The pool is open! I celebrated my first official day of summer by hosting one of my Ladies’ Pool Parties! All of us ladies deserve a day of floating in the pool, hanging with great friends, eating some good food, and enjoying a few of my (should be) famous jello shots.

Amongst my friends I am known for making jello shots. So much so that I even have what is called a Jellinator! This is a jello shot making device. Really.

I have made jello shot all kinds of ways. In lemon rinds – 

and in a large pyrex pan with the jello cut into squares. But I have found that the little plastic cups work really well and are so easy to serve the shot in. Plus the fact that they are plastic makes it easy to squeeze the jello straight into your mouth. 🙂

I have also experimented with a number of flavors including Pink Lemonade, Arnold Palmer Lemon Tea, Lime Margarita, Blueberry Ocean, A Red, White, and Blue version, and my latest batch of Lemon-Strawberry, Orange Creamsicle, and Mango-Pineapple. There are so many flavored vodkas out there that you can create many unique flavors! Of my latest batch, all three were delicious and as for a favorite, I’d say the Orange Creamsicle was the winner with the Lemon-Strawberry a very close second. But not to worry about the Mango-Pineapple, they were all devoured as well!

I serve jello shots for our ladies’ pool party because they are fun, tasty, refreshing AND there are no kids present. I do make a point of only serving these when there are no children around that could pick one up thinking that they are plain jello. That would be a disaster and the end of any fun. So please keep in mind these are filled with alcohol and are not for children! They are also to be enjoyed in moderation as they go down oh-so easy!

To balance out the jello shots (and wine) I do serve a make-ahead menu. This pool party featured my Summer Orzo Salad and well as a delicious green salad topped with burrata and bruschetta. My friends also brought fresh fruit, chips, and dip.

I really love hosting ladies’ pool parties! The kids get to spend the day out with their friends and mom gets a day to hang with her friends. What makes it even better is that everything is prepared ahead of time so like my friends, I spend the afternoon lounging in the pool as well. This gathering like all my gatherings started with and easy Evite. Summer is here and Evite has so many creative and fun invitations to send.

This invitation looks just like my friends! Don’t you think?

Party hosting is easy with Evite and a make-ahead menu. Be sure to check out their other great summer invitations. After all – summer is meant to be enjoyed!  The pool is open and this is barbecue and picnic season. Go ahead and throw in a few jello shots at the adult gatherings for everyone’s enjoyment. They are delicious!

Jello Shot Recipes

Lemon- Strawberry Jello Shots Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 – 30z. package of strawberry jello
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup (maybe a smidge more) Lemoncello
• cold water to make the alcohol one cup in total.
• Fresh strawberries

Directions

1. Pour 1/2 cup of Lemoncello into a one cup measuring cup. Add water to make 1 cup total. Place cup in the fridge to chill.
2. Boil cup of water – I use my tea kettle so I can easily boil more and pour into the measuring cup.
3. Clean and slice strawberries in half – placing one strawberry (cut side up) into each 2 oz. cup.
4. Empty jello powder into a large mixing bowl and add the boiling water.
5. Stir continuously until the jello is completely dissolved. About 2 minutes.
6. Add cup of Lemoncello and water.
7. Stir until mixed and pour (or use a the Jellinator) into 2 oz. cups filled 3/4 of the way.
8. Refrigerate until firm.

Orange Creamsicle Jello Shots

Ingredients

• 1 – 30z. package of orange jello
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup (maybe a smidge more) vanilla vodka
• cold water to make the alcohol one cup in total.
• Can Madarin oranges
• Whipped cream

Directions

1. Pour 1/2 cup of vanilla vodka into a one cup measuring cup. Add water to make 1 cup total. Place cup in the fridge to chill.
2. Boil cup of water – I use my tea kettle so I can easily boil more and pour into the measuring cup.
3. Place two mandarine orange segments into each 2 oz. cup.
4. Empty jello powder into a large mixing bowl and add the boiling water.
5. Stir continuously until the jello is completely dissolved. About 2 minutes.
6. Add cup of cold vanilla vodka and water.
7. Stir until mixed and pour (or use a the Jellinator) into 2 oz. cups filled 3/4 of the way.
8. Refrigerate until firm.
9. Before serving top with dallop of whipped cream and another Mandarin orange segment.

Mango-Pineapple Jello Shot Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 – 30z. package of pineapple jello
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup (maybe a smidge more) vodka
• cold water to make the alcohol one cup in total.
• Fresh or frozen diced mango

Directions

1. Pour 1/2 cup of vodka into a one cup measuring cup. Add water to make 1 cup total. Place cup in the fridge to chill.
2. Boil cup of water – I use my tea kettle so I can easily boil more and pour into the measuring cup.
3. Dice mango into smallish pieces and place a few into each 2 oz. cup.
4. Empty jello powder into a large mixing bowl and add the boiling water.
5. Stir continuously until the jello is completely dissolved. About 2 minutes.
6. Add cup of cold vodka and water.
7. Stir until mixed and pour (or use a the Jellinator) into 2 oz. cups filled 3/4 of the way.
8. Refrigerate until firm.

An easy tip: To transport your jello shots to the refrigerator without spilling, simply place the cups into a cupcake holder.

Another easy tip: check out Evite to get your party started!

How do you plan on celebrating this summer?

This post is in collaboration with Evite.com and their Evite Influencer Program. #BeThere #Evite