The 4th of July is one of the best holidays.
The colors, the food, and of course celebrating our beautiful country and freedom.
This year we spent the 4th with James's family and had a to die for dutch oven dinner, and then headed over to Holladay for fireworks.
[who else thinks playing Phantom of the Opera during fireworks is a total mood killer]
My darling sister and I did a mini photo op.
^^uhhhh what do we do about this^^
and of course I had to snap a few of Hank.
Because what's more patriotic than a retriever in a bandana?
And of course I made some goodies to celebrate!!!
Being honest here...
When you get married, you basically get poor.
It's the unfortunate truth.
Which is why I DIY basically everything.
I love having a little place of our own to decorate just how I like. With each holiday I find myself dyyyyyyying to decorate accordingly!
Sooo I made some 4th of July decorations this year to show just how patriotic we can be.
The first one is this wreath.
I actually got the idea from a lady in my ward, and it's all over pinterest and etsy too. But why buy from someone else if you can make your own?!
I went to Michael's and bought one of those green foam wreaths (you could also use a pool noodle), red, white, and blue yarn, and white felt. Then I used a hot glue gun to secure the yarn down, and wrapped sections of each color (make sure to wrap TIGHT) around the wreath. Then I cut out stars from the felt and glued those on the blue section. Super easy and it only took about an hour!
The second is this candle.
This idea just popped into my head one day when I was super bored actually.
I already had the supplies so I winged it and I think it's adorable.
I used wood craft sticks, sort of like popsicle sticks but smaller, painted them red, white, and blue, and then hot glued them onto a candle I already had. Then I drew the stars on with a white chalk marker, and tied some ribbon on.
The next obviously isn't a decoration.
But I made it. And it tastes good. So i'll share.
How darling is that?!
The recipe for the cake:
-2 cups + 2 tbs flour
-11/2 cups Sugar, less 1 tbs
-1 tbs baking powder
-1 tsp salt
[mix dry ingredients + add]
-1/2 cup shortening
-1 cup milk
-1 tsp vanilla
[beat + add]
-3 eggs
[beat + pour into a greased and floured pan. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes]
You could use your own recipe or a box mix, but seriously... this cake is a 10.
Once it cools, frost with any white frosting and arrange the strawberries and blueberries to look like our beautiful flag. Then add coconut flakes to the empty white spots.
Delicious.
..........
Lastly,
You can't celebrate America without doughnuts.
Covered in patriotic sprinkles to be precise.
Happy Birthday America!!!
