Star Sparkling Family New Years Eve Celebration

• Prepare Make-Ahead Italian Meatballs; freeze as directed.

Up to 1 Month Before

• Prepare Make-Ahead Snowman Cheese Ball; freeze as directed.

Two Days Before

• Prepare Cranberry Barbecued Ribs, refrigerating as directed in Do-Ahead Tip.
• Prepare Reindeer Snack.

The Day Before

•  Bake Sparkling Star Cookies.
• Prepare Vegetable Buffet Platter; cover and refrigerate until serving time.
• Move cheese balls from freezer to refrigerator.

The Morning Of

• Finish making Snowman Cheese Ball; store loosely covered in refrigerator.

About 35 Minutes Before Serving

• Reheat Cranberry Barbecued Ribs as directed in Do-Ahead Tip.
• Reheat Italian Meatballs as directed.

• Make a starry centerpiece 
• Cut stars from white construction paper for each member of your family. Ask each person to write a New Year's resolution in the center of the star and five special things they are most proud of for the past year near each point.
• Glue straws or wooden sticks (available at craft stores) to the backs of the stars and decorate around the writing with colored glue and glitter. When dry, place them in a foam block and cover the block with colored shredded crepe paper (available near wrapping paper supplies) to use as a centerpiece.
  
• Sponge-paint stars on bright blue or white napkins, using gold or silver paint, for your sparkling celebration.

• Instead of eating at the dinner table, why not have your celebration meal at a coffee table? It's cozier and more intimate when everyone is seated on the floor (sit on pillows, if you wish!).
• As you wait to ring in the new year, play "Do You Remember When" about events that happened to family members during the past year. Start a memory book, listing the most memorable happenings of the past year. Each year, add new ones\
• Make it a yearly tradition to spend New Year's Day filling up a photo album with photos and captions that capture the highlights from the past year.