Pool Party: Balloon Diving anyone?

By Gail Leino

Every teen loves the idea of a pool party, and with a little careful planning, so can the parents! Swim suits, flip flops, beach towels...does anyone smell coconut oil? Boy, just thinking about a pool party makes me think of fruity tropical punch, suntan oil, and LOTS of splishing and splashing!


Since every party must have music, and lots of it, invitations could be printed onto blank CDs, which the partygoer could record with favorite music that could be played during the party, exchanged as party favors, or even given as their gift to the party honoree.

Even this late in the season, there MUST be lots of cold, cold drinks available, and through trial and error, I have found that the big, round cookers with the disposable cup rack and push button spigot, works wonderfully. Filled with an Iced tropical punch, and several trash bins placed advantageously, clean up is kept to a minimum. Depending on the time of day for the party, there can be hot dogs on a grill, served with baked beans and potato salad, or just chips, or veggies and dips, and for flair and function, try putting sand buckets and shovels filled with Reese's pieces and M&Ms in a shady area, available for guests to serve themselves.

Balloon diving is a super game. Preparation for it is to write numbers on pieces of paper put inside inflated balloons, tossed into the pool. Each person takes a turn diving, and at the end of the game, the person with the highest number gets to choose a gift (inexpensive flip flops, sunglasses, T-shirts, glow in the dark bracelets or necklaces, nail polish, travel board games, etc.) with each successive number picking out a gift. Just be sure you have two extra gifts, one for a girl, and one for a boy, in case the last gift is nail polish, or lip gloss, and the final recipient is a boy. Just a little bit of planning, a pool, food, drinks, and music and your pool party will not only be a success, it will practically create itself.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Tons of fun Pool Party Supplies, party favors, decorations, pinatas, free games and ideas to help complete your event.