Photo by: marta juez

What should you keep in mind in order to have the ultimate tailgating party? To follow are several tips to get you on your way to being known for the best ones ever:

The first one should actually go without saying but in the interest of clarity…you should always know exactly where you are going. This means having a map of the parking area, contacting the owner to see if there are any specific guidelines that you need to follow and be sure to get there early enough; before the gates so that you can stake out a great spot.

Your next tip is to not assume that since you have had that same spot for a number of years that you will naturally get the same one, especially if you do not show up early in order to claim it. After all, it is basically a “first come – first served” type of event.

You will need ice, lots of ice. You will need it to keep drinks cold and if you plan on having any cocktails you will need it for that as well. Ice will also help you keep any raw meat as close to 40 or below as you can to help ensure no one gets sick.

You should also have a good grill; charcoal is great for flavor if you have the time to get it up and going properly. However, gas is quicker and you plank cook or use wood chips to get that smoky flavor. You also want to bring one that is big enough to handle more than just a few burgers at a time. Along those same lines make sure that you have enough food to actually feed everyone; most grill masters agree that you should have at least 8oz. of meat for every person. Also, side dishes are good but you want to make sure it will be something that everyone will eat, there are many times that several tubs of unopened coleslaw or potato salad are thrown away.

If you are going to be making cocktails forget about the gas powered blenders all you really need are a few large shakers. You can whip out those margaritas on the rocks, mai tais and several others just by using a shaker. A personal favorite is ice, Grand Marnier, tequila, limeade and fresh limes in a well salted glass.

Of course seating is something to consider; bring some comfortable chairs, invest in a tailgate couch or find one of the inflatable couches (just be sure you have a way to fill it).

One last item, try to load as much as you can the night before so that you will be pretty much ready to go on game day and claim your title as “Tailgating King”.

If you plan on selling your home keep in mind that what is outside counts just as much as what is inside. Since the prospective buyer is not able to see inside right away one of the first things they will notice is your landscape design which can either peak their interest or send them running away. Hiring landscapers to renovate your yard can be affordable and not only does it enhance the chances of making a sale it can provide significant investment return. As property value increases so does the renovation investment return; anywhere from 26 to 74% of the cost.

A good landscape design offers curb appeal, however, with the current market the quality of the renovation and your own neighborhood are also important factors. Be sure that with the help of good landscapers that you are in the seller mentality since your particular taste may not be the same as someone else’s and a bad choice could actually be detrimental. You can always get an appraiser to assess your home’s value and then make some suggestions on how to increase the value. Even with the market constantly changing a good landscape design and renovation will aid in the sale of your home.

One landscape design that seems to be the best for increasing property value is the addition of a deck; this is because it means there can be further improvements such as outdoor fireplaces, kitchens, etc. You can even save some money by building it yourself just be sure that you are up to the job so that it will look good otherwise it is a waste of time.

Landscapers also suggest the addition of new sod as it can say quite a bit about the condition of the inside of the home. If the lawn is not well maintained people often make the same assumption about the inside of the home. This also includes planting trees and creating shade, another good selling point that increases the value immediately and will continue to increase it if they are properly maintained. When you combine them with shrubs it also provides more privacy, cuts down on the noise and creates a pleasing aesthetic look to the property.

Put on your game jersey, chill the beer and round up some of these tailgate friendly foods:

1. Chili; probably the standard for many tailgate parties. It is simple to make, can be prepared way ahead of time and then stored until it can be re-heated as necessary (many people think that chili has the best flavor when it has been left for a day or two).
2. Potato Salad; another standard that just begs to be on every tailgate. There are many different ways to spice up the old standard and it can also be made ahead of time and brought out when you are ready to eat.
   

   Photo By: Jeffrey Collingwood

3. Quesadillas; a warm, gooey snack that is another blank canvas waiting to be improved upon. Traditionally it is made with cheese and veggies but when you add some spiced chicken or ground beef it becomes more of a meal than a snack.
4. Chicken Wings; the ultimate finger food. You can bake them before hand in your oven at home and pack them up for later or even better take them with you to barbecue while you are at the game. Try bringing several different sauces or baste them with different ones such as hot or mild sauce or honey mustard, etc.
5. Chicken Skewers; another hand-held meat idea. They taste the best when they are cooked on the grill but if you won’t have the time they can be done in the oven prior to game time.
6. Cheese bean dip; what tailgate party would be complete without some sort of dip? Spice it up with some garlic cloves and onions, add some kidney beans, or whatever bean you prefer, some freshly grated cheddar, melt it all together and get ready for some good dipping.
7. Standard Tomato salsa dip; the favorite standard that is enjoyed by most everyone. This is a staple at tailgate parties and it tastes the best when you make your own using onions, garlic, white vinegar and some jalapeno’s for a little added “oomph”.

You probably have your own favorites so don’t be afraid to brush up on your culinary skills and totally wow your friends at the next game.

Did you know that Marie Antoinette did not really say “Let them eat cake”? There are two other sources as to where this actually originated: one is from a woman known as Marie-Therese of Spain who is said to have uttered the phrase and the other is from an author in the 18^th century who was writing about a princess that suggested the poor people should eat brioche (similar to a sweet roll) if they did not have bread.

Photo by: Sandra Kühr

Did you know that the Great Wall of China is not the only visible man-made thing that can be seen from space? Although historian Richard Haliburton made the bold statement that it could be seen from the moon this is not true, but the myth that it is the only one that can be seen from close orbiting is still incorrect. Pictures and descriptions from astronauts have indicated that highways and airports can be seen also.

Did you know that Thomas Edison did not invent the light bulb? In 1809 Humphry Davy invented an arc lamp and later Warren De la Rue actually invented the first sealed light bulb and later still in 1840 William Grove managed to light a whole room of lamps. It wasn’t until 3 patents and 8 scientists later that Edison expanded on the invention and created a cheaper and longer lasting version.

Did you know that despite popular belief humans do use more than 10% of their brains? It is true that fairly simple tasks do require a small specific amount of brain area but complicated tasks require far more as has been proven by magnetic imaging. One belief as to why this myth continues is that psychics promote the myth in order to make everyone believe that they use more brain power than everyone else.

Did you know that while you can debate whether men are actually more driven sexually than women the thought that men think about sex every 7 seconds is purely a myth? This thought has been attributed to Alfred Kinsey and his famous sex studies but even he wasn’t that specific; he simply stated that during one of his studies he found that about 97% of the men had sexual thoughts anywhere from a few times every day to several times during a month and most of those (about 54%) did fall into the daily category.

If you are looking for low landscape maintenance there are several tips that landscape companies offer. Obviously mowing and watering your lawn take up the most time so one of the major steps that can be taken towards low maintenance is to reduce the amount of grass to be mowed and watered. There are ideas that can help you become more “water-wise” and perhaps introduce a few different plants that are a good alternative to grass.

Photo by: Ivan Prole

Landscape companies recommend considering “xeriscaping” for those that are interested in a low watering type of landscape; this is basically referring to a landscape that is tailored to stand up to drought type of conditions and it comes in several forms. For those in the southwestern area of the United States plants like cacti fit the bill as well as what they call extended patios. These are simply patios that are enlarged and take up the area where you would normally see grass; perfect for low landscape maintenance.  In other areas of the U.S., those that are not quite as low on water, the answer may be with using shrubs, ground covers and mulches.

Some suggestions by landscape companies for plants that would work well include succulents such as aloe or stonecrop. Succulents have fleshy thick water storage organs, storing the water in their roots, stems and leaves. With their amazing adaptability they have grown into a large variety of different plant forms and leaf shapes, like paddle leaves, trailing or busy columns of tear drop shaped leaves and tight little rosettes. They make excellent display plants and are the epitome of low landscape maintenance.

Another suggestion made by many landscape companies is to design a rock garden; perfect for a rocky or shaded spot and drought prone areas. If you are lucky enough to have a naturally rocky area then you have something to build on otherwise you will have to bring in your own stone or rocks. This can get expensive so you may want to shop around first or check out areas in the country where you may have notice them before, just check with the land owner first to avoid any problems. Again, this is perfect for those wishing to keep their landscape maintenance to a minimum.

Photo by: G. Georgiev

Do you think that pigeons and other birds really will blow up if they eat rice? Since both the Simpson’s and Ann Landers have warned us against throwing rice at weddings just for this reason then it must be true, right? Wrong; no explosions due to rice consumption have ever been recorded or documented. As a matter of fact most birds actually eat rice grains as a way of keeping a healthy body mass during the cold months.

Did you know that technically Napoleon really wasn’t short? Although nicknamed “Le Petit Caporal” according to the Imperial system he was actually average height (5’6”) for the men of his country. The nickname was really given because he was said to have a respectful and friendly attitude toward the soldiers.

Some of you may be disappointed to learn that shaving/cutting hair really does not make it grow back thicker or faster. It is like seeing special effects: the hair that you can see is not alive (since the living part is under the skin) so naturally cutting it will not change its texture or how fast it grows; you are just seeing the hair at a different stage of growth.

Did you know that the Salem witches were never really burned? While there were over 150 arrests and about 20 of them were executed these accused witches were not burned at the stake. Some of the European laws did actually encourage burning after they were dead so that they may be cleansed of their witchcraft but this was forbidden in Massachusetts. All of them (except one that was crushed because they would not enter a plea) were hanged.

Did you know that there really is gravity in space? Yep, although the astronauts do seem to be weightlessly floating around in zero gravity that is not the case. The reason that space gives this impression is because the astronauts are gravitating towards Earth at the exact rate that the ships are.