Posted by Rae Lynn on 9/24/2013 to
Football & Tailgating
Most parties take a little organization, but a tailgate party takes planning and then some. After all, you can’t just duck back into your house if you forget the corkscrew. That’s why it’s important to heed these words from the author A.A. Milne, who wrote one of Rae Lynn’s fave books:
The only things you want mixed up at your tailgate party are the drinks. For everything else, we have a solution: Rae Lynn’s Handy-Dandy Tailgate Packing/Decorating/Setting Up Checklist!
Swizzle Trick: Don’t even consider setting up a tailgate without a drink. If you’re like Rae Lynn, the first thing in your hand will be a Bloody Mary. So make sure drinks are readily accessible—including non-alcoholic ones for traveling if you’ve got a ways to go.
Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up. —Winnie the Pooh
The only things you want mixed up at your tailgate party are the drinks. For everything else, we have a solution: Rae Lynn’s Handy-Dandy Tailgate Packing/Decorating/Setting Up Checklist! Use this list to make sure you have all the tailgating gear on hand when you get to the parking lot at your team’s stadium. You may not need everything on the list below, but you won’t forget anything if you refer to it when you’re getting ready.
When it comes to packing, recall the manufacturing term “LIFO” (Last In, First Out).
What, you’ve never worked on an assembly line? Well, now you’re assembling a tailgate, so pack your car in reverse order. To put it plainly: The table does not go on the bottom, with everything else piled on it. Instead the last thing in and first thing out should be your table, along with a tablecloth that shows your team spirit. Set up the table, toss the tablecloth on it, and you’re ready to unpack in style. (Chairs can wait until later.)
Swizzle Trick: Don’t even consider setting up a tailgate without a drink. If you’re like Rae Lynn, the first thing in your hand will be a Bloody Mary. So make sure drinks are readily accessible—including non-alcoholic ones for traveling if you’ve got a ways to go.
To keep your vehicle festive and your guests’ game-day best clean, drape a blanket or tablecloth in your school’s colors in the back and over the bumper of your car. Follow that up with items you don’t plan to take out. Then fold the cloth in and pack everything else on top.
Keep a large basket at home with all of the dishes, barware, silverware, decorations, and favors you need for each game . Then you can just grab it on game day and know you’ll have everything you need from the list below.
Rae Lynn’s Handy-Dandy Tailgate Packing/Decorating/Setting Up Checklist
Food Containers
Setting and Sitting
Decorating
Drinking
Grilling
Serving
| Eating & Imbibing
Caffeinating
Favoring
Miscellaneous
Cleaning Up
|
Follow this list and you’ll keep your tailgate party gear organized, so you can concentrate on what’s really important—showing your guests’ a good time and thrashing the other team.
Got some tailgating tips of your own? Please share your tailgate party ideas below.
