Tips for a Terrific Tailgate Party

Home Decor Expert Merri knows how to throw one heck of a party, so it's no surprise she can hang with the best of them when planning a tailgate as well! Make your tailgate one to remember with these top five tips, straight from the expert herself!

Get Organized:

• Consider a Pot-luck picnic.
• Make a list of everything you should bring: paper goods, chairs, grill and charcoal, trash bags, tablecloth, folding table, etc. And, don't forget the food!

Food:

• Plan a menu where everything can be prepared ahead of time.
• Decorate sugar cookies using your favorite team's logo.
• Think about perishable food. Bring Ziploc bags and extra ice to keep leftover food cold until you get home.
• Have one cooler for food and a second for drinks.

Identify Your Spot:

• We all have cell phones, but stadium parking lots are big places. Buy a giant helium balloon on a very long string. Your friends won't have any trouble finding you that way!

Plan Fun Activities:

• Bring outdoor games that are easy to carry and set-up
• Create a scavenger hunt; divide your group into teams and give each team a list of items they have to find from other tailgaters, such as specific food/beverage items, specific colors of paper plates, or even a photo with a fan of the opponent!

Make it Memorable:

• Create a video and take lots of pictures. At your next get-together, you can relive the great time you had!

Tailgate Stains 

Tailgating is a lot of fun, but can be pretty messy at times! If you've gotten your team wear stained, there are simple ways to pretreat it before you hit the stadium. To make things easier from the start, be sure to keep a small container of white vinegar and white soda with you in your cooler or tailgate pack. And, take these helpful tips from Good Housekeeping and eHow to ensure you get those stains out.

Bratwurst
First, blot the stain with a small piece of a bun. This will help soak up some of the grease for the time being. When you get home, rub the stain with a grease-cutting liquid dishwashing soap. Ensure the stain is gone for good by washing it in the warmest water possible.

Salsa and Ketchup
Place a layer of paper towels over the stain. Working from the inside of the fabric, flush the area with cold water to transfer some of the salsa or ketchup to the towel. At home, pretreat with a liquid laundry detergent to break up the stain, rinse well. Next, sponge the stain with white vinegar and rinse.

Dark Soda
Believe it or not, white soda will help eliminate dark soda stains. Dip a paper towel into white soda, and blot onto the dark soda stain. If the stain remains, drip white soda onto it using a straw. Launder as usual when you get home.

Grass Stains
Mix equal parts white vinegar and cold water in a dish. Drizzle the solution over the grass stain and work in with your hand or a piece of cloth. Continue until you pull all of the stain out of the fabric. Launder as usual when you get home.

Baked Beans
Scoop off as much of the baked beans as possible with a clean plastic spoon. Flush the stain with cold water. Once you get home, pretreat with a stain remover and launder and usual.

Stains still won't come out? Have no fear, our Goodwill stores have a great selection of sportswear. So, if you need to replace your team t-shirt or jersey, you won't have to break the bank to do so! You'll even find extra chairs, memorabilia and more for your next tailgate bash!