Outdoor Entertaining: Part Three

The Great Outdoors.  What comes to my mind is beautiful weather, gorgeous sunsets, blooming trees with leaves that change colors, flowers of all shapes and sizes, and Bugs?  Yes, Bugs!

Yes, those little creeper crawlers that buzz around and crawl on your picnic table.  The last thing you want is for one to land in your glass or on your platter of food!  ICK!   There are a few ways to keep these tiny critters away from your food and your guests!

1.      Use a Fan.  The wind from a fan (and it can be placed a decent distance from your table) will keep air moving and ward off most flying and buzzing bugs.  This is an easy, cheap option for bug repellant, but you will have to plug in the fan (and perhaps risk someone tripping on a cord!)  Any type of fan can be used for this approach.

2.      Citrus Candles and Torches.  For some reason citrus candles keep bugs away!  It’s a perfect bug repellant, not to mention a possible light source when the sun goes down.  The draw backs are that your guests will have to smell citrus during your party as well as trying to be careful of the fire (not as kid friendly)!  These scented candles can be found in most stores usually around the summer time.

3.       Food Covers.  This idea is my favorite and can be as easy as ordering a food cover online or going on a hunt to make one yourself!  These food covers are like tents for your plates and platters to sit under, to show off the food that you worked so hard to make but keep the bug OFF!  Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any in a store (although many stores sell them online – which means S&H costs) so I went on a search to find something else that might work; and thus my first “How-To” was born:  How-To Make Your Own Food Covers!

How To: Food Cover

Food Covers are a perfect way to keep bugs off your food while entertaining outside.  If you have a bit of a crafty side, this project just might be for you!! 

Outdoor Entertaining: Part Deux

Outdoor Entertaining is a perfect way to enjoy beautiful weather, however, sometimes Mother Nature invites herself to the party in a not so beautiful way!  When harsh weather comes uninvited be prepared!  While planning your party, think about a rain date or indoor option “just in case”.  I do understand that it would be hard to not only plan an outdoor event as well as a possible indoor one too, but just remember not all the details of a party will be perfect (just keep your cool and don’t freak out!)

Even with a possibility of unpredictable weather, there are a few things that can be predicted.  These can be evaded by prior planning; such as:

1.  Beware of placing guests into the sun.  This will result in your guests either trying to politely squint their way though a meal and conversation or wear sunglasses though out the evening.  
2.  Don’t place a table under a tree that may drop leaves or seedlings.  With every soft wind these leaves and seedlings will fall into the food or hair of your guests.  

Hopefully though, just a “small” breeze might saunter through your party.  Even just a small burst of wind though might throw your matching paper plate and napkin set into the air with the greatest of ease!  Your tablecloth might float into the air like a magic carpet, however no one is taking a ride except for your guest’s glass; full of Lambrusco.    

If you have chosen to use a tablecloth, there a many ways to secure it to the table so it won’t fly off.  Two easy ideas are:
1. Table Cloth Clamps:  These cheap (plastic or metal) clamps securely hold your table cloth to the table.  However, they can stick out like a sore thumb on a perfectly set up tablescaping.  
2.  Double Stick Tape:  Sticking Double stick tape on both the table and the table cloth should keep it from blowing away and won’t be visible.  I suggest placing the tape on the edge of the table, so that it doesn’t create bumps under the tablecloth.


You don't want your paper plates and napkins flying away!  Here are some ideas to keep your napkins and paper plates on the table when wind picks up:
1. Themed Paper Weights:  Paper weights are meant to hold paper done, so why not napkins and plates too. You can even add a touch of decor if you can find a paper weight that goes along with a theme.  Such as large diamond ring napkin rings for an engagement party or sea shells for a beach picnic.
2. Binder Clips:  Binder clips can clip together napkins so they won’t run away.  The bad part is that each of your guests will have to unclip it to get their napkin!
3. Other Household Items:  You could double your battery operated flameless candles as light source, and a plate weight.  Another option is smooth stones (please wash!!) that would add yet another touch of outdoors to the table setting.       

What are your tricks for keeping Mother Nature on your side?  Please Share!!

Outdoor Entertaining: Part 1

With Labor Day around the corner, I consider this the BEST time of year to host an outdoor party!  Why you might ask?  (Or even if you didn’t, I’m going to tell you).  Because where I live, Winter is just TOO cold, Summer is TOO hot and humid, and Spring time is just TOO rainy!  The end of summer/early fall time of year has just perfect weather.  Nice days, cool nights, the trees are full of leaves and some are starting to change color.  Its the best combination for outside entertaining.  

Opening up a party to the “great outdoors” gives a fabulous (and hardly used) area to decorate that you can’t usually do anything with any other time of year.  However, one bad thing about an outdoor event is the fact that Mother Nature invites herself!  I have come across a few major “mother nature” issues such as bugs (eww!), unwanted weather elements (such as large gusts of wind), and lack of light after the sun goes down.    

I have figured out a few (classy and very budget friendly) ways to help overcome these outdoor entertaining issues, but unfortunately they are too long for just one post (so here goes my first three part-er)!    

First and probably the toughest of the three , how to keep the party from ending when the sun goes down.  Unfortunately you can’t turn the sun back on once it’s over the horizon (wouldn’t that be cool), but there are a few creative ways to bring light outside, without too many wires or open flames!

1.  Strands of Christmas Lights:  I wouldn’t recommend the multi-colored lights, but stringing white Christmas lights around an awning, tent, or table is a great way to get light with stuff you already have round the house!  If you use LED lights, they don’t get as hot nor attract bugs.     

2.  Battery Operated Flameless Candles:  I LOVE flameless candles because inside or out, they look real, but I don’t have worry about burning my house down!  If you don’t already own these (you can get them at Target for about $10), and trust me, you will use them from centerpieces to holiday decor, to intimate lighting (I use them for decoration in my living room). They area perfect addition to an outside part because there are no flames and no wires to worry about.  You just turn them on and they light up!

3.  Solar Powered Lights:  This would be the most expensive option if you don’t already own them.  I did find a set of six solar powered path lights for only $24 at KMart, but you can only use them outside and they don’t offer a lot of light.  These lights are great though because you don’t have to change any batteries or plug them in!


Roam around your house for a minute and think of all the things you can use as lighting for your outdoor event!  Share what you find!