Now that summer is here, how about throwing a pool party? What I love most about pool parties are the bright colors, the fun and clever treats (“pool noodle” licorice ropes, anyone?), the inexpensive decor ideas (beach balls as dessert table decorations), and the casual, relaxed feel. I love a party where I can not only wear flip flops, but the whole party theme is flip flops!

1.  School’s out for the Summer!  This party features vivid bright colors and cute themed foods, like fondant topped cupcake toppers and sno-cone cupcakes.

2. Fresh blue and yellow hues highlight this gorgeous outdoor party by the pool!

3. Beach balls are the focus of this Summer pool party, where they are used as decorations and also as edible treats!
4. Summer is the perfect time for a Flip Flop party!  Plus, they look great as a cake, cupcake toppers, decor items and more!

5. A full candy buffet filled with beautifully colored treats and a cute triple decker candy dot cake are fabulous ideas for a teen’s birthday party! 
6. At this Last Day of School party, all the colors of the rainbow are spotlighted and are seen in fruit skewers, cupcakes, lollipops and pinwheels!

Jillian Tohber Leslie decided to “get her party on” and launched Catch My Party in 2009, as the place to share party ideas, tips, and photos, and to celebrated the entertainer in all of us! Jillian received her BA and MBA from Stanford University. Jillian currently resides in Palo Alto, California, with her husband, David, daughter, Lainey, and company mascot, Gertie, their nine-year-old Tibetan Terrier. In her spare time, Jillian loves to cook, craft, entertain, style parties, and take photographs. To learn more about Jillian check out her Catch My Party blog, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

While it’s easy schedule a brunch date to celebrate Mom’s special day, dads provide more of a challenge to ensure his day is wonderful, too. The best spots in the city are sure to have a long waiting list but you can also cook up an amazing meal for him (remember, barbeque is best) and pair with a masculine cocktail to wash it down. Shake up any of these stiff sippers, and he’s sure to smile!

Father’s Day Rock and Rye by Culinary Concepts

33.8 oz. Rittenhouse Rye
4 oz. Luxardo Sour Cherry Syrup
8 oz. Rock Candy
5 Pieces Star Anise
3 Pieces of Cinnamon Stick
12 Pieces of Cloves
3 Pieces of Orange
3 Pieces of Lemon

Combine ingredients in a large bowl and pour Bell Jars. Age for 18 days, strain and serve on the rocks. Garnish with two cherries.

Basil Hayden’s Dad’s Spice Created by Matthew Biancaniello

2 oz. Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
3/4 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 oz. Agave Syrup (1:1 ration of water to agave)
1/2 oz. Green Chartreuse
1/2 peeled Tangerine
4 Celery Leaves
1 pinch Hepp’s Salt Barrel Ghost Pepper Salt (Optional)
Add all ingredients, except bourbon, in a cocktail shaker and muddle. Add bourbon and ice to the shaker and shake. Strain into a rocks glass with ice and garnish with a sprig of celery leaves.

Vegliot by Emily Williamson

1 1/2 oz. Akvinta Vodka
1 oz. Pear Liqueur
1/4 oz. Jagermeister
1/4 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 full thumbed bunch of fresh Coriander leaves
Add the ingredients in order to a cocktail. Add cubed hard ice and hard shake and fine strain into a frozen Coupette glass. Garnish with a good looking three leaf stem of Coriander floating and serve.

Gentleman Ginger

1 oz. TY KU Sake Black
1 oz. Ginger Ale

Build ingredients over ice in a tumbler and stir.

Dads are exceptionally hard to shop for. The daunting thought of having to secure the right item often inhibits you from buying him anything at all. And so you end up scrambling for an idea at the last minute. Your father definitely doesn’t need another tie, but he could probably always use a good drink after a day at the office. So why not enhance his bar with a new addition or replace that near empty bottle of his favorite scotch. Here are some scotches and spirits that he is sure to enjoy. Cheers to dads!

1. Basil Hayden’s Bourbon , $37
2. Don Julio 1942,  $125
3. Zacapa Rum XO, $65.99
4. Laphroaig 10 Year , $49.99
5. Macallan Scotch 18 Year, $179.99
6. Johnnie Walker Blue Label, $220
7. Hendrick’s Gin, $33.99

Kale salads are my favorite salads. Why? They’re filling, full of nutrients and make me feel like I’m glowing from the inside. The trick to a delicious kale salad is massaging the kale with your hands before tossing it in the dressing. Find more details in the recipes below:

1. Deb’s Kale Salad with Apple, Cranberries and Pecans: This kale salad is fully of crisp-crunchy textures with bursts of sweetness thanks to apples and cranberries. If you have never tried a kale salad, start with this one.
2. Coconut Quinoa and Kale with Tropical Pesto: Quinoa, kale and coconut come together in a surprisingly delicious way with this popular potluck dish. It’s vegan and gluten free, too.
3. Raw Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad with Tahini-Maple Dressing: This crunchy and creamy salad will make a kale and brussels sprout lover out of you! The addictive tahini-maple dressing is tangy, creamy and vegan.
4. Asian Raw Kale Salad: This kale salad features a colorful array of carrots, purple cabbage and avocado. Toss it in homemade red pepper-ginger dressing for a satisfying salad that makes you feel like you’re glowing from the inside.

Contributing Editor, Kate Taylor, is a 20-something photographer and vegetarian cook from Oklahoma. She lives in Kansas City with her quirky black and white mutt, Cookie. Her blog, Cookie and Kate, is all about celebrating good food—real, sustainable food that delights the senses and nourishes the body. Kathryne is an avid supporter of the occasional indulgence and enjoys nothing more than eating good food in good company.

Summer is here and it’s time to catch up on your reading while you’re sunning your bod on your chic new beach towel. Whether you’re looking for hilarious short stories or a fashion-related read, there’s a novel for you in our Glam Book Report.

1. Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld: The newest novel from the author of Prep, Sittenfeld has a gift for crafting unforgettable characters. You’ll be thinking about this one long after you put it down.
2. The Hundred Dresses: The Most Iconic Styles of Our Time by Erin McKean and Donna Mehalko: McKean and fashion illustrator Mehalko (Henri Bendel) have collaborated on chic and comprehensive guide to all things dresses. A must-read fashionistas everywhere. 
3. Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris: Simply hilarious. Whether this is your first or fifth foray into Sedaris’s witty world, pick up this book now and thank us later.
4. The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls: Arguably not quite as engrossing as Walls’s 2006 memoir The Glass Castle, The Silver Star is still an imaginative and enthralling tale.
5. Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger: It’s the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada. Andy Sachs is back and karma’s a bitch. Need we say more? Be sure to check out our interview with author Lauren Weisberger on the new novel.

As a busy New Yorker I often find myself daydreaming about a weekend of tranquility and charm away from the city’s packed streets and hectic pace. So when a friend suggested we plan a girls’ getaway to Palm Springs, I jumped at the chance to check out the California Desert. And so my friends and I hopped on a flight from JFK to LAX, picked up a car rental at Hertz, and took a picturesque 2.5 hour drive to the Coachella Valley.

Though I have never attended the much-hyped music festival, I had always wondered about this retro Hollywood playground and was immediately captivated. The date stands, lush orchards, wind turbines, and unique architecture that lined our route built up an intense anticipation for our ultimate destination– The Parker Palm Springs.

When we arrived at the hotel we were greeted by the iconic mid-century modern look that dominates the region and two handsome gents clad in crisp, white button-downs and Nantucket reds. As they peeled open laquer double doors, we were transported into the whimsical world of Jonathan Adler, who designed the property. From the moment we checked in, until we departed four days later, we couldn’t stop smiling. From the quirky decor touches to the cheeky signs and well curated toiletry selection, every detail delighted us.

The Parker Palm Springs is truly an an enchanting oasis. We spent our mornings doing yoga in a dazzling Moroccan tent, days under the desert sun sipping spiked lemonade at the pool, afternoons playing croquet on the green, and late nights surrounding the fire pit; room service even delivered marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate at midnight so we could make s’mores.  The hotel’s playful vibe creates a sense of joy that is all-encompassing.

We had no interest in leaving the property, but knew we had to explore a bit. And so we headed to town for dinners at The Viceroy’s Citron, Workshop, and Purple Palm at the Colony Palms Hotel and squeezed in a shopping trip to Trina Turk, whose boutique and collection are the epitome of Palm Springs chic.

After just a few days at The Parker I immediately understood why the glitterati continues to flock there–it’s the resort equivalent of a potent happy pill.

Where to Stay:
The Parker Palm Springs, 4200 East Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA

Where to Brunch:
Norma’s at The Parker Palm Springs, 4200 East Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA
Cheeky’s, 622 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA

Where to Dine:
Purple Palm at the Colony Palms Hotel, 572 N. Indian Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA
Workshop, 800 N. Palm Canyon Dr. Suite G, Palm Springs, CA

Where to Shop:
Trina Turk, 891 N Palm Canyon Dr  Palm Springs, CA

What to Try:
A Date Shake at Hadley Fruit Orchards, 48980 Seminole Drive, Cabazon, CA

How to Get There: 
Most major cities have direct flights to LAX and Palm Springs is just a 2.5 hour drive away (when the traffic cooperates). Virgin America now flies direct from NYC to PSP from Nov. 21, 2013 to April 30, 2014  for rates as low as $149 each way.

One of my absolute favorite parts about summer is the cool summer popsicles.  But I’m not just talking about cold “cool.”  I am talking about radical “cool” summer popsicles.  These are definitely not the kind of popsicles you are going to find on the neighborhood ice cream truck. Today, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite flavors:

1. Neon Gummy Bear Popsicles?  These bad boys sing “summertime!”
2. Stoyn Ice Cream makes celebrity sculptures out of popsicles.  The Marilyn Monroe is my favorite!
3. Cantaloupe Popsicles have a succulent sweetness followed by the perfume of ripe cantaloupe. Perfect for summer!
4. Cocktail Popsicles?  I am not sure if the ice cream truck approves, but we sure do!
5. Eat dessert in style with Ombre Popsicles.  Staying on trend in the color world is a must.

Melissa Johnson is the Founder and Creative Director of Best Friends For Frosting. A self-taught baker, she used the experience she gained from working at three different bakeries to launch Best Friends For Frosting, making her the entertaining expert and dessert stylist she is today. Her expertise has been exhibited on QVC, In The Kitchen With David, America’s Test Kitchen, Easy Food Magazine, Foodspotting, Amy Atlas, Craftzine, The Tomkat Studio and The Party Dress Magazine.

Broccoli is in season and so good for you. This cruciferous vegetable has potent anti-cancerous properties. It’s tasty, too.

1. Roasted Broccoli, Arugula and Lentil Salad: Broccoli gets irresistibly crispy on the edges when roasted. Toss roasted broccoli with arugula, lentils, parmesan and a lemony dressing for a delicious one-bowl meal.
2. Thai Green Curry: A simple and flavorful green Thai coconut curry with brown rice and steamed vegetables, including as much broccoli as you’d like!
3. Peanut Soba Noodle BowlL Soba noodles tossed with steamed vegetables and an addictive peanut sauce. This dish is hearty yet full of vegetables, including broccoli.
4. Spicy Sun-Dried Tomato and Broccoli Pasta: Featuring sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese and tons of broccoli, this easy pasta dish is loaded with flavor.

Contributing Editor, Kate Taylor, is a 20-something photographer and vegetarian cook from Oklahoma. She lives in Kansas City with her quirky black and white mutt, Cookie. Her blog, Cookie and Kate, is all about celebrating good food—real, sustainable food that delights the senses and nourishes the body. Kathryne is an avid supporter of the occasional indulgence and enjoys nothing more than eating good food in good company.

Skip the tie and get techy this Father’s Day with a gift that’ll bring Pops into the 21st century. We’ve rounded up seven of our favorite forward-thinking innovations of the past year for you to choose from.

1. The Silent Alarm Clock Watch by Mute Watch has a sleek Swedish design, stealth touch screen, and vibrating alarm feature that only the wearer will experience. Dad can get up on time for work, Mom won’t be stirred by his wake-up call, and everybody will be happy..

Silent Alarm Clock Watch by Mute Watch, available at Ahalife.com for $259

2. For the father who carries around his wallet, cell, and nothing else, the ChargeCard is sure to come in handy. The portable cable for charging your iPhone or Android is fuss-free and practical, and it doesn’t require a man-purse (of sorts) to transport it.

ChargeCard, available at Chargecardproject.com for $25

3. This unique, handmade iPad mini cover from Addaskin’s Etsy shop will definitely make Dad stand out among his fellow Apple-toting comrades. Made of gray wool felt with leather straps, the anti-static protector also has a front flap for his tablet accessories. We may just have to get ourselves one as well.

iPad Mini Case, available at Etsy.com for $34

4. No more crying over spilled coffee, Dad! This keyboard from Logitech is liquid-proof and washable. Clumsy fathers, rejoice! Sorry, sorry—not clumsy … overextended.

Logitech Washable Keyboard, available at Amazon.com for $14.99

5. The wearable Boombot REX will blast Dad’s tunes clear as day during his next bike ride or weekend ski run. When he’s done with his outdoor fun, he can clip the ultraportable speaker onto the sun visor of his car, where it’ll become a hands-free mobile companion with Siri and voice control remote access and a custom-tuned microphone. We’ll be borrowing this one when you’re done, Daddy dearest.

Boombot REX, available at Boombotix.com for $119

6. Fathers who stay in shape by swimming laps will love Sony’s Waterproof Walkman. And for dads who don’t work out in the pool, this gift is sure to inspire a change of heart.

Sony Walkman Sports MP3 Player, available at Sony.com for $79.99

7. Help Dad master his swing with the SwingTIP Wireless Golf Swing Analyzer, delivering the ultimate interactive and visual learning experience by breaking down the things he did wrong (or right) in his attempt to hit the ball. With this thoughtful Father’s Day gift, it’s only a matter of time before Pops goes pro and you’re hanging out with a very handsome Adam Scott. Genius.

SwingTIP Golf Swing Analyzer, available at Golfgalaxy.com for $129.99

Grilling is not only synonymous with summer, but also with the number one man in your life, Dad. Regardless of whether he prefers charcoal to propane or vice versa, he’s sure to need updates or upgrades to his summer selects for outdoor cooking. Skip the tacky ties and pick up a few of these open flame favorites for a Father’s Day gift he’s sure to love and use!

1. DC Comics Superman Apron, available at Fab.com for $19.00
2. Mr. Bar-B-Q 4-Piece Grill Tool Set, available at Target.com for $33.99
3. Progressive International Meat Thermometer, available at Casa.com for $14.29
4. Char-Broil Grill Brush, available at Lowes.com for $9.99
5. Whitmor 16-ounce Aluminum Spray Bottle, available at Sears.com for $18.60
6. Fire Wire Flexible Grilling Skewers (Set of 4), available at Williams-Sonoma.com for $11.96
7. Pit Mitt Grilling Glove, available at CrateandBarrel.com for $12.76
8. TCG Cast iron Rectangular Grill Press, available at HomeDepot.com for $15.99