Each year the 4th of July comes and passes before we even get the chance to soak it all in. If you are anything like me, you want to make the most of any national holiday, stretching out every minute it offers. Try these 4 things to make your 4th of July celebration as full and memorable as it can be!
1. Make Cupcakes in a Jar and Hand Them Out to Strangers
Are you the type of person who likes to "dig your hands in the dirt" when it comes to baking? If so, this activity may treat you well. Baking a cake is simple, and smashing a finished cake without frosting it may be even easier.
In order to get these delights just right, bake two (or more) cakes, one with red food coloring and the other with blue. After they are finished cooking and cooling, get your hands dirty and crumble those babies up! When this fun process is finished, take a mason jar, fill 1/4 of the jar with red cake, add in a layer of your favorite white frosting, cover with another layer of cake (this time the blue) and top it off with some more frosting! If you want to get extra cute, add sprinkles to the top, or a mini American flag!
The best part about making this dessert (besides eating it) is the opportunity to walk around town handing them out to strangers! Is that out of your comfort zone? Try it anyway! It is the perfect way to meet new people and bring some cheer into their day.
image from https://www.emilyenchanted.com/4th-of-july-cake-in-a-jar/
2. Walk in a Parade
Not the builder type? Me neither! So grab some friends and put together something simple and sweet for your local parade! If you have kiddos, trick out their wagon ride with some cardboard cut-outs like this rocket (shown below). This is an easy way to get involved in your community! A lot of small towns host parades, so even if there isn't one in your community, keep looking and you're sure to find one nearby!
image from http://tiberdc.com/4thofjuly/?page_id=135
3. Bring Back the Block Party
Tell me if you disagree, but I think block parties need to make a strong comeback! Maybe it was a 90s thing, but block parties used to be the best neighborhood gathering of the year! How many of your neighbors do you know by first name? Challenge yourself to get out and meet new people by planning a neighborhood celebration cookout!
image from https://www.whatutalkingboutwillis.com/fourth-of-july-plan-epic-neighborhood-block-party/
4. Have a Glitter Balloon Fight
Okay, now I know that this might get messy, but that's the fun of it all, right?! If you want to avoid having an extra 'sparkle' in your step for the following week, then limit the amount of glitter being used. If glitter is just too messy, try swapping it out for washable paint! To make this magic work, take a small funnel and place the balloon's opening around the edge, then fill it with your desired amount of glitter or paint. After that, fill the balloon with a good amount of water (still using the funnel), tie the balloon shut, and start launching away!
image from http://www.creatinglaura.com/2013/07/glitter-water-balloons-for-4th-of-july.html
Go out and try one of these 4 activities this year! We guarantee it will create memories you can smile, or laugh, back on. Don't forget to take pictures and tag us on social media when you do!
