We went to my friend Andrea’s house for a wonderful Memorial Day picnic, and I wanted to share the photos with you before the Fourth of July, because the red, white, and blue theme is perfect for every patriotic event!

I loved the burlap that she used to cover her dining room table, and the “America” banner on the front added a pop of color.

We didn’t have ALL the food on the table at this point, and some of it was in the kitchen, but we decided to keep the food inside to minimize flies.  I used an idea I saw on Pinterest to put the fruit salad in a covered jar–that way if you are serving food outside, the flies still can’t get in!

I love the way Andrea stacked up old soda crates to hold condiments and salt and pepper.  I have a bunch in my son’s room to hold his Legos; maybe I should borrow them for my next picnic?

The eagle, the straw hat, the copy of the Declaration of Independence…I love all the details!

Even the chandelier gets decorated for the holiday, with red, white and blue paper stars and lanterns.

Andrea took a simple boxwood wreath and jazzed it up with the Declaration of Independence and some flags.

And take a look at what she did over the wreath, with the eagle and the old flag draped around it…

Dessert–the best part!  Hot Tamales, Twizzlers, Three Musketeers, and Crunch bars in apothecary jars create a red, white, and blue display.  Paper flags dress up easy cupcakes made from a box.

Beautiful vintage ephemera on the hall entry table…

The bar was open for the grownups, and the kids enjoyed a bottomless cooler of ice cold Cokes (in glass bottles) on the bunting-draped porch.  Coke in glass bottles is my kids’ favorite junk food treat.  Not surprisingly, this was about the time my children asked me if they could live with Andrea!

Even the flowers in the backyard were decorated for the holiday…

While the grown-ups played a cutthroat cornhole tournament, the kids threw water balloons (red, white, and blue, of course) at each other to cool off.  As night fell, Andrea pulled out a bucket of glow necklaces and whip-its to keep them occupied for awhile longer, while we all sat around and enjoyed some adult conversation.  It was a perfect day!

As we celebrate our nation’s birthday, I am so thankful for the freedom that we enjoy, and for the brave men and women (like my husband and all of the guys at this picnic!) who fight to protect it.  Happy Independence Day!

Thanks for stopping by!

{We are sharing this post at Common Ground and Serenity Now and Honey We’re Home}