The most important time is family time. We need to take a time out every now and then and spend quality time with each other. Time spent with one another is very important. One thing our family enjoys is relaxing in the backyard to barbecue. We all have our own jobs to be a part of the fun. Entertaining is one of my strong points. I love hosting and spending quality time with family and friends. My husband and boys are the ones that barbecue and share an Ice Cold Coca-Cola ™ while they do what they do best. It's well deserved.
With the weather so beautiful these days a family barbecue is definitely a must. I decided to have some family over to enjoy our new backyard, feast on a family meal and share an Ice Cold Coke. We have an amazing backyard full of beautiful fruit trees, roses, grape vines and an abundance of greenery! I knew hosting a backyard party with a beautiful tablescape full of roses picked from my yard, colorful holders for my citronella candles with pops of patterns, an Ice Cold Coke to share and yummy food is exactly what my family needed.
Entertaining is my jam. Any chance I get to decorate its a "YES" for me! A gorgeous tablescape to bring in the yard's ambiance was needed. I hopped into the car and drove over to the nearest Target. There were so many fun and festive decorations for my theme I couldn't contain myself. I grabbed some Coca-Cola 20oz. Share a Coke with family members names on it. I'm a detail girl so if I can personalize my gathering I'm all over it. This year Share a Coke is back with over 1,000 Share a Coke names featuring First and Last Names. Here is a Cartwheel offer for 20% off Share a Coke 20oz. Bottles at Target. I'm a fan of shopping at Target and love the selection and coupons they offer with the cartwheel app.
The Tablescape
Having a theme is definitely a strong point of mine. I love being able to create vibrant and fun decor with a mix of patterns, colors, and textures. Most of the items were purchased at Target my go to for just about everything.
Items:
- Small Battery Operated Candle Holders in Teal
- Large Battery Operated Candle Holders in Pink
- 9" Floral Plates
- Flamingo Appetizer Plates
- Table Runner
- Citronella Candles
- Napkins
- Pineapple Dish
Creating the perfect tablescape is easily done by layering. Gather items you already own in addition to new items reflecting your theme. You'll want to look for items in bright and vibrant items for Summer with varying sizes and shapes. Layering items are attractive to the perfect tablescape. The tallest item should be the focal point of your tablescape. For instance, the vase full of flowers from my yard surrounded by the candle holders added a beautiful dimension to the table. My daughter and I enjoyed ourselves picking a variety of florals from the yard stopping every so often to take a sip of our Ice Cold Coca-Cola we shared. To spread the love throughout the table I placed a few of the printed serving platters and bowls down the table runner.
To add depth and visual interest I played with the place setting by adding a floral print plate and topping it off with a flamingo appetizer plate. I found these napkins that I was able to place into the cups on the table a boost in visual interest. My daughter Valentina was the best little helper. She worked pretty fast to take her next sip of her Ice Cold Coca-Cola we shared.
How to fold napkins:
Step 1: Utilize 2 different napkins the same size but different colors and prints.
Step 2: Unfold each of the napkins.
Step 3: Layer them on top of each other. Prints on the bottom colors on the top.
Step 4: Pick up the napkins pinching the middle of the napkins from the bottom.
Step 5: Fold the corners of the napkins upward creating a beautiful layered effect.
Step 6: Put them into the glasses on the table.
You can find additional inspiration here.
The Barbecue
My boys love to cook on the built-in outdoor grill and amazing at helping their dad bbq! The boys have a special barbecue sauce recipe they like to whip up for ribs that my husband grills for the family. Dressing up meats in this sauce is so savory and adds a punch of spice which goes hand in hand with a sharing an Ice Cold Coca-Cola refreshment! All ingredients paired so well and came together to create the perfect family meal. A relaxing peaceful summer day is one of the life's greatest pleasures.
Barbecue Sauce Recipe
Ingredients Needed:
- 2 cups of Ketchup
- 1/4 cup of Spiced Vinegar
- 1 tsp Caribean Jerk Seasoning
- 1 tsp Garlic Pepper
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 1/4 cup of Hot Sauce
- 4 tablespoons of Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup of Maple Syrup
Step 1: Add the ketchup, vinegar, and syrup to a pot and heat on low for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 2: Add brown sugar and cook additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 3: Add the remainder of the ingredients and cook another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 4: When the ribs are cooked and still on the grill, glaze the ribs with the BBQ Sauce and let it cook for about 5 minutes on each side.
Step 5: Cut Ribs and use the remainder of the sauce to sauce the ribs prior to serving.
Everything came together so lovely. My boys' did an amazing job with their spicy and savory BBQ sauce while my husband did a wonderful job grilling them and helping the boys. My daughter was so helpful and putting her creative twist on the tablescape. All in all, the family gathering was a success and the food tasted amazing with the Ice Cold Cokes which paired so well with the saucy ribs. This mama couldn't be any happier! Mom Life is the Best Life!
Get your more Summer inspiration for your next family gathering & how to share an Ice Cold Coca-Cola ™.
It looks like you all had a wonderful time and I love the color scheme you picked! ~ Client
ReplyDeleteThis looks great!I love family time and good food!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome barbecue! We love a good barbecue in the summer!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the fun tips! It looks like a great time!
ReplyDeleteSuch fun and festive decorations for the table. That BBQ looks delicious. I can't wait for the rain to stop here int he midwest so we can enjoy more BBQs. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I love all the colors! Love the added touch with the special napkin fold---I am going to try that. :)
ReplyDeleteSo many good tips!!! I'll have to use some of them for my Memorial Day BBQ coming up!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great tablescape! So summery
ReplyDeleteSuper sweet set up. Those ribs look amazing. Ill be sure to give that BBQ sauce a try
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty table! I love all of the bright colors. Very festive for summer!
ReplyDeleteYour tablescape looks amazing! Perfect for any summer bbq!
ReplyDeleteWhat a precious table! Good job! And give me all the Coke...I love that stuff! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great bbq gathering. Love the color theme chosen for the occasion. I am sure that is an amazing bbq sauce. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDelete