Some say I’m a fair weather fan, (others argue it’s my inability to commit) but I find it liberating to follow three or four teams at a time.I've loved the Bills since the Jim Kelly years and was a huge fan of Doug Flutie as well. (I even started following the Chargers when he was in SD.) I continue to have a strong affinity for them today despite their dismal performance.
I have an ongoing crush on Peyton Manning – perhaps it’s his performance on the field, or maybe it’s his self-effacing humor that has made him a TV commercial icon and definitely a guy I would want to hang out with.
At heart, I’m a NY fan across the board. So this weekend it's all about the Jets!
J-E-T-S… Jets! Jets! Jets!
So yes, I’m a woman who enjoys football, but really, I'm a woman who enjoys any excuse to celebrate with friends/family, throw a party, and decorate a tablescape. (I bet you never thought you read “Football” and “Tablescape” in the same blog.)
Super Bowl 44 is Sunday, February 7th and to help you prepare for your party, following are a few tips to help get you started.Television: Let's face it, the central piece of any Super Bowl party is the television to watch the game. Make sure to clean your TV screen for a crystal-clear picture and position it in a place where everyone can view it.
Seating & Viewing: Make sure you have plenty of chairs and room for your guests to maneuver. The game festivities usually become an all-day event, starting with the pre-game so having comfortable seating is a must. If you don’t have enough chairs available at home, ask your guests to “BYOC”; Bring Your Own Chair.
Decor: Although a super bowl party is about the most unassuming, least finicky party you can host all year, it doesn't mean you can forgo decor. I just love this football-themed centerpiece idea from InStyle Parties.
The centerpiece is created from a flat of wheatgrass (available from florists for about $20) and miniature plastic football players and goal posts. So cute and not at all cheezy!
Food: I'm all about ease, and a buffet is the best option. It allows people to watch the Super Bowl without missing any of the action. Keep things simple - recipes created in a slow cooker, such as pulled pork or some type of chili (beef, chicken, or vegetarian) can be a main dish, while the other items on your buffet can be finger foods.Some Super Bowl Party menu ideas include:
* Pigs in Blankets
* Layered Taco Dip and Tortilla Chips
* Buffalo Chicken Wings
* Chicken Quesadilla Pinwheels
* Football Brownies
If you are having the food catered, remember to put your order in ASAP because it’s sure to be a busy weekend!
Beverage: You should be sure to have plenty of beverages, including non-alcoholic options for your guests. Now football and beer typically go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly but another alternative is to create a punch. One of my favorite punch recipes is "Goombay Smash" - typically enjoyed on Harbor Island, Bahamas.
* 2 1/3 cups Coconut Rum
* 1 1/2 cups Bacardi Gold
* 3/4 cup of Apricot Brandy
* Fill the rest with Pineapple Juice
If possible, why not get creative and prepare a punch in your teams colors?!
Activities: You've got the chili, wings and beer, but what can you do to take your 2010 Super Bowl party to the next level? Organize some games to pass the times between the Super Bowl halftime show with The Who and the big-budget commercials. The most common and simple game is a "Super Bowl Pool".
* Draw a 10x10 grid
* Label the top with one team and one side with the other
* Each guest claims or "buys" a square until they are all taken
* At the end of each quarter, take the last number of each team's final score and find the intersecting square (i.e. if the score is 12 for the top team and 9 for the side team, count over 2 and down 9. Whose ever square that is wins the pot.
Post-game Wrap-Up: At the end of your festivities, make clean-up easy with a supply of large trash bags and "to-go" containers. Let friends take leftovers if they are interested and if not, toss the rest.
By following these Super Bowl party tips, you can rest assured that long after the final football has been snapped, everyone will remember not only the touchdown that clinched the game, but also the fabulous job you did hosting the party.
