I’m a huge football fan (E-A-G-L-E-S…EAGLES!!!!) and while I’m still a little vexed over my teams playoff defeat, I’ve opted to root for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they go helmet-to-helmet against the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV.  Joining me will be a few of my besties (and their lovelies) for what I’m sure will be an entertaining evening of friendly yet fiery sports fun.

IMAGE COURTESY OF BALLOONFANTASTIQUE.COM

Whether you are a skilled party planner or hosting your first, in home event, you too can host a stylishly sports appropriate super bowl celebration with just a few of the following hostess hints:

KNOW YOUR TEAMS…and once you do, incorporate details about them into every element of your party. Unless you’re a diehard fan of either team, mix and match both teams colors into your party decor, including plates, table clothes, napkins, and party streamers. You may want to consider purchasing NFL posters or team banners to use as the event backdrop; however smaller items such as balloons and football shaped trays can be purchased at many local dollar stores as other sports-savvy accessories.  If you’re looking for something a little more feminine and fun try purchasing pom-poms and piñatas for your Super Bowl party.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IVILLAGE.COM

A MEMORABLE MENU IS A MUST-HAVE.  You don’t have to be a pro in the kitchen to provide your guests with a menu that is not only fun and fancy but also budget-friendly and surprisingly easy to make .

Upgrade your menu from pizza and wing-dings and consider providing your sports fanatics friends this delicious menu of items from ivillage.com’s list of 50 Big Game Party Recipes.

• Homemade Guacomole and Chips
• Hot Spinach Dip
• Chili and Cheese Shooters
• Potato Skins with Cheddar and Bacon
• Honeyed Chicken Wings
• Jerk Wings from Hell
• Spicy Shrimp Skewers
• Spicy, Salty, Sweet Roasted Mixed  Nuts
• Pizzettes
• Tiny Swedish Meatballs in Cream Sauce

IMAGE COURTESY OF KRISPYKREME.COM

A few other items that need to be considered when finalizing the menu are a salad and fruit option, and most importantly, dessert.  I, personally, will be providing a mixed spring salad (with a variety of dressing options) and fruit kabobs, consisting of strawberries, pineapples, red grapes, blackberries, kiwi and cherries alongside low-fat vanilla yogurt.  And no, the fruit kabobs are not dessert.  Krispy Kreme football shaped donuts are and if you call your local store at least 48 hours in advance, they will customize your entire order in your favorite team’s colors.

You’ll also want to make sure that the bar is stocked. After all, it IS a party.  My besties and their lovelies represent a versatile group of beer, wine, cognac and cocktail/mocktail drinkers; therefore my bar will contain equal parts Corona and Heineken, Merlot and Riesling, and a DIY Bar of fruit juices (Orange, Pineapple, Cranberry,Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime and Pink Lemonade) that can be combined with, or without,  Champagne (or Seltzer) to make their own custom-flavored Champagne Cocktail/Mocktail.

Team cocktail flags (shown left), like the ones shown on MakeMerryEvents.com,  are a simple and easy way to decorate your drink and still pay homage to your favorite team.  Remember, as the hostess of any event, you are ultimately responsible for the well-being of your guests.  Avoid having a good evening end in tragedy by:

• Ensuring guests are eating in addition to drinking.
• Not offering to refill glasses until they are a little more than half-empty.
• Closing the bar at least 45 minutes prior to the scheduled event end time.
• Not allowing intoxicated guests to drive home.  Either appoint a designated driver or allow them to spend the night.

Game Time Food Prep Reminders:

• Do as much food prep the day before the event to cut down on the day-of to-do list. Cut veggie and fruit slices in advance and store in Ziplock bags for easy access.
• Finger foods drastically cut down on the number of dishes that need to be used and washed following your event.
• Don’t forget the ice.  One bag of ice is typically enough for a party of 20.
• If your party is a BYOB, make sure to alert guests up front.

FUN AFTER THE HALF-TIME COMMERCIALS. While the half-time commercials are often a memorably entertaining relief from the pressure of an intense game, keep the competitive adrenaline going with a little half-time trivia.  IQFB.com is a convenient online resource where you can find an array of historical facts on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers that can be asked in true/false or fill in the blank form against individuals or pre-determined halftime teams. Up the ante by making losing teams take a shot while winners take home a bottle of fine  wine or other bar-related gift items.

DON’T SEND GUESTS HOME EMPTY-HANDED. Favors, however small, are a event must-have.  I like to think of them as your hostess calling card and necessary reminder to guests of the great event experience they just had.  Ideally, your favors should be trinkets that can be used during the event, i.e., pom poms, miniature footballs, candies wrapped in organza sachets but if you’re feeling a little daring, try making these Football Inspired Air Fresheners, inspired by Alison Kontour of Body Bath Supply.

HAVE FUN!! After all, isn’t that the primary goal of any party?

Tell us, better yet, SHOW US your Super Bowl decorating ideas and we’ll share them with our twitter family.

Looking for additional Super Bowl resources online:

• Get your own Super Bowl countdown at Ult-Tex Super Bowl Countdown.
• Journey over to Etsy.com for some additional super bowl inspiration.