• 4th of July crafts for kids
• 4th of July activities for kids
• Fireworks safety
• Pretzel Sparklers

Pretzel Sparklers via Tasteofhome.com

4th of July cupcake Wilton.com

The most important thing is to keep it simple, and let the kids have time to just be kids and have some fun.

Do you have any 4th of July ideas for the kids?

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Bahama Basil Smash (red)

2 ½ parts Tommy Bahama White Sand Rum
2 parts sour mix
3 fresh blackberries
4 basil leaves
4 slices of ginger
¼ part lemon-lime soda

Muddle blackberries, basil and ginger in a mixing glass. Add remaining ingredients, shake well and strain into a mixing glass. Top with a splash of lemon-lime soda. Garnish with an orchid.

Tommy Bahama’s Coconut Cloud Martini (white)

1 ½ parts Tommy Bahama White Sand Rum
1 ½ parts vanilla vodka
1 ½ parts coconut rum
½ part cream of coconut

Shake in a cocktail shaker and strain. Garnish with toasted coconut.

Tommy’s Blue Hawaiian (blue)

1 part Tommy Bahama White Sand Rum
1 part blue curacao
1 part coconut cream
2 parts pineapple juice

Pour all ingredients into a blender with a scoop of crushed ice. Blend until smooth. Pour into a hurricane glass and garnish with a fresh pineapple slice and maraschino cherry.

Why include rum in your 4th of July celebration? The story of rum is classically American and includes its rise, its fall during prohibition and its comeback. Today, rum still holds an important place in our nation.

A little rum trivia:

• It is said, Paul Revere had a swallow of the stuff to stiffen his resolve partway through his famous midnight ride.
• Benjamin Franklin penned a small ode to it.
• In 1778, General George Washington marked July 4th with a double ration of it for his soldiers and an artillery salute.

Remember to drink responsibly this 4th of July.

Images and recipes courtesy of Tommy Bahama

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I love this Stars and Stripes Collection from Williams-Sonoma.

Dress up your wine with these red white and blue Wine Totes from Cooking.com.

Or this 4th of July tableware from Shindigz.

Give each guest one of these 4th of July Soapsicles from Etsy as a party favor to remember your party.

Fun stuff! Are you ready for your 4th of July celebration?

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Starting with the invitation, here’s a cute one from Pingg.

Here’s a list of 4th of July party resources to help you plan:

Patriotic Party Cocktails

4th Of July Dessert Ideas

(c) L Gerlach

4th of July Party Decorations

via Family Fun

4th of July Crafts for Kids

4th of July Barbecue Tips

Independence Day Favorite Recipes

4th of July Party Favors

What do you have planned for your July 4th celebration this year?

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Image (c) L Gerlach

Summer Party Food and Recipes

It’s time to break out the grill, and enjoy those fresh in-season fruits and vegetables. Marinated or rubbed, chilled or grilled here are some recipes to get you started on your summer party planning.

• Carlo’s Grilled Swordfish Kabobs
• 60 Barbecue Recipes
• Beef Rubs and Marinades
• Teriyaki Pork Kabobs
• Chipotle Dijon Barbecue Short Ribs
• Healthy Barbecue Survival Guide
• Miller Beer Brats
• Homemade BBQ Sauce
• Spring and Summer Salad Ideas

Image (c) L Gerlach

Summer Dessert Ideas

I love summer desserts, they’re lighter and fruitier with all those delicious fresh fruits, cool ice cream, and whipped topping. Dessert’s always better in the summer!

• 50 Summer Dessert Ideas
• Homemade Strawberry Pie
• Award Winning Cherry Berry Pie
• Blackberry Hand Pies
• Chocolate Strawberry Trifle
• Strawberry Shortcake
• 10 Recipes for Strawberry Season
• Summer Fruit Dessert Ideas

Image via mealtime.org

Summer Cocktails

Summer cocktails are easy to make, and fun to drink. Just make sure you and your friends drink responsibly.  Most of these recipes take advantage of  yummy summer fruity flavors

• Backyard Bar Cocktail Recipes
• Outdoor Cocktail Party Ideas
• Watermelon Punch
• Tuaca Vanilla Berry
• Watermelon Hornijo
• Strawberry Peach Daiquiri
• Patriotic Party Cocktails

Image (c) L Gerlach

Decorations and Invitations

Summer parties don’t have to be difficult, some easy decorations, and simple invitations, or just call up a few friends and let them know you’re grilling out tonight, come on over.

• Make Your Own Backyard Barbecue Invitations
• Patriotic Party Decorations

Image via Swimways.com

It’s Officially Pool Season

Memorial Day officially kicks off the backyard party pool season around here. Check out these ideas to include water in the fun.

• Pool Party Fun
• Water Obstacle course

Get outside and have some fun this summer. Invite a few friends over to enjoy the warm weather, and some great food and drinks.

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Watermelon Hornijo

Ingredients:
2 oz Hornitos Reposado
2 tsp sugar
6-8 mint leaves
Club soda
1 lime, halved
4 ounces fresh watermelon
Mint sprig for garnish

Directions: In a large glass, combine mint, lime, and sugar. Using a muddler, mash together mint and lime until sugar is dissolved. Add watermelon, and muddle until broken down. Stir in Hornitos Reposado and ice cubes, and garnish with mint sprig.

Enjoy!

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If you plan on throwing an Inaugural party or just simply want to toast the new president, here are a few Inaugural Inspired Champagne Cocktails from Korbel California Champagne.

 Stars-and-Stripes
2 oz Korbel Brut or Extra Dry
2 oz Cranberry Juice
Pour Korbel into large champagne flute. Slowly stir in cranberry juice. Garnish with frozen cranberries.

Chief’s Cocktail

(This is what President Obama and guests at the Inaugural luncheon will be toasting with).
Simply pour Korbel Natural into a champagne flute and garnish with raspberries.

Presidential Punch
3 oz Korbel Brut or Extra Dry
2 oz Lemonade
1 oz Blue Curaçao

In a tall glass, pour Korbel. Add lemonade, blue curaçao and ice.

Any of these would be great for your personal Inauguration party, they’d also make great cocktails for your patriotic holiday party. If you’re planning on having a Memorial Day or Fourth of July party, save these cocktail recipes for later.

If you missed our Inauguration party planning ideas, be sure you check that out.

Images and recipes via Korbel California Champagne

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Image (c) Linette

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Chloe of Tangled Thread shares a few festive fireworks and needlework patterns.

Kerri and Cory at Marriage Actually talk about why having a shared past is one of the best parts about being married.

Heather at A Creative Journal shares her first memory of firecrackers with a view from Australia.

Christine at Mad Cropper remembers Guy Fawkes Day, a day celebrated in New Zealand with lots of fireworks. Find out why Guy Fawkes is celebrated by the English and most commonwealth countries. It is indeed a blast from the past!

Mary Emma at Quilting and Patchwork, provides a quiz for her readers.  See how many of the quilt designs you can connect with historical Americana – events, objects or people.

Marye at Baking Delights reflects on just how much menu’s have changed over the years while at Kettle and Cup she shares a modern twist that many are sure to love with her Non-Alcoholic Long Island Iced Tea

Kelly Saunders at Thrifty Mommy shares her favorite 4th of July memory – I just can’t spoil the surprise – check it out.

Char and Christine continue Camp Weary Parent with this weeks Patriotic activities (Camp Weary Parent has a ton of great ideas for your children this summer if you haven’t visited you should):  Star Spangled Rocket and a week full of other fun projects

Marcie and Mary Emma are blasting through books with Fourth of July and summer recommendations at One Book Two Book. Make sure to check out Fourth of July Books for Teens and The 10 Best Fourth of July Picture Books

At Robust Cooking, I share 10 Healthy 4th of July Dessert Ideas.  At Mother Earth’s Garden I call out the old saying about corn – “Knee high by the fourth of July.” 

Here at She Knows Parties, I share fond memories of my summers and holidays as a child.

Karen at Thrifty Mommy probably has the most reason to celebrate the fourth as anyone I’ve heard – join Karen as she shares family photos of one of the most memorable nights in her families lives.

Over at All Holiday Cafe, Sandy talks about how various countries celebrate their independence.

Christina at SoloMother shares her own experiences of celebrating the 4th of July in the nations capital.

Susan at PlayLibrary shares her memories of playing the classic game of Zimm Zamm during her family’s annual July 4th barbecue celebration.

Eliza at Babylune reflects back on early holiday celebrations with baby on board and looks to this years celebration – their first out of the military.

And finally, there’s Gayla at MomGadget – Without fail, each year her memories race back to an earlier time when life was much simpler and she’d celebrate her summer holiday with relatives down in the holler in the hills of Kentucky – this year – she shares a Bluegrass Kinda Fourth of July.

To all our readers in the U.S. – we wish you the happiest and safest of holidays – and everyone else, thanks for allowing us to share our own memories with each of you.

Fireworks image via stock.xchng

Cupcake image via istock.photo

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  For as long as I can remember we’ve always had some type of family gathering on the 4th of July. Some of my favorite summertime memories are from playing with my cousins on the 4th of July.

When I was growing up my uncle lived on a lake, and we always went there for an Independence Day celebration. Everyone brought their favorite dish, and we grilled out in the back yard. The kids swam, and played volleyball all afternoon. In the evening we watched fireworks over the lake.

I think that’s why I’ve had a blast putting together 4th of July party information in the last couple weeks. Whenever I think of this time of year I flash back to the fun times we had when I was growing up. It was one of the few times each year I got to visit with all my cousins.

Image via stock.xchng

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