How to pack a summer deck bin to save time

If you have small kids, you know that getting outside to play in the summer heat is quite the task.  By the time you’ve finished sun-screening, putting shoes on and finding hats and sunglasses, half an hour has gone by.  My kids love playing outside and we eat most of our meals outside too, weather permitting, so I keep a bin on the deck with supplies we usually need, to avoid having to run in and out of the house all day.

deck bin contents
Keeping a bin on your deck makes heading outside with the kids quick and easy. (Some items not shown.)

I always plan to head outside when we’re about to have a meal or a snack.  That way, I can prepare the snack while everyone is still inside and I don’t have to drag everyone back in while I prepare the food. Since we eat outside whenever we can, I keep a tray in the house for carrying out plates, utensils and snacks, but aside from that, here is a list of eating supplies we keep in our bin.

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Four boozable virgin summer cocktails

Summer is here and there’s nothing I love more than an ice-cold cocktail on the deck, while basking in the sun.  And by basking in the sun, I mean parenting my four kids.  Some days are long, and it feels like five o’clock is so far away so why not get a head start with a virgin cocktail. If you want to (or need to) you can booze it up when five o’clock hits, if you like to play by the rules.

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