Memorial Day weekend is the official summer kick-off. Every year, this weekend marks the calendar with family picnics, backyard BBQs and of course pool parties. In our neck of the woods, it inevitably rains. But that never stop us from celebrating like it's sunny outside! Grab a pitcher and join me in turning summer's favorite staple — lemonade! — into the perfect cocktail for happy hour.

Q: My husband and I would like to thank our neighbours for watering our plants while we were on vacation in Italy by cooking an Italian meal. Our guests will be a mom and dad, one 5-year old, one 2-year old and a baby, and the meal must be halal. Any recipe ideas for a family-friendly, pork-free, loosely Italian meal?

I love to entertain, but I'll be frank: I'm on a pretty strict budget. And because I try to buy sustainably-raised meat, even supposedly "cheap" cuts like pork shoulder or short ribs are too expensive to be more than an occasional treat, so more often than not, my dinner party menus are mostly vegetarian, fairly healthy and quite budget-friendly. This menu features freshened-up versions of classic comfort food and is perfect for a casual gathering to catch up with a few friends before the bustle of summer begins.

Kids know how to party! Check out the latest festive celebrations from the Apartment Therapy's Family channel, which posts kids' parties every day. We'll be bringing you a roundup of these inspiring parties every week.

• Chloe's Princess Party
  
• Ellington's Korean Dol
  
• Aiden's Neon Castle Party
  
• Cameron's Mermaid Party
  
• Noah's Wild Wonders Party

Gift registries are a big topic of debate these days. Some brides and grooms to be are accused of being greedy, with taste beyond their means. When we got married nearly 16 years ago, I didn't want to register. We had one of those small weddings that happen after a quick two-week engagement because the couple is in...ahem...a bit of a hurry. I changed my mind about registering a few days into our brief engagement, after a call from a local shop showed me that I was making life difficult for some goodhearted, dear friends of my parents and grandparents.

If you're gifting a bottle of wine, you might think the bottle itself is gift enough. But if you want an extra special presentation, I have just the thing: wine wrap papers from the newly launched Bottle Stock, a small shop based out of LA catering to design-minded wine lovers. Each sheet is cut to fit most 750ml wine bottles, and the paper designs are lovely and eye-catching!

Q: I'm getting married to my partner of 5 years in about 1 month! We are having the wedding in her parents' backyard and will be serving beer, wine, iced tea, and water, but we'd also like a cocktail. I'd like something that requires minimal effort and can be made with and without alcohol. Ideas?

Sent by Lisa

Q: My wedding is at the end of June and I am doing a "potluck" dessert table where people can bring chocolate, vanilla, strawberry or lemon desserts. I love to bake and I'm planning on making a few desserts myself ahead of time. What are some freezer-friendly desserts that I can make now, that will still be delicious in a month and a half?

All week long I've been sharing my spring dinner party on The Kitchn, a party I hosted in my one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. I've already shared the party plan, my main course recipe, the big dinner itself, and how I arranged the flowers. Feeling inspired? Great! Still feeling anxious about throwing a shindig in your own little apartment? Not so great! That's what I'll be talking about today.