Light Summer Sips for Your Outdoor Parties

Whether you're serving mojitos, lemonade, piña coladas or iced tea, your drinks should be refreshing because this summer will be hot! When the grill is fired up, the kabobs are made and your feet are deep in the sand, the only logical item to be in your hand is a drink. Most summer drinks center on tangy and tart fruits: limes, raspberries, cherries and pineapples, just to name a few. Mangoes, peaches, strawberries and watermelon are especially in season during the summer months and compliment the warm sunshine. And although everyone takes their drinks differently, you can be ready to dazzle your partygoers with drinks that are as revitalizing as they are healthy! This list will provide a range of alcoholic and nonalcoholic sips, and many of the hard drinks can be easily transformed for the little ones.

Hibiscus Strawberry Rhubarb Iced Tea: Keep your tall glass filled with this floral drink that has hints of tart rhubarb and fresh berries. The strawberries and rhubarb are the perfect partners in this drink, tarty and sweet, and the dried hibiscus flowers tie together the fresh combination. This mixture is chock full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Click here for the tantalizing recipe.

Skinny Cherry Martini: Fret not, moms, for your cocktails will not be compromised in the name of healthy drinking. This martini uses Skinnygirl® White Cherry Vodka, giving your outdoor party a sophisticated air while friends take in only 139 calories per serving. Let this cherry martini dazzle your lips and keep the party going while the sun slowly dips under the horizon. Read through the recipe here, and add it to your next party list!

Detox Green Tea: After chowing down on cheese and crackers, burgers and kabobs, you might be left feeling a little off balance. This detox green tea will impress your friends and help bring their immune systems back to their natural states. Because green tea is packed with antioxidants, this drink will cleanse and boost your immune system, while still fruity and fun to drink. Combining green tea with fruits will give your body the natural kick it needs to keep going strong. For this detox recipe, click here, and make sure to check out other detox recipes on the Skinny Mom website!

Skinny Margarita: It doesn't have to be Mexican night for this recipe to succeed. This margarita combines hints of lemonade and limeade, and packs a Jose Cuervo punch. By using Sparkling ICE® and sugar-free lemonade powdered drink mix as the base, this drink is only 106 calories per serving! Salt the rims and keep your friends thirsty for more!

Cherry Limeade Cream Slush: This is a cool treat that is sure to make your tastebuds tingle. Perfect for both children and adults, this pretty pink slushie uses frozen vanilla yogurt as the base. Anybody knows that the perfect end to a sweltering day is something cold, frozen and sweet. This yummy recipe ensures a creamy and satisfying slushie that helps cleanse the palate at the end of a meal.

Celebrate summer evenings by trying new recipes like these! After a long day of working in the garden, soaking up some rays and playing with the kids, a nice drink and some good friends are exactly what you need to end the night on a perfect note.