Winter nights when the mercury dips below freezing can make us want to bundle up at home by the fire!

Thanks to Little Rock's warm and humid Southern climate, snow is rarely in the forecast. Still, those winter nights when the mercury dips below freezing can make us want to bundle up at home by the fire. But that's no excuse to be anti-social! We've been staying in, but we’ll invite our friends to join us. Until the weather warms up, we plan on hosting a few get-togethers.

Game Night

With the Super Bowl coming up, it's a no-brainer to invite friends over to watch the game. To me, it sounds like a lot more fun to actually play games, though! That's why I'll throw a themed 'game night' and invite friends to join me at my game table for a few rounds of poker and black jack. They better watch their pockets, because I have a pretty good poker face! Host your own game night, no matter what type of game table you own—pool, Ping-Pong, air hockey—your friends are sure to get into the competitive spirit.

Wine Tasting

I love a good glass of wine. Since there are so many wonderful wineries in Central Arkansas, I'm lucky enough to be able to share this indulgence with my closest friends, all while supporting local businesses. I plan on picking up a variety of reds and whites created by my favorite, Post Winery, as well as Wiederkehr and Chateau Aux Arc for comparison. For the beer lovers, I'll stock up on a few six-packs from local brewer Diamond Bear Brewing Company.

Pot Luck

I'm still feeling pretty exhausted from all the cooking over the holidays, so I think I’ll ask my friends to pitch in and host a potluck dinner. Not that I expect them to slave away in their kitchens, either—there are so many great local places that serve dishes you can get to-go. The River Market immediately comes to mind, or a delicious pie from ZaZa's Fine Salad & Wood Oven Pizza Co. I'll buy a bunch of plastic cups and plates, and we won't even have to bother with cleanup!

Camp-Out In the Backyard

It's too cold to technically go camping, so I'll have to wait for spring to take a trip to Petit Jean State Park, but I can pretend by building a fire in my fire pit and toasting s’mores. There will be plenty of hot chocolate and perhaps some spiked hot cider, and I'll fire up the grill and make burgers and hot dogs. Who says you have to stay inside just because it's winter? But don't worry, I'll provide all my guests with plenty of blankets and Snuggies to make sure they stay warm.

Are you inspired to host your own cozy, winter get-together? Share with me your favorite ideas for entertaining when it's cold!