1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning, 2 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:17,280 Speaker 1: This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: tip is to host a porch party. Gathering friends on 4 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:25,799 Speaker 1: your porch, in your backyard or in a neighborhood park 5 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: is a care free way to enjoy social time and 6 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 1: make the most of pleasant weather. Lots of people say 7 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 1: they would like to throw more parties or at least 8 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: get to know neighbors or get together with friends, but 9 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: hosting can feel intimidating. You may feel like you need 10 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: to clean your house, prepare a special menu, and attend 11 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: to every detail. Plus you have lots of demands on 12 00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:02,279 Speaker 1: your time. But hosting doesn't have to be extravagant. You 13 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:06,960 Speaker 1: can always host a simple porch party and enjoy time 14 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: with friends and neighbors with barely any expense or hassle 15 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: at all. Here's how this works. You decide on a 16 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: date and time and spread the word. I'll be on 17 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 1: my porch on Saturday afternoon from four to six. I 18 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 1: hope you'll drop by and say hello. Feel free to 19 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: bring friends, kids, or pets. If you don't have a porch, 20 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,119 Speaker 1: you could do this in your yard or in a neighborhood, park, 21 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,320 Speaker 1: just somewhere that you can reliably be for a few hours. 22 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:43,119 Speaker 1: Then when the time comes, go out on your porch. 23 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: You could make a picture of lemonade or iced tea 24 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: and set the pitcher and cups on a table on 25 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: your porch, Or you could fill a cooler with ice 26 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: and bottled water or soda or beer. A bag of 27 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: chips and some salsa would be a bonus, or any 28 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: other snack that can be outside for a while. But 29 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: all of that is up to you. No one is 30 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: going to expect a fleet of waiters passing out orders 31 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: on your porch. Then when friends drop by, you can 32 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: simply enjoy being together. There is nothing you need to 33 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 1: get done and dinner plans to execute. You just connect. 34 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: If you are so inclined, you could have a frisbee 35 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:29,079 Speaker 1: of football bubbles or sidewalk chalk in case friends of 36 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: any age would enjoy them, but again it's not necessary. 37 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: You may have friends from different parts of your life 38 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: drop by your porch at the same time, and it 39 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 1: can be fun to introduce them. Neighbors walking their dogs 40 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,399 Speaker 1: may come say hello, even if you didn't officially invite them, 41 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: and that can be an unexpected delight. There may be 42 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: some time when you are on your porch alone between 43 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: shifts of people, and that can be pleasant too. You 44 00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: probably can't predict who will be at the porch party 45 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: way or what you'll do, but you can count on 46 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: the time being low key and cool. A porch party 47 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: is low stressed and pleasant for guests as well. You 48 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: don't need to get dressed up since you're outdoors. You 49 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: don't need to get a sitter. If your kids are 50 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: also invited, you could bring food or drink to sheriff. 51 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 1: That would be fun for you, but there's no expectation 52 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: of that. For such an informal gathering, you don't need 53 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 1: to arrive at a specific time and you can stay 54 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 1: as long as you want. You get all the pleasure 55 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: of a party without any of the pressure. So this 56 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: summer and fall, while the weather's nice, consider hosting a 57 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: porch party. And if you do, I would love to 58 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: hear about it. You can reach me at Laura at 59 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: Laura vandercam dot com. In the meantime, this is Laura. 60 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening and here's to making the most of 61 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:12,559 Speaker 1: our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to hear from you. 62 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else. 63 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 1: Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at 64 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast Pod. That's b the number four then Breakfast pod. 65 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 1: You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast 66 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: Podcasts at iHeartMedia dot com that before Breakfast is spelled 67 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: out with all the letters. Thanks so much, should I 68 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 1: look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is a 69 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 1: production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the 70 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 71 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:58,919 Speaker 1: favorite shows.