better
FAMILY
Favors and sweets double as
themed centerpieces for your
July
4
table. Pinwheels,
$2
at
partyamerica.com.
united we play
Make it all fo r one and
all fo r fun with these
get-the-gang-together
sum m er party ideas.
BY REBECCA FFRENCH AND JENNIFER
SHAW photos KATHRYN GAMBLE produced
by MEREDITH LADIK and JEAN SCHISSEL
NORMAN
INDEPENDENCE DAY BASH
_________________________
Don’t just
sit around listening to Grandpa tell the
kids about the great ol’ Fourth of July
parade they had when he was a whipper-
snapper. Live it! Decorate bikes (see
page
26),
wagons, and dogs with streamers,
and strike up a kazoo band for a march
down the driveway to your neighbor’s
house. The kitschy fun will bring the
generations together—and work up an
appetite for a picnic featuring simple
all-American flavor: burgers (veggie ones,
too), baked beans, potato salad, deviled
eggs, and watermelon slices. Make
dessert an activity with a patriotic
sundae bar. Fill a big bowl with scoops of
vanilla ice cream and offer saucy
summer berry toppings—or fresh (and
super-healthful) raspberries and
blueberries. Whipped cream and
cherries on top, of course. Burn it off
with an energetic game of Wiffle Ball,
and end the day with a light show:
Instead of sparklers, try safe, kid-
friendly red-white-and-blue glow sticks
(just 78c each at
giowproducts.com).
FRONT AND CENTER
210
JULY 2010 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
