But no more!

Now I serve up a game day spread party-bar style. It’s easy to set up in advance and just refill throughout the day – and frees me up to watch the game, visit our game-day backyard bonfire and (gasp!) actually visit with my friends.

For me, the key to a crowd-pleasing Superbowl party bar is to serve up a main dish that works great alone but also offers a few variations. To make game day serving easy, I pull platters, crock-pots, serving tongs and spoons together a few days beforehand so I’m not searching through cabinets and drawers as guests arrive. I also rely heavily on disposable cups and dishes to make game day as fun and stress-free as possible.

If you’re looking for a few manageable menu ideas for your Superbowl crowd this year, here are three party bar setups that have worked great for me:

Menu 1: Chili Bar with Hot Dogs and Frito Pie Fixin’s
This is a great menu for big parties because you can make chili a day or two in advance, or have your own chili cook-off potluck and invite guests to show-off their favorite recipe!

Set up your Chili party bar with:

• A Crock-pot or two of chili
• A platter of hot dogs (save room and serve them up already in the bun)
• A big bowl of Fritos
• A bowl each of chopped onions and shredded cheese
• And don’t forget the ketchup, mustard and relish

Menu 2: Fajita Bar with and Nacho Fixin’s
This is another easy make-ahead menu. You can cook up the fajita meat the day before or morning of the game, and reheat and serve in Crock-pots for the party.

Set up your Fajita party bar with:

• A Crock-pot or two of Beef and Chicken Fajita meat in bite-sized pieces
• A Crock-pot of queso (melted nacho cheese)
• A covered dish with tortillas – our microwaveable tortilla warmer works great for this
• A big bowl of tortilla chips
• Bowls of shredded cheese and toppers like guacamole, sour cream, salsa and sliced jalapenos
• Go authentic by adding some grilled onions and green peppers and a dish of pico di gallo

Menu 3: Monster Sandwich Bar
Instead of serving platters of ready-made sandwiches, this menu offers a variety of hot and cold meats and the usual toppers. Add an assortment of breads and sandwich rolls and everyone is happy!

Set up your Monster Sandwich party bar with:

• A Crock-pot of pre-made meatballs in marinara
• A platter of popular cold-cuts like ham, turkey and roast beef
• A platter of cheeses like American, Swiss and provolone
• A basket or platter with assorted sandwich rolls, buns or sliced breads
• A veggie platter with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions
• And don’t forget the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard or other favorite spreads and relishes

Easy-clean "scrubbable" paints let you have the finish you want - flat to glossy - in busy family spaces

1. Choose Your Paint… Wisely!
Decorators agree, a freshly painted color scheme is one of the easiest ways to update a room at minimal cost. Nowadays most paint brands offer easy-clean – termed “scrubbable” – paints in all sheens, including popular flat. These durable paints are an ideal choice for updating family spaces in easy-clean style.

Add kid-friendly color and style with throw pillows in outdoor fabrics, like Sunbrella

2. Add Pop with Fashionable, Functional Fabrics
Another decorator trick – freshen up seating areas with colorful throw pillows. Some kid-friendlier choices include throw pillows with removable washable covers or easy-care faux suede and microfiber fabrics. Pillows in outdoor fabrics offer an array of easy-clean colors, patterns and textures that look great indoors, too.

3. Stash Toys in Style
Storage-style furniture, accent pieces and decorative boxes are great ways to store away kid’s toys in family spaces. Add a few storage cube footstools in seating areas, stash a mini-trunk under an end table, or place a few stacking baskets in a corner. These strike the perfect balance between practicality and style for kid-friendly living spaces.

Durable decorative melamine plastic trays make great break-resistant accents in or out of the kitchen

4. Accessorize with Kids in Mind
Keep headaches – and cleanup – to a minimum by accessorizing family rooms with kids in mind. Breakable accents and collectibles are best displayed on mantles or higher shelves. In kid-accessible areas consider adding decorative touches like containers, candlesticks and figurines made from break-resistant materials like wood, acrylic, resin or metal.

5. Step Up Floor Style with Easy-clean Rugs
Area rugs add style and comfort to any room, but they’re a magnet for kids’ spills and smudges. To combat this, consider using outdoor rugs in busy family spaces. Rugs made for patios and outdoor rooms offer textures and colors that mimic indoor versions, but are made of easy-clean, moisture- and mildew-proof fibers. They’re easy to spot clean for minor spills and, unlike indoor rugs, they can be taken out and hosed down for a deep-down clean.

Please share your ideas for family-friendly living and home style in comments — we welcome guest posts, too!

Start at the Bottom with Individual-sized Crusts
Ready-made mini pizza crusts are handy for MYO pizzas but they can be a little pricey. If you don’t want to spring for Boboli or similar packaged crusts, give Pillsbury’s refrigerated pizza crusts a try and just cut them to size. Or pick up a few french loaves in the bakery for french bread pizzas. And don’t forget the bread aisle. A full pita bread round makes a great individual thin crust pizza, plus it’s on the lighter side.

Top With the Usual Suspects
Set up a pizza bar with sauce, mozarella cheese and a variety of toppings so everyone can build their personal favorite. Premade pizza or spaghetti sauces both work great, or make your own in just minutes. Combine a can of tomato sauce, a teaspoon each of oregano, basil and olive oil and a dash or two of garlic powder. For a thicker sauce, stir in a spoonful of tomato paste. Make quick work of chopping vegetables  – and entice the kids to pitch in – with a finger-friendly quick-chop tool like our Vegetable Chopper.

Add a Twist with Alternative Toppers
Don’t be afraid to challenge tastebuds! Grab a jar of premade alfredo sauce (try Ragu’s lite version – yum!) and some precooked fajita chicken at the store, and add some fresh spinach leaves and sliced mushrooms for a gourmet pizza any restaurant would be proud to serve. Or go even further by substituting monterey jack or feta cheese in place of mozarella. And remember this chef’s tip for “white” pizzas – spread a light layer of olive oil over the crust before adding alfredo sauce to keep it from becoming gummy.

Pop the pizzas in the oven and the movie in the player. By the time the previews end you’ll be enjoying a family night that begs an encore performance.

Please share your own great ideas for family nights in comments — we welcome guest posts, too!

We used inexpensive sparkly felt and jute cording for our two trees designs, but you can also use fancy metallic cording for a dressier look, or dress up felt-covered trees in cording, braid or other embellishments to match your holiday decorating style.

Please let us know what you think or share a great idea of your own!

Make this Thanksgiving wreath with silk leaves and a little glue

Fall seems to be a time of decorating quick-change. Within 60 days, we move from spooky Halloween décor, to russet-hued fall colors, to Christmas sparkle and shine.

Add to that holiday entertaining, parties, shopping and kid’s school needs, and the holiday season becomes busy indeed!

That’s why I look for easy and quick decorating options, especially around Thanksgiving. Here are five quick projects that add fall-inspired pop to any room in just a few minutes. Better yet, since most craft stores have fall florals on sale by now, these colorful fall accents cost just a few dollars to make.

1. Make a Leafy Fall Colors Wreath
Make this eye-catching fall and Thanksgiving wreath with just a few handfuls of russet silk leaves, a plain foam or natural wreath form and some hot glue. It takes less than an hour because all of the color and texture is created by simply layering silk leaves one over the other. Then top with a russet or golden hued bow. Click here for complete how-to instructions for this wreath.

2. Make a Falling Leaves Garland
You’ll need 5-10 fall leaves floral picks. Use wire cutters to cut the leaf clusters off the main pick, leaving the stems as long as possible. Then just twist the stems together, start with 2-3 stems and add on to create a length of garland. You can also twist stems onto a length of jute rope or cording for a stronger garland.  Fill in sparse areas by twisting on more leaves, or hot glue leaves, floral berries or pinecones to the twisted garland stem. Hang from a stairway or doorframe using fall-colored bows or drape over the mantle.

3. Use a Fall Garland as a Table Centerpiece
Make a garland as above to fit your tabletop. Leave about 1.5’ from each end to allow for place settings if needed. Arrange with candlesticks or pillar stands of varying sizes to add height to your centerpiece. Add even more color by placing the garland arrangement on top of a coordinating tablerunner or a line of overlapping placemats. (Make your centerpiece safe and worry-free! Use battery-operated candles to avoid an open flame.)

4. Embellish Candlesticks and Other Décor Items
Use leafy clusters to add fall color anywhere. Cut several leaf stems and clusters from picks and wrap around candlesticks, place in vases or tuck among your everyday arrangements to add a pop of color.

Add a pop of Thanksgiving color with a few silk leaves in fall colors

5. Create a Falling Leaves Light Fixture
Use our go-to favorites, leafy stems and clusters, to add fall color to your dining and entry lighting. Simply wrap or drape clusters among the arms of your light fixture or wrap a mini garland to entwine your chandelier.

Let us know if any of these ideas inspired you! And please share any ideas (or improvements on ours) that you have!

This terrible accident happened in a Chicago suburb just days ago but, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), it’s just the latest of this type of incident. The CPSC reports that children are seriously injured or killed in “tip-over” accidents involving TVs, furniture and even appliances about once every two weeks.

Each year, “tip-over” accidents account for nearly 22,000 injuries in children under age 8, the CPSC reports. Most involve TVs, including lighter flat screen models, placed on a piece of furniture such as a chest, dresser or stand.

The saddest element of this story is that these accidents are nearly 100 percent preventable. Furniture anchors and TV straps capable of supporting hundreds of pounds are available in many home improvement and baby stores, and are readily found online.

Furniture anchors and TV strap childproofing devices are inexpensive, costing between $6 to $18, and are easily installed with strong adhesives, screws or a combination of the two.

Installed on both the TV and the furniture it’s sitting on, furniture anchors and TV straps dramatically reduce the most common accidents – TVs tipping off unstable furniture.

TVs aren’t the only tipping hazard parents should be aware of in the home. Here are some tips to help prevent injuries from similar dangers.

1. Children are often tempted to climb tall bookshelves or use dresser drawers as steps. These heavy pieces are very prone to tip, so install furniture anchors to prevent injuries.
2. On tall two-part furniture pieces such as china cabinets, secure the top section to the wall, not just to the base.
3. Be sure freestanding ranges and front-load dryers are secured to the wall or surrounding cabinetry. Children can open and climb onto the door, causing the appliance to tilt or topple. An appliance lock securing the door closed adds another degree of safety.
4. Whenever possible, mount flat screen TVs to the wall using mounting brackets.
5. Keep a close eye on children when traveling to friends and relatives homes where furniture and TVs are likely to be unsecured.

See & Print Our Free Childproofing Checklists: 

1. Start with Kid-friendly, Flame-free Candles and Votives:

Have any orange or black placemats on-hand? How about colorful drinking glasses — maybe in white, frost, orange, smoky gray, green or purple? Any white candle pillars stashed in a drawer? These everyday things can do double-duty as Halloween decor! For example:

• MYO-Votives: Add some construction paper bits to colorful drinking glasses, pop a flame-free candle in the glass and, Presto! Instant Halloween votive candles that kids can easily help make. We used Bentley 11-oz plastic tumblers  in Smoke and Tangerine, construction paper and double-sided gift tape. 
  

  Plastic glasses do double-duty as Halloween votive candles

• Create a Ghostly Glow: Don’t spend your money on fancy Halloween candles that you’ll just have to store in a few weeks! Grab simple white or orange pillar candles (of course, battery operated candles are best) and attach paper or fun foam bits to make Jack-o-Lantern faces or Ghosts. (If you use real candles, place embellishments well below the burn region and keep an eye on them when burning).

Arrange several candles, homemade votives or a combination of these across the mantle for a Halloween spookscape, or place a few on orange or black placemats for a flickering centerpiece.

3. For a Spideriffic Centerpiece, Start in the Backyard:

What could be spookier (or cheaper) than a cluster or spindly branches hung with paper or pipe cleaner spiders? For this simple project, you just need some branches, an empty soup or coffee can, floral foam or dried beans* to hold the branches in place, some pipe cleaners or construction paper, and glue. If you want to get fancy, spray paint the branches and can before assembling. (*If decorating around toddlers, use foam instead of dried beans – if spilled, beans could be a choking hazard)

Battery operated candles offer a spooky and kid-safe glow

4. Safe — and Spooky – Trick-or-Treating Lights:

Add a little extra creepy to your little ghouls’ and booys’ costumes this year. Instead of flashlights, give them a battery-operated pillar candle to hold. These cast a spooky flickering glow without a flame — perfect if you have a little witch or wizard who really gets into character!

Let us know about your kid-safe, budget-friendly Halloween ideas!

Mingle Easy party plates are great for stand-up affairs

Serving up summertime fun is easier than ever with this season’s hottest outdoor entertaining gear. From party plates with built-in cupholders to insulated carryalls, we’ve gathered a great selection of outdoor dining tools that make patio serving, poolside dining and picnicking a snap. 

Party plates designed with socializing in mind top this season’s list of outdoor entertaining must-haves. If mixing and mingling is on the menu, look for party plates featuring built-in cup holders and stemware cutouts. These clever designs free diners’ hands and minimize spills, perfect for stand-up affairs. Serving up appetizers and dips? Then the newest party plate style to hit the market, the mini chip-and-dip, may be the perfect paring for your event. 

You can find variety of reusable party plates on KidSmartLiving.com and most are made of durable melamine or acrylic plastic so they’ll last for years. For events that call for disposables, our MingleEasy party plate’s versatility fits most any affair. It can hold stemware, cans or cups, plus it comes in several colors. Or, put your own dishes to work as party plates with handy clip-on drink holders and dip cups. 

Napa unbreakable plastic stemware holds up to patio parties and everyday use in style

 Plastic glasses and stemware are an outdoor entertaining staple. This summers hottest line is our Napa plastic stemware with wine, martini, margarita and champagne glasses crafted in BPA-free Tritan plastic. A great unbreakable alternative to fine stemware, Napa’s thin wall tasting-glass styling lets the most discerning connoisseurs enjoy their favorite vintage without the worry of breakage. You’ll even find popular stemless wine glasses in the Napa line. 

Flatware caddies keep utensils organized, clean and easy to get to on buffet tables

 Worry-free convenience finds its way to the serving table, too, with caddies and carriers all designed with the busy host in mind. Flatware caddies keep utensils organized and easy to set out; napkin caddies with weighted arms prevent fly-aways; and multi-use party carriers make transporting, storing and serving your culinary creations a breeze. We’ve gathered an assortment of serving-friendly caddies and carriers on KidSmartLiving.com, and most are crafted in durable, easy-clean plastic for worry-free events. 

For hosts on-the-go, insulated carriers and totes are invaluable, and our newest party-perfect tote, the Insulated Cooler by JAM bags, fills this need in style. Picknickers and beachgoers can

A picnic favorite! JAM Bags Insulated Cooler bags hold up to 45 pounds

pack up to 45 pounds into this soft-sided insulated tote and keep foods cool or warm for up to two hours. Three outer pockets hold soda or wine bottles, cooking tools or serving accessories. Best of all, colorful JAM bags are made of recycled water bottles so spills just wipe off. Great for the Earth, and even better for worry-free summer fun.

Tip 1: Don’t just shop for “plastic,” because not all plastics are created equal
So true! Ever had indestructible plastic glasses that last from year to year, while others break the first time they’re dropped? How about plastic dishes that scratch like crazy after a few uses? What about plastic plates that overheat after just seconds in the microwave — or glasses that clouded in the dishwasher?

Though frustrating, these common issues aren’t really defects in the plastic, they’re just differences. More than a half-dozen types of plastic are used to make tableware – from unbreakable Tritan and budget-friendly SAN, to scratch-resistant Melamine and decorative Acrylic. Each offers its own benefits and drawbacks.

Knowing how different plastics perform and how to tell them apart when shopping can ensure that the plastic dishes, glasses and serving pieces you choose best meet your needs. Tips two and three will help you do just that.

Tip 2: Decide on the features that matter to you before shopping
Shopping for plastic tableware would be a cinch if a single plastic offered it all –unbreakable, scratchproof, dishwasher and microwave-safe. Unfortunately, that plastic is not yet invented. So of the plastics that do exist, which option is right for you?

Do unbreakable, dishwasher-safe products top your list? If so, spending a little more on unbreakable Tritan or Polycarbonate plastic items is well worth the years of use you’ll enjoy. For a little less, SAN plastic products are almost as durable, and casual looks in Polypropylene are equally durable and very inexpensive. Avoid anything in Acrylic or Polystyrene.

Are scratched dishes your pet peeve? Then Melamine dishes are your best choice for long-term satisfaction. But you’ll have to forego the convenience of microwave heating.

Are microwave-safe dishes a must? The selection is slimmer, but there are some choices in plastics made specifically for the microwave. Look for dishes under the brand names Nordic Ware, Miracleware and ExtremeWare – and avoid products made from Melamine, Acrylic and Polystyrene.

Are you drawn to decorative or themed dishes? Trendy designs and seasonal themes are widely available in plastic tableware. Very decorative glasses are generally crafted in Acrylic, but be prepared to hand wash to keep them looking their best. You’ll also find plenty of decorative and themed designs in durable easy-care Melamine dinnerware.

Is cost more important than longevity? Inexpensive seasonal Acrylic and Polystyrene tableware is plentiful on store shelves. But with plastics, you do get what you pay for. These low-cost styles won’t hold up under impact or in the dishwasher for much more than a season or two.

Tip 3: Know what you’re buying – even if the label doesn’t tell you
You now know that the plastics used to make tableware vary indeed, and which type best meets your needs. So how do you tell if a plastic glass is made of SAN or Acrylic? How do you spot Melamine dishes? And what the heck is Polypropylene, anyway?

If shopping online with a reputable seller like KidSmartLiving.com, product information will include plastic types, features and care. If you’re on a site that doesn’t provide these details you may want to shop elsewhere as that seller may not know, or stand behind, their product. In-store shopping can be a bit trickier because not all plastic products are clearly labeled by type. There you’ll need to know a bit more than the label tells you.

Unbreakable products in Tritan and Polycarbonate plastic are easy to identify because they’re generally labeled as “Unbreakable” and “Dishwasher-safe” to offset their higher price tag. Tritan items are also labeled “BPA-free.” Both plastics are generally found in glass-like clear or tinted drinkware and dishes.

Unbreakable, dishwasher-safe products in Polypropylene plastic are easy to identify, too. They’re always opaque or semi-opaque, think Tupperware, and have a rubbery feel unlike any other plastic. These products also tend to be low priced.

Labeling on Melamine dishes varies, but that’s not a problem if you know what to look for. All melamine dishes are opaque – never see-through – and have a rigid feel. Because of melamine’s durability and scratch-resistance, it’s the most common plastic used to make dishes and can be found in a huge variety of colors and decorative designs. Melamine dishes are dishwasher-safe, but not microwave-safe, so melamine dishes are almost always marked “Not Intended for Microwave Use.”

Plastic dishes and cookware made from microwave-safe plastics are always clearly labeled “Microwave-safe” because that’s their major selling point. These items are always dishwasher-safe and sometimes oven-safe, too.

Glasses and dishes made from Acrylic, Polystyrene and SAN plastics are rarely labeled by type, but you can tell them apart. Though shatterproof, they’re not truly unbreakable, so you won’t see that on the label. The major difference is the care. SAN plastic products are dishwasher- and microwave reheat-safe, and usually labeled as such. Polystyrene products are generally labeled “Top Rack Dishwasher-safe,” while Acrylic products are almost always “Hand Wash.”

Tip 4: Care matters! Enjoy your plastic tableware for years
As plastics differ so does their care, but you can extend the life and looks of even the least expensive products if you treat them right.

In the dishwasher, a good rule of thumb for any plastic glasses – even those marked “Dishwasher-safe” – is to wash on a normal, unheated cycle. Some dishwashers heat water excessively in certain cycles, so a normal setting is always the best bet.

Items labeled “Top Rack Dishwasher-safe” should be placed in the top rack, away from the heating element at the bottom – with one exception. Some Melamine dishes are labeled “Top Rack Dishwasher-safe,” but they won’t fit in the top rack. These are fine to wash in the bottom rack on an air-dry setting.

Items labeled “Hand Wash” really should be washed by hand. These products will quickly crackle or cloud if exposed to dishwasher heat and detergents.

Abrasive cleaners or scrubbers should not be used on any clear plastic glasses or plates as they will, without exception, scratch. Melamine plates hold up to most scrubber sponges.

Tip 5: Ignore the #7 recycling symbol – it doesn’t identify specific plastics
Last, save yourself some shopping frustration. Don’t rely on recycling numbers – those little numbers in a triangle on some plastic items – to identify plastics. In fact, these numbers don’t even appear on many plastic tableware items. Why? It’s simple, they’re not disposable.

Recycling numbers, officially known as SPI codes, are intended to identify commonly disposed plastics so they can be efficiently recycled – that’s all. The #7 code is a catchall number used for the non-recyclable plastics – and that includes many plastics used to make long-lasting tableware.

Contrary to some media stories, the #7 code does not denote an unsafe plastic. Anyone suggesting that all plastic items with the #7 code are unsafe because they contain the chemical BPA simply did not do their homework. Most good-quality plastics, including Melamine, Acrylic, SAN, Tritan and even biodegradable Eco-plastics all fall under the #7 code, and not one of them contains BPA.

Polycarbonate is the only tableware plastic that contains BPA. If media reports on BPA concern you, just avoid polycarbonate products. Products made from Tritan plastic offer the same benefits as polycarbonate, without BPA.

So whatever your tableware needs, from unbreakable plastic glasses for outdoors, to durable dishes for everyday, to decorative styles inspired by the season, there’s surely a plastic available that meets your needs. Armed with these tips, you shouldn’t have any problem finding it.