Pool Party Essentials
Last week at OHBI we talked all about our favorite swimsuit trends. Incase you missed all of the deets, check it out here! Now that you've got tips on shopping for a new swimsuit and have the confidence to swim suit up, It's time for a pool party! What better way to show off your new swimmie than hosting an unforgettable summertime pool party?! We're going to share our list of must haves to make a pool party a sucesss!
1. The Guest List
It's not a pool party without all of your favorite people around! One of the best things about summer parties is that your guests can gather outside or cool off inside. Don't forgot to be considerate of those with children and plan for the kiddos who might make an appearance in your home. That means putting away anything that could potentially become a causality at your awesome party!
2. Snacks
If we weren't each other's BFF's and always there for each other we know that snacks would always be there for us! At any party you can usually find us by the snack table and we are unashamed y'all! It's important for us to snack or we risk the chance of becoming hangry and nobody wins when that happens. You don't want your guests to starve while the BBQ gets warmed up so we have a super simple dip rececipe that's a twist on Buffalo Chicken Dip. We'll just call it Sriracha Chicken Dip with a hint of spinach. The spinach will make you feel better about indulging in this delish appetizer.
Here's what you'll need:
- 2 Cups Chicken (Our friend who introduced us to the buffalo chicken dip gave us a time saving tip! Buy a rotisserie chicken and shred it instead of waiting for raw chicken to cook).
- 1/2 cup Sriracha
- 1/2 cup Mango Chipotle Dressing (Honestly you could use any dressing that suits your tastes buds).
- 1 cup Spinach (frozen)
- 1/2 cup Mild Cheddar Cheese
- 4 oz. Cream Cheese
*Warning if you're not a fan of spicy start with 1/4 cup of Sriracha.
Here are the simple steps to make this delicious dip! Shred your rotisserie chicken, microwave the frozen spinach per the directions on the package, measure all of your ingredients, and toss them in a crockpot until all of the cheese has melted (approximately 15-20 minutes depending on your crockpot). Serve with chips or keep it on the healthier side and offer cucumbers, bell peppers, and carrots. We need all the help getting our daily serving of veggies in so we opted for mini cucumbers and mini bell peppers. (The fact that they were mini may have swayed us in our purchasing decisions).
3. Drinks
Next up on our list is libations! This super simple cocktail is everything summer dreams are made of. What better way to stay hydrated while you dehydrate than with a cocktail mixed with La Croix! We're a bit obsessed with La Croix and chose the Pineapple Strawberry flavor combo for this tasty drink. It pairs perfectly with the muddled fruit and tequila.
Here's what you'll need:
- 1 1/2 oz. of Tequila (We're fans of Sauza and 1800 Tequila. Choose what floats your boat just make sure it's silver!)
- Fresh Pineapple (2 - 3 chunks)
- Fresh Strawberries (2- 3 berries)
- Pineapple Strawberry La Croix
First muddle the fruit in your favorite poolside cup ( Preferably a plastic cup because alcohol, slippery surfaces, and glass will most likely end in a tragic tale). Add the tequila to the cup and stir to combine with the fruit. Fill your cup with the Pineapple Strawberry La Croix and top off with ice. If you're feeling bougie, garnish your cup with a fresh strawberry and pineapple slice. BOOM! The easiest cocktail ever created, but a tasty one at that! The beauty about this cocktail is that you can opt out of adding the tequila and now you have a tasty beverage for those not wanting any alcohol! Everybody wins! (Also we know our cup is made of glass but red solo cups don't make for a great picture). :)
4. Swim Essentials
Now that you have the food and drink situation under control it's time to make sure you have ALL the pool floaties! Honestly at this point we don't believe you can ever own too many. (Our husbands disagree but we've seen them floating around in the Band.o heart tube too). You can find floaties pretty much anywhere these days so it won't be difficult to start your collection (obsession)! Our favorites are from Band.o and Big Mouth Inc.! Don't forget about all the other necessities you and your guests will need when sittin' pool side like sunscreen and towels! We suggest you ask your guests to bring their own towels unless you want to embark on a laundry excursion (Seven wash cycles later and you'll finally have all of your towels clean). EYE ROLL, does anyone really enjoy doing laundry?! Buy a few extra bottles of sunscreen to have out by the pool, you don't want your guests to leave with a sunburn. Our favorite sunscreen is Supergoop! and it has been proven to work even on the fairest of them all!
5. The best playlist there ever was: OHBI - Pool Party Essentials
A party ain't a party without music! Our pool party playlist is full of all of our favorite jams. Some old, some new. If you've been hanging with us for even a little bit than you already know it is filled with some of the best 90's pop hits and some Justin Bieber (We're still not over Despacito y'all!). You can find our playlist OHBI - Pool Party Essentials on Spotify! Bust out those awesome dance moves! We know we will be.
6. Have Fun!
Our last step to hosting a perfect pool party is having a blast! Wether you're hanging with your gal pals or sipping on a strawberry pineapple cocktail, we hope y'all have the time of your life!
We'd love to see how you're spending your summer, use #OHBIgirlgang to share all your summer party pics!
xoxo
S&A
