Planning a Thrifty Fourth of July Celebration – Part 2

So, now that you have the invitation list along with who you want to bring what, you need to send those invites, right?  Well, invites can be expensive, huh?  Not if you send them via email!!!  Now I know there are a few southern belles out there who are probably falling over as they read this.  Proper etiquette calls for a hand written invitation.  However, in today’s day and age, who has time to sit and hand write who knows how many invites AND get them in the mail in a timely manner.  I know I sure don’t.  I may get them written…getting them in the mail is another story.  They would ride around in my car probably until the week of the party and then I’d remember to mail them, which, at that point the whole thing would be senseless. So, hello internet!!  Technology can be a wonderful thing at times….PLUS, folks are more apt to RSVP via email giving you a better idea of who’s coming helping YOU plan better!

Now that that’s been taken care of, let’s get on to the fun stuff!!  Planning how to decorate…CHEAP!!

Make your own fireworks decorations:  Take empty vegetable cans that have had the labels removed and been washed and dried.  Make sure you have different sizes (think small, medium and large).  Paint them in solid colors of red, white and blue.   When the paint is dry, take a paint pen and write words like “BAM” and “POW” on the cans.  Bundle them together in sets of three (1 small, 1 medium and 1 large) and tie with rope.  You can put things like sparklers in them to use later in the day/evening or citronella candles.  Place them around the yard or area where you’ll be entertaining to add that extra POP!

 

You can also head to the dollar store and pick up miniature American flags to line your walkway, stick in potted plants, or to put in your garden.  You can also usually find themed tablecloths at the dollar store too!!

 

If you want to decorate your table, you can purchase white carnations pretty cheap and have three clear containers with water to put them in.  Add blue food coloring to one container and red food coloring to another container, leaving the third container clear.  Split the carnations between the containers.  The flowers will soak up the colored water, leaving you with red, white, and blue carnations!!

Stay tuned for more fun and frugal ways to throw and knock-out Fourth of July Celebration!!!

Planning a Thrifty Fourth of July Celebration – Part 1

 

Do you want to have a blow-out Fourth of July party with all of your family and friends but don’t want to blow-out your budget?  Chances are, they want the same thing but have the same worries.  Why not have a potluck celebration?!?!  That way, everyone gets to celebrate together and each person contributes just a little to the overall expense!!  I know it’s just the first of June, but planning a party, any kind of party, takes time.  And, if you’re the one organizing the party, believe me, you’re gonna need to get started…like NOW!!!

 
First things first…..make a list of everyone you want to invite (including your family) and check it twice.  I know it sounds like Santa checking his list twice, but believe me, you’re bound to leave someone off the first go ‘round.  Once you have that done you’re going to want to determine the menu. 

Do you want to do burgers and dogs or something more sophisticated?  If there are kids involved, you’ll probably want to stick with burgers and dogs…trust me.  Once you have the menu planned out, take that list of everyone you want to invite and determine what each person is going to bring.  Now, use a little common sense here.  You’re not going to ask your 4-year old niece to bring a pound cake.  But, you know what I mean.  And, don’t forget paper products, drinks, ice and condiments.  Whew!!  That was a lot, right?  Just wait….the fun’s only beginning.

 
Next time, we’re going to talk about decorating with things you may already have or things you can get for really really cheap…..STAY TUNED!!!