Friday, June 11, 2010

American friends - I need your help.


I need some help from all of my American blogger friends out there. As many of you know my dear friend Mill has been living in the US for the past year. I have been waiting patiently (and occasionally not so patiently) for her exciting and emotional return home. I am so much looking forward to July 20, when I will welcome her home at the same airport where, one year prior, we had made such a tearful farewell.

As many of you know I love to throw a party, and most of them usually have some sort of feminine vintage theme (remember my hens high tea & Mill's farewell party).

I am trying something different for this party. You see, once Mill arrives home, she will have managed to miss two 4th of July's in the US due to her travel schedule. I have therefore decided to throw Mill a '4th of July' party.


This is where you come in, what do YOU do to celebrate the 4th of July??? Do you have any suggestions for:
Decorations?
Food?
Drink?
Music?
Party Clothes?

I have gathered some ideas from hours of google research, but would love to know what an authentic 4th of July looks like?

Sam xox

8 comments:

  1. Food: hamburgers and hot dogs on the barbeque grill, potato salad, baked beans, fruit salad, apple pie.
    Decorations: red, white and blue, stars and stripes.
    Party: picnic style -- it is summer here in July. Fireworks after dark are a must, however I'm not sure how you'll manage that one. They are only legal in the US during certain times of year and I have no idea what the laws are in Oz. If you can't get fireworks, at least try to find sparklers. You may have to make do with those trick birthday candles that you can't blow out.

    Hope you have a fun time! The 4th is a really fun holiday!

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  2. For us it is family,friends, food, fun. On the 3rd we are reserving a small park for everyone to gather to witness our daughter exchange vows. The 4th will be a smaller family get together with church family. And the 5th is the icing on the cake, our anniv! That will be a bit more private. Traditional is hamburger and hotdogs. Brauts or hot sausages. Ice cream- we let the kids make it. Just lots of running around and laughter and being together.

    Red White and Blue- cw

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  3. Ditto everything above. Add some beer and you're set to go. Root beer floats for the non-drinkers. (a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a tall glass and pour root beer over it) As for music, it's whatever you choose. You could go with Country Western if you like--I think that's pretty much American. And do everything possible to have fireworks--it's not the Fourth without them! For desert, you could make a cheesecake decorated with blueberries and strawberries or raspberries in a star or flag pattern.
    We go swimming, play baseball and volleyball, croquet, bocci ball, and frisbee in the back yard. A campfire is great if you have a firepit in the yard. Roasting marshmallows--Oh yes, S'mores!

    This sounds like so much fun! Mil will love it! I'm so excited now, I may have to have a great big party on the Fourth myself! :)

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  4. Thank you ladies so much for your tips! Keep 'em coming - some awesome ideas!
    It is actually illegal to have fireworks in Australia, except certified fireworks operators who run the fireworks shows on National holidays etc, so I am afraid our party will definitely not have fireworks. I love Elizabeth's idea though of using the sparklers - I am definitely going to do that!

    What is root beer???

    Sam xox

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  5. Sam, root beer is a soda pop beverage--not a cola, more like Dr. Pepper, but not that either. It's unique. You can make a float with any kind of soda pop, but root beer floats are traditional.

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  6. Sam, hot dogs, BBQ chicken potatoe salad, macaroni salad, apple pie, watermelon, beer, ice tea. Baseball games etc. And lots or red, white and blue,and of course we have fireworks. Guess we all said about the same thing...I have birthday cake, from the day before

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  7. Definately outside - all of the above outside, unless it rains, of course.

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  8. a large bucket full of ice... put canned soft drinks in the bucket. so cold and refreshing on a hot summer's day. Also, if you can, put out a garden hose with a sprinkler.... everyone has to get wet on july 4th!!!! Lots of red, white, and blue!

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