NYE: New Years Eve!

 

 

FYI:   Auld Lang Syne” (Scots pronunciation: [ˈɔːl(d) lɑŋˈsəin]: note “s” rather than “z”) is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song (Roud # 6294). It is well known in many countries, especially in the English-speaking world; its traditional use being to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight. By extension, it is also sung at funerals, graduations and as a farewell or ending to other occasions. The international Boy Scout youth movement, in many countries, uses it as a close to jamborees and other functions.  The song’s Scots title may be translated into English literally as “old long since”, or more idiomatically, “long long ago”,  “days gone by” or “old times”. Consequently “For auld lang syne”, as it appears in the first line of the chorus, might be loosely translated as “for (the sake of) old times”.  (Wikipedia).

 

Happy New Years!

 

I remember as a young child seeing a cartoon image of an old man with a very white long beard and cane walking next to a curly haired baby wearing a pinned diaper (before disposable diapers LOL).  Even as a child I surmised that the old man symbolized the “old” year that we were leaving, and the baby represented the “new” year that we were approaching!

FYI: “The use of an infant as a symbol of the start of the new cycle that begins with the passage of the year dates back to ancient Greece. The festival of Dionysus, who was the god of wine, song and merriment let us not forget, was a big thing for the Greeks.”  The baby was a symbol and a herald for fertility of the crops. The Egyptians were also fond of holding a ceremony of rebirth that involved the use of a young baby.  In fact, there was a specific ceremonial ritual involving a young man and an older bearded man carrying a baby inside a basket that was discovered on the lid of a sarcophagus that is now on display in a museum (Timothy Sexton).

However, we now know that the New Year is a start of new begins; thus the New Years Resolutions!

According to the Squidoo, the Top Ten Most popular New Year’s Resolution:

• 1. Stop Smoking
• 2. Get into a Habit of being Fit
• 3. Lose Weight – the Battle of the Bulge
• 4. Enjoy Life More
• 5. Quit Drinking
• 6. Organise Yourself – this is one of the keys to reaching your goals
• 7. Learn Something New
• 8. Get out of Debt
• 9. Spend More Time With Family
• 10. Help People

Basically these are pledges for us to “improve” our lives!  However one that I would add which should be the most important of them all and will undoubtedly lead to THE GREATEST IMPROVEMENT OF YOUR LIFE:

     *Build a closer relationship with God.

FYI: “A New Year’s resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. A key element to a New Year’s Resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year and new beginnings. People committing themselves to a New Year’s resolution generally plan to do so for the whole following year. This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous.  The ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.  The Romansbegan each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named” (wikipedia.com).

TIP: we should be weary of how and who we worship…it is surprising how much our celebrations are tainted with pagan symbolism…

RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A NEW LOOK…A DEAD RINGER!

The New Years not only brings the beginning of a “new Year”; but it also is the beginning of a new possibilities!  Time to forgive and forget…and remember the fun you had at the New Years Eve’s celebrations you will either host or attend.  However, before you begin, lets begin at the beginning. THE LOOK!  I am not sure why…but BLACK will always be the look for an elegant posh affair.  Whether you wear it long or short–you will be wearing it elegantly.

If you want to try something unique for the new year wear your black with a bold color racing around your waist (left picture), or cinched and draped on one side with a jeweled accent (right picture), these looks may accentuate the smallest part of your body.

Hey it is a celebration afterall, so let’s rock what celebrations are about…sparkle!!  whether you wear glitter, rhinestone, or swarovski crystals…shine the night through!

FYI: Swarovski is the luxury brand name for the range of precision-cut lead crystal glass and related products produced by companies owned by Swarovski AG of Feldmeilen.   These are valuable due to the precision cutting and the beauty of the glass (directhit.com).

Leather and Lace or maybe rock both, like the picture to your left; why not arrive floating in like the Princess you are…and party the night away…you are sure to be treated like like the Queen of the party (as you should be treated)…

Accessories can give you access to a finished “outfit”: One cute look, is to pair a sparkle dress with dark tights…dark tights hide legs that are not yet ready to come out to party but; draws the attention to “the dress”!

 

“MAKE” THE NIGHT A SUCCESS…”MAKEUP” CAN HELP!

Ready to makeup with someone before you enter the New Year in 2013…face them with either a muted made up face like the ones above; or glam it up and “over-the-top” like those looks below!

“EYE” have it!  This New Year’s Eve get a laser focus on your “I”….after all is that not what will be stared at when you get that first kiss of the New Year 2013!

even if you are deliciously chocolate Brown……………..or snow flake White

and what if you are tawny spicy Spanish………………..or delicately porcelain Asian

no matter what your ethnicity…THE EYES HAVE IT!

Nars, Chanel,  Bobbi Brown, or M.A.C wear something to spark up the stroke of midnight…*SpArKle*

Yes…you should even sparkle from your ***Eye Lids to the Finger Tips ****even if it is just for one night, the night New Year’s Eve!

MEN: IT’S TIME TO MAN UP AND DRESS UP!

AS FOR THE MEN…YOU JUST NEED TO WEAR A SUIT…YOUR MOST DASHING…AND A BREATH MINT (may I recommend: spearmint flavored Breathsaver)FOR THAT STROKE OF MIDNIGHT KISS!

Honestly men, if you expect your lady to look the part…you have to compliment her look too.  Whether it is a Black Bow Tie with Black Jacket, a Windsor  Tie, or a Black Bow Tie with White Jacket…wear your look as if you are ready to “bring it” to “ring in” the new year!

…of course men, you should be well groomed too, this means clean shaven or close shaped hair…(nothing wrong with a 12 o’clock shadow on the right face) lol!

Now, that we are ready to celebrate…let’s consider celebrating with “class” and not drinking until you are on your a$&! (lol).  New Years’ is unlike any other holiday; because the real celebration is on the “eve” not so much on the “day” itself.  Therefore, before you attend a party that you plan to drink, be responsible and eat a healthy meal before the festivities.  Although hor dourves may be served; eating a full meal will aid to absorb the alcohol better than a quick nosh (a Yiddish phrase meaning to snack; to eat a little something; to munch, to graze) at the event.

FYI: “Unless you are intending to get really drunk, try drinking one standard drink (can of beer, shot of hard liquor)per hour, which is about the rate at which your liver can keep up. For most people, the most pleasant moment is when the first one kicks in (BAL around .05), and drinking more at that time just moves you away from the “sweet spot.” At one per hour, your blood alcohol level will tend to stay in that range, resulting in more pleasant feeling and less likelihood of doing something stupid. (How to Prevent a Hangover)”

Therefore some TIPS:

tips

1. Avoid drinking alcohol all together. There are many drinks that you can consume, for example “Sparkling Wines” with 0% alcohol.

2. Do NOT drink excessively! Please drink slowly and combine with water (Have one glass of water after each alcoholic beverage. Doing so keeps you hydrated and can also slow your alcohol consumption).

3. Eat a healthy meal before you go out that evening and even after (Eating food helps to reduce the acetaldehyde in your stomach, and it is the acetaldehyde that is thought to be the main cause of hangovers. Eat a proper meal, not just a greasy snack.

4. Because alcohol removes the potassium out of our bodies we need to replenish it so eat a yellow banana to help cure that “hangover” blues. Also, they are a natural antacid that aid to fight nausea and stomach pains.

5. Honey helps burn off alcohol faster. It can be suggested to eat toast(carbs) with Peanut Butter (protein) and a smear of Honey.

6. Artichokes are believed to help liver digest alcohol. Another “A” vegetable is: Asparagus, which helps a queasy stomach.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey in green tea.

8. Raw Eggs with a dash of Worcestershire Sauce and a dash of White Wine Vinegar, with Salt and Pepper for taste (eggs have cysteine which is a chemical that breaks down alcohol).

9. Ginger Teas (especially if you wake up with nausea from the night before).

10. Avoid smoking. Smoking constricts your lungs and decreases the oxygen flow to your blood stream.

11. Take a walk in the fresh air to keep your head clear. This will help you to access more oxygen to help break down the alcohol toxins.

12. Cheese and nuts are good foods to eat because the high fat content slows the absorption of alcohol. When in a bar, eat slowly while you drink.

2013. Please remember that coffee will NOT settle the stomach (Caffeine can also lead to diarrhea and a stuffy head when combined with alcohol)! LAST TIP BEFORE THE NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATION……BEFORE YOU LIFT THAT FLUTED GLASS TO AULD LANG SYNE>>>

Be careful with the bubbly. Champagne and sparkling wine can literally go straight to your head. Studies have shown that the effects of bubbles in alcohol increases the delivery of alcohol through your system and cause you to become intoxicated faster.  If you can resist, perhaps leave the champagne for the toast and drink a different alcohol for the rest of the event (wikiHow.com)!

Lastly, my final “tip” before you get too “tipsy” is:  TIP:  Choose light liquors (for example, vodka or gin) over dark liquors (for example, brandy or whiskey).  Light liquors have fewer “congeners” (a minor toxic chemical element of alcohol that gives it its distinctive characteristics), which contribute to hangovers. Overall, alcoholic beverages with more chemicals produce worse hangovers, and red wine is one of the worst culprits. One study found that hangover symptoms varied by the type of alcohol consumed:

**(in order of decreasing severity) brandy, red wine, rum, whiskey, white wine, gin, vodka, and pure ethanol.

The best  advice or   T I P   is   N O T   to drink at all and have a good time with family and friends the natural way…getting drunk on happiness and love for one another, and forget about the past, to live in the present; and look forward to the future!!!

As the song is sung…

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne?

Chorus: For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp! And surely I’ll be mine! And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes, and pou’d the gowans fine; But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit, sin’ auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl’d in the burn, frae morning sun till dine; But seas between us braid hae roar’d sin’ auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere! And gies a hand o’ thine! And we’ll tak a right gude-willie-waught, for auld lang syne.”

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Later added the lines  attributed to the courtly poet Sir Robert Ayton (1570-1638).

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never thought upon,
The flames of love extinguished,
And freely past and gone?
Is thy kind heart now grown so cold
In that loving breast of thine,
That thou canst never once reflect
On old-long-syne………………………..

I AM STILL NOT SURE WHAT ALL THOSE WORDS MEAN;…BUT I KNOW I WISH EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!