football at home

This post is sponsored by Wayfair, who asked what it might look like to tailgate from the comfort of your very own sofa. As someone who always tailgates from the comfort of my sofa, this question was not a stretch. All opinions are (as always) my own. 

Fall in the south is a funny thing, especially for those of us who are accustomed to defining fall as that season in which we wear all the sweaters. Unless you have really good air conditioning and no plans to go outside EVER, sweater weather is not the definition of fall here in Texas. Football is the definition of fall.

So let’s talk about tailgating. Coming from a non-football tradition personally (my high school team had a three YEAR losing streak, finally winning a game when we were seniors, and my college team wasn’t much better), I’m no expert. My extensive network of cousins and siblings who attended LSU have it down to an art form. My version is much happier on the sofa. The living room is where my family does football and to do it right, you need the right tools. The good news is that you can still cozy up your home even if it doesn’t feel like sweater weather.

You need three things for a successful football get together. A cozy atmosphere, great snacks, and half-time entertainment. Let’s be honest. You probably need cocktails and a TV also, but we will leave those items to other experts. I’m here to help you with the first three. 

One of the things I love about football in the south is that people bleed their team colors. I mean it. There is some serious passion about football down here. I've never been one for over-doing the team spirit, but I am warming to the southern notion that more is more when it comes to Saturday football. 

So let's start with the cozy. If you have a favorite team (or two), pillow covers are your best friend for decorating. They are inexpensive, can be easily changed, and store flat when it isn’t game day. Consider opting for pillows in your team’s colors in traditional or modern patterns. (Can you tell what state I originally hail from? Go Tigers.)

Add in a blanket or two in a neutral (white, grey, black or navy, depending on your décor and team colors).

Trays loaded with snacks scattered around the house provide both nourishment and decoration. I like to let the food shine on white or wood trays. These trays are inexpensive and can be used long after football season.

If really want to get festive, there’s always Le Creuset in just about every color imaginable. And colored serving bowls are a great way to punch up the color. Queso is a requirement at any football gathering here in Houston, so why not serve it in a heavy colorful pot?

Or you can serve all that goodness in the form of nachos with all the trimmings because they are a simple crowd pleaser. Layer chips on a cookie sheet with shredded cheddar, olives, roasted chicken (rotisserie chicken from the grocery works great for this), diced red peppers, diced green onions, black beans, corn, and jalapeños. When you are ready to serve, broil your tray for 10 minutes or so until the cheese melts and serve with guacamole and salsa.

At halftime, a few rounds of beanbag toss, a giant game of connect four, or lawn bowling are in order. Oh, and you’ll be needing a coozie. Do get a Yeti if you don’t already have one.

I've rounded up all my selections shown here into an idea board over on Wayfair's website. Sound like the start of a good plan? Excellent. Let me know how your Saturday goes!