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    Home » Entertaining » Party Ideas » Easy Summer Entertaining with Friends

    Published: Jul 29, 2013 · Updated: May 8, 2023 by Sharon Garofalow | This post may contain affiliate links. See the privacy policy linked in my footer.

    Easy Summer Entertaining with Friends

    Keep your summer entertaining easy and spend a chill afternoon on the patio with your friends. Do you daydream summer entertaining scenarios? Here is what my dream afternoon with girlfriends would look like. I'm usually drawn to really bright colors, but there is something about the Gianna rug that I just love. The colors remind me of late summer, in the twilight hours, and feels really earthy to me. Nothing relaxes me more than spending time with good friends. So for my perfect afternoon, I would keep it simple, keep it tasty and keep it refreshing.Serve simple snacks at your next outdoor summer party. These agate coasters make the perfect little snack plates! Who doesn't love cheese with something crispy?  Super easy.Crunchy snacks are a great finger food idea for easy summer entertaining. For a little sweet, because you know I love me some sweets, I'd put out these ThinAddictives. The crunch is perfect and snacky with the perfect amount of sweetness.Serve your friends iced tea with different fresh herbs and fruit to infuse it with flavor easily. Iced tea is one of my favorite beverages of all time.  Adding a hint of fresh herbs like mint or basil makes it so summery. By clapping the herb in your palm a few times and adding to the top of your tea, each sip is scented and makes for a sensory treat.I always look for unique sodas to serve in the summer. This grapefruit chamomile and cardamom soda is perfect for outdoor entertaining. I'm a sucker for cardamom so when I saw this Joia Soda I had to try it.  It was perfection in a bottle.  Not too sweet, not to spice-y. And it is always fun to having something new for your girlfriends to try.Plan your summer entertaining around easy things you can do like serving refreshing iced tea and cheese and crackers. Switch up your serving pieces to keep that unique.The perfect summer afternoon, right? If we are lucky it would be overcast and stormy without being humid and cold. That would just make it a little more cozy. This is a dream scenario after all right?iced tea and cardamom soda for an easy summer entertaining beverage idea. What is does your dream afternoon with friends look like? Be sure to keep your summer entertaining easy so you can enjoy time with your pals and not be stuck doing a ton of work. Put on a great playlist and pretend like you are on vacation and not headed back to work tomorrow and soak up all the friend time you can!

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    Rug c/o Pottery Barn.

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    About Sharon Garofalow

    Sharon lives in Southern California with her adorable family. She loves to share ideas to make mom life easier and encourage busy gals to make time for themselves too! Sharon's "me" time often includes watching Hallmark Channel movies, sipping sauvignon blanc, trying not to eat Salt and Pepper potato chips, and planning girlfriend getaways.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Linsey K says

      August 01, 2013 at 5:48 pm

      Love those coasters!

      Reply
    2. Kristin says

      July 30, 2013 at 3:20 pm

      Ok new drink i tried at a restaurant called Bluebeard in Indianapolis. It was iced black tea, vodka, lemon simple syrup and basil. AMAZEBALLS. must recreate.

      Reply
    3. Jill says

      July 30, 2013 at 11:37 am

      My afternoons have been spent swimming with the kids because they need to get their energy out. I want your rug and ALL the food.

      Reply
    4. Dinah says

      July 29, 2013 at 3:10 pm

      It all looks so good! P.S. I love the table and rug too ;)

      Reply
    5. Debbie Miller says

      July 29, 2013 at 12:47 pm

      Love all your photos! Looks like a lovely afternoon.

      Reply
    6. Nicole says

      July 29, 2013 at 10:58 am

      What a pretty post! And that rug is fab!

      Reply
    7. Jessica says

      July 29, 2013 at 9:58 am

      This is such a simple yet beautiful set up. So pretty! Yes, relaxing with friends and absolutely no agenda or to-do list would be lovely!

      Reply
    8. lyndsay // coco cake land says

      July 29, 2013 at 9:14 am

      hi sharon! super cute rug but those SNACKS are making me drool. ^__^

      Reply

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    Welcome!
    Based in Southern California, I am the mom to two amazing boys and married to the raddest man in all the land. Cupcakes and Cutlery is your resource for simple solutions to help you be an awesome wife and mother and not lose yourself in the process. Email me at [email protected]

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