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
I’ve been up in Massachusetts on location at wedding and had the opportunity to visit my Aunt and Uncle. They are master gardeners and have amazing vegetable and flower gardens. They also have rows and rows of blackberry bushes — one of my favorite berries. So I chucked when I saw these porcelain berry containers from Jayson Home and Garden. Adorable!
Farmers Market Baskets from Jayson Home & Garden
I am a big fan of Arnold Palmer… the drink, that is. (Though the golfer is pretty great, too!) Half iced-tea, half lemonade, the Arnold Palmer is refreshingly sweet — particularly during a heat wave like the one we’ve been having here in DC.
This month’s Bon Appetit features a fun “spiked” version of the drink, created by Damon Boelte, bar manager at Prime Meats in Brooklyn. The drink combines gin, jasmine tea, limoncello, lemon juice, and grapefruit juice. Delish!
The "Leland Palmer"; photo by Nigel Cox
Ingredients
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup hot water
3 cups freshly brewed jasmine tea, cooled
3/4 cup gin
3/4 cup limoncello*
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup fresh grapefruit juice
1 cup chilled club soda
Ice cubes
6 lemon slices (for garnish)
Preparation
Stir honey and 1/2 cup hot water in small bowl until honey dissolves. Cool completely. Combine honey water, jasmine tea, gin, limoncello, lemon juice, and grapefruit juice in large pitcher. Add club soda and stir to blend. Fill six 1-pint mason jars or 6 tall glasses with ice cubes. Divide tea mixture among jars; top each with lemon slice.
* Limoncello, a lemon-flavored liqueur, can be found at many supermarkets, at Trader Joe’s markets, and at liquor stores.
Summer is upon us and with this hot, humid weather we’ve been having in DC I am always looking for a refreshing “cool down” treat. These Orange-Banana Smoothie Pops from Country Living are a good contender for the job.
Orange-Banana Smoothie Pops
The pops feature Greek yogurt which is my favorite type. (Fage is my brand of choice.)
Ingredients
1 container(s) (7-ounce) Greek yogurt
2/3 cup(s) thawed orange juice concentrate
2 large bananas
Zest of 1 lime
1 tablespoon(s) fresh lime juice
I love how they used baking tins instead of regular popsicle molds — they create a more festive pop! French Canele Bordelais Molds might also create a fun alternative. Sur La Table has them as well as Amazon (what doesn’t Amazon have?!)
Mauviel Canele 2-Inch Molds from Amazon
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.
