It's summertime and you know what that means...COOKOUTS! Cookouts are held for all kinds of reasons, varying from graduating, holidays, weddings, or just for the fun and pleasure that cookouts have the ability of bringing. However, there are essential things that must be present and take place in order for a cookout to yield its full potential. Here's a list for you to refer to over the summer!

1. Bug Repellant

Even bugs and flies enjoy cookouts even though they're never invited. Summer is known for mosquitoes at night, moths, bees, flies, you name it! Fortunately, there are some products you can buy from Home Depot or Lowe's that cater to keeping bugs away. From sprays for your body, lights that attract the bugs and zaps them, or fire sticks to post up around your deck or porch and keeps them as well. I personally like the lights that attracts the bugs and zaps then. It's cool to watch and provides extra lighting at night!

2. Condiments

I'm a natural born foodie and I know what it takes to add some flavor to your cookout food, and that's condiments. Essential cookout condiments include barbecue sauce, honey mustard, mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce, and ranch. I recommend getting Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce and O'Charley's honey mustard. Gives your food a taste of heaven!

3. Drinks

Most of you may think this is obvious. Yes, it may be. But do you know exactly what drinks should be present? Okay. Make sure there's something for everyone. Juice pouches and soda for the kids, wine and beer for the adults, and water just cause you can never go wrong with it.

4. Tents

The sun can be a lot to cope with at a cookout when you have the heat from the grill, running around socializing and having fun, things get a little toasty. So having a nice little tent to sit under for some nice shade, is always a great idea. Your guests will greatly appreciate it, trust me.

5. Board games and Cards

I'm a sucker for a game of cards or a good board game with my family friends after some satisfying food and a few drinks. The jokes and laughs erupt as we compete for the title of "winner". Having some UNO cards, checkers, chess, tic-tac-toe, and a deck of cards, in your possession. It's important to pick games that are fun, short, and does not require a lot of time or gets tiring after some time. It's nice to keep the vibes alive and the attention on the cookout!

6. Equipped Porch/Deck

Take your cookout to the next level by decorating and gearing up your patio, porch, or deck. Having nice lighting around, bug repellants, and sufficient space for the grill, food table, chairs, cooler, and other things you're going to need to have on your platform.

7. Organized Group Dance

Music and dancing can bring always bring a group of people together! I'll never be too tired to do a fun group such as the cha cha slide, electric slide, or cupid shuffle with my family and friends! It's a great way to burn off the food you ate and always good exercise. It's like killing two birds with one stone.

8. Fire Extinguisher

Cookouts have the connotation of being fun and stuff, but danger always lurks when there is fun. Food is always present which is made on the grill. That grill is going for hours straight and the grease from the meat can seep through the aluminum foil and ignite a fire on the grill. Or when the heat just gets to that point and the wind comes through with some force, a fire can also ignite. It's never a bad idea to have a fire extinguisher present in case a fire starts, even if it's not started by a grill.

9. First Aid Kit

With cookouts come little injuries. With kids running around, food being prepared to put on the grill, or whatever it is, someone can get hurt. Having a first aid kit with some ointment, bandaids, and disinfectant spay handy to fight off the bacteria and keep the environment germ free.

10. Aluminum Foil

This is just a rule of thumb for cookouts. Aluminum foil is great to lay on the grill when grilling food, covering the food on the tables, packing to-go plates for after, or as a secondary plate when you don't want to get a new plate for a tiny peace of food. Aluminum foil serves many purposes at cookouts and I advise you get yourself a roll from your local dollar store.

Hopefully this short list of cookout essentials help you out when you're in the process of planning your next cookout. Make sure you have fun, good food, good music, and good vibes!