One idea is to enlist the help of a frozen drink machine. If you're making drinks using a blender, they probably aren't as good as they could be. That's because blenders aren't really designed to make drinks that contain ice. While blenders are capable of chopping ice, chopped ice makes for a crunchy drink that can hurt your teeth. Attempts to chop the ice smaller usually result in water rather than ice. Slush machines solve this problem by shaving the ice so it's perfectly smooth and just the right consistency to sip through a straw.

You can make all kinds of drinks in these machines. If you've ever wanted to get a smooth margarita like those found at your favorite restaurant, this is the way to replicate it at home. You can also make daiquiris, mudslides, rum runners... the sky is the limit. These machines can be used to create any frozen drink your friends request. They can also make wonderful after-dinner drinks like coffee blended with ice and kahlua.

One thing you can do to set your party apart is come up with a signature frozen cocktail. If your party has a theme, try to think of something that ties into it. Give your cocktail a clever name and try out a few ideas before the big night. Get creative and blend together different alcohols and mixers until you come up with something that is really unique.

These machines are pretty easy to operate so you don't have to spend your party fumbling around with buttons. You can actually fill everything in advance and then you only need to push the button to dispense the drink, which is easy enough even after your fourth cocktail. The parts are usually dishwasher safe so you don't have to wake up to a kitchen full of dirty equipment. Cleanup is usually just a matter of wiping down the front of the machine and tossing the parts into the dishwasher.

After the party, you can still find plenty of use for these machines, particularly if you have children. Kids love slushy drinks, especially on a hot day. It's great for a birthday party as well. You can let the kids choose flavors they like and whip up drinks made with ice and fruit juice or fruit syrups. It's a refreshing treat for a pool party as well.