Top Notch Tailgating!

  • In my most recent Tip of the Week, Tailgating, I encouraged Busy Bee readers to cook up some pre-game fun by hosting a tailgating party!  Generally speaking, tailgating is a terrific and inexpensive way to entertain, but if you want to take it up a notch, here are some clever enhancements!

Invitations

  • For a great assortment of tailgating invitations, take a look at paperbuzz.com for designs which include a die-cut football and a really cute football field with goal post!  Both can be printed at home!
  • Talk about over the top, Plum Party offers tailgating invitations in a box – literally!  Guests will receive a small square box, containing a 3-D plastic football player and a tiny can of beer against a green plastic grass backdrop!  Invite specifics are written on the inside of the lid! ($34 for 8 at plumparty.com)
  • Consider creating your own by cutting football shapes out of corrugated cardboard.  Write the party details on the back and trim the card with white shoe laces woven through punched holes! 
  • You can also make a pennant out of felt with the tailgate information written on the back. 
  • Lastly, try using a permanent marker to draft invitations onto small plastic footballs, picked up from the Dollar Store!

Serving Ware

  • Hallmark has created a new line of football themed serving pieces that are really appealing.  There are glasses decorated with “yard markers” and an “end zone,” a football shaped bowl, and a serving bowl and condiment set, both featuring a decorative border of football referees! (hallmark.com)  Don’t forget that if you decide to invest in some of these pieces, you can bring them back out on Super Bowl Sunday!
  • Mariposa also has covered the “football field!”  This company, one of my personal favorites, offers finely crafted aluminum football shaped serving bowls, in three sizes. ($40 to $124)  I also really like the square cocktail napkin box bearing a 3-D football to weigh down the napkins ($42) and the football dip spreader! ($17)  All are available at silverimpressions.com.

  • Plum Party also sells a football shaped tin container that opens up to reveal a stadium scene inside and provide two serving bowls.  This cute item is reasonable enough to be a party favor! (plumparty.com, $14)
  • On Your Own - In the “no cost” category, consider serving your snacks inside of a plastic megaphone or an upended football helmet!

Cookbooks

Gooseberry Classics Tailgating Cookbook

If you’re looking for some new recipes for your upcoming tailgate, take a look at these two resources:

  • Tailgating published by Gooseberry Patch ($4.95 at gooseberrypatch.com)
  • Fox Sports Tailgating Handbook: The Gear, The Food, The Stadiums by Stephen Linn. (amazon.com for about $12)

Desserts

Football Cookies

  • Bake a stadium shaped cake in Williams-Sonoma’s clever cake mold!  This pan will allow you to bake an adorable and easy dessert that can be decorated in team colors! (williams-sonoma.com for $32)
  • Serve custom made cookies from Super Cookie! This site offers an assortment of football themed cookies such as helmets, shoulder pads and yard markers, along with a single oversized football cookie! ($15.99/tub of 23 small cookies or $30 for the large football at supercookie.com)

Get Comfortable

Stadium seats and blankets are really the icing on the cake!

  • Take a look at Hallmark’s game day stadium seat and blanket set!  The seat will keep fans warm and comfortable on the benches and the included polar fleece blanket can be personalized with a monogram or team name! ($39.95, or $49.95 personalized, hallmark.com)

Party Favors

  • For the kids - fill a basket with color coordinated pom-poms, small footballs, and plastic megaphones.

  • For anyone - fill cellophane bags with solid chocolate, foil wrapped footballs!  Tie the bags with team colored ribbon! ($6.90 for 2 lbs or 160 footballs from blaircandy.com)

I am always on the look out for exciting products and ideas and I hope that some of my “finds” inspire you to take tailgating to the next level!  Consider “claiming” a fall tailgate as your signature event that family and friends will look forward to every year!  Happy Game Day!

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