Patio Pails

During the summer we practically live on the patio!  I love to be outside and breathe in that fresh air filled with the scents of freshly cut grass and hot coals from the BBQ!  The sweet sounds of summer–kids playing, birds singing, and the occasional chimes of the ice cream truck–seem to soothe any encountered stress and whisper to me that “yes, it really is summer”!  And all those things I mentioned can instantly take me back to the wonderfully simple years of my childhood…so I always welcome an evening on the patio!  Since we spend so much time there I like to have some seasonal supplies at my fingertips so I’m not constantly running into the house for those little necessities!  You know by now that I love galvanized buckets and tubs…so I just grab a few and fill ’em up with all the goodies we might need while enjoying our outdoor spaces.  I leave them on the porch most of the time, but since they’re in convenient containers I can easily cart them wherever they’re needed!  So grab a pail or two and keep your summertime supplies at hand!  This is what I keep in mine…

simple organizing with patio pails…

i love keeping outdoor items within reach…this pail is filled with sunscreen, bug spray, and a small container of baby wipes…perfect for a quick wash of hands and sticky fingers before snacking…or after marshmallow roasting…maybe both!

plenty for guests when they drop by too!

i also keep summer utensils handy for patio snacking!  fun straws, napkins, and plastic silverware look adorable in some wire and galvanized containers…inside or out!

another must on our patio…supplies to start the fire pit!  i love an evening fire and if the weather cooperates…we have one almost every night!

it’s my summer mission to find cute match boxes to keep in the bowl!  they’re inexpensive and make utilitarian supplies somehow look special!

try gathering some toys!

…i always keep out some sidewalk chalk!  kids of all ages are entertained with this colorful stuff!

and lastly, we have to have a s’mores fixin’ bucket!  i keep this in my pantry at all times so we’re at-the-ready for a spur-of-the-moment gathering!  whether it’s just family on the patio, or if we have friends drop by…this bucket has saved the day–and evening–many times!

what’s summer without s’mores?

figure out what you need at hand…

and fill up a patio pail!