LOOKING FOR 4th of JULY INSPIRATION NOW? SOMETIMES JUST LOOK BACK TO YOUR PAST

Of all the patriotic holidays we celebrate in the USA, the one that tugs at my heart the most is the 4th of July. Maybe it's the thought of sparklers and pretty BIG sparkling displays- like diamonds in the night sky. But I think it had to do with being raised up north - in one of the original thirteen colonies - New Jersey.

View of the Twins from the Hudson River 1976

HMCS Iroquois, NYC, 1976

View of the parade on the Hudson River 1976 as

captured from the 28th floor of WTC...

Although we'd venture down to the Jersey Shore, the one year that stands out the MOST in my memory was the Bicentennial Celebration of 1976. I remember meeting my grandmother (mi abuela) for the first time, along with watching the parade of boats being broadcast from the Hudson River... I can also still remember us having the quintessential barbecue with hamburgers and hot dogs, neighborhood kids splashing around in my fathers 'decked' out above ground swimming pool, playing wiffle ball & badminton in the yard, as well as volleyball in the pool, eating at a traditional-styled picnic table, and the day followed by us kids churning ice, milk, vanilla and sugar into ice cream...

One of the other memories that comes to mind is my fathers fascination with fireworks. His favorite thing to do was to light a stringed batch of them (with his cigarette) and throw them into a huge metal milk can we had on the patio (from another one of his curb mining escapades) ...rrrrattttaaa--ttattah--thump thump thump... REALLY loud like guns going off. He also enjoyed shooting off bottle rockets, roman candles, and again - lighting with his cigarette - CHERRY BOMBS - which I believe it was this Bicentennial year - after lighting the cherry bomb, he threw the CIGERETTE and put the LIT CHERRY BOMB back in the bag with the others... AAhhhh... the good ole days...

Martha Stewart's fireworks table display

and easy sand candles are a little safer for today...

Although I don't recall us 'decorating' the house for the 4th of July, I do remember some red, white and blue details out in front of our little yellow house (like flower boxes, shutters and a wagon wheel - again - dad found). I guess maybe that's why I do like to bring in a little red, white and blue inside (and outside) our home for the fourth...

I'm not a 'crafty' person - but I LOVE this wreath!

Simple - Sweet - Impact

Flag Wreath found at The Picky Apple

I've been hunting around magazines, blogs, stores, the net, and Martha's for inspiration, I'll be sharing with you this week... along with pulling a new look together - inspired by the reds, whites, and blues - and by using mostly things I already have (I've been wanting to dig into the box of blues anyways) enJOY!!

Here's to fond childhood memories,

looking forward to finding more inspiration,

Wildwood - New Jersey - age 4

and having a wonderful week...