Game of Thrones fun to pass the time

What's up, Thronies?

I just finished "Dance with Dragons," the most recent book in the addictive and heart-wrenching series "Song of Ice and Fire," which is the basis of the thrilling and sexy HBO show "Game of Thrones."

"Winter is coming" (as they say in the series) in the Northern Hemisphere, and we'll have to get through the coldest months without any new information about our favorite characters from this series. Author George R. R. Martin hasn't announced when the next installment will come out (last time there were about seven years between books). As for TV, HBO isn't debuting Season 3 of the show until March 31.

What are we supposed to do until then?!

The internet is full of Thronie homages to the series. Here are some treats and ideas for your amusement:

1. Go shopping

Etsy is chock-full of creative, unofficial Game of Thrones merch. For instance, $115 gets you House Targaryen Converse sneakers. Ladies, if you like jewelry there's plenty of that – a model of Queen Cersei Lannister's necklace, for instance, or a bracelet with the sigils of major houses.

And this one really gets me: a set of rings that say, respectively, "My sun and stars" and "Moon of my life." Awwww! Perfect for that special Khal or dragon queen in your life, although hopefully your relationship won't begin or end like Dany and Drogo's.

Why this matters: If you haven't seen the show, you should know that there's a lot of medieval-type costuming. And each important family in this fictional world has its own sigil - such as a lion or a wolf - making for fun opportunities to proudly identify with your favorite group of characters in real life.

2. Bake cupcakes

Master bakers at Regali Kitchen in Quezon City, Philippines, made these delicious-looking cupcakes with the various sigils (magic symbols) of the houses from the series. Even more amazing, there's a video of the cupcakes used to recreate the opening credit sequence of the HBO show "Game of Thrones." (Hat tip to Laughing Squid for the reference.)

Apparently this wasn't the only "Game of Thrones" tribute the bakery ended up concocting. Here's a "white walker" cake for a couple's anniversary! Which makes you wonder: What if the Wall is edible (and "frosted")??

Why this matters: The opening sequence of the show is really cool. Once you've seen it, you will enjoy this edible parody.

3. Meow meow meow, meow meow meow

Speaking of the opening sequence, there are all kinds of variations on that now-famous song, composed by Ramin Djawadi, on YouTube. Here's a pretty fantastic metal cover. In a completely different genre, a talented violinist named Jason Yang arranged and performed this one. And for something completely different: A cat chorus meows out the song.

Why this matters: Again, once you get the opening song stuck in your head it's hard to make it stop, so why not embrace it!

4. Make a costume

Comic Con and Dragon*Con are a long way away, but we're not too far past Halloween - perhaps because of Sandy you even had to postpone your party. Pick your favorite character and dress up! I saw some really impressive costumes at Dragon*Con last month. There's a whole Facebook page devoted to fans talking about costuming. Confused about your affiliation toward particular characters? There are Facebook quizzes such as this one that can help you decide which house your personality aligns with.

Why this matters: There's a wide variety of characters in the series – the royalty, the sellswords (mercenaries), the defenders of a gigantic ice wall who are largely outlaws. Costuming opportunities abound!

5. Check out / make fan art

Earlier this year, CNN interviewed several Thronies who had made remarkable creations inspired by "Game of Thrones," and submitted them to iReport.

Why this matters: The addictive stories in the series are definitely inspirational when it comes to art, so click on the link and enjoy.