Ice Cream Social

 Image source: http://icecreamjournal.turkeyhill.com/index.php/2007/06/28/old-school-ice-cream/

Even though the Back to School signs are everywhere, summer is not over yet. For me, it feels like it's just begun. My online classes are finished, it feels like I've spent all sumer indoors working or studying. I haven't even gone swimming! The point is, I've been thinking about classic summer activites and that brought me to the Ice Cream Social. When I was a kid, we had an old fashioned crank handled ice cream maker. It took hours, but you can't beat the taste of fresh ice cream. I have never found something that can compare. Even if you can't make ice cream from scratch, there is no reason you can't throw an ice cream party. What fun! It doesn't need to be a birthday, traditionally Ice Cream Socials were neighbourhood gatherings, so feel free to throw one just because. It's a great potluck idea, have guests bring their favourite flavours or toppings.

 Image Source: http://www.homemadesimple.com/en-US/HolidayandParty/Pages/ice-cream-social.aspx

Home Made Simple has a great list of Resources, Tips and Recipes for this theme. You can find them here

Really all you need are 2-3 flavours of ice cream and a range of toppings. Hit up the Bulk Food store for fun options. But watch out for nut allergies! If no one has any, feel free to serve nuts. Personally I love nuts on my sundae, but if you have any doubt, better play it safe than sorry.

My suggestions:

• toasted coconut
• cookie pieces (put them in a ziploc bag and crush them with a hammer)
• M&M's or Smarties
• Cut up fruit-berries, mangoes, bananas
• flavoured syrups-caramel, chocolate, raspberry or strawberry
• big cookies to make your own ice cream sandwhich

For Decorations, stick with classics like pennant banners, pin wheels and flags. They are easy to make, Home Made Simple has great patterns. Customize them with decorative paper in your choice of colours/patterns. Use white or glass dishes to let the colourful toppings take centre stage. What fun colours!

Oh the parties I would have if I had a backyard. In time, in time. 

Trend: Tissue Paper Petals

I've been seeing alot of diy projects using  layered tissue paper petals, to a great effect.

Isn't this tablescape so fabulous? So summery! The best part is those lanterns. This project comes to us via Martha Stewart, full instructions are here

 Image source: http://www.marthastewart.com

I think this is a great way to salvage cheaper paper lanterns that are not quite right.  I bought some cheapos once and they were definitely not perfectly round. Perhaps I could have saved them by covering them with tissue paper circles.  Apparently, you can buy the circles pre-cut at craft stores if you are not into cutting out dozens of circles yourself. Paper lanterns and tissue paper is very inexpensive, but what an impact! Great way to stretch your party budget.

I have also seen this method used to decorate pinatas. 

Image source: http://www.younghouselove.com

Here's a tutorial from one of my favourite blogs to read, Young House Love. This pinata was from their daughter's first birthday party.

Image source: http://www.everydaycelebrating.com

If you are not into getting messy with flour and glue,then this very similar project uses a store bought soccer ball pinata and just adds on the tissue paper "petals". Because it's uses a store bought form, it is perfectly round which might appeal to those perfectionists out there (ahem, me).
You can find more photos and instructions here

What a lovely alternative to those gaudy character pinatas you see everywhere in the store. I love the pretty, modern look of these.

Canada Day BBQ

Guests: 10 all adults plus 1 dog
Location: Keswick, ON
Budget: $20 for decorations and supplies, $60 for main course, side dishes were potluck 

*as always, no pictures of guests are included in this post.

Menu:

• Mini Ribfest: honey bbq, honey garlic, smokin stampede and regular bbq
• Corn on the cob
• Caesar Salad
• Garden Salad
• Veggies and dip
• Salsa and tostitoes
• Raspberry Lemonade (just add fresh raspberries to any kind of lemonade)
• Beer & Mixed Drinks
• Cupcakes

 

Corn simmering on the side burner and racks of ribs cooking away

I decorated the dog too, doesn't he look cute?

Decorations:

• Flag Banner
• Pin wheels
• Canada Day Buttons
• T-shirts and Hats
• Bandana for the Dog
• Glow Sticks for after dark

 

 Activities:

• Bocce
• Drinksbee
• Relaxing on the desk in the sunshine
• Fireworks 

Bocce:

You can play with 2, 4, or 8 players. Divide the colour balls amongst teams, I played yellow and red, for example. The little ball is called the pellino. Somebody throws the white ball a decent distance away. The idea is to get your coloured ball as close as possible to the white ball without hitting it. One point is awarded for every ball that is closer than the other sides. 

For more information and rules, see this site

See how close I was? I win! 

 Drinksbee:
Materials Needed:

• 4 plastic beer cups
• 4 dowels or stakes
• 2 frisbees
• Drinks for each team member (preferably alcoholic)

Playing Field: Set up the field as shown in the photo. Each side has 2 poles and 2 cups. Two players on each team, each player guards a pole (and the cup). Set the ends a good throwing distance apart, but not so far that you won't be able to hit the targets. That's not fun at all.

 Concept: Throw the frisbee, knock off your opponent's cups.One cup knocked down equals one point. If the cup you are responsible for hits the ground, you must take a drink. Team members can catch each other's cups. Catch your cups to reverse the point to the throwing side, you get the point, they have to take a drink.

Doubles: after a point, you get to throw again. Knock it down again, means double the points and double the drinks. 

Trifecta: Go again for a chance to score three points. The other team has to chugg the rest of their drinks. Obviously, this is the most coveted and rare of plays. 

Tips: Distractions are allowed, including faking, dancing, rude gestures, etc.

Offense: fake outs, cross overs, bouncing the frisbee off one pole to knock down two cups at once are encouraged. 

Defense: Catch those cups! Sacrifice the body if you have to. 

Subbing players is encouraged, everyone can play!

Slips out of my hands. Grrr. Time for a drink.

Fireworks:

One of the guests brought an assortment of fireworks. As expected, some were better than others. Some nieghbours had really good ones. I handed out glow sticks for everyone. Fun! We all walked down to the beach to set them off, which would have been fantastic except for the mutant sized mosquitos. Yikes!

 

 

Hope your July long weekend was as fun as mine! 

Re-Post: Felt Citrus Slice Coasters

Image source: http://www.purlbee.com/citrus-coasters/

Image source: http://www.purlbee.com/citrus-coasters/

Lemon, Lime, Pink grapefruit, Orange 

By now, everyone knows I love felt. Look at these fantastic citrus slice coasters.
Love, love, love!
All you need is some appropriately coloured felt, scissors, pins and a needle and thread. 
The step by step instructions for this project from Purl Bee can be found here

Is there anything you can't make from felt?

Lady Bug Decorations

A friend asked to help her with some things for her daughter's first birthday. I didn't have alot of time to contribute, but I came up with these two quick projects.

 Directional Signs

The idea for these guys were to be signs to point the guests to the party, without giving away to much information such as the address or child's name. Guests were told to look for the ladybugs. One was at the entrance to the complex, one each on the front and back door. I made them from cardboard and acrylic paint. I painted them freehand, so they are not all perfect, but since they would not be side by side, it didn't matter. They are quite sizable, I used the lid from a paper box. Easily seen from a distance. I think the middle one is my favourite.

Leaf cupcake flags

These little guys are so easy to make and look adorable. 

Materials:

• toothpicks
• green paper
• red dot stickers
• black marker
• glue stick

 Cut out a leaf shape from green paper.

 Add some red dots (the body of the lady bug)

 Draw on the details with black marker.

Add a bit of glue and roll the stem of the leaf around the toothpick.

Of course, try not to touch the pointy end of the toothpick, or wear gloves. It's easy to whip up alot of these in a very short period time. I made a dozen in about fifteen minutes.

If you are considering a theme for a young child's party, especially if that party is in a backyard or park I encourage you to use a ladybug theme. There is so much available online-free printables, games, activities etc. If you can't find ladybug decorations, they are easy to make. Or simply use red/black/green as your colour scheme.

Re-post: Easter Egg Fireflies

This is the cutest thing ever. I had to share. I have an entire bag of these plastic eggs leftover from Easter. What a great summer craft for summer outdoor parties.
Cottage, Camping, Canada Day...

Image source: http://www.ohdeedoh.com

 Image source: http://www.ohdeedoh.com

Put them in the garden, and turn them on at night to suprise the kids.Yellow ones can be bumble bees, pink ones can be lady bugs, blue or green for dragonflies. You could make a whole slew of different kinds of bugs, as well as the standard lightning bugs.

Materials:

• plastic easter eggs (the ones that open)
• stickers or googly eyes
• pipe cleaners
• duct tape (for wings)

For detailed instructions, click here

Staff BBQ

*To protect the privacy of the guests, no names or photos of guests are included in this post

Date: Saturday August 28th 1-4 pm
Guests: 40, staff plus families
Location: Erindale Park, Mississauga On

Menu:

• Hamburgers
• Veggie burgers
• Chicken breasts
• Sausages
• Assorted condiments and buns/pitas
• Potato salad
• Pasta salad
• Coleslaw
• Assorted drinks
• Watermelon slices
• Chocolate or vanilla ice cream cones

I also opted for biodegrable plates and cutlery, to green up the bbq a bit. I hate to leave so much garbage behind.

Catering by Simply BBQ, see website for more details

Simply BBQ provides all the necessary equipment and handles all the set-up, which includes a trailer bbq and service canopies.
They even bring along the music! The staff was fantastic and very easy to work with. See the photos on their site for more information.

Details:

Since we had a mixture of very young children, adults and teenagers I allowed for a free form event. Nothing was "scheduled". I added additional service time for the bbq in case some families with young children were a bit late getting to the event. The atmosphere was quite casual, and I think the guests enjoyed the ability to relax and mingle with colleagues and their families in an informal environment.

I supplied lawn games such as frisbees, nerf toys, lawn darts, ring toss and horsehoes and allowed the guests to structure the games any way they wished. The nerf football and frisbees proved popular with the teenage boys.

The battery powered bubble machine was fantastic. However-it sure went through alot of bubble solution very quickly. I'll be sure to bring a large jug next time I use it.

The picnic area features a playpark for the children, which they enjoyed throughout the afternoon.

Here is the site before the event-not much there

The weather was quite windy, more than I expected. I managed to jury rig tie downs for the plaid tablecloths with some twine. Some early arrivals helped me out. Thanks guys!

The weather forecast indicated it would be quite hot and humid. Knowing the picnic area is a wide open grassy field, without much shade I brought along a pop-up gazebo tent, similar to a camping dining tent.

This was the best idea of the day! Guests quickly labelled it " the baby tent". Six babies have been born to the staff in the past year, it was great to see them all, and for the parents to all meet each other.

I knew it was successful when the guests lingered long after the official end date of the event-especially the babies. They were amongst the last to leave!

Lootbags were provided for all guests, with specific items removed or added depending on the age of the guests. Some examples of items-pencils and erasers, bubbles, balls, hair clips for younger girls and socks for the babies.

Overall-success!

The Credit River

Ice Cream Cone Balloons

Make "ice cream cones" with a bunch of helium balloons, and some brown kraft paper cones. Genuius!

Image: http://thecraftsdept.marthastewart.com/2010/08/lauras-baby-shower.html

Today's post comes via the great Martha and her team at the Crafts Dept. I love this idea so much, I had to share. It's so easy, and it looks so great. The team made them for a baby shower, but I would use them for a kid's birthday, a family reunion or any other summer time event.