Winter on the way? Cool party ideas

Punxatawney Phil says six more weeks of winter. What better way to make the most of it than a party?

Activities

- Creative snowman construction: pass out props, colored water in spray bottles (mix in food coloring), use old Halloween costume pieces, try self portraits, and more. Give cool prizes for the most unique Frosty friends.

- Snow sculpting. Don't limit the party to snow people. Try animals, vehicles, buildings, letters...go wild.

- Make homemade snow globes. Instructions here: http://bit.ly/ntlosS

Games

- Snowman wrap-up. Divide into teams of two and wrap your partner in toilet paper. Once sufficiently "snowed in," add scarf, hat, and construction paper buttons. Fastest team to "freeze" their teammate wins! http://bit.ly/yHDlCN

- Find a list of fun-in-the-flakes games here: http://bit.ly/9hQJQy

Food

- Snowman on a stick. Slide three 1" banana slices onto a wooden skewer to make the snowman body. Add half an apple wedge on top as the triangular hat, then poke pretzel sticks into the center banana slice as arms. Mini chocolate chips become eyes and buttons.

- Top a drink with whip cream then add chocolate chip eyes and mouth, plus a candy corn for a nose. Works as a topper to hot cocoa or even a health smoothie.
- Penguin cookies: dip Pepperidge farm Milano cookies in melted chocolate -- about 1/4" on each side to create wings and 1/2" on the top for the head. (The belly remains the light cookie color.) Add candy or frosting for the eyes and a yellow beak from frosting or a snipped triangle of fruit roll-up. Some extra fun: sugar cubes make fun ice blocks and jordan almonds are perfect penguin eggs. (Ideas thanks to Family Fun magazine.)