The opinions and text are all mine.
These Hot Diggity Dog free cookout printables are the perfect way to invite friends over for a fun grillathon. Download yours and get grillin' as soon as you can! You could even enter for the chance to be one of the grillmasters helping to break the World Record in NYC at the Finest Grillathon in August.
It's almost August, y'all! Have you hosted a cookout yet this summer? Now is your chance to host a fun backyard gathering...and even enter to win a chance to be in the biggest grillathon ever! These free printable invitations are the perfect way to get started.
The night we decided to have a few family members together for our own little grillathon did not turn out as planned. Like, in the complete comical way that parties often go for me when I try to play hostess with the mostess. I had planned out a fun night of grilling, paired with the most amazing southern baked bean casserole (that, in all of my hostess with the mostess glory, I would, of course, cook over the firepit...no joke), followed by marshmallow roasting and songs around the ol' campfire. Besides needing someone who knows how to play a guitar to accompany us, we were set.
From about four in the afternoon on, things went steadily downhill...like a fast melting snowball...in my 100 degree state of Texas.
I had already resigned myself to having the small gathering 100% outside since we've had work done in the house (and it's still not finished). After picking my kids up from their day camp, we ran into the store to grab a few extra last minute items...including canned baked beans as a back-up plan (because I know how these things often go for me). My husband texts and says that the sprinkler guy was finally going to fix the sprinkler and was already at the house.
I thought he'd replace a head and be on his way. I get home to find our entire backyard trenched out and a small lake forming where the firepit once sat. Oh my heck.
And there's Sprinkler Joe and his friend stating that they still can't find the leak. So, they turned over my planters and started trenching some more...and I started opening cans of beans. No firepit. No marshmallows. No seating of any kind since it was all sinking into the fast-forming lake that was our backyard. Complete and utter chaos.
Joe ended up staying (and digging) until 9 pm, y'all. He joined the grillathon. Had some hot dogs. Talked and joked and had the best time...all with a shovel in one hand.
He's been our yard guy for five years and we've never had too many conversations with him. But our grillathon went down as the night we broke bread with Sprinkler Joe. And had a fun (albeit muddy and messy) night.
It doesn't have to be perfect to be a great time. It can be a muddy, crazy mess...and still be a fantastic event.
My saving grace for the night were these amazing Ball Park Park's Finest Hot Dogs. Lordy. These are absolutely delicious and made us not even see the insanity that was all around. We grabbed a variety of flavors for everyone to have a little something at the gathering.
And y'all...the canned beans were not the end of the world. They were actually quite good. Were they a campfire cooked casserole? Well, no. But nobody ever knew the difference. I put them in my fancy pot and it was all good. Since we all basically stood around the kitchen island balancing paper plates (comical, no?), I noticed more than one person go back for seconds.
This makes me think twice about ever stressing over entertaining. The best times are the ones that just kind of happen...like around a kitchen island.
I created these fun food markers for all of the hot dog toppings, too. You can download them below, as well as the invitation.
I grabbed the napkins at the grocery store on the clearance rack...they matched my cards perfectly!
And of course, those amazing grilled Ball Park Park's Finest Hot Dogs stole the show. On August 13th in New York City, Ball Park and a team of grill masters will attempt to break the world record for the longest running group BBQ at the Finest Grillathon using Ball Park Park’s Finest hot dogs. Want to be a part of that team? Enter to win a spot here.
Easy and casual. Maybe not the total party package I originally dreamed of...but I actually think it turned out even better! And now I have a hilarious story to tell, too.
What are you waiting for? Get your own grillathon going and enter to win a chance to join the grillathon team in NYC next month here. (Oh, and click here to see who holds the current record...it'll shock you!). Grab your invitations and menu cards below to get your grill on>>>
What's YOUR favorite cookout memory?
Neglect your chores like me and don't miss a thing: