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Outdoor Entertaining: Take Advantage of Weather Changes

brock — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:02:00 +0000

In the Midwest, it’s still winter, but we’ve had a few days of 50 degree weather bringing a much needed break to the cold winter winds. As I brought my children home from school, leaving my winter coat at home, I scanned over to my neighbor who had dusted off his barbecue grill and was making some heavenly smelling hamburgers.

For many people, winter is bleak time filled with illness and cabin fever. When these rare days come up where Mother Nature takes a vacation, don’t sit inside thinking, “Wow, this is such a great day.” Get out and do something! My neighbor took the initiative, but why stop with just a good dinner? If you’re at work and you know that the day is going to be something at least bearable, if not perfect, call up some friends and have a winter break party.

There still may be snow on the ground, but with some good friends and a few adult beverages, you’ll be warming right up. There is just something special about spending time outside when the air is crisp and fresh after spending weeks — or even months — stuck indoors because of bad weather. With the snow melting, but still there, why not regain some of your youthful vigor with snowball fights, or even some snow football?

There aren’t going to be too many days like these and the cold weather will return, so take the time to have an outdoor party. I am actually disappointed in myself that I didn’t take advantage like my neighbor did. He sat outside with a cold brew in his hand and grilled his family a great meal in the middle of winter.

The day after, the temperatures dropped and he put the grill away probably for at least another month — maybe two. If you are a fan of entertaining and start getting that itch when you’re sedentary too long, then warm up that cell phone and start bringing people in for a one-night-only outdoor winter party.

Odds are they don’t have much else to do and they’re tired of sitting in front of the television watching reruns of Desperate Housewives. They’ll welcome the break and you’ll welcome the company.

Super Bowl Entertaining Essentials

Belinda — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:28:25 +0000

It’s that time of the year again…Super Bowl party time! And just like every year before, you’re ready to see the champs collide on the green. But you wouldn’t dare do it without having all of your football-loving friends gathered around the TV first. Get ready for the big game this year with the Super Bowl Sunday essentials that will have your friends full, quenched and happy — no matter which side they’re on. Browse and shop our Super Bowl entertaining essentials and check off your party list so you can make sure your Super Bowl Sunday get-together scores the winning touchdown!

Winter Weather and Illness: When to Change Party Plans

jessi — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:00:36 +0000

In the summertime, rainy days can spoil an outdoor party, but a backup, indoor location can still save the day. In the winter, it’s unlikely that you’ll plan or be invited to an outdoor event, but there are still some party pooping circumstances that could hamper your holiday plans. Between weather with a mind of its own and the increase in flu bugs going around, sometimes you have to change your plans for attending or throwing a party — even if you really want to.

Weather

Snow is beautiful, elegant and festive when it’s on the ground, but not when it’s making roads hazardous. If the roads you or your guests are traveling aren’t safe for travel, then the responsible thing is to stay home or cancel your party. The thought of missing out or having to abandon your plans after organizing a great soiree is definitely disappointing, but putting lives in danger, whether yours, your family or friends, just isn’t worth the risk. Even if you or your guests make it to the destination, there’s no guarantee that anyone will be able to safely leave.

Illness

It’s unfortunate that cold and flu season coincides with the most festive time of the year, but some things just can’t be helped. Going to a get-together or hosting a party when you or members of your family are sick isn’t going to leave a good taste in anyone’s mouth. If you’re having some sinus issues or a headache, than it’s up to how you feel whether or not the show will go on. BUT, if you or someone in your family has an illness that’s contagious, the other folks who show up aren’t going to be very excited to see you. As much as your guests will be disappointed, nobody’s going to be sorry they missed out on the stomach flu.

Saying “When”

If either of these nasty party poopers rains on your parade, you’re going to have to let your host or guests know right away. If the weather makes travel dangerous, or your afraid you’ll get others sick, you automatically get a gut feeling that the party isn’t a good idea. Trust your gut. Those who love and care for you will understand your decision and appreciate your thoughtfulness and consideration. Don’t wait until the last minute to change your plans. When weather is the barrier, your guests may leave much earlier than normal to try to make it anyway. They’ll be much less understanding if they’re sitting in a ditch when you make the call. Where illness is concerned, honesty is the best policy, and the sooner the better. Letting them know you’ll have to change your plans will give them a chance to adjust theirs.

Sometimes party plans have to change, and that goes double for winter parties. It’s a bummer to have to cancel or reschedule, but you have to make the decision that feels right to you and will keep others safe. If winter weather or illnesses put the kibosh on your plans, don’t let it spoil your holiday. These things happen, but luckily, the holidays roll around every year.

Stick to Simple Beverages for Holiday Parties

jessi — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:07:48 +0000

If you’re having family and friends over for the holidays, there’s a lot of planning that goes into the meal, but what about the drinks? It’s hard to know exactly what, and how much to get, so the best course of action is to keep things as simple as possible.

The whole point of a family holiday party is to spend time together and celebrate the people you love. At the end of the day, people aren’t going to walk out of the party saying, “Man, that party would have been great if they just had some Fresca.” Don’t dizzy yourself trying to please everyone with specific beverages. Keep things simple and light. They’re there for you, not your grand selection of beverages. Stick to some staples and you’ll be kind to your food budget and giving your guests options.

Water

Water is so basic, yet it really is always the perfect thirst quencher for long trips down memory lane. You can provide bottled water or provide some in pretty pitchers with some ice. If you want to fancy it up, slice some lemons and cucumbers for guests to drop into their glasses for an elegant touch.

Iced Tea

Iced tea is tasty, refreshing and relatively inexpensive. Plus, you can make mass quantities. Lemon slices are also a nice touch.

Punch

A homemade punch is a festive touch and offers something sweet and special for the kiddies. For a simple but tangy treat, add Hawaiian Punch, Sprite and some green sherbet to your punch bowl. The recipe is simple, but you get a nice red and green punch and if you mix it up one batch at a time as needed, the ingredients that are left over can be enjoyed individually later.

Coffee

Coffee is just cozy, and if you’re serving desserts, which is probably the case, it’s a nice warm complement to the sweets.

If you stick to these simple beverages for your holiday party, your guests will be sure to find something that suits them. You won’t have a fridge full of drinks you don’t like after the party is over either! Besides, you need that room for food anyway!

Holiday Parties: Hosting Responsibly

brock — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:09:38 +0000

When I was a kid, families in my area always held parties around the holidays for friends and family. We were a small town and everyone knew each other, so people would pop in and out throughout the evening. They’d have a few drinks, eat some appetizers and possibly move on to the next party for the night.

It’s hard to gauge the weather when planning for a party. One year a bad snow storm hit our area, but the parties continued. Most people lived only a few miles away, so no one thought anything about braving the storm. A wind gust mixed with the slippery roads caused someone’s car to veer into the next lane and my family lost a dear friend that day.

He was on the way to a party in the storm. I still remember the ambulances and police cars zipping past our windows and everyone looking out wondering what the problem was. In the Midwest, and other areas where winter means snowy weather, holiday parties can be dangerous. A few drinks mixed with bad weather can have deadly consequences for everyone on the road.

Take this into consideration if you are planning a holiday party. Try to have it early in December before the heavy snow falls and if a storm is predicted, simply cancel the party. Give everyone a call early in the day so they have time to get the message.

If you have a party, then don’t serve alcohol. Sure, people may not like it, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you do have alcohol, then keep a list of taxi cab services nearby, so if someone drinks too much they can be driven home. You should be prepared to take the keys from people who insist on driving themselves while under the influence.

Even a small amount of alcohol can impair the senses, and you need your wits on snowy winter nights. This isn’t just for your safety, but for others on the road as well. I have known too many people killed because of the actions of drunk drivers.

The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy and fellowship, but make sure you keep your holiday parties as safe as possible.

Thanksgiving: Don’t Forget to Entertain the Kids

brock — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:20:27 +0000

My aunt ran the Thanksgiving festivities for years and as time went on, she accumulated a lot of breakable figurines and other items that she proudly displayed in her home. They were there when I was a kid, but once my generation got older, she started collecting again.

Fast forward 10 or so years, all those little kids are grown up with little ones of their own. Her period of solitude was gone and the pitter patter and several little feet was once again heard in her home. She did her best, but things got broken. My children broke things, her grandchildren broke things and she finally said forget about it and starting having Thanksgiving somewhere else.

When you are having a large family Thanksgiving dinner, you have to take the children into consideration. Not only when it comes to breaking everything you own, but their needs and wants as well. The last thing a parent wants is little Susie tugging on their sleeve every five minutes telling him she’s bored and wants to go home.

When planning a big party, try and reserve an area for each of the age groups. Keep a room open and filled with a few toys for the younger set, or ask the parents to bring a few of their child’s favorite toys for the room.

If there are older kids, try and set up a game room with some Xbox or Wii games for them to play. Once again, you can ask parents to bring a system and games as well. This should keep them occupied for most of the post-Thanksgiving festivities, so the adults can sit, talk, socialize and…of course…sleep.

You will also need to childproof your house based on the age groups. Keep all electronic plug-ins not used covered and try to remove all sharp objects from within reaching distance. A good rule is to keep everything at least three feet off the ground, but also remember that toddlers are resourceful.

Even with all these precautions, there are going to be rambunctious children running through the house and some things may get broken. Anything that is valuable or is irreplaceable should be taken out all together. Don’t leave to chance that your great-grandmother’s tea set will survive the kiddie onslaught and just take it away to a place where no one can get to it.

This may seem like a lot of work, but it’s necessary if you want to have a safe and happy holiday season.

3 Easy Ways to Make Thanksgiving Memorable

brock — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:21:57 +0000

The month of November is supposed to be a time where we reflect on our joys and are thankful for the things in our life. My wife and I have not had an easy life together, and after what seems like forever, we have finally reached a place of security and serenity.

We treasure Thanksgiving because, while we are thankful all year round, this time of year seems to give weight to that feeling, so it sticks to us and makes things a little bit brighter. Here are a few ways for you to make your Thanksgiving a little more memorable.

Start A Tradition

Every year, we sit at the Thanksgiving table and tell everyone what we are thankful for that year. For some, it’s job security, for others it’s family and one year it was an Xbox. This is a family tradition that has been going on for years. You can make your holiday memorable by starting your own traditions. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, just something that your family can do every year.

Make A Unique Food

Everyone knows the standard Thanksgiving fare of turkey and stuffing, but why not make this Thanksgiving different by thinking outside the box? Instead of turkey, build and cook a turducken or eat dessert first and save the turkey for last. If you usually bake the turkey, fry it this year. The important thing is that you liven it up a little. Why not substitute fried chicken for turkey or try lamb? These are all great alternatives to the standard, and often dry, turkey.

Set Up Some Activities

After Thanksgiving dinner, most people slip off into a post-turkey coma or sit and watch the ball game. You can make this year different by turning the afternoon into a family game night. Break out the board games and have some fun as a family instead of separating into the standard groups. You know, men in the living room, women in the kitchen and dining room and children running around everywhere. No one will remember who won that football game, but I can guarantee you they’ll remember the sack races or Texas Hold’em game on Thanksgiving.

Don’t let Thanksgiving slip away as just another holiday to eat too much. It’s one of the few times families get together, so take advantage of it and enjoy them while you can.

Entertaining Guests? Make Room At Home Or At A Venue

brock — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:47:46 +0000

When I was a kid, family parties were always done at the home of a relative. Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter were major family functions where homes were filled to the brim with children and adults. Entire rooms were cleared of furniture and breakables to make room for tables and chairs.

When my family got older, the houses got more cramped as children turned into parents and grandchildren entered the picture. My aunt hosted Thanksgiving dinner for decades, but a few years ago she decided to have the dinner at the local VFW. She still made the food, but used their kitchen, which was much larger, and there was so much room the kids were running around like crazy.

She didn’t have to worry about things being broken, moving around furniture or cleaning up the kitchen and all the dishes. It’s often easy to forget that when you host a party there are other options out there. You don’t have to completely change your home and get your blood pressure through the roof.

There is an additional cost and it gets higher depending on how much you actually want to do. If you want just a hall, then you can rent a room and take care of everything else yourself. Beyond that, there could be charges for cleaning up afterward, if that’s something you don’t want to do. You can also have it catered and not do a thing yourself.

How nice would it be to simply be the host or hostess and not have to worry about food preparation and cleanup? If you’ve spent years hosting the same party at your home and spent weeks cleaning, buying food and other items, then having the entire party hosted and catered somewhere else can seem like heaven.

I admit that I miss the days spent at my aunt’s, but I’m not that kid anymore. Sometimes we have to realize that tradition isn’t always the most convenient part. If the party is too much to handle or you just actually want to enjoy it, then take it outside your house and make it easier.

Mind the Frost When You Entertain Outdoors

brock — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:27:11 +0000

The problem about this time of year is that it is completely unpredictable. You could have a 70 degree day on Tuesday and a 40 degree day on Wednesday. Even worse, is when the temperature drops 30 or 40 degrees overnight.

One of the problems that arises is the sudden formation of frost on the ground. Many times I have gone out to the car with only seconds to spare and suddenly find a thin layer of ice on my windshield. When you are entertaining outdoors, frost can be a hassle because you hardly ever think of it.

Electronics

Many people like to set up a sound system outside during a party, so guests can enjoy some music in the backyard. Frost is ice, so the condensation can form inside speakers and radio housing, ultimately freezing. The cold weather drains any batteries to almost nothing and, if you are lucky, the damage to the actual sound system may not be too bad. Worst case scenario is you turn it on and the whole thing shorts out.

Paper Products

You may think that setting out things the night before might be an easy way for you to save some time, but with frost, those paper products could become a soggy mess. Paper plates turn into paper blech and don’t even get me started on napkins. It may save some time if all goes well, but don’t risk it. Put things out the day of and don’t take the chance of sogginess. Imagine the amount of time it will take to clean up the mess, buy new stuff and set it out.

Items on the Ground

Many people forget that when condensation freezes and becomes ice, that it can be attached to objects and the ground. If you leave anything sitting on the ground on a frost night, good luck picking it up that morning without ripping or breaking it. Your best bet would be to wait for the frost to melt and then do it. The only problem with that is that by leaving it, the condensation may damage whatever is on the ground.

When in doubt, don’t leave anything outside over night. If the frost doesn’t get it, then the dampness and cold probably will. Many people like to have outdoor Halloween parties this time of year, but keep in mind the problems that the time between the end of fall and the beginning of winter can have. Frost can have some costly consequences.

Halloween Party: Indoors or Outdoors?

brock — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:19:52 +0000

It’s about the right time to start planning that yearly Halloween shindig, and you’ve got a lot of decisions ahead of you. Do you invite weird Uncle Fred with the drooling problem after last year’s bobbing for apples fiasco? Do you set out the peanuts knowing Aunt Frieda tends to forget about her allergy?

One of the earliest and most important decisions you have to make is whether you’re going to have the party inside or outside. October is one of those fickle months where it could be a balmy 65 or a frigid 18 degrees on any given day.

Outdoor Party

Pros: The great thing about an outdoor party is there’s a lot more freedom. Backyards have more room, so no one is bumping elbows and Cousin George’s roaming hands don’t have all those opportunities. You can also relax more about the mess, because there aren’t any breakable Hummel figurines or grandma’s ashes being knocked over on your couch.

Cons: The main drawback is the weather. You run the risk of not only having extreme cold, but rain as well. The guy in the gorilla suit will be fine, but your girlfriend may find her naughty school girl outfit a little too perky in 30 degree weather. A little rain on your parade could also be disastrous with all those plastic and polyester costumes. No ones likes the smell of wet fake gorilla hair, especially if some of it ends up in the nacho dip.

Indoor Party

Pros: The main draw of an indoor party is the control the host has over the surroundings. No worries about bad weather, being too loud for the neighbors or worrying about your friend, Stewie, urinating in the bushes…again.

Cons: You do have to worry about salsa stains on your carpet and furniture, your girlfriend finding that hair growth shampoo in your bathroom and the newlyweds getting a little too cozy in your bedroom. With so many people inside, it’s going to get hot for that poor guy in the gorilla suit, but on the bright side, naughty school girl feels great and that’s really what’s important.

Decision Time

What it comes down to is…Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, host? I prefer going the outdoor route with a hastily made backup indoor plan in case of inclement weather. No one wants to cancel a Halloween party because of rain, so keep space open inside in case you need to pack it in. The space should have room for at least the food, guests and a few chairs. The party games and decorations aren’t necessary, but if Cousin Jimmy doesn’t get his food, then he gets cranky.