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Fresh ideas for your race-themed parties

Forget the Gardening, Let’s Party! Here’s more from Master Gardener Carrie Petty:

Usually in May, it is all about the outdoors and getting the garden blooming! Not in Indianapolis; in Indy it is all about the RACE, baby! If we are lucky, we get four good weekends to celebrate this checkered flag occasion. From cocktail parties to BBQ’s, it is easy to look like pro with these few tips.

Entertaining in the month of May is one of my favorite things to do. There are so many ways to bring in the race theme to your entertainment palette. First, pick an easy food category like Mexican or Italian. Build a menu with this theme in mind. I love Mexican because it incorporates the RED, GREEN and YELLOW colors of the race flags. Fun colors to work with for you centerpieces.

Second, don’t forget the silver! BorgWarner Trophy silver that is! I absolutely love using a Champaign bucket for my flower centerpieces in the month of May. It is reminiscent of the BorgWarner trophy look. It ups your game and brings a bit of glam to any table. Fill with yellow tulips, greens and red peonies, to repeat that race color theme.

Third, make a visit to the Indy 500 museum gift shop. Here you can find all kinds of little items to add to your bar or table top. Shot glasses, cocktail glasses or even pick up some past years of the programs. I use the artwork from inside and print off on my computer for menu cards. Also, I love to use plastic credential holders from past years as place card holders for a sit down dinner. I have saved so many items from race years gone by; it’s fun to put them to good use!

Make it fun and make it easy, but most important get together with friends and family and celebrate people! It is all part of helping you, “Grow a Beautiful Life!”

Carrie Petty is a fourth generation Hoosier! She is a lecturer, Master Gardener, as well as a top Garden and Lifestyle Blogger. An amateur naturalist, painter & photographer, Petty loves teaching families how to, “Grow a Beautiful Life.”NEWS: Now booking spring 2017 lectures, contact Carriepetty@comcast.net

Through her gardening & lifestyle blog: http://www.CarriePetty.com she can also be found on Twitter @Caroline_Garden