Tips, Trends and Advice from MatchmakingMoms.com
Tips to Plan the Perfect 4th of July Party! 

June 30, 2006
by Jill Williams



Dear Members,


The weather is warm, fireworks are in the sky and the barbeques are lit. It is the perfect time to bring your friends and family together and a chance for them to get to know the new special someone in your life. In honor of Americas 230th birthday follow these tips to create a simple and low stress Fourth of July celebration!

Planning the Perfect Fourth of July Picnic

Location
There are two main venue options. Your own backyard is the most inexpensive and hassle-free location to hold your Fourth of July picnic, but if you are short on backyard space or if there is an area you know will be having fireworks at night it might be a good idea to reserve a spot at a local park or beach. If the park takes reservations, make sure to call ahead well in advance to reserve a spot since these places book up quickly.

Invitations
There are websites that allow you to quickly make your own invites for free by personalizing their preset templates. Try evite.com or sendomatic.com to customize an electronic invite for your guests.

Decorations

• Hang up red, white and blue balloons on your outdoor porch or in the backyard.
  Use patriotic crepe paper to create a festive atmosphere.
• Get red, white and blue candles (citronella if you can find them to keep away
  pesky bugs!) to keep the party going on into the night.
• Buy matching sets of patriotic tablecloths, plates, cups, and utensils for your
  guests. This adds a nice touch and makes clean up easy when the party is
  over.

• Set up your seating so that the party will flow. You want your guests to mingle
  and interact with different sets of people, so make sure there are distinct areas
  for people to go during the party.
• Make sure there is somewhere to sit that is in the shade for people that are
  sensitive to the sun or do not want to get too hot. Have bottles of bug
  repellent outside for people to use as well as citronella candles or repellent.
  Spray the area before people arrive.
• If you are planning a beach or park party, bring lots of blankets and tells your
  guests to bring lawn chairs for themselves so that there is enough room to
  sit.

• blue tortilla chips with red salsa
• blueberries and strawberries with whipped cream
• fruit and cheese kabobs with blueberries, strawberries and white cheddar
  cheese cubes.
• hotdogs, hamburgers, BBQ chicken and white corn
• kabobs with choices of shrimp, chicken, Portobello mushrooms, onions, and
  peppers.
• apple pie
• star shaped cookies with red, white and blue frosting.
• angel food cake with blueberries and whipped cream

• Turn up the radio! Try some American classic rock such a Bruce Springsteen,
  or turn on the local radio station for homegrown American favorites.
• Bring out a football, baseball, horseshoes or bocce set. These are all
  American and are perfect for warm July weather.

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