags & Party Favors...

Sparkling Apple Cider Chilling...

Party snacks set-up on the bar.

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

served with Chocolate Teddy Grahams.

{Delicious and great for kids or adults!}

Recipe at the bottom of the post....

This is probably the ugliest Hors Devours you will ever see, but I guarantee, it is one of the best!

...Baked Brie, below. I usually serve it with square crackers, but Ashley prefers Ritz.

I made a smaller portion than usual, for the girls. They didn't know what it was, but they liked it! {LOL}

Recipe at the bottom of post.

For one of their activities, they tie-dyed T'shirts in the garage.

As I was warming the Baked Ziti and bread for the meal, David lit the candles and poured the Apple Cider.

A waiter dressed in Carhart pants, ...we are a classy bunch, huh? {LOL}

The picture below is blurry, but I had to share it.

It seemed to take forever for the Ziti to warm and cheese to melt on top, so the girls grew quiet and starting passing the time texting on their phones.

All of the sudden, David belted out a country song, singing at the top of his lungs.

These girls are 15, country is not cool!

But it was hilarious!

{Guess you had to be there! :) }

After supper, they decorated cupcakes.

Can you tell which girl is the prankster in the bunch, below?

Hint, she has her tongue hanging out! {LOL}

Coco welcomes 2009!

"But life is just a party,

and parties weren't meant to last."

~Prince

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Recipes

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

1 - 8 oz. cream cheese

1/2 cup butter

1/4 tsp vanilla

2 tbs brown sugar

3/4 cup confectioners sugar

3/4 cup mini chocolate chip morsels

3/4 cup pecans (optional)

Beat softened cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until creamy. Slowly add sugars until blended. Stir in chips. Shape into a ball, and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Roll in pecans (optional).

Serve with Chocolate Teddy Grahams or any chocolate cracker/cookie.

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Baked Brie

puff pastry sheets

1 round brie (doesn't call for rind removal, but I prefer to)

raspberry jam

pecans or walnuts, chopped

brown sugar

maple syrup (sugar-free Smucker's)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a non-stick pan, lay out pastry sheets and put brie on top. Spread jam on brie and top with a layer of nuts. Pull pastry up around brie, cinching ends together on top. Drizzle maple syrup on top and place a handful of brown sugar over syrup. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool at least 10 minutes before serving with crackers.

~Enjoy!