5 Tips for Throwing a Summer BBQ & Giveaway!

On Friday morning I got a call from a good friend of mine that’s in town for the week.  She wanted to know what we were up to that day and, more importantly, what we had planned for that night.  Turns out a mutual friend of ours was planning a last minute pool party and BBQ and she was conveying our invite.  Ordinarily, this might be out of the question – there’s too much to do during the year…but isn’t that the great part about summer?  Suddenly, there’s a ton of extra time to do all sorts of things, like impromptu BBQs at friends’ houses.  So we quickly accepted and started planning what we would bring to add to the already existing menu.  And sure enough, by 6:30 that night, the kids were all in the pool with steak and hot dogs on the grill.  We ended up rounding out the night with desert and sparklers – a little early 4th of July celebrating.

But the holiday on the horizon has nothing to do with it…so far, our summer has been a string of BBQs, and it’s been fabulous.  After attending and hosting plenty of these get togethers, here are my tips for summer entertaining:

1)  Food – First things first!  Make sure you have plenty of food on hand and assume extra people (beyond your expected guest list) will stop by…because they always do.  We do most of our shopping at Publix because of their great prices and weekly buy one get one free deals.

2)  Decor – Even the most last minute of last minute events should get a little decoration.  Themes can be fun!  And because Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day all land during the summer, the patriotic theme is pretty much always safe over the summer.

3)  Entertainment – Games are a great way to keep kids entertained at a party, but games aren’t just for kids!  Whether it’s an evening card game among friends or some Wii golf, games are a way to make sure people aren’t checking their watches.  Even children’s games like Twister, Uno, or Candy Land can be fun for adults and a great icebreaker for party guests who may not know each other.

4)  Contingency Plans – Rain doesn’t mean your party is over!  Before your party begins, think of creative ways to bring your party indoors in the event of unexpected inclement weather.  For example, instead of play time for the kids outside, have arts and crafts, coloring books, and board games on hand.  Also, popcorn and a good movie can provide just enough entertainment for a storm to pass over.5)  Don’t forget dessert!  Doesn’t have to be fancy, just sweet note to end the party on.  My girls love popsicles so we make sure to have Bomb Pops on hand.

Want to win a patriotic summer prize pack courtesy of Publix and Bomb Pop, with everything you need to host the perfect summer BBQ?  Great, because one lucky winner is going to receive coupons for 2 Bomb Pop packages, American Summer Fans, Red Striped Popcorn Boxes, Red Paper Straws, and a $25 Publix Gift Card!  Enter using the rafflecopter form below and it could be yours.  Good luck everyone and happy summer grilling!
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