Community Magazine June 2014

70 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE SUMMER PARTY FRANCES HADDAD Gorgeous weather, magnificent flowers and more free time for family and friends make summertime the ideal season for parties. Summertimeget-togethers can serve tocelebrate a certain special event or just to gather around with loved ones for conversation and relaxation. So grab the unique opportunity that these two-and-a-half months of sunshine have to offer, and get your party started! CREATIVE THEMES W hen planning a summertime bash, there are several types to choose from. Simply peruse through our suggestions, pick one, and you’ll be on your way to planning good times in the sunshine. Keep in mind that presentation is important, but it’s even more important to have the time and peace of mind to enjoy the day and interact with your guests. So make sure to give everyone a great time while keeping set-up and clean up simple for yourself, so you can have a good time, too! kids, play pool games like relay races, or diving for pennies at the bottom of the pool. And remember to have plenty of floating pool toys, like rafts and noodles, on hand. KEEPING CLEANUP SIMPLE: Ask your guests to bring their own towels so you’re not stuck with mountains of laundry when everyone leaves. While you may have to lend a few out to those who forget, it will be nothing compared to supplying towels for 20 or 30 partyers! Use plastic cups, plates and utensils, and leave a garbage can nearby so guests can easily participate in picking up the trash. Once the party ends, put pool toys away and throw any stray garbage into one big garbage bag. THE BBQ WHY IT’S THE IDEAL SUMMER PARTY: The outdoor barbeque is emblematic of summertime. The smell of the grill coupled with the warm summer sun make the BBQ perfect for this season. BBQs can happen every Sunday, or can be planned to celebrate an occasion. Throw some hotdogs and burgers on the grill, and if you want to get really fancy, add some kabobs and steaks. Grilled veggies also taste great and add a powerful healthful punch. Within a few minutes, you’ll have a succulent and flavorful meal. Side salads like bean salad, coleslaw and hearts-of-palm are great complements which are really simple to make. And if you don’t feel like making a mess in your kitchen, go ahead and buy them ready-made. FUN IDEAS: Sports are a great backdrop to a BBQ, so get a baseball or basketball game started. If you have a swing set, you’re in luck, since kids can climb the monkey bars or go up and down the slide for hours. And during a daytime BBQ in the blazing hot sun, bring out the hose or sprinkler for refreshing water games. KEEPING CLEANUP SIMPLE: The BBQ happens outdoors, so your house stays clean. As always, disposable plates and utensils make tidying up simple. Put a hold on the baking and serve ices for dessert, instead. Have guests pitch in and throw out wrappers, and in no time your patio will be back to the way it was before the party started. THE POOL PARTY WHY IT’S THE IDEAL SUMMER PARTY: The sun is out, the weather is warm, and the refreshing cool water of the pool beckons! If there’s any time for swimming, summertime is it. Besides just celebrating summer birthdays, the pool party is a great way to raise money for a good cause by doing laps. With so many days of summer, separate parties for men and women are easy to host. And if you don’t have your own pool, perhaps friends or relatives can be ever so gracious and let you use theirs. Whether you make the pool party in your backyard or someone else’s, the menu can be a breeze – there’s no need to go all out. Set up some easy summer-themed foods, like salads and wraps, and prepare pitchers of lemonade and iced-tea, and your refreshments are ready to go. If you’re planning a party where children will be present (like a birthday-pool party for instance), it’s important to hire a lifeguard. While you are running around tending to guests, it’s not realistic to expect yourself to watch the pool. The money you’ll spend will be worth the peace of mind you’ll have knowing that a reliable expert is on site to ensure safety. FUN IDEAS: To make your pool party entertaining, plan some interactive activities. When hosting a pool party for women, put on some music and hire an instructor for water aerobics. For younger