Lawson's Fantastic Fourth Musts!!!

The Fourth of July is coming this weekend! Parties and get togethers are sure to be on your calendar. I have come up with some ideas that will help your planning be a little simpler if you are coming up with a plan at the last minute. Check out my festive favorites for this fantastic holiday! 

Independence Day Sangria

It's quick, easy, and absolutely delicious! Try this fabulous red, white, and blue sangria that will make spark fly this Fourth of July. All you need are these few ingredients-

• 1 bottle of Pinot Grigio, or white wine of choice
• 2-3 cups of Blue Berries and Strawberries
• 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
•  1/2 cup citrus flavored vodka
• 16 oz. bottle of lemon-lime soda

Place the blueberries and sliced strawberries in a large pitcher. Add the wine, pomegranate juice, and vodka, and chill at least 2 hours before serving. This allows the liquid to absorbs the flavor of the berries. Just before serving, add the soda to the pitcher and mix well. Serve by filling the glass half way with ice and the other half with this fabulous sangria. Enjoy!

Fun fireworks for the Kids

While you and your friends are sipping on this fabulous sangria, give the kids something to enjoy too!  Check out this super fun way to keep the little ones entertained by simply giving them some paint and a kitchen brush. 

Using red and blue washable paint with a kitchen scrub brush, kids can make fire work place mats or a table runner. Be sure to give them plenty of durable white paper. Cut it in rectangles beforehand if you decide on placemats. Another idea is to just spread a large amount of white carpenters paper across the table and let all the kids work on the same piece. This will then turn into an adorable banner or table cloth. 

4th of July Wands

These fruit wands are great for everyone at your party. They are refreshing and easy to eat while moving about. Just get some wooded skewers and string on some blueberries. Next, cut out watermelon in star shapes by using a cookie cutter. The starred pieces on top of the skewer. These can be used as an edible centerpiece!

Patriotic Bug-Away Candle Holders

What's fourth of July without the mosquitoes swarming at your party? This year, swish them away with style by using these super cute candle holders. 

• Use red and blue food coloring to dye plain white rice. To get the color to stick, place the rice on a baking sheet and warm for about an hour at 200 degrees.
• Next, mix in some lemongrass, eucalyptus, or citronella essential oil to the rice so it is potent. In a large bowl, layer the dyed rice in a patriotic pattern, then top with a tea candle!

Patriotic Deviled Eggs

It's just not a fourth of July party without deviled eggs. Instead of serving the same old plain deviled eggs as the years before, brighten things up with a little bit of red white and blue. These festive treats are tasty and easy.

• To give the eggs color, after boiling and pealing the shell off, place in a bowl and cover with water. Add about 20 drops of food coloring. The ratio should be about 1/2 cup of water to 20 drops dye. Let them soak for about 2 hours. 
• Slice in half and scoop out the yolk. Make your favorite stuffing for the eggs and eat up!

These are all simple, fun, and fabulous easy ideas that I hope you enjoy this year at your Fourth of July party! Show your patriotic side with crafts, drinks, and tasty treats for all! After all, no time like the present to be festive on the fourth!

For all things entertaining style, follow me, your entertaining expert.  Style, sophistication, and fantastic fun.

Lawson

https://www.facebook.com/Lawsonrobertsllc

https://twitter.com/lawsonroberts

www.lawsonroberts.com

Lawson's Hot Hostess Gifts- My Top 5 Ideas for You!!!

Not sure what to give the hostess? Show your thanks to hostess by looking at these top five fantastic gifts. These will surely get you another invite.

If you're in a real hurry, the best go to gift is a fine bottle of champagne or wine. It may seems obviously easy, but choosing something with a less common brand name, will show your gratitude. If you choose to bring a bottle of liquor, it will most likely be opened at the party. However, with a bottle of wine, the host will likely want to save it for themselves to enjoy on a later date. 

Perhaps you have been invited to a daytime barbecue or a brunch. Offering a zesty bottle of olive oil or a basket of specialty jams is just the ticket to show that you thought ahead. Remember to make these items look special. Visit your local farmers market and buy something homemade, not the regular grocery store brand. 

Maybe the host is a hectic hot mess. The perfect gift in this situation is to just bring flowers. It's simple, they look lovely, and are already taken care of. Just make sure you buy them or put them in a vase ahead of time so the host isn't scrambling to find on the night of the event. 

When you've been invited to stay for more than just a meal and a cocktail, be sure to give a gift that really surprises the host. You may be spending the weekend at their beach cottage or lake home. The perfect gift is to give a household tool you know the host will get a lot of use out of. Maybe she and her hubby are wine connoisseurs. Consider a set of stemless wine glasses or a wine aerator. 

If you are dumbstruck by the host and can't quite figure out how she does it, consider a more quantity based gift. This way, she can share it with the whole family and relax once the chaos and madness has ended. A basket of splendid chocolates and fruits is sure to make the entire crew happy. In this case, quantity is just as valuable as quality.

For all things entertaining style, follow me, your entertaining expert.  Style, sophistication, and fantastic fun.

Lawson

https://www.facebook.com/Lawsonrobertsllc

https://twitter.com/lawsonroberts

www.lawsonroberts.com

Lawson's Fantastic Father's Day Gift Ideas

Reminder! This Sunday, the 21st is Father's Day! Check out these amazing gift ideas that are fail proof. Don't just get him a gift certificate to the hardware store or a new set of fishing lures. Instead, check out some of these creative gifts that will let him know how grateful you are. And most importantly, don't forget to write him a card!

For the Beer Enthusiast! Give the dad in your life a monthly delivery of the best craft brews from all over the world. You can choose the best package based on your dads preference. International or domestic, Beer Month Club has an array of beer options that will surely wow your dad's taste buds!

www.beermonthclub.com

This space saving wine bar is the perfect gift to give you dad this year. Whether he puts it in his man cave or office, this space age shelving is essential for all his wine accessories. 

www.uncommongoods.com/product/wall-wine-bar

If your father loves coffee as much as I do, this hourglass coffee maker brews the sharpest and cleanest cup of coffee. Made completely from class, the hourglass shape filters and delivers a cup of coffee that will undoubtably give him the perfect kickstart to his morning. 

www.chemexcoffeemaker.com

Bring out his inner grill master with a Man Crate. Let him get messy with these grilling essentials! He'll be in love with the awesome box of grilling products. This summer will be filled with barbecues and great memories when he gets his hands on this. 

www.mancrates.com/crates/grill-master

For a full list of some of the other cool items they have check out this link.

https://www.mancrates.com/gifts-for-men

Treat your dad to a luxury shaving kit. Nothing feels better than a freshly groomed face and that great smell of musk aftershave. This an elegant gift that will leave your dad feeling top notch. 

www.theartofshaving.com

If you have any questions at all, drop me a line. You can always reach  me at lawson@lawsonroberts.com.

For all things entertaining style, follow me, your entertaining expert.  Style, sophistication, and fantastic fun.

Lawson

https://www.facebook.com/Lawsonrobertsllc

https://twitter.com/lawsonroberts

www.lawsonroberts.com

Lawson's Top 5 Must-Haves to the Perfect Wedding Reception

So he popped the question. Now what? The awestruck feeling came when he popped the question, but now you have to start planning!

 Let me help you by offering you the top 5 things you need at your reception so you don't leave anything out!

1. Serve a leisurely dinner. 

Instead of serving a fast paced three course meal, stretch dinner out over four or five smaller courses. Throw in a surprise between dishes. Maybe a funny toast from the crazy uncle or a short performance from talented person in your family. Doing such will make your guests feel like they are having a night on the town with dinner and show!

2. Play Danceable Music

Whether you have hired a DJ or a band, make sure you talk to the, before hand to discuss playlists, mood, and genres. Having a packed dance floor is a sign of a great party, so don't let the guest down with unsatisfying tunes! Now is not the time to show off your alternative taste in music. Play things people know like Madonna and let them dance!

3. Add a lounge to the reception

Instead of having your guests sit around the same dinner table all night, create a lounge space where people can mingle besides the dance floor. This way non-dancing guests can socialize and still be entertained. A change of environment will promote conversation. 

4. Have a game plan for kids

Keep the kids entertained and let the parents enjoy the night without their little rascals hanging on them. If you can swing it, hire a baby sitter to watch after the little ones in a space where they can color, watch a movie, and play with people their own age. If a baby sitter isn't in the budget, a kids table with candy and coloring books will do just as well. 

5. Plan seating assignments thoughtfully

This might sound obvious, but do think about it! Seat your guests with people they are familiar and will get along with! A well planned seating chart allows for  great conversation, social environment, and night of dancing.

The wedding reception is the grand celebration of your new life! It has to be perfect so take your time in planning and pay attention to details. Conversation, food, music, and entertainment are everything. By incorporating my top 5 reception must haves, your reception is sure to be one for the books!

For all things entertaining style, follow me, your entertaining expert.  Style, sophistication, and fantastic fun.

Lawson

https://www.facebook.com/Lawsonrobertsllc

https://twitter.com/lawsonroberts

www.lawsonroberts.com