This post is sponsored by Pier 1 Imports.
The best thing about having an outdoor table is being able to entertain outside more. Since we finished our back porch, we’ve been eating nearly every meal outside. It’s something we’ve been looking forward to for years. Our grill is getting a serious workout this summer. Our house is the hot spot for some of the best ribs our friends and family have ever eaten. My husband is a master griller. It’s just a matter of beating the rain most days.
This past weekend we were all recovering from being sick and decided to enjoy some good food and surprise the girls with a little something special. After a big hearty meal, I set up an ice cream bar so we could make banana splits in a cup. I placed all of our toppings into pinch cups and placed them on my new Pier 1 Imports Carmelo melamine tray. I love how durable it is. Eventually, I plan to replace all of our outdoor dishes with some of Pier 1 Imports great prints.
We started by layering bananas into the bottom of our stemless acrylic glasses. Then we scooped in some vanilla ice cream. The girls added their favorite toppings, which for Peanut ended up being everything. Then, I topped everything off with some homemade chocolate magic shell.
With all the rain, our flowers had a later bloom. I’ve been placing them all over the house to bring in some color. My gardenias are in bloom too, so everything smells good. I placed a few in our little lantern to enjoy while we sit outside. The girls loved our little ice cream social though. JaMonkey said that it was like going to one of the ice cream bars with all the toppings lining the walls.
After the girls go to sleep, my husband and I like to go outside and light the citronella candles and turn on all the LED flameless candles in our Pier 1 Imports lanterns and enjoy the summer nights. I’m still considering putting up some kind of curtains to keep the bugs out. Maybe something sheer, so that we can still look out into the yard and see the lightening bugs when they come out.
Sitting outside at the end of the day is how we like to unwind after the busy day. The ambiance that the lanterns give off is so tranquil and relaxing. We plan on wearing our new outdoor oasis out thoroughly.
Find what speaks to you. See our Outdoor Living collection in stores or at pier1.com/outdoorliving.![Pier1_Imports_RGB[1]](https://jamonkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Pier1_Imports_RGB1-e1432850698492-300x72.jpg)
I love the summer items that Pier 1 has. They have such fun colors that just “pop” when placed outdoors!