Throw a Super Game Day Party

Send electronic invitations to save money on printed invitations and postage stamps. Many web sites, like www.evite.com, offer free e-mail invitations and have party planning tools, RSVP trackers and budget estimators. Most have pre-designed Super Bowl themes (and other major events), or you can upload photos and design your own. Choose a design, enter party details and invitees’ email addresses and then send.

Eating is a main event at a Bowl party; plan a good mix of appetizers followed by a main course and dessert. Cook all the food yourself to save money; or cater some dishes to save time and effort; you can also let guests bring an appetizer or dessert if they offer. Here are some menu tips and suggestions:

Appetizers
Serve appetizers during the pre-game and first half. Appetizers are memorable, so focus on them over the main course and dessert. Set out staple finger foods like chips and dip, crackers and cheese, pretzels, peanuts and veggie trays before guests arrive. Serve hot hors d'oeuvres like chicken wings, meatballs or mini hot dogs periodically until halftime. Show off your favorite recipes, but provide a variety of flavor and texture to please diverse tastes. 

Main course
Serve the main course at halftime, when your crowd will be hungry and less focused on the TV. Keep it simple: game-day guests don't expect a big sit-down dinner, so offer them two or three main dish options and a side or two. Main dish possibilities include chili, beef sandwiches or Italian sausage sandwiches, pizza, sloppy Joes, lasagna, pasta and chicken. For sides, consider a simple tossed salad, pasta salad, potato salad, baked beans or roasted potatoes.

Dessert
Serve dessert during the fourth quarter to boost guests' energy and treat their taste buds. Strike a balance between finger foods such as cookies, cupcakes and brownies and cake, pie or other delicacies that require a plate and fork. Brew a pot of coffee to complement all the sugar.

Beverages
Beer and football go hand in hand, but offer other options for your guests, including wine, juice and soft drinks. A hard liquor bar is optional and can include the four standards: rum, vodka, bourbon and scotch. Mix your favorite punch and serve it in side-by-side punch bowls food-colored to each team's color. Make a pot of coffee after the third quarter to serve with dessert.

The game won't keep everyone entertained, so plan some drinking games, football pools and trivia games. Other ideas include football-themed charades, guess-the-first-animal-in-a-commercial game and foam football hot potato. Set up a television in another room for kids to watch movies or play video games.

Decorate with football-themed balloons, streamers, tablecloths, banners and centerpieces. Use football-themed paper plates, napkins, cups and serving dishes, or get them in the teams' colors. Cover chair backs with jerseys, and set footballs, helmets and pompons around the house.

Arrange your living room seating for TV viewing and lively conversation for the true football fans. Plan a separate area for casual fans and those who’d rather socialize. Set up a smaller TV in the kitchen so guests can keep an eye on the game while they fill a plate or get a drink.

Clean the house before guests arrive. You can clean only the basics before the party (clean the bathroom and kitchen, and vacuum and dust) and leave the big cleanup for the aftermath. Or you can clean thoroughly before and after the party.

Put beer, soft drinks and juice on ice at least two hours ahead of time, and cook anything that can be re-heated for serving. Set out cold appetizers, plates and utensils just before guests arrive and then relax until the fun begins.