Breezy, Beachy Summer Living Rooms

When the weather warms up and the parties move outdoors, spring allergy sufferers want to be a part of the fun too. But spring often means spending as much time in filtered indoor air as possible. Allergies are no reason to miss out on outdoor entertainment. Try these simple ideas:

Luau

Nothing says festive like a tropical beginning to the spring and summer.

• Greet guests with a lei of colorful tropical flowers or leis of shells or leaves.
• Fill a basket with silk flowers for girls and women to wear in their hair.
• Make it extra festive with tiki torches – filled with citronella oil to keep mosquitoes and other pests away.

Derby Party

This year, the Kentucky Derby falls at the beginning of May but you can celebrate the Preakness Stakes in May and the Belmont Stakes in June.

• Everyone loves a great Derby hat. On your invitations, tell guests about your “derby hat competition.”
• Hook up your big-screen TV to an outdoor power source so people can watch the action during the party.
• If your guest list includes allergy sufferers, trim the lawn and trees a few days before your guests arrive.

Cowboy Cookout

• You can’t go overboard on decorations: red-checked tablecloths, Mason jars for drinks, fun details like wagon wheels - they’re all fun
• Bales of straw can be fun seating – but make sure you have alternatives for people who could be sensitive.
• Arrange a traditional game of horseshoe throwing.
• Have an allergy kit handy, including eyewashes, Zyrtec, and washcloths for compresses.