There are tons of ways to keep your family and yourself stylishly entertained all summer long. Here’s how!
Entertain Others
Picnic Lunch.
You don’t have to go far! Grab a picnic basket, dust off a checkered sheet and lay out a spread under the maple in your backyard or local park. Dig into a Chunky Chicken Peanut Wrap with a light Field of Greens Salad on the side. Leftovers? Seal them up in a Ziploc® brand Sandwich Bag.
Afternoon Tea.
Ban paper plates and set up a summer tea on a shaded patio or under a shady trellis. Set your table with a floral tablecloth and delicate painted china from flea markets. Bring out a hot pot of tea and a Grilled Fruit Pizza to snack on.
Moonlight Moments.
Create the perfect setting on your front porch or backyard patio for a romantic dinner rendezvous. Light several Glade® Scented Oil Candles to set the mood, and bring out a Bombay Tomato Coconut Soup to start. Follow up with Chicken Breast and Apples, a fresh take on summer dining and a failsafe way to impress your guest.
Be Your Own DJ.
Choose music that matches your menu or your outdoor decor. For a menu with Southwestern Grilled Turkey Breasts play some country and western or southern-flavoured classic rock for those with edgier tastes. If Hot & Spicy Chicken Bites are being served, turn up the heat with a little salsa. If you use Victorian-looking china, try classical music such as Vivaldi for a distinguished afternoon tea.
Entertain Yourself
Take On Da Vinci.
Take a sketch pad and box of watercolours into your garden. Study the petals of a flower or the movement of a ladybug, and capture it on paper.
Phone Home.
Extend your phone cord or take your cell phone and make your calls outside. If you’re feeling peckish from all that chatting, chow down on some leftover Turkey Burgers.
Perk Up Your Workspace.
On a sunny day, set up your journal, typewriter or laptop on the terrace and catch up on your personal writings, correspondence, etc. In fact, any chore you need to do will seem more relaxing outdoors.
Hello, Birdie!
Set yourself up for some serious birdwatching with a bird guidebook, binoculars and a portable chair. You might just catch a hummingbird quivering in front of the hollyhocks. Slather a wooden birdhouse with peanut butter for more action.
Do Cart Wheels.
Find the largest cart wheel you can in a junk shop, paint it white, lay it down with the hub stuck in the earth and surround it with your favourite summer blooms.
Knit One, Purl Two.
Settle into a rocking chair on the porch and keep your hands busy with knitting or needlepoint projects you can give as holiday gifts.
