Drinking four bottles of champagne and making out with a stranger could happen any ol’ Saturday night, but New Year’s Eve is the one day a year that it’s standard procedure. This year, though, you’re looking to blow the lid off that run-of-the-mill NYE—without going so far as standing in Times Square for 10 hours. Instead, bring the mayhem of Midtown (sans the hassle) to wherever you are with a perfect mood-setting party supply. From Brooklyn to ‘Boken, it’s not about where you are on NYE, but about where your mindset is. Show off your inner libertine with these after-dark accessories, and we guarantee you won’t be saying “ I wish I would have...” on New Year’s Day.

-Tricia Carr

	1. 2012 Themed...Everything You pass ‘em every day in December—booths stuffed with $20 won’t-even-last-one-hour glasses for the New Year’s Eve crowds. The double 0’s as eyes are so last decade, but there is still an endless supply of 2012 glasses and other borderline fugly 2012 accessories on every street corner. Whether you’re a born-and-bred New Yorker or just visiting for the weekend, the whole point of being in the city for NYE is to go nuts, and that includes stocking up on plastic crap that you’ll wear for one night only (and maybe pin to your bulletin board afterwards). Tourists can be tricked into paying full price, but you know better. Practice your bargaining skills and stock up on hats, headbands and crowns for you and all your friends. May we suggest an LOL-worthy top hat like Party City's Pop My Cork Top Hat, especially if you’re feeling frisky?
	2. A Mixology Mindset Those unfortunate people stuck in the constraints of the Times Square road blocks can’t have a damn thing to drink at midnight—it’s against the law. But you’re at a bar, most likely with an all-you-can-drink deal, and can thus chug whatever your heart desires. On New Year’s Eve, that’s probably champagne. Bubbly straight from the bottle is always a delight, but try switching it up with a few simple ingredients that your trusty bartender can add. Ask for vodka and cranberry juice in your flute for an effervescent twist on the classic vodka-cran. Order some blue curaçao and fruity vodka in your champagne for an island-inspired drink. At the end of the night, get breakfasty and sip a mimosa with a touch of triple sec for added dimension. Get creative—you might even teach the bartender a little something about crafting a champagne cocktail!
	3. Mad Noisemakers The screams of 10, 9, 8...can be heard from Times Square to Montauk, and since you can’t outdo them, you might as well join them! Horns, whistles and noisemakers of all kinds are welcome at (most) bars in NYC and we say, "the more obnoxious the better." Just save it for the midnight moment so you don’t annoy others or worse—get kicked out before the ball drops. If you’re at a fancy schmancy soiree, keep a few of these classy Glitter Horns from Party City on the DL to get past the bouncer. Then you can celebrate in style when the clock strikes midnight. If you’re with a low-key bar crowd, these silly-shaped Party City Noise Makers channel a more hipster vibe. Bring a few extras to toss to new friends, or sneak in a badass pocket Air Horn from Party City and make everyone hate you forever. Just don’t put it too close to the ear of your midnight makeout target.
	4. Lights, Lights, Flashin' If there’s not a working disco ball at your NYE venue (and, you know, there may well be...) then you’re going to need to BYOL—bring your own lights. To start, head to the dollar store and stock up on crack-and-glow sticks, necklaces, bracelets and something like this hilarious Glow-in-the-Dark Cap from the Dollar Tree. If you’re really getting into it, invest in flashing accessories. Ladies, there are light-up rings on sidewalk stands all over the city that are just as fierce as OrientalTrading.com’s Spike Flashing Rings and you can snag a few last-minute. Guys, channel your inner "Situation" by scouring the streets for over-the-top shades like these LED Flashing Sun Glasses from GlowDaddy.com.
	5. A Moral Compass...or Just the Right App Ever wish you could take back that embarrassing drunk voicemail you left your mom, or the awkward, sexually ambiguous text that you sent your office crush? Welp, there’s an app for that. Be sure to download Webroot's Holiday Party Sobriety Test to your iPhone or Android device before you head out for the night. When you’re tempted to tweet a pic of your shoe that you just drunkenly dropped in the toilet or a witty line about how many shots you just took with a stranger, the app will stop you from making any bad decisions. If you don’t do so well on the Holiday Party Sobriety Test, the app will suggest that you cease all tweets and texts for the rest of the night. If it senses that you’re totally gone, it’ll offer numbers of nearby cab companies. What service!

Whether you're catching the scene at Times Square from a projector screen, bar television or your itty bitty set at home, you’ll feel a sense of something greater when wearing the same kitschy NYE accessories as everyone else around the globe. Another way to feel utterly a part of it all? That magical New Year’s kiss. Whether it’s your BF, your BFF, your crush or a total stranger, a kiss at midnight is really the only accessory you’ll need to make the last hours of 2011 worth a memory.