With all the traveling we did earlier this year, we haven’t had much time to have friends over this year. But now that summer is here, I’m ready to have some summer parties. We’ve been spending weekends adding more touches to the house as well as buying supplies for all the summer gatherings I plan on having.
Recently, we went to JCPenney, where there was a ton of summer party entertaining items on sale–40-50% off! I’m sharing my purchases and hosting a giveaway for a $100 JCPenney gift card at the end of this post! Some of the items I picked up included an outdoor flower tablecloth, an elegant glass water dispenser, and the most adorable ice cream cone serving bowls. Seriously, I cannot get over how cute these are and I got them for 40% off!
After I got home, I found even more items online I wanted to add to my summer party collection. Now I just need to convince Mr. K that I need more stuff… 
Of course after I buy things, I immediately want to open them all and set them up. So even though we haven’t had a party quite yet, I put everything together to see how it would all look. Mr. K thought I was crazy, but this is totally normal right? How else can I make sure everything matches? Or figure out that I really need to pick up some fresh flowers before my party and also go back to the store for the pretty spring green plates I was eyeing? 
I also bought this Bisou Bisou maxi dress. I like that it works for something casual and slightly dressier. 
I especially like the metallic neckline and the halter-style top. 
If you’re planning on doing some summer entertaining this year, JCPenney is a great option to check out. They’ve also got some more upcoming deals, including:
You can follow JCPenney on Facebook or Twitter to stay up-to-date on any other savings.
$100 JCPenney Gift Card Sweepstakes
I’m also hosting a $100 JCPenney gift card giveaway! To enter, please leave a comment telling me:
What’s your favorite thing about summer?
Entry Instructions:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 7/13/2015 – 8/13/2015
Be sure to visit JCPenney’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/FireRunner2379/status/631969062835240960.
We like camping out with the kids and having campfires.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/631889523203379200
My favorite thing about summer is going to baseball games. Both little league and Major league.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/pixel_berry_pie/status/631864553257742336
I love taking my dog on walks in the summer and having the time to read good books.
The thing I love about summer is all the cute clothes and being able to go swimming!
Tweet: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/631853010931568643
I love spending time at the beach with my family in the summer.
tweeted – https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/631850535298068481
My favorite thing about summer is the longer days to get all my outdoor fun in!
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/631841054321414144
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Going to the pool with my kids
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
https://twitter.com/usnamom2014/status/631551143257186304
My favorite thing is going jet skiing on the lake.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/631549385520844800
I love the hot weather during summer.
I love swimming!
tweet
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/631480403799506944
I love the warm weather!
https://twitter.com/sandyhills25/status/631465016936525824
My favorite things is the warm weather and picnicking.
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/631365283626749952
My favorite thing is the longer warmer days because that lets us have more fun.
https://twitter.com/joti67/status/631206379315961856
I love summer outdoor fun & fashion!
My favorite thing about summer is spending time at the pool.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/630545377242943488
My favorite thing about summer is the weather and being able to go the the park for walks
https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/630138424574410752
My favorite thing about summer is the wonderful weather and how much time we spend outside
the fun carefree vibe!!
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/629731096645763072
I LOVE WATERMELON
tweeted https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/629430104368771072
My favorite thing is my children can play outside thus leaving the inside clean longer
I love the longer days in summer.
sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/628923312874352640
There are so many things but I really enjoy the meditative quality of watching bees working the flowers in my yard. So relaxing and amazing.
i posted a tweet here:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/628791910979604481
my favorite thing about summer is family vacations
https://twitter.com/Organicandcheap/status/628760359713808386
The best part about summer is just taking it easy with the kids. Winning this giftcard would be great for back to school shopping.
Fresh veggies from my garden! And strawberries!
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/628366773201555456
My favorite thing about summer is spending time at the pool with my children.
I like the long summer nights
https://mobile.twitter.com/kytah00/status/628032941944360960
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/628011950354628608
I love laying out in the sun and swimming in lakes, pools, and the beach!
Tweet: https://twitter.com/theamymichaels/status/627548032398172160
I love the smells of summer: sunblock, barbeque, and the salty beach air! My hometown is San Diego… best place to be!
Longer days to stay outside.
I like going to the lake and parks and having bbq’s.
cshell090869 at aol dot com
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/626950129753432064
Thanks again.
I love going and having bbq’s and getting together with friends and family.
Thanks so much.
My favorite thing about summer is the fireflies! Sitting out on a patio or at an evening concert, watching nature’s light show 🙂
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/626199791832309760
https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/625786748409241600
summer vacations with my family
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/625754760646422528
I love the warm weather in summer and the time I can spend enjoying the outdoors.
I love summer BBQ! Although we haven’t done it yet this summer – I will before it’s over!
I like the warmer weather!
Our family has been enjoying camping this summer!
I am excited to see all of the Summertime things JCPenney has! I hope I win this Giveaway! 🙂
My favorite thing about summer is the fresh fruits and veggies.
My favorite thing about summer is going on the lake with our boat!
Read more at
One of my favorite things about summer is all the seasonal fruit! Peaches and nectarines are some of my favorite fruits. <3
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/tlawoodall/status/624387010174799872
My favorite thing about summer is the beauty of the nature around us. Whether it be in the city or out in the country, everything is green and blooming pretty colors. The kids get out and play more. It’s a happy season for many.
I tweeted thank you
https://twitter.com/trrg12/status/624226569632919552
My favorite thing about summer is that the grandkids get to come visit for extended periods of time. Sunshine in this Nana’s summer!
I just love spending time doing sports out in the sun!
My favorite thing about summer is going to the beach and sundresses.
https://twitter.com/gottchacha/status/622390860806795264
I tweeted!
My favorite thing about summer is the warmer weather and sunshine. I love to garden outside and the weather is perfect!
https://twitter.com/raggammuffin/status/622197055306506240
i LOVE going to the ocean on hot summer days
https://twitter.com/vivaciousgold/status/622147825502187520
I love the slow down from the school year and summer vacationing
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/621874852702466052
Long walk by the beach is my favorite thing about summer.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
I like the warm weather!
Love summer BBQ!
I love the seasonal fruit like watermelon.
I love the long days. It gives us more time to play outside.
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/621764662376464384
love being able to eat dinner outside!
I love the long hours of sunlight!
Tweet – https://twitter.com/cmd277/status/621320526414241792
My favorite thing about summer is eating ice cream!
heres my tweet:
https://twitter.com/RanaDurham/status/621150316160008192
my favorite thing about summer is bbq-ing with the family
Tweet!
https://twitter.com/normawatson/status/621111357031608320
My favorite thing about summer is scouring garage sales for vintage treasures.
i love the longer days and all the picnics/bbq!
Those ice cream cups are seriously so cute!! Summer = ice cream parties for sure!
my birthday! and summer dresses!
Wearing skirts and eating ice cream!
Favorite thing about summer is the smell of charcoal and grilled meats!!!
Here’s my tweet https://twitter.com/pic_links/status/620986358589444096 and thanks for the giveaway!
wow you look hot in that dress! My favorite thing about summer is definitely homemade ice creams!
My fav thing about summer is comic con!
My favorite thing about summer is taking road trips with my family.
My favorite thing about summer is that it doesn’t get dark until later.
As a teacher, I really love that I have no alarm clocks to wake up to each morning.
https://twitter.com/leighanne000/status/620821172700205056
My favorite thing about summer is food!!!!!!!
My favorite thing about summer is being able to hike in the mountains without all the snow.
I enjoy picking and cooking vegetables from our garden.
All the summer cookouts!
Summer fruit!
Love all the yummy fruits of summer
I love going to the pool!
I adore that party pitcher! Favorite thing about summer… Dogs don’t drag in mud!
My favorite thing is having a nice BBQ with friends and family–watermelon included!
my tweet https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/620732448289202176
i love being able to stay out later in the evening and enjoy the nice weather
My favorite thing about sumer is the beautiful flowers(:
my favorite thing is going to the beach and swimming in the ocean
tweet https://twitter.com/groogruxking40/status/620707798054146048
Concerts are my favorite thing about summer.
Best part about summer is the fab weather – time to get outdoors and party! 😀
Gardening with my 2 Golden Retrievers lazying around in the grass nearby and my pet bird in her cage by my side checking out the scenery!
summer getaways to escape the AZ heat!
Tweeted https://twitter.com/mommysweetiepie/status/620664776079769600
https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/620660436136898561
The best thing about summer is getting some fresh air outside and exercising! I love to go biking and running in the summertime!!
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/620658188938047488
Beach time is my favorite thing about summer.
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/jessa1130/status/620656091089780736
@jessa1130
I love the warm sunny beaches and the outdoor events during summer.
I love the summer trends
Summer means lots of visits from our daughter and family in Nevada and from our son in LA and all of us eating outside under our new covered pergola. Now I need new blue glasses, plates and accessories for our new table for 8
Summer means ice cream! And I love those ice cream dishes and your dress.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/SDFoodTrucks/status/620644669676912641
My favorite thing about summer is going to dog beach with my dog! (I know we can go year-round in San Diego, but the water is warmer and the sun stays out later in the evening in summertime. 🙂 )
tweet https://twitter.com/faitcameth/status/620635480028090368
spending time enjoying the outdoors with my kids during summer break 😀
All those seasonal fresh fruit and veggis
https://mobile.twitter.com/SandyHeadtke/status/620631065128890368
I love the longer daylight hours
My favorite part of summer is getting to spend more time with my family!
Nice giveaway! I tweeted:
https://twitter.com/HomSoo/status/620620362116501504
tweet
https://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/620617669314678784
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/620618076531265536
I love swimming- 🙂
and being outside and getting a tan)
but in Arizona its way too HOT!!
My favorite thing about summer is warm weather
Swimming season!
Tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/620598790962032641
My favorite thing about summer is getting together with family and going to the Lake and spending the day having dinner together, going swimming, and going out in my sister’s boat! We have a blast!
Tweet:
https://twitter.com/ErinLoves2Run/status/620591140295675904
Erin
ErinLoves2Run at gmail dot com
My favorite thing about summer is grilling wonderful food, and the period of time at dusk when it cools down and the breeze picks up. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Erin
ErinLoves2Run at gmail dot com
Tweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/620588079678623744
I love picking fresh organic veggies in our garden!
thank you
Tweet-
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/620586834540785664
I like the warm weather so I can take my kids swimming and go on nature walks.
I love All. The. Ice. Cream. 🙂
Oops! Forgot! LOVE the blue dress! Gorgeous!
Would love to win a JCPenney gift card!