Maraschino cherry pink lemonade recipe

I love fall most of all, but the older I get, the more I try to embrace summer. I’m starting to dig it. When it’s not 105 degrees. ;)

We do have at least a few more weeks of summer, and I’m determined to bear hug it and make the most of it! (And then I can think about fall.)

The lovely folks at Target are helping me (and a few of you) to keep celebrating summer with their FUN coral stripe outdoor dinnerware. They sent me a set so I could create a summer-inspired vignette, and I gotta tell you…it was FUN.

I don’t often create tablescapes and it was a treat to take these bright colors and do something pretty and summery with them! I set up a little coral shindig on our outdoor DIY table I showed you last summer.

The table sits under the new pergola on our deck and we often find ourselves sitting on the carpet out there at the table.

I tried to use what I already had to create this vignette (other than flowers!) and I looove how it turned out! I started with my rattan chargers and added the plates, bowls and cups from Target:

The idea of sitting down to tea has always sounded so lovely to me, but I don’t like tea, darn it. Same goes with coffee by the way – a morning cup of Joe sounds so nice and relaxing, but I don’t like that either. ;)

So I created our own little (pink) lemonade party. I found a yummy recipe in one of our son's Mickey Mouse books of all places! It called for maraschino cherries and juice and it. is. yummy!

It doesn’t hurt that the colors worked pretty darn perfectly with the dishes. I used the dip bowls for sugar, lemon slices and extra cherries:

I’ve been looking ALL summer for a beverage dispenser with a handle – and there. you. go. I love this one – beyond the handy handle (har), it’s sturdy and the spout actually works.

Here's the recipe for this delicious maraschino cherry lemonade:

Donald's Pink Lemonade

one cup sugar

1/2 cup hot water

six medium lemons (or one cup lemon juice)

one medium lime (or one tbsp lime juice)

1/4 cup juice from maraschino cherries container

two quarts cold water

Mix the sugar and hot water in a pitcher and stir until the sugar dissolves.
Roll the lemons and limes on a counter or cutting board to soften.
Cut each lemon in half and juice/squeeze into a measuring cup until you hit one cup.
Do the same for your lime until you get to one tbsp.
Mix all of the juices -- lemon, lime and cherry -- and the cold water into the pitcher and stir.

I dressed up the table with one of my favorite flowers, gerbera daises, and simple baby's breath in my mason jars: