Celebrating Our Beautiful Country!

It’s that time again, my darlings. July 4th will soon be upon us. It is one of my favorites because we are celebrating our beautiful country. If you are just starting my blog, I’ll tell you that I even named my dog America!

We are so lucky to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. What better way to celebrate our country than with a party filled to the brim with your family and friends?

Here are a few exciting ideas for a thrilling 4^th of July soiree.

Hostess with the Mostest

I love to entertain and host parties. I’ve always said that your parties are your vision. No matter how big or how small, any function you host should reflect your personality. As well, as a host, you should know your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t plan parties that do not suit yourself. If you’re like me and enjoy an evening party, don’t plan one during the day. Unless of course, you want to. Remember, if you are happy at your party, then your guests will be too. Always make sure you enjoy yourself!

Setting the Mood

It’s important that you create a party that inspires you and your guests. 4^th of July is festive. Naturally, most party planners will keep the motifs of their events red, white and blue. However, if you are into more of an elegant style, you can still keep the theme of the 4th without going over the top. Instead of bold colors, pick a single hue like white. Then complement that main color scheme with accents of red and blue. If you enjoy going all out and filling your house with red, white and blue, then do that! It’s all about your personal taste. Here are some lovely ideas from Country Living and decorative DIY ideas from Pinterest.

Festive Food and Drink Ideas

One great thing about holiday parties is the theme is already given to us ahead of time. We don’t need to create one. Instead, we get to use ideas already formed and make them our own.

Food is such a fabulous way to express your party vision because food choices show your taste preferences and personal essence. For example, if I serve Toasted Brioche Rounds with Creme Fraiche and Caviar that says one thing about my style versus if I serve spinach dip. Both are equally delicious, but both serve a different kind of party.

I recommend choosing a food theme according to your vision and plan within that. It will make your party planning go a lot smoother.

Here are some great food and drink ideas I found for a causal July 4th bash:

No-Bake Cheesecake Triple Berry Star Tart

Raspberry Strawberry Margaritas

Homemade Italian Sodas

Strawberry Feta Bruschetta

All American Entrees and More

Sparklers, Fireworks and Fun

To go along with food and friends, we always want a little fun. If you have a firework display near you, gather up your guests and carpool down to the big event. Don’t forget to bring sparklers, blankets, and a few cool drinks. If you have a firework show that you can see from your home, even better. However, if you don’t have one near you, bring the fireworks to you! Make sure you check the laws within your area to assure you can shoot off smaller fireworks in your backyard. To get the young ones involved, have sparklers or some fun party poppers with prizes available.

I recently discovered a game that is fun for the entire family, which would be great for a backyard BBQ or any holiday event. It’s called the Saran Wrap Ball Game. A friend of mine played it over Christmas and said their family had a ball–pun intended! To play, you put small gifts in between layers of saran wrap, then pass the ball around with a timer. On your turn, you roll a pair of dice; when you get doubles, you get to unwrap part of the ball. Whatever prizes fall out during your turn, you get to keep! Everyone will love this, my darlings and you will have a good laugh as well. See instructions HERE.

For more game ideas, check out this wonderful link: 12 Backyard Games for the Best 4th of July Party!

Smile, Have Fun and Enjoy Your Time!

4th of July should be filled with smiles and laughter, my sweet readers. No matter what type of party you throw–casual, elegant or somewhere in between–remember to have a great time. Be a good host with a smile and don’t stay locked in the kitchen. Ask for help where you need it and spend time with your loved ones on this special day. I hope this blog gave you some stellar ideas for your 4^th of July parties.

I would love to hear your favorite recipes and party ideas! Join the conversation in the comments below or on Facebook and Instagram.