This summer just flew by way too fast! With some of our best friends moving away and visitors coming into town, we wanted to celebrate with an end of summer tropical party. I wanted to keep things simple [easier said than done] by using lots of things I already had and keeping the menu really simple plus budget friendly. I saw these cute bright food baskets at the dollar store and thought it would be such a great idea to use them as plates for the party and I just used white tissue paper for the liners. I put watermelon on popsicle sticks for an appetizer and to keep things utensil free. For the main course I served brown rice in the baskets with one veggie and one chicken kabob on top. For dessert we had pineapple cupcakes from our local bakery and a coconut pineapple colada for everyone to drink. All the furniture and pillows I already had as well as the table runner, cake stand, vase, and drink pitcher. I used paper lanterns I had from a shower I threw and just bought inexpensive packs of balloons to fill in the rest of the garland, as well as leftover flowers from the bouquet. One of my favorite details was the pineapples on the table that I spray painted gold, I love how they turned out. The tropical flower centerpiece was fun for me to put together at the downtown LA flower market because it was different than any other bouquet I've put together. I have all the details below how you can throw an awesome end of summer bash and say goodbye to flip-flops and sunscreen properly.

| COCONUT AND PINEAPPLE DRINK |

INGREDIENTS

1 cup pineapple chunks

1 cup coconut milk

1 cup ice cubes

1/2 cup milk

3 tablespoons condensed milk or to your taste

sliced pineapple for garnish

DIRECTIONS

In a blender, combine the pineapple chunks, coconut milk, ice cubes, milk and condensed milk and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

orignal recipe found here