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Summer is here and as the temps are starting to increase, the parties are beginning to move outdoors! I personally love outdoor entertaining as it usually allows more guests to participate than my home does. Outdoor entertaining does come with its own special challenges including hot temps, bugs, and limited access to running water. Throwing a successful outdoor party just requires a little forethought and preparation.

Recently I visited Afternoon Live and shared my outdoor BBQ tips. The short segment didn’t quite cover all of my favorite outdoor entertaining tips. As I explored my past 700+ blog posts I realized that while I have shared several outdoor entertaining parties and tips, they have never been all in one place. See the segment below and read on for some outdoor entertaining tips that will make all of your summer parties safe and fun!

 

 

Outdoor Entertaining Tips:

One of the things that the show’s host, Tra’Renee asked me was how do I come up with my ideas, “Do you just sit around all day thinking of parties?” And, while that isn’t too far off from the truth, I do also work three jobs and have two kids! So, my party thoughts happen usually as I am doing something else. Like most of you, some of the ideas that I get stem off of something I’ve seen or read on blogs, sourced through Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. However, some of my ideas come from the action of throwing a lot of parties and finding solutions to problems that myself or my guests may have. Outdoor entertaining has a LOT of problems to solve which makes it even more fun to create ideas to solve those problems and make it look like part of the party!

Outdoor Entertaining Tip: Keep your outdoor entertaining supplies at your fingertips and in sight! It will inspire many more parties. | A Well Crafted Party

Get your summer entertaining supplies in sight and ready for use!

Part of the fun of summer for me is the ability to host a small soiree at the drop of a hat. Inviting my friends over for a quick Friday night meal or Saturday BBQ often happens around Thursday evening as I get off work. In order to host your own outdoor parties with ease and often, prepare your summer porch for entertaining or create an ‘outdoor entertaining space’ in your pantry to supply all the items you’ll need to host an impromptu summer get-together. I like to keep my outdoor dinnerware, citronella candles, and other such items together on a shelf or in a bin. Back when I had a covered outdoor porch I placed them all up on the shelves so I could see them and want to use them. Now I live in a smaller space and keep them in a tub on a shelf in my pantry. When the summer is over I’ll store them in my outdoor storage, but right now I want to see them front and center!

Sunscreen & Bug Spray Station | A Well Crafted Party

Make a Sunscreen & Bug Repellent Station for Guests

I don’t know about you, but sunburns and bug bites can ruin my outdoor fun. If I’m being totally honest with myself, I often don’t even think to grab my sunscreen and bug spray when heading out to a party. Since my skin cancer diagnosis I’ve been better about brining sunscreen, but even then I’ve forgotten at times! Having a station of bug repellent and sun screen for guests to use as they need it takes one more thing off of your guests ‘to remember’ plate and really allows them to have a good time. Usually, when I am hosting an event, I’ll also add a package of baby wipes for guests to clean their hands after applying sunscreen or bug repellent. I typically keep a variety of types of sunscreen and bug repellent so guests may have a choice, but feel fine with simply having one brand on hand. (Print off my free Sunscreen & Bug Repellent printables and set up your protectant station today!)


Favorite sunscreens: 

(The following links are affiliate links. Purchasing through these links does not cost you extra, but does provide this website with a small portion of the sale. Than you for supporting A Well Crafted Party!)

  • Coola Suncare Sunscreen Spray in Pina Colada Scent: This sunscreen goes on light and not-too-oily. It smells AMAZING and it lasts a long time. Better yet, the Coola brand rated well on the EWG’s Best Sunscreen List.  (This Coola Travel Kit is on my summer must-buy list.)
  • Mineral Fusion Brush on Sun Defense: I hate putting on sunscreen AFTER I’ve put on my makeup. During the summer I put a base of sunscreen on before applying makeup. But, when it is time to reapply I don’t really feel like ruining my makeup. (Not a problem when swimming or hiking, but certainly a problem when outdoors for a work event.) This Brush on Sunscreen applies a thin layer of transparent powdered sun protection!
  • Natures Gate Face Sunscreen: I love spray sunscreen for getting my legs, arms, and hard to reach back area. However, I do NOT use spray sunscreen on my face. I use the Natures Gate Face Sunscreen because it goes on thick, but isn’t oily. I feel like I have a good layer of protection. It also rates well on the EWG’s Best Sunscreen List.
  • Babyganics Sunscreen for Baby: I like to use this brand for the kiddo as I’m not super confident that he isn’t breathing in the spray sunscreens. This one is the one we typically use and it also scored well on the EWG’s Best Sunscreen list.

Outdoor Entertaining Tip: Keep Cold Foods Cold and Hot Foods Hot! | A Well Crafted Party

Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold

I worked many, many years in the food industry. During my time I trained servers on many different topics including the importance of food safety. There is a phrase that is used a lot in the service industry called the “danger zone.” The danger zone refers to the temperatures that food-borne bacteria can grow. To keep everyone at your party safe you’ll want to really pay attention to how long food is sitting out and the temperature that the food is being stored at. The danger zone is in between 40 Degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit (or 4 Degrees Celsius to 60 Degrees Celsius).

Tips to keep foods at optimum temperatures:

  • Serve cold foods on ice! You don’t want the ice to melt and get your food items all wet, so nest bowls or trays into a slightly larger bowl or tray that is filled with ice. In the bowls above I used two nesting pyrex dishes with the bottom bowl filled with an ice bowl. One cool trick is to put a little water in the larger bowl and freeze. Once frozen fill the bowl with more water, place the smaller bowl inside and then freeze again.
  • Cover food when not being served. This will help to maintain the temperature better than uncovered food.
  • Use inexpensive, but awfully handy, chafing dishes to keep your hot food hot. A chafing dish utilizes a water pan and can of sterno to help maintain the proper food temperature without cooking your food more than you’d like.


outdoor entertaining made easy | A Well Crafted Party

Make it easy for guests to gather and eat food

When eating at an outdoors BBQ event I often opt for lightweight dishware. Sometimes I’ll go the reusable route and use melamine dishware. Other times, especially when there is a larger party, I’ll use disposable products. When I want something a little different I’ll print off some food tray designs and fold up some custom food trays to serve hot dogs, sandwiches, burgers, etc.

Glass is basically a no-go at outdoor events now that I have kiddos. One broken glass and the party is basically over as everyone is on the ground picking up small shards to protect little feet.

What outdoor entertainment tips am I missing? What is your hard-fast rule for creating a great outdoor party? Comment below!

Here in Portland the temps are teasing us with Summer and just in time for a fabulous three-day Memorial Day weekend. I’m planning on opening up the grill and having guests over for a laid-back cookout this weekend and have been planning my menu and supplies already. Food safety, deliciousness, and fun are all on my mind!

Also, because Memorial Day and Fourth of July are just around the corner I’d create some fun printables to make the party just a little bit more special. Each of the free printables are both pretty and functional! Scroll down to download your free printables!

 Don’t forget to stay safe while entertaining outdoors! 

Basic Food Safety Tips for Outdoor Entertaining:

  • Keep cold foods cold! Nest serving dishes on dishes of ice to keep cold. One cool trick is to put a little water in a large bowl and freeze. Once frozen fill the bowl with more water, place a smaller bowl inside and then freeze again. You’ll have a perfect ice bowl to keep your meal cool for the duration of the time outdoors. 
  • Keep hot food hot. Serve right off the grill or use a disposable chafing dish. 
  • Avoid foods that can go bad easily like mayo and eggs. 
  • Try not to keep food out more than 2 hours unless kept at safe heating or cooling temps. (Cold needs to be below 40 degrees, hot should be at 140 degrees or hotter.)

(Try my easy, 4-ingredient, no-mayo pasta salad at your next outdoor meal!) 

Printing Directions:

  • Print in full color on cardstock weight, white paper.

Drink Covers or Coasters:

  • Cut out circles around dark blue line – can use as coasters as is or continue to create drink covers
  • Punch a hole in the cover the size of your straw, place on glass with straw inserted

Red White and Blue Free Party Printables | A Well Crafted Party

 

DIY Food Trays:

  • Cut out around outline and then cut where there are dashed linees
  • Fold along all solid white folding lines
  • Glue or tape each small flap on the inside of the folded lip directly to the right of it.
  • Line with wax paper or napkins and it is ready for your hot dogs!

Free Red White and Blue Party Printables | A Well Crafted Party

Napkin Rings:

  • Cut along dark blue line.
  • Wrap around your napkins.
  • Glue or tape in place. Do not glue/tape to napkin but rather the other side of the printed ring.

Fourth of July Party Printables | A Well Crafted Party

 

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Baby Boot Camp is a fitness, nutrition, and social resource designed for mothers. Baby Boot Camp Baby Boot Camp franchises can be found across the United States including  three Portland-area franchises Portland-area franchises covering several area locations. I was provided classes with purpose to review my experience.  All opinions are my own. You can get your own first class free by scheduling your first class!

Baby Bootcamp in Beaverton Oregon | A Well Crafted Party

Each mother is as unique as the kids she raises. As unique as they are, there is one thing that many—most even— have in common, they often put their kids before them in all things. For example, my sons both have been to the dentist every six months since their teeth all came in. Me? I haven’t been to the dentist in 10 YEARS. (No flack…scheduling appointment now.)

After some pretty rough bouts of postpartum depression I have truly been working—with the help of my partner in parenting—to spend some time focusing on ME a bit more than I have done in the past. I work a lot, and I love my work, and that is where the majority of my “me-time” is devoted. What I haven’t made time for is exercise. I have a gym membership at my work, but after working 8 hours a day and being gone with the commute, I just want to be home and spend some time with my kids before bed time and time for me to open up my computer to work some more.

Signing up for Baby Bootcamp was an opportunity for me to spend an hour on some serious self-care while still entertaining and engaging with my kiddo. I liked that he and the other babies were able to watch from the strollers and laugh at the mommies doing silly moves. It was much better than the guilt I’ve felt so many times when I get home late because I took an hour to go to the gym after work.

 

Baby Bootcamp in Beaverton Oregon | A Well Crafted Party

My Baby Boot Camp Experience

I’ve got to admit… I was NERVOUS about saying ‘yes’ to this experience. My fitness level is less than ideal at this moment in my life. I was not looking forward to being in a class with women who were at a fitness level much higher than my own. Honestly, if there were a ‘slow and fat getting back at it’ class out there then I’d sign up much more willingly than I did with this class. That said… I am SO glad I did say yes in the end. Not only was everyone super friendly and welcoming, the instructor gave options for different fitness levels. She also gave options for people who had wrist issues which was AMAZING because of past carpal tunnel issues my wrists really can’t handle my entire weight at this moment in time. I was thrilled to have options that still allowed me to get in a full workout without risking injury.

Someday I’ll be able to do the below… but, until then, I sure was glad to have a less stressful move!

Baby Bootcamp in Beaverton Oregon | A Well Crafted Party

What to expect from Baby Bootcamp

Baby Bootcamp here in Beaverton moves venues throughout the season so that they can really take advantage of the good weather in Beaverton when the summer comes around. I went during the early Spring and was able to do my workout both indoors and out. Here are a few things to expect if you join Baby Bootcamp:

  • You’ll meet other moms with fitness goals. I am always super hesitant meeting new people, but these moms were super nice and all focused on achieving their own goals more than they seemed worried about what the next lady was doing. I didn’t feel uncomfortable doing the modified moves because there were other women that used modified moves as needed.
  • You’ll want to bring your jogging stroller. The kiddos stayed in the strollers the entire time that I went. At times we worked out with the strollers and at other times the kiddos hung out chatting with each other and watching the moms workout. I’m sure another type of stroller would also work, but the jogging stroller was sure handy.
  • Most all of the exercises are using your own body power and not any fitness tools. Nearly the entire workout was a set of moves that could be done without any additional equipment which was awesome because I was in turn able to bring those moves home! We did use a yoga mat to help cushion the floor when we did moves that were on the ground. We also used resistance bands for a few moves.
  • You will feel it. I felt GREAT after the first class. I was so excited that I made it through and I had so much energy afterwards. However, the next day, I was sore. It was the first time in a long time that I had done a full workout and my body knew it. I think I started feeling normal again about two days before the second class began!
  • Classes to fit your needs. There were a few different class types available including Stroller Fit (which I did) and Restore the Core. There was even a 5K training course available.
  • Enrollment Fee & Affordable Plan Pricing. You can get your first class free. After that there is an enrollment fee of $59 that pays for all the equipment you will need. There are several different plans at affordable prices for the classes.

Baby Bootcamp in Beaverton Oregon | A Well Crafted Party

 

There are several different Baby Bootcamps across the US. The Beaverton class was not even the only one in the Portland area! Many classes were available throughout the week, but as a working mom there was only one class that would fit for my schedule. The Saturday class offered free attendance to significant others as well.

Overall I hope to continue using the skills I learned in the class and plan to attend more Baby Bootcamp classes in the future! If you are on the fence right now about devoting a little time to yourself and your fitness goals then please think about giving yourself a very much deserved Mother’s Day gift of classes with Baby Bootcamp!

Portland-Area Mommas: Join Baby Boot Camp’s Free Mother’s Day Event on Saturday, May 12th at 9 AM at THPRD Athletic Center in Beaverton. Hosted by Baby Boot Camp Beaverton. The first 80 moms in attendance get a SWAG Bag!