How to Throw an Outdoor Party when you don't have an Outdoor Fireplace

I'll lay it out right here, I've thrown me some kick-ass parties. From Star Wars cakes and light sabers to an all chocolate shindig (pre-kids), people leave full and happy. I would never deem to describe my parties as anything but casual, even when I was childless and prepared multiple course Thanksgiving and passover meals. In fact, I pride myself on committing more faux-pas than my guests, just to make them feel at ease - ya, that's it.

From getting kicked out of the bowling alley for serving cupcakes, to running out of food just as my pregnant friend showed up.  Not to mention another pregnant friend who accidentally drank the water-hydrogen peroxide mix I'd made up to induce vomiting after the dog had at a big old hunk of chocolate - good thing we had a doctor on hand to relieve our fears, coincidentally also pregnant, sheesh. I've already had a big outdoor barbecue to kick off the summer, and thought about one more, so was eager to read some tips I found in the paper. Since pretty much none of the ideas fit in with my "lifestyle" I decided to include my own (in blue non-italics below). This was actually taken from a longer piece in the Washington Post, but I'm choosing to ignore the rest.

Impromptu Get-Together - if your friends seem to need at least 2 1/2 weeks notice for any sort of get-together, don't stress. It may take a few years, but you'll eventually realize they are not all out having fun or traveling to exotic places while you're stuck at home.

On summer weekends, Jen Denney loves to be outside with her kids. As the day's activities wind down, neighboring parents and kids sometimes gather on her front lawn. Denney, a caterer and director of sales for Ridgewells catering company in Bethesda, Md., says her ideal gathering is to invite the neighbors in for hamburgers on the grill and cold lemonade.

If you have a small front lawn, small children prone to run away, dogs who don't want to be left out, or, most importantly, you are not actually a caterer, you can still have a BBQ, promise.

"Entertaining is all about keeping relationships alive," Denney says. "So I love it when people decide to have a party just to spend time with one another." Is it wrong that I had a party in the hopes of being invited to other summer parties? What about if I told people this was the reason?

-The setup: Keep things as comfortable as possible. Move throw pillows outside onto lounge furniture. Roll out a weatherproof rug, and light an outdoor fireplace. "It's not just a temporary eating space, but it's about letting your backyard become more of a conversation area," Denney says.

Or, take your small space, cram a bunch of camping chairs to supplement the kids painting area (old Ikea dinner table) and patio set, and call it a party. I would advise using sleeping pillows in lieu of non-existent throw pillows, although two kids snuggled under a blanket on a double camping chair makes an adorable sight. Outdoor rugs are very cool, but don't make the mistake of buying a full price one right at the beginning of summer.

-On the table: Atop a white tablecloth, set mix-and-match flatware and decorative plates.

Or, place silver-colored plastic wear in colorful plastic cups, striped Ikea napkins and large wooden candlesticks from the half off sale at Cost Plus. Done.

-Quality tip: Stay away from anything disposable. "When you have disposable, it conveys a certain less-planned feeling to your guests. You want the people there to feel special because they were invited to your home," Denney says.

Or, borrow your dad's biodegradable plates so you don't spend the entire party thinking about all the dishes you'll have to wash. You're not making your friends cook or clean, they will feel plenty special.

-Casual vibe: For additional seating, spread blankets on the lawn for kids to eat and play on. Plan some "old-fashioned fun, like a game of croquet," Denney suggests. Hand out blended margaritas in plastic cups and have kids running around in bathing suits - Voila! A casual vibe is created. Avoid the blankets on the lawn if you have dogs or a slip 'n slide.

How do you get organized for an outdoor party?

My grandmother always kept a big book of everything she served to people, so no one ever ate the same thing twice. I still do that on a small scale. I flip over the invitation and jot down who came and what I served, so I'm not always serving the same thing. Tell people they are welcome to bring something but don't need to. Forget you've invited generous people and end up with 5 watermelons and a giant cooler of beer and sausages.

What tips do you have for entertaining kids?

I always try to do some sort of kids' activity. That could be things like bubbles or coloring books, something they could keep. Also, on a hot day, I just turn on the sprinkler for them to run through. Water balloons + Slip 'n Slide + 15 children = sore hands, happy kids and giant mud puddle.

So if anyone wants to stop by our house, I can't promise fancy table wear or remembering what I last served, but I will have cold libations, hot food and outdoor entertainment in the form of two small boys.

Original post for Silicon Valley Moms blog.

When she's not pining for an outdoor fireplace and neighborhood full of kids, Nicole Pelton can be blogging about her own kids at Not Just a Working Mom and at Not Just a Working Mom Reviews.