Summer is a great time of year for outdoor BBQ’s, picnics, and a get-together. It’s a great time for all of these activities, especially if you are on the receiving end of these invitations. Why is that, well if we are honest, it’s nice every once in awhile to be able to just show up and have fun without all the work. But you might not be in that situation right now and it is up to you to make something happen. Even if you’re not typically the “host type”, planning a get together this summer can be a great excuse to reach out to people you’ve been meaning to get to know better or it can be a chance to reconnect with old friends or acquaintances.
Whether you love to host or whether the thought makes you a little bit anxious, don’t let the summer go by without taking some time to have some fun with family and friends. The tips I am going to share with you didn’t come from professional party planners, they come from people like us who are busy and need to keep things simple.
Your guide to planning a simple summer get together —
Keep Refreshments Delicious and Simple – Make one signature drink item that all ages can enjoy (like this eye-popping luau punch recipe) and then throw other canned beverages in a cooler with ice. It’s always a good idea to ask your guests to bring their favorite drinks so that you have a lot more variety.
Need Food Ideas? You certainly don’t have to BBQ or even serve a meal—appetizers and other snacks are a fun, no-fuss way to make sure your guests stay happy all night. Some fun and (and surprisingly healthy) ideas are fruit and this paleo and vegan chocolate dip, chips and easy Southwestern black bean and corn dip for people who love flavor and spice. Have fun and think fresh and simple—your guests will love it!
Tag a Photographer – If you can’t post it on social media, it didn’t happen, right? (Kidding) All joking aside, preserving the fun times through pictures is something we can all appreciate, and playing “tag a photographer” can be a fun way to encourage people to move around and playfully interact. Taking turns as a photographer also is a fun way to get others perspectives and even have a few laughs later. You can let the young ones and the older adults alike take turns moving around the room and taking photographs—and then they simply tag the next unsuspecting person to keep it going.
These are very simple ideas but as you can see, you can combine a few simple ideas and add fun to any summer event you are planning. So if you don’t usually host events, go ahead—give it a try and see that it doesn’t have to take hours of planning (or break the bank for that matter) to plan a very fun and memorable summer evening.
If you think summertime is more fun with friends, share this post! We hope our new visitors will sign up for our weekly blog and connect—let’s grow our community together.
Your Virtual Life Mentor,
Doug
P.S. If you and your spouse are interested in receiving some couple’s mentoring, please let me know. I am starting to offer mentoring to couples on a limited basis. Whether it’s to work through a particular issue or just need some help thinking through your life together in general, my team can help. Contact me for more details if interested.