Partying Pinterest-Style

Hope everyone in the U.S. had a happy Fourth of July! We had a party for the second year in a row, and frankly, I'm not sure how I did it last year without assistance from Pinterest. I think this year's party was at least 200% cuter and yummier thanks to my latest time-wasting device. : ) This also gave me a chance to actually use a few of my hundreds of pins. Imagine that!

Pin: Raspberry Lemonade Beer Cocktail

Source: thecharitywedding.com via Lee on Pinterest

My version:
 
This drink was crazy good and very refreshing, which was key, since it was like eleventy-thousand degrees that day. The cocktail turned out a little stronger than I like, so I added about a beer bottle's worth of water, as well as lots of ice to the main container and in each glass. The result: I didn't think it even tasted like beer! My sister-in-law had some before I could tell her what was in it, and she was shocked that there was any beer in there, much less that it was mostly beer.

The drinking jars are available here. Only $21.39 for 12 glasses.

Pin: Drink Dispenser

Source: bigbearswife.com via Lee on Pinterest

My version:

I really wanted a drink dispenser for my beer cocktail. I found mine on Amazon: Hammered Glass Beverage Dispenser with Spigot. This beverage dispenser and my red stripey straws (also from Amazon) made me inexplicably happy.

Pin: Flower arrangements

Source: designingmyho.me via Lee on Pinterest

My version:

$11 worth of daisies and red mini-carnations made five flower arrangements in mason jars. Tied some red and white fabric scraps around the jars, and voila. And yes, I made the table runner. Of course I started it at 11 p.m. the night before, so I wouldn't say it's well-made, but it did the job. : )

Pin: Corn, Avacado and Tomato Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

Source: fortheloveofcooking-printablerecipes.blogspot.com via Lee on Pinterest

My version:
Oops, forgot to take a picture of this. I was too busy eating it. But mine looked very similar and was AMAZING. So ridiculously yummy. I doubled the recipe for 21 people and it was gone by the end of the night. Pin this one ASAP.

Pin: Fourth of July candy

Source: yourhomebasedmom.com via Lee on Pinterest

My version:

Does it get more all-American than licorice and lollipops? No. No, it doesn't. And the licorice went fast, so next year I might add to the candy selection a little!

And the hubs spent all day making barbecued pulled pork in his outdoor smoker ... but sadly we were both too busy to take any pictures of it. So you'll have to take my word for it that it was the best part of the entire party—and no Pinning needed for it, either! Thank you, honey!