It's Party Time - OutdoorsThere are always little messes at parties. Guests don't mean to, but sometimes they spill things and drop things. One at a time, these accidental puddles and blobs of food debris are easy to deal with, but afterwards, your house can be in shambles. There are carpets to spot-clean, gooey spots of who-knows-what to scrub off of floors and just general clutter. So, not being a housework queen, I love throwing outdoor parties at this time of year. As far as clean up tools go, I much prefer the garden hose to the mop and vacuum. This inflatable vinyl buffet is one of the most ingenious party coolers I've ever seen. You can use it indoors or out to keep food at a safe temperature. It's really easy to inflate and doesn't take up a whole lot of space. Just fill it with ice and add drinks, cold dishes or whatever you need to keep cold. The best thing about using it outdoors is once you're done, all you have to do is spray it out with the hose, let it dry in the sun and then fold it up for the next time. Speaking of clever party devices, the Perfect Platter™ keeps foods both hot and cold in the same platter. It seems impossible, even too good to be true, but it really works. The top tray is divided into four individually insulated compartments and it fits on top of a base that holds four hot or cold gel packs. Freeze or heat the gel packs in the microwave, put them in the base and put the tray of goodies on top. It keeps food hot or cold for up to eight hours. Everyone seems to love a frothy margarita at summer parties. Even my friends who usually never touch tequila will sometimes have a margarita on a sunny day outside. But even for those who don't, The Margarator™ is a one-gallon blender that makes short work of frozen drinks. Make daquiris, slushees for the kids, pina coladas or any frozen treat you can think of--with or without alcohol. The tank is plastic and it has a handy dispenser, so whether you use it inside or out, it's not as messy as pouring drinks out of a standard blender. To serve all those drinks, you need some unbreakable and easy-to-clean glasses. What could be easier than a shot glass that actually melts? This set of 12 shot glass molds includes a serving tray. The ice glass and really puts a nice chill on everything from vodka to tequila to gelatin shots.  And when the party's over, they're just gone and there are a few less glasses to wash.But some things just won't fit in those tiny frozen glasses. The next best thing is a set of aluminum tumblers. These are just like the ones my grandma had. She used to fill one with Kool-Aid for me before she shooed me outside to play. They really keep drinks cold and they're so easy to clean. Plus, they remind me of long summer days I spent on my grandparents' porch, swinging my bare feet over the edge and sipping a cool, sweet drink. Now that I know how easy it will be to clean up afterwards, I'm in the mood to plan a party! Your "Outdoor Entertaining" Gift Guru, Linda Posted by Linda at
5:00 AM | Friday, June 12, 2009
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