New Year's Eve Pajama Party

Avoid the whole dinner party and designated driver thing by staging a grown-up slumber party that starts after dinner. This is a great party for girlfriends or for a few couples you love spending time with.

• Create a theme for the evening. Think classic movies or poker night.
• Determine how many people you can invite by assessing your accommodations. If additional bedding is needed, break out blow-up mattresses.
• Advise guests to bring PJs and hold off on dessert. Also, if your guest list is sports inclined, make it clear that football will be on the morning breakfast menu.
• Make the start time around 9pm so friends can have an early dinner elsewhere and still show up with enough energy for some fun.
• Serve a buffet of mini desserts such as truffles, tiny fruit tarts, small cookies and one-bite lemon bars. Include a sweeter sparkling wine as well as regular and decaf coffee.
• Create a bedtime gift bag for each guest that includes soap, a toothbrush, mini toothpaste and some slippers.
• Stock up on items for an easy and light breakfast: scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, pastries and coffee.
• Encourage friends to change into their jammies the minute they arrive.