As the temperature falls and weekends are no longer filled with football, tailgating and games, many students find fun and easy ways to fill their time and go a little wild.
Many students find house parties are a simple way to distract themselves from classes and the dullness of winter weather.
"First semester is basically all football, all the time," said Sarah Goggans, senior in English. "Second semester is when all my friends start having themed house parties that get a lot crazier because people aren't exhausted from going to the game."
When attending one of these winter parties, Goggans suggests dressing in layers.
"I usually just leave my jacket and hat near the door so when I want to go outside, I can just grab it and put it on," Goggans said.
Shannon Gothard, junior in social work, also said she tries to dress in layers.
"Wearing leggings or tights under your jeans helps wonders," Gothard said.
Event planner Julie Bunkley of Invision Consulting and Production offers some helpful tips to remember when planning a party to help guests stay warm:
1) There is strength in numbers. Bunkley said the more people that are around, the warmer people tend to stay.
2) Keep people moving.
"Have something interactive like a band so people will be dancing," Bunkley said. "If you are serving food, have it at different stations so people will travel around to eat rather than just sitting down."
3) Food should be hearty and easy to handle. Bunkley said she likes to serve chili or something that will go a long way with guests to keep them warm.
4) Choose drinks that most people like.
"Any alcohol warms you up, but I would go more for red wine," Bunkley said. "Also, I like martinis whether it's cold or not."
5) Choose a theme that's easy for guests. Bunkley said she likes to plan parties around certain events like the Super Bowl or Valentine's Day.
"It's always nice to have a Valentines Day party to keep the pressure off people to get a date," Bunkley said. "Besides, it's better to eat chocolate in a group."
Gothard agrees that themes should be kept simple, but still creative. She said her favorite winter themed party is a Bill Cosby sweater party.
6) Party activities are a must have. For outdoor activities, Goggans said bonfires and fire pits always make for a good party.
"It's nice to be able to go outside and stand by a fire," Goggans said.
However, indoor activities are just as important. Gothard said she likes to move beer pong indoors to keep fingers from freezing, and games like Apples to Apples can be turned into a fun group drinking game. The key is to keep games simple.
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