New Year’s is almost here and it’s time to get ready for the biggest party of the year! Try this unique twist on the classic Long Island cocktail. You won’t be disappointed, and neither will your guests! This cocktail is pretty strong, so it’s not for the faint of heart!

New Year’s Long Island Cocktail With a Twist

 Photos: Cravings of a Lunatic.

These jello shots are great for those busy folks this holiday season! To make these champagne jello shots, all you really need is champagne, gelatin, and sugar! Serve them on a fancy platter and don’t forget the sparkly pom pom toothpicks!

New Year’s Sparkling Champagne Jello Shots

Photos: Erica’s Sweet Tooth.

Looking for more New Year’s party ideas? We’ve got you covered!

Easy HOMEMADE Tortilla Chips

The ULTIMATE New Year’s Dip: Cheesy Beef Enchilada

New Year’s Sangria With Blood Orange, Mint, and Blackberries

Festive Holiday Cherry and Lime Vodka Jelly Shots

Get this New Year’s party started with this delicious sangria! This blood orange sangria will be the star of any New Year’s party, we guarantee it! Blood orange, lime, wine, mint, and blackberries make up this special drink. So turn up the music and start mixing the drinks because this sangria will get anyone in the mood to party!

New Year’s Sangria With Blood Orange, Mint, and Blackberries

Photos: Epicurean Mom.

Let the adults have a little Christmas fun, too! We’re sure your friends and family will love these tasty jelly shots! They’re made with cherry and lime jello and have a very special ingredient – vanilla vodka! They may look complicated, but they’re so easy to make! Add some whipped cream and mint leaves on top and any red candy you like (we love red Skittles!) and you’re ready to party!

Ingredients:

1) 1 three ounce box cherry gelatin or jello

2) 1 three ounce box lime gelatin or jello

3) 3 packets unflavored gelatin

4) 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

5) 1 1/2 cups vanilla vodka

6) 36 dollops whipped cream

7) 36 mint leaves

8) 72 small red candies (try red Skittles!)

Step #1:

Coat a square dish lightly with cooking spray. Spread the cooking spray around with paper towel.

Step #2:

To make the cherry layer, add 1/2 a packet of gelatin over 1/4 cup of water. Leave it to soak for 1-2 minutes. Add in 1 box of cherry gelatin and 1 cup boiling water. Mix until it dissolves. Add 3/4 cup of vanilla vodka. Repeat this process to make the lime layer.

Step #3:

For the white layer, add 2 packets of gelatin to 1/2 cup of water and leave it to soak for 1-2 minutes. Add in 1 cup boiling water and 1 14 ounce can of condensed milk. Mix until the gelatin dissolves. This will make 3 cups of liquid. Leave it to cool to room temperature.

Step #4:

Add 1/2 of the cherry mixture into the pan. Place the pan in the fridge for 20 minutes for the gelatin to set. Once it has set, add 1/3 of the white mixture on top of the cherry mixture. If any air bubbles surface, pop them before placing the pan back in the fridge for 20 minutes. Repeat this process for the lime mixture. Add white over the lime, then cherry, then white, then finish with the lime. Leave the finished pan to set in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours, or overnight.

Step #5:

When you’re ready to serve the jelly shots, gently pull the edges away from the pan. Invert the jelly onto a cutting board and cut into squares.

Step #6:

Place your jelly shots on a serving tray and top them with a bit of whipped cream. Top the whipped cream with a mint leaf and 2 red candies (to make a holly leaf). Enjoy!

Photos: Tablespoon.

We love using home-made cleaning solutions! The store-bought chemicals can irritate your throat and nose, and they’re not safe to come into contact with your skin, either. Using only a few simple and cheap pantry ingredients, you can create your very own cleaning solutions for cheap. Give the environment (and yourself!) a break and try these recipes.

White Vinegar

Vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum, and hard water deposits. Although it’s a tough acid, it’s gentle enough to use on hardwood floors. White vinegar is also a natural deodorizer, and absorbs odours instead of masking them. If you’re worried about the smell, it goes away completely when the vinegar dries. If you have sensitive skin, vinegar is great as a fabric softener. Add 1 cup of vinegar to your rinse cycle instead of regular fabric softener. For hard water deposits on your showerhead, simply place 1/2 cup vinegar in a sandwich bag and tie around the showerhead with a rubber band. Allow it to sit overnight and rinse in the morning. If you’re looking for an all-purpose spray cleaner, simply mix 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup water in a spray bottle. This is great for countertops, backsplash areas, and floors.

Baking Soda

Baking soda has a mild abrasive action and has natural deodorizing properties. It’s a great replacement for harsh store-bought scouring powders. Sprinkle baking soda on your sponge for bathtub rings, vanity units, or removing food deposits from the kitchen sink. For tough stains and grime, make a paste of baking soda and water and leave it to stand for 10-20 minutes until the deposits have softened and can be removed easily. To keep drains running smoothly, pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain and a little hot water to wash the baking soda down. Allow it to sit overnight, and don’t use it on blocked drains.

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is great on windows, mirrors, and hard-surface ceramic tiles. It’s also good to put it into a spray bottle and spray on points of contact to kill germs (door handles, steering wheels, toilet handles, toilet seats, etc.).

Ammonia

Ammonia is a strong window and all-purpose cleaner, and it’s stronger than vinegar. For a tough cleaning solution, mix 1 tbsp ammonia, 1tbsp dishwashing liquid, and 2 cups of water.

Photos: Trusper, Modern Survival Online, Good Ideas and Tips, Kendricks Stationers, DIY Life.