About the Author

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I'm Michelle Cox -- the owner of Lipstick to Crayons. I’m also a Mom to three kids (a teen, tween and toddler), a professional writer (www.michellemcox.com) and a blogger (www.fromthemom.com). And I love to save money (and help you do the same) via frugal deals and steals, coupons and other thrifty practices. My freelance writing business allows me to enjoy the great balance of being a stay-at-home/work-at-home mom, while also making time for blogging, running (ran the Chicago Marathon twice) some amateur photography and scrapbooking. I’m a St. Louis native, although I have lived outside of the city and the state. A few of my passions are amateur photography, scrapbooking and attending kids' sporting events.

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Summer Entertaining Giveaway

Jenna Lowe, Lifestyle Expert for the Karen Neuburger brand has great tips for pulling off a beautiful party in your backyard or home with friends.

Jenna explains, “As a lifestyle designer, I’m always thinking entertaining in a way that will engage the five senses – sights, sounds, taste, touch, and smell. It’s important to keep all of these in mind, especially when throwing a party during the summertime.”

TOUCH:  Invitations

“Picking the right invitation and themes for the party is very important as it sets a tone and keeps party guests on the same page of what to expect,” Jenna explains.  “One of my favorite summer themes is High Tea at High Noon.  It’s a great chance to bring girlfriends together to sample light hors d’oeuvres enjoy one another’s company.

A great resource for invitations is BeforeYourParty.com, a design-your-own invitation website.  Hosts and hostesses can personalize everything on the invite from the color scheme to the font, artwork, and layout ($100-$300 for 50 invitations).  Or, to save on cost, try sending invitations from a free online, invitation website like www.evite.com.”

Invitation available at BeforeYourParty.com

SIGHT:  Setting the Table

“The table setting should be the main focal point to any party and take center stage.  Create something whimsical and fun, and don’t make anything too formal.  One way to do this is to mix and match tabletop pieces to create different looks.   I’m obsessed with KN Luxury Home’s Willow tabletop line ($8-$32, www.bonton.com).  The ruffled design is feminine and whimsical and all pieces in the collection are microwave and dishwasher safe.  I also love KN’s Rattan Charger ($12) new Thicket 20-Piece Flatware Set ($86), which is adorned with a nature-like design, perfect for summer.”

SMELL:  Fresh and Clean

“Scent is an essential element to parties – more than people think.  Instead of opting for traditional flowers that don’t last very long., why not set up beautiful diffusers? They add color and great scents to the party. Try KN Karen Neuburger® 6-Pack Trial Reed Diffuser Gift Set ($20,www.bonton.com).  The set features 18 reeds with 18 decorative and various scents including Pink Cashmere, Asian Pear, Warm Sugared Vanilla, Tranquil Oasis, Fresh Linen and Lavender Vanilla.”

SOUND:

“Before the party, create a fun mix of songs to keep the energy up at the party.  Pick songs that really center around your party’s theme and don’t be afraid to mix genres or eras of music,” Jenna explains.  Here are some of  Jenna’s favorite picks for the perfect summer playlist:

The Beach Boys ”California Girls”

Red Hot Chili Peppers’Dani California”
Lynyrd Skynyrd “Sweet Home Alabama”

Yellowcard “Ocean Avenue”

Sheryl Crow “Soak Up the Sun”

Violent Femmes “Blister in the Sun”

The Beatles ”A Hard Day’s Night”

Sublime “Summertime”

The Wallflowers “One Headlight”

The Monkees “Daydream Believer”

TASTE:  Flavorful Food

“Finger sandwiches are an easy, affordable, and adorable solution for food at parties.  Simple recipes include cucumber and ham and cheese sandwiches.  Pair them with fruit and veggies platters and my favorite Shrimp Dip (find the recipe below).

Jenna’s Shrimp Dip Recipe

Ingredients:

2 8 oz. packages of cream cheese (full strength, not light!)

¼ cup of milk (1% is fine)

2 tbs Miracle Whip salad dressing (not mayo!)

1 cup of Parmesan cheese

2 tps of crushed garlic

2 4 oz. cans deveined shrimp

¼ tsp of paprika

Sprig of parsley

Directions:

Put cream cheese, milk and Miracle Whip in a mixing bowl

Mix with electric beater on medium until soft, creamy and totally blended.

Add the Parmesan cheese and crushed garlic, blend

Drain shrimp keeping a little juice for flavor

Fold shrimp and juice into mixture

Taste again and then garnish with paprika and parsley

Chill for 1 hour

Serve with your favorite dipping crackers

TASTE:  Delightful Drinks

“What better way to enjoy a warm summer day than with lemonade?  Serve it in a beautiful glass lemonade stand and jar ($18, www.surlatable.com) and slice lemons to give extra color.  Refreshing and totally chic – your guests will certainly go back for more!”

www.surlatable.com and KN Luxury Home Mocha Glassware Coolers, $26 www.bonton.com

TASTE:  Delicious Dessert

“I love serving macaroons for dessert.  Try Paulette’s Macaroons (www.paulettemacarons.com). They ship all over the United States and come in a variety of flavors and colors ($36 for 24 macaroons).”

Win KN Bamboo Sheets!

Giveaway guidelines

To win, let us know in the comments section below how you entertain in in the summer.

Receive additional entries:

1. For blogging about the contest and let us know in a separate comment
2. Subscribing to our mailing list/RSS feed and let us know in a separate comment
3. Twitter this giveaway and let us know in a separate comment
4. Favorite us on Technorati and let us know in a separate comment
5. Stumble this post and let us know in a separate comment
6. Add us to your blogroll or our button to your sidebar and let us know in a separate comment

This giveaway closes May 29, 2009 at 11:59 pm central time. Be sure to include a valid email address. Winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If winner does not claim prize by June 4, 2009 they will forfeit their prize to alternate winner who will be drawn at random.

USA and Canada residents only please.

Giveaway closed. Congrats to our winner, Madeliene!

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There Are 143 Responses So Far. »

  1. We have alot of low key cookouts throughout the summer! Lots of barbeque, steaks, burgers, and low country boil around here!
    sblilly14(@)yahoo(.)com

  2. I’m a subscriber!
    sblilly14(@)yahoo(.)com

  3. We are all about the grill! Lots of kids playing in the yard, so nothing too structured. :)

  4. My BF is an accomplished grill master! He likes to try new rubs and marinades, and, well, someone has to test-taste his creations – we have a lot of volunteers…

  5. I subscribe via e-mail.

  6. Tweet:
    http://twitter.com/anatolyevna/statuses/1779524232

  7. I Stumbled (ID Anatolyevna)

  8. bbq in the backyard. We talk, eat and laugh while the kids run around

  9. We love to grill out. We make a ton of food and hang out with friends and family in the back yard, usually while the little ones run around and play.

  10. I subscribe.

  11. I faved you on Technorati-MommaStaciA

  12. I stumbled-MommaStaciA

  13. You’re on my blog roll. Thanks!

  14. We lounge by the pool and have a cook-out for our summer entertaining!

    Loved the playlist!

  15. We’re big on potluck barbeques here: we supply the meat, the grill and the drinks, and everyone else brings a side dish.

  16. I’m an email subscriber

  17. I have your button on my blog
    auntiethesis2.blogspot.com

  18. During the summer we have the most fun with family and friends. We love to entertain by holding BBQs and picnics. Sometimes it’s at the house in the back yard, sometimes at the park, but most often it is at the lake where the children have the best of time swinging from a rope/tire swing into the lake. There’s always lots of good food and plenty of fun with volleyball, badmitten and anything else we come up with.

    JD

    visionquest2020@msn.com

  19. Email subscriber.

    JD

    visionquest2020@msn.com

  20. We usually have a BBQ outside.

  21. Stumbled (aitmama).

  22. I subscribe.

  23. You are on my blog roll.

  24. We have a get-together on each holiday throughout the summer. We don’t use the grill much. What I do is make things in the slowcookers and have them lined up on a long table all plugged in a strip under a tent so people can eat whenever they want throughout the day. I usually do shaved ham, brats and sloppy joes. Sometimes we do brown burgers and then let them simmer in beer. The potato salad is in a large bowl sitting on ice in a cooler along with other foods that need to stay chilled. We have a large family and a handful of close friends that come to each event.

  25. blogged this giveaway here:
    http://bloggyfinds.blogspot.com/2009/05/529-lipstick-to-crayons-summer.html

    jeanilynne at gmail dot com

  26. email subscriber
    jeanilynne at gmail dot com

  27. tweeted here:
    http://twitter.com/bloggyfinds/status/1786243313

  28. faved at technorati – bloggyfinds

  29. stumbled this post – bloggyfinds

  30. on my blogroll here:
    http://bloggyfinds.blogspot.com/

  31. we love to eat outside – have a perfect sunset view from my picnic table :)

  32. subscribe

  33. technorati
    valerie2350

  34. http://twitter.com/valerie2350/status/1787176418

  35. http://sweeps4bloggers.blogspot.com/2009/05/lipsticktocrayons-kn-giveaway-52909.html

  36. Grilling out back is my fave for the summer : )

  37. I subscribed

  38. We entertain in the summer by inviting all of the family over for a barbecue. Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and cool drinks compliment whatever we have on the grill.

  39. I would LOVE to say I am Miss Fancy Pants But I’m not! hahah We BBQ, have Veggie Burgers and eat out on the Deck. I make fat free Macaroni Salad, and Brownies (YUM) and there is plenty to go around. I even ask people to bring something!
    WE always have a ton of fun too!!
    Hey, its the summer, I don’t wanna stress!!
    Leslie

  40. I subscribe by email
    Leslie

  41. LeslieVeg left a tweet
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    Leslie

  42. I stumbled this post. My StumbleUpon User Name is LeslieVeg

    Leslie

  43. You are on my Blogroll!
    Leslie

  44. Our summer entertaining and parties are usually birthday parties for the grandkids. Those are always fun for everyone. Thank you!

  45. Summer entertaining is tough for us because of the mosquitoes. Fortunately, we have a screened in porch, so we can sit and chat with people there while we barbecue.

  46. I’m a subscriber.

  47. I tweeted
    http://twitter.com/kewpiedoll04/status/1789262129

  48. We have BBQs every weekend, and enjoy using the lake in our community, as do our guests.

  49. Tweeted http://twitter.com/cdziuba/status/1790144469

  50. subscriber

  51. Technorati fave blog cdziuba

  52. button ceeceeblogger.blogspot.com

  53. We hold neighborhood block parties where everyone chips in food and we open the backyard pools at the two houses across the street so all the kids can swim and play. Several familes roll their grills down to the house on the corner (mine) and we do all the food here since we can block off this portion of the road without restricting anyone else’s access to their home. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors while having a blast and not spending too much money either.

  54. I subscribe by email

  55. We like to have cookouts…nothing too fancy. Hamburgers, hot dogs, maybe some chicken. For me, it’s all about the side dishes…the potato salad, macaroni salad, ambrosia!

  56. I am an email subscriber

  57. Our summer get-togethers are very simple and casual. We just slap some meat on the grill, toss a salad or make some coleslaw and we are ready to party. The hardest part is marinating the meat the night before if we are having something that needs marinated.

    nunnelleyc at yahoodotcom

  58. I subscribed.

    nunnelleyc at yahoodotcom

  59. We have cookouts and loud music!! Bonfires are fun after dark too:)

  60. I am a subscriber

  61. We entertain outside as much as we can. We have a deck with a swing and lots of chairs that pull up around an outdoor fireplace for toasted marshmallows after dark. Usually we set up buffet-style on a table and let people eat whenever they are ready or graze, if they want to snack. I light citronella candles and play music from the 50’s and 60’s most of the time.

    Thanks for some great entertaining ideas – the details are just amazing. I love that you even suggested a playlist. So fun!

  62. I blogged at http://www.giveawaysonblogs.blogspot.com/2009/05/wednesday0513.html

    mayacarpenter at verizon dot net

    (by the way, I’m wearing my KN pajamas!)

  63. I subscribed.

  64. I tweeted here http://twitter.com/janetmom2maya/status/1792662068

  65. following

  66. We have a movie night outdoors and invite our friends and family. We pop popcorn, have nachos and hot dogs and project a movie onto our large wall. Everyone enjoys it! Thanks for the great giveaway!

  67. subscriber at yzgirl4 at verizon dot net

  68. stumbled yzgirl4

  69. I love to use my grill when entertaining during summer. So many delicious meals and appetizers can be made on the grill and it gets everyone outside in the fresh air!

  70. Tweet! http://twitter.com/ktkatherine/status/1800437595

  71. It seems our house is always the designated “get together” house all the time! We always cook a ton of food, have a million games, and everyone always leaves happy and tired!
    For the kids, the number 1 most important thing is to put up their favorite toys and books. This way, they won’t get damaged- just in case!
    For the adults, we always have a wide variety of foods, because it seems there is always someone on a diet, or vegetarian, or something….
    For outside, we love having citronella candles-everywhere! Besides, candlelight looks great on everyone!
    For the food- if serving on a table outside- put each of the legs of the table in a small bowl of water. This will keep the ants from being able to climb on the table.

    Hope these ideas help someone out! These bamboo sheets look like heaven!

  72. we have cookouts!

  73. We put up a gazebo, clean all the patio furniture and bbq alot. We also plant lots of flowers and clean up the yard from the winter. We really enjoy hanging out in the back yard. Plus once the teenagers smell the bbq they always come hang out with us.

  74. email subscriber

  75. We have lots of barbecues and love to take people up to our cottage in Wisconsin as well.

  76. Technorati is FINALLY working! I added you to my Technorati Faves. My user name is LeslieVeg

    Leslie

  77. We have a fire in the fire ring and cook over it and we eat around the fire, talking and drinking beer and wine. There are usually 8 to 12 people over, and it’s always fun.

  78. I’m an e-mail subscriber.

  79. Tweeted – http://twitter.com/sito50/status/1807704568

  80. On my blog roll – http://sitosfunstuff.blogspot.com/

  81. Blogged, http://sitosfunstuff.blogspot.com/2009/05/kn-bamboo-sheet-giveaway-at-lipstick-to.html

  82. at home, nothing fancy, quiet nite with food and drink.
    electricisland(at)gmail.com

  83. I just subscribed. electricisland(at)gmail.com

  84. tweet , http://twitter.com/electricisland/status/1809303485
    electricisland(at)gmail.com

  85. got your button http://electriccislandd.blogspot.com/
    electricisland(at)gmail.com

  86. We love to have BBQs. Cheap, easy, and casual.
    Thanks!
    Adreisinger@aol.com

  87. Email subscriber.
    Adreisinger@aol.com

  88. Tweeted.
    http://twitter.com/afabozzi/statuses/1820177451
    Adreisinger@aol.com

  89. we use the grill alot during the summer, hot dogs, hamburgers, steaks and chicken

  90. We have an enclosed front porch, which is perfect for serving food from our summer cookouts. No bugs, no sun glare, lots of fresh air–it’s fabulous!

    Thanks for a wonderful giveaway.

  91. I’m an email subscriber, which is how I discovered this giveaway.

  92. tweet-a-tweet-tweet!
    http://twitter.com/nape9393/status/1822186256

  93. i love to cook out in the summer

  94. tweet http://twitter.com/pestkaj/status/1822293792

  95. email subscriber

  96. fave you on technorati my id is pestkaj

  97. We have cook outs with close family and friends. Our back yard is always hoppin’ in the summer. I love to entertain!
    Thanks =)

  98. I am an email subscriber.

  99. Tweet!
    http://twitter.com/simplyandreah/status/1822557937

  100. We love having bbq’s. It is a great way to get together with friends and family and feels more relaxing being out in the backyard instead of the house

    “Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Fun:
    CoolCanucks.ca”

  101. I am an email subscriber

    “Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Fun:
    CoolCanucks.ca”

  102. we usually have a open fire and bbq in the summer months

    CoolCanucks.ca”

  103. We have lots of cook-outs followed by toasting marshmallows around the fire pit.
    Thanks.

  104. I’m a subscriber. Thanks.

  105. We love to open all the windows and bring fresh flowers in. We always have beautiful pitches full of bright-colored drinks ready too. Thanks! –Michelle, blogattoday ([at} gmaildotcom

  106. Email subscriber! –Michelle, blogattoday ([at} gmaildotcom

  107. Your button is on my sidebar! –Michelle, blogattoday ([at} gmaildotcom

  108. Good food, good drinks, good friends and family will make any day with sun-perfect for entertaining.

  109. Tweeted: http://twitter.com/aimee_bernard/status/1838866363

  110. I stumbled. User name aimeeb82

  111. I subscribe to your feed.

  112. We are always out by the grill during the summer, so we usually have people over to eat and listen to music, play games and go fishing. Thanks!

  113. I subscribe in Google Reader.

  114. I tweeted!

    http://twitter.com/MaddyRu/statuses/1860750748

  115. I plan on throwing small parties this summer around the pool. It’s always nice to have different types of beverages (like limeade, lemonade, fruit punch) made from scratch (or at least looks like they were).

  116. We usually have people over for casual dinners. We’re vegetarian and we make a point of doing 3-course gourmet meals for our friends to show off our vegetarian cooking!

  117. I blogged here:
    http://emilyisland.blogspot.com/2009/05/almost-weekend.html

  118. We always have big neighborhood get togethers, cook out play music,light fireworks and children games. We try to do this at least once a month and it really is a great way to meet our nieghbors.
    tamben7996(at)aol(dot)com

  119. I am a subscriber.

  120. We have people over quite a bit in the summer as we have the biggest yard.So~we do lots of grilling and playing in the yard.

  121. I subscribe

  122. I keep it very simple: lots of veggie and dip platters, fruit, and cold salads. Just try to enjoy the great summer air and warmth and keep the focus on friends and informal entertaining.

  123. Email subscriber.

  124. We have a lot of cookouts, either at our home or at the park. We invite friends over and have a good time.

  125. I’m an e-mail subscriber.

  126. We really love to have cookouts in the summer with friends and family.

  127. Stumbled: quelleheure4

  128. I have your button

  129. Technorati fave: quelleheure4

  130. RSS subscriber!

  131. We love to have our neighbors over for grilling and drinks. Nothing fancy. Just friends and fun.

  132. I’m a subscriber.

  133. Twittered: http://twitter.com/coriwestphal/statuses/1960526760

  134. You are in my Technorati faves: coriwestphal

  135. I have your button: http://asahmlookingforadeal.blogspot.com/

  136. We usually have BBQ’s in our backyard with friends & family

  137. I’m a subscriber

  138. Barbeque & Party!
    Barbeque & Party!
    Barbeque & Party!

  139. We grill outside and have family over. Good times!

  140. Subscriber!~

  141. Follow on Twitter and tweet! lipstick2crayon http://lipsticktocrayons.com/2009/05/summer-entertaining-giveaway.html/comment-page-3#comment-23268

    dresdenrain-ID.

  142. Since I live in NYC, I don’t have a yard. My friends and I usually go to the park for picnics.

  143. I subscribe via email!