Summertime is upon us, and summertime means pool parties.
The house we just moved from had a pool, and we had many a fun summer there. We basically lived in our back yard for three months. Jason did a great job of keeping the pH levels perfect and the pool sparkly blue. I did a great job of blending margaritas, inviting people over, and keeping air in Basil's floaty cactus.
From years of my pool party past, I bring you the Guide To The Ultimate Pool Party.
Invite Your Friends.
Friends love the house with a pool. Especially on really hot days... it's surprising how fast they are able to show up to an impromptu invite, almost as if they were already driving over...
Have extra towels handy for your guests.
Stack them by doors, in case people need to dry off before entering the house. Towels close to the pool (but not too close they get wet) are a good idea also.
Designate food and drink area, pool and play area, sitting and relaxing area.
Your guests will want a place to sit or lay in the sun once they get out of the pool:
Invest in plastic plates and drinkware, keeping glass away from the pool.
this margarita was dachshund - supervised.
Plan games and have pool accessories / toys available.
Basil is surprisingly good at the ring toss.
Provide the ultimate in pool party food and drink:
grilled pineapple bacon sandwiches
seven layer dip with noocho cheese
reuben rolls with thousand island dip
strawberry habanero margaritas
My advice with hosting any party - prepare as much as you can ahead of time, make a timeline so you have stress free planning, and have decor double as useful - pinatas, beach balls, pool toys...
Most of all, remember to relax, enjoy the sun, and have fun!
Cheers!
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Marya says
Ha! Love the Basil pics! We have a Jack Russell Terrier named Hazel that loves to windsurf with Baron, my husband. She has a little life vest and goes nuts if she's not allowed to climb on the board and ride along. He put a non-skid surface down there so she doesn't slip off. Gotta love dogs!
spabettie says
aaw, Hazel sounds like an adventurer for sure - I love that! don't know if Basil would surf, but we haven't tried, so... 😉
Liz (Little Bitty Bakes) says
Remembering to relax and have fun sounds like it's the most important! 🙂 Now I really want to go to a pool party... can I come out to Oregon? 😉
janetha [meals & moves] says
ohmygoodness
Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit says
Oh my gosh... basil on the dingy? Just made my day. Seriously.
Wendy says
I cannot tell you how much these pictures of Basil made me smile! When I was growing up we had a red miniature dachshund that looked exactly like Basil. (Her name was Cinnamon) She LOVED to sit at the end of my floaty chair. We spent many a summer day floating in our pool. I hadn't thought about that in years. Thanks for bringing back such happy memories. 🙂 And I must try your Reuben rolls!
Nancy Rose Eisman says
Best Spabettie blogpost ever!
spabettie says
hee! thank you Nancy Rose! 🙂
Tommy says
that doggie of yours is so stinkin cute.
spabettie says
he knows.
Lindsay @ Lindsay's List says
that's it. i'm comin' over!
spabettie says
yay - come on over!
Allie says
So much Basil! HOW is he so adorable? And if I had a pool...well, I'd like to say I'd throw a good pool party, but I'd probably be a lazy pool owner and be too embarrassed to invite people over to my green-ish leaf-filled pool ;D
spabettie says
haa! even the green is easy to get rid of... I know this first hand 😉 and Basil says THANK YOU ALLIE. isn't he just SO dang cute?!?
Christina says
OMG I saw Basil on a floaty and had to immediately skip down to comment! How incredibly adorable!! My dog Sushi won't go near a floaty, she's scared of everything lol.
Ok I'll go read the rest of your post now lol
Christina says
I still have yet to make those Rueben rolls, I need to get on that!
spabettie says
you do! they are so SO good... I'm making them again Friday! 🙂
spabettie says
hee, that is too funny. isn't he SWEET? he likes the pool as long as we are in it with him.