Tailgating Time

I love tailgating!  And I'm not talking about the tailgating we did in college with warm beer and a hibachi grill that had enough room for a single burger or hot dog.  I am taking tailgating to a whole new level my friends!  I am talking some nice cold drinks, hearty sandwhiches, and plain old classing it up a bit. 

I got the most rocking cooler as a welcome gift at my friends wedding in July.  It looks similar to this Small Round Red Cooler and has become quite useful.   My husband & I can fit a bunch of waters, beer, and some sandwiches in it comfortably and it is easy to carry. When we attend other tailgates, we fill it and bring it with us every time.  However, if this size cooler isn't big enough and you are looking for something a little bit more substantial, who doesn't love a cooler with wheels? At $40 this Large Gray Cooler is a steal!  Abundant space for lots of delicious food and drink items and honestly, the wheels are the best part. 

A couple other needed items for a good tailgate (in my personal opinion) are a Good Tent for all you die-hard sports fans who will rough it no matter what the weather forecast and a Long Folding Table.   No my friends, the long table it not for beer pong, sorry!  The tent is key for inclement weather and the table really helps in laying out all your food & beverage options as well.  I always bring a nice looking table cloth, which classes things up a tad.   And there are great tabelcloth weights on Ebay or Amazon.com from $.99 to $8 (about 4 in a pack) to help keep things stationary when the wind blows. 

If you want to get really crazy, when it gets colder you can invest in an outdoor Space Heater powered by battery which will keep things warm before you rough it during game time!   Just make sure to turn it off before the game starts and do it far enough in advance that you can put it back in your trunk before you haed into the stadium.  I don't recommend leaving it in the parking lot to cool down.  Someone may sneak off with it.  Because that is how cool it is!    

And as a final FYI- it is perfectly acceptable for your friends to pitch in with food and drinks for the tailgate, especially if you are hosting.   They can also bring their own chairs too- this is not something you need to provide for everyone if you don't have enough for everyone.  Do not feel obligated to go out and purchase five more folding chairs for your friends.  Just make sure to let everyone know to bring their own chairs in advance and you will be set.

So bring on the beers and the kielbasa!  It's tailgate time and time to enjoy one of the best things about fall....FOOTBALL!