Inspiration for a stay-at-home Fourth of July

30 June 2020

Over the last few years, the Kirk and Thomas families have developed a tradition of attending our town’s Fourth of July parade together. It’s pretty much guaranteed to be outrageously hot and charmingly old-fashioned :) This year, of course, the parade is cancelled, but Lisa came up with the idea to make a bit of our own Fourth fun – and I was immediately on board!

Whether you’ll be celebrating at home alone this weekend or socially-distanced with another family, we hope these ideas inspire you to have a little fun and get a little fancy! After months of leggings and jean shorts, it felt wonderful to wear a dress while toasting to silver linings, friendship, and our magnificent country.

A little background: you may recall that Lisa and I spent several years together criss-crossing the South creating editorial photo shoots for Southern Weddings. Though this most recent collaboration was hardly a professional production, we had fun brainstorming over Zoom and then bringing our ideas to life! And though our details were far more casual than our wedding days, we were very lucky to have professional photography on hand to capture them – thank you, Christen, for coming out to snap a few photos!! They turned out beautifully!

Even if it’s just your family around the table on Saturday, here is your permission to break out your favorite tablecloth, pour a cocktail, and try something new for dinner.

About the food: though I love a good modern spin on a charcuterie board (always and forever inspired by my friend Kayte!), we wanted to style an option that might feel more comfortable in the age of COVID. Instead of everyone sharing from a central platter, we made individual “boards,” complete with tomato, watermelon, and feta salad, cheese and crackers, summer fruit, spiced almonds, and pigs in a blanket (in honor of everyone’s cook-out favorite!).

Lisa mixed up a delicious drink with prosecco, simple syrup, raspberries, and mint to go alongside – you can find the recipe here!

Though your kids would probably be totally into the charcuterie situation (ours were), we also thought it would be fun to give them their own little spot…

Yes, Shep had eyes on Christen at all times, ha!

Super simple: I brought our kiddie-size table outside and added melamine plates, paper napkins, plastic silverware, and a fancy drink (lemonade with added blueberries!).

For dinner, we went with – wait for it – pizza with pepperoni stars :) It turned out so cute and was SO easy – just cut out the pepperoni with a cookie cutter and pop it on top of a cheese pizza!

For dessert, Lisa made blueberry hand pies and individual berry trifles. June made the sweetest sweets model :)

Gosh, seeing these photos just makes me even more grateful for an outdoor space to call our own, for beloved friends, for reasons to celebrate, for my sweet family, and for the freedom to enjoy it all. In the midst of our communal work to make this country truly a land of equal opportunity, I hope you take a few minutes this weekend to be thankful for all that we already have. I know I will.

Thank you again to Christen Smith for these beautiful photos and to Lisa for asking me to collaborate – be sure to check out her post today, too!

Friends, though I’m curious to hear how you’re spending the Fourth (and please feel free to let me know!), today I’d really love to hear something you love about America in the comments. It can be anything! After all, if we are to work to make this country better, we have to believe that there’s something good at root to build from. I’m eager to hear your thoughts, as always. xo

Block print tablecloth | Patio table and chairs | Blue centerpiece glasses | Floral melamine plates | Mini American flags | Blue taper candles | Similar scalloped napkins (Lisa’s were from Target last Christmas!) | Bamboo flatware | Champagne coupes | Red dot napkins | Similar star garland (mine was from West Elm last Christmas!) | My dress (on super sale!) | Affiliate links are used in this post!

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[…] than usual? I’d love to hear and be inspired by you! And don’t miss Emily’s post here […]

Sarah
June 30, 2020 8:43 am

This is actually my (and my husband’s) first Fourth of July as U.S. residents! We’ll probably just have a laidback day at home as we don’t have any traditions (yet) and all events are cancelled. Being Canadians, we’ll also be celebrating our homeland on July 1, which is Canada Day! For Canada Day, we’re planning to barbecue and make a few favourite Canadian desserts, like butter tarts or Nanaimo bars.

June 30, 2020 11:10 am

This is such a thoughtful question, especially this year — I love America and am proud to call it home. I love that it’s a country built upon hope and dreams and freedom and equality, even when we don’t always get it right. As bad of a rap as “progress” often gets, I love that, overall, Americans strive to be better and to progress in our thinkings and in our collective actions. I’m also thankful for those who dedicate their entire lives to fighting injustice, oppression, and for our country and its people.

I also love your stay at home 4th of July inspiration, especially since it features June and Shep! I did the same on my blog yesterday and shared my favorite patriotic desserts, tablescapes, and festive home decor… especially since this 4th of July is looking drastically different from our usual nostalgic traditions. Sending love your way, friend!

July 1, 2020 7:25 am

LOVE this cute at home idea!! x

July 1, 2020 10:51 am

LOVE the sentiment that we in America have something good already, and that we can build from that! It’s such a new, refreshing, and true thought these days! I love the landscape here. You can drive an hour of fly for several, and there is always something new and unique. Just yesterday I saw a unique flower I had never seen before in my neighbors yard! To not only contemplate, but have the opportunity to visit the big, vast views of so many states is really special.

KNW
July 1, 2020 3:43 pm

You know my feelings on this holiday and all you darling people. I love seeing you two work your magic. I am also crushing hard on that flatware and those individual charcuterie boards. If y’all do this again next year, the Winchester crew is crashing the party. I promise we will be in festive attire and will happily bring the homemade ice cream! xo.

July 1, 2020 4:14 pm

This was so, so much fun–certainly a Fourth of July celebration to remember, though I will be so thrilled to be back at the parade next year too! :)

[…] felt appropriate for 2020, but I thought this one fit the bill. Our photo is a favorite from our Fourth of July backyard fun with Lisa and […]