Oh right, and the football game, too. Part of me doesn’t really care about the game as much since the 49ers won’t be playing. So I’ll be rooting for the best commercial and being sure to eat as many Doritos as possible. Megan sent me this link to Studio DIY of cute commercial rating signs. Who doesn’t love free printables? Football parties are my one excuse for buying those cheesy chips.

I had planned to write a bunch of party tips, but realized that I already did that… Add the fact that I’ve worked late a bunch lately and haven’t had time for writing and pictures, I thought I’d just repost it in case you missed it the first time around.

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My favorite football team will likely not make it to the Super Bowl in my lifetime. Does that stop me from wanting a good party? No way, Jose Canseco. Whoops, wrong sport. Last year was my first time hosting such an event, and I thought I would pass along some tips.

Get in the spirit

Your team isn’t in the game? Who cares. Pick a favorite, dress in the team color and get ready to cheer, jeer, boo and hiss with your friends. Also, feel free to channel your favorite late female rapper like me.

Get your grub on

People don’t want to move away from the tube, so make sure the food is readily accessible. Set out chips, pretzels and candy on a coffee table or a side table. If it’s a big gathering, consider making mini food stations on TV tray stands so people don’t have to block the view to grab a bite.

Don’t feel pressured to buy all the food, either, many people will be glad to help out. To prepare, make sure you have extra bowls and trays on hand to add to the spread.

Go high tech

Set your DVR/TiVo to record the game and start watching a little after real time. This way, any late game-day goers won’t miss out on the fun. Best of all, when you’re wanting an instant replay of a sweet play (or want to laugh two, three, heck, even four times at a funny commercial), you can rewind to your heart’s content.

Care to make a friendly wager?

Not a football fan? Not a problem. You can make it a game that doesn’t have to do with knowing stats or rules. One classic is the score pool (http://www.ehow.com/how_13677_set-super-bowl.html), where you guess the score on a grid. You can select winners for each quarter, at particular times or just at the end of the game.

Another game can be catered to those in-the-know or who just came along to have fun. Come up with a list of things that will (or are likely to) happen during the game and have everyone give a guess for the answer. For example: who will catch the first touchdown, what company will be featured in the first commercial, etc. Whoever has the most correct guesses wins.

While I’m not a huge fan of gambling, I’ll gladly wager a Cold Stone ice cream. That way, at least the loser will still get a fun time with a friend. Another option is to have prizes like small gift cards, fun food, beer or wine.

Our biggest hit

Let’s face it, often times, the actual football game can be pretty boring. Putting the extra touch on some of the party details can make it feel like an event, rather than just any old Sunday football game. These team-logo cupcakes — made by my friend Christine (above) and her friend Maxine — were by far the biggest hit of the day.

What’s your favorite part of a Super Bowl party?