Our Fourth of July: Fireworks, Lawn Chairs, and Simple Summer Magic

The Fourth of July is one of those holidays that doesn’t need to be fancy to be unforgettable.

In fact, the messier, louder, and more relaxed it is—the better.

For us, it’s all about:

🇺🇸 Good food

🎆 Fireworks

🪑 Lawn chairs

🧺 Blankets

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Friends + family

✨ Letting the kids stay up way too late

No pressure. Just vibes.

Get our summer favorites here!

The Menu: Classic, Easy, Crowd-Pleasing

This is not the time to reinvent the wheel. Everyone wants the classics—and I’m happy to give them what they want.

Our usual lineup:

🍔 Hamburgers🌭 Hot dogs🌭 Brats🌽 Corn on the cob🫘 Baked beans🥗 Pasta salad or potato salad🍟 Chips & dips🍉 Watermelon🍓 Berries🍦 Popsicles🍪 Brownies or cookies

We set everything up buffet-style so people can grab food whenever and get back to playing, talking, or watching the kids run wild.

The Decor: Patriotic, Reusable, and Stress-Free

I love festive decor—but I’m not about buying a bunch of stuff I’ll only use once.

For reusable, quality pieces, I usually shop at Hobby Lobby. They always have cute red, white, and blue options that don’t feel cheap or overly themed—things you can pull out year after year.

Now for the fun stuff…

We all know kids love:

✨ Glow sticks

✨ Light-up toys

✨ Silly patriotic accessories

✨ Fun party attire

And for that? Dollar Tree is undefeated.

That’s where I grab glow necklaces, glow bracelets, light-up rings, and all the little fun extras that make the night feel magical—without spending a fortune.

My philosophy: Splurge where it lasts. Save where it doesn’t.

Yard Games Are a Must

The Fourth of July is basically made for backyard games.

Some favorites:

🎯 Cornhole🥏 Can Jam🍾 Bottle Bash⚽️ Soccer🏈 Football 💦 Water balloons or sprinklers for the kids

Set everything out early so people can jump in whenever.

Fireworks Setup: The Real MVP

This is where the magic happens.

If you’re watching fireworks at your house or nearby, ask friends and family to bring:

🪑 Lawn chairs 🧺 Blankets🧃 Coolers🧥 Light jackets

We usually send a text ahead of time that says:“Bring a chair or blanket for fireworks!”

It makes everything easier, more comfortable, and way more enjoyable.

Glow Sticks = Instant Party

When it starts to get dark, we pull out the glow sticks—and it immediately becomes a whole thing.

We use:✨ Glow necklaces✨ Glow bracelets✨ Glow wands

The kids run wild. The adults laugh. Everyone looks festive without any effort.

It’s one of the simplest things we do—and somehow one of the most memorable.

Why I Love the Fourth of July

This holiday feels like freedom.

Bare feet.Sticky fingers.Music playing.Kids laughing.Fireworks in the distance.

Nobody’s worried about perfection. Everyone’s just… there.

And those are my favorite kinds of days.