Having a bunch of friends over to grill some hot dogs doesn't have to be complicated. With these seven bits of advice, you can have a fun backyard BBQ without all the fuss.
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Try sending an invitations through email to invite all your guests. You can send them out in a few minutes and you can receive fast responses right back to see who is coming. Guests can see who else is coming and they can leave a comment. Great tip: you can have a list of things that would be helpful for people to volunteer to bring. It can be anything from food items to games, music, even paper plates or extra chairs.
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Concentrate on the outside. Blow all the dirt off the patio and wipe down the tables and then keep everyone outside. If you can, help lead people around the side of the house but stringing twinkle lights and adding some solar-powered tiki torches. Then toss any indoor junk piles into a back bedroom, clean up the kitchen and wipe the bathroom down. Add room fragrances that give off beach scents and dim the lights. Battery-powered tea lights are perfect for atmosphere, even in the bathroom.
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Bring comfort items from your living room or bedroom outside. Pull out blankets, pillows, lamps with an extension cord, and table cloths. It will instantly feel like a cozy indoor room, but outside. Choose a theme if it makes it easier for you to decorate, but watch your budget.
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For food, decide what foods you could buy pre-made and then make them personalized. For example you can buy bulk potato salad or baked beans. Add chopped up celery, boiled eggs, and then sprinkle paprika on your potato salad. Add big pieces of bacon to your baked beans. For your meat, choose something simple where everyone doesn't have to have it cooked their way. Ask a spouse or friend to grill, or grill in advance and warm it up on the grill at the end. You can also have an item like salmon. Wrap it in foil with herbs and oils and steam on the grill. Use some smoke-flavored wood chips to keep everyone drooling from the scent.
![Post to MySpace!](javascript:GetThis('Seven Steps to Planning a Great BBQ Party', '<img src="http://www.self.ca/public/articles/large/outdoor_bbq_parties.jpg" alt="Seven Steps to Planning a Great BBQ Party" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; border: 0;" />Having a bunch of friends over to grill some hot dogs doesn\'t have to be complicated. With these seven bits of advice, you can have a fun backyard BBQ without all the fuss.<br />
Concentrate on the outside. Blow all the dirt off the patio and wipe down the tables and then keep everyone outside. If you can, help lead people around the side of the house but stringing twinkle lights and adding some solar-powered tiki torches. Then toss any indoor junk piles into a back bedroom, clean up the kitchen and ', window.location.href, 3))
