Get Ready for the Big Game with Fun Finger Foods

The quarterback may be one of the most important players on the field for the big game, but for us folks watching at home, the most important player is quite possibly the food. When you’re hosting a big group, it’s all about the snacks. Having large quantities of bite-sized delights is a sure-fire way to score a touchdown with your guests taste buds.

Here are some fun twists on a few classic game day favorites to try out this year!

Reuben Pigs in Blankets

Pigs in a blanket have always been a crowd favorite for the big game. This rendition mimics the flavors of a reuben sandwich by incorporating ingredients like sauerkraut, swiss cheese and thousand island dressing. Your guests are sure to be impressed by your creativity on these ones. (Photo credit) 

Roasted Tomatillo Guacamole

Chips and dips are a super Sunday staple and you can’t go wrong with guacamole. Roasted tomatillos give this version a little extra crunch and a twistedly tangy flavor. Choose an extra sturdy tortilla chip to stand up to the heartiness of this delicacy. (Photo credit)

Maple-Beer-Chili Chicken Wings

Wings may be a messy treat but as long as you’ve got lots of napkins on hand, the mess is definitely worth the yummy goodness of this finger food. This maple-beer-chili remix of the classic Buffalo wing is a delicious combination of sweet and spicy with the bold flavor of beer to boot. (Photo credit)

Cheddar Stuffed Meatballs

Meat? Yum! Melted cheese? Yum! Meat and melted cheese rolled together in a ball? Extra yum! Mini meatballs on toothpicks are a great snacking item, but this cheddar-stuffed version is an even bigger crowd-pleaser. Be sure to roll them extra small so guest can devour them in a single bite!

Now that you’ve got your menu figured out, is your living room ready for the big game? There’s still time to stop by your Bel Furniture location for our Get Ready for the Big Game Sale! Spruce up your living room with a brand-new set of furniture and we’ll treat you to a big-screen TV for free. And we all know you can’t watch the big game if you don’t have a great TV to watch it on. (Photo credit)

Start the New Year Off with a De-cluttered Domicile

It’s that time of year again! The time when we all set out to achieve a goal, start a better habit or stop a bad one. For many, a New Year’s resolution is to de-clutter their home. The dream of living in a mess-free space is a very attractive one, but it can be tough to get started - not to mention, even tougher to keep up the organization.

Here are some tips from organizing experts to help get you on your way to having the harmoniously neat home you’ve always wanted.

Display Instead of Store

Kitchen wares don’t always have to be shoved into a cabinet or pantry. In fact, for some, having everything in plain sight helps to keep it organized. If your dishes and glasses are cute enough to display then go ahead! This chalkboard painted wall with shelving helps to give everything its own place as well.
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The Closet Hanger Experiment

One of the quickest ways to eliminate clutter is to simply get rid of stuff. Your closet is a great place to start! As an added bonus and good deed, you can donate any clothes you don’t want or need to Goodwill or The Salvation Army. A good way to figure out what you should toss is the Closet Hanger Experiment. Start by hanging all of your clothes on backwards hangers. Over the next six months, anytime you wear a piece of clothing, return it to your closet by hanging it the right way. At the end of six months, any clothes that are still hanging backwards are the ones that should get the ax. Image credit.

Fill One Trash Bag

You will be surprised at how quickly you can fill one trash bag - whether it’s with trash or stuff you can donate. Challenge yourself to fill just one bag at a time. If you do that on a daily or weekly basis for a short period of time, you’ll notice your clutter start to dwindle dramatically. Image credit.

Organize Your Nightstand Drawer

The night table drawer is a common breeding ground for clutter. It’s one of those spots where we tend to just “shove” stuff when we don’t know where else to put it. Sort of a bottomless pit in a sense. Compartmentalising it (or any other drawer in your home) can help restore order and prevent it from becoming a hiding place for junk you don’t really need. Image credit.

Get Creative with Your Kitchen Storage

You don’t have to spend a fortune on gadgets or shelving to get organized. There are actually quite a few everyday (and cheap!) items that can be transformed into storage helpers. This great article from HGTV has some very helpful and clever ideas, like hanging clear plastic sleeves inside your pantry door to keep all of your take out menus! Image credit.

Are you on a mission to get organized in 2014? What’s your plan of action?