10 Ways to Keep a Backyard Barbeque Simple, Fun and Personal!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Diet Dr Pepper®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Summer is drawing to a close, and quite honestly I’m sad about it because we had a lot of fun this summer. In just two weeks school is starting!

I’ve been thinking about having a backyard barbeque as a Back to School party. Barbeques are such a fun way to enjoy time with friends and family. I’ve really been trying to savor these moments because I know how important relationships are.

Here is my personal thought about having a barbeque. Backyard barbeques are so fun, but sometimes I put too much emphasis on things that don’t matter, that I can’t even enjoy myself. So here is what I’ve come up with.

10 Ways to Keep a Backyard Barbeque Simple and Fun!

Consider Your Guest List

I like throwing small parties. I think it’s because I like making it personal. For me that means inviting about 2 families over at one time. I have many friends that prefer to have large parties and love a crowd. My advice would be just to do what feels natural to you so you’ll find your own party enjoyable!

Keep the Menu Basic

A traditional backyard barbeque for us is grilling hamburgers, hot dogs, and corn on the cob. You can buy some chips, cut up some fruit and make an easy salad and you have a complete meal!

Put Out Simple Decorations

My favorite and easy decoration is to purchase two outdoor torches and light them. They immediately light up your space with just a touch of ambience with little to no decorating time. You can also set a plant or herb out on the food table that you had inside your house.

Another fun idea if you have a little time is to purchase some lights and put them in stakes in your yard (kind of like Christmas) and stake out the backyard.

Purchase your Guests’ Favorite Drinks

My friends absolutely love Diet Dr Pepper. No party is complete without it and if I don’t have it, my friends will bring their own. So it’s just commonly known now amongst our friends that the host has plenty of Diet Dr Pepper on hand.

You don’t need to provide every drink possible, so just stick with a couple of sodas, water, and possibly tea or lemonade.

Set up Two Tables

One table is for the food and drinks. The other table is for eating. Put the plates on the food table with the silverware and cups and let your guests serve themselves. This frees you up to visit and enjoy yourself too. Plus, it helps separate your eating area and is just creates a more casual atmosphere.

Use Disposable Cups

I love using disposable cups at parties and setting a black magic marker out for everyone to write their name on their cup. This eliminates confusion as to whose cup is whose and eliminates wasted drinks that people set down from time to time and forget which one is theirs.

Plan Activities

Set out some glow sticks, Frisbees, and sidewalk chalk for the kids. We have a playset, so that keeps kids entertained. A soccer game can also be fun so I’ll set out two balls and cones so the kids can play. We also have a bocce ball set for the adults if they want to play a game.

{I have a little Instant-Win Game you can play courtesy of Diet Dr Pepper for a chance to Win a $5 Walmart eGift Card. Plus you can win more prizes. Check it out at the bottom of my list!}

If your party goes into dusk, provide jars with holes poked into the top for the kids to catch lightning bugs!

Provide Items People May Forget

Set out bug spray and sunscreen. Bandages come in handy also if you have kids playing. I also leave out some wipes (it never fails we need them).

Set Out Take Home Plastic Containers

Send home your guests’ favorite leftover dessert. This is always a nice touch to the end of a party. And believe me, who needs endless desserts left sitting around their house? I am the best at eating every last dessert and feeling terrible the next few days!

I also send home leftover 2 liters of soda. My family won’t drink all the partially used 2 liters and I’d rather send my friends home with their favorite soda than keep it all for ourselves.

Make the Same Meal Again

So here’s the real secret. Every time you have a backyard barbeque, especially if you keep the group small, do everything you did the first time! This eliminates making new decisions about what to make and what to purchase. It will really simplify your planning. Just invite different friends, or invite the same ones if you want!

 

If you want a chance to win a $5 Walmart e-Gift card, you can play a scratch-off game by registering at www.DrPepper.com/Walmart. #SummerFUNd!

Enter #SummerFUNd Giveaway

Plus, you can upload your receipts after your purchase of  Diet Dr Pepper at Walmart {like I did for my party since my friends LOVE Diet Dr Pepper} and have the opportunity to win a $10, $20, $250 or $1,000 Walmart e-Gift card!

If you buy more than $10 of Diet Dr Pepper in a single receipt at Walmart  you get 2 sweepstakes entries!

I’m thinking you could use your gift card to throw your own backyard barbeque! Just use my guidelines to having a simple, fun and personal backyard barbeque. I hope you’ll grab some Diet Dr Pepper at Walmart and Enter to Win!