Tailgating Tips that are Borderline Genius

Full article can be found at: http://www.buzzfeed.com/emofly/tailgating-hacks-that-are-borderline-genius

Football season is one of the greatest seasons of the year! As the summer heat fades and the seasons start to change, we exchange our swimsuit and flip flops for face paint, pompoms, and an Aggie game day shirt. 

During this time, Saturdays in Logan, Utah become the best day of the week. Tailgates come down, grills get fired up and pregame festivities abound. To make the most of your home game experience, here are a couple of tips that are boarder line genius to successfully prepare the best football tailgate party. Make sure you grab a good spot and celebrate with the rest of your Aggie family!

PREP and PACK

Plan to arrive plenty of time before the game starts. Start eating about two hours before the game so you have plenty of time to set up and clean up.

 Label your coolers so guests can find drinks easily.

Freeze water bottles to use in place of ice in coolers so you have cold water to drink after they  melt.

Pack a mini first-aid kit into an old prescription bottle or Altoids tin.

SETTING UP CAMP

Float a big random helium balloon on a long string from your car, so friends can find you.

 Use an empty laundry detergent dispenser as a hand-washing station.

Bring a pre-packed set of drawers so everything is handy and organized while you’re cooking.

Don’t be afraid to go overboard on the AGGIE apparel and decorations!

Most importantly, make nice. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Relax, and have fun!

Always Remember… GO AGGIES!

What Kind of Tailgater are You?

Original article from Everyday by Rachael Ray  

THE ROOKIE

• Oh, there's a game today? You can still score with creativity and a little planning.
• Stop by the convenience store for a disposable cooler, drinks and prepared foods.
• Keep food portable (sandwiches and pizzas, for instance). You'll have fewer supplies, so less mess.
• Know the lay of the land. Grab a map for the best routes, spots for food and drink and pit stops.
• Microwave your eats in the student union, then duck into the college bookstore for team towels or blankets.
• Once you're set up, don't be afraid to scavenge. Beginners typically bum off fellow fans.

THE FIRST-STRINGER

• The fight song has been in your head all week, and you started prepping last night.
• Show up three or four hours before the game to claim a hot spot.
• Know who's doing what. Assign tasks like grill master, garbage collector and bartender.
• Have a game-day kit with everything from first-aid supplies to toilet paper and ponchos.
• Bring two coolers (one for drinks, one for perishables) and a grill. Pack tables, tents, chairs and, if you have one, a portable TV. On a given Saturday there can be over 50 games you don't want guests wandering off for updates.
• Taking inspiration from teams, mascots or cities, theme your spread. Tint drinks with food dye and opt for individual apps (so everyone's not crowded around a bowl of Guacamole).

THE VETERAN

• You've been wearing a team jersey since diapers and can recite stats like the ABCs.
• Take enough food for before and after the game. It'll make the parking-lot-exodus traffic jam much more fun.
• Have checklists of what needs to be done, packed and cooked. A list of guests' phone numbers is also handy.
• Bring more of everything. Think multiple TVs, towable smokers and grills, and hammocks for pregame naps.
• Fanatics are all about the finishing touches, if you really want to be the Clark Griswold of tailgaters, throw in a shade canopy and synthetic turf.
• Organize some tailgating activities. A ring toss, trivia game, horseshoes -- whatever keeps people entertained until those ribs are smoked to perfection.

Clean as a (ref''s) whistle

• Have plenty of garbage bags. Tape them to trees and tent poles, keeping them off the ground so they don't attract bugs.
• Clean as you go. Done with tongs and ladles? Wash and stow them away now. It'll save crucial minutes later.
• When draining melted ice water from the coolers, reserve some for rinsing nondisposable items, hands and faces.
• Scrape down grills before heading to the game, but save the major cleaning for when you get home.

Who starts their tailgate when the sun comes up? We do! Make the most of the wee morning hours with these time-saving tricks.

Day before:

• Choose groceries that do double duty. Salsa will work for Scrambled Egg Burritos with Tex-Mex Salad and with chips; sausage can star with eggs and with peppers in hoagies later.
• Cook ahead. Assemble breakfast casseroles, like Mini Ham and Egg Casseroles or Cheddar and Chile Egg Casserole (bake them off in the morning) and stock up on heat-and-eat goodies like Cinnamon Raisin Rolls.
• Pack (checklist in hand). Don't forget coffee and blankets or space heaters for the morning chill.

Day of:

• Set the alarm to play your team's fight song -- it'll make 5 a.m. more bearable.
• Make early-morning calls to the notorious snooze-button slappers in your crew.
• Mind the time: Allow an hour for breakfast, prep and packing and a half hour for setting up the tailgate.
• Prioritize! Set up important stuff first.
• Leave the last half hour of the tailgate for cleaning and getting to the stadium.

 Article Originally found on Everyday by Rachael Ray 

7 Activities to keep your kids moving through winter

Cold weather and fewer daylight hours can make it difficult for kids to get the exercise they need during the winter months. In some areas, families also battle polluted air and inversions that create even more challenges with outdoor activities.

As a parent, you understand the health benefits of an active lifestyle for your kids. You’re also keenly aware of the direct correlation between your sanity level and the means by which your children choose to release their bottled-up energy.

So, how can they get the physical activity they need with the limited options of winter? Here are seven ideas to keep them moving during inclement weather.

Dance. Crank up the music and throw yourselves a dance party. Let them show you their newest moves and before you know it, they’ll be wiping sweat off their brows. By the way, they’ll enjoy it a lot more if mom and dad join the party. Not to mention, dancing is a great way for adults to burn calories, too. Who doesn’t want that?

Clean. Why should you have all fun? Get the kids involved in picking up their toys, sweeping the kitchen floor, vacuuming and anything else they can do to help clean up the house. Tip: music also makes cleaning more fun. If they’ve got the skills to dance while they clean, even better.

Aerobics. Dust off that old Sweatin’ to the Oldies VHS and introduce your kids to the magic of Richard Simmons. While some exercises may be too advanced for your little ones, others will be fun for them to try. They’ll be excited to discover they can do the same things mom and dad can do.

Indoor blacktop. Turn your kitchen or front room into a designated play area. Set guidelines to make sure the games are within reason. Tape hopscotch lines to the floor, start a jump rope club or draw a line for Steal the Bacon.

Make a slide. Grab some sleeping bags or blankets and ride them down the stairs. As with any activity, there is potential for injury, so be sure to monitor them. The hike back up the stairs each time will definitely get their hearts pumping.

Build a fort. The beauty of a fort is that it can be made from just about anything. Be creative with this one. If you encourage them to make it big enough, you can join them inside when construction is finished.

Wrestle. Like all the others, this option is up to you. Some parents prefer to keep wrestling out of the house, if allowing it at all. This is also more challenging as your kids get older, bigger and stronger. Especially when they’re stronger than you. I have yet to meet a dad who likes to lose to his son in a friendly wrestling match. However, when they’re still little it is fun to stir up a good match of “Tickle Monster” every once in a while.

These are just a handful of ideas to keep your kids moving this winter when going outdoors may not be a reasonable option. I’m sure many of you use a number of others. We’d love to know what creative ideas you’ve come up with to keep your kids active.

What works for you?