Are {You} Up for a Challenge?!?

Dear {kinda}Crafty friends,
I am sure that some of you don't want to hear anymore about my love for Gator Football, but stick with me for a little longer, I promise it's worth the wait.

From the moment I was accepted to the University of Florida, back in the fall of my Senior year of high school, I have been bleeding Orange & Blue. It helped that they won the National Championship that year, but I was already a huge football fan. I decked my '88 Beretta GT in Gator stickers and license plates and drove that baby up to Gainesville, never looking back. College was a blast, football season was just the cherry on top. While I was a student our tailgating consisted of a different fraternity house hosting us for a BBQ each week, we'd eat, maybe play a few lawn games, and then the entire group would walk up from Frat Row to the SWAMP! It was always tons of fun, and that is where my love of tailgating started. How can you not get hooked on it -  Friends, Food, Fun, what's not to love? (well maybe the Florida heat!)

After college, and too old for the Frat houses, tailgating became more about meeting up with old friends that had scattered about the country after graduation. We spent the time before the game at a bar across the street from the stadium or just walking from tailgate to tailgate trying see everyone. Then I met my husband. Orange and Blue runs deep through his veins, too, he is a fellow Gator and his father is also an Alumni, with season tickets!!! And with season tickets comes on campus parking spots. And with on campus parking spots come really great tailgating. Recently, my in-laws upgraded their tailgating spot and simply setting up chairs and a small table with food was no longer enough. They're big time now, TV w/ satellite, 3 tables for food and drinks, a tent, a spot for games- the real deal! The tailgating has become as big of an event as the game itself. It takes carefully thought out planning (which my in laws are AMAZING at) and I am constantly wanting to go BIGGER and BETTER for the few games a year we are able to attend.

This year, through my blog and Facebook I have "met" some other great Gator Girls, even though one is technically not a Gator Girl, but she lives in the heart of Gator Country, so we are recruiting her in! The ladies, Nikki from Great Gatherings and Lauren McKinsey, are also Party girls!! Not the party til they kick out of the club kind, but Party Planning kind !! And we are finally teaming up to throw the CUTEST Tailgate Gainesville has ever seen! But why should we have all the fun?!? We want YOU to throw the cutest tailgate, too! And, therefore, we are offering up this challenge, a THROWDOWN, really!!! So, with no further babbling from me, here we go.....

We need you to Think Cute. Think Football.

THE CHALLENGE - 

We want you to show us your best, most SPIRITED, FANtastically CUTE tailgate party! It doesn't have to be a traditional parking lot tailgate, either, it can be a viewing party at your house, celebrating in your yard, at the stadium....wherever it is you get ready to cheer on your favorite college, pro, or high school sports team! It is easy to enter just set it up, party down, and then send us your photos. The judges will decide (un-biased for whatever team you choose to root for) who had the best tailgate party of the season.

THE DETAILS -

1. Host a football tailgate, viewing party, or other football themed celebration - just whatever you do make it CUTE!!!
2. Take lots a great photos of your set up as well as some action shots from the party.
3. 2 options to get entered a)E-mail your photos or a link to your tailgate party to sheskindacrafty@gmail.com  or b) link your party down below 
4. Deadline is midnight October 31, 2011.
5. Our 3 judges will then have the hard task of deciding who we think really knows how to tailgate! 
6. The challenge winner must live in the US (although we'd love to see parties from anywhere, the rewards can only be shipped domestically)

THE REWARDS -

So what do you get for all your hard work?!? Well hopefully all your team spirit helped your team win and your friends and family had a blast, but even if your team didn't win the winner of the Tailgate Throwdown Challenge will receive:

A 10" custom Ribbon Wreath, in any school colors of your choice, handmade with love by She's{kinda}Crafty.

 
A custom cupcake package (your choice of team colors) from Great Gatherings  which includes Betty Crocker’s Big Book of Cupcakes, cupcake liners, designer sprinkles, custom icing colors, piping bag and tip!

Any printables package available in the  Lauren McKinsey online store!

A party tableware set for 8 from Polka Dot Market that includes Dinner Plates, Dessert Plates, Dinner Napkins and  Luncheon Napkins of any of the large dot plate designs they have on their online store (which are all PERFECT to help you pull off the cutest tailgate party ever)!

A set of 10 poms in your choice of colors from Pom Flair
 

Glittery Football Junk (a set of cupcake toppers including footballs and your team's name) from The Purple Pug!

 

A custom GAME DAY Posie Jute Tote bag from Nest of Posies! (Everyone is a winner with a special discount code from Nest of Posies - enter the code  FOOTBALLTIME at checkout and receive 15% off you bag purchase!)

 

1 dozen custom cookies from Dandy Delights! (please allow 4 weeks notice for November or December orders)

THE JUDGES - 

Bios coming soon!!

Nikki from Great Gatherings

Stacy from She's{kinda}Crafty
Lauren McKinsey

Start your planning now, football season will be here before you know it and we can't wait to see how y'all party your team on to victory!!


Grab a button and let everyone know you are up for the challenge!





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All of this information and MORE coming soon can be found on the Tailgate Throwdown website!