This week starts our Friday Freebies giveaway. All you have to do is comment on this week’s question with a valid email address before Monday @ Midnight Eastern. We’ll pick a random winner from all of our comments. Its that simple!
All throughout June we’ll be featuring freebies from our friends over at PartyLite. This week we have this awesome Garden Lantern. PartyLite’s classic Garden Lantern is cast aluminum with a verdigris finish. Includes a tall glass votive cup to protect candle flame outdoors. 10 1/2″ H x 7 3/4″ d. $124.95.
For this week’s question, we want to know what’s the one thing you need the most help with when throwing a great summer party? Post a comment below and maybe it’ll be your name we announce on Tuesday morning!
While you’re here, go check out our Top 10 Top Tens List or some of our party tips over in the Entertaining category. And there’s always our awesome coverage of High Point Furniture Market.
Pre-party planning and preparation of food, decorations, and clean-up.
My backyard still needs so much help. It is hot here I need more shade. More sitting areas. Since I have lived here we don’t use my backyard in summer. So much of my yard is still undone.
Insects, especially mosquitoes in our warm Eastern coastal weather. No-see-ums are bad, yellow flies will eat all the guests and the sneaky mosquito will land and bite without you even knowing until it is too late!
People to set the food out! I usually prepare enough food to feed a small army, and getting it to the table takes many hands.
More seating! We always seem to invite more people than we have chairs. As the hosts of the party we always end up standing.
Decorating! Once we get past fresh flowers, I don’t know what to do since we are on a non-existent-funds budget.
We have multi-generational parties and Ineed an answer to creating a children friendly part without sacrificing the adult enjoyment of the gathering.
Getting the back yard ready like mowing the lawn, and setting up the BBQ and the tables.
finding some shade. my patio gets the evening sun and it is very hot util the sun sets. makes it uncomfortable to grill or even just sit and try to relax
My problem is trying to visit with all my guests while preparing and setting out the food.
I am lucky to have a husband that helps prepare and clean up. My problem is seating. My parties usually are inside and outside so I try to have enough sitting areas around for people to gather and get to know each other. My guests usually bring guests(anyone is invited). Seating is a problem.
the perfect menu for everyone ..
getting the yard absolutely immaculate
I need help with yard decorations and festive party lighting as it gets dark so the party can continue outdoors.
What to serve and how to keep it at the right temperature is the biggest issue.
I would like help with the pairing of food, wine and tablescape.
Help with cleaning up the house and getting the food ready.
Selecting a meal/snack healthy combination to serve my guests. Both eye appealing and attractive, including healthy.
With three kids, sundry pets, and a small yard and house, parties turn into an exercise in conflict resolution. So . . . how do I host a relaxing get together that doesn't turn me into the human ping-pong ball as I bounce between kids "playing" war in a separate area and adult conversation with friends?
I think a really FUN new drink can make a party! Whether it is a Sangria, Beer or Martini, the drinks make the party!
My biggest challenge is dealing with the unpredictable New England Weather-need help with ideas on how to keep people comfortable when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
We have a backyard that is boring. No personality, no color, not a comfortable place to sit and enjoy company let alone host a summer party. We need help!
The one thing we need the most help with when throwing a great summer party- especially- a backyard summer slammin blast- is making sure we are not serving alcohol to under age party peeps! Kids these days look much too mature!
We live a stones throw from the beach- announce a backyard bash and every body & their momma shows up! We need to have friends mingle with all the guest to get the feel for the crowd.
where to sit everyone, and i always have a load of towels when everyone leaves, although i tell them to bring towels if they plan on swimming.
Getting people to leave! I hate it when the party is clearly over, most of the people have gone, but there are a few stragglers who just keep hanging on!
I never have enough outdoor seating & end up raiding the house to find chairs. For parties with kids, coming up with a fun activity that doesn’t involve a water balloon fight can be a challenge too.
Finding enough time to get everything ready
I have a small 10×10 concrete slab and a good size backyard – with NO SHADE. No trees, no real grass, just a fence. So, in addition to dealing with the flies, mosquitoes & other pesky bugs, I need HELP turning my horrible backyard into an inviting, comfortable place that people can relax and enjoy the party in. BTW, my former home, for 30 years, was an apartment in NYC on the 12th floor. I don’t have a clue of what to do with my backyard.
picking a day that will be good for most of the guests.
Since I’m NOT a fan of cooking…what is easy to prepare for a group of 6??? Can Jack T. come over for a Bar-B-Que? Ingrid from Sonoma
I would need the most help in decorating and preparing the food.
Someone to keep the little ones entertain while I cook. It never fails noisy ones like to discover the grill.
Finding fun entertainment ideas for my guests.
I have trouble displaying the food and keeping the hot South Eastern Minnesota Sun from spoiling the food.
To learn more about using local ingredients in new ways so the “Locals” are even surprised.
I have several acres that overlook a lake. How can I get it more intimate for my guests?
Preparing food thats light for summer yet filling.
My biggest problem with a backyard party is that I do not have a backyard…we do have a deck, though! So, I would have to limit the amount of guests for my party, and being that I would have to limit the amount of guests at one time, I would have to have MANY parties!!
I like the idea that Ingrid & Bobo came up with…number one guest…JACK!!! Yes!!!
When I throw a party I want to make sure my guests have something to do besides eat so I like to plan games with prizes.
Having a patio to hang the latern would be great.
Outdoor outlets for lighting.., and enough of them so that one does not have to have extension cords laying around so nobody trips over them.
I need assistance with preparing the deck and walkways for large family gatherings while preparing the food for 20.
I live beside a creek, so keeping the bugs away is a plus..!!!!
I live in New Mexico, so shade, a place to set down that Margarita and a gentle breeze!
Having enough seating for your guest…
Lighting is always a problem. I love to sit out late at night, but i’s to dark.
If I go to have a paty the most I’ll need is
help with organizing the paty
Keeping flies and mosquitoes away from my guests and keeping trash cans close and convenient.
Keeping hot things hot and cold things cold after its off the grill so that everybody will enjoy the food as if its still just off the grill or out of the refridgerator.
My biggest problem while throwing a summer party outdoors is keeping the mosquitoes at bay and keeping the food free of bugs. I have tried screens and netting but it makes everyone stuffy and hot.But once the party gets going, people seem to forget about the bugs-probably because by then the wine is flowing freely.
Living in a rented triplex and being in the middle, I have a postage stamp backyard that rains run through and puddles up. Now I have taken all the trash weeds out of it but I don’t know what to plant. There can’t be any entertaining on bare dirt until I can figure out what to do and remember when I leave, I want to be able to take what I can with me.