| How to Select a Bottle of Wine Posted: 31 Dec 2021 12:00 AM PST Selecting a bottle of wine can seem nearly impossible when you're at the liquor store, in the grocery store, or at a restaurant. There are so many choices, like picking red or white, choosing the type of wine, selecting the year, and pairing the wine with food. Luckily, there are some basic rules that can help you select a bottle of wine for any occasion, for any purpose, and to go with any food. [Edit]Pairing Red Wine with Food - Pair light reds with light meat and fish. Light red wines generally have an alcohol content below 12.5 percent. They feel light in your mouth as opposed to heavy and thick.[1] Light red wines include pinot noir, schiava, and gamay. These pair well with white meat, carbohydrates, roasted vegetables, and rich fish dishes, including:
- Go for medium reds when you're eating meats and cheese. Medium bodied-reds feel a little more substantial in your mouth, and they typically have an alcohol content between 12.5 and 13.5 percent. Medium reds are merlot, cabernet, cabernet Franc, and sangiovese. These types of wines go well with a variety of meats, cheeses, and carbohydrates, including:[2]
- Bread
- Crackers
- Red meats
- Pork
- Hard cheeses
- Cured and smoked meats
- Pick full-bodied reds for meats and cheeses. Full-bodied reds feel full and thick in your mouth, and usually have an alcohol content above 13.5 percent. Reds that fall into this category include cabernet sauvignon, rioja, zinfandel, and shiraz. These wines complement a number of foods, including:[3]
- Lamb and steak
- Hard cheeses
- Stews
- Wild game
- Pair dry reds with pink foods. A dry wine is one that has no sugar left in it, meaning it has no sweetness. Dry red wines, such as merlot, pinot noir, and cabernets, pair well with foods that have a pinkish color, such as:[4]
- Salmon
- Prawns or shrimp
- Tuna
[Edit]Pairing White Wine with Food - Buy light whites for veggies and fish. Like light reds, light white wines generally have an alcohol content below 12.5 percent. These wines include sauvignon, pinot grigio, and pinot blanc. They are best paired with lighter foods, such as:[5]
- Salads
- Raw and cooked green vegetables
- Light fish
- Seafood
- Chicken
- Couple sweet light whites with sweet, salty, and smoky foods. Sweet wines have more residual sugar leftover from the fermentation process. Sweet wine is the opposite of dry wine. Sweet white wines include Riesling, moscato, and Gewurztraminer. These are ideal with:[6]
- Soft cheeses like brie
- Smoked meats
- Cured meats
- Desserts
- Carbohydrates
- Chicken and pork
- Complement full-bodied whites with rich foods. Full-bodied whites generally have an alcohol content above 13.5 percent. Wines in this category include chardonnay, white rioja, and marsanne. The bold flavor of the wine and high alcohol content goes well with rich foods, including:[7]
- Salmon
- Lobster
- Chicken and pork
- Potatoes
- Breads
- Roasted vegetables
- Opt for sparkling wine for light foods and cheese. Sparkling wine has a high carbon dioxide content, and this gas makes the wine fizzy. Examples of sparkling wine include Prosecco, brut, and Champagne. These types of wines are great compliments for foods like:[8]
- Hard and soft cheeses
- Salads
- Raw and cooked greens
- Light fish and seafood
- Choose fruity, sweet, and light white wines for spicy food. The challenge when pairing wine with spicy foods is that the wine can accentuate the heat, rather than complementing the flavors. The best pairing for spicy food is a white wine that's sweeter than it is dry, light and lower in alcohol content, and with fruity hints. Good wines for spicy food include:[9]
- Riesling
- Gewurztraminer
- Viognier
- Gruner
[Edit]Picking a Bottle of Wine for a Specific Purpose - Get a bottle of cabernet sauvignon for a budget red. Cabernet sauvignon grapes are relatively easy to work with, so even cheaper red wines of this varietal are likely to be good. Good times to opt for a cabernet sauvignon include when:[10]
- A restaurant's wine list is limited
- You're on an airplane
- You're looking for an inexpensive gift for a lover of red wine.
- Opt for chardonnay for a budget white. Chardonnay is a full and flavorful wine, so even budget chardonnays are going to be acceptable compared to wines that should have subtler aromas.[11]
- Cheaper chardonnays are great for travelling, and are great housewarming or host gifts. Their versatility also makes them good for dinner parties.
- Select younger wines when buying on a budget. Fine wines get better with age, but cheaper, lighter-bodied, and fruitier wines tend to lose some of their flavor when they get older. When you're buying budget or mid-range wines, opt for bottles that are between two and three years old.[12]
- Choose a bottle of sauvignon blanc for cooking. The high acidity of sauvignon blanc wines make them ideal for cooking, including in salad dressings, in white sauces, and as a replacement for lemon or lime juice.
- Sauvignon blanc also has a bit of a peppery kick, which is another reason it's great for cooking.[13]
- Do some research before buying a vintage bottle. There are a number of environmental factors that can affect the flavor of a wine, including temperature, frost, and diseases. Because vintage wines weren't produced in recent years, there's no way to know which of these factors may have affected the flavor of a vintage bottle unless you look it up.[14]
- There are lots of resources online for looking up vintages, including vintage reports, buying tips for vintage bottles, reviews, and ratings.
- Before buying a vintage bottle, search the year and the varietal to look up information about the wine.
- Choose a bottle of fortified wine as a digestif. A digestif is a beverage that you drink after a meal to help aid digestion, and fortified wines are commonly consumed as digestives.[15] Fortified wine is wine that has stronger spirits, like brandy, added to it. Common fortified wines include:
- Port
- Vermouth
- Sherry
- Madeira
- Marsala
- Ask for help when you're selecting a bottle of wine. When all else fails, you can always ask for help to choose the right bottle. At restaurants, you can ask the wait staff or a bartender. At the liquor store, ask a store associate to point you in the direction of a wine you might like based on a few criteria:
- Decide if you want a red wine or a white wine
- Choose between sweet wine and dry wine
- Mention if you're pairing the wine with any food
- Mention particular wines that you know you like
- Pick a specific varietal. Varietal is a way of describing a wine based on the grape variety used to make it. There are a great number of varietals, and each has its own particular characteristics and aromas. Popular varietals include:[16]
- Cabernet sauvignon, a full-bodied red wine with hints of cherry and currants
- Pinot noir, a medium-bodied red that's smooth and rich
- Merlot, a medium- or full-bodied red with hints of black cherry
- Rosé, a pink wine made with a blend of grapes
- Chardonnay, a complex white with hints of vanilla
- Riesling, a sweet white with floral aromas
- Sauvignon blanc, a white wine with hints of herbs
- Select a wine based on region. Region is another way of classifying wines, and this method focuses on where the grapes were grown rather than the type of grape used. Labelling wines based on region is more popular in Europe than in North America. Regional wines you can check out include:[17]
- Bordeaux, an area of France known for their centuries-old red wines
- Port is a fortified wine that comes from Porto and the Douro Valley in Portugal
- La Rioja, an area of Spain known for it's full-bodied reds
- Champagne, an area of France that's best known for sparkling wine
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Connect a Laptop to a Monitor Posted: 30 Dec 2021 04:00 PM PST Connecting an external monitor to your PC or Mac laptop is pretty easy. You'll just need to find out what type of output your laptop has, such as HDMI, Thunderbolt, or USB-C. Once connected, you can use both screens at the same time or close your laptop to use the monitor like a desktop computer. This wikiHow article will show you how to find out what cable you'll need to connect your laptop to a monitor, and how to set up your second monitor to mirror or extend your laptop's main screen. [Edit]Connecting a PC Laptop to a Monitor - Determine your laptop's video output options. Most PC laptops have at least one port that can be used for video output. The most common ports are HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C.[1] There are a few main types of connections that your laptop may have:
- HDMI: This is a 6-sided trapezoid-shaped port that's about ¾ of an inch wide.
- DisplayPort: The size is similar to HDMI, but one of the corners is bent inward while the other forms a 90-degree angle.
- USB-C: This is an oval-shaped port on many modern PC laptops. Not all USB-C ports support connecting to a monitor, though. You can connect to a monitor with your USB-C port if you see one of the following:
- If you see a lightning bolt with an arrow at the bottom next to the port, the port supports Thunderbolt 3, and you can use a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3-compatible monitor.
- If you see an icon of a black "D" with a white "P" inside, the port supports DisplayPort, which means you can use a USB-C or DisplayPort-compatible monitor.
- VGA or DVI: Less common nowadays are VGA ports, which are 15-holed ports with two pins on either side, and DVI ports, which have 24 holes and a gap on one side.
- Determine your monitor's video input. Most modern monitors have HDMI, USB-C, and/or DisplayPort video inputs. If you have the same type of port on both the laptop and the monitor (such as HDMI on both), you can get a standard cable. Otherwise, you'll want to get an adapter to connect two different technologies, such as a USB-C to HDMI adapter, or an HDMI to VGA adapter. All of these adapter types are common and can be found anywhere electronics are sold.
- Use the cable to connect your laptop to the monitor. Plug on end of the cable into your laptop's video port, and the other end into your monitor's video input port. Use an adapter to bridge the connection if necessary.
- Plug in and turn on the monitor. Attach your monitor to a power source (e.g., an electrical outlet), then press the monitor's Power button.
- Once connected, you should see your laptop's desktop and icons (or some variation thereof) appear on the monitor's screen, you can proceed with setting up your laptop's display settings.
- If you are using a monitor or TV that has multiple inputs, you will need to select the port you connected your laptop to on the monitor.
[Edit]Using Both Screens on a PC Laptop - Open your Windows Settings . You can do this by clicking the gear icon in your Windows Start menu, or by pressing Windows key + I on the keyboard.
- Click . If you're using Windows 10, it'll be the computer icon in the Settings window. If you have Windows 11, it's the first option in the left menu.
- Click . It's in the left panel on Windows 10, and in the right panel on Windows 11.[2]
- Select a display option. Now you can choose whether you want to mirror or extend your displays:
- If you're on Windows 10, click the drop-down menu under "Multiple Displays." On Windows 11, click the drop-down menu to the right of the "Identify" button.
- Select Duplicate these displays if you want to see the same exact thing on both screens at the same time.
- Select Extend these displays if you want to use the second monitor as a continuation of your desktop space. This lets you drag windows between screens.
- Select Show only on 1 if you want to use the monitor labeled "1" as your only monitor. This is your laptop's built-in screen. Choosing this will turn off the external monitor.
- Select Show only on 2 to only show your laptop's contents on the monitor that's labeled "2," which is the external monitor. This turns off your laptop's built-in screen as long as the external monitor is connected.
- Choose a main display. If you're duplicating/mirroring your screens, skip this step. But if you're using two monitors together as an extended desktop, you'll want to choose which monitor is the main display, which is where apps open by default:
- Click the Identify button to display each monitor's number each screen it's assigned to.
- Click the display you want to make your main display.
- Select Make this my main display under "Multiple displays."
- Rearrange your screens. The position of each rectangle in the Display window should reflect the placement of your monitors. For example, if your second monitor is to the left of your laptop's primary screen on your desk, you'll want the rectangle that represents your second monitor on the left side of the primary monitor rectangle. Drag the rectangles for each monitor until they match your desk's setup, and then click Apply.
- If you're extending your desktop, you can test the new setup by moving your mouse in the direction of the other monitor—the cursor will appear on the other screen when moved in the right direction.
[Edit]Using Your PC Laptop with the Lid Closed - Connect a keyboard and mouse to your laptop. Use your laptop with the lid closed (optional). If you want to use your external monitor as the only monitor when your laptop's lid is closed, you'll need to make sure you have a keyboard and mouse that you can use while you can't access the laptop's built-in keyboard and trackpad.
- Connect your laptop to a power source. Your laptop will go to sleep when you close the lid if you don't connect it to a power source first.
- Open the Windows Control Panel. You can do this by clicking the Search icon in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen, typing , and clicking Control Panel in the results.
- Click . If you don't see this option, click the menu at the top-right and select Small icons or Large icons and you'll see it then.
- Click . It's in the left panel.
- Click the menu next to "When I close the lid" in the "Plugged in" column. Several options will appear.
- Select from the menu. This tells Windows not to shut down if you close the lid of your laptop as long as the laptop is plugged in.
- If you choose this option for "On battery," the second monitor will stay on even if you close the laptop if you're not plugged in. This could drastically decrease the life of your battery, so it's not recommended.
- Click . Now, as long as your laptop is plugged in, you can close the lid without turning off your external monitor.
[Edit]Connecting a MacBook to a Monitor - Find your MacBook's video output. You'll need to make sure you have a port on your Mac that is compatible with an input on your monitor. But if your monitor and your laptop don't have the same ports, don't worry—in most cases, you can get an adapter that can bridge two video types, such as Thunderbolt to HDMI, which makes it possible to use nearly any type of monitor with your MacBook. These are the connections your MacBook may have:
- Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and Thunderbolt USB 4: An oval port with a lightning bolt, found on all MacBook Pros beginning in 2016, and MacBook Airs beginning in 2018.[3]
- USB-C: An oval port without a lightning bolt icon. 12" MacBook Pros from 2015, 2016, and 2017 have these.[4]
- HDMI: A six-sided tapered port found on 2021 MacBook Pros, as well as MacBook Pros from 2012 to 2015.[5]
- Thunderbolt 1, Thunderbolt 2, or Mini DisplayPort: The original Thunderbolt ports both have 6 sides and are not oval-shaped. You'll see a lightning bolt icon near this port on MacBook Air models from 2011-2017, and MacBook Pros from 2011-2015. On MacBook Pro and Air models made between 2008 and 2010, you'll see a square with two vertical lines instead.
- If you're not sure which port you can use for a monitor, go to https://support.apple.com/specs, select your model, and find the ports under "Charging and Expansion."
- Find your monitor's video input. Look at the back of your monitor for ports labeled "Input" or that like the port you found on your MacBook. If you don't have identical ports on both devices, you can usually get an adapter that will connect the two.
- Nearly all modern Apple monitors will work with Thunderbolt 3, 4, USB 4, and USB-C. Most of these monitors come with a cable that will fit into these ports and work immediately.
- Many non-Apple monitors also support Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, USB 4, USB-C, and HDMI.
- Get a cable and an adapter if necessary. If your MacBook and monitor don't have matching ports, you can use an adapter to bridge two different cable types, such as Thunderbolt 3 to HDMI.[6] There's an adapter for nearly any two types of cables, and you can find them anywhere computers are sold (including the Apple Store). If you're confused about which cable to get, this should help:
- MacBooks with Thunderbolt 4: Use a Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, or USB-C cable to connect to any of these types of monitors. You can also use an adapter to connect to a DVI, HDMI, or VGA monitor.
- MacBooks with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt USB 4: Use a Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C cable to connect to either of these monitor types. You can also use an adapter to connect to a DVI, HDMI, or VGA monitor.
- MacBooks with USB-C: Use a USB-C cable to connect to a USB-C monitor. You can also use an adapter to connect to a DVI, HDMI, or VGA monitor.
- MacBooks with Thunderbolt 1, Thunderbolt 2, and Mini DisplayPort : Use a Mini DisplayPort cable to connect to Mini DisplayPort monitor, or an adapter to DVI, HDMI, or VGA monitors.
- Use the cable to connect your laptop to the monitor. Plug on end of the cable into your MacBook's video port, and the other end into your monitor's video input port. If an adapter is required, connect the cables with adapter to bridge them.
- Plug in and turn on the monitor. Attach your monitor to a power source (e.g., an electrical outlet), then press the Power button. In most cases, you should see your MacBook's screen (either extended or mirrored) on the second monitor.
- If you are using a monitor or TV that has multiple inputs, you may need to select the port you connected your laptop to on the monitor. Press the button that says "Input", "Source". or "Video Select" or something similar on the monitor or remote.
- If you don't see your MacBook's screen on your monitor, you may need to detect the display. On your MacBook, click the Apple menu, select System Preferences, click Displays, and then click Detect Displays.[7]
[Edit]Using Both Screens on a MacBook - Open your Mac's . You'll find it in the Apple menu, which is at the top-left corner of the screen. This is where you can control how your second screen acts on your MacBook.
- Click . It's the monitor icon in the System Preferences window. This takes you to the Display tab.
- Click the tab. It's at the top of the window.
- Remove the checkmark from "Mirror Displays." If you want both screens to display the same thing at all times, leave the checkmark in place. But if you want the second monitor to act as a second desktop to give you more space for multitasking, don't check this option.
- If your plan is to close the laptop and use the second monitor as your only monitor, mirroring is the option you'll want.
- Choose the primary monitor. You'll see two rectangles at the center of the window—one represents your built-in monitor, and the other represents your external monitor. A thin white bar runs along the top of the rectangle that's set as your primary monitor, which is your laptop's built-in screen by default.
- If you want your external monitor to be the primary monitor, click and hold the white bar with the mouse, and then drag it to the other monitor. The menu bar will only appear on the primary display.
- If you want to keep your laptop as your primary monitor, you don't have to change anything here.
- Rearrange the screens (optional). The position of each rectangle in the Display window should reflect the placement of your monitors. For example, if your second monitor is to the left of your laptop's primary screen on your desk, you'll want the rectangle that represents your second monitor on the left side of the primary monitor rectangle. Drag the second screen to its actual position so the arrangement looks how it does in real life.
- This makes it so you can easily drag a window from one monitor to another without having to guess which direction to drag it in.
[Edit]Using Your MacBook with the Lid Closed - Connect a keyboard and mouse to your MacBook. If you want to use your second monitor as your only monitor while your MacBook's lid is closed, you'll need a mouse and keyboard that work with your Mac.
- Plug your MacBook in to a power source. You can only use a second monitor as your only monitor on your Mac laptop when it is connected to a power source. If your MacBook is not plugged in, your external monitor will turn off when you close the lid of your MacBook.
- This is also called "closed lid mode" or "closed clamshell mode."
- Turn on screen mirroring. If you want the external monitor to display the same thing you'd see on your laptop's main monitor, you'll want to mirror the screens. Here's how:
- Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
- Click the Arrangement tab.
- Check the box next to "Mirror Displays."
- Adjust your energy saving settings. To prevent your screen from turning off when the lid is closed:
- Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
- Click Battery.
- Drag the slider at the top all the way to the right (to "Never").
- Close the lid of your MacBook. Now when you close your MacBook, your external monitor will act as the only monitor.
- DisplayPort, HDMI, Thunderbolt 3 and later, and USB-C can all carry audio, meaning that your monitor's speakers should be able to transmit your laptop's audio output if you're using one of these connections.
- If you want to connect your laptop to a monitor wirelessly, you may be able to do so using a compatible Smart TV.
- If you are using an older video cable, you may not be able to get sound on your TV. You can transmit sound to an external set of speakers using the headphone port on your laptop. Use a 3.5mm auxiliary cable to connect to your headphone port. Use an adapter to connect to the speakers or audio input, if needed.
- If your monitor isn't displaying your laptop's contents, you may have a faulty cable. Try connecting with a different cable, or using a different connector if possible.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Chill a Drink Quickly Posted: 30 Dec 2021 08:00 AM PST We've all been there. You've invited a few friends over — or even house full of them — and have realized that you haven't chilled your drinks right before your guests arrive. What you have on your hands is a true party emergency. So, how do you chill your drinks in time for you to be able to chill out with your friends without feeling like a bad host? Read on to find out. [Edit]Chilling with Salted Ice Water - Fill a thick glass bowl with water and ice. The thicker and more insulated the bowl, the better. It should be able to trap the cold water and ice mixture. Add as much ice to the water as you can, but not so much that it prevents the entire beverage container from being submerged into the water. A 50/50 mix of ice and water is a good rule of thumb. If you just need to chill one or a few drinks, this is fine. If you have to chill many drinks, you're better off using a cooler or even your bathtub.
- Add a pinch of salt to the water. A small handful should do. The salt will disassociate into its constituent sodium and chloride ions. The water molecules, being polar, will orient themselves accordingly. This is work, and work requires energy which comes from thermal energy in the water, thus reducing the ambient temperature further.
- Put your drinks in the ice water solution and rapidly stir them. Stirring the drinks will help the heat transfer out of your drink and into the ice solution more quickly.
- Wait about two minutes. The temperature should have fallen dramatically in a very short time. If it needs more time chilling, stir the remaining drinks in the salted ice water for another minute or two.
- Pour your cold drink into a glass. It should now be about the perfect temperature to quench your thirst -- and the thirst of your guests. Just be careful: if you put in a carbonated drink like a soda, give it some time to settle before you pour it.
[Edit]Chilling with a Wet Paper Towel - Wet a paper towel that's large enough to fit around your entire drink. If your drink is small, you may only need to use half a paper towel; if your drink is larger, a full one or even two.
- Wrap the wet paper towel completely around the drink. Try to make sure the paper towel stays wrapped around the drink.
- Place the wrapped drink in the freezer and wait approximately 15 minutes.
- Remove the drink from the freezer and enjoy your ice-cold beverage. The paper towel will be partially frozen; keep it on your beverage if you want it to continue cooling down the drink. If you are using the drink in presentation, remove the wet paper towel before serving.
- Make sure to at least rinse the can top in clean, potable water before you drink the beverage. The salt that may be left on the can lid may cause the beverage to taste very salty.
- If you don't have salt, then plain water plus ice is still more effective than ice alone at chilling containers. This is because liquid water is a better heat conductor than air (many times better), and the ice by itself can't cover much of the container's surface.
- This method is amazingly better than merely adding ice cubes to the glass of warm coke. Placing ice cubes directly into the drink causes it to become diluted and lose its fizz and snappy flavor.
- Smaller containers will chill more rapidly than large containers because the smaller ones have much more surface area in contact with the cold water per unit volume. Smaller containers will also chill more rapidly because they contain less liquid.
- If you do not have extra clean water available, using ice alone and stirring it and the drinks around in the ice is still better than just putting the drinks in an ice chest with ice still in the bag with the drinks sitting on top or in a refrigerator. Air, which is less dense, can not absorb and conduct as much heat away from the containers compared to water.
- So to have cooler air circulating among the pieces of ice, try putting the bowl in a bag and tie it closed, and then swirl the bowl a little every 15 to 30 seconds to stir the drinks.
- If you want to chill wine quickly, the saltwater convection trick may take too long due to the size and thickness of the bottle. Try pouring a couple glasses worth in a plastic sandwich bag, sealing it with as little air as possible, and laying it on the ice in your freezer.
[Edit]Warnings - Carbonated cans may become pressurized after rapidly stirring in the ice water. Opening cans before the carbonation has a chance to settle may cause an overflowing mess.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Beverages in cans or bottles
- Bowl
- Water
- Ice cubes
- Salt
- Thermometer (Optional)
[Edit]Related wikiHows
[Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Stay Awake Until Midnight on New Year's Eve Posted: 30 Dec 2021 12:00 AM PST If you're used to going to bed early, it can be tough to stay awake until midnight on New Year's Day. No one wants to fall asleep too early to see the ball drop. This year, keep your eyes open long enough to countdown to the New Year! [Edit]Staying Active - Talk to people. If you're around friends or family for New Year's, make conversation with them to stay awake. Keep your mind entertained by being social.
- Listen to their stories.
- Laugh at their jokes.
- Talk to them about their interests.
- Stay on your feet. Dance, walk around the house or even challenge your friends to a push up contest. Whatever you do, just make sure not to sit or lay down. You don't want to get too comfortable or you might end up drifting off to sleep.
- Do fun things. Play games with your friends and family. Play pranks on people. Take turns making New Year's resolutions with everyone. Do anything that entertains your mind and keeps you up.[1]
- If it's legal in your city, shooting off fireworks can be really exciting. Just be very careful around fire and supervise little kids.
- Taking pictures of everyone in funny poses can make for a really great time.
- Help out. If you're at a party, you can help the cook prepare food for everyone. You can even play bartender and make cocktails for everyone. Volunteer to clean up a bit as well. Not only will helping out ingratiate you with the host, it will keep your mind focused and awake.
[Edit]Fighting the Sleepiness - Use caffeine. Caffeine blocks sleep inducing neurotransmitters in your brain to keep you awake.[2] When you start to feel yourself getting sleepy, drink a cup of coffee or something else with caffeine. Avoid caffeine in the days leading up to New Year's Eve as it becomes less effective with overuse.
- Most sodas have caffeine.
- Energy drinks like Redbull and Monster have a lot of caffeine.
- Some dark chocolates contain caffeine.
- Keep in mind that while this is a very effective method, it's not healthy. Don't drink caffeine at night often, as disrupting your sleep cycle can be bad for your health.
- Change your body temperature. Vary your body temperature from hot to cold to jolt yourself into alertness. The shock will give your body and mind an instant burst of energy.
- Splash some cold water on your face.[3]
- Take a quick shower. Switch the water from cold to hot and then back again to wake your body up and improve your circulation.
- You can get a similar effect by chewing ice or drinking a cold beverage.
- Flip on the light switch. It will be harder for you to fall asleep with all the lights on. Make your environment is as bright as possible.
- You may want to move to a different room and turn the lights on there to avoid bothering other people.
- Listen to music. Put on your favorite upbeat tune and let it energize your spirit. Turn up the volume as loud as you can.[4]
- Use headphones if there's other people around.
- Avoid slow songs that could relax you to sleep.
- Get some fresh air. If you're with a lot of people on New Year's Eve, the atmosphere may be very crowded. This can make the air very hot and humid which can make you very sleepy.[5] Go outside to get some fresh oxygen to rejuvenate yourself.
- Enjoy a film. Watch a really fun film to engage your senses. A good action film will wipe away your sleepiness and keep you on the edge of your seat.
- Avoid films that are too long or slow. Keeping up with a long, complicated plot can leave you feeling drained.
- Use peppermint oil. The smell of peppermint can wake up your senses. Rub some oil on your hands, temples and upper lip. The smell may be very strong, so you might have to keep your distance from people for a while.[6]
- Strong citrus scents can also do the trick.
- Don't use lavender, it can be too relaxing.
[Edit]Preparing to Stay Awake - Eat nutritious foods throughout the day. Eat vitamin rich foods that will give you energy. You'll need plenty of Vitamin C and B and omega-3 fatty acids to give yourself the energy to stay awake. Avoid foods with tryptophan like turkey that can make you feel tired and sluggish.[7]
- Salmon and walnuts are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and will boost your metabolism.
- Oranges and other citrus fruits are a great source of Vitamin C.
- Eggs and beans are very B vitamin rich.
- Eat small meals often to keep your metabolism running. Larger meals can make you sluggish.
- Get a full eight hours of sleep the night before. Make sure your body has enough sleep to operate. It will be really hard to have enough energy to stay awake on New Year's Eve if you're sleep deprived from the night before.
- Don't over do it. Sleeping too much can make you feel groggy.
- Take a walk. Low-impact exercise can give you extra energy. Take a thirty minute walk on New Year's Eve to get your blood pumping and help you stay awake.[8] The sunlight you get from outside will also help your body absorb Vitamin D.
- Keep it light. Heavy exercise can burn you out and make you feel tired.
- Take a nap. If you're worried you still won't be able to make it to midnight, take a nap in the middle of the day. Set an alarm to make sure you don't oversleep. A short nap of forty-five minutes or less will leave you feeling energized. If you go longer, it could make you more tired.
- If you have time, a ninety minute nap will allow your body to get through a rem sleep cycle which can make up for some sleep you'll be losing on New Year's.
- Always keep your mind occupied to stay awake.
- Ask a friend to wake you up in advance just in case you do fall asleep.
- Chew gum or put a mint in your mouth to engage your senses and wake your body up.
- Get up and move around. Try not to sit or lay down because you might get too comfortable and accidentally fall asleep.
[Edit]Warnings - Don't start drinking caffeine too early, or your energy level will crash.
- Try not to eat turkey, there is a chemical which will make you drowsy.
- Don't drink too much alcohol. It will make you extremely drowsy.
[Edit]References |
| How to Throw a New Year's Eve Party Posted: 29 Dec 2021 04:00 PM PST New Year's Eve is one of the biggest celebrations of the year for many people. It's a great time to spend together with your family and friends as you say goodbye to the old and welcome the new. Throwing a great New Year's Eve party can help make the celebrations even more enjoyable. Get inspired and host the perfect party for you and those close to you. [Edit]Planning the Party - Think of the location. Before you can start planning the party, you will need to think of a location to have it in. You'll need to find a space that you can easily access and that has enough space for everyone you're thinking of inviting. Take some time to think of the perfect space for your New Year's Eve party.
- If the party is at a club, and there will be admission charges, make sure that is on the invitation as well. Even if there is no charge, some people like to dedicate the party proceeds to a friend in need or a charity.
- You can host the party in your home. This can help cut down on costs.[1]
- Try asking a friend to co-host the party in their home if they have the space.
- You might rent a party hall if you need a lot of room for guests.
- Consider who should attend the party. It's not a party unless there are guests. You'll want to consider who you want to invite to your party and how many people should come. Thinking of the perfect guest list can help make your party a good one.
- Make sure the uppers (party animals) and downers (wallflowers) ratio is balanced so that nothing will get broken and nobody injured, but everybody will have a good time. Generally you'll want to have 1 downer for every 5 uppers, but you may want to adjust this based on the location and availability of security and emergency services.
- Consider how many people can comfortably fit in the space you are hosting the party in.
- Inviting less people can help you keep the cost of the party low and let you connect better with your guests.[2]
- Think of when you want guests to arrive and leave. Once you know who is coming and where you will host the party, you can begin to plan the party schedule. You'll need to consider when you want your guests to begin arriving and when they should expect the party to end. Creating this schedule will give you time to prepare before the party and will let your guests know what to expect.
- Not all New Year's Eve parties need to run late. You can end the party whenever you would like.
- If your guests are staying late, you should be prepared to offer them a bed or some place to sleep.
- Send the invitations. Make them lively looking, and make sure to write down any necessary gear or things they should bring, such as swimsuits, food, drinks, after Christmas sale gifts, or whatever.
- Plan the party for everyone. Try to keep each guest in mind when you are planning your party. Ideally, your party will have something for everyone. It's important to think of all the ages, tastes, and preferences of your guests when planning your party. Take some time and review your guest list to make sure everyone will have a good time at your party.
- If there are children coming, make sure you have things that they may enjoy. You might leave out a video game or other fun activity for them.
- Think about what kinds of food and music all of your guests might like. Your guests may not have the same tastes, so try to pick things that you think everyone would agree on.
- Think about food and drink options. Before you throw your New Year's Eve party, you will want to consider how you are going to handle food and drink. You may choose to offer all the food and drinks for your guests or ask them to bring something to share. Whichever option you go with, knowing what to expect in regards to refreshments can help make your party a success.
- If you want to provide all food and drink yourself, think about which items your guests might prefer. Try to provide something you think everyone would enjoy.
- It can help cut down on costs if you ask your guests to bring something to pass.
- Plan out activities. It can be a good idea to tell your guests what they can expect to be doing during the party. Most New Year's Eve parties are centered around the ball drop and the midnight countdown. However, you can plan whatever fun events you might want to include in your party.
- Planning an evening of music, food, and good conversation can make for a simple and fun party.
- You might try offering board games for your guests to play together.
- Your party might feature a fun competition. For example, the best dressed guest could win a prize.
- Tell your guests what activities they can expect in the invitations.
- Send out invitations. Once you've planned the location, the guest list, and the schedule, you can create and send out invitations. The invitation will list all the information about the party and will let your guest know that they are welcome. Consider some of these methods of sending the invitations:
- By mail.
- By email.
- Making an e-card.[3]
- Using social media.
- By phone call.
[Edit]Setting Things Up - Set out drinks. Most every party has some kind of beverage available to guests. Exactly what kind of beverages you offer will depend on your guest's preferences. Think about what your friends and family would like to drink and put them out during the party. Keep some of these tips in mind when considering which beverages might be a good idea:
- You should always provide water for your guests.
- Most adults will enjoy an alcoholic beverage. Try to provide some beer or wine for guests.
- It can be a good idea to have soft drinks available at your party.
- Your guests might enjoy coffee and tea.
- If there are children coming, you may want to have something like juice or milk ready.
- You can ask your friends and family to bring some drinks to the party.[4]
- Offer the right food. Nearly all parties will offer some kind of food to guests. Exactly what kind of food will depend on how many people are attending, how much you can budget for the food, and how long the party goes on for. You can make a meal or just offer snacks, depending on what you think will be best for your guests. Consider some of these tips when providing food for your guests: [5]
- A simple snack tray is usually provided at parties. This snack tray may have things like crackers, cheese slices, and fruit or vegetables.
- You might try making a group meal for everyone. This might be a big pot of soup or stew, something that can feed a lot of people at once.
- You could try asking your guests to bring something for everyone to eat.
- Provide tableware. Although food and drink are big parts of a party, you'll need to give your guests a way to enjoy them. Providing things like plates, cups, napkins, and silverware are just as important as providing the food and drink itself. Make sure you have enough supplies to help keep your party running smoothly.
- You should have enough plates and cups for everyone at the party.
- You might want to buy paper or plastic tableware. However, these can make the party more costly.[6]
- Make sure you have napkins or paper towels handy.
- It can be helpful to have a trashcan out for everyone to use.
- Decorate. To help make your party feel complete, it can be a good idea to add some decorations. These decorations can be as extravagant or simple as you would like. Try using some of these simple decoration tips for your New Year's eve party:[7]
- Keep your Christmas decorations up to maintain the holiday look.
- Make your own decorations. For example, you can make a gold bow tie garland by painting bow-tie pasta noodles gold and stringing them together.
- Wrap tinsel around the end of a toothpick or drink stirrer.
[Edit]Entertaining Guests - Have a way to watch the ball drop if applicable. A big part of New Year's Eve celebrations in the United States is watching the ball drop in Times Square at midnight. It can be a good idea to have some way for your guests to watch the ball as it descends at midnight. You might try using some of these methods to bring the ball drop to your guests:
- Make sure you subscribe to a television channel that covers the event.
- You can find live streaming coverage of the ball drop online.
- You might move the party to a local bar around midnight to watch the countdown together.
- Play some music. A great party is often not complete without music. Music can help any party to feel alive, and your New Year's Eve celebration isn't any different. Think about what kind of music you and your guests might want to listen to and build a great playlist for the party.[8]
- Consider the musical taste of those attending your party. Avoid songs that might make some guests uncomfortable.
- Make sure you have enough music to cover the length of the party.
- You could try streaming services like Pandora to play music during your party.
- Try to find a good volume level for your party.
- Make sure everyone is engaged. The point of a party is to celebrate. During the party, it's a good idea to spend some time with everyone who attended. This can help make them feel welcome and included in the celebration. Always keep an eye on guests to make sure they are having the best time possible.
- Plan fun group activities. For example, you might build a photo booth or offer some games for people to play.[9]
- If someone looks alone or bored, bring them into a conversation or start one up with them.
- Introduce new people to one another.
- Countdown. The focus of the evening will be on the countdown to midnight and the new year. As the clock approaches 12, you'll want to gather everyone around and get ready for the countdown. This can be a great way to bring everyone together and end your New Year's Eve party on a high note.[10]
- Most people start counting down at 10 seconds from midnight.
- Some people enjoy opening a bottle of champagne once the clock strikes 12.
- Feel free to make up your own traditions for the countdown.
- Wrap things up. Once your guests have enjoyed ringing in the New Year with you, it's time to bring the party to a close. Make sure your guests all have a safe way home or are comfortable with the accommodations that you have provided. You may also want to clean up a bit while the party is coming to a close. After the party is over, get some sleep and enjoy the new year.
- Before going to bed, it's a good idea to make sure that all the leftover food and drink are put away.
- You may also want to put all the trash in a bin or bag.
- Removing decorations, sweeping, and other cleaning can probably wait until the morning.
- Never let someone drive drunk. If your guests are driving home, make sure they are sober.
- Properly planning your party can help make it a success.
- Make sure you have enough room for everyone you plan on inviting.
- Think about what foods and drink your guests might like the most.
- Try to play music that you think everyone will enjoy.
- Counting down the last 10 seconds of the year is great tradition.
- Always plan in advance.
[Edit]Warnings - Do not let anyone drive drunk.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Food
- Drinks
- Plates, cups, and silverware
- Entertainment
- Decorations
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
