Arctic Winds bringing you Down?

Beat the winter blues by hosting a tropical get together!


















1. Set the mood with the right e-mail invitation. Using a free site like evite.com, select something with a summer or beach theme. Warn your guests that they’ll be coming to a warm climate, and ask them to dress appropriately.
2. Get blooming. If you plan ahead, you can pick up spring bulbs from your local garden center three weeks before the party and plant them in containers. When the party rolls around, you’ll have tulips and hyacinth blooming in every corner. Alternately, pick up some fresh flowers—or even some fake ones from the dollar store. Most dollar stores also sell plastic lei’s, or garlands. Pick some up for your guests.
3. Let there be light, and lots of it. The summertime sun isn’t available, but you can still create a summery mood with fun patio or twinkle lights. Paper lanterns always look great too.
4. Be playful. Add a few beach balls into the mix, or an old Twister game (but be sure to put away all breakables first). If you happen to have Wii games that fit the summer party theme, include those too.
5. Load on the props. Drape colorful beach towels over your chairs, or better yet, set up some lawn chairs inside. If possible, bring the patio umbrella inside too. If you’re the superstitious, leave it closed!
6. Make a playlist of all the songs that contain the word “summer,” “sun,” “heat,” “hot,” or “beach.”
7. Put on your parka and barbeque hotdogs and burgers. If that won’t work, settle for the stove. Then make a fresh salad or better yet, corn on the cob, or try a corn salad. This Barefoot Contessa version is always a huge hit. Dessert is easy: a big platter of sliced fruit, or kebobs, with skewered strawberries, pineapple, mango and melon.
8. Fire up the blender. Look for cocktail recipes online, or try Yvonne & Sandy’s Favorite Virgin Daiquiri:

• Toss two cups of fresh or defrosted strawberries or raspberries in a blender, with a cup of ice.
• Add a splash of orange juice.
• Top up the blender container with limeade (prepared from frozen concentrate – available where you buy frozen lemonade).
• Blend until slushy.
• Serve in tall glasses with paper umbrellas that you picked up from the dollar store when you bought those leis.

No blender? Try a Virgin Cosmo instead, by combining cranberry juice with a splash of orange juice, and the juice of one lime. Dip the rim of your glass in lime juice first, and then in granulated sugar.
9. Pull out your summer gear. Sundress, or shorts? Your call. Shades: mandatory.
10. Turn up the heat. Literally. Use a couple of space heaters to warm up the room where you’ll be hosting your party. Then add a fan to simulate those soft, summer breezes.

Kick off your flip-flops and enjoy!