This post is kinda a 3-in-1: 

We want to kick the New Year off with a BANG! 

What better way than to share a few of our favorite recipes for delicious cocktails with you!

Not only are these surprisingly easy to prep, they are great for entertaining + hosting when you want that elevated appeal. These 5 drinks are perfect to make for New Year celebrations (+ post New Year parties) + will impress your guests.

Before reading further, grab a free pdf we created for you so that you can follow along!

Our pdf cheatsheet + guide has ingredients, steps, + helpful info/tips in a user-friendly way.

But first...

Before we ring in the new year, we 1st want to take a moment + sincerely THANK YOU for all of the love + support during these last 2 years--especially in cheering us through 2016!

We have been running around + jetsetting, so if you haven't gotten a thank you card from us for our weddings yet...they are on their way!

We both became So-Arneson when we got married this year. 

We're a team, so we decided to launch so-arneson.com together as a collective website for sharing honest advice + lessons we are consistently sought out for--how to crush grad school, leadership skills, travel/culture insight, dating advice, + yummy recipes! 

Plus, this will also be a cool way to document our new phase of life together (married!).

Jacky will still keep her personal blog (SNOBBY HIPPY) as a home for fashion, French, + business, and Ryan has his personal website for teaching + academia as well. 

You can read more about this on our About page. 

We're dedicated to building leadership + love skills in our diverse communities. And hey, sometimes building leadership skills comes with enjoying the art of hosting, sooooo...

Up 1st is a shared passion: cocktails!

Ever since getting married, we've been able to enjoy a cocktail together at the end of each evening. It's such a nice way to take a moment, pause together, + feel really adult. 

When we were in Paris for our Paris wedding, we enjoyed a couple of apéritifs with a couple of our siblings at our go-to fav. spot: Café Hugo!

We've been going for almost 10 years now!

Only about 6 years ago did I start trying their cocktails. 

Last year, we noticed they did a major remodel, + now there are souvenir mugs + everything!

Anyway, their cocktail menu has also changed, + even though we hate to admit it (because part of us likes keeping places a special hidden gem...), Cafe Hugo has def. upped itself with its delicious cocktails + attractive presentation!

If you go, I would def recommend the Liane:

I ordered the Liane because I was thinking of my flatmate from grad school, Leann. I really miss her a lot! We always had wine + whiskey together. If Leann's spirit could be bottled up + wasn't a Single Malt Scotch...it would be this delicious drink: The Liane!

Liane: Champagne Brut, Bourbon, Peach Liqueur, + topped with a surprise watermelon!

When we get back home (currently celebrating the holidays with Ryan's family in Utah!), we'll def try our own take on the Liane, but since I can't give you the recipe, I'll share with you a couple of other drinks you'll find in our classy cocktails cheatsheet + guide!

Looking for something *like* champagne, but more of a surprise on the cliché?

Try a Kir Royale!

My PhD French + francophone francophile sis, Angelica, toooooootally gets credit for this one! It's thanks to Angelica that I like Kir Royales so much!

She also makes an amazing Vin Chaud (Mulled Wine). It's absolutely the perfect evening drink to share with people on a chilly night because you make it in one big batch.

It's pretty much like a sophisticated adult punch because it's wine + spices, warmed up to perfection!

Actually, as I write this post to officially launch our blog on New Year's Eve 2016, Ryan is making the Vin Chaud to share with family right now! 

If you have a cheap bottle of red or a few opened bottles that are about to go bad, Mulled Wine is a perfect way to make them delicious!

The best part? It's crockpot friendly!

Since I don't know my sister's recipe (and TBH, IDK if she does, either!), you'll find our own version from Ryan in our free pdf! You'll also find the rest of the 5 classy drink recipes in here. 

For now, I have to wrap up this post and join my new fam for dinner and NYE celebrations!

We hope you enjoy our 5 classy cocktails + NYE post! If there's anything you'd like to see, let us know because we're getting the ball rolling in 2017 with amazing posts for you! If you have any questions, reach out to us!

We appreciate you, we love you, + we thank you for being with us. 

Have a safe + lovely New Year!

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