Backyard Get-Together
Summer is pretty much synonymous with firing up the grill at backyard get-togethers – it’s one of the best things about this time of year. Here are some ideas to give your party something special.
Grilled Hot Dog Station
Fire up that grill and treat your guests to a tasty menu starring beef hot dogs and grilled corn, simple salads, and a cookies and milk station. Set up a build-it-yourself hot dog station filled with a variety of fresh toppings like salsa, meatless chili, sauerkraut, onion sauce, sliced tomatoes, diced onions, & more. Add extra splashes of color to the entire hot dog station with a large variety of condiment bottles.
Milk and Cookies Bar
Milk dispensers from Pottery Barn filled with regular, strawberry and chocolate milk. Bake plenty of complementary cookies like chocolate chip, lemon iced, iced oatmeal, or chocolate shortbread. Put out resealable bags so the people can take some home if they want to.
Salad Served in a Jar
Love the salad-in-a-jar serving idea. Nearly any salad would work in a glass or plastic form, also in a martini glass or tumbler glass. And the best part is that it can be done with just about any recipe. Try Emily’s Summer White Bean Salad or Hearts of Palm and Artichoke Salad.
Homemade Bubbles and Slip and Slide
Did you know that you can make your own homemade bubble solution and bubble blowers? The best part is, you probably already have all the ingredients and supplies in your home, and the bubbles come out big and beautiful! Make your own slip and slide if you don’t have a pool, but you have a slope in your yard 
somewhere, a homemade slip and slide is a fun that can’t be beat, and it’s so easy. All you need is a painter’s tarp (smooth, not textured), tent stakes, and a hose. A tarp that is about 13 feet wide and 25 feet long. Use six stakes – three on each side, to keep the wind from flipping it over. Wet it down thoroughly with a hose, and then keep the hose running as the kids slide. If you turn off the hose for more than a couple of minutes, the grass may burn. Be sure to fold up the slip n slide as soon as the kids are done playing. Add baby shampoo or shaving cream for more excitement.
