A little refreshing cocktail is exactly what we need right now! Summer entertaining is in full effect - the beach house is up and running - and it’s time to sit on the deck and have a drink! This cocktail is the perfect cocktail for the summer. I think you will love it! Let me know what you think! Or come join me on the deck. I’ll make a pitcher.

1 ounce gin

2 ounces Lillet

4 ounces San Pellegrino Limonata

Fill  highball glass with ice.  Pour gin and Lillet into the highball glass and top with Pellegrino.  Stir gently with a starfish swizzle stick.

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1. 

West Elm Enamelware Serving Bowl

::  2. 

Crate and Barrel Pop Acrylic Drink Glasses

  :: 3. 

Red Stripe Potholders

  :: 4.  

Le Creuset Dutch Oven

::  5.  

Tiffany Atlas Bangle Bracelet

photography by Brooke Clark

Studio B Photography

www.studiobportraits.com

If I had to pick a favorite food, it would be seafood.  Living in the Northwest certainly enables my love of seafood.  The perfect way to serve seafood for a crowd is with a clambake - mostly because it takes almost no time to cook and the whole thing is done in ONE pan!  A swanky one pot dinner.  

Enjoy the last days of summer.  I know I am!

photography by Brooke Clark

Studio B Photography

www.studiobportraits.com

Read the magazine article in

425 Magazine

.  Available on newsstands in Western Washington and on your iPad.

Fishs Eddy Polka Dot Glass

Last year, for Judson's first birthday, we hosted an Ice Cream Social in our backyard.  For a summer birthday, an Ice Cream Social is a charmingly simple way to entertain.  The party is featured in this month's issue of

425 Magazine

that's available on newsstands in Western Washington now - or your iPad!  

The only 'over the top' thing that I did was created cakes in pointy ice cream cones.  The recipe + instructions are in the magazine!  

I LOVE an ice cream social - it's the perfect way to eat ice cream any time of the day, but it's also a super simple way to celebrate any night of the week.  

Have a birthday?  Ice Cream Social

Promotion at work?  Ice Cream Social

Passed the swim test?  Ice Cream Social

Better yet, I made a video to show you just how simple this really is.  

All week I'll share more fabulous ice cream ideas!  I can't wait!

The secrets to this method are ::  

1. A giant punch bowl + giant flowers.  Scale is critical.

2. Floral foam holds the flowers in place.  The heavy heads of the hydrangea would droop otherwise. 

3. Add more water to the floral foam each day so it doesn't dry out.

4. Smash the ends of the stems to allow water absorption.  Woody stems require "opening" up.

Why is this a good arrangement?  It makes the table fabby in just minutes.  Look at how grand it can be.  Summer dinner party?  Check.

Have you popped over to

Sweet Paul Magazine

to see your favorite girl featured there?!  I met the fellas behind the amazing magazine while I was in New York - they are so fabulous, I had a crush on them immediately.  If you haven't seen the magazine yet, you are missing out.  The photography, recipes, and craft ideas are ridiculous.  The magazine is

available online

and at Anthropologie.

Swoon!

I'm going to tell you the honest truth here, I came up with this idea on Seis de Mayo.  That's right, the day AFTER the day when Mexican party ideas are big.  The day AFTER all of my friends posted amazing Mexican inspired projects.

But then I decided that it's always time for a fiesta.  And what better way to fancy up Taco Tuesday than with a kitchy tablecloth?  And if you make this now, then when Cinco de Mayo rolls around, all you have to do is pull it out of the cabinet!

This is the perfect tablecloth for kids to help make.  My own opted out... But it's really just a few bottles of spray fabric paint from the craft store and you're in business.

You'll need

1 cotton tablecloth

2 packages Picado Papers (preferably plastic coated variety)

4-6 colors spray fabric paint

Masking tape

Step 1 ::

Wash, dry, and lightly iron the tablecloth

Step 2 ::

Layout cloth on a large, flat, washable surface

Step 3 ::

Measure the width of your table mark it out on the center of the cloth with the tape (I used blue tape)

Step 4 ::

 Begin the banner at the edge of masking tape mark and "drape" it across the front of the cloth.  Repeat on the other side.

Step 5 ::

Spray the paint on the banners carefully until all banners are sprayed and the paint is heavily applied.

Step 6 ::

 Remove the banners very carefully - it may take two people to lift it straight up.

Step 7 ::

Follow paint instructions for setting the paint and enjoy!

This project is part of a series of projects that I'm doing all summer with my friends!  Check out their blogs for more fun summer projects each Wednesday! 

And don't forget to check out the last month of projects ::  

Mosaic Stepping Stones DIY by Lulu the Baker

Weeknight Barbecue by Alexandra Hedin

Sharpie Dyed Tee Shirts by Pars Caeli

A Bug Habitat by Classic Play

Mini Masterpieces by Lulu the Baker

Memoir Boxes by Pars Caeli

Friendship Bracelets by Classic Play

Marble Shaving Cream Paper by Lulu the Baker

Are you ready for Cinco de Mayo?  You can start celebrating early this weekend with a little something grapefruit flavored.  Next week I'll show you another fabulous margarita recipe + a total party you can pull of in just minutes.  Have a great weekend!  See you soon

2 ounces tequila

3 ounces fresh squeezed grapefruit juice

1 splash Cointreau

two lime wedges

salt

Run the center of one lime wedge around the rim of a highball glass.  Dip in a dish filled with salt and fill the glass with ice.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in tequila, juice, and Cointreau.  Shake well.  Strain into prepared highball glass and squeeze remaining lime on top.