Who wouldn’t rather be sitting under a beautiful summer sunray than a dreary dark raincloud on a fall afternoon? Sometimes we just have no choice but to succumb to the season. We say, why not make the best of that rainy day by remembering a few things we may have forgotten while the sun was in our eyes? Every season has its glamour; we’ve just got to find it.
For me, when the rain is already here and it seems like I’m trapped indoors, I like to choose my company wisely. I invite a few friends over for a gray-day movie marathon. Old black-and-white films go perfectly with that cloudy weather. A little Gene Kelly, anyone? Singing in the Rain was made specifically for sitting indoors while the sky falls outside, or at least that’s what I think. For beverages, take Arbor Mist Sparkling Wine in Raspberry or Peach Sparkle, mix with ice and some fresh peaches or berries, put it all in a blender, and voila! A little sunshine added to your rainy day!
Here are some of my favorite rainy-day movie marathon classics.
We can never get enough party inspiration. For example, forget the old “BYOB,” and instead tell your guests to dress up as their favorite drink and bring some refills to share as well! Some ideas? Dress as a sexy Bond girl and bring a delicious Arbor Mist martini, or come dressed as a hottie hula girl and bring drinks filled with coconut.
Now it’s your turn. We want to hear about your best theme party and how it went. Leave a comment below to be entered to win a $250 prize pack filled with all the goodies you need to get inspired for your next party. And for some extra fun, send us some pics from your favorite dress-up party to refreshyourfun@sugarinc.com. Selected photos will be shared in our theme party photo slideshow!
Need help planning a party? Check out our downloadable tip sheets with party planning tips and tricks, themes, and drink recipes that will put a refreshing spin on an ordinary event. Click here to unlock the secret to the perfect party.
Contrary to popular opinion, backyards weren’t invented to store weather-worn barbeques. In the fall, they were meant to host festive football brunches. It’s your perfect opportunity to call every friend you’ve got and put together a little backyard football party of your own.
Setting up outside doesn’t have to be tricky. Gather all the chairs and tables that you can move outdoors. Don’t forget to strategically place some blankets around just in case people get chilly. Bring the TV or satellite radio outside with an extension cord to enjoy the pro game, and have a couple of footballs on hand for a quick game of touch football.
Then there’s the food. Since you’ll be in mixed company, you’ll want to choose a variety of dishes. It may sound crazy, but spicy buffalo wings and cucumber sandwiches with an herbed cream cheese work amazingly well together. Then try mixed fruit/veggie bowls, accompanied by some fresh guacamole and tortilla chips. Throw in some tiny cupcakes, which everybody loves. For beverages, sun tea and cucumber water are both refreshing. Pull out a punch bowl, and fill it with a few bottles of Arbor Mist Sangria Zinfandel. Then slice some fruit for garnish. Now all you have to do is relax and divide your time between social hour and touchdowns!
Imagine a beautiful sunset on a cool autumn evening in the park. You’re sitting on a large blanket with 4 or 5 of your greatest friends eating, drinking, and enjoying each other's company. Then, finally, as the darkness falls, you huddle under warm blankets, a flicker of a movie focuses onto a large screen, and you’re ready to create nostalgia under the shining stars.
You’re not just having a movie night; you’re having an experience. Many cities host outdoor movie nights in public parks. It's amazing! People at these things are so different: laughing, clapping, cheering, and sharing food and drinks. It becomes a beautiful community that you walk away from all lit up with a smile.
What’s my point here with all this talk of movies and parks? Well, maybe movies aren’t your cup of tea, but in every city, there are fun events that you can turn into something amazing! All it takes is a few friends and a little motivation (and maybe some Arbor Mist to enhance the fun, if allowed).
You don’t have to be Ansel Adams to see what makes the great outdoors so appealing. Come on, people, we were given weekends for a reason! We’re not talking about eating bark and berries. It’s all about mixing in a little casual sophistication with your appreciation of a crisp autumn day. So we say the best way to experience the fall colors is to get up close and have a picnic outside with some friends.
What: A picnic. of course. Who doesn’t love a basket filled with all the fixin's! Some sandwiches, a little hummus and pita chips — and most roads to the country have a few fruit stands along the way. And let’s not forget a bottle of Arbor Mist Peach Chardonnay. Remember, though, it’s starting to get chilly out. It’s not yet time for a parka, but it’s wonderful weather for warm sweaters and wool scarves. Maybe bring a couple of extras!
When: We say head out early, but not too early. 10 a.m. is good, or even 11, to make sure you get to your destination by noon, have time to relax, and maybe take a leisurely hike among the falling leaves. Fall leaves + cute sweaters = excellent fresh Facebook pics. You might even want to toss a Frisbee in the trunk.
How and Where: Outside is amazing this time of year. Mother Nature has done her own decorating in fall, and you’ve got a little time to appreciate it before all the beautiful yellow and orange leaves drop to the ground and blow away. Take a look at your local guides online: most will show you where the best places are to picnic. Once you figure out where, you’ll figure out how you can get there (psssst . . . CARPOOL!).
Who: 3 to 4 friends who enjoy the great outdoors as much as you do!
Looking to get some sweet relief from the doldrums of your average day? Then why not refresh your fun with one of our fabulous games! From MIST Mash and MISTic Fortune Teller to Sparkle Catcher, you'll be recharged in no time!
I can’t help myself: I love a good scare -- and I love to share it with friends. After all, who wants to scream alone?
Here’s the idea: Gather your friends for a Real Scream party. That’s right. We said it. Just like it was Halloween, but it doesn’t have to be. Go to the nearest game shop to pick up a Ouija board! Put out some deliciously deadly snacks and the bloody good Arbor Mist Blackberry Merlot. Maybe throw on the Thriller album, bring out the candles and turn out the lights. After a few rounds of pushing that little triangle around on the spiritual keyboard, get everyone to share a "true" tale of horrific things that happened to the "sister of this guy you dated in high school".
Then end your spooky evening by putting on a favorite horror movie. Some great classics are The Shining, Pet Cemetery, Halloween or our fave, Psycho. Remember: A few good scares offer an excellent opportunity to grab that special someone for “protection,” so this might also double as a great matchmaking party!
Win your own $250 "Surprise Fun" party pack: all you have to do is tell us some of your favorite "holidays" and how you celebrate them! Read on and enter below...
On my 29th birthday, my best friend Jen threw me a fantastic surprise party! You never feel quite so loved as when you enter a room to an unexpected explosion of happiness all your own. But because it’s your birthday, there’s always a piece of you that expects it. How about a surprise party for no reason at all? And when I say "no reason," the real reason is that you love your friends and they love you back. Isn’t that the best reason? So how about taking any old ordinary day and starting an unexpected tradition of surprise parties for your friends?
But let’s say you’re not into the "no reason" thing. We know it’s tough to get behind something that is really nothing at all. That’s why we’re going to give you a few “holidays” to keep in your back pockets. Try some of these on for size:
October 10: National Cake Decorating Day. (Cupcakes are acceptable substitutes) October 18: National Chocolate Cupcake Day. (Feel free to combine this one with the prior one, but I’d personally rather have 2 holidays than 1.) November 13: World Kindness Day. (Give yourselves a hug.) November 14: National American Teddy Bear Day. (Mine still has a place on my pillow.) November 15: National Bundt (Pan) Day (It’s a booondt. Sorry - My Big Fat Greek Wedding reference there. I suggest you watch it, like 50 times. It never gets old, I promise.)
And the favorite of all favorites, the holiday of holidays,
December 16: Chocolate-Covered Anything Day. (We told you there’s always a time for chocolate.)
If, after all of that, you still need a reason, well — I just don’t know what to say. Good luck!
Leave a comment telling us some of your favorite “holidays” and how you celebrate them and you just might win your own $250 “Surprise Fun” party pack!
We all love the holidays, we get to see our families, diets are out the door, the food is abundant and so is that feeling of joy that runs through everyone. Even if you don’t have a hubby you’ve got friends, parties occurring almost every night and more family than you even remember having, it seems like they multiply every year.
Now, the hot trainer at the gym used always used to preach to me about the importance of warming up. If you don’t get a good warm-up in, you’re liable to pull something. We can’t let that happen, can we? That’s why we think October is the perfect month for a pre-holiday season warm-up! Now, we know you’re thinking party, but we’re thinking relaxation. Listen, you’ve got 2 solid months of eating, drinking, crowded store shopping and then more eating and drinking. So we’re saying to be good to your body beforehand and you’re gonna make it through.
So, what do we do? We shower ourselves with some “Me time." Trust us: in a few weeks, you’re going to be wishing you’d done this. It calls for a night with you, you and you. Maybe your favorite movie, candles, or bath - and may we suggest some Arbor Mist? A Strawberry White Zinfandel or Peach Chardonnay is perfect because of its great taste and low alcohol content.
Order food to be delivered - you need to be catered to. You can’t wash away stress and then have to worry about cleaning the dishes! Come on, now! Our recommendation is do this for at least a weekend and you’ll be ready for the marathon party season. Oh, and one more thing: go find yourself a hot trainer at the gym. Holiday season is always followed by unreasonable New Year's resolutions, so you might as well make yours a handsome one.
Who wouldn’t rather be sitting under a beautiful summer sunray than a dreary dark raincloud on a fall afternoon? Sometimes we just have no choice but to succumb to the season. We say, why not make the best of that rainy day by remembering a few things we may have forgotten while the sun was in our eyes? Every season has its glamour; we’ve just got to find it.
Need help planning a party? Check out our downloadable tip sheets with party planning tips and tricks, themes, and drink recipes that will put a refreshing spin on an ordinary event. 
