My favorite part about the weather slowly turning warmer are more opportunities to eat together with friends, preferably outdoors. Potlucks are the easiest way to go about that, and lucky for us, there's a whole world out there beyond potato salad. 

There are certain skills a parent should teach a child. Proper teeth brushing. Basic courtesy. The Electric Slide. How to safely shuck an oyster. The only way to master important skills is by practicing early and often, so we like to roast oysters at home, and doing it over an open fire isn't an easy option. I've learned to roast them in the oven, so we can enjoy mollusk madness any night of the week.

When I entertain, I almost always devise a menu of food and drinks that can be prepared hours, days or even weeks before. Not only does this mean less stress for me on the day of the party, it also fits better into my busy work and school schedule. This approach is especially helpful when hosting a morning party, since you have just a few short hours between waking up and the arrival of your first guest, and I was happy with how it all came together for the weekend brunch I hosted for my book club. 

Looking to host your own make-ahead brunch in the coming months? Here is the timeline that works for me:

Spring seems to be the season for moving — at least judging by the number of my friends who are packing up and moving homes right now! As soon as the books are on the shelves and the forks are back in a drawer, it's time to invite the masses over to check out your awesome new digs. A bag of chips and bowls of dip will not suffice for this housewarming, oh no! Let's make sure this party is the memorable first of many more to come.

I appreciate a good drink at a restaurant, and the same goes for dinner parties or events. It's the little extra something that isn't required but usually appreciated. In the vein of reining things in, there are a few key ingredients needed to pull off a successful one with minimum fuss.

When I decided to throw a weekend brunch for my book club, the one aspect of the party that was a big question mark was the coffee. Ever since I ditched my drip coffee maker for a Chemex, making coffee for more than four people has meant a lot of me standing around in the kitchen slowly pouring hot water over coffee grounds while everyone else is having fun in the other room. I didn't want that to happen at this party.

Instead I experimented with using a coffee concentrate — the same type I had used in the past to make stellar iced coffee — and discovered the process turns out a cup of hot coffee that is just as good: rich, flavorful and mellow. Even better, making a pot of coffee for a crowd of people with this method is literally as easy as boiling water.

Kids know how to party! Check out the latest festive celebrations from the Apartment Therapy's Family channel, which posts kids' parties every day. We'll be bringing you a roundup of these inspiring parties every week.

• Amelia's Butterfly Party
• Audrey's Woodland Terrarium Party
• Luke's Blue Bunnies Party
• Desmond's Circus Carnival Party
• Kiana & Kiana's Mickey Mouse Science Clubhouse Party

In college, my roommates and I had spontaneous dance parties where we'd all bust a move (and bust out laughing), but nowadays my dance moves are limited to shimmying slowly to the couch to avoid spilling my glass of wine. To that end, my dinner party playlist is a mostly laid-back affair — mellow enough that everyone can easily talk over it, but not too chill that you feel like falling asleep. But to keep things interesting, I do like a little pep in the midst of my male indie crooners. Give me a syncopated violin line, please, a jazz riff, maybe even a scratchy classic before we go back to Sigur Rose and M. Ward.

"Can we bring kids?" Everyone has an opinion about children at parties. I have fond childhood memories of attending grown-up gatherings, for just a few minutes. I had to be reasonably polite, and I could snag a few delicious snacks, maybe even a glass of ginger ale. The rules were clear: children were welcome, only to a point. But things have changed.

Party appetizer rut? Trying to impress the coworkers? Want to elevate date night to a whole new level? It may be time to break out the waffle iron.