Summer parties

This easy tomato tart recipe is the perfect way to use your summer tomato haul. It features a light, flaky puff pastry crust and a flavorful ricotta cream cheese filling, packed with great summer flavor.

One of the most popular requests I receive (both here, on Instagram and from my friends and family) is for more party appetizers! People love an easy party appetizer recipe, so I decided I would take a moment today to round up 21 of the best summer appetizers perfect for all your upcoming summer parties.

This easy sugar cookie fruit pizza makes a simple and delicious 4th of July dessert or the perfect addition to any summer party menu! Easily change the flavors by changing out the berries for any other combination you prefer.

When we moved into our neighborhood a year ago we were thrilled to discover that we had unknowingly bought a house on the coolest block in town. Our neighbors have become incredible friends and we love that they all have kids, and that they also share our family-centric yet fun-loving ways. This time of year the afternoons mean nearly a dozen kids running up and down the street riding bikes, throwing lacrosse balls and chasing down the ice cream truck. When JOLLY TIME asked if I wanted to host a fun summer party for our neighborhood crew, there wasn’t a chance I’d turn that down.

This post was sponsored by Skinny Cow. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that so generously help The Sweetest Occasion keep on keepin’ on! Remember last week when we talked about hosting a party for your best ladies? Well, recently I put that inspiration to work! This summer Skinny Cow is challenging me to take on three missions, all …

Fresh, fun and fruity colors are clearly my summer obsession at the moment. If it’s bright and punchy, I want to soak up every little bit. I’m working on a project currently where I’m working as many saturated fruit-inspired hues in as I can and I have to say, there’s nothing quite like bright summer …

Lobster boils, clam bakes, seafood boils – I’m obsessed! (I’ve mentioned this before, I know I know.) Lately though, I’m really hurting for a classic Maine lobster boil. I want the bib, the salt potatoes dripping in butter, the blueberry cobbler to finish it all off. I will tell you that lobster is my favorite …

Last week we talked about summer essentials for a day at the beach, and today we’re talking about backyard summer parties! I find summer entertaining so joyful and, frankly, so easy. It doesn’t take much more than food on the grill, frosty drinks and a few well-placed candles to make a crowd happy. But if …

Over the last few days we’ve been talking a lot about our summer plans around here. A lot of it revolves around spending as many long lazy days together as possible, but we’re not without our fair share of summer festivities. From camping trips to birthday parties and impromptu backyard barbecues, we’ll definitely have a …

Perfect for summer entertaining, pretty pitchers are perfect as vases or for serving up cocktails! See six of my favorites perfect for parties all summer long.

Good morning, friends! I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. Now that summer is unofficially upon us, it’s time to talk summer parties. Specifically this morning, stargazing parties. Created for Leaf Magazine, the talented team behind Lumina Portrait shared this awesome party idea featuring a cozy stargazing platform atop a VW van and loads …

Our second annual pool party is next weekend so I’ve got full-on party brain at the moment. I’m loving bright citrus colored patterns and stripes right now and I think this bright tomato red market umbrella would be perfect for our patio. For pool parties I like to keep it simple with big pitchers of …