Innehållsförteckning för Celebrate All-American Summer 2012 från Southern Lady

Summer is here. Th e days are warm, the evenings are relaxing, and we get to spend time with loved ones. Let this special summer issue of Celebrate be an invitation for you to join us in taking the fun outside. We’ve planned the parties and have each of them packed with creative menus, innovative decorating ideas, sweet favors, and lovely invitations. You can throw memorable celebrations for your family and friends with an extra dose of panache. Th e All-American Summer party package—which chases after life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—can be used to jump-start the summer on Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Labor Day. Th e party ideas travel with ease and can be taken to wherever your family retreats—the coast, the lake, or the mountains. And…

BUNCHES OF BOLD COLOR Let this year’s fashion trend of color blocking inspire your entertaining. Bunch brightly colored blooms in different containers as a centerpiece. Here, Mason jars are dressed with cotton trim and jute to add an extra feminine touch. Let each guest take a jar home to remember the event. FRUIT BOWL WITH A TWIST For a fresh way to show offyour citrus, place lemons in a large rustic bowl. Group 3 or 4 strands of bear grass together, and use one strand at each end to tie them as a group. Crisscross gatherings around lemons, and tuck ends to conceal knots. NAUTICAL ROMANCE Place a pillar candle in a lantern, then gently surround with sand. Embellish with a few small seashells, and complete by tying a piece…

Artist Mark Borella has a friend whose son was diagnosed with cancer six years ago. To uplift his friend during the difficult time, Mark wanted to give something from his heart—one of his sculptures. He tried to create something that reflected his friend’s son, but he struggled to articulate his emotions in a single piece of art. After some deliberation, Mark gathered a lump of extra clay, molded it into a ball, and etched a happy face into it. He made a few more and brought them to his friend. “I told him, ‘There’s nothing I can do or say, but here’s a handful of smiles. And I hope you can get your smile back real soon,’ ” he recalls. Since that day, Mark has kept a jar of smiles…

Make your daydreams of escaping to a desert island a reality (even if just for a few hours) by hosting a poolside luau. With just a few creative tricks, you can indulge in a relaxing evening of mingling with guests while savoring faraway flavors and sipping a cocktail from a coconut. Set the stage by draping your tables in burlap and accessorizing with neutral, coastal accents like palm fronds, netting, and seashells. Add lamp oil and wicks to clear, reclaimed glass bottles, and arrange them in sand for ambient lighting. Menu RUMDINGER CURRIED CUCUMBER ROLLS COCONUT SHRIMP SKEWERS PINEAPPLE-PORK LETTUCE WRAPS TROPICAL RICE BITES BANANA COCONUT TARTLETS COCONUT SHRIMP SKEWERS Makes 24 servings ½ cup cornstarch 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground red pepper 4 large eggs, lightly beaten 2…

Just a Tip ... For an all-American twist, we served watermelon wedges on Popsicle sticks. Using a knife, cut watermelon into wedges, and then cut a slit in the rind. Insert Popsicle sticks. Freeze for at least 30 minutes. PARTY Download, and print out our bright paper package at celebratemag.com. • Croquet Party Invitation • Croquet Party Bottle Labels MENU CHICKEN SALAD WITH CUCUMBER DILLED EGG SALAD PIMIENTO CHEESE WHITE CHOCOLATE-TOFFEE BLONDIES LEMON-PISTACHIO SHORTBREAD CHICKEN SALAD WITH CUCUMBER Makes about 3 cups 3 cups chopped rotisserie chicken 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled 3/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper . cup finely chopped green onion 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme 1 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon salt Sourdough bread slices…

STAR-SPANGLED STRAWBERRIES Makes 2 dozen strawberries 1 (16-ounce) package vanilla-flavored candy coating 3 tablespoons all-vegetable shortening 1 (3.25-ounce) container blue sprinkles* 24 fresh strawberries, at room temperature Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine candy coating and shortening. Microwave on High in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth (about 1½ minutes total). Let cool for approximately 2 minutes. Holding by the stem end, dip strawberry into chocolate, covering about three-fourths of the berry, allowing excess to drip off. Dip the tip of each berry into the sprinkles. Place on prepared baking sheet until set, about 30 minutes. Serve the same day. *We tested with Wilton sprinkles, which can be found at Walmart or wherever Wilton products are sold.…

“Make your picnics even more memorable by planning ahead.” —Phyllis Hoffman DePiano Whether you are elbow to elbow at an oldfashioned picnic table, lounging on a blanket, or in lawn chairs by the lake, there is something special about eating outdoors. A relaxing picnic is a wonderful way to celebrate the season with friends and family. No picnic is perfect (there will always be some buggy visitors!), but you can help yours go smoothly for everyone by planning and preparing ahead of time. GETTING READY Once you have determined your date and place, begin by making a list of all the nonfood items you and your guests may need. These might include paper towels, moist hand wipes, garbage bags, plates, cups, napkins, utensils for eating and serving, a knife, and…

CLASSIC SWEETS AND NOSTALGIC TREATS INSPIRED OUR HOMEMADE CONCESSION STAND. There’s no better way to make the most of a lazy summer night than to round up your neighborhood for a casual movie party loaded with vintage charm. A large white sheet draped on the side of the house becomes a giant screen, and plenty of blankets and pillows are perfect for guests to lean back and relax. Wait until it gets dark to start the show, but have everyone arrive a bit early so they can make themselves comfortable—and load up on snacks. Concession-stand fare inspired our menu. Guests can scoop their own popcorn into boxes and sprinkle with their seasoning of choice. Sweets—usually sold in boxes at the theater—are arranged in cookie jars for self-serve. With these treats…

To celebrate true love joined in holy matrimony— as well as a happy marriage of flavors—Camille Styles, lifestyle blogger and party planner, created a dreamy celebration for a bride-to-be. A variety of blush rosé wines and fresh artisan cheeses paired perfectly with elegant décor and a smidge of rustic appeal. Camille’s eye for design comes from four years of running her own party-planning business, as well as from a deep-seated love for event styling. She started her company in 2008 and shortly after began hosting a blog to market herself. “The blog really started to take off, and I fell in love with the fact that I could reach not only my clientele but also readers all over the world. So I decided it was something I would intentionally focus…

Dad works hard year-round to keep his family happy, so let him sit back and relax on this special day. Show him he’s your No. 1 dude with a casual and fun celebration in his honor. A medley of pop art– inspired pieces, a hearty fajita feast, and easy-tocraft gifts are sure ways to let Dad know he rocks! Decorate the table, using a bold color palette and preppy, manly patterns (think plaid, argyle, and stripes). Wrap our specially designed labels around bottles of root beer—we favor Dad’s Old Fashioned Root Beer for this party, of course—then prepare place markers he can keep to remember this Father’s Day. PARTY Download, and print out our Father's Day paper package at celebratemag.com. • Father's Day Bottle Labels • Father's Day Banner Flags…

CREAMY HERB DIP Makes 3 ¼ cups 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 2 (5-ounce) packages herb-flavored Boursin cheese 1½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper Fresh vegetables Garnish: fresh chopped chives In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add flavored cheese and pepper, beating until combined. Serve with fresh vegetables, or store, covered, in refrigerator for up to 3 days. Garnish with chives before serving, if desired. INDIVIDUAL 5-LAYER GREEK DIP Makes 16 individual servings 2 cups finely chopped drained jarred roasted red peppers, divided 2 cups prepared hummus, divided 2 cups finely chopped pepperoncini peppers, divided 2 cups finely chopped pitted kalamata olives, divided 2 cups crumbled feta cheese, divided Garnish: 16 English cucumber slices, fresh oregano Pita chips (optional)…

SUMMER STYLE Page 13–organic Capiz bowl, Z Gallerie Page 16–apothecary jar, Michaels Page 17–large Atlantis clam shell, Z Gallerie MOVIE NIGHT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Page 28–popcorn boxes, Shop Sweet Lulu Page 29–drop cloth, Home Depot; film reel plaques, Ballard Designs Pages 30-31–tablecloth and table runner, Pip Studio; berry baskets, Shop Sweet Lulu; candy jars, Walmart Pages 34-35–pillows, Pip Studio Page 36–vintage European bathtub planter, NapaStyle Page 37–Ball canning jar lids, Walmart MY DAD ROCKS Page 38–oatmeal containers, Target; pebbles, Lowe’s Page 43–small bowl, Target Page 47–Mod Podge and paintbrush, Hobby Lobby BACKYARD LUAU Page 50–netting, Save-on-crafts Page 51–glass wicks, flowers, and 100 string lights, Hobby Lobby Page 52–rainbow arch serving set, Give Simple; shell sauce dish, World Market Page 53–coconut cups, Party City Page 59–burlap bags, Save-on-crafts PRINCESS FOR A…