Every summer, celebrities flock to Malibu for beach parties galore. Some indulge in serious gifting, while others kick back and sip cocktails with friends. Last weekend, I stopped by the Silver Spoon Beach House for a little bit of both. But for the first time in a while, I actually enjoyed the drinks more than the swag or celebrity sightings. (Lindsay Lohan's pizza box photo-op just didn't do it for me). A server kept handing me a green concoction that was the perfect blend of sweet with a little spice. The lime-jalapeño cocktail tasted so healthy, I was shocked to discover it contained alcohol. I just had to have the recipe so I could whip it up for my staycation bash. It was made using Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer Express ($99.98), perfect for my small apartment.

Ingredients
10 whole limes
1 bunch mint
1 cup agave
6 cups of water, purified
1/2 jalapeño
Place all ingredients into the juicer, juice and pour into a pitcher. Simultaneously pour one shot of vodka into a cup with the juice. Add a cocktail straw, because ingredients can separate.

Pretending you're in Las Vegas or Monte Carlo is a cinch with the Casino in a Box ($7.99). The kit includes a roulette, spinner, craps tables, dice, playing cards, chips and a little booklet with gambling quotes to impress your friends. You can go the full monty and decorate with Target's Casino Night Scene Kit ($42.29). Or, reuse your Christmas lights to brighten up the space and keep the martinis flowing. Nobody will notice they're not in Sin City!

Feel like traveling to other destinations? Take your taste buds jet-setting with an around-the-world potluck. Here's how to get started.

Instead of dishing out $25 for a class, why not gather up your friends and schedule weekly retreats in each person's home? If someone in the group is a yoga enthusiast, have her teach a class in the backyard. Towels can be substituted for yoga mats if you're stretched out on the grass. Know an artist? She can give a painting lesson. Your local art store should have an inexpensive set of paints to get everyone started. Cake decorating can also be a blast. Purchase an inexpensive book, like Beginner's Guide to Cake Decorating ($12.44), and hold a cooking retreat right in the comfort of your own kitchen. And don't forget to save us a slice, too!

You don't need to spend all your frequent flier miles to taste exotic cuisine. Instead, plan a global potluck party during your summer staycation. Ask guests to bring a dish that represents their favorite far-off destination—or assign everyone a different country if you're worried about a dinner table full of coq au vin, cassoulet and éclairs. You can order a bag of international flag toothpicks to send out with the invites.

To get you started, we have this Italian recipe from Chef Ralph Scamardella, the executive chef of Las Vegas hot spot Lavo. Buon appetito!

You'll want to drink do this pedicure at home! Amy Ruiz of Bliss Spa Los Angeles shows you how.

Summer's here! Toast your Staycation with these three delicious, refreshing libations—they'll transform any gathering into a tropical fiesta.

Sapphire Pineapple & Aloe Martini
1½ ounces Bombay Sapphire gin
1 ounce sweetened aloe vera juice (you can get this at Whole Foods or your local health food store)
1½ ounces pineapple juice
5-6 cilantro leaves
½ ounce lime juice
½ ounce simple syrup
Cilantro sprig for garnish 

Muddle lime juice, simple syrup and cilantro. Add aloe juice, pineapple juice and Bombay Sapphire. Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into chilled martini glass.

Don't have the cash to take the fam on vacay this year? Then bring the resort to you! It's easier on the wallet and doesn't involve any three-hour delays at the airport. Here are some ideas  to get you started… 

Step 1: Ambience
Pretend you're staying at a Maui resort by downloading a Refreshing Sounds of Ocean Surf mp3 ($0.99), resting your head on palm tree ($16.99) or coral ($19.99) throw pillows and lighting an ocean-scented candle. Try a flameless one ($10.99) so you can drift off into a relaxed state without a worry.  

Or take a trip to Costa Rica by freshening the room with an organic rainforest scent ($14.95) and then reclining on tropical toucan pillows ($19.99) as you listen to a tranquil waterfall ($0.89) on your iPod.

There's nothing more exciting or mysterious than gazing into a blue-black sky. It seems every night there's a virtual party in the heavens! Drink it in with these helpful sites pointing to various stellar happenings.

Jack Horkheimer: Star Gazer
Focus your efforts with the help of this weekly public TV series on "naked-eye" astronomy. No telescope needed!

Weather Underground
Enter your ZIP code to see what's happening above your neighborhood.

Star Date Online
Get a weekly update of celestial events.

Stellarium
Prep for your date with the night sky by previewing the planets and stars with this free software.

Sky & Telescope
Download a 10-page Getting Started in Astronomy PDF.

Need a telescope? Target sells one for every budget—from $14.99 to $549.99.

Have another budget-friendly idea for backyard fun? Sound off with a comment below!

Hoping for a summer to remember, but don't want to break the bank? Watch the Style Network every Saturday, 1p-4p, for Style-a-Thons of your favorite shows, plus clever tips on making the most of the sunny season—even if your budget's tight.

And be sure to come back to mystyle each week for even more fabulous, fun (and often free!) ideas.