Get Festive For The 24th Of July, Pioneer Day Celebrations

July 24 is celebrated as Pioneer Day in Utah and many other Western states. The bravery of the original settlers, their strength of character and physical endurance is commemorated with festivities including music, games, speeches, parades, picnics, and rodeos.

Here are some fun ideas to show your gratitude for these great pioneers...

Line your driveway or walk way with American Flags...

Hang Bunting along your home...

Kids love to participate in the festivities of a parade, rodeo, or games. Let them take part in the fun with some patriotic bead necklaces. Or dress them up like a cowboy with a cowboy hat and boots. Your kids will love waving a flag too...

Baby Shower Featuring... Rubber Duckies!!!

Rubber ducky, you're the one. You make baby showers twice as fun!!! Rubber duckies are perfect for a baby boy, baby girl OR a unisex baby shower!




Here's a fabulous idea. .. Float some ducks in the water jug!



FAVORS

The guests at this shower were pleased to get Utah Truffles as a favor. This favor is so simple because the boxes are already decorated for you. Just stuff the chocolate inside!!!




A sash is a great way to distinguish the guest of honor...



TABLE DECOR

To create this look...


Start with a table skirt, it will add length to your table cover and is easy to apply. Just pull the protective paper off of the adhesive as you stick the table skirt to the edges of your table. Another option is to lay a table cover down first and then stick the table skirt directly to the table cover around the outside edge of the table.

TIP: When purchasing a table skirt, try to get one that already has adhesive . Be sure that it will stick to the table you will be decorating.

You can use a solid color table cover or a print. Below, I used a printed table cover and placed it over the blue table skirt.


Here, I ran blue tulle along the center of the table the long way, like a table runner.

The edges of the printed table cover ended up being too long. Instead of cutting them, I cut a hole in the printed plastic table cover at each end to gather up the ends with green tulle (I had previously cut two strips of green tulle into about 24" long strips, one for each end of the table). I pulled the 24" tulle through the hole and tied a bow to gather the part of the table cover that hung from the end of the table


The finished table...


Time to add the refreshments, gifts, and/or table decor...


BALLOONS

Last, but never least, balloons are great on a mailbox to help guests find the baby shower location, as a centerpiece, you can tape them to the floor in a lovely bouquet, or tie them to the chair of the guest of honor. Anywhere you place them, nothing says party like balloons.

Baby Shower Games/Activities

I've asked around to find some fun games that friends have actually tried and loved. Here's what I've come up with so far...

I call this idea the "Baby Blowout" Game.

supplies: 4 diapers, 4 different kinds of candy bars, microwave, stir stick or toothpick.
1. Just before playing the game, place the designated candy bar in the #1 labeled diaper.
2. Place the diaper with the candy bar in the microwave on high for 20 seconds. Stir the candy bar around in the diaper with a toothpick and microwave for an additional 10 seconds.
3. Repeat this process for the remaining three diapers, label them #2-4.
4. Pass the diapers around, have each guest look, smell, taste and Giggle!! then, write their answer on the answer sheet.
The guest who correctly identifies the most "baby blowout" diaper/candy bar combos is the WINNER!

To go along with this game, I came up with a whole baby shower theme. "The Baby Blowout Shower"!!! Serve all sorts of chocolate. Yummmmm!!!

When I plan a baby shower I like to "go with the flow" of the party. If there's a lull I like to have another game prepared. That's when I'll pull out the Baby Shower Bingo.

Many of the baby shower patterned tableware/accessories have a matching bingo game available for you to purchase, but here's how you can do your own...

To prepare for your ultra fun "homemade" baby shower bingo, you’re going to need to prepare your baby shower bingo cards. Each space on the baby shower bingo card should name a baby-related item, with the middle spot of the card being a free space, just like in regular Bingo.

Make sure that you make enough cards for each guest. You’re also going to want to write all of the items that are on the bingo cards onto little slips of paper, which will serve as the space holders or bingo balls.

As your guests arrive, give them each a baby shower bingo card. You will want to have the little slips of paper that you wrote the items on in a bag or a cute decorated box. As you pull the papers out of the bag/box, have the guests mark off that item on their bingo cards. The first guest to have five in a row gets bingo and wins the prize.

Another Variation of Baby Shower Bingo. This version works best when you have over 20 guests.

Give each guest a blank baby shower bingo card when they arrive at the party. Have each guest fill in the empty squares with presents that they think the guest of honor will be receiving at the party.

When the guest of honor begins opening her presents, each guest will check off the presents that she receives that are on their baby shower bingo cards. The first guest to get five in a row wins the game of baby shower bingo.

Baby shower bingo is a great way to keep your guests entertained through the party and is a great way to give out prizes to your guests.

The clothesline

Of course, opening the presents is an activity in itself, but make it more fun. Instead of passing the gifts around for everyone to see, hang opened gifts like baby bibs, clothing and blankets on a clothesline with clothespins. Hang the clothesline in a place, out of traffic, for all of the guests to see.

The Red, White, And Blue!

The 4th of July gives us many reasons to celebrate. Besides living in this beautiful country, we can celebrate summertime, sunshine, friends and family. And, there are so many ways to celebrate!

Below, are some of my favorite items that will complete your 4th of July Bbq, picnic, parade float-making, firework-watching 4th of July experience.
Celebrate with...

DECORATIONS


-Balloons
-Solid color tableware
-Patriotic Tableware
-Streamers
-Confetti

-Flags and pennants...
-Red and blue gingham are a great theme for your patriotic table.

Perhaps the most fun way to show your patriotism is to make alotta

NOISE!!!

-noisemakers, poppers, blowouts, and air horns



WEARABLES

-Hats...


-Glowsticks, glow necklaces, and glow bracelets
Every year I almost forget the glowsticks and boy, would I be sorry. It's so much fun to watch fireworks with your own little light show around your neck, wrist, or in your hands.

-silly string
Silly string is great for parade watchers and participants alike.

I hope you have a happy and safe 4th of July holiday this year!!!

Paper Lanterns

Create a romantic atmosphere at your wedding reception, or wedding dinner, by adding paper lanterns.



Lanterns are a fabulous addition to any indoor or outdoor party. They are easy to assemble and look absolutely beautiful. In the photo above, the lanterns have been hung evenly across the room with twinkle lights draped between. Hanging from the bottom of each lantern is a 2-3" crystal creating a magical feeling.

Lanterns can be hung with twine, curling ribbon, satin ribbon, or wire. This look is finished off beautifully with a satin ribbon hanging from the bottom of the lantern, either tied in a bow or just a knot with two tails hanging down. The ribbon is a wonderful way to add color to a plain, white lantern.

It also looks nice to hang different sizes of lanterns in a group of 3 or more. This looks best when you vary the length of ribbon or string you hang the lanterns from. Your guests will not easily forget your lovely soiree.

Ideas For Decorating With Napkins!

Napkins are a fantastic and inexpensive way to keep your party theme and color scheme flowing throughout your home or celebration location.

Below, I unfolded two napkins and placed them under the centerpiece. I also put a paper placemat under the napkins, but if you don't have any placemats, don't even worry, the napkins will look beautiful all by themselves! a bright pink solid color luncheon napkin could also be used in the place of a placemat.

I also placed napkins in these flower containers to add more color.

I think the napkins placed in the vases below add excitement to the plain ol' clear cutlery. Don't you?!

Another idea is to place some guest towel sized napkins in your guest bathroom or by your kitchen sink to continue the party theme throughout your home.

Glass Vases. Not Just For Flowers.

Besides being a lovely holder for flowers from the garden...

Glass vases serve many useful purposes.

A fun idea for silverware...

I first placed some decorative napkins in the base if the vases, then added the plastic cutlery and wa-la!!!

Below, I placed a pillar candle in a 6" Bubble Ball Vase. Then, I filled the vase with about 2-3" of water. Next, I added some fresh flowers. Tip: When using candles in Glass vases add a teeny bit of water so the candle wax won't stick to the vase.