Prepping for Football

It's getting close to football season, and if you've been here a while you know that's my FAVORITE season of all! We are Clemson Tigers fans in this house, and we cheer loudly, every week, from the stands or at home.

Here are some things that get our house ready for the season....

DIY Garden Flag

Game Day Quilt

No-Sew Blanket

Mini Cornhole Boards

We love football season no only for the games, but for tailgating and time with family. It's a tradition in our family to spend our Saturdays together eating, laughing, and enjoying each other. What does your family do for football season??

Forgotten Football

I cannot believe I forgot to post football pictures last winter. I always do a football recap and it totally slipped my mind! I know I have lots of CLEMSON fans reading, so I love hearing about their games and tailgates, and sharing mine.

Some games were super cold (The Carolina Game!!), but with blankets and our gas heater, the tailgate was still toasty. 

Before the Ga. State Purple out game. Somehow in her closet of pink, Goldilocks doesn't own any purple!!

Oh how I love this picture. Gray could not look more like my Mama. 

Yay for family pictures! We're all smiling because this was after our WIN against USC. Such a good day.

Girl shot! 

You know you shop the same places when you don't even kind of plan to match...and match perfectly with your sister-in-law.

Two of my favorite people in the whole world.

 And my first true love...I have two more boys I love now...but he was my first!

Baby boy's favorite thing is football...and it makes Papa proud!

And of course...makes Daddy proud too. 

We have so much fun at our tailgate and at the games. It's a family tradition that I hope we can continue for years to come.

Prepping for Football

Around here, football is a big deal. College football that is. We pull for our Clemson Tigers from August until December...and get sad and anxious when that last game of the season is played. I love football, but most of all, I love the family time we share because of football. Our family doesn't lack for time together, but tailgating on Saurdays just adds a few more hours to valuable time spent with parents, grandparents, and babies. 

As football season rolls around, we have to make sure we have all of the accessories we need: for tailgating, home, and ourselves. 

Here are a few items that make football season a little more festive, and some have tutorials too!!

As the colder months set in, it's nice to have a snuggly warm blanket to cuddle underneath. This No-sew version is so easy, and perfect for kids to help too!

Stadium Throw Tutorial

We LOVE our giant orange and purple wreath. These are easier to make than you may think too! Check out the tutorial!

Mesh Wreath Tutorial

Our new garden flag is a sweet colorful reminder of our favorite team.

Personalized coozies make keeping up with drinks easy! You can buy blank coozies online and monogram them yourself, or find a great Etsy shop to do it for you.

Use the Bradshaw Reversible Jon Jon Pattern to make game-day ready apparel for your little boy. The jon jon is lightweight, comfortable, and has snaps for easy diaper changes!

Use the Zoey Bow Dress pattern to make ANY combination of school spirit dresses! Little girls love these dresses, and they are such a quick and easy sew!

Cornhole Boards complete the tailgating package with something fun to play! Hubby made these a couple of years ago and we still love to get them out!

I hope some of these projects can help you prep for a fun and festive college football season...no matter who you pull for!

Go Tigers!

The End of Football

The saddest time of year. We are done with home games and are now slaves to our TV to see college football games. Last year we managed to go to our bowl game which was AMAZING, even though it was 26 days before our son was born. (Maybe I jumped too hard when we won!)

We had an amazing time at our tailgate again spending time with the ones we love, and enjoying good food and football.

Papa spent his first football season with his grandson, teaching him the importance of Bojangles biscuits and yelling "Go Tigers"

The girls took full advantage of the "purple out" for military appreciation day. Gray thinks her purple pants are the coolest.

Our sweet family of 4. I swear baby boy knows how to smile. He's a very serious little man.

My babies have the best two grandparents that kids could ask for. Their Nana and Papa mean the world to them, and they shower the babies with more love than they know what to do with. 

 There's something about Game Day in Death Valley that makes us all very happy. The colors, the noise, and the family atmosphere make for some very fun weekends.

We pull for our tigers from our head to our toes...

Until next year....

GO TIGERS!

The Game Day Skirt

Once I saw that Hobby Lobby had stocked some brand spanking new ORANGE chevron, I of course, bought a lot. I needed a skirt, Gray needed a dress, her baby cousin needed a dress, and so on. I may have stashed some too! You can't live this close to Clemson and not have a good stash of orange fabric.

 

Football games are notoriously hot. It can be 50 degrees the week before, but somehow, on game day, it will be 90 degrees and sunny. I needed something a little nicer than my usual shorts and t-shirts. I wanted to class it up a bit, but still be really comfortable. A nice skirt was in order!

 

It came together in a snap. It's lined, has a hidden side-zip, and a BIG bow to tie it all together. And it's a nice, conservative length, so no oopsies going up the steps in the stadium.

 

Some of my tiger-loving friends must have liked it too, because I've got a few orders lined up already! Yay!

 

It received a test drive at the first game of the season versus Georgia. Quite an exciting game!!The girls were decked out in their chevron, while the boys just sported their tiger paws.

 

Gray loved that we matched! Her dress was made using the Zoey Bow Dress pattern.

 

 

Now...what to do with the rest of my stash of orange chevron....

Football is Coming!!

Are you ready for football??

 If you're new to Grits & Giggles, you will soon learn that between August and January, there are no "free" Saturdays. Saturdays are for college football...specifically, Clemson football! If the Tigers are in Death Valley, so are we! If they are away, we are glued to a TV somewhere.

 

Over the years there has been lots of Clemson, and football themed crafting going on around here. Each year is different, but there are a few things that we must have to prepare for a great season!

Here are a few past posts to get you on your way to a fun and happy football season!

 

 

 

If you're like us and have a couple of little ones on board, you might need some entertainment, or tips for taking those little tots to the games.

Baby Football Tutorial



Football with Babies


For the grown-ups, we need some accessories to show everyone exactly who we are pulling for!



No Sew Stadium Blanket Tutorial



Mesh Wreath Tutorial



Clemson Cornhole


If you're a crafty person yourself, check out Grits & Giggles on Etsy for cute bag and clothing patterns.

Make them in your favorite game-day colors for one of a kind clothing and accessories for you and your babies!



Sewing Patterns

Have fun this fall cheering on your favorite teams.
I'm hoping to find time this fall for some new game-day ready items...but with two babies keeping me busy, you never know what might get done!

Go Tigers!

 

 

The End of Football

Our Tigers football season has come to an end once again. I hate it when football season is over...but fortunately...there's still BOWL season! I love all college football, so another 2 months of games is just fine by me.

 

We got one last family picture as a family of 7. Next year there will be another little tiger with us too!

 

I love the time we get to spend together tailgating, enjoying the outdoors, and enjoying each other.

 

 

As it got colder, everyone bundled up a little bit more! We added lots of layers before the night was over.

 

 

Gray loves football time with her Papa. She's quite the little cheerleader.

 

 

And I know she looks forward to her long walks with Nana. They explore each and every week.

 

 

Of course, who can resist a little "Daddy Time"???

 

 

We only busted out the grill for this game. Hubby is our official grillmaster.

 

 

Steak sandwiches....yessssssir!!

 

 

Layers were added, gloves and scarves were worn, and giant bows were added to hats to keep ears warm during the game. You can never over-accessorize for a southern football game!

 

 

It's been a great season. 9-2. We loved every minute of it. Next year will bring new joys, fun, and family.

Clemson vs Maryland

Another Clemson home game has come and gone...with a WIN! Only two more games left. I look forward to tailgating as much as the actual games some times. It's good family time!

Sometimes we sneak away for some pictures and a long walk....

The little one was not too thrilled about this particular photo spot.

Trying to run away....she didn't get very far. 

It took the whole season...but we finally got a good family shot. I love these two. 

BIG KISSES!!!!!

This little girl loves her Nana and Papa...

It went from 80 degrees to 50 during the game!!That southern sun puts off some heat.

 

Two silly girls....right there....

Gray loves her Aunt Kai-Kai. 

And popcorn...she loves popcorn too. 

Sometimes I wonder if I drive my family crazy having my camera out all the time. But I don't worry about it too much. Someone has to take the pictures!