{Party Ideas} End of Summer Celebrations, Part 3

The third, and final, End of Summer Celebration idea that I wanted to share with you is a favorite that I have been saving for some time. Although I am quite sure that having two boys has something to do with its appeal to me, this celebration idea is perfect for any summer-themed party and it is inexpensive and easy to DIY.

Today's End of Summer Celebration Idea: Host A Bug Hunt Party!

Bug themed parties have been circulating for quite some time but I though that there was just something special about this one created by Parents.com.  I love the creativity involved in putting this simple little party together and the fact that it can easily be re-created at an extremely affordable price! What a fun way to celebrate the end of summer with your children and a few of their friends. Other than some kid-friendly munchies, you only really need a few other inexpensive extras to pull of this Summer Celebration.

Start with a Bug Hunt: Get the party started with a Bug Hunt! Buy a bulk bag of plastic bugs and scatter them around your yard before guests arrive. Provide each guest with their own magnifying glass and set them off on their hunt! So easy, so simple, and so fun! And, if it's too hot outside, the hunt can easily be done inside.

Image: Parents

The Snack Table: Don't underestimate the power of crepe paper! This wonderfully creative table skirt was created by layering different shades of green crepe paper streamers and gluing a few plastic bugs on here and there. This definitely isn't a 5 minute project, but I bet that your kids would love to help out with creating it. At least mine would! Cover the top of your table with a green tablecloth and attach the skirt using glue, staples, or heavy tape. Then, get creative with your buggy snacks.

Image: Parents

A Few Snack Ideas: I found a few buggy snack ideas to get your started. I tried to look for some healthy choices that the kids would be excited about and that the moms would appreciate.

Wormy Cheese Dip: Wormy cheese sticks make the perfect dipper for this Spider dip holder. You can find the details on how to make this, here.

Ladybug Crackers: A little more time consuming but so cute! Click here for the recipe.

Build-a-Bug Snack Station: I love this idea from Party Ideas from Mell and Sarah. They made an idea-starter display for the table and provided all the ingredients for guests to make their own!

Image: Party Ideas By Mell and Sarah

Dirt Cup Dessert: Kids will delight when dessert time rolls around. Who doesn't love a dirt cup full of chewy worms! Visit Family Focus Blog for the recipe and how-to.

Image: Family Focus Blog

Bug Jar Favors: Put your empty mayo and peanut butter jars to good use! By adding a little grass/moss and a stick or two, you can create Bug Jar favors for your guests to take home. How cute!

Image: Parents

Have fun with this one. This is definitely going on my favorites list!

{Party Ideas} End of Summer Celebrations, Part 2

Today's Summer Celebration Idea: Host a Pink Lemonade Party For a Cause!

Image: Pinterest

Invite all of your girlfriends over for a Pink Lemonade Party to celebrate the summer as it comes to an end. Whether you make it a small, intimate affair or one for the entire street, keep it light and cheery, serving cool summer drinks and desserts to your guests. Much like the End of Summer Picnic party idea, this party allows you to prepare everything before your guests arrive so that you are able to enjoy the celebration, too!

Set-Up: Take full advantage of any shady spots that you have in your backyard to set-up your Pink Lemonade Party. Use items that you already have around your house to create an inviting area for you guests to gather and enjoy a cool drink and a sweet treat. Pen n' Paper Flowers created this lovely and inspiring setting for a lemonade party last year. LOvE iT!

Image: Pen n' Paper Flowers

For a Cause: Why not invite your guests to put on their best pink for your celebration and support a good cause as well. Instead of providing favors to your guests, a donation can be made to a national breast cancer organization, a local pink cause, or to support an event participant. You can even provide an area for guests to make their own donations if they wish to do so. I promise that this will make your Summer Celebration even sweeter.

Since you will all be wearing pink and celebrating summer for a good cause, a yummy pink dessert is a must!

Dessert: This easy to prepare and economical (only 85 cents per slice!) Pink Lemonade Cake from Ladies Home Journal is light, delicious, and sure to please. Click here for the recipe and instructions.

Image: Recipe.com

Drinks: Don't forget the Pink Lemondae!

Image: Pinterest

{Party Ideas} End of Summer Celebrations

With only a month left of summer vacation, this is the perfect time to start planning an End of Summer Celebration. Over the next few days, I will be sharing some fun, easy, and inexpensive ideas to help make your Summer Celebration a memorable one.

Today's Summer Celebration Idea: Host an End Of Summer Picnic

Image: myrecipes.com

Throw down your best plaid blanket and get ready to celebrate! The relaxed style of a Summer Picnic will allow you and your guests to casually celebrate the summer as it comes to an end. Highlight some of the season's best, offering fresh salads, juicy watermelon, and some easy-to-prepare (and handle) wraps and sandwiches. Here are a few menu ideas to get you started on the right track: A Three Bean Salad, Mediterranean Layered Sandwich and a Sweet Chili Wrap, and Watermelon Sticks.

Help your guests cool down with some favorite warm-weather beverages. Whether serving lemonade, iced-tea, or fun chilled cocktails, be creative with your presentation while trying to stick with the relaxed, Summer Picnic theme. Mason jars or empty jelly jars, for example, are an inexpensive and fun way to serve beverages and are much more sheek than a paper cup!

Image: Mixing Bowl

Don't forget dessert! There are so many options for Summer Picnic themed desserts. Homemade ice cream, a fresh fruit cobbler, strawberry shortcake... or how about Chocolate Almond Ant Cupcakes?!?! I love this cupcake idea from What's New, Cupcake? , which I came across over at Hostess With the Mostess. Not only are they relatively easy to put together, but they go along with the picnicn theme and are sure to be a hit with young and old alike. To create, frost cupcakes with green icing and roll the edges in colored coconut (use food coloring). Use chocolate-covered almonds and dark chocolate frosting to create the ant toppers and accessorize a few with purchased watermelon candy fruit. Love it!

Image: Hostess With The Mostess

Remember to keep things simple and relaxed so that you are able to enjoy the party, too. And don't forget to have fun! 

{What's Cooking?} Double Chocolate S'mores Cupcakes

 No summer is complete without a few S'mores filled nights, especially if children are involved. While I have indulged in my share of the original form, I just recently tried my hand at the newly popular cupcake version. The other week I came across an original s'mores cupcake recipe over at Martha Stewart from Jennifer Shea of Trophy Cupcakes.  While Jennifer's recipe is AMAZING, I wanted to simplify her version, making it a little easier for my kids to help out with the preparation process and allowing us more time to enjoy the yummy treat. I combined Jennifer's graham cracker/chocolate crust and topping with a box of Devil's Food Cake and an easy-to-whip-up Marshmallow Frosting. Here is what I came up with:

Double Chocolate S'mores Cupcakes

Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 20 squares...I used my food processor)
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup sugar
- miniature Hersey bars
- 10 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips, coarsely chopped
- 1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix
- 1 8 ounce container Marshmallow Cream
- 3/4 cup softened butter
- about 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with cupcake liners.
- Combine graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and melted butter in a large bowl. Stir until combined.
- Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of the graham cracker mixture into the bottom of each muffin cup and pack using the bottom of a small glass. Reserve the remaining graham cracker mixture for the topping.

- Place a miniature Hersey bar in each muffin cup on top of graham cracker crust. Place muffin tins in the oven for about 5 minutes, until crust is golden and chocolate is melted (the chocolate may hold its shape...just spread the melted chocolate out over the graham cracker crust). Remove tins from the oven.

- Prepare Devil's Food Cake mix as directed and fill each muffin cup about 2/3 full with cake mixture.
- Combine remaining graham cracker mixture with chopped chocolate chips and sprinkle over each muffin tin, completely covering the top.

- Return muffin tins to the oven and bake for about 18-20 minutes, until tops are firm and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Place muffins on a wire rack to cool completely.

- Prepare Marshmallow Frosting: Mix 8 oz of Marshmallow Cream with softened butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla using an electric mixer on low speed until thick and creamy. Top cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting and Enjoy!

* A facebook follower suggested filling the cupcakes with the Marshmallow Frosting instead of topping them with it. I love this idea as well!

Fruity Summer Snack Ideas

Looking for some kid-friendly Summer Snack Ideas that are as healthy as they are fun? Take advantage of the season's freshest produce and wow your littlest fans with these fruity ideas:

Fruit Pops: Move over fruit kabobs, these adorable FRUIT POPS from Bakers Royale are ready to steal the show! Not only are they pretty to look at, but they are healthy and super easy to make. Just grab your favorite fruits (watermelon and cantaloupe are pictured below), a cookie cutter, and a few pop sticks to put together this kid-friendly snack.

{Image: Bakers Royale}

Fruit Punch Popsicles: I've never met a kid that doesn't enjoy cooling off with a cold popsicle on a hot summer day. These frozen Fruit Punch Popsicles will not disappoint! Packed with a serving of fruit per popsicle, they will please young and old alike at your next summer shindig! To make, combine 3 cups of sliced fruit into a large mixing bowl. Spoon the fruit mixture into 8 popsicle molds and then fill each mold with your choice of juice. Place a popsicle stick into each mold and freeze for at least 4 hours, until frozen solid.

{Image: Kitchen Daily}

 

Waffle Cone Fruit Cups: Okay, these fruit-filled cones may not produce that same reaction as they would if they were filled with ice cream BUT they will provide your guests with a healthy dessert option. Waffle Cone Fruit Cups are easy to serve, won't melt, and are sure to make one of the day's daily fruit servings a little bit sweeter!

{Image: Pinterest}

Shark Fruit Bowl: If you are hosting a pool-side party this summer, this Shark Fruit Bowl is a must! While it appears to require some creative cutting skills and a little time, the finished product is sure to be a hit. Sun Scholars offers a great tutorial on recreating this watermelon masterpiece.

{Image: Pinterest}

Any other fun fruity summer snack ideas?? Please share!

Light Up Your Outdoor Party

Outdoor parties and Summer go hand-in-hand. Here are some creative Outdoor Lighting Ideas to keep your party going strong long after the sun goes down.

An Abundance of Lanterns: The more the better!
Group a cluster of lit lanterns together to create a romantic midsummer night's mood.

{Image: La Sweet Settings}

Electric Lighting Options:
There are so many great electric lighting options out there if the element of fire is not a safe party option (especially if small children are going to be running around!). Bring a table lamp outdoors to brighten up a buffet. Use string lights to add color and glow to your setting and get out those stored away holiday lights to wrap columns and trees for some added fun!

{Image: Real Simple}

Eco-Friendly Lighting:

Grab some glass jars and wire that you already have at home to create this Eco-friendly lighting option. Simply wrap wire around the lips of your glass jars, bending a length of wire over the top to use as a handle, and then tie each wire handle to the length of twine, string, or small chains at even intervals and hang.

{Image: Country Living}

A Faux Glow:
Faux candles and lanterns (OXO Candela DemiGlow Rechargeable LED Lights) are another alternative option if you plan on staying away from candles. They can provide hours of illumination to your outdoor shindig and can be recharged and reused again and again.

{Image: Martha Stewart}

Origami Lanterns:

These colorful lanterns are origami "balloons" that have been fashioned around battery-operated lights, hung from bamboo poles, and finished off with ribbons. You can find DIY directions at Martha Stewart, here.

{Image: Martha Stewart}

Large Hanging Lanterns:

Fill various lanterns with votives, tea lights, and tapers and hang to create a warm glow over your guests. Sand, rocks, and rose petals are just some "filler" options to help secure your candles and dress up the bottom of your lanterns.

(Image: Martha Stewart}