Get Super Bowl LI Ready!

by Elle Brown January 19, 2017

We're a football family. I don't know how else to describe our little nuclear unit. Every Sunday during football season we gather in the family room and watch football. Sometimes we don our favorite teams tees and jerseys. Sometimes we just show up. But, we definitely eat football food. And, things get loud. Good thing football season is cold where we live and the windows are closed so our neighbors can't hear us cheering and yelling at the TV.

As Super Bowl LI (that's 51 for those of us who are no longer smarter than a 5th grader) approaches, the first thing you need to do right now is get yourself and the kids Super Bowl Ready! It doesn't matter who's in the Super Bowl, you all just need to be dressed in your favorite team's colors and logos. If you don't have gear, click here now! Get yourselves set up with football hats, officially licensed NFL t-shirts, team ugly sweaters and don't forget the football team themed slippers for post-game.

Now that your dressed for the occasion...
If you're not lucky enough to be heading to Houston, Texas for the big game, you need to figure out what you're doing. We've been having a Super Bowl party for 20 years. Every year on Super Bowl Sunday, people roll into our house with hands full of goodies. In the olden days, our crowd was much larger. I'm talking before kids, folks. I'm talking one hundred 20-30 year olds, drinking the night away, not caring work came early the next day. As we grew and babies were born, our party people dwindled. 

Now, these babies are older children, our party is getting bigger again. The kids come to play (or hang out) with the other kids. The parents are left alone to eat food while it's hot, drink a full beer without losing it while chasing after a toddler and use potty mouth language without having to say, "oops!" All the kids are a floor away in the basement not wanting to have anything to do with us embarrassing, old people who don't know anything. 

So, are you hosting, heading out or being a party pooper? 

If you're hosting, like we are, you need food! Lots of food! These football peeps eat! Some years I tried to cook everything. Then, I went from cooking everything to cooking some things that are easy or can be done ahead of time and ordering the rest from the local Italian Deli. I get antipasto, a 3 foot sub, meatballs and chicken from the caterer. I crock pot pulled pork and make my famous mac & cheese for the kids the day before and bake cookies and cakes the week before, freeze them, then decorate the day of. My invitation asks everyone to bring an appetizer to share. Typically, everyone shows up with their own drinks but I send the husband to the liquor store for some beer and wine. For the kids, juice boxes and soda cans, in true football style. It's paper plates and plasticware at this event. At the end of the night, people take the food they want and all the rest goes in the garbage. Who has time for leftovers when work is the next day?

If you're heading out, don't bring food you've never cooked before. Try out the recipe at home before you make and bring it to the party. What if it sucks? And, be the party attendee every host loves by calling / texting the host an hour before you leave to see if they forgot anything and need you to pick it up? They probably forgot ice or something and you'll be saving the night!

Party poopers can still have fun staying in. It's the night to treat yourselves to all those fun items from the frozen food aisle that just need to be heated in the oven or order in! Just don't fall asleep before the game ends!

Halftime this year boasts Lady Gaga. Singing superstar and star of American Horror Story, Gaga never disappoints. 

Have fun kids!

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