Hosting a Winter Potluck
A winter storm is on its way. For people in a large swath of northern states that means battening down the hatches and curling up with a blanket and a good book for the duration.
Why not turn the tables on Old Man Winter and make the blizzard an opportunity to gather neighborhood families at your house for a buffet or potluck?
When the weather outside is frightful, sharing a meal is delightful. Instead of spending hours in front of the TV or a video console, your children can make decorations, choose games to play, and help you with your portion of the meal.
Pick a theme. It could relate to winter or you could warm up the evening with a tropical look and feel. Ask your guests to wear Hawaiian shirts and bring a dish that comes from a country somewhere along the equator — places where people are digging their toes in the sand, not thawing them out in front of the fireplace.
Or, why not have a good old-fashioned picnic in January? Clear furniture in a room, spread out the checkered tablecloth on the floor, and crank up the Beach Boys. Have friends bring over their favorite summertime dishes and dig out your paper plates and plastic cups for easy clean up.
Discover the next American superstar with a neighborhood talent show. Set up a small stage area and arrange chairs theatre-style. You can have individuals perform or ask that each family perform as a unit. Stage an original play. Get the band together for a one-night stand. Give the Rockettes a run for their money. Have friends bring heavy hors d'oeuvres and sparkling juice for the after-show gala.
The dark, dreary months of winter have a way of cutting people off from each other. You can let cabin fever get the best of you or you can fight back with activities that will keep not only your family entertained, but bring the neighborhood closer together as well.