Pool Party

Make the outdoor area surrounding your pool as lush, clean, and comfortable as possible for the pool party. Set up a picnic table and plenty of lounge chairs. Stack folded beach towels on the chairs and let guests use them at their leisure. Stick tiki torches in the ground along walkways. Serve the drinks in plastic cups (with palm tree swizzle sticks) and the food on plastic plates. Place a rock on paper napkins so they don't blow into the pool. Arrange colorful bouquets of flowers in pretty blue vases.

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When hosting a pool party, stock up on plenty of ice and water to ensure that guests stay hydrated. For easy access, place coolers around your backyard and fill with refreshments.

Since beer bottles inevitably get broken at any party, purchase beer cans and plastic bottles. Barefoot guests won't have to worry about stepping on glass shards.

Offer one fresh-fruit cocktail. This recipe for pineapple mango rum cocktails is cool and delicious. To learn how to make it, read more

Although I love a decadent chocolate cake, there is no place for rich desserts at a pool party. Guests will be in swimsuits, so serve something that's refreshing, cold, and not too sweet.

These sangria popsicles are a delicious grownup treat. Made with white wine, rum, pineapple chunks, and fresh orange juice, they're the perfect pool party crowd pleaser.

For the recipe, read more

When planning a menu for a pool party, select a variety of cold and hot (preferably grilled) dishes. Serve small, light bites buffet-style all day, replenishing plates as they go empty.

Offer guests a cool treat the moment they arrive in the form of watermelon wedges with lime ice. Served with tortilla chips, shrimp and avocado ceviche make a nice alternative to classic guacamole.

Skewered hot dogs with toasted croissants and spicy, cold gazpacho round out the menu. For these delicious recipes please, read more

Two of my girlfriends are celebrating their half birthdays this month, so I'm planning a pool party to honor the occasion. It's going to be a fabulous fiesta filled with sun, swimming, and serious eats. All this week I'll feature my best pool-party ideas so feel free to use them to host your own perfect pool party. When hosting a party in the Summer, it's best to give your guests an advance notice of the event, so send invitations as soon as you have the date selected. To learn how I made the easy invites seen here, read more

Dear Sugar--

My husband and I are hosting our first pool party/BBQ and I don't know what to wear. I want to be comfortable, glamorous, and classy. Any suggestions?

To see my advice in this special edition of The How-to Lounge, click here to read more

Create a glamorous outdoor look for your pool party by incorporating organic, earthy blues and greens jazzed up with splashes of bright summer colors. Arrange patio furniture so that one area is about tanning/reading and another about lounging/chatting. Cover the chaises with striped beach towels and place brightly colored green cushions on top. Use large umbrellas to add shade for those who wish to stay out of the sun and be sure to fill small bowls next to the appetizer spread with tubes of sunscreen. For extra excitement, leave water balloons at the bar near a sink to encourage a water fight among guests! A plastic blue serving bowl and plastic cups ensure that there is no broken glass. Instead of serving the food on regular old paper plates, purchase disposable bamboo plates. Cover the tables with a fun floral fabric and stack napkins of the same style fabric near the plates.

For music, select a playlist of fun, upbeat songs. Attending a pool party this summer and don't know what to wear? My gal DearSugar tells you gal how to dress for one so check out her tips.