Outdoor Entertaining

Nothing says summer quite like an outdoor party. Except for the parts of the country that are warm year-round (southern California, I'm looking at you), summer is a time to move your gatherings outside, after being stuck indoors for months of long, dark winter days. It doesn't matter if you're barbecuing for your extended family, throwing a pool party for the neighborhood kids, or just enjoying your breakfast and newspaper on the porch on a Sunday; you'll need a few things to make the experience more enjoyable. After all, if you're lugging lots of things back and forth to your outdoor space, you don't want them to be heavy. Likewise, if you spend a lot of your outdoor time in sandals or barefoot, breakable glassware can be dangerous.

Make sure you have everything you need to make your guests comfortable, but don't forget to decorate! Summer is a great time to use all the bright colors you would shy away from indoors, so get some colorful accents like paper lanterns  or colorful lights.  Have fun!

Food and Drink Service

Any party needs snacks and beverages. Serve them up in style with some of these choices.  

Outdoor dishware  is usually made of lightweight, unbreakable plastic.	Vinyl tablecloths  make for easy cleanup.	Ice cream makers, especially the kind you have to work for, make sweet treats even more fun.	Servingware  for outdoors should be lightweight plastic, but that doesn't mean it can't be stylish too!	Placemats  are great for adding a colorful accent to your outdoor table. Some coasters  keep condensation from forming puddles.outdoor Placemats

Decorate!

Sure, nature is pretty, but you want to add your own accents too. Accents that also light up your space are a great idea as well. Try a few of these to enhace the festive atmosphere.

Chinese-style paper lanterns  add a colorful accent during the day and a warm glow at night.	Strings of lights  can be as simple as white lights  or as exotic as a string of hummingbirds.	Decorative pillows  add comfort to your furniture and a colorful accent at the same time.	Outdoor sculptures  can be functional (sometimes they include a planter ) or just decorative.	Candles  and votives  add a flickering, magical touch. If you want to avoid open flames, you can get flickering LED candles  instead.

Keep Comfortable

Summer is great... except for the bugs, the heat, the direct sunshine... keep comfortable and enjoy your outdoor space worry-free with some of these.  

Patio umbrellas  create shade where none existed before. What more can you ask?	Sunblock  is a key ingredient in any daytime activities outdoors. Sunburns hurt, so slather it on! You can also find sunblock-insect repellent  combinations.	Citronella candles  keep away the biting bugs, plus they smell nice. For extra-buggy evenings, spritz on a little insect repellent ; plant-derived formulas  are often very pleasant smelling.	Insect traps  are another way to keep the biting critters and flies from spoiling your party.	Patio heaters can extend your outdoor season earlier in the spring and later in the fall.

Have Fun!

After you're sunblocked, shaded, insect-repelling and comfortable, don't forget to have fun!  

Frisbees  are the classic summertime toy. Get the whole family in on a game of catch, make teams for Ultimate,  or just play fetch  with your pooch!	Kiddie pools  are a great way to keep cool in the summer. A big pool  can be enjoyed by the whole family!	Lawn games,  like croquet,  bocce  and horseshoes,  are good for families with plenty of lawn space.	Salsa CDs  add Latin flavor to any party, and are guaranteed to get everyone up and dancing. They're a little more fun than your old Jimmy Buffett CD.	Water guns  have been a summertime favorite for decades. If aerial assaults are more your style, get water balloons  instead