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]]>These small bundles that usually run from about $5.99 to $7.99 are generally made up mostly of soft woods, such as pine. Soft woods are easier to light, which makes them more convenient for folks who are not well versed in starting fires or who just want a quick, occasional fire to gather around with friends and a glass of wine.
Soft woods also burn quickly, which means you are going to go through more wood if you want your fire to last hours into the night. So, while soft woods are great for starting fires and you can easily pick some up on your way home from work, you will get a better value for your money if you purchase better firewood from a local firewood supplier or tree trimmer.
To help you determine the best firewood for firepit use, we have compiled a list of 10 of the best firewood options available in Southern California.
Before we look at some of the best firewood for fire pits and outdoor fireplaces, let’s take a moment to go over some types of wood you should never burn.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you should never burn any wood that has been painted, stained or pressure treated. Coated and treated woods can release toxins into the air when burned, so should always be avoided. This means that your old fence boards, left over treated wood from building your deck and most pallets should be reused or disposed of in another manner. Some wood pallets are not made from treated wood and are okay to burn, but you need to be sure your pallets are not treated before breaking them up and tossing them in your fire pit.
You should also never burn driftwood, particle board or plywood, since they can also release toxins into the air when burned.
The EPA also states that you should never burn “wet, rotted, diseased, or moldy wood” in your fireplace or fire pit.
It is generally recommended to avoid soft woods, such as pine or cedar, which tend to burn fast with excessive smoke. While you can use these woods in your fire pit, you will end up going through a lot more wood and, if you are using them in a fireplace, you will likely have more creosote buildup.
Side Note: While this article focuses on best wood for firepit use in your backyard, it should be noted that there is an additional rule to abide by if you are going camping or are on a road trip. You should always buy local wood at your destination for use only at that destination. Do not bring wood from home on your camping trip and do not bring home leftover wood bought at your destination. When you transport firewood, you may be inadvertently transporting invasive pests as well.
Black oak is a readily available hardwood found throughout Southern California and is one of the best firewood for firepit options if you want a fire that burns slow and steady to last through the evening. You will want to use black oak that is well seasoned, which means allowing it to dry out for about a year. In some cases, you may find you have to season different types of oak a full two years before it ready for use, but usually one year will suffice for this one.
Black oak does not produce quite as much ash as some other types of oak, so it makes for easier cleanup.
White oaks are also common in Southern California, which means you should have no trouble finding this firewood. This one produces more ash than the above-mentioned black oak and other oak options, so that might make it a bit less appealing, but it burns long and hot, which makes it a solid addition to any list of best wood for fireplace and fire pit use.
This hardwood found in coastal regions can be difficult to split, so if you happen to lose a Coast Live Oak on your property, you may want to rent a log splitter or hire a local tree trimmer to split it for you. But, once you manage to cut it down to size, you will have a long-burning firewood that burns hot without a lot of smoke. Like most oaks, you will have to make sure you put out the fire completely before you retire for the night, since oak firewood can smolder for hours.
Valley Oak is another California native hardwood that makes great firewood for fire pits and patio fireplaces. Like other oaks, this one may take about two years to season. Once dry and ready for use, Valley Oak firewood burns long and slow. While oak firewood options are more expensive than softer woods, you will use less wood and get more bang for your buck.
Walnut is another hardwood that is usually easy to find in Southern California. Walnut is a long-burning option that does not emit a lot of smoke, so it is a good choice for fire pits and patio fireplaces during social gatherings. Once you get the fire going, you will not have to interrupt your evening repeatedly to add more wood to the fire, so that is an added bonus for party hosts.
Avocado burns faster than the above-mentioned hardwoods and will leave a heavier creosote buildup when used in fireplaces. This means you will go through more wood and will have to add more wood more often throughout the evening. Since it creates more creosote buildup, it is also best to avoid using it in fire features with chimneys and is best used in fire pits. There are two reasons avocado firewood makes this list: It is good for starting fires (and then adding some oak for longevity) and it is abundantly available for folks who have orchards or live near avocado orchards, which are common in Southern California and Central California.
This hardwood burns hot and slow and leaves behind less of an ashy mess than most hardwood options. Madrone firewood may be a little more difficult to find and will cost more than softer woods, but you will get a long-burning, warm fire from it. Like oak, madrone will leave coals that are still warm in the morning. This makes it a popular choice for folks living in colder climates using firewood for heat. But, for those of us using it in fire pits in Southern California, this means you will need to make sure your fire is completely out at the end of the night.
Split this one while it is green, since it will be increasingly more difficult to split as it dries out.
While some oak firewood can take two years to dry out, madrone is usually well seasoned and ready for use after one year.
Almond wood is usually much harder to find than more popular firewood options, such as oak firewood. However, if you live in an area with almond groves, you may have the opportunity to buy this excellent option. This is another hardwood that will cost more than some of your other available choices, but it seasons quicker than oak and provides you with long-burning logs and less cleanup after you put the fire out.
Bigleaf Maple is a hardwood, but it has lower BTUs than choices like Pacific Madrone or oak. This means that it does not give off as much heat. This will matter for folks looking to use their fire pit or patio fireplace as a heat source but will not really matter to folks who mostly want a welcoming fire feature during social gatherings or for sipping wine by the fire with your partner.
Bigleaf Maple firewood is generally less expensive than oak or madrone. It is also easier to light so, while a maple log might not burn as long as an oak log, it is easier to get your fire going, and maple will still burn longer than soft woods. It also seasons faster than oak firewood.
Ash is easier to split and easier to light than many hardwood options. Another bonus is that you can actually burn this one while it is still green. It is, of course, better to wait for it to season, but it will burn just fine even before it dries out completely. Ash does not burn as long as oak, but it gives off a good amount of heat without a lot of smoke, so this is an excellent choice for outdoor fire features.
There are several other woods that could easily make a list of the best firewood for firepits, such as cherry, apple and hickory. They are not included here simply because they are not abundantly available as firewood options in Southern California.
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]]>The post Winter Outdoor Entertaining Tips: Keeping Your Guests Warm appeared first on INSTALL-IT-DIRECT.
]]>But even with all of our days of sunshine and year-round weather that most of the country envies, winter does bring a chill to the air, and we do still need at least a few sweaters in our closets.
We are certainly blessed with the ability to enjoy outdoor living any month of the year, but colder months can make outdoor entertaining a bit less comfortable and calls for a some preparation before your guests arrive.
One of the primary concerns regarding backyard entertaining during the colder winter months is how to keep guests warm.
Read on to learn about easy ways to heat outdoor living spaces to make your backyard more enjoyable for you, your family and your guests no matter what winter brings our way.
The most attractive way to heat your patio is by adding an outdoor fireplace or fire pit to your backyard landscaping.
Fire pits are generally a more affordable option for patio heating and provide the perfect place for family and friends to gather to spend time together, swap stories or celebrate special occasions.
Available in both portable and permanent options, a fire pit is the type of backyard heating option that can fit into any homeowner’s budget.
Portable pits are available for as little as $50 at home improvement stores and garden centers and are an easy way to immediately add a heat source to your backyard.
You can pick one up the day of your event if you need a last-minute way to warm up your space, so this is a quick, easy option to keep in mind – particularly since you may need to add to your existing heat sources in a hurry if the weather takes an unexpected turn for the worse just a few hours before your shindig.
Permanent fire pits are a better option for homeowners concerned about the overall look of their landscape design and can be installed by a professional or built by homeowners of the handy sort.
Everything you need to build your own fire pit should be available at your local home improvement center, and this is a great weekend backyard improvement project you can do with even a small budget.
Fire pits should always have some sort of fire break surrounding them, such as a paving stone patio, which also provides a level surface on which to place seating for your guests.
Outdoor fireplaces make fantastic additions to your home’s exterior living spaces and, in some cases, can even increase the value of your home.
A beautiful paving stone patio with a professionally installed patio fireplace as the focal point is the perfect place to host family gatherings or entertain guests.
A fireplace is an excellent heat source that can take the chill out of the air and can significantly increase the visual appeal of your backyard landscaping.
While this is a more expensive option, it is also a more attractive one.
Professionally designed fireplaces that complement the style of your patio, outdoor kitchen or other landscaping features are the best way to go if you have the budget, but there are lots of DIY fireplace kits available for handy homeowners who feel comfortable taking on this backyard improvement project.
Chimeneas are freestanding, portable fireplaces that are usually made from clay but are also sometimes made from aluminum or cast iron.
This patio heating option was originally used in indigenous cultures to provide warmth and a cooking source that takes up little room and guards the fire from rain.
While some people still use chimeneas for cooking or baking, they are now mostly used as functional garden décor that provides an attractive heating option that is more affordable than an outdoor fireplace.
Chimeneas can be used on covered patios or gravel areas, but because they do not usually have a screen to keep sparks from flying, they should not be used on natural grass lawns, wood chips or bark.
Due to their design, chimeneas give off ample heat to create a warm, cozy environment for small outdoor gatherings.
We have all been to events where we have huddled around those tall, freestanding heaters that are usually fueled by propane.
While they may not be the most attractive addition to your patio, these portable heaters do their job well and put out a good amount of heat to keep small areas warm.
There are standing, tabletop and hanging options available and, if you are willing to spend a bit more, there are actually some rather attractive options available that look more like floor lamps than the typical stainless steel options seen at outdoor events.
In terms of portable heaters, you can also simply use electric space heaters that you may already have on hand.
While this option may not be as attractive, portable space heaters do provide a good amount of warmth and are an affordable way to heat your outdoor living space on short notice.
Portable heaters designed to look like fireplaces or wood-burning stoves are a more attractive option for your temporary heating needs and can sometimes be purchased for less than $100 when they are on sale.
These faux fireplaces are a great choice for folks who have an electrical source nearby and just need a temporary way to heat an outdoor space for a gathering.
If you are interested in a more permanent solution that does not involve fire, installed patio heaters may be your best option.
Wall- and ceiling mounted outdoor heaters powered by gas or electricity are widely available and provide a viable solution for heating outdoor spaces.
Portable patio heaters, fire pits and outdoor fireplaces are not the only way to create a cozy atmosphere for your next party.
Here are 10 tips for creating warm, welcoming outdoor entertaining spaces for your family and guests to enjoy.
1. Add patio curtains to your covered patio to help keep in the heat. Outdoor curtains or roll-up bamboo shades can also help block the wind and add privacy to your patio. If you have a fire pit or outdoor fireplace, just be sure to keep your curtains at a safe distance to avoid a fire hazard.
2. If you are planning an outdoor movie night or having a circle of friends around your fire pit, distribute inexpensive throw blankets to your guests for additional warmth.
3. Create a warm, welcoming atmosphere with candles and soft lighting.
4. Make sure you have some cozy cushions for guests to sit on so that they will not have to sit on cold patio furniture.
5. Make warmth part of your party theme with an ugly Christmas sweater party or a funny winter hat party.
6. Serve hot drinks, such as spiced apple cider, hot chocolate, hot toddies or flavored coffees to keep your guests warm.
7. Purchase an outdoor rug to add texture and color to your entertaining space while also providing a soft layer between your guests and a cold stone or concrete patio.
8. Provide plenty of table space so that your guests do not have to hold cold drinks all night.
9. Make or buy fun drink koozies for your guests to use on cold drinks.
10. Make roasting hot dogs or marshmallows part of the fun to give your guests and excuse to gather around the fire to stay warm.
Some areas of Southern California do get snow, but we all get at least a bit of occasional rain, which means mud can be a problem when planning outdoor events.
To avoid your guests standing in mud or tracking it into your house, frequent party hosts may want to consider installing a synthetic turf lawn.
Artificial grass provides a level, mud-free surface on which your guests can congregate without worrying about slipping in mud or ruining their shoes.
This attractive, low-maintenance landscaping option always looks its best and can cut down on your party prep, since you can cross pre-party mowing or weeding off of your to-do list.
If evening entertaining plans are in the works, keep in mind that it gets dark earlier during winter months.
This means that the temperature may drop earlier in the evening once the sun goes down, and your guests may need a little extra walkway lighting to guide them to your front door or through your backyard.
While rainy days are a rarity in Southern California, prepare for unexpected inclement weather by providing your guests with a place to put wet coats and umbrellas.
What are your best tips for winter outdoor entertaining?
Share them with us in the comments!
Photo Credits (in order of appearance): overstock.com; stock.xchng, scottsnyde; homedepot.com; homedepot.com; stock.xchng, jimrubio.
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]]>The post 10 Easy Backyard Improvements for Outdoor Entertaining appeared first on INSTALL-IT-DIRECT.
]]>In most parts of Southern California, it is just as easy to have a weekend barbecue with friends on Christmas Eve as it is on the 4th of July, making any holiday a good excuse for al fresco dining or catching up with old buddies around a fire pit.
Because outdoor living is such an important part of fully taking advantage of living in this area, homes in San Diego and the surrounding areas need functional, attractive backyard entertaining spaces where we can spend time with family and friends.
Expanding your home’s usable space into your backyard not only allows you to more fully enjoy your property, it can also increase your home’s value and set your home apart from the competition, if you choose to sell at some point in the future.
Creating or improving your outdoor entertaining areas may be as simple as refreshing your patio furniture with new fabric or throw pillows, or it can be a more involved project, such as installing a built-in BBQ or putting green.
The most important thing to remember is that your backyard should work for you, and any backyard improvements you make should be designed with your goals and needs in mind.
For example, a swimming pool is something buyers look for in San Diego homes and an amenity that many homeowners just assume they should have in their backyards, but if you are not planning on selling your home and rarely go swimming, then this probably is not the right home improvement for you.
Some of them are simple do-it-yourself projects that you can complete in a weekend; some may require calling in the pros, but are well worth the expense to create a personalized oasis that fits your needs.
The first step in creating inviting outdoor entertaining areas is to clean up what you already have in your backyard.
This will allow you to better assess your current situation, to determine the backyard assets you already have and figure out the best backyard improvement projects for your home.
Trim your trees, pull out dead bushes, look for hardscape features in need of repair and give your yard a good, overall cleanup.
You may find that by completely these simple tasks, you can improve your views, find overlooked maintenance issues that will immediately enhance your yard’s visual appeal or get some inspiration for how you can better use the spaces you have.
A good patio is the foundation for any outdoor living area, so the next step in creating your backyard retreat is assessing your current patio situation.
First of all, do you have a patio?
If you don’t, that needs to be changed right away.
Handy homeowners may be able to design and install a wood deck or a patio made from bricks, paving stones or concrete, but this is one backyard improvement project that you may want to leave to the pros.
To ensure proper grading, a satisfactory end product and a design that will function how you need it to, it is usually best to hire patio installation professionals who are familiar with the patio materials you want to use.
If you have an existing patio, you need to consider whether or not it is large enough to accommodate the outdoor rooms you want to create and if it is in good condition.
If your existing patio is too small to meet your needs or is in need of repair, you will need to decide if it is worth fixing or if it might be easier or cheaper to just start over by removing it and installing a new one.
For example, if your current patio is concrete, it may have cracked over the years.
Repairing cracks in concrete is possible, but it is nearly impossible to make the patched concrete match the original material.
While concrete is one of the least expensive patio materials, it also one of the least attractive and often ages poorly.
It may be a better investment to remove a concrete patio and replace it with pavers, which will instantly improve the look of your backyard and provide the most years of enjoyment and continued visual appeal.
Outdoor living rooms are among the easiest outdoor entertaining spaces to create, particularly if you already have a covered patio.
These exterior rooms are a great way to expand the usable square footage of your home on a budget.
By simply adding comfortable seating, a table and an outdoor rug, you can create the perfect place to entertain guests outside.
Of course, if you want to expand on this idea, you can also add more expensive features, such as an outdoor fireplace or a water feature.
Theme gardens are a great addition to any landscape design and provide the opportunity to show your personality in your landscaping.
Whether you design a garden inspired by your favorite novel or choose a shade garden as a solution for a section of your yard where nothing seems to grow, a themed garden can be completed in a weekend and provide years of enjoyment for you and your guests.
By adding seating to your garden design, you can create an outdoor space that you will enjoy daily and can also use as a space for entertaining.
A full backyard kitchen might be a nice touch, but taking on that sort of project can be expensive and time consuming.
If you are looking for a weekend project that won’t break the bank and can set you down the path to a future outdoor kitchen when your budget and time allows, a simple built-in BBQ is the perfect way to enhance your exterior entertaining space.
Hiring a professional to design and install this project is usually the best way to go, but skilled homeowners can make this a weekend do-it-yourself backyard improvement project.
Everything you need is available at your local home improvement store, and you might even be able to find a free class available to help you sharpen your skills before beginning your project.
If you have a home in San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County or surrounding areas, there is really no reason for you to not have a fire pit.
Fire pits take up little room, are affordable improvement projects and provide the perfect place for an at-home date night or gathering around the fire with friends.
Whether or not this will be a DIY home improvement project depends on the design you choose, your budget and your handiness working with materials like paving stones or bricks.
Kits are available at some home improvement centers and online, which makes this project more accessible for some homeowners.
You can also pick up the materials for a simple fire pit at your local home improvement store, and you should be able to build your pit in just one weekend, if you are the handy sort.
Alternatively, you can always hire a pro to take this on for you, which may be more expensive but also helps to ensure that you will be happy with the end product.
An outdoor fireplace is another option that can increase your yard’s visual appeal and even increase your home’s value, in some cases, but this is a bigger, more expensive project than a fire pit.
This is another project that will be a simple do-it-yourself build for some homeowners, while others might want to hire a carpenter or contractor.
Pergolas provide an attractive option for adding a shade structure to your yard, particularly if your patio is currently uncovered.
Creating outdoor rooms on covered patios is the ideal situation, if at all possible, and adding a pergola is often an easier, more affordable choice as compared to other options.
Small, pre-constructed pergolas are available at home and garden centers; however, these structures are usually too small to serve the purpose of covering an outdoor room.
To install a pergola of any size, you will likely need to build it yourself or hire someone to build it for you.
If you would like to add additional sun protection or privacy to your pergola, consider adding patio curtains to create a more intimate outdoor entertaining space.
Opening up interior spaces and expanding them to include the outdoors is as simple as adding a set of French doors between an interior room and a patio.
For example, you can create an outdoor dining room by opening an exterior wall between your kitchen or indoor dining room and an exterior patio.
Add attractive French doors that invite guests to wander between the two spaces, and you have an indoor-outdoor entertaining area that your guests are sure to love.
It is possible for homeowners to install French doors without the help of an expert, but keep in mind that electrical wiring or plumbing could be running through the wall you want to remove.
Adding paving stone pathways leading to the various areas of your yard is a great way to enhance visual appeal and invite your guests to explore your outdoor spaces and gardens.
Each landscaping feature and amenity should have its own walkway leading to it, including your swimming pool, hot tub, vegetable garden, equestrian area, putting green or satellite seating areas.
This will make your yard look more organized, will guide your guests where you want them to go and keep people from walking on your grass.
This is also a great way to accentuate particular landscape features or to create a focal point in your yard.
Paver stone walkways can be a DIY backyard improvement project for handy homeowners, but it is also easy to just hire paving stone professionals to complete this job for you.
Unless you need to run electricity to areas far from your house, this is an improvement project that you should be able to do on your own.
This is particularly true if you use solar landscape lighting, which is simple to install and a great way to light your landscape without increasing your electricity bill.
There are lots of solar landscape lighting options available, including walkway lighting, accent lighting and string lights for your patio or trees.
String lights or lanterns are great ways to enhance patio lighting while creating a relaxing, intimate atmosphere for dinner parties or social gatherings.
There are lots of little ways you can improve the look of your yard, organize your yard care tools and create a better space for hosting guests.
Here are just a few:
— Invest in a hose holder to hide unsightly garden hoses and reduce tripping hazards when you have guests over.
— Get patio furniture covers to keep your patio furniture in good shape and avoid having to clean it before every party.
— Purchase a grid organization system for your garage where you can hang your rakes, brooms and other yard care implements.
— Add attractive citronella candles to your patio décor to keep bugs away from your guests naturally.
— If you have children, invest in an outdoor toy box so that you can quickly put away toys before guests arrive.
— If you have a side yard, add a fence to hide garbage cans and other unsightly necessities.
Photo Credits (in order of appearance): morgueFile, krossel; morgueFile, phaewilk; author; morgueFile, earl53; morgueFile, krosseel.
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]]>Date nights are a great way to reconnect with your partner and spend quality time together without the distractions of children, work, or other obligations. However, it is not always easy to carve time out of busy schedules to hang out as a couple, and by the time the weekend rolls around, you may be too exhausted to even consider getting dressed up and going out on the town.
If the club scene just isn’t your thing anymore or the idea of dressing up and dealing with finding parking and making reservations to dine amongst other people just isn’t that appealing, at-home date nights might be more your style. After all, they are much easier to plan, can happen whenever you find some free time, and do not require getting out of your pajamas. You can also save money on babysitters by having at-home date nights after the kids have gone to bed.
Now that you have decided that date nights at home are a good solution for spending time together without worrying about hiring a sitter or figuring out which new restaurant to try, you need to find a way to make your date night special. After all, if it just feels like every other night of making dinner and catching up on recorded shows, then it will not feel much like an actual date night.
First, let’s look at a few general tips for successful date nights at home in your own backyard.
Make sure the kids are settled in for the night, leave your phones inside, and make sure you put away any yard maintenance tools or other items that will remind you of your to-do list.
Date nights usually do not just happen. If you have jobs and kids and other responsibilities, you are going to have to plan your date nights to make sure you find time in your schedule to connect as a couple.
Planning backyard date nights should not fall on the shoulders of just one partner. Take turns planning your dates and use this as an opportunity to surprise your partner or show them how special they are to you.
Make a list of potential date night ideas to make it easier for both of you to plan a special night when it is your turn. This also allows you to more easily plan your dates without having to come up with ideas at the last minute.
Even the best-laid plans can be interrupted by a child with a stomach ache, one partner having to unexpectedly work late, or inclement weather. So, have a backup plan and be flexible – the important thing is making time for each other when you can.
If you do not have a backyard, most backyard date night ideas will work just as well on a balcony, porch or rooftop deck.
If you are simply too exhausted at the end of the day to have a date night, try making your dates in the morning. Set your alarm early so that the two of you can enjoy coffee and breakfast together on your patio as you watch the sunrise before the kids get up.
Date nights are all about connecting as a couple, which can be even more fun if you are also trying a new food or learning something new together.
You do not have to plan an evening of wine, cheese, and a romantic movie just because that is a pretty typical at-home date night. If that is not your thing, then tailor your dates to suit your personalities. Beer and board games, energy drinks and video games, or sodas and sports all work just as well.
Your backyard date night does not have to be a big production. The important thing is that you are spending time together, so it can be as simple as throwing a blanket on the grass and watching a movie on your laptop.
If you have nearby neighbors, part of creating a romantic setting might involve sound or sight barriers, such as a water fountain or music, and privacy landscaping or a privacy screen.
Your date nights should reflect your personality, be enjoyable for both of you, and allow you to connect as a couple. To help you create memorable nights without leaving home, here are 21 backyard date night ideas to inspire you.
This is a simple, low-cost date night idea that can be as short or as long as you like. It might involve wine or sitting by your patio fireplace, but even the smallest balcony will work for an outdoor poetry reading.
Making homemade ice cream is a fun activity to do as a couple and provides you with a tasty dessert to enjoy when you finish. But, you cannot cheat and use an ice cream machine or the plastic bag method; you have to make the kind of homemade ice cream that you mix in a coffee can and roll back and forth to each other across the patio until it is finished.
This one takes a little bit of planning, mostly because you probably do not have rock salt in your pantry, which you will need to make this frozen treat. If you did not grow up making ice cream like this, check out this tutorial.
Whether you prefer board games or card games, having an outdoor game night will make it more romantic and more fun. You might add your favorite adult beverages to spice things up, or you could make the above-mentioned ice cream first and have dessert while you play. Chech out a few of our favorite outdoor games.
Create a fun, relaxing date night by choosing an audiobook, and then setting up your outdoor living area and planning your menu around the theme of the book. If Edgar Allan Poe is your pick for the night, you might serve absinthe and decorate your patio with skulls, candles and ravens. If you are more in the mood for The Great Gatsby, decorate your outdoor living space as a speakeasy and don’t be shy with the champagne.
Hire a ballroom dance instructor for a private lesson for you and your partner in your backyard. Depending on how much planning you want to put into it, you can rent a dance floor or simply use your deck or artificial grass lawn as your dance space. After the instructor leaves, use a pre-planned playlist to practice your new moves under the stars.
If you happen to have an amazing sunset view from your backyard or balcony, watching the sunset over the ocean or mountains is a no-cost, romantic date that requires no planning (other than knowing what time the sun will be setting that day).
If you have not had a date night in a very long time, this is the perfect chance to bring back old memories by going through photo albums from when you were first dating, watching your wedding video, or reminiscing with funny stories from your years together.
Before you had kids and careers and got busy being responsible adults, was there something the two of you used to love doing? Maybe you used to stay up all night watching low-budget horror films or thumbing through your vinyl record collection. Now is your chance to make time to do those things you used to love to do together – only, this time, you get to enjoy it in your outdoor living area.
Put together the perfect playlist, get the patio fireplace going, pour some wine, and spend the evening accomplishing this time-honored, team-building task.
Backyard date night ideas do not have to be serious, but they do have to be enjoyable. So, if you are both the crafty sort, plan an outdoor craft night where you can listen to great music, sip your favorite beverages, and work on a fun craft project.
Hire a team of massage therapists for a little at-home pampering with a couples massage on your patio or deck. Make sure to plan for post-massage drinks and snacks before your massage so that all you have to do afterwards is relax and enjoy each other’s company.
If you have an outdoor dining room, you might eat outside all the time, so make this a special occasion by using a picnic basket and a picnic blanket and setting up your feast on the lawn or deck – not at the same table where you regularly host al fresco dinner parties.
Stock your patio wine refrigerator, cut up vegetables for kabobs, set out the condiments, and create a fantastic grilled meal for two. While you are preparing and grilling the food together, you can catch up on how your partner’s week went or start working out the details of your next romantic getaway.
Hire an instructor or watch an online cooking tutorial and learn to cook something new together in your outdoor kitchen.
Stock up on candy, make some flavored popcorn, or prepare some simple finger foods, and then settle in on cushions, a hammock, or your patio sofa to watch a movie. If you have an outdoor TV, then this might be something you do all the time, but if you do not, you can take a free-standing television out to your patio or create your own outdoor movie theater with a screen and projector. If you happen to have a full day off together or are up for an all-nighter, you might consider a trilogy for your next backyard date night.
If it has been a long week and you just want some low-key alone time, this is a simple backyard date night idea that requires almost no planning. As long as you have fuel for your fire pit or patio fireplace and your favorite beverages on hand, all you need to do is put on some comfortable clothes and head to the backyard for a relaxing evening.
Grab a blanket and a bottle of wine and head into your backyard for an evening of stargazing. Although you are supposed to leave you phones inside on date night, you might want to bring one with you to use a stargazing app to help you find constellations.
If you happen to find some free time and do not have anything planned, you can enjoy an impromptu date night with your partner, your favorite beverages, and online videos. Whether you like cat videos, bloopers, or music videos, just find a genre you can both agree on and settle in with your laptop or tablet for a relaxing evening.
Most people cannot afford to have a personal chef make all of their meals, but it is much more affordable to hire one just for special occasions. Hire a private chef to come to your home to grill or cook a meal for you and your partner to enjoy by candlelight under the stars.
If it is difficult to get away to go camping for the weekend, you can set up your own campsite right in your backyard. Pitch a tent, roll out your sleeping bags, and tell ghost stories while you roast hot dogs over the fire pit and, of course, make s’mores.
If you are both gamers, then this one is a no-brainer and will only require determining the best way to set up your screen, projector, and gaming console outside. Then you can settle in for an evening of energy drinks, snacks, and playing your favorite game together.
Even if you are not avid gamers – or had to give it up when you started working more or had kids – this is a fun backyard date night idea that might take you back to your youth. Buy an old gaming console and a few games, then set up a retro gaming night with games the two of you enjoyed in your younger days. If you plan ahead, you have plenty of time to find Legend of Zelda or Pac Man for older gaming systems.
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]]>There are many things that go into planning the perfect holiday party or winter gathering. Feeding your guests, keeping them warm and making sure they have a great, memorable time are high on the list. You can keep your guests warm by gathering around the fire pit or cozying up to your patio fireplace. Or you can keep them warm in a different way by offering up some warming winter cocktails that are sure to be memorable all on their own.
Below, you will find 10 winter cocktail recipes to get you started, but keep in mind that you can make almost any drink a holiday treat by adding festive garnishes, such as cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise pods or cranberries.
1. Hot Toddy
Hot toddies are often thought of as home remedies for the cold and flu, but this warm, spiked beverage is also a great way to warm up guests on a winter night.
Here is a basic hot toddy recipe you can whip up the next time you need to take the chill out of a cold evening.
1.5 ounces bourbon
3 ounces hot water
1 teaspoon honey or agave nectar
Mix these ingredients in a mug, and then garnish with a slice of lemon, a sprinkle of nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.
2. Whiskey Sour
A whiskey sour is not a warm drink, but it is the perfect choice for a cold drink to serve on a cold night. An added bonus with this one is that you can make a whole pitcher and set it in the middle of the table for your guests to continue serving themselves while you catch up on the most recent gossip.
All you need for this one is your favorite whiskey, lemon juice and sugar.
Mix about 1.5 to 2 ounces of whisky with the juice of one lemon and about a teaspoon of sugar. Shake, pour over ice and garnish. Skip the customary maraschino cherry and opt for fresh cherries instead.
3. Amaretto Sour
For some, an amaretto sour is even more warming to the soul and an ideal adult beverage to sip around a fire pit with friends.
This super-simple drink is perfect for hosts that do not fancy themselves bartenders and just need to get the job done while looking as hip as possible.
All you need for this one is amaretto, sweet and sour mix and your garnish. Throw some ice in your shaker, add a shot of amaretto, follow that with a heavy splash of sweet and sour mix, shake and serve. Again, skip the maraschino cherries and garnish this one with a fresh cherry and a slice of orange.
4. Amaretto Coffee
If the almond flavor of amaretto sounds like just what you need but you were hoping to serve hot winter cocktails to your guests, amaretto coffee is your answer. Plus, it is so incredibly easy to make that you can whip these up all night without missing out on any of the conversation happening on your patio.
Simply add a shot of amaretto into a mug of hot coffee, layer on some whip cream and quickly become your friends’ new favorite party host.
5. Irish Coffee
While we are on the topic of spiked coffee recipes, we definitely cannot leave out the tried-and-true classic, Irish coffee.
This one is almost as easy to make as amaretto coffee but has a much different flavor. For this one, add 1.5 ounces (one shot) of Irish whiskey and 1.5 ounces of Irish cream liqueur to a mug of hot coffee. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg and serve. If you want to get a bit more festive and fancy, you can grate fresh nutmeg onto the drinks as you serve them to your guests.
6. Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is a fall favorite, but you can carry it right through Christmas and make it a staple for all of your holiday parties.
One of the nice things about this warm, inviting drink is that you can start it earlier in the day and let it simmer in your slow cooker while you take care of other party prep. While this one does take a little more prep than some of the other drinks on this list, the sweetly spicy flavor is well worth the extra effort.
Here is what you do for this one:
1. Pour one bottle of red wine into your slow cooker.
2. Add ¼ cup agave nectar or honey.
3. Add two or three star anise pods and 2 or 3 cinnamon sticks.
4. Slice an orange (leave the peel on) and add it to the wine.
5. Allow this mixture to simmer in your slow cooker for at least a few hours before serving.
To keep things festive, garnish each glass of mulled wine with a cinnamon stick.
If you do not have a slow cooker, you can also simmer this concoction on the stove for 30 minutes to two hours to let the flavors mingle.
7. Spiked Hot Chocolate
There are a lot of directions you can go in here. You could go for a minty-chocolate beverage, something along the lines of amaretto and cream, or you can opt for this simple, festive choice.
Mix one shot of tequila and one tablespoon honey or agave nectar into your favorite hot chocolate made with dairy or non-dairy milk. Top it with whip cream, add a cinnamon stick and shave a little chocolate and cinnamon on top.
While these might just become your guests’ new favorite winter cocktails, one nice thing about this one is that you can skip the alcohol and hand out hot chocolate to underage guests if it is an all-ages soiree.
8. Hot Buttered Rum
If you love rum and you love butter but have never considered combining the two, now is your chance. To make a simple hot buttered rum that is sure to warm up your guests, here is what you need:
Hot water
1.5 ounces spiced rum
1 tsp agave nectar or honey
½ to 1 tsp unsalted butter
Add the rum, agave nectar and butter to your mug, and then fill the mug with hot water. Stir until the butter is dissolved, garnish with a cinnamon stick and serve.
9. Spiced (and Spiked) Cider
This is another one of those winter cocktails that you can do several ways, but here is a basic recipe that you can customize as needed.
You are going to need to get out your slow cooker again or simmer this in a pot on the stove.
If you are only making a single drink, you just need one shot of rum and enough apple cider to fill your mug; however, you can make a larger batch of this before your party to make your hosting duties easier.
When determining how much to make, add one shot of rum and about six ounces of apple cider per drink you plan to serve. Then add one to two cinnamon sticks and a few cloves. Simmer for at least an hour to let the spices mingle with the cider and rum.
To make this even easier, you can just use a shot of spiced rum and add it to some hot apple cider, which allows you to skip the spices and simmering completely.
10. Sangria
Sangria is a festive treat you can serve any time of the year, but you can make yours a Christmas delight by adding some seasonal flair. Sangria always starts with wine. After that, you can add things like brandy or ginger ale, or you can keep things really simple by just mixing wine and orange juice. After you choose your liquids, you can cut up just about any fruit you have on hand and add it to the mix. Oranges and lemons are customary, but you can add a little holiday cheer by throwing in cranberries and cloves.
It is best to mix your sangria the night before your party and keep it in the refrigerator until just before your guests arrive. You can then put it in a pitcher or a large drink dispenser for an easy winter cocktail your guests can serve themselves.
Photo Credits (in order of appearance): morgueFile, maggieau124; morgueFile, fmfm166; Wikimedia Commons/jules; Wikimedia Commons/Loyna; morgueFile, Linzi
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]]>This old-school favorite requires no equipment and no preparation, aside from making sure your lawn is free of tripping hazards.
Have the kids form a line at one end of your lawn and have one child go to the other end of your lawn to be the stoplight. When the child playing the stoplight says, “Green light!,” the other children run towards them. When the child playing the stoplight says, “Red light!,” the other children freeze. If any of the kids do not freeze, they return to the start line, and the game continues. The first person to reach the child playing the stoplight wins that round and becomes the stoplight for the next round.
This is another one you probably played when you were growing up. You won’t need any equipment or prep time, so this is one you can do for impromptu playdates or backyard parties when you run out of fun activities for kids.
First, pick one child to play Simon. Have the rest of the children gather in a group facing Simon. Simon then tells the group to take specific actions, such as touching their knees or spinning around. The key to the game is that group must only follow the commands that start with, “Simon says…” Anyone who follows a command that did not start with “Simon says” stops playing and sits down until the next round. The last kid standing becomes Simon for the next round.
There are a few ways you can organize a bean bag toss, and all of them are fun games for kids. If most of your party guests are younger children, simply set out large, plastic bowls and have the kids toss bean bags in the bowls. If your guest list includes older kids, try playing a more challenging bean bag toss game with a board with multiple holes cut it in for targets or cornhole, which involves a board with a single hole cut out to use as targets. Cornhole is taken very seriously in some parts of the country, so a quick online search will produce how to make a regulation cornhole board and how to score the game.
This ranks among the all-time favorites in yard games for kids. Not only is it a great way to kill time while the adults talk or prepare food; it is also a great way to let the kids release energy. To play, simply start off with one child being “It.” Once that child is able to tag another child, the child who was tagged is now “It” and the game continues until the kids are worn out and ready for another activity.
Tag involves running, so it is important to make sure the kids play this one on a level surface that has been checked for tripping hazards. This is where an artificial turf lawn comes in rather handy in your backyard or your kids’ play area. The level, even surface and lack of mud makes a synthetic lawn the perfect place for games like tag.
This variation on the traditional game of tag involves the person who is “It” running around and tagging as many people as possible. Once tagged, each person must freeze where they are and cannot move unless they are unfrozen by another player tagging them. The game continues until everyone (except for “It”) is frozen. Then, if the kids still have the energy, select another person to be “It” and start up another round.
This one does not require any special equipment, but it does require a little prep time. Mostly, you just need to print out lists of objects for the kids to find in your backyard. This is a great one to do as teams and can also help the kids learn about nature. Some items you might include on the list are leaves, twigs, oranges (or another fruit you have growing in your backyard), rocks, or a particular type of flower.
There are large checker games that can be played on a patio and even larger checker games that require so much space, you need to play them on the lawn. You will need to purchase one of these outdoor checker games beforehand, but once you have it, it will be perfect to pull out when you need easy yard games for kids. Checkers is usually played with just two players, but you can divide the kids into two teams and encourage learning social skills as they work together to win.
One child (the seeker) counts to 20 or 50 or 100 (whatever works for the age group) while everyone else (the hiders) finds a place to hide. When the child is finished counting, they start searching for the other players. Once they find another player, that player becomes the seeker and begins looking for the other hiders. The last hider to be found wins that round and starts off the next round as the seeker.
Paint a Tic-Tac-Toe grid on a sheet or tarp, lay it out on your lawn, and give the kids a stack of Frisbees in two colors. This is another of many yard games that can either be played by two people or by two sets of people divided into teams. Each child (or team) takes turns tossing a Frisbee to try to get it to land in the squares needed to achieve three in a row.
A water balloon toss is one of those fun games for kids that takes a little prep and cleanup but is well worth it. You will need to purchase and fill water balloons beforehand. Make sure you have at least one balloon for every two kids that will be at the party or playdate, but you should really have more on hand, since this might turn into a water balloon fight or you might want to play more than one round.
Once you have your water balloons ready, have the kids line up in two lines facing each other. Each child will be partners with the child facing them in the other line. Give a balloon to all of the kids in one of the lines. After they have all tossed their water balloons to their partners, have all of the kids take a step back, and then toss them again. As you continue this, some will begin to miss or drop their balloons, and they will pop. Once a team’s balloon has popped, that pair is out of the game. The winners are the last partners with an intact balloon.
Twister is a fun, silly game that has been around for decades. To make this a yard game for kids, you can use a regular twister mat for a small group or paint rows of colored dots on a large tarp to play with a bigger group.
Save your two-liter soda bottles until you have at least 10 to set up like bowling pins. The game will be more fun if the bottles are painted, so you can get two activities out of this one. First, make it a craft project and let the kids decorate the bottles. Once they are dry, they will be ready for some soda bottle lawn bowling. Put just enough sand of gravel in the bottom of the bottles to keep them standing but still easy to knock over. Set them up like bowling pins and give the kids a soccer ball or volleyball to roll to knock over the pins. Keep score as you would in conventional bowling.
Like most of the yard games on this list, soda bottle bowling requires a level, even surface, which makes artificial turf an ideal choice as a ground cover where these games will be played. Of course, this is not the only reason to choose synthetic turf for play areas and backyards. Here are four other benefits to consider:
1. Artificial turf does not require chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides, which means you can reduce your family’s exposure to these potentially harmful chemicals.
2. You never have to mow, aerate or edge a synthetic lawn, which means you have more time to play and your lawn is always ready for action.
3. It is common for natural grass lawns to have dips, mounds and divots from clumps of grass or from kids and dogs playing. This leads to tripping hazards that can be avoided with artificial turf.
4. Even if your kids play outside on the lawn after it rains, there are no wet blades of grass or mud for them to track in if that lawn is synthetic turf.
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]]>Many Southern California homeowners expect their utility bills to increase as the weather gets warmer.
Between air conditioning, fans, plants needing more water, and the additional lights and patio heaters used when entertaining outdoors at night, summers can seriously impact the price we pay for gas, electricity and water each month.
Thankfully, there are lots of ways to reduce energy and water consumption when entertaining outdoors to help you save money and do your part to save the planet.
Some are simple, inexpensive fixes, and some are a bit more of an investment, but every step you take to use less electricity, water or gas is a step in the right direction.
If you plan on entertaining after the sun goes down, you are going to need some type of lighting to guide your guests safely through your yard, accentuate certain landscaping features and provide adequate illumination for your event.
Here are five lower-energy ways to light your outdoor living spaces and landscaping:
1. Use solar-powered path lights along walkways and the edges of your patios.
Solar path lights gather the sun’s energy during the day, and then use that energy to light the way once the sun goes down.
There are no wires to worry about, they can be placed almost anywhere, and they are free to run once you make the initial investment of purchasing them.
If you choose options with LED bulbs, you can also save money by enjoying your solar lights for years without having to worry about changing light bulbs or replacing the lights.
2. Use solar-powered landscape lighting to accentuate water features and other interesting landscaping features.
With no wires and no plugs needed, solar landscape lights are perfect for placing in even the most remote areas of your yard.
As long as they are positioned to receive some sun during the day, you can enjoy beautiful backyard lighting at night.
3. Keep your gathering close to your fire pit or patio fireplace.
If you plan on using your fire pit or fireplace as a heat source or to set the mood, you can also use it as a light source for your party.
If you set up food, drinks, seating and entertainment near your fire features, you can take advantage of the light they give off and avoid lighting areas of your yard that are farther away.
Just make sure you do not place textiles dangerously close to the fire, and keep your food and drinks far enough away to keep them from being affected.
4. Use soy candles for mood lighting.
Soy candles burn much cleaner than those made of paraffin wax and are much better for the environment and the health of your guests.
When you use all-natural, non-toxic candles for mood lighting, you can also avoid using electric lights.
5. Use flameless, LED candles along pathways, as centerpieces or to set the mood.
Battery-powered, flameless candles are safe to use to illuminate walkways, in areas frequented by children and pets, or close to food and drinks to provide light.
If you use rechargeable batteries, you can be even more environmentally friendly.
And if you really want to take things up a notch, you can also invest in a solar-powered battery charger to avoid using electricity to recharge your batteries.
Pulling the cover off of your barbecue and grilling with friends is one of the joys of outdoor entertaining.
Unfortunately, burning charcoal or wood is bad for the environment and not so great for your health.
You can immediately lower your carbon footprint by investing in a cleaner-burning electric, propane or gas grill.
While buying organic, local produce and meats will not help lower your utility bills, it does help reduce your carbon footprint by reducing the amount of energy and pollution related to food transportation.
Make sure you get the most out of your grilling time by preparing your entire meal on the grill and making leftovers to reheat over the next few days.
This will help reduce your overall energy consumption related to meal preparation.
If you have gas burners on your grill, make sure the flame is turned up just enough to heat the pan without coming out from under the bottom or up the sides, which wastes energy.
Here are six things you can do to reduce the energy used in your outdoor kitchen:
1. Choose energy efficient appliances.
2. Consider installing enough solar panels to power your outdoor kitchen.
3. If you only use your outdoor refrigerator when entertaining, unplug it between events.
4. When in use, keep your refrigerator full to help it function more efficiently.
5. Allow leftovers to cool to room temperature before placing them in the refrigerator.
6. Unplug blenders, ice makers and other appliances when not in use.
Burning wood is not good for the environment, but it is hard to pass up the chance to gather around a fire to swap stories and spend quality time with family and friends.
To make using your fire feature a bit more environmentally friendly, you can at least burn wood that might otherwise have ended up in a landfill.
For example, you can save the branches you trim from trees and twigs you rake from your lawn to burn when you have a party.
Burning some of your safe-to-burn yard waste also allows you to take advantage of the heat and light from the fire feature to avoid using electric lights or heaters.
This will help you save a little energy and money.
You do not want to burn anything that has been chemically treated, and avoid using lighter fluid to get the fire going.
Here are seven ways you can save water in your outdoor living areas:
1. If you have an outdoor shower for folks to use before or after enjoying your pool, install a low-flow showerhead to conserve water.
If you have hot and cold water in your outdoor shower, a low-flow showerhead will also reduce the amount of energy used to heat the water.
2. Fix leaky faucets to save water.
3. Install a drip irrigation system to more efficiently water landscaping features.
4. Choose low-water plants and native species to reduce your yard’s water requirements.
5. When designing your landscape, include more hardscape features, such as paving stone patios and walkways, for a lower-maintenance, lower-water design.
6. Consider including dry streams in your landscape design.
This newer landscaping design trend is increasing in popularity as more homeowners search for ways to include the idea of water in their design while maintaining their commitment to low-water landscaping.
7. Replace natural grass lawns with artificial turf.
Artificial turf can help you save water, electricity and gas, since it never needs to be mowed, edged, aerated or watered.
1. Consider using manual tools instead of those powered by gas or electricity.
Burn more calories and reduce your energy usage by opting for a reel mower and a rake, instead of a leaf blower and gas or electric mower.
2. Use citronella candles for lights and pest control, instead of electric bug zappers.
3. Indoor-outdoor parties mean lots of doors being left open or repeatedly opened and closed.
If you have the air conditioning on in your house, this increases the energy needed to keep your home cool.
Keep the party outdoors and start it a little later in the day to reduce air conditioning costs and energy usage.
4. Invest in a solar-powered pump for your pond, fountain or other water feature.
If you are concerned that your water feature will not work once the sun goes down, purchase a hybrid pump instead.
This will still allow you to save energy during the day when the sun is out.
6. Use reusable plates and silverware to reduce waste, and then wash them in your energy-efficient dishwasher to conserve energy and water.
Be sure to only run the dishwasher when it is full.
7. Strategically plant trees to shield your patio from the sun to reduce your need to run outdoor ceiling fans and to make your patio a more enjoyable place to hang out.
Keeping your patio cool will also make it easier to convince your party guests to stay outdoors.
8. You can be pretty sure at least one guest will ask if they can plug in their phone charger while they are at your party.
Be prepared with solar chargers that will impress your guests and save electricity.
9. Read our post about the Top 7 Ways to Reduce Your Pool’s Energy Use.
What are your favorite ways to save water, energy and money when entertaining outdoors?
Share your tips with us in the comments below!
Photo Credits (in order of appearance): Belgard Hardscapes; Belgard Hardscapes; morgueFile, Ladyheart; morgueFile, iceman0; Belgard Hardscapes
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]]>The post How to Host a Safe and Stylish Outdoor Brunch appeared first on INSTALL-IT-DIRECT.
]]>A smaller guest list will make social distancing easier, allows you to enjoy easier brunch prep, and allows for a more intimate atmosphere.
Sending invitations makes your brunch a bit more stylish and lets your guests know what to expect. You can always send paper invitations in the mail, but since this party may be a little less environmentally friendly than gatherings you would typically host, sending digital invitations is one easy way to host an eco-friendlier event.
Use the invitation to give your guests all the information they need so that they will know what is expected of them, what they are supposed to bring, and how the safety protocols will work.
This is all about hosting an outdoor brunch, so hosting outside is a given, but just in case you were getting any ideas about hosting part of the gathering inside – don’t.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has this to say about gatherings: “smaller outdoor and in-person gatherings in which individuals from different households remain spaced at least 6 feet apart, wear cloth face coverings, do not share objects, and come from the same local area (e.g., community, town, city, or county),” are considered lower risk. (CDC.gov)
So, following those guidelines, you should host your gathering outside. This could be a curbside brunch, a brunch in your driveway, or a backyard brunch. Using your backyard for the gathering will, of course, allow for more privacy and a more intimate atmosphere.
Part of keeping you and your guests safer is limiting the number of times anyone has to touch a surface. One easy way to limit touching is by designating one entrance where your guests will enter and exit. Ideally, this will be a gate that can stay open so that folks can go in and out of your backyard without going through your house or even touching a gate latch.
If you have a poolside cabana with a bathroom, that is an ideal option for your guests to use during your backyard brunch. However, most of us do not have a bathroom in our backyard, so your guests are probably going to need to go in your house. Choose the bathroom closest to your yard, and make sure it is stocked with hand soap and towels. You may want to consider disposable guest towels so that your guests will not have to share a towel. Make sure you have a no-touch trash can or a trash can without a lid so that guests will have a touchless way of throwing things away.
Place hand sanitizer at the entrance to the space and by the door where they will go inside to use the restroom. When your guests arrive, ask them to use the hand sanitizer before entering the party space and any time they are going to go into your house to use the restroom.
Before your guests arrive and after they leave, sanitize any surface they may touch. This might include gate latches, doorknobs, sink faucets, toilet lids and flush handles, trash cans, chairs, and any other surfaces.
You know how many people are coming and you know how much space you have in your backyard, so now is the time to figure out the best setup to promote social distancing but still keep your guests feeling connected and able to socialize.
While you might typically host a dinner party or outdoor brunch on your patio, you might want to expand your options for gatherings during the pandemic. Consider setting up tables or picnic blankets on your lawn, using your outdoor dining room table, and taking advantage of any shaded areas, such as spots under trees or patios with pergolas. You could even have guests gather around your swimming pool or fire pit to make good use of your space.
Remember, folks isolating together can be at the same table or on the same blanket, so plan your seating accordingly.
If you are hosting a very small brunch and have a large table, it might be possible to all sit at the same table – as long as you can space the chairs six feet apart.
Now that we have covered the basics, let’s get to the fun stuff, such as the food, the drinks, and the little touches that will make your brunch memorable.
Nothing says brunch like cucumber water, lavender lemonade, or – if you are planning a boozy brunch – mimosas. All of these lend themselves well to being made beforehand and served in pretty bottles or pitchers. This means that you can set a bottle or pitcher at each table or blanket so no one will need to touch bottles others have touched when serving themselves a drink.
The biggest issue with food at a socially distant, outdoor brunch is figuring out how to serve it. Family-style dining is out, since that requires everyone to use shared serving utensils to serve themselves out of shared serving dishes. Your best choice is to serve individual portions. The second-best option is to serve buffet style with one person in a mask and gloves serving the guests.
Since individual servings that are not shared among different tables are the best option, let’s go over some options for serving your brunch in this manner.
One easy thing to do is to find some attractive baskets and place a basket of muffins, scones, or turnovers on each table or blanket. You can also use these baskets to set fresh fruit at each gathering spot.
Another option for individual portions is to serve quiches or frittatas in individual ramekins. You could also make veggie- and cheese-filled egg bites made in a mini muffin pan.
For yogurts or desserts, use half-pint mason jars (aka jelly jars) to serve yogurt and fruit parfaits or individual portions of pudding.
If you are serving trayed appetizers, be sure to choose appetizers that you can put a toothpick in. This will allow your guests to take just what they want without touching the tray or other food on the tray.
If you are serving trayed foods, use your outdoor kitchen as a prep and serving space so that your guests can get their food, and then go to their socially distanced table or blanket.
The sink in your outdoor kitchen is also a huge benefit when it comes to frequent handwashing, so make sure you have soap and towels available.
A backyard brunch gives you a great opportunity to support a local restaurant by ordering food for pickup or delivery. So, you might consider ordering some of the food or the desserts from a local eatery.
It is all the little touches that really set brunch apart from other food-based gatherings. So, while we do need to change things up a bit to make socializing with friends and family as safe as possible, it is important to include some touches that will make your brunch memorable.
For example, if it is a chilly day and you have a fire pit or patio fireplace, light a fire to keep your guests warm and create a welcoming atmosphere. If you will be serving brunch on a pergola-covered patio, consider adding patio curtains to provide more protection from the weather and create a more intimate space.
Cloth napkins make brunch feel a bit fancier and are better for the environment, but disposable napkins can be simply thrown away, and no one has to touch them to launder them. So, you may want to look for themed, disposable napkins or thicker, attractive, disposable napkins to limit exposure.
The same goes for plates and utensils. Using your regular party plates and utensils will give your brunch a fancier feel, but disposable plates and utensils can simply be thrown away by your guests to help limit exposure. Consider eco-friendly, compostable options to achieve a good balance between keeping your guests safe and not harming the environment any more than necessary.
To make your brunch more fun and memorable, consider having a theme. Something simple like a garden party hat theme or festive face covering theme will encourage your guests to wear something fun and get in the spirit for socializing.
Remember: You and your guests should wear face coverings when you are not eating or drinking.
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