EASY CENTERPIECE: GLOBE OR CYLINDER WITH AN OCEAN OR BEACH THEME

Want an easy idea for a centerpiece for your next party? Check out this fish bowl idea. It's an easy and fun addition to your table. It was inexpensive but added a lot of impact and a little whimsy. I put the vase on a candle holder with a wide base and used mounting tape to secure it but it is equally pretty sitting on a table or on a glass block. I'd use a very stable base if you will have cocktails or children at the party.

Elegant and easy...  find a glass block or candle holder to serve as a pedestal for the globe.

Elegant and easy...  find a glass block or candle holder to serve as a pedestal for the globe.

All you have to do is to find a glass container. I used a round globe vase but you can also use a tall cylinder or square glass vase.

These guys almost look real but they are pretty, inexpensive glass fish that you might find at an aquarium store. I found these at Pier 1. Sit them on top of ocean colored sea glass for a lovely change to a flower centerpiece.

These guys almost look real but they are pretty, inexpensive glass fish that you might find at an aquarium store. I found these at Pier 1. Sit them on top of ocean colored sea glass for a lovely change to a flower centerpiece.

Add the sea glass in your party color to the bottom of the vase. This not only adds color, it also adds some weight to the arrangement and that helps with stability. If you don't have or can't find sea glass, you can always use sand or river rocks.

I found some pretty glass fish that I used in the arrangement. You could also add coral or anything else that fits your party theme.

Fish $5 each (Pier 1)

Round Vase: $6 (Wal-Mart)

Sea Glass $6 (Target)

TALL CYLINDER VASE AQUARIUM WITH LIVE FISH

I have also made beautiful tall aquariums with live fish for a party. You have to be sure the water is suitable for the fish and that you have a home for them to go to once the party is over. This one was for an oyster event so I used oyster shells and other seashells to the design. Make sure to add the sand first. Then add the water about 1/2 way up. Add your design elements; shells, coral, etc. Then fill the vase 1/3 from the top. Allow the sand to settle before you add the fish.

Sand, shells, fresh water and a few goldfish make a beautiful cylinder centerpiece. Just make sure you have a home for the fish after the party!

Sand, shells, fresh water and a few goldfish make a beautiful cylinder centerpiece. Just make sure you have a home for the fish after the party!

MAKE A LEMONADE STATION FOR EASY ENTERTAINING

Think old-school lemonade stand meets fun, fabulous mix-ins to create a new spin on that old summer standard. Lemonade is a great drink for summer parties. Whether you make it fresh, buy it at the store, or use a powdered mix, it's hard to go wrong with cold lemonade on a hot day. Here are some of my fun ideas to dress up your lemonade by making a lemonade station- an adult version of the old-school lemonade stand- perfect for any party,  wedding, rehearsal dinner, or supper club!

Creating a lemonade station will give your guests lots of choices and allow them to serve themselves making beverage service a lot easier!

Creating a lemonade station will give your guests lots of choices and allow them to serve themselves making beverage service a lot easier!

Making a lemonade stand doesn't require a lot of wood and building, a simple table will work. Recently, I wanted to show Daytime Alabama viewers how to make a lemonade stand for a large party or wedding and asked my friends Corey & Jared from the Sonnet House to help me out. Corey decked out the table and I did the lemonades. Burlap from the fabric store, Mason jars, and large containers of lemonade, cute paper straws, and a big sign are all you need

At The Sonnet House in Leeds, Alabama with my good friends Jared and Corey. Corey created the lovely table with tulips, lemons, and yellow and white chevron runners and I made the lemonade!

At The Sonnet House in Leeds, Alabama with my good friends Jared and Corey. Corey created the lovely table with tulips, lemons, and yellow and white chevron runners and I made the lemonade!

THE HOW-TO

Start with large containers or pitchers of lemonade. Add bowls of your favorite flavors: think spices, fruit, herbs, liquor, or even Kool-Aid mixes for the kids. Be creative. Almost anything tastes good with lemonade as the base!

When I am in a hurry or on the road without a kitchen, I buy pre-made lemonade from the store.Simply Lemonade is the best if I have to buy at a grocery. If I am in the South, I often get the  Chic-fil-A gallon lemonade to go. Expensive but worth it. Those are my favorites if I cannot make my own. If you use the CountryTime or other powdered mix, add the juice of two lemons and lots of lemon slices into it; makes it taste better. I always prefer the fresh lemonade when time, budget, and location allow :) 

I like to put out a little menu board to give guests some ideas of flavors that work well together. I write them on a chalkboard but you can write or print recipes.

Basic lemonade recipe Martie Duncan

BASIC LEMONADE RECIPE

 It's really simple. Four cups of water to one cup fresh squeezed lemon juice plus 1/2 cup of sugar. That's it!

To make enough for 4-5 servings:

2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 cup sugar (more to taste if you like it really sweet)

7-8 cups water

In a pitcher, add the sugar and the lemon juice and stir well to dissolve the sugar. Add the water and chill.

Serving Tips:On a hot day, I will use 1 cup less water because I know the lemonade will become diluted with the melting ice. Often, I will freeze lemonade into ice cubes or freeze large plastic containers of lemonade. I put the lemonade into a large plastic milk jug or other repurposed plastic bottle. Freeze solid. A few hours before the party, I remove them from the freezer and allow them to become slushy. Soooo good on a hot day!

MIX-INS AND OPTIONS FOR A LEMONADE STATION

Mint leaves

Basil leaves

Strawberries, sliced plus strawberry puree

Raspberries

Watermelon slices plus watermelon puree

Peach slices plus peach nectar (find it in a can in the international aisle of the store)

Lime wheels

Lemon wheels

Sweet Tea

Grenadine

Vodka - I usually include a plain vodka and one flavored, like citrus or raspberry flavored

Chambord Liqueur

Bourbon

Pama Liqueur

VARIATIONS ON THE CLASSIC LEMONADE RECIPE:

PINK LEMONADE

Perfect for kids and adults, too!

Add a tablespoon of Grenadine to the basic recipe. Stir well to color your lemonade bright pink. If you want a soft pink color, for a baby shower, for example, use less grenadine.

ARNOLD PALMER

Half iced tea, half lemonade.

ARNOLD PALMER WITH SPIKES

Add a shot of vodka (I use citrus flavored) to your Arnold Palmer.

CHERRY LEMONADE

Add 1 ounce cherry vodka, 3 maraschino cherries and a 1 teaspoon cherry juice to each glass of lemonade. Add a squeeze of lime.

PEACH TEA LEMONADE

1/3 each peach nectar, sweet tea, and classic lemonade per serving.

MINT INFUSED LEMONADE

Add a big handful of fresh mint leaves to the sugar and one cup of the water. Make a mint simple syrup. Equal parts sugar and water. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Add 25 or so fresh mint leaves. Allow to cool completely. Strain the syrup into a mason jar, discard the leaves. Add to your pitcher and add the lemon juice and the remaining water.  

POMEGRANATE LEMONADE

Add a shot of Pama Liqueur. Yummmmy!

KENTUCKY LEMONADE

Put  4 fresh mint leaves into the bottom of the glass. Add a little ice. Use a wooden spoon to bruise the mint with the ice. Add 1 1/2 ounces Kentucky bourbon and fill the glass with lemonade. My Kentucky bourbon of choice right now is Four Roses. Their Yellow Label is perfect for this drink... side note, the single barrel is really good on it's own.

PARTY THEMES: FARM STYLE BACKYARD BBQ

Need an idea for a big birthday party or something unique for a rehearsal dinner? With popularity of weekend farms and trips to the farmer’s market, enjoy all that summer has to offer by transforming your typical backyard BBQ. Add farm fresh produce, some bales of hay and your party will take on a whole new feel. Get your grill on this weekend and invite your gang over for backyard barbeque—farm style!


DECORATIONS

The beauty of a casual barbeque in the backyard is the word casual. You don’t need much more than baskets of fruit or vegetables, a few bales of hay and maybe flowers from the yard for decorations. Instead of setting up a table, I used the back of an old farm truck for our buffet. A picnic blanket, quilt, or burlap can be used for a tablecloth—design your color palette around that. I’m all about trying to use what you have in a new and different way. Drape some holiday lights in the trees or bring your candles outdoors and display them on a wooden or metal tray to add some style to your party decorations. Bales of hay are available at a nursery or from your local landscape company. Throw them around the yard—they add atmosphere and can be used as extra seating, too. Provide colorful bandanas to use as napkins. Galvanized tin tubs are inexpensive and can be used for other household chores (like washing the dog) after the party is over!

Make sure to have a backyard survival kit for guests complete with bug spray, sunscreen, fans, and wipes. Make up a refreshing station: put hand towels in an ice bath so guests can freshen up and cool off if the party is on a hot day. Here’s a link to my article on what to include when you are hosting a party outdoors.

PARTY FOOD

Change up your normal BBQ menu by adding lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, like my famous grilled sweet corn, grilled peaches, and bruschetta skewers with homegrown tomatoes. Remember, the key to great grilling is to use fresh ingredients, have the right tools and plenty of patience. Make sure to let your grill or charcoal come to the right temperature before adding your food. Don’t turn items too soon or too frequently; allow enough time to get that char and those prized grill marks! Here are my recipes for a farm stand BBQ:

BBQ RIB RUB

MOM’S BBQ SAUCE

TRADITIONAL ALABAMA STYLE BBQ RIBS

HOMEMADE QUICK PICKLES

POTATO SALAD

BEVERAGES

I am a big fan of the signature cocktail. Mix them in advance and guests can serve themselves with ease. It is also easier to estimate quantities so you control costs better than you can with an open bar. For this party, I made a lemonade station with regular lemonade for the kids and a ‘loaded’ version spiked with bourbon for the adults. Since it was a hot day, I also iced down lots of beer and lots of bottled water in a galvanized tin tub.

ENTERTAINMENT

Since this party was actually at a farm, we fished, rode the tractor, and played games until everyone was exhausted. We did get up a quickie game of whiffle ball—that plastic baseball game we used to play as kids. I could almost hear my mom calling me in for dinner as it began to get dark— it really took me back. Some other ideas are badminton, croquet, and horseshoes. 

You can host this ‘down on the farm’ backyard barbeque anywhere. You don’t even have to have a backyard or an outdoor space to create a casual mood. How rustic you want to go is up to you. You may not want to drag bales of hay into your high rise apartment, but by using some of the ideas I’ve shared and adding some country music to your party playlist, you’ll create a laid-back atmosphere— even if you have to grill it up inside