Want to add a touch of class to your #cookout? Make your table settings sophisticated, says Havenly Hideaway. Use fresh flowers, a tablecloth and real plates instead of paper and plastic, and set the table in advance before serving up dishes family-style. Make a batch of a signature cocktail to your barbecue feel more like a special event, the site adds: “Pick something that’s easy to make, like punch or a margarita, so you can put out a big pitcher for everyone to try.” If some of your guests are younger or teetotalers, you can leave the alcohol out of the blend or serve it on the side. #ClassyCookout
Tag: summer
Have a Casual, Crowd-Pleasing Cookout
Summer means outdoor living, and there’s nothing quite like hosting a #cookout to bring family and friends together. You can keep things casual with crowd-pleasing classics such as burgers, brats and cole slaw, Delish says, or take things up a notch with chicken kebabs, grilled oysters or lime shrimp. Be sure to include a good side such as potato salad or grilled vegetables, and a quick-grab dessert such as s’mores or watermelon. Whatever’s on the menu, keep it low-key: Turn on the Bluetooth speaker and set up a lawn game, and guests are guaranteed to get some good vibes. #CasualCookout
Free Yourself From a Lifetime of Clutter
The latest word in #decluttering advice is “death cleaning,” a no-holds-barred strategy to get rid of unnecessary belongings that can be undertaken long before the ultimate demise forces family members to do it on one’s behalf. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutter, artist Margareta Magnusson asks readers to embrace #minimalism to put things in order for good. It can be a difficult but invigorating process, and the book is an entertaining beach read for any aspiring #declutterer with aging family members. When you’re done reading and #decluttering, contact ClothingDonations.org for a free donation pickup! #SummerReading
Summer Reads to Fit Your Schedule
Pick an #organizing book that fits into your schedule to avoid getting overwhelmed with the task, says VeryWell Mind. Pick a short book with small projects if you’re time-constrained, or something more detailed from a #decluttering or home guru such as Marie Kondo or Martha Stewart. If you can count on your family to join you in the struggle to #declutter and #organize, try The Real Simple Method to Organizing Every Room: And How to Keep It That Way, which offers checklists and step-by-step instructions for a variety of household organizing projects that can build a new routine and encourage long-term tidiness. #SummerReading
Start a 12-Month Organizing Schedule
As you enjoy #summer #vacation, make a plan to #organize your home once and for all: Grab a copy of Organize Your Home In A Year Or Less! by Kai M. Jordan as your beach read. The book discusses mistakes when attempting to #orgnanize their homes and three techniques you can use to sort out your life. The calendar-based approach offers 12 exercises to follow in organizing your kitchen, living room, bathroom, garage, attic, bedrooms, closets and more, and discusses the differences to know between #decluttering (a project) and #organizing (a system). Get with the program to clear up the persistent messes and #clutter that add to stress. #SummerReading