Can you believe it is the 4th of July already? I’m still in shock that it isn’t June anymore. I didn’t even start looking for fireworks in my area until…. this morning. I know, shameful isn’t it. My poor, poor, kids. If I could have a do-over of this week I would have begun planning our 4th of July somewhere closer to last Monday. Since I know I’m not the only person who is staring at the calendar in disbelief, we want to share our favorite patriotic crafts, recipes, and tips for a successful Independence Day weekend.
Happy 4th of July!
Have you seen the adorable photos where he little one is holding, or featuring, a card with a note on it? Using the link below, you can print your FREE 4th of July #Milestonecards for a spectacular prop in your child’s photos.
Download your FREE Milestone Cards HERE and HERE!
Five Last Minute Recipes
Meaningful Mama has a Red, White and Blue Fourth of July Sugar Cookie Tart that you can use a refrigerated cookie dough as the foundation. Running with the easy pre-made cookie dough can save you twenty minutes of prep time and will result in you having a beautiful tart in less than an hour!
Thrifty Jinxy has a cool treat for your kids to enjoy while they wait, impatiently, for the fireworks to start. She suggests using Kool Aid to make snow cone syrup with! I don’t think you can get anything more inexpensive and quick as her Patriotic Snow Cones Recipe.
Patriotic Fruit Kabobs is something the kids can help you make – meaning it takes you two minutes to put everything in a few bowls and move one to the next task while the kids do the heavy lifting! You CANNOT make anything easier than that! Make sure you stop by Katarina’s Paperie and thank her for the great idea!
Put those teenagers to work too! Ask for their help with a delicious Rainbow Fruit Salad! Musings from a Stay at Home Mom has picked some of the best fruit to add to your fruit salad this 4th of July – don’t miss it!
My favorite recipe from this list is Raspberry Tea Floats! I stopped drinking sodas a few months ago and now it is almost painful when I do grab one. This Raspberry Tea Float from Home Cooking Memories is a fantastic substitution for the traditional soda and ice cream float. Let the 4th of July be your excuse to try it out with your family.
Yes! There is also still time to plan a few crafts too! ESPECIALLY those cute flip flops and flag t-shirt! Hop over to our 20 Patriotic Holiday Crafts post HERE for a little inspiration!
4 Quick Tips to Make your 4th Go Smoother
Tip # 1: Be over prepared!
It is always best to be over prepared during extreme weather. It doesn’t matter if it is extreme cold or extreme heat, you need to be prepared! Right now several states are seeing temperatures in the triple digits. Combine this with distracted parents and rambunctious kids and you have a recipe for dehydration! Just this past fall we had our own experience with the dehydration of one of my kids and it was not pleasant. You can avoid this by 1) Making sure the kids are drinking plenty of fluids. Popcicles are a great way to keep them hydrated, the more the better! 2) Don’t forget the sunscreen. Lather it on before you leave the house and again several times throughout the day. 3) Hats, sunglasses, and SPF clothing is your friend – use them!
Tip # 2: Limit your travel
Don’t spend your entire weekend on the road to your destination. Stay closer to home so your family can spend more of it having fun!
Tip # 3: Kids can help too!
Don’t spend your entire day in the kitchen preparing for a great meal you aren’t going to have time to enjoy. Grab ingredients for recipes your kids can make and let them help too – they will LOVE IT!
Tip # 4: Noise Cancelling
Children with special needs, military veterans, pets, and young children may not enjoy the noise from the fireworks as much as you do. Before you start your firework show, check your neighbor’s lawns for signs and know your legal responsibilities in your state.
If you have a child with special needs, or a young child who isn’t familiar with fireworks, grab noise cancelling headphones before you go. Ear plugs may also be a great solution (be cautious of chocking hazards with the wee ones.)
Don’t forget that All Creatures Big & Small is currently FREE at the Google Play store this month! Download the movie before you leave for the weekend’s festivities and it will be there when you need it to keep the little entertained while you wait for the fireworks show! Learn more HERE.
In All Creatures Big and Small, a clumsy new species of Nestrians, led by patriarch Dave and son Finny, find themselves left off the list of animals allowed to board Noah’s Ark. With rough waters ahead, the father-son duo scramble in disguise to sneak onto the boat. Caught up in all the excitement, Finny accidentally steps off the boat and gets left behind leaving him and a few new friends to embark on an incredible and harrowing journey to reunite with their family. With the aid of creatures big and small, Dave must turn the Ark around to save his son in this heartwarming adventure of biblical proportions.
Disclaimer: Never use blogger photos without permission. Victoria from Mom Does Reviews obtained permission to use the photos included in this roundup. {Victoria is a Craft & Food Round Ups Member}