Iced Tea with a Twist!

We’re daydreaming today of warm summer afternoons, listening to the laughter of the neighborhood children, bikers peddling past, as we sit sipping iced tea on the porch. We have about eighteen inches of snow in the front yard today, yes in April, but it’s never too early to gather some great summer recipes! Here come three sensational iced tea recipes. Stash these beauties away, or give them a taste test now, in sweet anticipation of hot summer days. You don’t even have to choose your favorite. Set a stunning iced tea bar, mix and match those ingredients, and invite some friends!

Raspberry Iced Tea

Pretty as can be, sweet raspberries transform your tea into a summertime treat. Get this gorgeous recipe from MyFoodBook.com.

Mint Iced Tea

Mint tea is a classic, cool and refreshing summer flavor. Grab this mint iced tea recipe with a hearty tea flavor from myrecipes.com.

Spiked Strawberry Iced Tea

Or, go for the gusto with this adults-only, simply lovely Strawberry Iced Tea from MintedMag.com…

For crystal clear iced tea, be sure to start with good water, and let the tea cool slowly to room temperature before chilling it.

Peaches, berries, citrus… you can’t go wrong. Pick your favorite fruits, add in some fresh herbs, and be sure you have plenty of ice!

Navy Blue

Navy blue is beautifully nautical or simply neutral… or both. Using navy as a neutral can add a springtime freshness to your event. Replace the traditional black, gray, or brown with navy to get a nautically neutral color palette. This navy blue and white cupcake tower is crisp, clean and lovely on its own, but watch as different colors pair with the navy blue to create a whole new look.

Navy blue and coral…

Navy blue pairs with most any other color. Here we created a fresh spring or summer color combo with coral and navy blue. Just feminine and pretty.

Navy Blue and Yellow…

Navy blue and yellow screams spring. Happy and bright, yellow and blue are tried and true.

Navy Blue and Kelly Green…

Navy blue and kelly green are fantastically fresh. Perfect for a summer wedding at the country club, kelly green and navy are a flawless color combination.

Navy blue is simple, classic perfection-- on its own, or paired with almost any color.

Creative Party Lighting

Lighting can transform your party space. It gives your party added personality, but doesn’t need to be expensive. These are some creative ways to lighten the mood at your next party with nothing more than a string of lights and a few inexpensive materials. Just simply beautiful, we can’t stop looking at this string of lights tied with tulle by Hayseed Homemakin’. The airy ties of tulle diffuse the light into a warm glow.

More ways to make pretty party lights…

Martha Stewart has used paper sacks or silk flowers in the same way to create a completely different look.

Photos: Hey Gorg and Camilla at Family Chic

Simple cups or cupcake wrappers can even become dainty little lamp shades for those string lights at your party. Visit Hey Gorge for a detailed tutorial with great photos.

Get moody at your next party with some pretty lights!