By Amanda Causey Baity
The Olympics were always a huge part of my childhood. I still get choked up when I talk about the 1996 Olympics in my hometown of Atlanta. The women’s gymnastics competition is an event I will forever think of when the Olympics are mentioned or watched. Kerri Strug’s emotional vault is a symbol of dedication and perseverance for me. I love being able to teach my children lessons of courage, determination and pride while we watch the Olympics and learn about amazing athletes from around the world and the countries they represent all while cheering on Team USA!
To create excitement and fun around the events in Rio, I have put together a handful of ideas to help you create your very own “Opening Games Party.”
Olympic Fruit Rings
We love fruit, and I thought this would be a good way to show off the Olympic colors. We used blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, green grapes and pineapple.
Making the rings was incredibly easy. I just bought 9” aluminum cake tins and the small 5” aluminum bake pans. I flipped the small pan over and placed it in the larger round tin, which left an area to fill with fruit. I didn’t tape it down since it was reasonably secure once it was filled with fruit.
Brazilian Lemonade
Since the Olympics are in Rio this year, here is a fun recipe for Brazilian Lemonade. Not only is it delicious, it’s easy to make!
Ingredients:
- 2 lemons
- 2 limes
- 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1/3 cup agave
- 4 cups cold water
Directions: Juice the lemons and limes. Using a blender or food processor, pulse the juice from the lemons and limes with the sweetened condensed milk, agave, and 1 cup of water.
Strain the mixture to remove any pulp (unless you prefer to keep the pulp) and add to a pitcher.
Fill a pitcher halfway with ice.
Add the mixture to the pitcher and finish filling with water. Stir well.
Tip: As an added touch, you can fill an ice cube tray with the lemonade and freeze to add to your next pitcher.
Cocktail Option: Add 1/2 cup spiced rum or coconut rum to the recipe.
DIY Tea Light Torches
Supplies:
- Four 5” squares of yellow tissue paper & orange tissue paper
- Toilet paper tube
- Flameless tea light
- Orange cupcake liners
- Gold paint
- Paint brush
- Tacky glue
- Scissors
Directions:
First paint the toilet paper tube gold and let it dry. Then glue the cupcake liner onto the top of the tube.
Cut the yellow and orange tissue paper into approximately 5” squares; you don’t need to be exact. Cut one corner of the tissue paper off and line that edge up with the bottom of the tea light. That way it was not hanging over the bottom of the tea light.
Apply a little glue to the edges of the tea light and layer the tissue paper around the sides. Layer four yellow pieces of tissue paper. Then reapply the glue and layer four orange pieces of tissue paper. Let dry.
Then sit the tea light into the top of the cup. This way it is easy to take the tea light in and out of the torch making it easy to turn it off and on…saves on batteries! Win!
Amanda Causey Baity (abaity@princewilliamliving.com) is Prince William Living’s director of operations and photo editor. She lives on a farm (vandorenfarm.com) in Manassas with her family.
