Contending with rising temperatures doesn’t have to be a summer bummer. With a little planning you can have fun beating the heat without busting your budget.
Splash into the season with a pool party to remember; only instead of draining your wallet on expensive invitations and activities, consider these affordable options:
DIY FISH INVITATIONS
Download a fish template from the Internet or free-hand one on construction paper and cut out the center of it. When you are done, you should have a fish-shaped frame and a smaller paper fish. Place the frame on the sticky side of clear contact paper. Trim the excess contact paper around the edges of the fish. Next, cut out small squares from different colored tissue paper. Attach the tissue paper squares to the contact paper, making sure you cover the entire surface of the contact paper. Then, place another piece of contact paper on top of the fish. Trim the excess. Write the party details on the cut-out paper fish. Tape the written invite to one side of the contact paper fish and deliver to your guests.
POOL GAMES
Give “Marco Polo” a break this summer and get your summer pool party started with a thrilling game of “Greasy Melon.” To play, divide your guests into two teams and have them stand on one side of the pool. Place an empty laundry basket at the other end of the pool. Next, pour vegetable oil all over a large watermelon (use could also slather the melon with petroleum jelly) and place it in the middle of the pool. Have the kids jump into the pool and try to retrieve the watermelon. The player who is able to grab the watermelon first must pass it to another one of his teammates. Each teammate must carry the watermelon at least once as it makes its way across the pool. The first team to get the watermelon into the laundry basket wins the game.