One thing being pregnant has taught me: most of the time, the non-alcoholic drink options suck. Restaurants and bars that pride themselves on their innovative cocktails often come up short on the non-alcoholic side, offering perhaps a couple artisanal sodas or a too-sweet lemonade. And if I want anything beyond water or Coke at friends’ parties, I’ve learned to bring it myself.

So when I started planning a baby shower for a friend, I knew from the start that the non-alcoholic drink option had to feel as special as everything else on the menu. This tart, refreshing, lightly floral lemonade made with lavender blossoms was exactly what I was looking for.

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As we plan summer potlucks and backyard parties, pasta salads remain the quintessential centerpiece of the buffet feast. With its fork-tender pasta, crisp vegetables, and savory dressing, this classic dish should be piled high on every picnic plate. So delicious and flexible, a pasta salad can be whatever you want it to be — including fresh, light, and vegetable-forward.

These 10 fresher, lighter pasta salads lighten up those traditional rich and mayo-laden salads with touches of Greek yogurt, creamy roasted garlic, pesto, or a simple drizzle of olive oil.

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A few years ago, I hit an age where spring and early summer became shower season, a time to celebrate moms-to-be and excited brides with food, friends, and maybe a few games. I never thought I was a Shower Person — I will flunk your quiz on celebrity couples, I despise the color pink — until my own bridal shower, which was beautiful, not at all cheesy, and most of all fun. So I was excited to plan a baby shower for my friend Beth for our Gatherings from The Kitchn series, a grown-up party full of colorful details, a fresh, sophisticated salad bar, and nary a baby rattle in sight. Want to see how I did it?

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“It is not from ourselves that we learn to be better than we are.” — Wendell Berry

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