Watching fireworks on the 4th? We’re not all photographers, nor do we have the budget to get all the tools to capture great shots.
We have phones, our phones have cameras and we want to capture images of our fun night.
Taking Photos of Fireworks:
- Stabilize yourself so you don’t move while taking pictures. You can rest your elbows on your knees. That’s the simplest way.
- If you have an iPhone, turn your HDR mode to “on” (see image below).
- Turn off your flash.
- Download a slow shutter app (click HERE to see a list – Slow Shutter cam is very user friendly).
Start clicking away.
Oh, another tip. Don’t take pictures within Instagram because it cuts your image down. Rather, take photos with your phone’s camera and then upload to Instagram if you want to share.
Taking Photos & Writing Words with Sparklers:
- Download a slow shutter app (click HERE for the list. Slow Shutter Cam is very user-friendly). Set shutter speed anywhere between 1.5 seconds – 3.5 seconds.
- Turn off your flash.
- Use landscape mode.
- Use long-lasting sparklers (be sure to peek at the package, it will say if it is or not).
- Stabilize your hands. Resting on a table top or putting your elbows on your knees helps.
- Don’t take in Instagram. Upload your camera photos into IG later. Reason: Instagram cuts down your images and there’s risk of losing a great shot if the app closes or doesn’t upload your picture for some reason.
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!
So you’ve decided to have yourself a little party to celebrate the freedom we enjoy in this great country we live in? You’ve invited all your peeps, you’ve planned your menu, (no? here’s some ideas: Red, White and Blue 4th of July Easy Party Food), and bought the booze for your drinks (Red, White and Blue 4th of July Party Drinks with Free Flag Printables). Now lets get things looking festive!
Always, always, always, everything we do is quick, easy and requires very little moolah. If a project starts becoming too detailed, we move on (thank you ADD), but we want the end result of a quick project to look damn near perfect (thank you OCD).
We’ve found some easy DIY projects and free printables that are basically foolproof, and will have you looking like you do event planning as a profession! Just click the images for instructions or downloads. These people have some great ideas, so go ahead and spend a little time kickin’ around their sites for inspiration.
DECORATIONS…
Free Printable Pinwheel
Source: Skip To My Lou
Line these along your walkway or stick ’em in a jar as a centerpiece.
Americana Star Wreath (Full Tutorial)
Source: Piggy Bank Parties
NOTE: What a great find this blog was! They have a TON of free printables. You’ve got to check them out! Click HERE for more of their patriotic flair free printables. Cute stuff!
Gumball Favors
Source: She’s Kinda Crafty
Patriotic Topiary (Full Tutorial)
Source: Whitney Caroline Designs
Gumball and Flag Centerpiece
Source: All You
Tootsie Pop Centerpiece
Source: Weddingbee
Free Printable Water Bottle Wraps
Source: Mom 4 Real
Free Printable Declaration Banner
Source: Hello New Day
Dollar Store Patriotic Wreath
Here’s one I threw together for our front door. Dollar Store: 2-pack ribbons and a grapevine wreath. I hung it over our existing porch bell. Five minutes and $2. Let freedom ring, ya’ll! That’s how we roll!
Source: Organized Chaos Online
EASY TABLE DECOR…
Patriotic Tablescape
Source: Nestnestnest
NOTE: To recreate this look inexpensively, we saw a tip to use wrapping paper for the long table runner. Maybe sprinkle some paper cut-out stars around the table?
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Source: A Soft Place
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Source: Celebrating Everyday Life
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To get you more fired up with ideas, follow us on Pinterest and see all the cool stuff we’ve pinned to our 4th of July Pinterest board!
If you’re still looking for that one thing to complete your 4th of July Party, comment below and we’ll do our best to get you hooked up.
Enjoy!
It’s almost party time, and what’s a party without lots of liquid refreshments? Oh yeah! We’ve rounded up some leaded and non-leaded drink recipes for your upcoming Fourth of July Bash. We’ve listed the ingredients below each drink so you can get them added to your shopping, and then just click on the drink image to get the recipes.
If you’re needing food ideas to go with your drink concoctions, check out Red, White and Blue 4th of July Easy Party Food. If there’s one thing we do well, it’s throw a party, and everything we do is quick, cheap and easy. So once we get you set up with your food and drinks, we’ll get you hooked up with some easy DIY party decorations. Watch for it! So let’s get this party started, shall we?
1. Three Pop-Rocks Cocktails
(Click on image for recipes)
Source: Pizzazerie
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Pop Rocks on the Beach
Ingredients
- Vodka
- Midori melon liqueur
- Chambord raspberry liqueur
- Pineapple juice
- Watermelon Pop Rocks
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Strawberry Popper Rocker
Ingredients
- Strawberry Schnapps
- 7-Up
- Strawberry Pop Rocks
[/column][column size=”1-3″ last=”3″ style=”0″]
Malibu Rocks
Ingredients
- Malibu rum
- Blue Curacao
- Pineapple juice
- Cranberry juice
- Fruit Punch Pop Rocks
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For Pop Rocks Rimmed Glasses, dampen the edges of your glass with lemon juice, then dip the rims into a plate filled with pop rocks.
2. Melon Mixer
(Click on image for recipe)
Source: The Flavorful Life
Ingredients
- Cascade Ice Zero-Calorie (Blueberry Watermelon)
- Club soda
- Watermelon
- Blueberries
3. Frosty Fireworks
(Click on image for recipe)
Source: Spoonful
Ingredients
- Red or blue fruit-flavored beverage
- Seltzer (flavored or plain)
- Fill an ice cube tray with a red or blue fruit-flavored beverage (such as Powerade, Gatorade, or Kool-Aid) and let the cubes freeze solid.
- Drop three or four colored cubes into each glass
- Pour in flavored seltzer water or clear soda, and watch the special effects. As the cubes melt, colored bubbles will swirl through the seltzer.
4. Pop Rocks Shooters
(Click on image for recipe)
Source: Celebrations
Ingredients
- Red or blue Pop Rocks candy
- Grenadine
- Half and half
- Maui Blue Hawaiian Schnapps
5. Blue Lemonade Cocktail | Watermelon Star Stirrers
(Click on image for recipe)
Source: Celebrations
Ingredients
- Lemonade (our recipe or your own)
- Watermelon
- 2-inch star cookie cutter
- Lollipop sticks
- Blue food coloring (kid-friendly version)
- Maui Blue Hawaiian Schnapps or vodka and blue curacao liquor (adult cocktail version)
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6. Patriotic Drink
(Click image for recipe)
Source: MooreMinutes
Ingredients
- Sobe piña colada
- Gatorade fruit punch
- G2 Blueberry pomegranate
Note: The trick to layering the colors is to pour the drinks slowly over the ice so they don’t mix. Also, layer in order of the drink with the most sugar. The most sugar goes at the bottom, next layer less sugar, top layer least sugar.
7. Patriotic Drink (Kids Version)
(Click image for recipe)
Source: Food
Ingredients
- Cranberry juice or Fruit punch
- Gatorade sports drink (blue)
- Sugar free 7-Up or Sprite
FREE PRINTABLES!!!
Add the finishing touches to your fancy schmancy party drinks with some patriotic flags. Click on the images to download and print these cute little drink flags – for FREE! Print them on cardstock, and attack to toothpicks, straws or drink stirrers.
Drink Flags
Source: PicsandPaper
Circle Flags
Source: The PolkaDotPosie
I would recommend testing these drink recipes many, many times to make sure you’ve got them right before serving them at your party (wink). If you missed our Fourth of July Red, White and Blue Party Food blog, read it HERE. Watch for our upcoming Quick, Cheap and Easy Fourth of July Party Decorations post. When it comes to parties, we’ve got ya’ covered!
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One of our favorite holidays is the Fourth of July. First of all, of course, is what it stands for…our FREEDOM. On a warm summer night, when the fireworks are lighting up the sky, my eyes immediately tear up and my throat gets tight when I say a silent thank you to all who have sacrificed their lives to keep us safe, and the pride I feel to live in this beautiful country.
Secondly…it’s SUMMER! Summer’s are for parties, food and fun. It’s the perfect time for friends to gather and celebrate life. If it’s been awhile since you’ve connected with old friends, this is the perfect holiday to get everybody together to party, and it doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy. We’ve found some great party food, each of them with few ingredients, full tutorials, and are quick and cheaaaap to make.
Over the next few days, we’ll hook you up with some quick and easy decorating ideas, beverage recipes, and all things rockin’ the red, white and blue.
Red, White and Blue Striped Creamy Coconut Stars
[pinit] Source: Hungry Happenings
Red, White and Blue Cake Mix and Jello Cookies
[pinit] Source: Jamie Cooks It Up
Patriotic Watermelon & Feta Flag
[pinit] Source: Wenderly
Chicken Dip with Colored Breadcrumb Stars
[pinit] Source: Hungry Happenings
Star Shaped Fruit Salad
[pinit] Source: Chica and Jo
4th of July Trifle
[pinit] Source: Fancy Frugal Life
Chevron Oatmeal Cookie Cake
[pinit] Source: Cookin’ Cowgirl
Red, White and Blue Bruschetta
[pinit] Source: Jehan Can Cook
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