How to Host a Halloween Movie Night by the Pool
You want a Halloween your kids will still be talking about at Thanksgiving. You don’t want to spend three weekends and a small fortune to pull it off. Good news: your backyard already has everything you need. A Halloween movie night by the pool gives you the cozy blankets, the spooky snacks, and the “wow” […]
Cozy Fall Pool Party Ideas: 10 Ways to Make Your Backyard Feel Like Autumn
You’ve got the pool, the backyard, and a free weekend. Now you want the whole thing to feel like fall: warm, glowing, and so cozy nobody wants to leave. These fall pool party ideas are all about the little details that make that happen, like cider bars, blanket baskets, floating pumpkins, and firelight. What Makes […]
Patio Heater Guide: How to Pick the Perfect One for Your Backyard
Cold nights don’t have to shut down your backyard. A patio heater keeps the s’mores, game nights, and fall pool parties going well past summer. The hard part? Picking one. Electric, propane, natural gas, tabletop, wall-mounted… it’s a lot. Here’s the no-fluff breakdown so you can choose the right patio heater in about five minutes. […]
How to Host a Game-Day Chili Bar by the Pool
You invited everyone over for the big game. Now you’re stuck in the kitchen plating food while everyone else yells at the TV. Not this time. A game-day chili bar lets you make one big pot, set out the toppings, and let your guests build their own bowls. You get to actually watch the game, […]
How to Throw a Fall or Winter Pool Party Your Guests Will Love
Cold weather does not have to shut down your backyard. With a few intentional touches, your pool and patio can become the coziest spot of the season. These 7 tips will help you host a fall or winter pool party your guests will actually want to attend. 1. Heat Your Pool Before the Party Aim […]
12 Backyard Tailgating Games for the Best Party in Town
The best part of tailgating was never the parking lot. It was the three hours before kickoff when somebody set up a game and everyone had something to do besides stand around waiting. The right backyard tailgating games recreate that at home, minus the asphalt. You don’t need eight of them. Pick two or three […]
How to Host the Ultimate Backyard Football Party This Fall
There’s a moment every fall when your backyard changes jobs. All summer it was a pool deck: cannonballs, floaties, sunscreen on every towel. Then the air turns crisp, the leaves start going gold, and football comes back. Suddenly that same space has a completely different calling. The patio becomes the living room. The fire pit […]
Football Party Recipes: 4 Party Recipes + 12 Ideas
Every game day menu fails the same way. Somebody makes something great, sets it out at noon, and by the second quarter it’s cold, congealed, or gone. Meanwhile the host is still in the kitchen plating things while everyone else watches the game they invited people over to watch. Good watch party food isn’t about […]
Labor Day Pool Party Checklist: Water, Food, and Fun
Labor Day weekend is the last real pool weekend of the summer, and everyone knows it. Which is why the invitation usually goes out about five days before anyone has thought about the water. This Labor Day pool party checklist is the fix: one week of small steps instead of one frantic Saturday. A great […]
How to Plan a Safe Labor Day Pool Party (5 Simple Tips)
Your Labor Day pool party should be the highlight of the summer. With a little planning, you can keep it fun and safe for every guest. Here are five tips to help you pull it off. 1. Decide who’s coming before you plan anything else. Will this be adults only or a family event? If […]