The Family Guide to Summer: Party Entertaining Made Easy
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Backyard barbecues, family birthdays, and Summer holiday parties are full of fun potential, as long as you have cold treats to beat the heat and inventive games to fill the afternoon. The last thing you want to hear is "Mom, I'm bored." Keep kids busy with activities and snack breaks, plus a little bit of creativity. With these tips and tricks, not only will they enjoy a perfect sunny day of entertainment and delicious delights, but the adults will also marvel at your party skills! Win-win. Keep reading for ideas that will become your go-to survival guide this Summer.
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Make Balloon Ice
"Mom, my drink is warm!" You can hear the whining already. This clever idea will keep drinks cold and amuse the kiddos. Fill colorful water balloons with water, and freeze. They become large ice blocks that look way prettier than regular old ice. Put them in a silver metal bucket with refreshments and it becomes a focal rainbow party decoration. Woohoo!
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Create a Bubble Blower
Need a quick activity in a pinch? Bubbles are your friend. (Seriously, they are, don't take this advice lightly.) Use plastic mini cups and poke a hole big enough for a straw about halfway up on the side. Pour one part water and one part liquid soap (or bubble-blowing liquid) until the level is just about an inch. Stick the straw through, tilt the liquid to cover it, and hand over to your kids to blow. Pat yourself on the back as they giggle and watch in wonder.
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Tier Your Treats
They're cupcakes! They're ice cream! They're both. For a total mom win, tuck Cold Stone Creamery Ice Cream Cupcakes inside cones, and arrange them in a tiered ice cream cone holder. It's a double dessert, and the presentation is twice the fun with pretty Cake Batter™ Delux, Double Chocolate Devotion™, and Sweet Cream varieties on display. With everyone cool and everyone happy, this is one party trick you'll have to revist.
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End With a Balloon Fight
Remember that special ice? It melted. But this is not a time for tears! Now you have full-on water balloons just in time for that last burst of energy from your kids, so let them run around and soak each other with rainbow splashes as each balloon goes POP! Congrats! You survived your Summer party with ease.
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