Nothing says summer like a refreshing adult beverage. The days feel longer, our stress level goes down a bit, and getting together with friends to experiment with some fun colorful cocktail recipes are things all of us look forward to, no matter how we normally spend our days.

“Lazy days by the pool, a backyard barbecue, or even a night in with the girls is the perfect opportunity to break out the blender or cocktail shaker and mix a fun cocktail recipe,” Arlene Mobley, a food and lifestyle blogger, told LifeZette.

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With our busy work schedules and countless responsibilities as moms and dads, it’s hard to find time to sit back and relax, let alone gather your best “mom friends” or “dad friends” for a little R&R. Mobley has been creating recipes for years and loves when she gets time to be with her friends; they can experiment in mixing their favorite liquor and fruity ingredients while kicking back, relaxing and catching up.

Here are a few of her favorite summer drinks that not only taste great but look fantastic.

Frozen Blue Hawaiian Cocktail. “For anyone who has never tasted a Blue Hawaiian, it tastes like a tropical heaven,” says Mobley. Made with White Rum, Blue Curacao, pineapple juice, coconut cream and ice, it’s a great drink to sip on a hot night.

Ingredients (serves one):

  • 1 oz. Bacardi White Rum
  • 1 oz. Blue Curacao
  • 2 oz. pineapple juice
  • 1 oz. coconut cream
  • 1 cup crushed ice

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and pulse to a creamy consistency.

Garnish with a pineapple chunk and an umbrella.

Related: The Most Successful Summer Drinks

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Mojito Ice Pops (alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions). Mix up, freeze and serve in a refreshing bucket of ice. These ice pops can be made with rum extract for a non-alcoholic version or with rum for an extra kick.

Ingredients (makes four large ice pops):

  • 2 limes
  • 1/2 cup sugar cane juice or water
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tbs. mint simple syrup
  • 2 tsp. imitation rum or the real thing (if using real rum, use double the amount called for here)
  • about 16 mint leaves

Zest one lime and chop fine. Chop mint leaves fine. Add the lime zest and chopped mint leaves to a spouted bowl. Add all the liquid ingredients to the bowl. If you’re not using sugar cane juice, add a teaspoon of sugar and taste. Make adjustments for sweetness.

Mix everything together and pour into ice-pop molds.

Put the ice-pop handles on and put in freezer for one hour.

Sara Hermanson is a freelance writer in Washington State whose focus is health, wellness, fitness and parenting. 

(photo credit, article image: Michael Stern, Flickr)