Here’s wishing you all a safe and happy new year! If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to check out the Smart Girl Guide to New Year’s Eve over at Shelby Knox’s blog (remember her from The Education of Shelby Knox).

Some highlights to remember are:

Make your resolutions. Decide before you head out for the night how far you’re willing to go with your partner. Is the kiss at midnight enough or are you ready to head back to someone’s house for more? It’s easier to stick to decisions you’ve made before alcohol and the spirit of the night carries you away.

Map out your party before you head out and decide early where you’ll be waking up in 2010. If you plan to hop from bash to bash, make sure you leave each location with the same crew you arrived with. Never leave a friend (or even a friend and her date) alone at a party. Keep in touch by text to see when people are ready to move on – and be careful about posting your movements on Facebook and to your Twitter feed.

If you’re going to drink, don’t be stupid – make sure you have a designated driver or chip in for a group cab. The same rules you use at a frat party apply tenfold on New Year’s Eve: don’t accept a drink from anyone you don’t know and never leave it unattended.

Be safe out there!