smirnoff

I absolutely LOVE having friends and family over for dinner, but as the temps crank up, the last thing I wanna do is slave over a hot stove and force my husband to wash be faced with a sink full of dirty dishes afterwards. One of my favorite summertime entertainment hacks is a simple, delicious, backyard shrimp boil served with a pitcher of ice cold raspberry ‘tee-time’ punch (basically and half & half spiked with Raspberry Smirnoff).

For the shrimp boil, all you need to do is find a BIG OLE pot and follow this recipe. Trust me, it’s fool-proof! I also like to toss in a few whole garlic cloves for a little extra zing. You can either make it on top of the stove and transport it, or fire up your outdoor grill. Once everything is all cooked up, you just dump it all out on top of a few sheets of newspaper or butcher’s paper, and let the crew dig in and fill up their own plates. I recommend keeping a few moist towels on deck for sticky fingers! Clean up is easy since you make everything in one pot. When everyone’s done eating, just roll up the scraps in the old newspaper to discard.

As for the real star of the show… just follow the recipe below, and let the good times roll!

{Vintage Dress via eBay, Valentino Sunglasses, Jennifer Zeuner Necklace, Lanvin Sandals}

Summer in NYC is finally here, and along with the heat also comes a bevy of outdoor activities and celebrations including one near and dear to my heart: the NYC Pridefest! For the past 8 years, I’ve attended this wonderful event and marched alongside and celebrated with my fellow New Yorkers (and visitors from all over) who look forward to a future without discrimination – one where all people have equal rights under the law. In my opinion, there’s nothing more beautiful than to see folks from all walks of life come together to support a great cause and have fun in the process.

In anticipation of this year’s Pride Week (June 23-25), I’ve partnered with Smirnoff, a company that has a longstanding relationship with the LGBT community. As a brand that champions inclusivity and good times for all, Smirnoff is inviting everybody to share their Pride through the hashtag, #Pride4Everybody.

I can’t wait to attend this year’s parade and cool off afterwards with a group of friends and a big ‘ole batch of Smirnoff Pride Punch. It’s super easy to make and a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

Follow Smirnoff on Instagram , Facebook, and Pinterest for more recipes and inspiration for your summer celebrations!

This post was written by me as part of an ongoing sponsored collaboration with Smirnoff and Izea. All opinions expressed are my own. Thanks so much for supporting the brands that help make Closet Confections possible. And remember to always drink responsibly!