4th of July tablescapes for the picnic table from my front yard, perfect for Independence Day! 

I hope you love the photos of our Fourth of July tablescape and seeing the many elements broken down simply.

Red, white, and blue patriotic accessories adorn this (mostly) child-friendly table setting with plastic dishes, including plates, chargers, and stemware.

This table was set up for a dessert-only meal late one night prior to the Fourth of July.  You can see that the only foods on the table are sugar-free fruit popsicles, bowls of red and blue M&Ms, and red and blue cupcakes!

The cupcake platter was our patriotic centerpiece for the 4th of July tablescape.  The middle cupcake has “USA” spelled out in red hot candies.  The poor cupcakes were starting to melt due to the heat, so the USA is sliding off of the side in the photo!

Here is one table setting (minus eating utensils, because we had finger foods only).

Some of the little pieces which went into this 4th of July holiday table setting are easy details that make a big splash:

• Decorative colored glass gems in mini dessert bowls.  These were also sprinkled across the tablecloth to reflect sunlight and add shimmer.

• Curled metallic ribbon, leftover from Christmas.  These small coils of ribbon were sprinkled on the table and also used to accent the napkins (which were gracefully folded by my daughter, London).

• Small square mirrors (available at craft stores) were placed under the popsicle bowls to add depth to the tablescape.

Our tablescape came together quite nicely, as the result of a whole-family team effort.  Happy 4th of July!

Love Independence Day?  Check out our 4th of July party menu with recipes and our 4th of July party house cleaning tips.

Find more beautiful tablescapes with Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

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Housekeeping Heaven: 4th of July Holiday Housekeeping

While your family is boasting over 4th of July parades, bonfires and fireworks, you might be silently praying that they’ll all agree to go somewhere public rather than invite over your friends and family on the 4th.

Holiday housekeeping is at the top of the “most dreaded” list for most homemakers. In reality, holiday housekeeping is the easiest cleaning you’ll ever do because you don’t have to do all of it!

Let’s think about the holiday parties you’ve been invited to. Have you honestly ever gone through someone’s entire house (including closets and dresser drawers) and complained that it wasn’t spotless? Probably not. If you have children, have you ever walked into some other child’s bedroom and expected it to be neat and tidy? Definitely not.

Unless you have a friend or family member that has serious Mysophobia (fear of germs), you won’t have to worry about it either. Your friends and family are there to have fun – not rummage through your home wearing white gloves.

4 Tips for Fourth of July House Cleaning

1.  Start by making a list of the obvious high traffic areas that your guests will be viewing. Estimate how much time it  will take you to clean each area. This way, you will know if you should schedule an entire afternoon or the entire day prior to the party to get it done. Check things off your list as you complete tasks and you’ll feel that much better about all that there is to do.

2.  Delegate tasks. Your list won’t seem to overwhelming if others pitch in to help. Only delegate tasks to other household members if they are capable of doing that task in a timely manner. For example, do not delegate the task of cleaning mirrors to your daughter if she is easily distracted by her own reflection. This is housekeeping – not acting school.

3.  Think ahead. Plan the food menu days ahead so that you can get a head start on the cooking and baking. If a cookout is your thing, remember you can make pasta salads, cookies, pies, and more ahead of time (and reheat the day of if needed). This will save you time on party day.

Try to spread out your to do list as much as possible. You will drive yourself crazy if you try to do all of the cooking and cleaning the day of the party. If you plan on polishing silverware or need to put the leaf in the table, these are tasks that can be done prior to cleaning day.

4.  Keep it simple. I know some holiday parties are going to require more detail than others, but stick to the norm as much as possible. In other words, don’t bother digging out the fine china and family heirloom silverware when you host a backyard barbeque. Don’t worry about cleaning your teenager’s bedroom when you plan to host the party in the living and kitchen areas. Close all of the doors to the rooms you will not be using during the party.

However, do put a sign on the bathroom door to make it easier for your guests to find it when you direct them down the hallway to do their business. Don’t bother cleaning rooms that you don’t plan to use during the party – unless you have the time and just want to. This is about having fun! You won’t have any fun at all if you wear yourself out beforehand.

Enjoy yourself and your guests will enjoy your 4th of July party.

Next week, check out Housekeeping Heaven for “How to Clean Your Garage”. Make sure you don’t miss any of Courtney’s housekeeping and cleaning posts by getting our free updates now! Learn more about how to subscribe.

Get more helpful tips at Works for Me Wednesday.  Photo by stock.xchng.

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Nessa is a full time wife and mother of two. She loves stirring up new creations in her country kitchen. Catch her on Twitter @Nessa_TX or check out her blog Ramblings of a Texas Housewife.

The 4th of July is a big event around here! It is the perfect time to have a big get together with family and friends, enjoy some great food, and celebrate our freedom. I wanted to share with you what we will be serving at our big 4th of July party this year. You might want to give some of these yummy recipes a try!

Appetizers

Last Call Jalapenos – These are my personal favorite snack! I look forward to these whenever we cook out. Be sure to wear food prep gloves when working with the jalapenos.

Side Dishes

Pinto Beans – This recipe makes the best pinto beans I’ve ever tasted.

Main Course

Bar-B-Q Chicken

Dessert

This is my menu plan for the 4th of July. They are all tried and true favorites that my family really enjoys. I hope your family enjoys them as well! Have a happy and safe holiday!

Stay tuned next Monday for In the Kitchen with Nessa.  Make sure you subscribe to our free updates so you don’t miss any of her great kitchen how to articles and recipes!

Find more cooking articles at Kitchen Tip Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesdays, and Homemaker Mondays.

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Homemaker Barbi was happy to have Oscar Mayer as the official sponsor of our Memorial Day BBQ Bash.  But like all things in Alaska, you just never know what is going to happen with our weather!  You may have already seen our midnight Alaska bbq we had with Oscar Mayer hotdogs.  Needless to say, things are pretty topsy turvy when you live in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Our Memorial Day Barbecue was scheduled for 4pm.  It was hot outside, upwards of 80 degrees and sunny.  We had planned to let the kids run through the sprinkler with their swimsuits on, even. Well, that didn’t happen…

We got rained out! At exactly 5 minutes to 4pm, as we started bringing out all the food to the picnic tables, the sky turned black.  Rain clouds rolled in and rained on our picnic!  We quickly moved all the tables and food under the awning against the neighbor’s window (shown at right). 

The food was safe, but we had to huddle on the sidewalk until the rain slowed to a drizzle.  Our barbecue food was as great as ever, even if my picnic tablescapes didn’t survive!  We had delicious Oscar Mayer hot dogs (including the new spicy jalapeño ones for my husband, and had great company with friends, family and neighbors!  Note the raindrops on our hot dog packages:

By the end, the rain stopped and the kids (even the big kids!) were able to run around an play with the hula hoops and frisbees.

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My hubby and I are always happy, no matter what unexpected circumstances we run into.  Here are some photos of pregnant me, Danelle Ice, and my hubby, Michael Simmons, on our rainy Alaska summer afternoon:

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We didn’t get many pictures because of the rain, but if you want to see a few more, check out these:

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Thanks again to Kraft and Oscar Mayer for being the official sponsor of our Alaska Memorial Day BBQ Bash (even though it was mostly rained out)!

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No matter where your family vacation destination is, there are simple steps you can take to make the most out of your summer vacation. Follow the summer vacation tips below from this mom of four kids to eliminate stress and enjoy some quality family time during this summer’s annual trip.

Hotels and Food

When booking your accommodations, don’t overlook the benefits of staying in a hotel suite or condo rather than a regular hotel room. Though pricey, these home away from home settings are spacious and family friendly, and may well be worth the extra money spent.

Family suites are usually equipped with washing machines and dryers (or access to them), allowing you to pack lighter for your trip.

Family suites also offer full service kitchens complete with refrigerators, toasters and microwaves. By preparing breakfast in the room and packing a lunch, you will significantly reduce food costs associated with dining out for all 3 meals.

When visiting a popular destination such as Orlando, grocery prices tend to be higher than average. For added savings, buy the bulk of your groceries before leaving your home and store in a cooler, if you have the room in your car. This provides the additional bonus of healthy snacks during the drive and decreases the amount of rest area stops and drive-thrus to feed the aching bellies in the back seat. 

Keeping Kids Entertained While Traveling

Whether traveling by car or by plane, you will need to keep the children entertained. Even parents that have cars equipped with DVD players find that children will grow tired of movies during the drive.

Individual activity bags for each child work wonders in keeping the kids entertained. For younger children, fill individual backpacks with coloring books and crayons, favorite small toys, picture books, miniature family photo albums, snacks and juice.

Flying and Confirming Details

If you are flying, pack a small carry-on bag of essentials to have on hand.  (Print out our checklist How to Pack a Carry On Suitcase.)  Be sure to include band aids and first aid items, important documents and phone numbers, etc. This will come in handy should your luggage get delayed. Compile a list of all confirmation numbers (i.e.; rental car, hotel, theme parks admission, etc.) and include this in your carry on as well.

It is always good to spend some time before you leave confirming all aspects of the trip. Call the hotel and confirm check in dates and times. If flying, call airline and make sure flights are not delayed. To save time, print the boarding passes at home.

Check the weather for your destination online to make sure you have all appropriate clothing. I often visit Florida and the weather is inconsistent. Sometimes it’s sweaters and hats, other times it’s bathing suits and sunscreen. Better to be prepared before you arrive than to have to spend money on clothing when you get there. If you are traveling by car, be prepared with a road atlas and even a direct map-quest route. Automobile navigation systems have been known to go haywire, and should such a thing happen while in unfamiliar territory you will be glad you took such precautions.

Vacation Routines with Kids

While vacations are a time to relax and do away with rigid schedules, it is helpful to maintain somewhat of a routine while away from home. Children will not adapt as well as adults if their normal behavior patterns are disrupted. Try to maintain normal sleeping patterns by ensuring bedtime and naptime remain fairly consistent during the trip. The combination of disrupted sleep and over stimulation from a vacation environment are the key factors responsible for tantrums and meltdowns. Bring comforts from home such as personal pillows and favorite toys.

Have realistic expectations about what your children can tolerate and how they will behave on vacation. Children do not have the capacity to cope the same way adults do. They need to be entertained without being over stimulated. Finding the right balance is the biggest challenge of family vacations. A good rule of thumb is to keep adult-focused activities to a minimum and fit them in between family friendly activities. Bored children result in cranky children, which results in cranky parents. By planning in advance, you can do your part to provide a family friendly summer vacation that is enjoyed by everyone.

Family Friday: Time to Share!

Now it’s time for you to share your Family Friday post with the rest of us!  If you’re not sure how it works, read the directions and guidelines for Family Friday here.

Please add your family-related blog post below in the Mr. Linky. Remember, you MUST link your post back to HomemakerBarbi.com. (If your link was deleted, email us.)

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The "I Thought it Was Just Me!" Syndrome

Have you been fed up with the number of birthday parties your children are attending or overwhelmed with the work that goes into throwing a birthday party for your own child?  Chances are, you answered yes to that question.  Chances are even greater that although you feel the pressure, you haven’t done anything to alleviate it. 

You’re not alone!  If you haven’t done anything to change the situation, it may be because you’re suffering from the "I thought it was just me!" syndrome.  In our busy lives, it can be difficult to see that the stresses we deal with are the same issues affecting other people.  “Just dealing with” social stresses is a common method of handling them.  These pressures may be widespread, but that doesn’t mean they are necessary.  After all, birthday parties didn’t used to be such elaborate affairs. 

Kids Birthday Parties Circa 1984

Let’s rewind about a quarter of a century; what were birthday parties like in 1984?  Watch this video for a little trip down memory lane:

If you’re about my age (early 30s) you probably remember having a birthday party about like the one in the video above.  Parties are now thought of as "events" complete with themes, favors, goodie bags, staged games, costumes and coordinated activities.  Parties put unnecessary burdens (time, financial) on parents.  Does the following quote sound familiar?

"I do need to drag the crew to WalMart for yet another birthday present. Gosh I am sick of birthday parties. Did you ever go to so many parties when you were a kid? I know I didn’t. I have had to budget practically another utility-sized payment just for gifts. It does keep the kids occupied and happy for about 2 hours, so I guess that is a small price to pay."

                                                                 -Lorie Kerns, mother  

Problems identified from the above quote:

• Extra shopping trips to buy birthday presents
• Tired of going to so many parties
• Expensive to buy so many birthday presents

Simplifying kids birthday parties and focusing more on the fun and less on the “requirements” of throwing a “perfect party” are key!  Don’t get caught up in the hype and the parent guilt that if you don’t go all out and have matching napkins and plates it will mean you’re a bad parent! 

We love ways to frugalize and simplify.  Please tell us in the comments:  how do you keep your kids’ birthday parties simple?  Do you have family rules for party attendance or gift giving budgets?  Let us know!

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With our money saving bbq tips you can host a fun backyard bbq on the cheap, and your guests will have a great time regardless of how little you spend!

The most expensive item you have to buy for a barbecue is some type of bbq grill.  If you don’t have a bbq pit in your backyard, you will need to purchase a grill. The good news is that you will only have to make this purchase once!  This can range from less expensive tabletop units (cheap) to a small charcoal grill (medium) to a full scale propane tank grill (spendy), the choice is yours. Regardless of what you choose, it is a great investment that you will use repeatedly and get your money’s worth.

How to Save Money on Your BBQ

Charcoal:  If you use a charcoal grill or fire pit, look for charcoal sales in stores. Stock up on cheap charcoal when offered at a low price and store them until you need them. Check circulars and online coupons for specials at grocery stores and even hardware stores.

Food:  When purchasing food, buy large quantities of less expensive items such as hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken pieces. Buy cheap meats in bulk at wholesale stores or watch for local sales at local supermarkets. If you want to offer more expensive items such as steak or pinwheels, purchase less of them so they can be served as an accompaniment to the other items.

Since you are providing the meat, it is perfectly acceptable to ask each of your guests to bring additional side items such as salads, breads and buns, chips, watermelon, condiments, deserts, ice cream and beverages. They will be more than happy to bring a dish, just make sure you keep a log of who is bringing what to avoid ending up with duplicate items.

Supplies and Decorations:  Avoid the temptation to purchase festive barbeque themed napkins and paper plates (these will just end up costing extra and will be in the trash can 30 minutes after the food is served).

You can save money by using your regular household kitchen dishes instead of buying disposables. If you do not have enough for the amount of people expected to attend, purchase some standard, inexpensive white paper plates and a cheap roll of paper towels. A bbq is a laid back, casual gathering and nobody is expecting anything fancy.

Use regular silverware if you have enough on hand. If not, ask friends or neighbors to borrow some of theirs for the day.

If you must have some kind of decoration, consider buying inexpensive vinyl tablecloths at a superstore such as Walmart or Target.  You’ll be able to find tablecloths that are both fit for outdoor use and very cheap, usually in colorful patterns.  Use the tablecloths only on the food tables and you’ll provide a lot of color while eliminating the need for more decoration.

Seating:  If you do not have enough seating, ask your guests to bring their own folding chairs. Most people have at least one set of outdoor camping chairs that they keep in their garage or car. People would probably rather sit in their own comfortable chairs rather than on a stacking chair or picnic bench anyway.  If you have a friend who will not be able to attend the barbeque, one option is to borrow their camping chairs in advance so they can be set up before guests arrive.

Have fun when planning your party, just remember to follow our money-saving barbecue tips to keep it cheap and simple.  Let us know in the comments – what are your great tips for having a great bbq on the cheap?

Check out Thrifty Thursdays and Frugal Friday for more cheap summer tips.  Huge backyard bbq photo by eagle102.net.  BBQ pit photo by bdjsb7.

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First, check with the local florist (and go to more than one) to check the rates of the flowers in the month of your wedding. Compare the prices and identify the cheapest ones. If you have some specific flowers in mind, then you can still buy them but pair them up with the cheapest flowers of the season in order to somehow fit into your budget.

If you still haven’t picked a location for the wedding and the cost of the wedding flowers is really bothering you, then consider choosing a garden or a restaurant with a garden as the venue. Then you won’t have to worry about buying wedding flowers (except bouquets for the wedding party). 

Another wise choice in scheduling your wedding with flowers in mind is to place the date near Christmas or Easter. The church will be already decorated for the occasion and you won’t have to go all out with buying flowers to decorate at teh ceremony.

You can also select a venue which has already booked another couple on the same day but at a different time. You  can talk to the couple about splitting the costs of the flower decoration, which will save you both a lot of money.

If you have enough time before your wedding and insist on having DIY budget wedding flowers, you can plant the flowers in your garden and also have your family and friends grow them for you. By wedding time, the flowers will be ready for use, and you’ll only have to cut and arrange them.

Don’t forget to get creative with your wedding flowers. You can decorate the flowers with ribbons, streamers, mirrors and other decorative items, so the number of flowers you need to purchase is fewer and well within your budget.

Locate a wholesale florist in your neighborhood and check the prices of flowers with them. It’s most likely that their prices will not be as steep and will be ideal for elegant as well as cost effective wedding flowers.

Avoid getting married in the month of February, especially close to the Valentine’s day, as the cost of the flowers is definitely on the rise then because of higher demand.  Plan well, think seasonal and look out for opportunities to be creative, and you’ll have the best wedding flowers on a budget! 

Check out our Spring Wedding Tablescape with Pink Centerpieces for DIY instructions to create your own budget wedding tablescapes.

Red rose bouquet wedding flowers photo by AndrewEick. Flower girl photo by geishaboy500.

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What you choose as a housewarming gift will also vary with your relationship with them and your budget. If you are thinking of a unique and personalized gift, then you can use these tips for housewarming gifts.

13 Best Housewarming Gifts

1.  Plants: Plants are an ideal gift for a family who are about to start a new beginning in their new home. Outdoor plants and hanging floral baskets are nice if it’s summertime, otherwise buy them a bonsai or some other plant which can be kept indoors.

2. Cookware: A set of pans or casseroles will be a useful gift for a any new home and will be greatly appreciated.

3.  Personalized Coffee mugs set: If you have a picture of your friends and their family, then giving a set of personalized coffee cups with their pictures and/or catchy captions suiting the occasions is an excellent idea.

4.  Tool kit: A tool kit is a must for a family who is setting up a new home. A tool kit should have essential tools such as hammer, screw driver set, hooks, and nails, among others.

5.  Information package about the neighborhood: If your friends have moved to a new neighborhood then it will be essential to give them a package with information about the neighborhood such as maps, schools in the areas, nearest gas stations, connecting highways and anything else useful you can think of.

6.  Candles and scents: Aroma candles and potpourri sets will be a great housewarming gift for your friends. A new home will need to be decorated and your gift will be a perfect addition to their new home.

7.  Picture Frames: This is definitely a traditional housewarming gift, but a very useful one. A set of picture frames for a new home is an ideal gift.  If you’re a relative or long-time friend, you’ll be able to fill the frames with beautiful pictures of their family that you’ve taken in the past.

8.  Bathroom soap and towel set: A set of scented soaps teamed with towels is a useful gift for your friends. You can also monogram their initials on the soaps and towels to personalize them.

9.  Gift basket: Put in a variety of things such a wine bottle, candles, soaps, towels, chocolates, personalized key chains, etc., to make the gift basket. Pack it with attractive tissue paper and it becomes the ideal gift for a new home.

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10.  Gifts for the children:  Kids are often left out of the presents at housewarming parties.  Get them small gifts, such as toys, or items that can be used in decorating their new rooms, so they’ll feel like part of the celebration too.

11.  A list of local restaurants, their addresses, and a binder filled with their menus.  If they’re new in the area, they’ll definitely want to get out and explore.  This useful housewarming gift will help your friends find their new favorite family restaurant.   

12.  Gift certificate to a local restaurant: Building on the last gift idea, go a step further and finance their first dinner out as a couple or family with a restaurant gift certificate.

13.  A tasty treat:  Everyone loves food, so why not indulge the new home owners with a basket of food to make their own meal?  Create a make-your-own-pizza basket with all the ingredients to make homemade pizzas packed in a gorgeous picnic basket. 

The housewarming gift you will present to your friends will reflect your love and friendship towards them.  Remember that the thought is the most important part, and great housewarming gifts don’t have to cost a lot to show that you care.

Get more Thursday Thirteen at the new Thursday 13, Happy to be at Home, The List.  Housewarming gifts cupcakes photo by slushpup.  Housewarming gift basket photo by Siti Saad.

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Easter brunch, Easter egg hunts and fun Easter baskets don’t have to cost a fortune.  Frugal Easter celebrations are an art, and you’ll get better and better at keeping the costs down without losing the magic each year.  We’ve written some other Easter articles you might find helpful too:

• Frugal Easter Baskets
• Easter Menu: 41 Mouth Watering Easter Brunch Recipes
• Free Pictures with the Easter Bunny at Walmart

(As you can see from the pictures of me holding the egg carton and of my daughter, London Ice, Easter egg hunts here in Alaska are a little different!)

How to Keep Easter Frugally Fun:

Tip #1: Combine Your Celebrations

Our very large extended family all gets together at one house, making for a frugal Easter for all of us. Whoever is hosting the festivities sends out an email sign-up sheet for food ahead of time, and in a potluck sort of way, an entire meal materializes for everyone attending. The kids get to play together, the adults get to socialize, and nobody spends a lot to put on a full-fledged, plated meal at their house. Is your family out-of-state? Try getting together with a few families from church or your neighborhood.

Tip #2: Keep Your Frugal Easter Celebration Early in the Day

Going to church in the morning? Try to have your celebration soon after. The earlier in the day your event, the less expensive your food options become. Few people expect a sit-down meal in the afternoon, and simple, inexpensive foods such as deviled eggs and finger sandwiches can make an appealing and frugal lunch spread. These foods will probably score higher with the kids anyway!

Tip #3: Reuse and Reduce (Your Spending)

Every year I grudgingly pull every bit of plastic Easter grass out of the baskets once all the goodies have been plucked from within. It gets packed in plastic bags (grocery or zipper bags work great) and put into the storage box labeled “Easter.” Don’t forget to throw in your Easter décor, little plastic bobbles from abandoned Easter goody bags, stickers, coloring books, and of course the empty wicker baskets. Just as easy as that, your materials for making Easter baskets for next year are ready – just add candy, eggs and presents from the Easter Bunny!  The extra work now to pack it away neatly makes it easy to make frugal Easter baskets next year.

Tip #4: Plan Ahead

Plan a year ahead, to be exact! The day after (or in some stores, Easter day)  clearance sales are the way to go for getting your Easter supplies.  Check your mass retailers, grocery stores, craft stores and party supply stores for terrific clearance events on Easter items. Keep your head, though. Greatly reduced prices can make us overspend; look specifically for the items you know you will use, such as serving dishes, Easter basket supplies, etc.  Make sure you leave a little in the budget to update your Easter décor as well.

With a little advance planning and a great system for managing your stored holiday items, everyone can keep their Easter frugally fun!

This article was originally published March 12th, 2008.  Photos ©Homemaker Barbi.

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