Party Ideas

Festive Fourth of July Cocktails & Drinks - Red Wines, Blue Martinis, and White Zinfandel

2018-04-16T12:21:00-05:00

Easy and Festive Fourth of July Cocktails

What pairs nicely with taking a seat in the cool grass of a warm 4^th of July night? Having a fireworks show for your mouth is something worth swooning over! With all the sparking in the sky, there is nothing better than holding a sparking cocktail in your hand.

There are cocktails that can fit any style and occasion from a classy affair, to a backyard get together. Having that signature drink to sip on through the night will leave your guests wanting more and keep them coming back year after year.

Formal/ Classy Affair

Cocktails are fun no matter where you are sipping on them. With a formal affair however, it’s best to keep the fun contained in an elegant glass topped off a fancy fixing of sugar or an intricate drink stirrer. You can’t go wrong with treating your guest to the American Sidecar!This deep blue and blazing red drink pairs beautifully with our Patriotic Fan- Burst, Star Picks, and the Patriotic Pop-over Centerpiece!

What you will need:
Drink shaker
Ice
Bourbon
Triple sec
Lemon juice
Sugar
Blue Curacao

How to make it: Fill your drink shaker with ice and add in 2 oz. of the bourbon, 1 oz. of the triple sec, ¾ Oz. of lemon juice and shake well. Before pouring the mixture into you glass, use some of the lemon juice to wet the rim of the glass. Then gently dip the glass into a shallow bowl of sugar coating the rim in a thick layer of snow white sugar. Strain your shaken mixture into the glass and top off with a Blue Curacao float. Courtesy of: (Jung & Tullo, 2017) https://www.cosmopolitan.com/food-cocktails/g3325/4th-of-july-cocktails/ Celebrating Independence Day is big ordeal for a lot of people. Independence Day signifies the freedom and rights that we have by living in the great United States. It’s a day to fly the American Flag, wear red white and blue, and cherish being able to live the American Dream. Serve you guest a sip of that feeling this year with the American Dream cocktail. This one of a kind and highly elegant glass of something cold and stiff looks great with the Jointed Uncle Sam standing behind it and the 4^th of July Streamer hanging proudly above it. Add an additional touch by using the Printed Americana Table Runner to proudly display your drink on!

What you Will Need

Stemless snifter
Ice cubes
Caramel
Cognac-marinated cherry bits
Bache- Gabrielsen American Oak
Cherry Heering
Dry Vermouth

How to make it:

Stir together 2 Oz. of the Bache- Gabrielsen American Oak, 2 tsp of the Cherry Heering and 2tsp of the Dry Vermouth. Pour the mixture into your stemless snifter and add in 4 ice cubes, or your desired amount. Garnish the drink off with a Cognac-Marinated cherry bits and caramel cracker. You are set to make your guest mouth water! Courtesy of: (Hubbard & Silberman, 2017) https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/g9576585/4th-of-july-cocktails/?slide=3 Casual Sipping Bring people together with some fancy fixings and casual drinks to make the night a memorable one. Most parties for the 4 ^th of July take place outside. Crafting your drinks to reflect this casual setting and ambiance of your party is an art form and we have you covered! Guests will go crazy for the fireworks while taking swigs of their own Firework in a Mason Jar! This explosion in a jar pairs exceptionally well with our firework chandelier, the Stars and Stripes Ceiling Décor, and the Foil star Danglers. Using these item to embellish an outdoor party will give you the right touch of shimmer and pop of color to really hone in on the feeling of pride for your country.

What you will need:

Mason Jars

Ice, Tropicana Strawberry Peach

Bourbon

Lime Juice

Ginger Beer

How to make it:

In your mason jars add 3-4 ice cubes, or your desired amount. Next you will want to pour in 3 oz. of the Tropicana Strawberry Peach, 1 ½ oz. of the bourbon and ½ oz. of lime juice. All of these ingredients should be thoroughly stirred and then topped with ginger beer. Add in a skewer of red raspberries and blueberries to add a red and blue touch against the light star struck orange color of the drink.

Courtesy of: (Jung & Tullo, 2017) https://www.cosmopolitan.com/food-cocktails/g3325/4th-of-july-cocktails/

If the shimmering in the sky and the loud cracks, sizzles, and booms of the fireworks don’t get your night going then you need to be set up with the Red, White, and BOOM. The loud clapping from the fireworks in the sky won’t be the only thing making you jump out of your seat tonight! Give your guests a jolt by using the Gleam ‘N Curtain as a great backdrop to the display this mixture of tastiness in front of. Beside the drink display the Foil patriotic Hi-Hat and the Miss Liberty Tiara to give your guests something to wear the remainder of the night.

What you need:

Mint leaves

Devotion Vodka

Lime juice

Simple Syrup

Club soda

Strawberries

Blueberries

Lemon

How to make it:

To make this drink you are going to want to start out with an empty glass and muddle mint leaves in the bottom. Once they are muddled to your liking, top the leaves with 1 ½ Oz. of the Devotion Vodka, ½ OZ. of lime juice, and ½ of simple syrup. Lastly you will want to top it off with club soda and garnish with strawberries, blueberries, and a few lemon slices to make a nice pop of color.

Courtesy of: (Jung & Tullo, 2017) https://www.cosmopolitan.com/food-cocktails/g3325/4th-of-july-cocktails/

Backyard Picnic

A picnic is never complete without the nightly lighting of a campfire and toasting s’mores to chow down on. You may not be in a location or a situation where lighting a campfire is safe or achievable however. Don’t worry though, we have you covered with these S’mores Shooters! Since s’mores have a reputation of being a tad bit sticky, keep things clean all night by covering your table with the Patriotic Tablecover. Use the Patriotic Cupcake stand and the U.S Flag picks to make serving these tiny creations easy and mess free!

What you will need:

Marshmallow

Graham Crackers

Milk Chocolate bars

Kahlua

How to make it:

Start with laying out half pieces of graham cracker on a serving plate. You can add in scattered pieces of chocolate to give the Plat a garnished look. You then want to toast you marshmallows and allow them to cool. Gently scoop out the center of the marshmallow with a spoon and pour in your favorite flavor of Kahlua. Lastly, place a piece of chocolate on the inside of the marshmallow to add a scrumptious touch.

Courtesy of: (DonBavand, 2016) http://www.instyle.com/home-decorating/entertaining/4th-july-cocktails-red-white-blue#402409

As a child, the 4^th of July stands out as a night full of fun, watching fireworks, and cooling off with a great big Popsicle at the end of the night. Bring back childhood memories of your favorite frozen treat with this next specialty drink. Treat your guest to something they will be slurping on all night long with the Red, White & Blue Italian Ice Champagne Floats! Set these tall drinks of ice cold goodness beside some of the 3-D Firecracker Centerpiece Set. Get people taking pictures of the mixture you made with the Patriotic Photo Fun Signs and the Patriotic Photo Props!

What you will need:

You are going to need three kinds of Italian ice. One kind to make the red drinks, the blue drinks, and the white drinks.
- Red ice: Watermelon, cherry, or strawberry
- Blue ice: blue raspberry
- White Ice: Lemon
Champagne or other sparkling wine. The sweeter the wine or champagne the better it pairs with the ice!

How to make it:

Use a small ice-cream, cookie scoop, or melon baller to dip out the Italian ice for your drinks. To prepare ahead of time, scoop the ice and place the balls on a cookie sheet. Lightly cover with plastic and place in the freezer. The balls can hold their shape if frozen right away to make serving later in the night easier. When serving place the ice in a Champaign flute and pour your wine or champion on top. Serve with a straw or a drink stirrer to break the ice up and disperse through the cup.

Courtesy of: (Harrelson, 2015) http://www.thekitchenismyplayground.com/2015/06/red-white-blue-italian-ice-champagne-floats.html

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Proud to Party in the USA - Patriotic Party & Decorating Tips

2018-03-22T12:37:00-05:00

Patriotic Proud 4^th of July!

On the night of July 4^th, the skies of America are lit up with explosions of color. It’s easy to throw together a party with splashes of red, white, and blue everywhere. It’s important to truly capture the deep patriotism Independence Day signifies however. Bring People together in a space that embodies America, then, now and forever.

When thinking back on all the years of celebrating Independence Day with family and friends it’s easy to remember that being outdoors was a large part of the night and watching the fireworks was always best when you had a small snack to accompany the viewing with. A snack station is never a bad decision when hosting a celebration.

The Snacking Table:

Since the viewing of the fireworks takes place once the sun has gone down and dinner

time has passed. It’s a great idea to compose a fireworks snacking station. Make this a place people can easily access and grab a quick bite to enjoy the fire works with.

Cover the table in a rectangular deep blue tablecover. Once the tablecover is in place, attached some blue metallic table skirting around the edge to hide the table legs. Since this is a snack table for viewing the firework there needs to be some shine included!

Once the base of the snack table is compose it’s time to add in some flare! Use the Stars and Stripes Fabric Bunting to create the main focal point of this display. Drape the bunting along the front of your table display and on top of the metallic table skirting. The metallic table skirting creates a great backdrop to the bunting. Above the table display, hang the Glittered USA Streamer. There is nothing more patriotic than “USA” spelled out in large letters and doused in silver glitter!

Make your snacks something that is easy to eat while moving, sitting, and viewing the fireworks. The snack table should not be composed of messy meal fashion food. These snack should be something that can be eaten with one hand and carried around while mingling and talking with other guests.

You can’t go wrong with hotdogs and popcorn! Get the Plastic hot dog Holders as well as the Plastic Popcorn Boxes. Both of these items make displaying the food festive and allows party guests to run up, grab what they want, and keep moving without making a mess. Add in the Patriotic Cupcake Stand to display some treats for the sweet tooth addicts!

Its best to keep the majority of your snack table dedicated to space for the snacks but to really boost the mood of the party add in some great wearables! Party guests love when they get to take an item home that they can remember the night with. Opt for going with the White Plastic Skimmer with Red White and Blue Band for the men. For the ladies, get them a Miss Liberty Tiara!

If this is going to be a family style party, include a nice vase of some Fabric American Flags for the children to grab for the night. Favors help to in immerse party guests into the theme of the party and keep them coming back year after year.

The Photo Station:

People love being able to take pictures to look back on, post to social media, and remember events by. Especially for a holiday as big as Independence Day. Make your patriotic party something for people to remember easily with a picture perfect photo station!

Start off with making your backdrop. Layer together the Patriotic Stars as well as the Patriotic Stripes backdrop. Together, these backdrops make it look like you are standing in front of a large American Flag. Next set up some Patriotic Photo Props to have your guest step right up and turn themselves in to Lady Liberty or Uncle Sam. These props work best if you place them on a table top and have people step up behind the prop.

Handheld props are another great way to get people entranced into the party theme and interacting with others. Get the Patriotic Fun Signs for guest to hold as they step up to the photo booth. Not only do these props allow for each person to put their own twist on their pictures, they also get people talking, laughing, and making memories together.

Holidays such as the 4^th of July are major moments that are best if they can be enjoyed with family and friends around you. Make each holiday one to remember with festive décor, favors, and good eats. Planning your party may be a daunting task but will be well worth it when at the end of the night you look around and see each guest mesmerized by the magic exploding in the sky.

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Explosive 4th of July Party Foods and Patriotic Decorating Ideas

2018-03-19T08:54:00-05:00

Explosion of Shimmer Celebration!

Boom, clap, crackle! Nothing beats sitting out under the stars of the night sky watching fireworks for the 4^th of July paint the sky with their flashing light and bold colors. Opting for the usual red, white, and blue color scheme for your party is not enough to captivate your audience. It’s time to throw some shimmer, glimmer, and shine into the mix!

Adding focal points to your party venue helps to give the room a uniformed look rather than spreading all your decorations sporadically and haphazardly. The best areas to give the most detail to are the places where people congregate and will be spending the majority of their time at.Let’s layout the food or your hors d'oeuvre station.

The Food Table

People typically come to parties for the food, drinks, and to mingle. The best way to make an impression on someone is through their stomach. Let them indulge on some scrumptious food while admiring the décor.

Start with a rectangular or round midnight blue or white tablecover. Choosing to go with a solid colored tablecover in a darker shade, gives you a strong base color that allows you to then get creative with the rest of your décor without making the room look too busy.

Behind your table add a red, white, and blue shimmering metallic curtain. This creates a great backdrop and fully puts the theme of shimmering explosion into perspective.

To help slightly break up the flow of a solid metallic backdrop you can add and stager together some Patriotic Star Fans in the upper left hand corner of the curtain. To do this, slightly pull the metallic fringe to the side, hang the fan in the desired position on the wall behind the curtain. Then carefully replace the metallic fringe back to its former position nonchalantly falling behind the fan and coving the thumbtack holding it in place.

To tie in the look of your metallic backdrop with the table, add the Metallic Tassel Garland in red, white, and blue to the edge of the table. This helps to spread the look of shimmer throughout your display and make the décor flow seamlessly.

Before decorating the top of the table keep in mind the style of food you will be serving and how much of it you will be serving. If the food selection is going to be more of a finger food type, decorating a little more heavily will be fine.If the food serving is going to be more of a meal fashion, it will be best to keep the decorating low to avoid unnecessary clutter and slowing of serving.

An easy way to add a festive look to your party is to make some red white and blue cupcakes an place them in the shape of a star with the design of a flag on the dessert table.

Opt for placing a flag cascade centerpiece in the top right hand corner of the table on the opposite side you decided to place your star fans. To add a little more to the centerpiece try placing the Patriotic Tissue Centerpiece beside it or staggered in front of the cascading centerpiece.

On the right side of the table, sitting on the floor, include a cooler to hold and festively distribute those cool drinks. This allows there to be more room to display food on the table top. Try out the Inflatable Patriotic Hat Cooler for this!

On the left hand side of the table, under the star fans, add some party favors for your guests to pick up and enjoy the whole night! Party favors make everyone feel welcomed and included in the festivities. People tend to reach the most for wearable items. Try the Foil Patriotic Hi-Hat. This hat is covered in a foil material that has a light reflective attribute to it making it fit right into the shimmering theme. Keep the hats stacked so as the guest are picking up their food plates, the can easily take a hat off the stack and place on their head to wear the remainder of the night.

To make things even better, included a standing display of the Star Beads to shimmer beside the hats. People can then choose between a hat, a set of beads, or opt for both!

The Overall Room:

Now that you have the main focal point of the room, you want to avoid heavily saturating the the rest of the party space with too many items while still making the room look cohesive and thought out. Use the 3- Tier Shimmering chandelier to add to a corner or two in the room. In front of, or to the side of the chandeliers, use the Flag photo/balloon holder to hold down some festive balloons of your choice.

For the guests seating, try to stay with the same midnight blue tablecover that was used for the food service table. Keeping the same tablecover throughout the venue gives the space a uniformed look. On the top of these tables keep the décor low. People want to be able to look across the table and see who they are talking to without an item obstructing their view.

Since the table for the food display was a rectangle, opt to go with round tables for the guest seating. Round tables help to bring your guests together and encourage talking and mingling.

Try sprinkling some red, white, and blue star confetti in the middle of the guests table to break up the solid color of blue and add a pop of delicate shine. In the center of the table using a 3-D Foil Star Centerpiece is a great a great way to add a touch more to your table tops and really bring out a splash of shimmer.

Overall this is a baseline of the endless possibilities that could go into an Explosion of Shimmer celebration! Don’t be afraid to get creative and add a few personal touches and additions to the party décor.While this is an explosion of shimmer party, you want to be weary of going overboard with the sparkling items. Make sure you included a few items to tame the shine as well!

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