It's The Alfresco Season...

I am so excited that summer is here and alfresco entertaining can begin.

I love doing full, all out cookouts for friends and family but I also like

hosting a gathering with just a little less pressure.  I have found that I love hosting

 a dessert and drink evening.  This way people can have a dinner at home or out and come

over for cool, fun summer desserts and stylish summer drinks.

And the more casual the better!  I so enjoy digging around in my cabinets of 

entertaining accessories and coming up with new and stylish ways to use them.

This is such a great outdoor lighting idea using an old wire basket, hung from the 

pergola and filling it with simple pillar candles and moss.

I LOVE watermelon and when I saw this idea, well, I had to try it.  You take and 

scoop out the inside of half a watermelon, remove the little seeds, puree it in a blender

or food processor, strain in a fine sieve and put the liquid it back in the hollowed

 out watermelon.  Serve over ice and mix with a little vodka for a cool, sweet summer drink.

I have purchased empty vintage style glass bottles at places like TJMaxx and World Imports

and filled them with mixers such as juices for various fun drinks that your guests 

can self serve from.

I always have to have some designer sodas on hand too.   We love Izzy brand

soda because they have so many fabulous flavors and they are light and

sparkling.

One of my favorite summer desserts are lemon bars.  The recipe my mom used

when I was growing up is still a tried and true family favorite.  I like making them

look a little more special by wrapping them individually in parchment paper and 

finishing off with simple brown string. 

And this little ice cream delight is so much fun to make.  You can get little glass 

mason style jars in the wedding section at Michaels,  fill them with all different flavors

 of ice cream or sorbet, place in a galvanized tub filled with ice and watch your guests

 smile with delight.

So there you are, easy and fun dessert and drink summer entertaining

when you don't feel like making an all out meal.

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a great rest of your week!

xo

Karen

all images via pinterest and google.