Since 1st May this year, at Sharky & George, we have organised 796 ‘summer’ parties. Whilst planning these in our minds they were all in glorious sunshine, in reality there has been a little more rain than anticipated. Whether it’s a children’s birthday party in the garden or a 24-hour challenge for 200 adults on a private island, fun is the priority in everything we do to make sure everyone has a blast, whatever the weather. So from us to you, here’s some ideas and top tips for planning your summer party…
Olympic Games
With 2024 being the summer of the Paris Olympics, what better theme to go for than your own Olympiad. Choose some of your favourite disciplines and modify them for the ages and numbers coming to the party. The more ridiculous the better. A few ideas that we particularly enjoy are:
- Shoe shot put
- Long balloon fencing
- Break dancing (Breaking officially!)
- Hobby horse dressage
- Obstacle course triathlon
- Beach volleyball
- Nerf shooting
Be sure to start the party off with an opening ceremony with a torch bearer and each country represented with flags and stirring music. And a medal ceremony is essential, ideally with some form of podium if you’re feeling creative!
Park Location
If you’re going to host a party in a park then you want to find a spot that has some shade, is close to toilets and ideally has access to a tap for water games. We’d highly recommend sharing a https://what3words.com/ location with all your guests so that you can pinpoint exactly where you’re going to meet.
Reduce Single Use Plastic
Water bombs are essential to almost every summer party. We used to get through thousands every week, but after some serious research, development and testing, we have settled on some excellent reusable magnetic water bombs, which are much better for the environment and are also a lot easier to fill up than fiddling about with tap connectors. All you need is a bucket of water and a few reusable water bombs and you’re away. On the same subject, provide paper cups and jugs of water rather than loads of plastic water bottles.
Drip Drip Drop
This is a great version of ‘duck, duck, goose’ with water. Everyone sits in a circle, one person has a cup of water and as they walk around the circle they drip a few droplets onto each person’s head, saying ‘drip’ each time. When they choose to say ‘drop’, they pour the whole cup onto the person’s head and leg it round the circle back to that spot before being caught by the person who received the drop. You then switch over the cupbearer.
Slip & Slide
If you want to have a slip and slide, get to a building merchants or look online to get roofing plastic rather than an official slip and slide. You’ll be able to get something far bigger and better at a much lower price. We’d also recommend just using water rather than washing up liquid to avoid rashes on sensitive skin and messing up the grass.
Plan for & Embrace the Weather
We are of the opinion that in almost all cases you should crack on, whatever the weather, so if it looks like it’s going to be wet, ask everyone to dress appropriately and then soldier on as if it was a lovely summer’s day.
Top Tips Tick List:
- Break for lunch/tea in the middle
- Have a wet weather plan – keep the party outside if possible
- Water bombs – or a finale at the end like a silly string battle or eco confetti cannons.
- Get parents involved with games – don’t just stand and watch
- Make a banging playlist
- Keep tea short
- Jugs of water and cups – save plastic
- Bowls of food – avoid things you have to open
- Avoid hot food
- Retro tea faves are the best
- Use a sprinkler if you can
- Get an ice cream van instead of cake
- Make a den for tea
For help planning your next summer party, speak to the Sharky & George team today.
Summer Styling Hacks
By Rachael Perry, Stylist & Personal Shopper
Summer has been particularly elusive this year, but in the last couple of weeks, she’s definitely given us a teaser of what could be to come. Gorgeous, balmy nights sat out in the garden with a glass of Rose. Sunday afternoons spent on a terrace bar with your friends, an Aperol spritz in hand. It really doesn’t get any better, and whilst some people may disagree with me, I’ll stand firm on the fact that there is no better place in the world than London in the summer. There’s such an undeniable buzz and people are just happier!
The only thing that really gets to us all, is the heat. The unbearable, stifling heat that (combined with the vicious new strain of hayfever) feels like it might be literally suffocating us. London isn’t built for the heat and unless you’re a member of a handful of specific clubs with pools, it’s inescapable. As a celebrity stylist and private shopper, it’s my job to help people still look chic while braving this heat. So, I’ve compiled a list of a few summer styling hacks that will hopefully make life that little bit easier when the next inevitable heatwave commences…
- Pick your fabrics wisely – go for loose cottons or linens, they’re breathable fabrics that will keep you cool. Avoid synthetics at all costs!
- Invest in some underarm sweat pads – you can buy these easily online. You attach them to the inside armpit of your shirt and they catch any sweat. At the end of the day, you just take them off and throw them away, so you won’t get discolouring on your clothes from sweat and you don’t have to wash your shirts after every wear.
- Carry a mini fan or water face spray – you can pick these up in your local chemist or online, but when you’re feeling the heat there’s nothing more effective than a refreshing spritz!
- Sandals over sneakers – I know, London is grubby, but spending an extra 5 minutes in the shower when you get home is a small price to pay, trust me. Anything with an open toe will keep you much cooler, and there are plenty of chic options around. All hail the Birkenstock!
- Summer tailoring – one way to still make sure your look is elevated, even when you’re dressing for the heat, is to pick well tailored pieces made out of lighter fabrics. A gorgeous linen pair of shorts for example, with a plain cotton T-shirt or even a matching waistcoat, will become your go-to for sunny days.
Stay cool out there!
Organisational Hacks for the Home
By Vicky Silverthorn, Professional Organiser
Living a life with less stuff and transforming your home into the decluttered space you’d like it to be is predominantly about getting your mindset right. Preparing your thoughts and envisaging why you are starting the process is just as important as the process itself.
Here are a few key, important things I’ve found really helpful to read through way before you think about which baskets may look pretty or what containers you should be buying. The process works well when you think, declutter, organise and then look into any additional storage you may need to enhance your spaces.
Food Overwhelm
Since Covid many are still in the habit of stock piling food and the reality is that too much food causes waste. Crammed cupboards make it harder to locate what we need which in turn impacts our minds and makes us feel more disorganised and chaotic. It’s time to buy less, alter your food lists and just get what you need. The shops store the food, that’s what they’re there for and that’s the key thing to remember. Less food more organisation.
Decluttering Positivity!
Decluttering is thought of as a huge chore and yes it can take time if you are thinking of large areas. The second you break this down and target a drawer, a small cupboard or even a shelf you’ll find yourself making key changes more easily and without the big build up in your mind. Start small now and see how rapid the transformation can be.
Give It a Home
This really is the biggest tip for creating order within your house. As soon as you designate a place for something to live whether it’s a safety pin or a larger item it becomes easier to keep on top of things. If you end up with items which have no space then you know you have more than your home can hold and it’s time to cull. Often the problem of disorganisation relates to the fact we simply have too much stuff for the space we have. Option 1 buy a bigger house and option 2 declutter!
Look at Storage
Storage is key in our homes but is yours doing all it can? Sometimes we buy furniture because it looks great but it also has to be functional otherwise it’s surroundings will take its beauty away anyway (picture a desk that looks great but has no storage – it ends up covered in papers so we miss how nice it is!) Perhaps the solution is investing in built in furniture – if so plan what you need to store and ensure it suits what you need.
Can I Live Without This?
A question I ask myself daily when I look around my home. It’s a powerful question and shifts no responsibility. By this I mean we are responsible for what we bring into our homes and if there is guilt to be faced because we have bought in error or over shopped then feeling that feeling isn’t a bad thing. I never ask myself what I’ve used in the last year, I never try and talk myself around thinking something could someday potentially be useful – I acknowledge mistaken purchases and take them onboard so I can make changes in the future.
For more advice on decluttering and home organisation contact the You Need A Vicky team.