Extra Seating
I don’t have space in my tiny apartment for oversized ottomans that can double as extra seating. A friend suggested I use throw pillows on the floor, but why would I want a person’s rear end on my nice pillows? Instead, I found a more creative solution: round bar stool cushion covers.
I bought five stool cushion covers which don’t take too much space to store underneath the sofa. They’re specifically meant to be sat on so I don’t have to worry about durability. Best of all, the cushions I bought are machine washable for easy clean up.
Marine Mom
This past Mother’s Day, my son bought me a Marine Corp spare tire cover for my Jeep. It was such a wonderful gesture on his part. I’ve really missed him since he’s been deployed.
I’d been bugging him for months to send me a “Marine Mom” bumper sticker to put on my Jeep. I wanted something to show up all those “Honor Student” bumper stickers I see on the neighbor’s cars. My son is well aware of that; in his card he wrote, “I think this will easily beat any bumper sticker.” He’s right.
Ultimate Tailgate Party
Is there anything better than tailgating before a big game? Playing games, grilling burgers and brats with close friends in the summer sun… sounds like heaven to me! Our tailgate has certainly grown over the past few football seasons. In our section of the parking lot, we’re known for having the ultimate tailgate parties (that are still family friendly).
Our tailgate is more decked out in fan gear than any other tailgate I’ve seen. Our cars have huge team decals, as do our grill covers and grilling utensils. In time for next season, I’ve ordered up a huge tailgate canopy to keep us shaded from the sun during the earlier games, and sheltered from the rain and snow later on in the season.
Geaux Tigers!
As an undergraduate, I attended university in the mid-Atlantic region. After Katrina hit, a bunch of us went down to New Orleans to help rebuild hard hit Ward 8 with Habitat for Humanity. During the evenings and Sundays off, I explored the area and fell in love with the people and the culture.
At that time, I was trying to figure out where I wanted to go for graduate school. That trip cemented my decision to attend LSU. I couldn’t be happier with my choice. I love the Tigers; in fact, I just ordered an LSU canopy today that I can’t wait to use at tailgate parties this coming autumn.
Tailgating in Style
This coming fall I’ll be cheering on the Boise Broncos in style. I’ve recently purchased a Boise State Broncos canopy tent that will keep my tailgating party perfectly shaded. Broncos football is definitely a way of life for us diehard fans. When the Blue Thunder marching band steps out on the “smurf turf” you know that it is go time.
Over the years my tailgate has grown from grilling a few hotdogs for friends to a full lunch buffet (or breakfast buffet depending on kick off). We play games, make predictions on how much we’ll win by, and chat with other alumni and fans. A great time is had by all!
Billiards Tradition
I’ve found a home away from home with the university alumni chapter in my city. We’re too far away to attend home games in person, but every weekend during the fall, I invite my alumni buddies over to my home to watch football. I’ve decked out my basement in school colors and even bought a kegerator.
One of the traditions we’ve developed is playing billiards during commercial breaks (when it’s an evening game televised by ESPN that can mean a lot of breaks). We keep a tally of who has won the most games on a chalkboard on the wall. As a thank you for hosting, a few of the guys bought me billiard table covers emblazoned with our team logo. What an awesome gesture!
Philip Humber
Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox was the toast of the weekend- and with good reason. The 29-year-old pitcher threw a perfect game against the Seattle Mariners. Humber is only the 21st pitcher in MLB history to pitch a perfect game. No matter what happens during the rest of his career, no one can take that away from him.
Even the home team crowd at Safeco Field was supposedly cheering Humber on by the end. (By that point, the Mariners had no chance of winning and true baseball fans want to see something spectacular, even if it means their team losing). I have a feeling jerseys and MLB logo chair with Humber’s number 41 are going to be selling like hotcakes in Illinois.
High School Graduation Gift
In just a matter of weeks, thousands of high school students across the United States will be walking across the stage and receiving their diploma. Graduation is the culmination of 13 years (counting kindergarten), so it is no wonder that so many graduates and their families host parties to celebrate.
This leaves guests with figuring out what the new graduate would like as a gift. Personally, I’m purchasing chair college logo for my graduate. I remember how useful folding chairs could be in a dorm room when you wanted to have people hang out, but weren’t keen on them piling onto your bed.
Out with the Old
Over the years we developed a bumper sticker addiction. Every new exciting place we visited – or even less-than-exciting place – was deemed bumper sticker worthy. Not wanting our car to look like an old beater, I insisted that we place the bumper stickers on our plain spare tire covers.
Now our spare tire covers are completely full. We’re going to hang the old ones in our den as artwork that commemorates our journeys. Not to worry; I’ve already ordered new plain spare tire covers so we can continue our family bumper sticker tradition.
Support Our Troops
I love living in a big military town. No one knows what it’s like to have your loved one far away from home and in danger than someone who is in your shoes. We spouses tend to stick together and support one another. It doesn’t really matter what branch of the service our significant others are in.
I think my kids understand the significance of living in a military town, too. They can walk around town, point to the military spare tire covers and say, “Jenny’s dad is a Marine and Joe’s mom is in the Army.” The kids can relate to one another about having a parent away and they get excited for one another when a parent returns home safely.