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The BEST Ideas for Ringing in 2026 / SIMPLE New Year's Eve DIYs... including FREE printables

Hosting a simple celebration can be the perfect way to ring in the new year. Today I'm sharing the BEST ideas for celebrating New Year's Eve at home... and FREE printables. (Don't forget to check out the short video at the end of this post!)



Activity Bags - I love making activity bags that can be opened each hour leading up to midnight. The bags can contain noisemakers, the supplies for a midnight toast, games, and more.



I love having one bag contain the items needed to set up a photo booth.


And including a year in review questionnaire for kids is fun too. 

To download a FREE copy of the one I designed: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.


Special New Year's Eve Treat - To make this festive treat, simply add candies to the bottom of a wine glass and top with a decorated cupcake. Cute, right?!?




Adorable New Year's Eve Mocktail - To make this adorable beverage, add sparkling water, 7up, or sparkling wine to a champagne flute. Then, add a bit of cotton candy to the top, and insert a straw. Easy... and so much fun!



New Year's Eve Party Favours - Every party needs a party favour, and I have three simple options to share.

Breakfast for tomorrow - Add a tag to a small box of cereal or a pop tart.


To download the "breakfast for tomorrow" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.



Midnight Kisses - Add a tag to a little bag of Hershey kisses.


To download the "midnight kisses" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.


Rings to ring in the new year - Add a tag to candy rings.


To download the "ring in the new year" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.





To download the "bring some sparkle to 2026" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.



For a closer look at my New Year's Eve ideas (and full instructions), check out the YouTube video I made here.



Will you be celebrating at home this year? I hope you find some of these ideas fun and helpful. Happy New Year!!!!

💗 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)
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5 Delicious Christmas Cookies to Bake and Share

Baking for friends during the holidays is a great way to show you care. It's also budget friendly. Today, I'm sharing five of my favourite Christmas Cookie Recipes for baking and sharing this holiday season.



1) Soft and Chewy GINGER MOLASSES Cookies - I've been making these cookies with my kids since they were little... and they are always a kit with family and friends.



2) Melt in your mouth SHORTBREAD cookies - These cookies come together quickly with a few ingredients, and they are delicious. They are wonderful plain OR with a bit of buttercream icing.




Recipe for the perfect melt in your mouth shortbread cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups softened butter

2 cups powdered sugar

2 egg yolks

4 cups flour

1 cup cornstarch

Directions:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks and mix well. Add flour and cornstarch until combined.

Then, refrigerate the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes. 

Roll dough between two sheets of parchment, cut with a cookie cutter, and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 until cookies are lightly brown on the bottom... approximate 10 - 12 minutes.


3)  PEANUT BUTTER reindeer cookies - Bake your favourite peanut butter cookie recipe. Then, after you've taken them out of the oven, add broken pretzel piece antlers, googly eyes, and a red candy nose.




4) Red & Green Christmas M&M Cookies - Your favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe can be a festive treat--just substitute red and green M&Ms for the chocolate chips. You can find my favourite recipe here.



5) Peanut butter CHOCOLATE KISS Cookies - There is nothing better than the combination of chocolate and peanut butter... and these cookies are simple to make and totally delicious. You can find my recipe here.



All of these cookies are perfect for enjoy at Christmas... and for sharing!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)
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24 Days of Easy and Inexpensive HANDMADE Christmas Gifts

This year, I want to help you give thoughtful and budget-friendly gifts, so I'm sharing 24 days of HANDMADE Christmas gifts. I'll keep adding to this post every day of December, so keep coming back to check what's new. Click on the titles to see the step-by-step instructional videos, get all the DIY details, and grab the free tags.


DAY 1 - COZY CHRISTMAS MOVIE WATCHING KIT



DAY 2 - HOMEMADE SIMMER POT KITS


DAY 3 - DISPOSABLE DISHES AND FREE PUNNY TAGS



DAY 4 - ADORABLE EDIBLE GIFTS FOR ADULTS & KIDS (and FREE printable tags)




DAY 5 - DOLLAR STORE FRAME FILLED WITH TICKETS... FREE GIFT TAGS INCLUDED




















Day 15 - PERSONALIZED, INEXPENSIVE DOLLAR STORE BLANKS



Day 16 - A SMALL AND USEUL GIFT. PERECT ON ITS OWN OR PAIRED WITH A GIFT CARD


To download the "Mistletoe Ready" tags I designed (FOR FREE) - Click on the picture of the tags below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.
Day 17 - FUN WAY TO GIVE A GIFT CARD. It's super-easy to make, and you can find the step by step instructions here.



Day 18 - SHARING PLATE



Day 19 - SIMPLE CHARCUTERIE BOARD















Day 24 - A CREATIVE WAY TO WRAP A GIFT



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