Throw the Ultimate ESPN College Football party for The Playoff!

You rooted all season and now it’s time for the big finale!

If you’re a Buckeye, a Sooner, a Clemson Tiger or an LSU Tiger you’re probably already planning on tuning in, but whether or not your team made it to the College Football Playoff this year, you can ALL enjoy delicious food and drinks with your family, friends, and fellow college football fans. Get together for a day of back-to-back semifinal games live on ESPN on Saturday, December 28th and find out which teams will be facing off in The National Championship game next month!

Here are a few College Football Playoff party ideas you can create at home (or even contribute to a friend’s bash!):

Create a DIY “Drink the Competition” Punch Bowl Bar
We know the four teams that will be battling it out in the semifinal games, but you can also host your own bowl—a punch bowl!-- at home with colorful College Football Playoff themed cocktails.

These bowl rules are up to you! Tell your guests to pick their favorite team’s drink or let them opt to “drink the competition.” Make the drinks and garnishes ahead of time and serve DIY style in punch bowls or pitchers so that nobody has to miss any of the action on the screen.

In this year’s College Football Playoff only on ESPN, Oklahoma will face LSU in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and Ohio State will play Clemson in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. Serve your own favorite team-inspired drinks, or get inspired by the festive CFP cocktails I’ve created below:


OKLAHOMA

With star QB transfer Jalen Hurts leading the way now wearing Crimson for the Sooners, I knew we needed a star element--like homemade rum-soaked cherries--in this deep crimson party punch celebrating Oklahoma. You can make the cherries a day or two in advance, but wait until gameday to mix up the rest of the cocktail. You’ll go from the #4 ranked underdog to gameday champ with this one!

Cherry Sooner Spritz
Serves 8


Ingredients
For the rum-soaked cherries:
1 cup dark rum
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 cups fresh or frozen & thawed cherries, stems and pits removed

For the cocktail:
4 cups sweetened pomegranate or cranberry juice
2 cups dark rum
1/2 cup lime juice
2 cups cherry seltzer
Ice

Directions
Make the cherries: in a small saucepan, combine rum, water, and sugar and bring to a simmer, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, add the cherries, and let soak at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.

Make the drink: Combine pomegranate or cranberry juice, dark rum, lime juice, and seltzer in a punch bowl or pitcher. Add ice and half the soaked cherries. Serve additional cherries on the side for garnishing.

LSU

Whether your guests are “geaux-ing” for the top-ranked Tigers or not, everyone will be a fan of this easy purple and gold-inspired party cocktail.

Never made homemade blueberry lemonade before? Well it’s the perfect time to try something new in honor of LSU’s first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff and Joe Burrow becoming the first LSU QB to win the Heisman Trophy! (Promise this will take way less time and work than those impressive feats!)

TIP: If you want to offer up a family friendly drink, skip the vodka and let everyone enjoy this festive purple lemonade

LSU Spiked Blueberry Lemonade
Serves 8

Ingredients
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 cup granulated sugar
6 cups water
1 1/2 cups vodka
1/4 teaspoon violet gel food coloring (optional, but enhances the purple shade of the drink!)
Ice
Garnish: fresh blueberries, lemon slices, lemon rind twists

Directions
Combine lemon juice, blueberries, sugar, and 1 cup water in a blender and puree until smooth and sugar is dissolved—about 2 minutes. Use a mesh sieve to strain into a large pitcher or punch bowl. Discard any seeds and solids caught in the pitcher. Stir in the remaining 5 cups water, vodka, and food coloring (if using). Chill until serving time.

Serve drinks over ice and garnish with blueberries, lemon slices, and/or lemon twists.

CLEMSON

The Tigers are going for back-to-back titles for the first time in the CFP era and your guests are also sure to go back for seconds of this winning drink!

If you can’t find blood orange juice for this easy margarita recipe, you can substitute regular orange juice and just add a “Dabo” of red food coloring or grenadine to get that perfect shade of Clemson orange.

Make the purple salt for this easy margarita in advance of game day, then garnish just before serving.

Clemson Blood Orange Margaritas
Serves 8

Ingredients
For the purple salt
1/3 cup kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon violet gel food coloring

For the margaritas
2 cups blood orange juice (fresh or bottled)
1 cup fresh lime juice
2 cups gold tequila
1/4 cup orange liqueur (such as triple sec or cointreau)

Ice for serving

Directions
Combine salt and gel food coloring in a zipped plastic baggie. Close the baggie, then use your hands to massage the food color into the salt until it is evenly distributed and the salt is purple. (Can be made in advance. Store in a sealed container in a cool dry place. Will keep indefinitely.)

Make the margaritas. In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine blood orange juice, lime juice, tequila, and orange liqueur. Chill.

To serve, rub outside of cup or glass with lemon wedge or water and dip into the purple salt. Fill cup with ice and pour in margarita.

OHIO STATE

Dominate your game day party like Chase Young and the Buckeyes have dominated all season with this undefeated cocktail! (Just please don’t tackle your guests!).

Maple syrup adds a smoky sweetness to this bright scarlet cocktail that pairs perfectly with the also very-necessary peanut butter buckeyes.

O-H!!! I-O!!!

Maple Cranberry Buckeye Sippers
Serves 8

Ingredients
4 cups cranberry juice
2 cups cranberry vodka
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 cup fresh lemon juice
2 cups seltzer

Directions
Combine cranberry juice, lemon juice, and maple syrup in a blender and puree 2 minutes, or until maple syrup is fully incorporated into the juice. Pour into a pitcher with the vodka and seltzer. Serve over ice garnished with cranberries (and peanut butter buckeyes on the side!).

Build an Epic College Football Playoff Party Grazing Table

After years of bowl games where champions were decided by pollsters, the College Football Playoff finally allows for the National Champion to be crowned on the field! What could be better than getting together with friends to watch the 4 best teams battle it out for the right to play in the National Championship game in New Orleans on January 13th? With a marathon of 2 heavyweight games back-to-back on ESPN, The College Football Playoff deserves an EPIC party spread!

Swap the usual game day buffet for this EPIC grazing table featuring everyone’s favorite tailgate snacks.

Grazing tables have been a hot party trend on Pinterest all year and are perfect for a full day of casual gameday eating. Unlike with a regular party buffet, grazing tables call for two things--abundance and organized chaos! Let food overflow out of bowls and tumble over each other, and mix and match your savory and sweet snacks. They’re easy for entertaining because you can combine a few of your favorite homemade dishes with easy store-bought items like chips, dips, charcuterie, and sweets. This large and impressive spread is an ideal way to keep everyone fed and happy throughout the entire exciting day!

Follow these tips to create your own College Football Playoff grazing table:

Pick a Spot Near the Action
Choose a spot in the room where you’ll be watching the games. Grazing tables are designed for guests to linger over so it’s important to keep it where you want the crowd congregating—with a view of the TV tuned to ESPN! Use a sideboard, move the dining table into the living room, or even take over the coffee table for easy access all day.

Set the Table

A faux grass runner gives the table a fun, sporty feel (or swap in a dark green tablecloth as your “field”). Then top it with a variety of bowls, wooden boards, and serving platters in all shapes and sizes. A chafing dish or two is great for keeping foods like wings or meatballs hot throughout the party.

Add Team Colors
Cocktail napkins, paper plates, and paper straws in team color combinations help bring the theme to life. Rep your favorite team, or make everyone feel welcome with something for each of the teams on the field.

Add Color with Food, too!

I love to pick snacks that match the teams. For this year’s lineup, I added sweet and savory treats in shades of yellow and purple for LSU, orange and purple for Clemson, crimson for Oklahoma, and (of course!) plenty of homemade peanut butter buckeys for Ohio State.

The supermarket is already a rainbow—think about the colors you’re working with and add items to match: berries, bell peppers, rainbow carrots, grapes, cheese crackers, wrapped candies, and fruity bars and pies are just a few easy and creative ways you can celebrate your favorite college teams.

Football Faves

Think beyond the usual charcuterie board standbys and add in fun snacks like pizza bites, soft pretzels, pigs in a blanket, mini egg rolls, and more.

I like to include at least one substantial dish like pulled pork or a glazed spiral ham alongside a pile of slider rolls, and plenty of condiments for guests to DIY their own mini sandwiches.

Start Plating

Start plating food a couple hours before the party by adding the items that keep the longest or require zero prep—bowls of chips, crackers, candy and wrapped sweets, etc. As it gets closer to party time, you can fill in with fresh fruit and crudité, cheese, dips. Wait to add hot prepared foods (or items that are best served cold) until just before the first guest arrives.

Keep it Fresh

Use damp paper towels over fresh fruit, cheese, and veggies to keep them from drying out while building your grazing table. Remove them just before the guests arrive.

Refill as Needed
The beauty of the grazing table is that guests can help themselves while you get to watch the game and enjoy the party, but if you’d like, you can keep extra dips, crackers, cut-up veggies and other refills prepped and ready in the fridge to refresh the table during commercial breaks.

And there you have it! The ideal combo of drinks and food to keep you fed and festive all gameday long.

For more easy gameday party recipes and entertaining ideas, check out my Ultimate College Football Playoff Party board on Pinterest. And visit ESPN.com for all the College Football Playoff news and highlights.

This post is sponsored by ESPN in collaboration with Pinterest. Thank you for supporting the partners who make it possible for me to keep bringing you more great recipes and party ideas!

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How to Throw the Ultimate All-Dessert Party

The name of my blog should be a pretty big clue that I never need special excuses or reasons to bring a little sweetness into my life. But upon learning that October is also known as National Dessert Month, I decided an All-Dessert Party for grown-ups definitely needed to happen.

If you’ve been looking for ideas to host your friends in a fun, low-key way, this is totally it!

Here are some ideas for making it happen:

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Coconut Mango Couscous Salad (+ Ideas for a Tropical Fall Party Menu!)

This weekend, I invited a few of my favorite people over for a cozy and relaxed Fall lunch party at home. After a busy summer, it felt really great to finally relax and catch-up with friends over delicious food and drinks.

My party menu was inspired by a new product I've been working with this season called Dole Fruit n' Spice, which is a line of spiced frozen fruit that combines fruit like mangos, pineapple, and apples with spices like chili and cinnamon. It's a new product and I hadn't heard about it until I started working with them, but I'm genuinely obsessed with how good they are, and with all the ways you can use them to make both sweet and savory recipes.

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3 #Squadgoal Parties to Host this Fall

Saying good-bye to summer has never been easy for me, but I'm slowly starting to get into the spirit. From comfort food and apple cider donuts to cute new outfits and being able to maintain a blow-out in the crisp, humidity-free air, I reluctantly admit that Autumn does have its charms.

And one of my favorites is that I can start entertaining again!

I'm not sure how it is in your circle, but in mine, summer is always such a blur of travel, weddings, and beach weekends. Nobody ever seems to be in town at the same time, and finding days when everyone can get together is always a challenge. But Fall brings with it a welcome return to routine--and the perfect opportunity to bring your faves together for some much-needed girl time.

This month, I paired up with the cool folks at Barefoot Wine & Bubbly to share with you three of my favorite low-key ways to catch-up with friends and entertain during these cozy autumn months:

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A Simply Orange Brunch Party (Orange Muffins + Orange Rose Mimosas)

Though we do have little pockets of green here and there, New York City has never really been known for its nature. This is especially true during the colder months when hibernation is basically the only sane option, and a proper dose of sunshine requires a seat on a plane headed due south.

I admittedly love any excuse to get out of town, but unfortunately, that isn't always possible.

The next best way to cure a case of urban cabin fever? Finding a way to bring a bit of nature home through the things we eat and drink!

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A DIY Crostini Party

My life isn't really the kind where groups of friends just casually pop in and out for impromptu parties (like this DIY Crostini Party I'm about to share with you). I wish that it were, but it's just not the case.

Every so often I read blog posts and articles suggesting all sorts of adorable and Pinterest-worthy casual last-minute party ideas, and I think they're awesome, but the truth is that it's probably never going to happen in my life.

My friends are so busy and awesome that coordinating something like a casual last-minute taco party takes a month. (You know...if I want people to actually show up.)

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A Date Night Tapas Party

The last time my husband and I went out to dinner for Valentine's Day, we sat next to a 50-something man on a date with his 20-something mistress.

It was AMAZING. We spent much of the meal listening to him say totally inappropriate things to her while casually referencing his wife and kids. Instead of talking, Eugene and I just spent the meal eating silently so as to not miss any of the scandalous talk at the next table over. Occasionally, we'd widen our eyes or stifle a laugh.

Totally hilarious, but not quite the romantic evening we had in mind.

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A Rustic Winter Baby Shower

Last month, I hosted a winter baby shower for one of my favorite people in the whole world--my best friend Mónica. Would you like to see pictures?

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"Pig in a Blanket" Party Favors

This past weekend, I brought some of my friends and family together for a big family style dinner to celebrate my 33rd birthday. The menu? A lavish whole pig feast at DBGB, a restaurant here in NYC, that included appetizers, sides, a whole roast stuffed suckling pig, and a giant baked Alaska for dessert.

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How to Host a Tiki Party

There are only a few things I love more than a theme party. Especially when it gives me an excuse to dress up in something festive. This year, I got my friends to dig out their prettiest tropical sundresses and Hawaiian shirts for some Polynesian-themed revelry at my Retro Tiki Party.

Scroll down below to see how I pulled it together, and get some inspiration for your next celebration!

The Drinks

The idea to throw this party came about while brainstorming themes for my ongoing "Summer of Punch" recipe collaboration with Smirnoff this year. I've always wanted to throw a retro tiki-style party, and since tiki parties are all about the fun tropical punch drinks, it was a perfect match!

I started out by researching classic tiki cocktails. Typically made with spirits like rum, I mixed things up a bit and created vodka versions that highlighted some of my favorite Smirnoff flavors.

My party bar featured three updated tiki cocktail punches. The overall favorite was definitely the Blue Raspberry Island Punch, made with Smirnoff Raspberry, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, blue curacao, and soda.

I also made a Peach and Passion Fruit Mai Tai using Smirnoff Peach and a Vodka Pina Colada Punch using classic Smirnoff No. 21.

I served the punches in a mix of punch bowls and beverage dispensers with cups, ice, cocktail umbrellas, and garnishes on the side for DIY serving. It's such a relaxed and low-key way to host a party because it allows guests to help themselves while I can focus on food and greeting guests.

Setting up the Tiki Bar

It's always smart to separate your food and drinks as it allows for more flow in your party space. This is especially important if, like me, you're entertaining in an apartment or other small space.

I set my bar in my office, which is just off the main party room.

I started off with a plain surface (in this case, my cleared-off desk!) and covered it with some neutral colored scarves to add texture and color.

I used stacks of books and blocks to add a variety of height to the bar, and added interesting touches like a cute hula girl bottle opener and a vintage style metal Tiki bar sign I found at a discount store.

Set up your punch bowls and other bar accessories ahead of time, then fill them with the beverages at the very last minute. This will save you time, and help keep the drinks cool before guests arrive.

Tiki mugs are a must for any tiki party. You can find real vintage ones at thrift stores or online shops. You can also find sets of inexpensive modern reproductions at party stores. I paid about $3 to $5 each for my mugs.

TIP: Don't feel like you need to buy one for every guest--even just a few to use as decoration (or to hold things like straws, cutlery, or cocktail stirrers) is enough to give it that classic tiki party feel!


The Food

Have fun with the food, but definitely keep it simple. I decided to add a modern twist by making my party a "Tiki Taco Party."

This allowed me to have a mix of fun, but easy dishes that satisfied all my guests. I broke the menu up into Polynesian or pu-pu platter style appetizers and snacks, with a DIY taco bar for the main course.

I created a fun (but easy! I promise!) Pineapple Chutney Cheese Ball that I shaped like a pineapple and decorated with pecans and the real crown from an actual pineapple. Served with plantain chips and rice crackers, it was a popular appetizer that also added to that retro, kitschy atmosphere.

A couple hot appetizers that can be prepped in advance and finished just before serving are always a hit. I went with simple Chinese-Style Pork Spare-Ribs and Spicy Bacon-Wrapped Pineapple Bites, which are a riff on a retro rumaki appetizer.

For the DIY Taco Bar, I offered a choice of roasted and pulled pork, ancho-pomegranate brisket, and a simple black bean and corn salad, as well as blue and yellow corn tortillas.

The meat was easy to prepare a few days in advance in my slow cooker and then reheated just before serving. Anytime you can do stuff in advance for a party, do it! You will be so thankful you did!

For the DIY taco bar toppings I set out bowls of my homemade restaurant-style salsa and homemade pineapple salsa (served in a pineapple bowl!).

I also added some simple toppings like salted red cabbage slaw, cumin-spiced sour cream, cilantro, chopped red onions, guacamole, and cotija cheese.

With a big meal like this, you don't really need a big dessert, but a little something sweet to end the night is always a good idea!

I made these easy Guava Coconut Crumb Bars and set out some additional fresh cut pineapple and watermelon for snacking.

Decorations

Don't feel like you have to spend a lot of money buying fancy decorations! I always recommend looking around your house for objects you already own to create the perfect party scene or tablescape.

Bamboo placemats or table runners, colorful tablecloths or floral napkins can all be pulled into service for this theme.

Another tip?

Just about any souvenir you've ever bought on an island, or beach vacation could work for this party theme. Think about things like large conch shells, sand dollars, stoneware, wooden bowls or serving pieces, or colorful scarves.

If you've ever stayed in a tropical resort or hotel, you might have noticed that it always smells amazing from the minute you step inside.

I like to mimic that with a sweet-smelling coconut or hibiscus candle burning in the bathroom or entryway. Such a subtle touch, but I promise you it really makes an impact.


Add Color with Tropical Fruit and Flowers

My absolute favorite decorative touch is natural tropical fruits. Pineapples, coconuts, bananas, and other tropical fruits make amazing natural and affordable decorations.

I bought a few of each and scattered them around the room.

(The pineapples smell amazing, too, and add to that wonderful island feel.)

The best part? You can chop them up for an amazing fruit salad (or more cocktails!) the next day.

Leis and flower necklaces for your guests are a must for any tiki or Polynesian-themed party, and they're incredibly affordable.

I was able to buy two dozen silk lei necklaces from a party store for about $10 and kept them by my door. I gave one to each guest as he or she arrived.

(Yes...even Hudson Riverton got one!)

I also went to a local 99-cent store and bought a few stems of silk hibiscus flowers that I cut down and used both for table decorations and to give to my guests to tuck into their hair.


The Perfect Tiki Party Playlist

Finally (and possibly most important of all!) don't forget the music! Every tiki party needs an amazing playlist. You can check out streaming sites for a premade one.

The genre of music best associated with tiki parties is called "Exotica," which is a super fun and weird mix of tropical sounds with beach and wild animal noises. Look up artists like Martin Denny for a perfect example of this.

Other songs and musicians to consider include: Don Ho (of course!), Elvis Presley (especially the soundtrack to the movie Blue Hawaii!), Henry Mancini for great jazzy lounge music, Louis Prima's version of I Wanna Be Like You from The Jungle Book, The Beach Boys, Santo & Johnny, The Tornadoes, and The Polynesians.

I hope that this inspires you to throw your own tiki theme party!

For more fun summer cocktail recipes and ideas, follow Smirnoff and the hashtag #Punch4Everybody on Instagram and Facebook, and check out their fun party boards on Pinterest!


This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Smirnoff for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
Please remember to always drink responsibly!

Blue Raspberry Island Punch Cocktail
Serves 12

Ingredients
2 cups Smirnoff Raspberry
1/4 cup blue curaçao
4 cups canned chilled pineapple juice
2 14oz cans cream of coconut 1 liter chilled club soda

Directions
Whisk together all ingredients except club soda in a large punch bowl. Add 4 cups ice and top off with club soda.

Serve with additional ice on side

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A Fruity Winter Brunch

Over the past few years, I've found that January and February have become two of my favorite months for entertaining. The buzz and expectations of the holidays have died down, and created the perfect opportunity for relaxed and cozy gatherings with friends.

No need to worry about things like gifts or decorations or even elaborate recipes; it's now just about simple, good things to eat in the company of your loved ones. What could be better than that?!

It's also a great opportunity to reinforce new friendships or connections made during the holidays.

Did you, for example, meet a cool couple at a dinner party? Or chat with a colleague from a different department at the office holiday luncheon?

Why not reach out now and invite them over for a casual brunch at home? In the spirit of the New Year, it's the perfect time to create new experiences and relationships. It could mean the difference between creating an awesome new friend, or just fading off and never talking again.

(I KNOW you know what I mean!)

I was recently inspired to do just that, thanks to the help of Simply Beverages.

I've long been a fan of their lemonade and orange juice, so when they asked me to collaborate with them on a sponsored post featuring their new line of refreshing, all natural fruit juice drinks in three flavors (Mixed Berry, Tropical, and Fruit Punch), I jumped at the chance! I knew it would be the perfect start for a fun winter brunch party menu to share with all of you.

Since January is the time of year when many folks like to swear off alcohol or make other healthier choices, I used the juice drinks to create three beautiful and refreshing "mocktails," just by adding some fun and simple garnishes.

No need to be a fancy mixologist!

Made with real fruit juice, these drinks already taste fantastic on their own, which means all you need to do is pour them into a pretty glass, add a few simple touches, and you have something that looks gorgeous and elegant, with barely any additional effort!

Using the juice drinks as inspiration, I created an easy party menu celebrating bright, fruity flavors. Along with the beverages, I created a simple brunch spread featuring mini bite-sized quiches, fresh citrus and berries, croissants, and warm crusty cranberry walnut bread served with soft cheeses.

For dessert, I served a plate of pretty raspberry cupcakes garnished with sparkly sugar and fresh mint!

Instead of fancy decorations or flowers, I decorated the table with some simple succulent plants in small pots. Super easy, pretty, and the perfect wintery touch (don't they look almost like tiny pine trees?!) After the party, you can send each of your guests home with one of these, or keep them to decorate your home (they last forever and are SO easy to care for).

Simple, colorful, and the perfect backdrop to an afternoon of chatting and snacking with friends both old and new!

Below are tips on how I dressed up my beverages. Just because there isn't any alcohol, doesn't mean you should skimp on the special touches! A simple, delicious juice + some fresh garnishes = a perfect beverage to serve party guests.

1. Mixed Berry Sippers

I added freshly washed raspberries and blueberries to tall flute glasses, then topped it off with chilled Simply Mixed Berry Juice Drink.

A simple garnish of fresh mint finished it off!

Note that you can prepare these in advance, or leave out bowls of fresh berries and mint so that your guests can personalize their own beverages.

2. Tropical Sparklers

The sweet Simply Tropical has delicious fruity hints of mango and pineapple that worked beautifully with some fresh lemon juice.

I served them in sparkly sugar-rimmed coupe glasses that I made by rubbing the edges with a bit of honey, then dipping into a shallow bowl of sugar.

A squeeze of fresh lemon juice and bit of lemon rind garnish completed the drink. If you'd like it fizzy, you can also add a bit of soda water right at the end!

3. Fresh Cherry Fruit Punch

Simply Fruit Punch is definitely my favorite of the three new flavors!

Made with all natural ingredients and real sugar, it tastes like a fresher, more sophisticated version of the kind we drank as kids.

To highlight the cherry flavors in the punch, I added fresh cherries and thin lime slices to my glass.

I also used giant ice cubes (made with a special silicon mold) to keep the drinks ice cold without watering them down. It adds an easy, but unexpectedly elegant touch that your guests will love.

I hope these ideas inspire you to do the same at home! To learn more about these new juice drinks or to get more serving ideas, visit the Simply Orange page on Facebook. And let me know in the comments...which of these flavors would you like to try first?


This is a sponsored post on behalf of Simply Beverages, however, my opinions, recipes, and ideas are totally my own. I only work with companies that I genuinely use and love. Thanks to them--and you!--for making all this possible.

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