Part Two of our “Farewell to Summer” party-planning series is a tip sheet with a few more ideas and can serve as a check-list to make sure that no detail is left out.

• Don’t forget to make sure you have enough propane in your grill. Use a great barbecue sauce/marinade on chicken, fish or steak a few hours ahead of time for extra flavor.  Keep barbecue-ready food (in the sauce of choice) refrigerated in zippered bags until guests arrive and the grill is fired up and ready to go.  Do all the prep work before your guests arrive.  The host/hostess should be able to enjoy the party too!

• Be prepared for the buzzing summer mosquitoes by lighting citronella candles and torches just before the sun goes down.   Kids should wear deet-free spray or mosquito-repellent bands, which can be bought at local convenient, drug or hardware stores.

• Plan a summer-friendly menu with seasonal fruits and veggies.  Watermelon and feta cheese make a great combo.  For dessert, try some graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows and head to a fire pit for  s’mores to remind everyone that it’s good to be a kid- at any age.

• Beach-inspired music is a must! Ask your kids for a modernized play list. Have them go through their music libraries and pick out some summer favorites to add to the mix. This will help kids feel involved (and keep them busy while you prepare appetizers!)

• Add personal touches in unexpected places (like our Personalized Stir Sticks that were featured in this month’s REAL SIMPLE magazine).

• Act like a kid. You are never too old to  have a water balloon fight, tell scary stories around a campfire, play flashlight tag or hide-and-seek, blow bubbles or pitch a tent for a sleepover in the yard!  Summer is the best time to kick off your shoes and act like a silly 12-year-old.

The end of summer doesn’t have to mean the fun stops here.   Patriotic red, white and blue-themed parties are a great way to celebrate Labor Day.  The party doesn’t have to stop!  Check back here soon for some more great inspiring party-planning ideas and join our conversation on Facebook and let us know if you have any other great end-of-summer theme ideas.  We love to hear from our customers about celebrating such milestones.

Happy End-of-Summer!!!