Host a gaudy party to remember

The holiday season is all about making fun memories. Why not throw a party that no one will soon forget?

Specifically, host your own ugly sweater party. It’s simple. Tell everyone to show up in the tackiest holiday apparel they can find, whether from a thrift store or something they thought was cool at one time. At the end, hold a contest for the ugliest sweater. Award the winners in categories such as All-Around Ugliest, Most Original or Most Ridiculous. Get creative with the prizes, too. Find inexpensive and unique (read tacky) gifts, or hand out little first-place ribbons. Here are easy party ideas from Wilton, which specializes in cake decorating and bakeware products:

Cookie and cake decorating fun

Have guests decorate their own sweater cookies. Set up a decorating station with pre-baked vanilla cookies, and your friends can have a blast decorating with green and red icing and sprinkles. Have a photo session so guests can take pictures of their silly cookies to share online.

Or create your own festive ugly sweater cake like this eggnog-flavored version.

Warm up with lattes

Who doesn’t love sipping hot beverages with friends? Offer assorted liqueurs for an adults-only party. Try  this Spirit of the Season Mocha Latte.

—Family Features.com