Grilled California Chicken Sandwiches Recipe

There is nothing that I love more than warm weather and parties. This winter seems to have dragged on for months so you can only imagine how eager I am to bring out the patio set and plan some summer parties. I’m a serious party planner. I love every aspect of putting an event together.  From the theme to the food to the signature cocktails, everyone knows that I’m the party planner of the group.

With Memorial Day coming up the gears in my head are turning thinking about what to serve and who to invite.  Lucky for me, my birthday always also falls over this extended weekend and anyone knows me knows that I LOVE birthdays more than anything. Birthdays to me are extra special whether it be my own or someone else. I like to make the birthday boy/girl feel like the center of attention with every last detail. So whether you are planning a Memorial Day bash or a birthday party like me, I’ve got a few tips to make your party come together seamlessly.

1. Location, location, location! Where are you going to host your Memorial Day party? Pick a park or a patio with plenty of space for fun and activities. I also suggest having a backup plan for inclement weather.
2. The menu: summer parties are the perfect time to pull out the grill and prepare an array of pasta salads for your guests.  Plan early enough so you can keep an eye on meat sales and know when the right time to buy your produce. Also be sure to plan for more than enough food. Guests always love when they can take things home with them!
3. Plan 2-3 special touches for your party: I like to plan signature cocktails and mocktails for my guests. I also like to put extra effort into my dessert assortment. If you have a guest of honor, try to plan these things around some of their favorite tastes.
4. Have group activities on hand: I like to plan for group activities such as volleyball or bocce ball. These are great to get people up and moving. Group trivia games are also a good way to get the group laughing and enjoying themselves.

Just remember, planning is a great way to keep you from being stressed out the day of your Memorial Day party. There’s nothing worse than not being able to enjoy the time with your guests. Have a great holiday weekend!