Along these lines, I purchased a small (5 cu ft) chest freezer a few years ago that is exclusively used for bagged ice and (when we are having pool parties) ice cream treats. I have found this to be extremely convenient. In the past, a pool party or any entertaining event always required a last-minute ice run. Now I can purchase ice along with other items needed to host an event at the same time and I have somewhere to put all that ice where it will be kept frozen. These chest freezers are fairly inexpensive. It has made things so much more convenient that I wondered how I ever did without it. I keep ours under the covered part of the patio so guests do not have to traipse through the house to get additional ice or an ice cream treat for the kids.
We did the same thing and yes it just makes life so much easier. I didn't want to go with an outdoor kitchen bar/tv area. I wanted nothing but music, laughter, fun & games ~ outdoor activities, outside. I know sure enough if we built and outdoor area it would only be a matter of time until TV, game systems ~ indoor activities gravitated outside. No slight at all to people who go that route, but we are dedicated couch & gaming potatoes, we get more of that type of activity than a person should through our PA winters. Like you, I don't know how we managed without one. I am eventually going to get it decorated so it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. I keep my homemade ice jugs in there, the big bags of ice we buy, cool treats and I'll also toss the cobbed corn and fruit in there to chill a bit while I am prepping for parties. I run it year round, and it's used year round.
Something I am totally envious of, my brother build his picnic table with an ice chest that run through the center. If it's covered you don't know the area is there, it looks like a normal table that is totally functioning for card play, board games, kids, etc. Pop that lid off, load in the ice, and it keeps your cold stuff cold. When I move the tables I have up to the bonfire area, the next tables I have, he will build like he built his.
Those chest freezers are priced right and at the end of the season they practically give them away.
And too there is no shame in picking up things as you go. Everyone does things a little different and a couple outdoor seasons really sets the tone for the things you will buy because you have learned they will be useful for the type of partying you do. After the 4th of July, I know in our area, Target and the like really start discounting outdoor "stuff" Last year I picked up mesh food domes, and non lidded beverage chests for a couple bucks each, I haven't used the domes yet, so we'll see how we like them. The no lid beverage chests (I have 3 right now) one for fruit, one for condiments, and one for whatever cold salads I have made for the event; they keep that stuff cold. I don't care for the ice bowls (the ones you freeze and put the food in) I don't think they stay cold long enough. So metal bowls, sunk in ice work for us, they have a drain plug like a cooler so you food doesn't swim. When the stuff that we use starts getting marked down, I take advantage of those sales.
We have talked about pool BBall a bunch of times it's something I would like to have as well.
I am on-call 24/7 ~ 365 and have been for 18 years so I have what I call "the bullet" it's a jbl bluetooth speaker I sync my phone to it so when I am enjoying my time outside, but have to be mindful of work activity I can hear the phone. It runs separate to the music, if it's just me out here puttering around I will run my iTunes through it as well. But if you are enjoying a bit of Floyd and the you get a text or a call ~ right in the middle of the greatness the phone activity will stop the bliss (always seems to ring at the worst time!) It's also handy for when I kindle on a float in the pool, my ears are going and before I had that thing I always thought I may have heard the phone and had to check, now I know
This is a really good thread. Lots of neat ideas, thanks!
And for all those adding to it and the fun.
