3 #Squadgoal Parties to Host this Fall

Saying good-bye to summer has never been easy for me, but I'm slowly starting to get into the spirit. From comfort food and apple cider donuts to cute new outfits and being able to maintain a blow-out in the crisp, humidity-free air, I reluctantly admit that Autumn does have its charms.

And one of my favorites is that I can start entertaining again!

I'm not sure how it is in your circle, but in mine, summer is always such a blur of travel, weddings, and beach weekends. Nobody ever seems to be in town at the same time, and finding days when everyone can get together is always a challenge. But Fall brings with it a welcome return to routine--and the perfect opportunity to bring your faves together for some much-needed girl time.

This month, I paired up with the cool folks at Barefoot Wine & Bubbly to share with you three of my favorite low-key ways to catch-up with friends and entertain during these cozy autumn months:

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How to Host a Tiki Party

There are only a few things I love more than a theme party. Especially when it gives me an excuse to dress up in something festive. This year, I got my friends to dig out their prettiest tropical sundresses and Hawaiian shirts for some Polynesian-themed revelry at my Retro Tiki Party.

Scroll down below to see how I pulled it together, and get some inspiration for your next celebration!

The Drinks

The idea to throw this party came about while brainstorming themes for my ongoing "Summer of Punch" recipe collaboration with Smirnoff this year. I've always wanted to throw a retro tiki-style party, and since tiki parties are all about the fun tropical punch drinks, it was a perfect match!

I started out by researching classic tiki cocktails. Typically made with spirits like rum, I mixed things up a bit and created vodka versions that highlighted some of my favorite Smirnoff flavors.

My party bar featured three updated tiki cocktail punches. The overall favorite was definitely the Blue Raspberry Island Punch, made with Smirnoff Raspberry, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, blue curacao, and soda.

I also made a Peach and Passion Fruit Mai Tai using Smirnoff Peach and a Vodka Pina Colada Punch using classic Smirnoff No. 21.

I served the punches in a mix of punch bowls and beverage dispensers with cups, ice, cocktail umbrellas, and garnishes on the side for DIY serving. It's such a relaxed and low-key way to host a party because it allows guests to help themselves while I can focus on food and greeting guests.

Setting up the Tiki Bar

It's always smart to separate your food and drinks as it allows for more flow in your party space. This is especially important if, like me, you're entertaining in an apartment or other small space.

I set my bar in my office, which is just off the main party room.

I started off with a plain surface (in this case, my cleared-off desk!) and covered it with some neutral colored scarves to add texture and color.

I used stacks of books and blocks to add a variety of height to the bar, and added interesting touches like a cute hula girl bottle opener and a vintage style metal Tiki bar sign I found at a discount store.

Set up your punch bowls and other bar accessories ahead of time, then fill them with the beverages at the very last minute. This will save you time, and help keep the drinks cool before guests arrive.

Tiki mugs are a must for any tiki party. You can find real vintage ones at thrift stores or online shops. You can also find sets of inexpensive modern reproductions at party stores. I paid about $3 to $5 each for my mugs.

TIP: Don't feel like you need to buy one for every guest--even just a few to use as decoration (or to hold things like straws, cutlery, or cocktail stirrers) is enough to give it that classic tiki party feel!


The Food

Have fun with the food, but definitely keep it simple. I decided to add a modern twist by making my party a "Tiki Taco Party."

This allowed me to have a mix of fun, but easy dishes that satisfied all my guests. I broke the menu up into Polynesian or pu-pu platter style appetizers and snacks, with a DIY taco bar for the main course.

I created a fun (but easy! I promise!) Pineapple Chutney Cheese Ball that I shaped like a pineapple and decorated with pecans and the real crown from an actual pineapple. Served with plantain chips and rice crackers, it was a popular appetizer that also added to that retro, kitschy atmosphere.

A couple hot appetizers that can be prepped in advance and finished just before serving are always a hit. I went with simple Chinese-Style Pork Spare-Ribs and Spicy Bacon-Wrapped Pineapple Bites, which are a riff on a retro rumaki appetizer.

For the DIY Taco Bar, I offered a choice of roasted and pulled pork, ancho-pomegranate brisket, and a simple black bean and corn salad, as well as blue and yellow corn tortillas.

The meat was easy to prepare a few days in advance in my slow cooker and then reheated just before serving. Anytime you can do stuff in advance for a party, do it! You will be so thankful you did!

For the DIY taco bar toppings I set out bowls of my homemade restaurant-style salsa and homemade pineapple salsa (served in a pineapple bowl!).

I also added some simple toppings like salted red cabbage slaw, cumin-spiced sour cream, cilantro, chopped red onions, guacamole, and cotija cheese.

With a big meal like this, you don't really need a big dessert, but a little something sweet to end the night is always a good idea!

I made these easy Guava Coconut Crumb Bars and set out some additional fresh cut pineapple and watermelon for snacking.

Decorations

Don't feel like you have to spend a lot of money buying fancy decorations! I always recommend looking around your house for objects you already own to create the perfect party scene or tablescape.

Bamboo placemats or table runners, colorful tablecloths or floral napkins can all be pulled into service for this theme.

Another tip?

Just about any souvenir you've ever bought on an island, or beach vacation could work for this party theme. Think about things like large conch shells, sand dollars, stoneware, wooden bowls or serving pieces, or colorful scarves.

If you've ever stayed in a tropical resort or hotel, you might have noticed that it always smells amazing from the minute you step inside.

I like to mimic that with a sweet-smelling coconut or hibiscus candle burning in the bathroom or entryway. Such a subtle touch, but I promise you it really makes an impact.


Add Color with Tropical Fruit and Flowers

My absolute favorite decorative touch is natural tropical fruits. Pineapples, coconuts, bananas, and other tropical fruits make amazing natural and affordable decorations.

I bought a few of each and scattered them around the room.

(The pineapples smell amazing, too, and add to that wonderful island feel.)

The best part? You can chop them up for an amazing fruit salad (or more cocktails!) the next day.

Leis and flower necklaces for your guests are a must for any tiki or Polynesian-themed party, and they're incredibly affordable.

I was able to buy two dozen silk lei necklaces from a party store for about $10 and kept them by my door. I gave one to each guest as he or she arrived.

(Yes...even Hudson Riverton got one!)

I also went to a local 99-cent store and bought a few stems of silk hibiscus flowers that I cut down and used both for table decorations and to give to my guests to tuck into their hair.


The Perfect Tiki Party Playlist

Finally (and possibly most important of all!) don't forget the music! Every tiki party needs an amazing playlist. You can check out streaming sites for a premade one.

The genre of music best associated with tiki parties is called "Exotica," which is a super fun and weird mix of tropical sounds with beach and wild animal noises. Look up artists like Martin Denny for a perfect example of this.

Other songs and musicians to consider include: Don Ho (of course!), Elvis Presley (especially the soundtrack to the movie Blue Hawaii!), Henry Mancini for great jazzy lounge music, Louis Prima's version of I Wanna Be Like You from The Jungle Book, The Beach Boys, Santo & Johnny, The Tornadoes, and The Polynesians.

I hope that this inspires you to throw your own tiki theme party!

For more fun summer cocktail recipes and ideas, follow Smirnoff and the hashtag #Punch4Everybody on Instagram and Facebook, and check out their fun party boards on Pinterest!


This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Smirnoff for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
Please remember to always drink responsibly!

Blue Raspberry Island Punch Cocktail
Serves 12

Ingredients
2 cups Smirnoff Raspberry
1/4 cup blue curaçao
4 cups canned chilled pineapple juice
2 14oz cans cream of coconut 1 liter chilled club soda

Directions
Whisk together all ingredients except club soda in a large punch bowl. Add 4 cups ice and top off with club soda.

Serve with additional ice on side

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Minty Grapefruit Vodka Spritzer Punch

A few weeks ago, I was walking my dog Hudson down a narrow sidewalk next to my apartment building when a man came out a door and started shouting at me. "Get out of my backyard!" he said, like something out of an old Dennis the Menace cartoon.

I was, naturally, very confused.

"This is your yard?" I asked, looking around at the very-much-public and very-much-not-a-yard street I stood on. The man shouted again that it was his yard, and so Hudson and I hustled back down to the main street.

That man was obviously nuts, but the thing is that when you live in New York City, you kind of have to take a yard wherever you can get it:

A two-foot fire escape four stories up in the air can be a yard. A front stoop with a tiny portable grill can be a yard. A public park 20 blocks away can be a yard.

And, apparently, a narrow public sidewalk can also be a yard...

All you need is a bit of imagination!

Whatever your backyard looks like, Summer is most definitely the time to get out there and enjoy it. Bring together friends and family for a classic backyard bbq, serve up a big punch bowl of something chilled and soak in that summer goodness.

My latest vodka punch recipe in my ongoing collaboration with Smirnoff this summer is this sweet and tangy Minty Grapefruit Vodka Spritzer Punch.

Made with fresh grapefruit juice, Smirnoff Ruby Red Grapefruit, and fresh mint simple syrup, it's a pretty and refreshing punch to sip on hot summer days.

Grapefruit and mint are a gorgeous combination that I absolutely love together, and find that they're particularly lovely in this cocktail made with Smirnoff Ruby Red Grapefruit. The mint simple syrup takes just minutes to prepare, and can even be made several days in advance.

Serve the punch in a big bowl, with plenty of ice and fresh mint for serving.

For more fun summer cocktail recipes and ideas, follow Smirnoff and the hashtag #Punch4Everybody on Instagram and Facebook, and check out their fun party boards on Pinterest!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Smirnoff for IZEA. All opinions are 100% my own. Please remember to always drink responsibly!

Minty Grapefruit Vodka Spritzer Punch
Serves 12

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 cups fresh mint leaves + more for serving
2 1/4 cups Smirnoff Ruby Red Grapefruit
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
4 cups fresh ruby red grapefruit juice (or a good quality store-bought ruby red grapefruit juice)
1 liter chilled club soda

Directions
Make the mint syrup: Combine sugar, water, and mint leaves in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil. Immediately lower heat to the lowest setting and let simmer 10 minutes, or until the liquid reduces by 1/4. Remove from heat, strain out leaves, and let cool completely.

To make the punch, whisk together the Smirnoff Ruby Red Grapefruit, lemon juice, and fresh grapefruit juice. Cover and chill at least 2 hours or until serving.

Just before serving, add the club soda and garnish with grapefruit slices. Serve with ice and fresh mint leaves on the side.

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How to Make a Layered 4th of July Cocktail

We're just a few days away from the 4th of July, so I thought I'd teach you an important cocktail trick that you can use to impress your guests at your fourth of July parties: how to make a layered cocktail!

One of the most fun things about Independence Day parties is that you can go full out with the kitschy red white and blue party decor and menu (and outfits!). Red, white and blue cocktails are especially fun to serve.

The trick to making them successfully is to rely on a little grade school science. You might remember those 6th or 7th grade experiments that involved liquid density--layering things like oil, syrup, colored water, and dish soap in beakers to show how some liquids rise, while others fall.

And that's really what this is all about! To demonstrate this, I'm using a delicious recipe for a perfect 4th of July cocktail called "The Firecracker" from the bartenders at the Princess Royale hotel in Ocean City Maryland.

This recipe calls for some easy to find ingredients like cranberry juice cocktail, raspberry vodka, blue curacao (an orange-flavored liqueur), and club soda or seltzer. You'll also need ice, a large dinner spoon, and a cherry or red berry to use as a garnish.

Start out by gathering and measuring your ingredients. You want to have it all ready to go, because each step needs to be done right after another. I suggest measuring out each ingredient into small bottles or measuring cups for easy pouring.

Step 1. 

Start with the red layer--the sweet fruit juice, which is the densest of the three. Make sure you're using a juice that's sweetened with real sugar or corn syrup--anything unsweetened or with artificial sugar won't work since it's the sugar that gives the juice density. (We're just having fun here--not looking to save on carbs!)

Step 2. 

Once the red layer is in, add the ice all the way to the top of the glass. You want to add the ice second, so you don't end up with juice-covered ice.

Step 3.

Place a spoon with the bowl upside down against the edge of the glass. Slowly pour the blue curacao over the back of the spoon so that it drips gently in. This spreads out the density of the liquid as it pours so that it can float over the red liquid instead of breaking into it.

(Think of the difference between floating in a pool vs. diving in. You want the booze to float, not dive.)

Step 4.

Rinse the spoon or use a different clean one (so you don't dye the clear layer with the curacao), and repeat the gentle pour over the spoon with the vodka and club soda until it hits the top.

Step 5. 

Add a cherry or other fun garnish, and gently dip a straw in. (If you jam the straw in too quickly, it'll mess up the layers.)

And that's it!

You're ready to enjoy your red white & blue cocktail. Note that if you follow these steps you can totally customize the recipe to your liking by substituting your favorite flavor of red juice or vodka.

Thanks to Princess Royale for sharing their fun cocktail recipe! If you're in the area or planning a visit to Ocean City, you should pop in and have their awesome bartenders pour the drink for you!

Happy 4th of July!

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by the Princess Royale hotel in Ocean City, Maryland. I was compensated to write this, but the concept, tips and all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting companies that allow me to write fun content like this for you!

Firecracker Cocktail Recipe
Makes 1 cocktail (multiply as necessary). Courtesy of the Princess Royale hotel, Ocean City Maryland

Ingredients
2oz sweetened cranberry juice cocktail (do not use unsweetened or artificially sweetened cranberry juice)
1oz blue curacao liqueur
1 1/2 oz raspberry-flavored vodka
2 oz club soda (or flavored seltzer like lemon or orange)
maraschino cherry or other red berry, for garnish

Directions
Pour the cranberry juice into a highball or other tall cocktail glass, then fill to the top with ice.

Place a spoon with the bowl facing down against the side of the glass, and slowly pour in the blue curacao over the back of the spoon. Rinse the spoon (or use a new one) and repeat with the vodka and the club soda.

Garnish with a cherry and serve immediately.

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Strawberry Lemon Vodka Punch

June marks the start of the real summer season. A time for coming together with friends and family to celebrate occasions and—more importantly!—each other. June is also Pride month, the weeks set aside each year for honoring and supporting the LGBT community.

This summer, I’ve teamed up with Smirnoff to share some bright and creative punch recipes to serve at all your summer festivities. This classic fave has long been the perfect way to serve up cocktails for a thirsty crowd, keeping everybody (including the host!) happy.

Pride parties are some of the most colorful ones around, and it’s the perfect occasion to have a little fun with your menu. Big bright salads, fruity garnishes, and rainbows of colorful vegetables make it easy to create a festive, but sophisticated spread.

One of my favorite ideas are these little Rainbow Veggie Dippers, which bring together different shades of carrots, roasted sweet potatoes, squash and peppers into an an edible pride flag (no food coloring necessary!).

And when it comes to cocktails, it doesn’t get any easier!

The fresh colorful fruit and gorgeous herbs already have so much flavor that you basically just have to add in your favorite Smirnoff and you’re ready to enjoy!

For this Strawberry Lemon Vodka Punch, I’m keeping it simple and letting the true colors and flavor of gorgeous summer strawberries and bright tart lemons shine through.

The fun trick here involves pureeing whole lemons along with your strawberries to create the base for your drink. You take the seeds out, but use everything else (yes…even the peel and pith!). Once pureed, it adds a gorgeous hint of floral citrus that is both elegant and unexpected.

It’s just the tiny little trick that takes a simple drink to the next level. Whisked up with a bit more fresh lemon juice and Smirnoff 21, it’s the perfect summer sip for your party.

To keep my drinks cool, I also like freezing fresh whole strawberries in over-sized ice cubes. You just need one or two per glass, and they do triple-duty of garnishing your drink, keeping it cool, and not watering it down.

This month, whether you’re planning your own event, or one to coincide with the many parades and celebrations around the country, take a moment to enjoy a sweet sip, and share a little #Pride4Everybody.

For more fun summer cocktail recipes and ideas, follow Smirnoff on Instagram and Facebook, check out their fun party boards on Pinterest.

This post was written by me as part of an ongoing sponsored collaboration with Smirnoff. All opinions and recipes are, of course, 100% my own. Please remember to always drink responsibly!

Strawberry Lemon Vodka Punch
Serves 12

Ingredients
2 1/2 pounds fresh strawberries, rinsed with leaves removed
2 large lemons
1 cup granulated sugar (increase to 1 1/2 cups if berries are more tart than sweet.)
1 cup fresh lemon juice
2 1/4 cups Smirnoff 21 vodka
6 cups lemon seltzer

Ice
Fresh mint, for garnish

Directions
Quarter lemons and discard any seeds. Add to food processor (entire wedges, including peel and pith). Add the strawberries, sugar and lemon juice, and puree until smooth. (If you have a small blender, do this in batches.)

Place a sieve over your punch bowl, and pour strawberry puree through sieve into bowl, discarding any solids that remain.

Stir in vodka, and chill at least four hours. Just before serving, add seltzer.

Serve punch over ice garnished with fresh mint.

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Mixed Berry Vodka Party Punch #Punch4Everybody

I'm not sure why it is, but Memorial Day kind of catches me by surprise every year. Obviously I always *know* it's coming in some kind of vague end-of-May-ish kind of way, but it still always feels like a treat. After just a few weeks of spring...and roughly 37 months of brutal winter (give or take), the idea that summer is (un)officially starting is basically too exciting for my brain to believe.

You guys, let me just reiterate this: it's practically summer!

I come alive during this season. Gorgeous weather, sunny days, and endless excuses to get together and celebrate with my favorite people. And Memorial Day? It's the start of all that fun.

I've once again teamed up with Smirnoff to inspire you with recipes and ideas for the upcoming summer party season.

And this year? It is ALL ABOUT the punch recipes. I've been kind of obsessed with punch for a while now, and think that you should be, too. It is the ultimate summer party beverage.

Partially because it gives me an excuse to pull out my vintage punch bowls and beverage dispensers (no shame...I love my props!), but even more so because it takes a lot of pressure off the host (aka...me).

There is nothing better than putting out a gorgeous punch, and letting guests help themselves. It gives them something to do as they arrive, and leaves you to finish up those last-minute party tasks.

(In my case, that's usually my make-up...)

First up, this bright and gorgeous Mixed Berry Vodka Party Punch, which gets that gorgeous color from real pureed berries, and an added boost of flavor from Smirnoff Raspberry.

Some fresh lemon juice, a bit of sugar, and fizzy lemon-lime seltzer round out the super simple ingredients. It's tart and refreshing, and absolutely perfect for all those warm weather celebrations. Garnished with fresh berries, it's an elegant, but super easy signature drink that will please a crowd.

Happy Memorial Day, friends!

Follow Smirnoff on Instagram and Facebook, or hop on over to their Pinterest page for more recipes and summer party inspiration!

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Mixed Berry Vodka Party Punch Recipe
Serves 12

Ingredients
2 pounds mixed frozen berries, partially thawed
1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice
1 cup superfine sugar
2 1/2 cups Smirnoff Raspberry Vodka
6 cups chilled lemon-lime seltzer
2 lemons, sliced, for garnish
Fresh mixed berries, for garnish

Directions
Combine the partially thawed berries, lemon juice, and superfine sugar in a food processor or blender, and puree until very smooth. Pass through a fine sieve to remove the majority of seeds, then pour into punch bowl or beverage dispenser. Stir in the vodka and chill at least two hours.
Just before serving, pour in the seltzer and add the lemon slices. Serve chilled with fresh berries on the side for garnish.

This post was written by me as part of an ongoing sponsored collaboration with Smirnoff and IZEA. All opinions and recipes are, of course, 100% my own. Please remember to always drink responsibly!

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