Placecards are not only a fun way to strategically seat people around your dining table, but they are also a great opportunity to add a pop of decor to your table. A terra cotta pot with moss and a personalized dusty miller or lamb’s ear would make for a beautiful summertime placecard. I also love how this one is set on a pretty saucer which pulls it all together.
pretty summertime place card via Country Living
One of my favorite culinary treats in summer is watermelon. Refreshing and bright, watermelon is often a great picnic or BBQ food or a sweet dessert at the end of a simple meal. But watermelon also shines as a star in summer salads. The three below look delicious!
Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint from Food & Wine
Watermelon, Feta, and Arugula Salad with Balsamic Glaze from Bon Appetit
Watermelon Salad with Mint and Crispy Prosciutto via Real Simple
This Watermelon Bombe from Martha Stewart is not only adorable, but it looks so refreshing as well — perfect for combatting the summer heat. It also looks a lot like an amazing dessert by The Inn at Little Washington’s Patrick O’Connell. My husband made it for me for my birthday one time. Dee-lish!
Watermelon Bombe via Martha Stewart
Watermelon Fantasy; recipe by Patrick O'Connell
Cornhole is experiencing a major resurgence recently. A fun lawn game similar to horseshoes, cornhole is played with little bean bags and a platform with a hole in it. It makes for hours of fun!
Custom cornhole platforms would be adorable at weddings or other special social gatherings. I love this one featured on Style Me Pretty and photographed by Shyla Photography.
Looking for ways to enhance your favorite summer drinks? Fresh herbs can provide sublte or exotic flavor that is sure to delight your tastebuds! From cocktails, to lemonade, to iced tea, here are some refreshing recipes to try.
Rosemary Infused Peach Bellini
Watermelon-Basil Margaritas
Blackberry-Mint Julep
Lavendar Lemonade
Cinnamon-Orange Iced Tea
Herb-infused simple syrups can be made in advance and used to sweeten sparkling water or other beverages. For a variety of simple syrup recipes, click here.
Summertime weddings and parties outdoors can be scorchers. Cold refreshing beverages like iced tea and lemonade can help people stay cool. Another idea to consider is a “Cooling Station.” Chill small spritzer bottles in the refrigerator before setting them out for guests. Invite each guest to take one to keep themselves cool while at the party. Remember to buy the fine mist spritzers that “mist” rather than “squirt!”
Keeping food fresh at an outdoor party can be tricky. Potato salad sitting in the heat? Warm fruit? Disaster! I saw these serving pieces the other day at Sur La Table and thought they’d be a perfect solution for outdoor entertaining. So practical — and the clear acrylic will match anything.
In the midst of summertime heat anything cold and refreshing sounds wonderful. These spiked ice pops from Bon Appetit look wonderful, indeed. A mixture of Campari and orange juice, they sound like they’d hit the spot on a hot summer day.
To make the pops there are countless popsicle molds to choose from. I really like the look of these from Tovolo and the convenience of being able to take out just one or all six at a time is appealing, too.
campari-orange ice pops from Bon Appetit
Tovolo Groovy Ice Pop Molds via Amazon.com
When I opened the door to take the dog for a walk today, a wall of blazing heat hit me and I realized… summertime is upon us!
Keep your guests cool this summer with refreshing drinks like lemonade and iced tea. I love this display from Shannon and Darren’s wedding — particularly because they offered mint green tea instead of regular which added a little pizazz.
Here are some fun recipes — some “full test,” others not — to serve this summer:
Stay cool out there!
I was visiting with friends yesterday and as we sat on their sunny patio their three-year-old, having just completed session of swinging on the playset, asked (nay, begged) her mom for a popsicle. Since there were no popsicles to be had, the little one was not so happy. It made me think that soon most of our freezers will be stocked with popsicles as summer (crazy as it may seem) is just around the corner.
If you are looking for a fun frozen treat, the Williams-Sonoma Zoku Duo Quick Pop Machine allows you to create your own ice pops in whatever flavor you like. And their new character creation add-on kit makes each pop unique and would be a fun project for the whole family.
The Pop Machine would be a great gift for families or would be so fun to add to a wedding registry.
Zoku Duo Ice Pop Machine
make your own frozen ice pop characters with Williams-Sonoma's Zoku Duo Quick Pop Maker
The Rex & Regina Blog shares both trendy and traditional ways to extend gracious hospitality through weddings, other social occasions, and at-home entertaining. Learn more about Rex & Regina.
