Go wild and get messy! It is fun at any party and at any age. Our checklist includes everything you'll need for a great outdoor party where guests will get messy, join in the fun, and feel like a kid at any age. Just follow the simple guidelines and you'll discover just how much fun getting messy can be!

Checklist:

1. Inexpensive t-shirts make great invitations. Be sure your guests know to wear them to the party; it will serve as their ticket, their napkin, and their messy-friendly shirt.
2. To begin the fun, your guests will be racing minnows. Before the party you'll need to get some gutters that you can paint and epoxy so they'll be waterproof. Paint them with lane numbers, starting lines, finish lines and anything else you'd like to add. (Keep in mind that you'll have to store these after the party so you may not want too many gutters.)
3. Get a supply of live minnows for the minnow races. You can race the minnows in different heats.     
4. Purchase some inexpensive items to use for your prizes. We used paper plates and made hats for first place, necklaces were for second place and the small fish were given to the third place winners, set up a cute prize table and lay out the loot.
5. Get your camera ready for some great snapshots!
6. Prepare your outdoor table with a plastic tablecloth and some fun place settings. We found Frisbees for plates and cute water bottles for drinks. There is no silverware (except spoons for the sundae) because this is a messy party!
7. Serve a spaghetti dinner they won't forget! We used (new & clean) shovels, rakes, construction hats and anything else we could find to serve our dinner.
8. What better to follow a dinner like that than a messy sundae in a dump truck? You can roll it right down the table and guests can take spoonfuls of ice cream from it as it zooms around.
9. For easy clean up, use a nearby water source. We used the lake, but you could use a kiddy pool or a sprinkler and clean up will be fun!

Prizes can be inexpensive and creative. They add to the excitement of the day.    

Recipes:

French Bread Crustinis

• 2 thin loaves French bread
• slice in 1/4 inch rounds
• Melt together in microwave:
• 1 c. butter
• 1 T. chopped garlic cloves
• 1 T. chopped chives
• 7 oz. shredded parmesan cheese

Dip one side of bread in melted butter mixture, set all dipped bread pieces onto a cookie sheet. Top with shredded parmesan. Bake for 5-8 minutes at 500 degrees or until golden brown.

Meatballs

• 1/2 lb. ground pork
• 1/2 lb. ground beef
• 1/2 c. dry bread crumbs
• 1/4 c. milk
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1/2 t. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 t. pepper
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 egg
• 1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Shape into (20) 1 1/2 inch meatballs. Place in an ungreased rectangular 9 x 13 pan. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes (until no longer pink)    

Spaghetti Sauce

Choose your favorite brand and mix together for four different flavors to create a homemade taste. This method is much easier for quick, casual gatherings.

Dirty Dump Truck Sundae

• 1 large toy dump truck, washed & dried

Layer in order:

• Broken brownie pieces
• Oreo cookie pieces
• Vanilla ice cream
• Chocolate Sauce
• Whipped cream
• Nuts

Serve immediately.

By Teri Bennett

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