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November 25, 2007
Winter Wonderland
While my roommates and I were chatting in my room today, we happened to look out the window and realized that it was snowing...and hard!! I consider today the first real snow of the season and for a while it was even sticking to the ground. Unfortunately, the snow soon turned to rain, but for that short period of time there was a beautiful snow scene outside. It made me think about how much I can really appreciate winter. So, why not celebrate it with a Winter Wonderland Party?!
As shown by the background of this entry, I consider blue and white the ultimate winter colors. They’re great because they’re cool, crisp, and calming. As much as I would love to tell people to paint their walls blue with white accents, that’s obviously not very feasible. A better way to decorate for your party would be by taking it back to the old school: paper snowflakes! I’m sure most of us remember the days of cutting out paper snowflakes in elementary school, but if you need a good reminder, wikihow.com gives a great, in depth description on how to create them. Grab some friends and make a bunch of white, light blue, and dark blue snowflakes then simply tape them sporadically all over the walls. You can also put little bunches of pulled-out cotton balls all around your food table and other areas to make it look like collected, fallen snow. It’ll feel like a beautiful, outdoors snow scene in the midst of your party!!
What can you serve for food at such a party? Popcorn is an easy option, with its fluffy white look and its fast and cheap preparations. But just because we’re college students doesn’t mean that we have to limit our creativity SO much � Do you have any access to an oven? If you’re in a dorm, there’s a possibility that there is a community kitchen area somewhere that you can use to make some great holiday cookies! There’s options for everyone on Food Network’s 12 days of Cookies, which includes cookies featuring chocolate, shortcake, coconut, and many more of your favorite ingredients. Show off to your friends by trying one of these awesome recipes!
It’s also a great time to make a big batch of hot chocolate, which can be prepared in a variety of ways. You can use the microwave for individual cups or prepare a large amount on the stovetop. Also, you go crazy with flavors and premium varieties such as Godiva or Ghirardelli or you can easily buy a brand such Kroger’s. Although you can definitely taste the difference in the richness and consistency, any hot chocolate will taste delicious on a cold night! Here’s a tip: try adding some mint to the hot chocolate! Buy a box of peppermint candy canes, put them in a nearby cup, and encourage your friends to use them to stir their drinks. It adds delicious flavor to your average cup of hot chocolate!
When it comes to music, I would stick to a top-40 kind of selection for this party. My reasoning? There’s still plenty of time to whip out the holiday music (such as at a Christmas Party….hmm, next blog entry?) so you don’t want to overwhelm your friends too early.
I know we all like warm weather and sunny days, but if you live somewhere like Michigan, you can’t fight the snow and the cold. So why not appreciate it by having a party with your friends!
Posted by jenmmart at 10:35 PM | Comments (0)
November 10, 2007
Go Blue!!
As I sit watching the Michigan vs. Wisconsin football game from the comfort of my house, I think about the excitement that comes from Michigan football games. At this point, I don’t know if we’ll win this game or not, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t exciting. I know that I’m not the only one to feel this way, and one of my favorite ways to watch a football game is with my other enthusiastic friends. Why not turn this get together into a true celebration?!
Decorations for this party are relatively easy. Out of all of my friends, at least two of them own a Michigan flag, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find one to hang in the TV room. Also, collect as many past football shirts and other Michigan shirts that you can find. If you hang a thick string around the room (as you would with Christmas lights), you can use clothes pins to attach the shirts around the room. Even if we happen to be down in the game (as we are now…come on, team!), these decorations should at least inspire some hope!
As for the food, there are many options that won’t set the average student back too much. Small snacks such as pretzels and chips are more than acceptable and they are typically not expensive for a couple of bags. For other, healthier, options, you can purchase some veggies and dip to offer your guests, but here’s a tip: buy uncut vegetables such as carrots and broccoli and spend a few extra minutes washing and cutting them up yourself. The extra time is definitely worth the money that you’ll save from not buying prepared veggies trays. If you want to offer some pizza as well, a little research can make your decision a lot easier. Try websites such as campusfood.com or eatblue.com when you’re looking for pizza options. Many pizza places have weekend specials, group specials, and delivery options that will make it much easier to feed your friends.
With a party focused on the football game, there are a few more things to keep in mind. Everyone will need to be able to watch the TV, so there either needs to be enough seating. If you don’t normally have enough places to sit, either borrow some folding chairs or grab some pillows so that the floor doesn’t become extremely uncomfortable. Also, while it’s always great to be a Michigan Wolverine, it’s hard to remember that if we happen to have a bad game. Try to think of ways to keep everyone in a good mood, regardless of the outcome of the game.
Today might be the last away game of the regular season, but there’s always time for a Rose Bowl Party!!
Posted by jenmmart at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)