New Years Rockin Eve 2012

Since our house finally has enough room to host parties, NYE was at our place this year.  Lauren talked us into dressing up (and I'm glad she did!), everyone brought an appetizer & we just ate & talked until it was time to ring in 2013!

We made a phenomenal Swiss & bacon dip that we served along with carrot/celery sticks & pumpernickel cocktail bread.  So ridiculously good!   I also made a roasted tomato crostini from this recipe but used the feta/cream cheese spread from this recipe to spread on the bread before topping it with the roasted tomato.  It was a very tasty & sophisticated appetizer.  And it wouldn't be NYE for the Pernecky's without our "good luck dip."  It's actually called Texas Caviar but I renamed it since I hate the word caviar & it has black eyed peas (the food, not the group) which are apparently good luck for the new year.  It's healthy, fresh & delicious!  Click here for the recipe.  We also went retro again & rocked out the punch bowl with a tasty raspberry champagne punch.  Yum!  Needless to say there was a ton of food!

The men were looking quite dapper, indeed!

Us ladies cleaned up nicely as well!  Since I wear scrubs to work & change into comfy cozies as soon as I get home, it is not at all often that I dress up!  Of course when it's time for the weekend, I'm not wearing anything other than jeans, a casual shirt & flip flops since I'm hanging with the kids.  As a mom, it's fun to take time to get ready, put on a little more makeup & feel like an attractive person again!  Unless you're a mom from the Real Housewives of wherever.. then you have plenty of opportunity to dress up & look pretty!

Apparently I was pretty excited about starting a fresh, new year!

Cam even dressed up with the clearance clip on tie Mike found for him for under $3 at Target.  Who knew he could get any more handsome?!

Brooks, Cam, Leah & Avery played until it was time for bed at around 9pm.

Midnight came around very quickly this year!  When hosting a party, there's never a dull moment, but I love it!  We were constantly scurrying around to make sure everyone was having a good time, refreshing food & beverages & cleaning as we went.  Everyone had a great time though!

Our friend Renee came this year which was great because that girl is a lot of fun!  After midnight we just watched the concerts from NY city, danced around & just acted silly!

Ever year I take pictures of the clock so we can see where we are in the night when looking back at pictures, but this year I only got around to doing it a couple of times.  So far 2013 has been a great year.  We did nothing on our day off yesterday but hang around the house & be lazy.  I'm off today so it's laundry day & getting ready for Chicago!  In less than a week we're IL bound & we can't wait!!