5 Tips for the Ultimate Summer BBQ

Thank you Dr Pepper® for sponsoring this post. All opinions and text are my own.

Hey friends! If there is something our family loves to do together – it is to be outside playing, eating, hanging out, and spending time with friends and family! I would pretty much consider us pros at the outside entertainment. Since school is out and we are getting into the heart of summer – I figured I would share some of our favorite tips to throwing the Ultimate Summer BBQ for your family and/or your friends!

Good Music 

Let’s be honest – music can really set or break a mood. Have you ever been to a party and there was terrible music playing? Or, even worse – no music? Yea, we have music on in our house probably 90% of the time but there is a time and place for every genre. Below is my favorite music to listen to when we are hanging out in the back yard!

Good Drinks

We love getting creative with food and drinks – especially mixed drinks. Today – I wanted to share with you a fun recipe that we like to make. Anyone else obsessed with slushies? Yeah, me too. There is just something about them for me that is so much better than a regular drink with ice! Today, I am sharing exactly how we make our favorite – Dr Pepper Slushies!

Oh, and speaking of which – 

When you buy Dr Pepper with their millennial designed new, fun and unique “Pick Your Pepper’ packaging at Walmart  6/15-8/15 this summer, you can upload your receipt here to get the prizes below:

– Spend $5 get 5 bottles = Dr Pepper Retro Specs

-Spend $10 get 10 bottles = Dr Pepper Copper Lined Mug

-Spend $20 get 20 bottles = Dr Pepper Bluetooth Speakers

-Spend $30 get 30 bottles = Dr Pepper Pool Float (y’all – go look at my InstaStories!! It’s huge!)

|| Pin this recipe card for easy access ||

Fun Games

We honestly love just sitting around and chit chatting but, some people prefer to have something to do. We do sometimes get bored (not often – we have three kids) and love having fun games to play with and without the kiddos. Cornhole and Jenga are two of our favorites. Setting your games out and having them ready to play makes your guest feel a lot more welcome to help themselves to the games. If you leave them in the box or their cases – they probably are going to feel rude pulling them out and making that ‘mess.’ Having them out and easily  accessible avoids all of that!

Keep it Easy

I have a few tricks up my sleeve to keep your BBQ’s easy for yourself. 

1. Use things you already have in your home as decor. For example – lemons, limes, and other fruit in the center of the table is inexpensive, bright and cheery, and you probably already have them in your fridge! Plus, if someone wants to add them to their drink – well, they are right there!
2. Use muffin or cupcake paper cups to put your condiments in. It keeps from germs spreading, they are kid and adult friendly, and it’s super easy clean up since you can just throw them away. 
3. Have DIY stations. Let people make their own burgers, plates, etc. It keeps you from preparing too much food for people and allows them to go back for seconds on the things they want!

Yummy/ Pre-Prepared Food

By prepared food – I do not mean store bought. Unless our meal is catered – I make everything. Also, just because it is delicious doesn’t mean it needs to be difficult. Make things you can prepare the night before. I try to make casseroles, baked mac n cheese, etc. That way all I am doing is sticking them in the oven before our guests arrive! As far as cold stuff, prepare your salads and leave the dressing off until the guest are ready to eat. Things such as cucumber salad are actually better if they have sat overnight anyways!