(NAPSA)—Planning a warmweather party can be fun and easy. Try these tips: Set The Mood A theme can help keep guests in a festive mood. Decorate your yard with palm leaves and fresh flowers and use straw mats as place settings for a tropical ambi- ence. If you’re entertaining in the evening, consider using yard Great Outdoor Gatherings Spice up your next outdoor party with these ideas: Dress It Up—Decorate plain lawn chairs and picnic tables with sashes, ribbons andflowers. e Spread The Worc—Use themed invitations fo set a festive mood. torches to add lighting—and to help keep mosquitoes away. Water, Water Everywhere— mingle while they sample the goods. Also, keep the main course nonalcoholic beverages you offer guests. Fun Foods Grill up easy-to-eat finger foods such as skewered pineapple shrimp or miniveggie kebabs so guests can light by focusing on salads and fruits and use cooling herbs and spices such as cilantro and mintto add a fresh, seasonalflavor. Simple Serving Serving potluck style is popular at parties, especially in today’s economy. You might also serve up platters of cold cuts alongside sim- ple side dishes. That way, guests can eat at their leisure, and you'll spend less time running between table and kitchen. If grilling, try to keep it reasonably easy with hamburgers, veggie burgers and traditional barbecue fare. You can also save time andeffort by serving up ready-to-drink cocktails along with the nonalcoholic bever- ages you offer guests. For instance, BACARDI Classic Cocktail Raspberry Mojito is a mix of rum, natural lime and mintflavors, plus an extra burst of ripened raspberries. The refreshing beverage—a variation of the legendary Original BACARDI Mojito—is conveniently designed to pour and drink. Making Music Be sure to load up the iPod with various tunes. Soft music Keep plenty ofpitchers of cool water available to help guests stay hydrated. Keep It Simple—Savetime by serving ready-to-drink cocktails, along with the For moretips and ideas from Bacardi, visit www.bacardi.com. @ allows people to chat, while club music helps energize guests. Try to strike the right balance with both music selection and volume. MadeIn The Shade If you’re hosting a daytime party, be sure to provide plenty of ways for guests to escape the sun. Set up umbrellas and chairs in different corners of the yard along with a few seating arrangements under any shade trees you might have. You might also suggest guests head into the house to cool off if it gets too hot. Serving Tips Ice water, club soda and seltzer are party staples. Be sure to have plenty of ice on hand as well as garnishes such as sliced fruit for drinks. Make sure to offer light, seasonal-type drinks to match the mood andtaste of your guests. The raspberry mojito is especially thirst quenching and a welcome backyard treat with its fruity flavor. For more tips and ideas, visit www.bacardi.com.
