Category: 4th of July


Jul
2021

Trying Something New

categories: 4th of July, Crafts, DIY

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July weekend.

Ours was quiet.

We had all the usual yummy cookout food and watched some neighborhood fireworks from our back porch.

I did make some super easy cupcake toppers.

I found this American flag on Pinterest, downsized it, and printed some on my printer.

Cut out two together, folded over, and glued them to a toothpick.

They added a bit of fun red, white, and blue to our table.

As the title of my post states, I did try something new this weekend.

I made some citronella candles for our porch.

It all started with these cute pots I found for less than a dollar each at my local Meijer’s store.

I ordered a candle making kit on Amazon, soy wax pellets, and some essential oils.

There are many different kits available for many different prices.

I have never made candles before and I was surprised just how easy it was to do.

My kit had everything I needed, a melting pot, wicks and stickers to hold them in place, and a metal guide to keep the wicks straight when pouring the wax.

They came out perfect.

I added lemon eucalyptus oil and citronella oil drops to my melted wax.

I read someplace that lemon also helps to keep the bugs away.

The pots are the perfect size to place around outside.

I love them and will for sure make more.

How fun it will be to make them in different containers.

It always makes me feel so good to learn something new.

Blessings and love to all!


Jul
2021

A Simple 4th of July Wreath

categories: 4th of July, DIY

Hey folks, hope you all are ready for the holiday weekend.

Are you showing some red, white, and blue around your home to celebrate our country’s birthday?

I am sure lots of families will gather now that most are vaccinated and feeling safe.

Today I am sharing a very simple 4th of July wreath.

Using a styrofoam wreath, red, white, and blue pinwheels, a glue gun, and less than 30 minutes of your time to put together.

I had the pinwheels from a past 4th of July event, but I am sure any dollar store sells them.

The wreaths are available at Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

The first step was to remove the sticks from the pinwheels.

I then added glue to the back of each pinwheel and pressed them down on the wreath.

In my case, I alternated the red and blue pinwheels all around the wreath.

That it!

So simple and festive for your front door, or any place in your home.

Love it!

Enjoy all the good food, fireworks, and everything red, white, and blue that this weekend brings.

Happy Birthday America!

See you all next time!


Jul
2020

Simple Patriotic Pride

categories: 4th of July

Happy 4th, the birthday of our great country.

It’s our patriotic pride of this country, along with the cookouts, and fireworks, that make it a wonderful holiday.

Things are a bit different this year, but I hope you all have added a few simple touches of the red, white, and blue to your homes, even during these troubled times.

My touches were simple.

I changed out my porch pillows, and added some flags.

I found a vintage look banner on Pinterest, printed it out, and added to our family room fireplace.

Yesterday I made a pound cake from scratch to have with strawberries and lots of whip cream.

Yummy!

We have our old folks fireworks ready, sparklers!

Although our country is currently in such turmoil, it is still the greatest country on earth.

Celebrate that, show your patriotic pride.

The hatred shown these days is so sad, I don’t hate anyone!

Pray for our country on this day, enjoy your celebration, large or small.

Enjoy this day, remember our country’s history and all who served to make it great.

God bless all, and God bless America.

I have attached a link to Lee Greenwood’s new version of, “God Bless The USA”.

Recorded with my favorite group, Home Free, and our US service men and women, it is so good.

Love to everyone on this day.

Lee Greenwood Collaborates With Home Free And The US Air Force For Stirring New Version Of “God Bless The USA”

Jul
2018

Red, White, and Blue Memories

categories: 4th of July, Random Thoughts

Last week we spent our 4th of July, as we do most days, just simple and quiet.

Our fireworks were sparklers!

Of course, a bit of decorations.

Some may find it foolish, but it is something I like to do!

That’s just me!

My son helped me grill some burgers, corn in the husks, and some ice cold watermelon.

He asked me if I remembered the neighborhood bike parades we had on the 4th, as he was growing up.

Of course I do, fun for him to use balloons, crepe paper, streamers, anything red, white, and blue to decorate his bike.

When we purchased our home in 1978 our neighborhood was full of families, many children for my son to grow up with, so thankful, since he was an only child.

We had wonderful backyard cookouts, moms in charge of the food, and dads in charge of the fireworks.

Things changed as the years passed, many families moving on, children grown and off to school.

Our neighborhood is mostly filled with older folks now, many living alone.

We have new neighbors in the house next to ours, moving in within the past month.

A young family with two beautiful little girls, and a sweet dog who runs around the yard with a full size stuffed animal in his mouth.  Many times he brings the toy over to the fence for us to see, so very cute!

When we are sitting on our back porch it brings us joy to see them all together.

Much of our 4th was enjoying this family in their pool, the dog too!  He loves to get in the pool!

I realize that our 4th celebrations of years ago, are no longer.

That “season” of my life has passed, but oh how I thank our Lord for the memories!

Happy summer memories and love to all today.

 

 

 


Jul
2017

How to Carve a Watermelon Basket

categories: 4th of July, Celebrate, Simple Recipes, Summer

It’s only the 9th of July, lots of summer still left to enjoy.

I thought you all might need an idea for something to take to a family gathering or cookout.

This is my most popular pin on Pinterest, pinned hundreds of times.

Here are the instructions from a previous post.  http://lovingmynewsimplelife.com/wow-them/

This is seriously so easy to do, and a show stopper on a food table.  Love the scalloped edges!

Can be filled with colorful mixed fruit, or simply cut up watermelon chunks as I did in the top photo.

When putting this post together I thought of my first memory of having watermelon.

I loved to spend time with my grandmother in the summer. There was a truck that would come down the street selling fruits and vegetables, and on one hot day, she grabbed her little black change purse, and we went to the truck and bought a watermelon.  Grandma cut it up, and we enjoyed it that hot summer afternoon.

My oh my, what a sweet memory for me!

Make some sweet memories this summer, and also try carving a “sweet” watermelon basket.

Love you all this July afternoon!

 


Jul
2017

When a Small Gift Returns

categories: 4th of July, Random Thoughts

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July.

I hung my flag outside of our home the first thing in the morning.

So fortunate to be born and live in the USA.

Sometimes we forget!

Just a quiet 4th for us, no invites, no guests.

I did decorate a bit, it is just something I like to do!

Last week when shopping with my sister, we found a cute dog bandana filled with stars and stripes.

We immediately thought of our favorite dog, “Denali”, belonging to my niece, my sister’s daughter.

I wrapped it up and mailed it to him for his 4th of July apparel.

In the afternoon, during our uneventful 4th, my phone beeped.  It was a video of our favorite dog prancing around, modeling his new scarf.  Soooo cute!

Oh my gosh, what a really simple sweet moment!

Me and my husband watched the video over and over, laughing at it each time.  It made our day special.

The video was our gift of thoughtfulness returning!

Do something simple and sweet for someone you love and watch it come back.

Love to all!

 

 


Jul
2015

Celebrating the 5th!

categories: 4th of July, Celebrate, DIY, Summer

4th of July tableWe were invited to my sweet niece’s new home for the 4th.  Just being with my sister and her family is always a reason to celebrate for me.  They are all so dear and such an important part of my life!

On Sunday, July 5th, I decided to bring out my red, white, and blue for a small celebration with “my family”.  Of course, we had another reason to celebrate, looking forward to watching our USA women’s soccer team playing in the final game later that evening.

I set a small table on our back porch with a few special colorful, holiday items.

The utensil bags were easy to put together using a cut off small brown bag and adding a band of star paper and a glitter star.

I love the red and white dotted ice cream cups which were perfect for our dessert, Greater’s chocolate chip ice cream. Greater’s is a famous ice cream shop in our Cincinnati area, and now famous across the country.

IMG_0570[1]

Greater’s is also a candy maker and uses the broken chocolate pieces for the “chips” in their ice cream selections.  Some of the “chips” are small candy bars!

If any of you ever visit the Cincinnati area, stop for some ice cream at Greater’s.  They not only offer chocolate chip, but also chocolate-chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip, and the cherry cordial chip is one of the most popular.

I brought out the beverage tub I recycled last year at this time, and tried a Martha Stewart idea, filling balloons with water and freezing, using to surround the drinks.

IMG_0550[1]It worked great.  They froze hard and did not break!  I like the idea that you can choose any color of balloons for the occasion.

Our day was fun, peaceful, and most of all, “my family”…… me, my husband, and our son, were together for another 4th and 5th of July!

The day ended with our USA women’s soccer team winning!  What joy!

Love and joy to all!

Happy summer!