The countdown to a three day celebration of summer, fun, and freedom 4th of July party ideas is on.
Allow me to take this opportunity to thank the calendar year for gifting us a three-day weekend for holiday fun in the summer sun.
Count that as 4th of July party ideas gold!
Fine and Yankee Doodle Dandy for the 4th, a fresh flower haul from the farmer’s market truck mixed with clippings and cuttings from around the yard pops the colors of the season.
It’s been so flipping hot of late I haven’t been firing up the grill, stove or ovens very much.
Dave the Builder continues to inform me we have central air conditioning, but it does make a difference in the late afternoon when you’re cooking-baking-grilling.
Light fare with an emphasis on easy, fresh, and cool suits the summer in all of us.
Have you noticed how much a jar of Duke’s Mayo is going for these days?
Psst…. the digital coupon gods at Kroger are granting shoppers a coupon for Duke’s mayo this week, so let there be homemade potato salad on the 4th of July dinner table.
Always on board for trying new recipes, I ran across this recipe for No-Mayo Potato Salad with Herbs from FoodieCrush.
Incorporating the traditional aspects of horse racing into my Kentucky Derby party ideas such as riding boots, horseshoes, and a riding helmet or two is not as difficult as one would think.
Scatter about tabletops, prop and position around serving trays, centerpiece embellishments, cake toppers, monogram with party attendees initials as take home favors- you get the idea.
8 fresh mint sprigs for garnish or more to desired taste
Directions
In a large saucepan, bring, water, sugar, lemon juice and mint leaves to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until sugar is completely dissolved.
Allow mixture to cool.
Strain cooled simple mint syrup and discard mint leaves.
Fill your mint julep cups with crushed ice, ½ cup Ginger Ale soda, and ½ cup mint syrup. Stir to incorporate flavors.
Adding a dash of Creole seasoning or Louisiana hot sauce along with a handful or two of chopped walnuts to store bought pimento cheese brings the c’est si bon to the party.
Encore presentation worthy for sure, I feel confident in suggesting the use of vintage beauties such as this one for Kentucky Derby party pieces.
The Kentucky Hot Brown sandwich, a Kentucky original recipe created in 1926 at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, is a perfect Derby Day menu choice.
This recipe from SheKnows plates turkey, bacon, Parmesan cheese, tomatoes and a heavy-handed dollop of bechamel sauce together in all its delicious, rich and Kentucky tradition glory.
If baking does not fit into your party schedule or itinerary, consider picking up your favorite cake at a local or grocery store bakery and adding embellishments of choice.
The Places In The Home Independence Day into night party plan objective is all about a cozy at home celebration.
Slow and easy is the theme accentuated by pops of patio and patriotic color, farm to table delights, and staying cool while celebrating Independence Day.
Let me share with you what my it’s not rocket science Independence Day into night party plan objective is all about.
Well of course music and perhaps a twirl around the patio will be involved.
This photo tells illustrates a belief of mine which is fashions and music may change, but gathering together to enjoy summer patio fun is a timeless tradition that never will.
While we’re on the subject of blast from the past fun…
Let’s put on our dancing shoes and boogie down to the cornerstone of the any party playlist.
Macramé is making a comeback, and this macramé swing chair is a comfortable and fashionable flashback to the swingin’ late 60s into the mid 70s and pure patio party fun.
Setting a cozy party scene is not a complicated process.
Comfortable seating is a necessity, and options range from modern to vintage chairs, settees, swings, rockers, and sit-upons (remember, Girl Scouts?).
Just add a red, white, and/or blue decorative pillow to keep with the holiday festivities, a refreshing beverage, and good company and you’ve got yourself a stylish rest and relaxation haven for unwinding on the 4th of July.
More super cute outdoor throw pillows in colors and patterns 4th of July adjacent afford an all summer long vibe.
Yes, I’m well aware this next party idea is an oldie but a goodie suggestion, and with good reason.
One Kings Lane
Distinctive candle holders and battery-operated votive candles continue to be the ideal choice of party lighting.
For the sake of flicker to flame safety, select outdoor LED battery -operated votive or pillar candles, pop in a hanging candle holder or ten, and prepare to be entranced by the affordable, simple, and positively elegant look created.
Another reason I love to use and suggest battery-operated candles is the convenience involved.
Turn the candle(s) on and forget about it until time to call it a night.
Our star-spangled celebration menu takes a celebratory cue from the best part of the summertime bounty- fresh from the farmers market fruits and vegetables.
Fabric closeouts are a great source for affordable and stylish patterns to use as tablecloths, table runners, napkins, basket and serving dish liners.
For those who like to get your money’s worth out of accents and party accessories, the white palm leaf tassel napkin ring from Hobby Lobby fits well with most summer occasions.
Tassel napkin ring not your thing?
Go with a decorative braided rope ribbon in your choice of color.
Blooming blue hydrangeas from the yard of a very generous and giving neighbor star in the centerpiece arrangement along with small American flags.
Ramekins filled with popcorn and garnished with Nestle Crunch bars (red, white, and blue wrapper inspired) is about as easy as it gets.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you about a dessert I made for Father’s Day that was a crowd pleaser.
Two go-to fluff salads, Watergate and Orange Pineapple, fall off the summer salad season rotation because by the time Thanksgiving into Christmas holidays roll past I’ve pretty much had my fill of these two.
Banana pudding or a delicious improved variation of it is summer dessert perfect.
Banana Pudding Fluff
Ingredients
1 3.4 ounce package instant vanilla pudding
1½ cups milk
1 8 ounce container whipped topping
3 bananas, peeled and sliced
1-2 cups mini marshmallows
20 vanilla wafers, crushed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
Whisk pudding mix, milk, and ground cinnamon in a large bowl. Let mixture stand a couple of minutes in order to firm up.
Fold in whipped topping.
Add mini marshmallows, crushed vanilla wafers, and sliced bananas.
Grate zest from lemons to equal 1 Tbsp. Cut lemons in half; squeeze juice from lemons into a measuring cup to equal 1/2 cup.
Whisk together half-and-half, sweetened condensed milk, and lemon juice. Pour mixture into freezer container of a 1 1/2-qt. electric ice-cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions. (Instructions and times may vary.)
Stir in graham cracker crumbs and lemon zest; transfer to an airtight container. Freeze 2 hours before serving.
I knew I would find the right opportunity to order the Royal Norfolk Lemon-Printed Stoneware salad plates, and the lemon icebox pie ice cream waffle cone sandwiches is it.
Serving this summer approved dessert on these melamine lemon salad plates (first cousin to the appetizer/dessert plate) is keeping with the theme of fresh ways to make a presentation.
After all, we do eat with our eyes first.
An easy Independence Day into night party plan objective works in concert with summer fun, delicious dishes, and stylish accessories that won’t break the bank.
Outdoor living spaces furnished to the hilt in summer style with creature comforts in mind deliver just that- summer style.
That’s how we snap, crackle and pop a 4th of July party in the USA at Places In The Home.
One post is good, but two is even better when it comes to Halloween party decorating suggestions.
Classic themes, colors, textures and patterns provide inspiration for these Halloween party decorating suggestions. It’s hauntingly amazing how something intended to be delightful can be so utterly frightful.
Perhaps, but I do love this vintage ventriloquist’s silent clown puppet mounted print paired with a clown hat and shoes for an elegantly creepy centerpiece.
If sending in the clowns is way too creepy for your Halloween party decorating taste, perhaps the throwback mystique of vintage Halloween decorations is right up your alley.
I couldn’t wait to comb the one, maybe two aisles (if you were lucky) of Halloween merchandise at the local five-and-dime and discount stores of the day, looking for more innocent than scary door decorations, plastic jack-o-lantern window lanterns, honeycomb centerpieces, and jointed cutouts.
A Halloween Holiday Haul
Halloween decorations have come a long way in both design and detail since the Halloweens of the late 60s and 70s, but I still love to decorate with at least two or three of these vintage or vintage style Halloween decorations.
Vintage black and white Victorian photos and framed portraits lend a certain amount of eerie charm while creating a haunted presence and ambiance.
Expensive is not on the Halloween party guest list. With deals, free printables, diy ingenuity, buy more save more promos, and online clearance sales starting sooner and sooner in the season, your Halloween bogeyman boogie down get together can be an affordable affair.
Place a red feather boa around the neck of a decorative bust and place in the center of the table for a dressed to the nines focal point wow factor effect.
Follow up with a trio of clear glass candle holders from the dollar store filled with decorative black sand.
Drop in a battery operated votive or pillar candle and drape Spanish moss from the sides, and poof!
Halloween party decorating suggestions magic.
You know what else would look especially spooky, creepy, and crawly good juxtaposed against Victorian elegance?
Note to self:
Add Jim Stafford’s “Spiders and Snakes” to the Let’s Halloween playlist.
Yes, I went there, and now I’m probably going to have nightmares.
Some would argue that’s the point, and others, like myself, would argue plastic or real, the fear of things that go hiss and squeak in the night is the exact reason why we stick with a kinder, gentler Halloween theme.
A wide variety of printables in all levels of Halloween spook, scare and spirit for treats, potions, hang tags, place cards, invitations and tabletop decor are available on Etsy.
When I was a kid, our house was Halloween central due to the gargantuan bodark tree and the green horse apples (hedge apple or Osage orange) it produced. The neighborhood kids loved to throw them and then screech yuck at the sight and the smell.
The horse apple, hedge apple or Osage orange is a choice decorative item vis-à-vis vase or bowl filler, and makes an excellent color, texture and pattern Halloween accent decoration.
October is an eventful month at the Places In The Home corral however, the corral is anything but ok these days when it comes to the business of all things house that make a home. Let me ‘splain. In the grand scheme of blogging things, one (me) simply can’t get the job done, posts written and images photoshopped unless the desktop computer and monitor work, and work they don’t. This recent development is not my idea of frighteningly fun Halloween happenings, and trying to undo this sinister snafu without losing my mind and my religion is the trick.
Evil!
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Although working on the notebook computer is no treat, the trick is to drink apply the principle of adjustment. Adjusting is the theme of this week. Our city government announced this morning that local trick-or-treating will now take place on Friday evening. The forecast is shaping up to be an ugly event making Halloween trick-or-treating on Saturday a washout. Our Halloween celebration is still on, but with an adjustment or two of its own. Call it a trick-or tweaking.
No rain event will poison the party atmosphere at our Halloween at Places In The Home party.
The welcome mat is out, the pumpkin is marked for carving, and in the words of Tom Bodett we’ll leave the light on for the trick-or-treaters.
Blame the madness on the Great Halloween Computer Crash, Charlie Brown!
I’ll redefine the term steaks are on the grill via a cast iron skillet on the stove, a liberal pat of butter, haunted house seasoning and a low and slow approach. The food and drink will flow, and the Let’s Halloween playlist will rock the castle.
The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports takes places on the first Saturday in May.
Louisville, Kentucky rolls out a Southern welcome to thousands of attendees while Churchill Downs takes the lead as Kentucky Derby festivities and finery celebration central.
Time-honored traditions and thoroughbred horse racing reigns supreme on Kentucky Derby Saturday.
Red roses, mint juleps and fascinating choices of Derby Day finery fill the grandstands, box seats and infield of Churchill Downs as well as themed Kentucky Derby Days parties.
Derby Guys and Dolls Finery
My parents and I attended the Kentucky Derby in the late 1970’s. Experiencing the Derby live and in person is a thrilling event, but once was enough for us.
Expensive?
Yes!
Crowded?
Oh, dear goodness, yes, and that was 30+ years ago!
I can only imagine the crowd control issues involved with the attendance numbers of today’s Kentucky Derby.
Are we glad we attended?
You betcha!
Our current Kentucky Derby Days party is an at home affair.
We are not above breaking out the good stuff as in fashion jewelry, hats, tableware, get down and Derby tunes and Kentucky bourbon in My Old Kentucky Home fashion.
The Run for the Roses is a win, place and show tradition for this horse racing enthusiast family, and it’s a sure bet on the first Saturday in May the hats, the party, and the race will be on.
The Derby Day tablescape always includes red roses, a hat of top, feathered or derby style, a toast to jockey silks, and a creative spin on tablescape accessories.
I’m using the red rose bouquet paper cocktail napkins and 12 x 12 sheets of red roses scrapbook paper for placemats.
It isn’t a Derby Day party until traditional Kentucky Derby delicacies are served.
The fresh rosemary in these Southern Living Roasted Brown-Butter Pecans is the perfect taste complement to the minty bite of a Southern strong Mint Julep.
Tea sandwiches spread thick with Benedictine spread and garnished with radishes, pimento, cucumber slices and bacon are bite sized samples of traditional deliciousness.
From sea to shining sea-coast to coast, summer is a prime season and reason for hosting a tasty boiled, steamed, or fried seafood cuisine of summer night dinner.
In keeping with the keep it summer simple rule of summer entertaining, I like the versatility a casual with an elegant twist style brings to the table or beach blanket.
Keep the look simple and keep the guests guessing what decorating and entertaining surprise you’ll pull out of your beach bag of tricks.
Building on a theme takes a lot of the guesswork out of decorating and tablescaping.
The summer season comes ready to go with a ski boat load of ideas for themed parties and get-togethers with a catch of the day menu.
These patriotic party ideas range from color rich decorations to delicious food and beverage recipes to beat the summer heat party essentials and a few home decor items for year round indoor and outdoor use thrown in for good measure.
“Just another American Saturday night.”
— Brad Paisley
Not only is the The 4th of July the quintessential summer celebration of freedom, this year it is the summer holiday that keeps on giving, complete with a three day weekend.
Talk about a host/hostess gift of the very best kind!
Are you ready to take the party outdoors with this summer outdoor fun with patriotic party ideas?
Southern Living Photo by Hector Manuel Sanchez – Styling by Frances Bailey
I’ve gathered pretty, delicious, summer essential, and red, white and blue themed decorating, entertaining and tablescape goodies for your summer holiday and summer for the fun of it party ideas gotta have it list.
This patriotic party ideas picnic basket is packed with color rich decorations to delicious food and beverage recipes to beat the summer heat party essentials to a few home decor items for year round use thrown in for good measure.
A blue box fan and a red extension cord will do just that, and the color combination is patriotic party ideas smashing.
Call me old-fashion, but it isn’t summer without a summer sittin’ session on the porch, deck, patio, balcony, or just out in the yard.
No pool?
No problem.
Connect a water hose to a fun summer themed sprinkler, and let the cool summer times roll, you crazy kids.
I like to celebrate in patriotic colors, but tablewares and serveware in classic summer colors and themes will stand up for use at other holiday and entertaining events.
Baseball is a beloved summer sport, and even though there’s no live games this particular summer, you can still celebrate the game.
My dad, top row in the middle – Denver, Colorado 1952
“Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet,
they go together in the good ol’ USA.”
Fill a baseball theme container with blooming flowers or greenery fresh from nature’s arts and crafts store (your yard).
Ears of fresh corn with the husks slightly peeled back in order to expose the corn kernels grouped in threes and tied with woven ribbon of your color, pattern and texture choice or metallic twisted rope is another fresh centerpiece idea.
Mini watermelons on a natural table runner of Pittosporum paired with Lemon Lime Nandina is yet another summer simple and summer chic centerpiece option.
Summer chic.
Affordable.
Eye catching.
Hit a charcuterie or cheese board home run with this Baseball Wood Wall Decor piece from Hobby Lobby.
Pop off the sawtooth hanger on the back so the piece will be lay even when flat.
The piece measures 13″ in diameter making it a good fit for a serving board.
Using small bowls and platters to house your cheeses, nuts, fruits, and meats will keep the board base clean and eliminate any cross contamination to the food from the finish.
Ready to go summer favorites highlight the summer chillin’ & grillin’ menu.
I don’t have any proof of this other than the pounds gained over the season from eating these things, but I do believe it’s safe to say that S’mores are the official dessert of summer.
This recipe from Country Living Magazine for S’mores is stacked with variety, and that only add more yum to a classic.
Ignore the calorie count, add an extra couple of miles to your walk or run, and dive in.
Inexpensive fabric(s) with a good old summertime theme is a party go-to solution for tablecloths, napkins, basket and serving dish liners.
Individual picnic baskets lined with a fabric or bandannas (take home face mask) make a great utensils holder.
Adventures in Making shows us how to make super simple summer (say that 3 times fast) DIY Citronella candles.
Click HERE for DIY details.
This simple project results in casually elegant and much needed accessory to help combat mosquitoes- the party guest pest of summer outdoor living times.
Putting a pretty spin on a summer celebration decoration treats the eye to a visual party favor.
Seasonal flowers from the floral department at your local grocery store or nature’s arts and crafts store ( your yard), moss filler, a large galvanized bucket filled with water and topped off with a floating candle and prepare to light the night in an impressive and pretty way.
It’s gets hotter than, well, you know on these summer days into evening.
Pack a beat the heat survival kit with cooling essentials.
Fill plastic beach pails with his and hers flip-flops, battery operated plastic hand-held fans, individual aluminum spray bottles filled with chilled homemade rose water (the guys love this stuff almost as much as the gals), and a pack of facial cleansing towelettes.
These always make a big splash.
The whole idea of a summer soiree and these patriotic party ideas is KISS- Keep It Summer Simple.
Happy 4th of July!
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Original Mason 2 Gallon Triangle Beverage Dispenser
Phrenology the Science of the Brain Victorian Replica Bust
Evil!
Blame the madness on the Great Halloween Computer Crash, Charlie Brown!
Hit a charcuterie or cheese board home run with this Baseball Wood Wall Decor piece from Hobby Lobby.
