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Summertime party tips to keep things easy

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Summertime,
And the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’
And the cotton is high

“Summertime” by DuBose Heyward and music by George Gershwin for Porgy and Bess embodies my style of entertaining this time of year – easy, laid-back, unhurried. That’s why the arrival of my party pack from Bacardi got me so excited. I mixed the casual-style decorative items in the box with my own picks from around the house to create an Americana theme for my simple get-together. Here’s the breakdown.

  1. Picnic placemats – Party Pack
  2. White dinner plates (every day dishes)
  3. Red and white check table runner – Party Pack
  4. Antique quilt (off my bed)
  5. Wire outdoor lanterns – Party Pack
  6. Country French tray (off the wall)
  7. Mason jar drinking glasses – Party Pack
  8. Nito condiment caddy – Party Pack
  9. Blue vase with dried flowers / Clear vase with flowers (picked from yard)
  10. Wooden serving spoon and fork – Party Pack

Nibbles. To start things off, I filled the three ceramic bowls with peanuts, wasabi trail mix and dry roasted edamame. This was as simple as tearing open plastic bags. Alongside it, I placed some well-chilled watermelon, cut in cubes the night before. I laid frilled toothpicks beside the melon bowl.

Cocktails. I went easy. Chilled two bottles of Bacardi Classic Cocktails Light (Pina Colada and Mojito) in the fridge overnight. As guests arrived, I poured over ice. I stuck a parasol with skewered watermelon on top. Once my guests tasted the soaked melon, they wanted more. With the frilled toothpicks, all of us dunked chunks in our drinks. So yummy.

Supper. For small casual dinner parties I embrace home-style; I place everything in bowls/platters to pass around the table. Nothing beats homemade mac n cheese (I adapted a recipe from this cookbook), cornbread (cooked on top of the stove to keep from heating up the house), homegrown tomatoes, corn on the cob, and greens. My twin sister shared her recipe with me. Trust me, these are so good you will want to make them often. Go to Perfect Southern Greens.

Drinks – non-alcoholic. Tea, both sweet and unsweet and icy-cold water.

Dessert. A scoop of this Blue Bell ice cream (made with Splenda) was a sweet and guiltless end to my summer party.

BACARDÍ Classic Cocktails Light is a new line of low calorie, ready to serve cocktails. At less than 95 calories for a 4-ounce serving, BACARDÍ Classic Cocktails Light is available in Pina Colada and Mojito flavors and is made with natural flavors, real juice and pure cane sugar. Whether enjoying a favorite cocktail after a long day or throwing a party, BACARDÍ Classic Cocktails deliver classic cocktail taste that’s a hit with friends, won’t add inches to your waistline and won’t take all day to prepare.

“Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Bacardi via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Bacardi.”

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Have you read?

In the Garden Layer Cake – A Bloom-Filled Fabric Collection for Spring Sewing

Some fabric collections feel pretty, some feel useful, and then there are those rare ones that instantly spark a dozen ideas the moment you see them. The In the Garden Layer Cake from Fat Quarter Shop falls firmly into that last category. From the moment I opened the pack, it felt like stepping into a watercolor garden—soft, romantic, full of movement, and brimming with detail that invites you to slow down and really look.

This collection brings together an elegant mix of florals, garden motifs, and soothing color palettes that feel like they were created for spring quilting. Instead of loud novelty prints, the designer chose a gentle balance of botanical sketches, scattered blossoms, tiny seed patterns, and larger feature florals that work beautifully in both traditional and modern layouts.

What struck me most is how thoughtfully the color stories are arranged. Each print blends seamlessly into the next, giving you a spectrum that includes soft rose pinks, leafy greens, lavender tones, fresh sky blues, rich corals, and delicate neutrals. It’s the kind of palette that instantly feels “quilty” in the best way—inviting, calm, and incredibly easy to mix and match. You can tell the designer planned this for maximum versatility.

Layer cakes are one of the most beginner-friendly precuts, but this collection elevates them with a sense of sophistication. The prints are strong enough to shine in simple patterns, but subtle enough to support more complex designs. Whether you prefer classic half-square triangles, framed squares, modern grid quilts, or something scrappier, this fabric adapts beautifully. It’s also a wonderful choice for table runners, spring wall hangings, and even quilted bags or home décor projects.

One of the nicest surprises with this layer cake is how it manages to feel seasonal without becoming locked into one particular holiday or theme. While the palette is undeniably perfect for spring, the prints themselves are timeless enough to work year-round. A floral quilt made from this collection would look just as lovely on a summer sunroom sofa as it would draped over a guest bed in winter.

The fabric quality is exactly what you’d expect from Fat Quarter Shop—crisp, clean cuts, vibrant printing, and a smooth hand that makes piecing feel effortless. Nothing is too thin or too stiff, and the colors are even more beautiful in person than they appear online.

If you enjoy sewing projects that feel light, fresh, and inspired by nature, In the Garden is a collection worth adding to your stash. It has all the qualities quilters look for: balance, versatility, gentle movement, and that spark of creativity that makes you want to start a project immediately. Whether you’re planning a gift quilt, treating yourself to a new spring project, or simply building your fabric library with a set of prints that will play nicely with others, this layer cake is a thoughtful and inspiring choice.