Impressive Last-Minute New Year's Eve Party Planning

Whether you've been given the task of organizing a shindig at the last minute, or simply couldn't find time until the 31st to pull together your New Year's Eve function, all hope is not lost. There are a myriad of ways to perk up festivities, any of which will make for a better party than a plain ol' room with a few bags of chips and a case of beer:

• Signature Cocktails -- Let's face it -- drinking makes guests hopelessly slopping when it comes to making tasty cocktails for themselves. Make things easier by printing out some tasty recipes. If there are some necessary booze or ingredients you don't have, give your guests the task of finding and bringing them.
• Fancy Chips/Nachos -- These are the easiest foods to put out, and the ones to go the most quickly. However, that doesn't mean they have to be boring. Pick up a brand-new flavor, or even better -- splurge on some tasty gourmet chips (Terra are particularly delicious) and dips.
• Mix Up the Fancy Foods with the Plain -- Putting out cheese? Slip in a triple-cream brie with the usual cheddar. Add some fancy crackers, throw in a few pre-made gourmet finger foods, just that little something to sass things up.
• Play with Simple Syrups -- You know those expensive syrups you can buy at places like Williams-Sonoma? Well, what if I told you that's it's just a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio of sugar and water that gets boiled and then perked up with added flavor?
• Avoid the Shrimp Ring -- There's nothing that shows party laziness like the tasteless, limpid, tiny, freezer-burned shrimp that always find their way onto the table. If you must include the crustaceans, buy a bag of decent-quality, pre-cooked shrimp, and make your own quick cocktail sauce.

• Make Your TV into Fun Art -- Put on wacky movies or New Year's Eve-themed fare without the sound for a festive and easy art piece for your party celebration.
• Create Mood Lighting -- Pull out some candles, grab a colored lightbulb or two, and that's all you really need to make your home festive for guests. Streamers and other details are added perks, but a nice and comfortable-yet-peppy lighting scheme is the most important.
• Enlist the Help of Friends -- Think of your guests and get them to help you with the fine details of your gathering. Let the music fiend help pick a playlist, the artist bring along some pieces to adorn the walls, the dancer help get people groovin', the foodie bring some of their favorite gourmet treats, the bartender bring their favorite recipes, the gamer to find some great party play ... you get the idea.
• Pick Up Poppers -- New Year's Eve calls for a little silliness, and party poppers are a great way to have your own blast indoors as the ball drops and the fireworks blaze.
• Don't Forget the Champagne -- Even if you can't find poppers, you need the bubbly to offer cheers and New Year's wishes to all your loved ones. (Remember some handy plastic glasses too.)