Hostess Tip: Amy’s secret to instant party energy? Music. Amy relies on Sonos wireless speakers ($199, Sonos), which lets her play different music in different parts of her home. The service pulls songs from your iTunes library or online music-mix sites like Rhapsody. Plus, you can control the tunes from your smartphone or tablet, so you don’t miss any table talk. It’s easy to put together a basic party formula that you revise with different food and flowers. Reuse the bottle centerpieces, lights, and dishes for your next outdoor affair. For more sturdy kabobs, you can also use reusable metal skewers ($5, Target).
