I found some good tips and topics in this article and wanted to pass it along to you all. Gives tips on how much drinks and food to have per person along with many other summer entertaining tips.

I love the outdoors and love to outdoor entertain. I would love to spruce up my outdoor space and entertain more. If any of you have any great party or outdoor revamp ideas, throw them our way.

Does those citronella candles work?

What activity have you found to get a party going? Volley ball, pool table, swimming pool?

http://www.frontgate.com/jump.jsp?itemType=CATEGORY&ite...=1%2C2%2C2033%2C2059

OOooooooo, Shawn! You have my attention now! lol We LOVE to have people over. We'd also love to redo our backyard. Our landscaping has changed dramatically since we bought our home due to freezes and not covering plants Plus, with the '04 hurricanes, we needed to take out several trees back there.

We watch all the home improvement, landscape, and cooking shows. I am such a sucker for them!! One of my favorites is "Boy Meets Grill" with Bobby Flay. A few others I watch if I see they are doing outdoor gatherings, just to see what they are doing and get ideas. Sometimes, I take notes!

We'd like to do some type of water feature, for now a small fountain will do and with the boys, we just don't have the time to tend to things. Also want to redo the pool patio surfacing and pool tile. One day, that seems more our motto everyday! lol

There are some good ideas at your link.

We pick a theme and run with it. We spread things out including seating, but not too much, we want everyone to have space and talk, too.

Since the boys, we have not used our pool for parties though, just once when our older son was 18 months. It makes us nervous. BUT, we have sprinkler balls, bubbles, and jungle gym set to keep the children occupied.

We have the citronella candles and they work pretty well. If there are children around, we recommend getting the taller ones rather than the short.

Bobby Flay

http://www.fiery-foods.com/dave/bobbyflay1.asp


http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_gl



Backyard Entertaining

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_furniture_outdoor/article/0...3447_1396214,00.html


This next one has LOADS of links for all sorts of get togethers, including outdoor!

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_dining_entertaining/0,1800,HGTV_3112,00.html


From the above link-

Outdoor:

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_entertaining_outdoor/0,1800,HGTV_3117,00.html

Michelle I love Bobby Flay. We enjoy catching throw down and boy meets grill. He is awesome. If I wouldn't have married Eddy.... lol, Just kidding

quote:

Originally posted by Shawn Arnold:
Michelle I love Bobby Flay. We enjoy catching throw down and boy meets grill. He is awesome. If I wouldn't have married Eddy.... lol, Just kidding

Ooo, looks like we'd have a cat fight over a guy! I love him, too! He does bite his nails and his cooking station is allllwaaaays a mess, but he's down to earth, a great chef, funny, and seemingly a genuine good guy. We've gotten some great cookout tips from him. And I know what Eddy means to you, my husband means as much, that doesn't mean we can't appreciate the fine things God presents us with now does it??!! (cooking and entertaining, that is)

lol, we have good taste