A Posh Summer

With the heat of summer upon us, it’s time to cool off with an extraordinary summer party. From elegant luaus and family barbeques to pool parties and kids campouts, Posh Party Box has ideas, recipes and themes to get your creative juices flowing! Even better, Posh Party Box is offering a 15% discount on all summer party boxes!

Fourth of July Fiesta

With Independence Day around the corner, there’s still time to put together a one-of-a-kind family celebration! Once you’ve determined your guest list and sent out your invitations, it’s time to start setting the stage.

For the front yard, hang a flag from the front of the house. Buy small stick flags to put in the ground along the walkway up to your house or to your back yard. To make your house even more inviting, hang paper lanterns in the trees.

In the backyard, set up picnic tables. Cover tables with red tablecloths. For centerpieces, consider small themed cans or pails filled with red, white and blue lollipops. Foam can hold the lollipops in place. Or, you can fill the cans with firework-themed tinsel. Strategically scatter red, white and blue votive candle holders on the adult tables.

For the kids, you may want to consider setting up a craft table. You can pick from any number of crafts at your local craft store or find wonderful crafts for kids – ranging from a stick flag to a pinwheel – at sites like www.enchantedlearning.com.

For drinks, scatter old-fashioned aluminum tubs of ice in the yard. Select a theme for each tub: water, soda, beer and wine. For food, consider having the party catered so that you can focus on your guests. You can add homemade, creative accent dishes to add a special touch.

Finally, the age-old question – should you have fireworks at your party? If you don’t care to do any research, then the rule of thumb is no. If you want to know more, research your city laws and factor in weather conditions as they may change the law. If you live outside a city, check the county laws on fireworks. For the kids, party poppers may be in order. With the beautiful ambiance you’ve created, fireworks really won’t be necessary.

If you want to save time putting togher your party, be sure to check out our Stars and Stripes party box -- it includes most everything you need to host a memorable, elegant party!

Have a posh Fourth!

Flag Cake

This cake is wonderful for a 4th of July party. Prepare one white cake from a mix. Grease a 13 x 9 inch cake pan with butter and dust with flour. Pour cake batter into pan and bake following directions on box. Cool cake in pan for 15 minutes.

Make holes in cake every 1/2 inch using large fork. Prepare any package of red Jello. Pour Jello mix over the cake, distributing evenly so that it fills the holes. Put cake in refrigerator to chill, about 3-4 hours. Place about 1 inch of warm water in sink. Dip just the bottom of pan into water for 10 seconds. Remove cake from pan.

Frost top and sides of cake with Cool Whip. Arrange sliced strawberries in one row, arrange tiny marshmallows in another row and alternate until top of cake is covered, except for upper left corner where you will place about 5 rows of blueberries. This cake should resemble the American Flag. Enjoy!

Hosting a Luau

Luaus are traditional Hawaiian celebrations that are used to mark significant events. Whether for a graduation, birthday, anniversary or just because, consider hosting a luau this summer!

Planning the décor can be half the fun. After you’ve set the guest list, start gathering your materials. See if your local florist carries orchids. Hibiscus, Bird of Paradise, Red Anthurium or Red Ginger flowers are also suitable choices.

String Christmas lights or paper lanterns through the trees. Set up round tables throughout your backyard or around the pool. Scatter shells across the tables. Use bamboo runners and scatter sand on the patio. Consider a sand filled vase with flower for a centerpiece, coconut shells for glasses, umbrellas for garnish and be sure to have leis for the guests! If you have a pool or other water feature, consider using floating candles.

If you plan to have a buffet table, use a raffia table skirt to set the tone. Each dish served at a traditional luau celebration has a meaning. Some foods represented strength or courage, while others were indicative of other goal, virtues, or aspirations that participants were seeking to obtain.

If you want the luau to be traditional, consider Kalua Pig, roasted in an underground oven called and Imu, and Poi, a purple-colored paste made from the root of the taro plant. Or, for a more simple approach, there are a number of dishes that are perfect for a luau – check out our pork kabobs with a pineapple mango salsa recipes! Don’t forget the mai tais!

For festive finishing touches, consider appointing a talented guest to serenade arriving guests with a ukulele. Other icebreakers include hula hoop and limbo contests. To save on legwork, be sure to order the Pineapples in Paradise party box!

Pineapples in Paradise Luau

A chic spin on a popular summer celebration, the "Pineapples in Paradise" Party Box includes everything you'll need for an elegant evening Luau your guests won't forget.

Everything is reusable.

Party Box for 8 guests

Additional guests $27.00 each

We are happy to create custom box sizes - large or small!

Your Party Box Includes:

• 8 Pineapple invitations
• 4 Kuku Nut leis for the men
• 4 Silk flower leis for the women
• 8 Authentic coconut cups with flower and straw
• 8 Ceramic pineapple bowls
• 8 Wooden plates
• 20 Birds of Paradise luncheon napkins
• 1 set of 12 acrylic orange cutlery in basket with salt and pepper shaker
• 8 Acrylic orange tumblers
• 1 Orange, yellow and green serving tray
• 1 Orange, yellow and green sectional basket
• Shells for table decoration

"Optional Items"

• 2 pairs of flip flop candles
• 5-foot Tiki torch
• 2 Bamboo votive candle holders

Volcano Cake

From Food Network

Ingredients

• 2 (18.25-ounce) boxes red velvet cake mix (recommended: Duncan Hines)
• 2 2/3 cups water
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 6 eggs
• 3 (12-ounce) cans chocolate whipped frosting (recommended: Betty Crocker)
• 1 (6.4-ounce) can green decorating icing (recommended: Betty Crocker Easy Flow)
• 1 (6.4-ounce) can red decorating icing (recommended: Betty Crocker Easy Flow)
• 1 (6.4-ounce) can orange decorating icing (recommended: Betty Crocker Easy Flow)
• 1 (6.4-ounce) can yellow decorating icing (recommended: Betty Crocker Easy Flow)
• 1 (.68-ounce) tube yellow gel decorations (recommended: Cake Mate)
• 1 (.68-ounce) tube red gel decorations (recommended: Cake Mate)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 2 (8-inch) cake pans, 2 (10-inch) cake pans and 1 (6-inch) Bundt pan with cooking spray and set aside. Beat cake mix, water, oil, and egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl and beat for 2 minutes on medium speed. Divide batter equally between prepared cake pans.

Bake 8-inch cakes and 6-inch Bundt cakes in oven for 35 to 40 minutes and 10-inch cakes for 45 to 50 minutes, or until tester comes out clean. Remove and cool completely.

To assemble, use a serrated knife to slice off the tops of the 8 and 10-inch cake so the surface of each cake is flat. Place the cut tops into a large bowl and break up to from large crumbs. The crumbs will be used a "lava rocks" at the base of the volcano. Slice the bottom off the 6-inch bunt cake so it sits flat.

Spread a thin layer of chocolate frosting between the 10-inch cake layers and stack. Spread a thin layer of chocolate frosting between 8-inch cake layers and stack. Place another thin layer of frosting on top of the 8-inch layer cake and place the bunt cake cut side down on top. Place a dollop of frosting on top of the 10-inch cake and carefully, place 8-inch cake on top and center of 10-inch cake.

Use a serrated knife to trim edges around the tops of both cakes to create a cone shaped cake. (Make angled cuts downward and leave a round base on top for icing to "flow" from.)

To decorate, frost outside of entire cake with remaining chocolate frosting. Place the cake crumbs around the base of the cake. Pipe green icing around the entire bottom of the cake for "grass". To create "flowing lava" pipe red icing a quarter from the top of cake in downward strokes to the middle of the cake with ribbon tip. Repeat technique with orange icing, starting almost at top of cake and ending where red icing begins with slight overlap. Repeat technique with yellow icing starting at the very top of cake and overlap orange icing. Drizzle yellow and red gel coloring around the very top of cake.

For the smoke effect place a few pieces of dry ice into glass candle votive. Place the votive into the hole of the bunt cake. Pour a small amount of warm water into the votive and watch it smoke!

Posh Summer Party Gadgets

Kool-Light-O-Scope Underwater Pool Light

When you turn on this pool light at night, it's like swimming in a kaleidoscope of color. This battery-operated pool light has spinning LEDs that form continually changing patterns on the bottom and sides of your pool.

Underwater Light Show and Fountain

The Underwater Light Show is like a floating disco ball that provides colorful effects both above and below the water. Just set this floating pool decoration in your pool, and watch as illuminated sprays of water dance above the surface while color-changing lights shimmer in the water.

Solar Lanterns

Create instant atmosphere on the deck, porch or patio with an elegant, Asian-style lantern—no cords, no energy costs. Equipped with two warm, glowing LED lights, this lantern is equally suited for parties or casual family dining. It charges in 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, then turns itself on at dusk automatically.

Tahitian Breeze Misting Fan

Sit back, relax and enjoy the refreshing mist on a hot day as the Tahitian’s 4 misting nozzles and 3 Speed motor tantalize your body and soul. Select from our 3 stylish color options consisting of Burnished Pewter, Tuscan Bronze, and Tropical Green.

Lighted Cantilever Umbrella

Lighted cantilever umbrella creates a large area of shade under its 11-ft. canopy and yet it's easy to move to follow the sun. The umbrella is designed to stand off to the side of your gathering as it arches over you. Depress a foot pedal in the base to rotate it up to 360 degrees or use the ratchet crank to raise and lower the canopy. Built-in LED on runner lights up the area under the canopy.

Happy Camper Birthday Party

The Happy Camper Party Box is designed to give boys and girls memories for a lifetime! We have complied many hard-to-find authentic items such as canteens, mess kits and backpacks designed for each little boy or girl to take home after the party. Imagine their faces when they see all of the wonderful high quality items they can take home and use over and over again! Suggested ages 5 - 10.

Party Box for 6 guests

Additional guests $28.00 each

We are happy to create custom box sizes - large or small!

Your Party Box Includes:

• Kids by the campfire invitations
• Authentic canteens
• Flashlights (battery not included)
• Compasses
• Camping carry packs
• Authentic mess kits
• Authentic campout silverware sets
• Camouflage napkins that can also be used as bandanas
• Camouflage binoculars
• Bug collector boxes
• Thank you notes

“Optional Items”

• “Whoooos There” scary story book. Each page offers childlike scary stories with shadow creatures you can project onto the wall!
• "Childrens Activity and Games" book
• "1001 Bugs to Spot" book
• Young Naturalist Kid Kit - Includes Nature book, butterfly net, magnifying glass and bug collector bottle.

How to Select Your Child's Guest List

This is the one aspect of the birthday party that sounds simple. However – from whether or not to invite the whole class to sibling considerations – putting together the guest list for your child’s birthday can actually be quite complicated.

These days, many schools require that you invite the entire classroom or no one at all. Depending on the type of party you are throwing, this can be a challenge. There are often 20+ children in a classroom! Before you decide, check with the school administrators on policy. Often, you can get around the issue by mailing invites to select children as opposed to distributing at school.

If you aren’t comfortable inviting the entire classroom or team to your child’s party, consider having more than one event. You can have a pizza party for the class, a swim party at a community pool for the team and a small, special party for your child’s close friends.

How does one handle the issue of siblings? Again, it depends on the type of party. If you are throwing a large party – and telling parents to leave siblings at home is uncomfortable – then consider having them. Make sure you get a headcount several days before the party so you can have enough food, drinks and party favors on hand.

However, many parents prefer to give special parties for a specific number of guests. From the beginning, you can cover your bases a few ways:

• Address invite to the child only
• Consider making the party a “drop off” party so that parents are available to watch their other children
• Indicate on invite if you are hosting a “drop off” party
• If hosting your party at a special location and there’s a guest limit, mention this on the invite. For example “The guest limit is 15 so please RSVP by [date] so that we know if your child would like to attend.”
• Be sure you talk to every parent and subtly find out what the plan is that day for their children.

Looking Forward to Fall

While you are relaxing poolside relishing in your party giving talent, don’t forget to start planning your fall parties! Consider hosting a Halloween Party, Poker Party or Tea Party!