Celebrate Summer!

The month of July begins with a bang (literally!) with Independence Day, and the summer continues with fun family events and gatherings.  Get some summer party tips and try our Make Life Easier meals for summer!    

Entertaining is casual and eay in the summer.  Take advantage of the beautiful weather, plentiful summer produce, and natural decorating to invite some friends over, relax, and have fun. 
Here are some tips to help you have a great time:

1. Have plenty of ice and drinks-more than you think you'll need actually! The warmer weather makes people thirstier.  Keep ice buckets and inexpensive tubs filled with ice and bottled water handy.  Go for the smaller bottles to cut down on waste. 

2.  Focus on a light menu-again, we tend to eat smaller quanties when it's warmer.  Throw together some interesting fruit or vegetable salads for a quick, beautiful, healthy spread. (visit our Make Life Easier Meals recipe area for some ideas)

3.  Go green...yellow, orange, and turquoise with your party ware- lots of places (including the Dollar Store) offer inexpensive colorful melamine plates, cups, and serving dishes that are on sale even more this month.  Buy enough of the basics in your favorite bright summer colors then mix and match to serve a small gathering or a larger group.  Rinse, store, and reuse all summer long. (We found some great items at Target and Jo-Ann Fabrics!)

5. What should I wear? Something simple! Forget about fussy! Summer heat and humidy call for easy, breezy clothing.  Everybody will be much more comfortable if they come casual.

6. Set up some shade-if possible, have your party late in the afternoon or early in the evening so people won't be outside during the hottest part of the day.  Still though, it's nice to provide some shelter from the sun.  Rented or borrowed tents, or moving chairs in groupings under a shady tree are good options.

7.  Keep your food safe-very simply, keep what's supposed to be cold, cold; and what's supposed to be hot, hot. Keep salads and dips with any kind of a dairy base in bowls of ice.  Keep hot foods in warming trays or slow cookers. 

8.  Think like a hotel-keep bottles of sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and bug spray handy. Extra inexpensive flip flops and towels are nice to have around, too.  

Respect the Flag

As small American Flags are placed at the graves at Arlington National Cemetery, hang a flag at home to honor and respect our nation and those who protect it.  The flag, of course, should be treated with reverence.  Here are some things to keep in mind:

• The flag may be displayed on a pole, rope, wire, or attached to a vertical surface (like a wall).
• The blue field with stars must be on the top.
• The flag should not be used as a decoration or a cover over anything except, under certain circumstances, a coffin.
• The US Flag must always be displayed in a position of prominence when shown with other flags.
• It is customary to display the flag at sunrise and take it down at sunset. However, the code indicates that a flag may be flown 24 hours a day for "patriotic reasons". A flag flying after dark should be illuminated.
• Flying a flag at half-staff should be done only on official order. According to government rules, only the President of the United States has the authority to order the flag to be lowered. However, on occasion governors order the lowering of both the American and their state flags for appropriate local situations.
• The only two Federal holidays that require lowering of the flag are Memorial Day and Peace Officer's Memorial Day.
• If your flag is showing wear and tear and needs to be replaced, you should never simply throw it away.  There is a special ceremony for retiring flags that ends with a flag burning.  Boy Scout troops, the VFW, and the American Legion offer flag retirement services.  You can contact your local group to get more information.