Independence Day will be here before you know it, and your children may be looking for fun Independence Day games to play. Your children may not have any ideas of their own. If this is the case, you may want to give them some of these suggestions.

Flag Relay

One activity your children may like to try is a flag relay. Here’s how to play the game:

Gather together a number of small American flags, enough for each person playing the game. Then split the children into two teams with equal numbers, if possible.

Put two buckets filled with sand at one end of the yard and make the starting point at the other. Place the flags into the buckets with an equal number in each one.

When you say “go,” the first child will race to the bucket, pick up a flag, and then head back to the next team member. They’re not allowed to run back, however. They may walk or march. When they reach the next team member, they’ll tag them and that person will race down to get their flag.

Continue the game until each team member has raced down to pick up a flag. Let the children keep their flags. If your town is having fireworks, the children will have flags to wave.

Bike Parade

Children love to ride their bicycles. Encourage them to decorate their bikes and have a mini bike parade. If you live in a neighborhood, suggest the other children also decorate their bikes for the parade.

Ask the other parents in the neighborhood to help their children decorate their bikes. One parent may want to lead the children on their bikes. Young children without bikes can also participate by decorating wagons they can sit in.

Cake Decoration Competition

You may have seen the television shows where teams decorate cakes in a challenge. Why not hold your own cake decoration competition? Your children don’t have to decorate an entire three-layer cake, but you can have them decorate a single layer or cupcakes.

Provide each child with a single layer cake or a cupcake. You’ll also want to have patriotic-colored frostings. It may be necessary to purchase white pre-made frosting and then add different amounts of food coloring to make the desired red, white and blue colors.

Besides providing frosting, you’ll also want to have sprinkles and other decorations on hand. Allow the children to decorate their cake layer or cupcake any way they like. Of course, besides having a bunch of fun decorating the cakes, they’ll enjoy eating them even more.

The Fourth of July is a great holiday to celebrate as a family. Children may feel like they don’t have much to do. Using one of these fun Independence Day games or activities will give your children something to do while the food is cooking or parents are otherwise busy.

Original post can be found here: Fun Independence Day Games

Some people have problems processing gluten in their diet. They may be gluten intolerant or have Celiac disease (more serious), both of which can lead to pain and discomfort. Needing to avoid gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye and many processed foods, makes it necessary to find gluten-free alternatives.

If you don’t have a gluten intolerance problem, you probably don’t realize how many foods have gluten in them. Here are two 4th of July recipes you may want to try for yourself or a friend or loved one who is gluten intolerant.

Quick and Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

* 1 cup peanut butter
* 1 egg
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 container of marshmallow fluff
* 1 12-ounce package gluten-free chocolate chips
* 1 tablespoon shortening
* (Optional items: candy sprinkles, gluten-free white chocolate chips, raisins, or other ingredients up to 1/2 cup)

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Combine the peanut butter and sugar and then add the egg. Stir these until well combined. Spoon this mixture onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake the cookies for 7-11 minutes or until they’re slightly brown. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool.

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and shortening. Stir frequently. Place a spoonful of marshmallow fluff on the cooled cookies, top with another cookie, and then dip the cookies in the melted chocolate. Allow them to cool on a wire rack and add sprinkles if desired.

Red, White and Blue Gluten-Free Cupcakes

* 2 1/4 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
* 1 1/3 cups sugar
* 2 teaspoons xanthium gum
* 3 tablespoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup butter (you can substitute same amount of margarine or 1/4 cup applesauce)
* 1 cup milk (you can substitute same amount of rice milk)
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 2 large eggs
* 1 jar strawberry ice cream topping

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line or spray a cupcake tin to avoid sticking cupcakes.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, xanthium gum, baking powder and salt. Mix well. Add a stick of butter, vanilla and the milk. Beat this for about one minute, being sure to scrape the sides.

In a small bowl, beat the eggs for about one minute before adding the sugar. Beat the mixture for another minute. Add this to the dry ingredients and beat for about 1 1/2 minutes on high speed.

Fill the cupcake pan about 1/2 full in each hole. Next, place 1 teaspoon strawberry topping on top of the batter and then fill the cup to about 2/3 full. Bake these in the oven for about 25 minutes. Allow them to cool for five minutes before removing them from the pan. They should cool completely before frosting them.

Blue Frosting

* 1 cup softened butter (2 sticks)
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 4 cups sifted powdered or confectioner’s sugar
* 4 tablespoons milk
* 5 drops blue food coloring (more or less to reach the desired shade)

Beat together the butter and vanilla for about 30 seconds on medium speed. Slowly add two cups of the powdered sugar while beating. Add two tablespoons of milk and then the rest of the powdered sugar. Add the remaining milk in small amounts until you get the correct consistency for frosting your cupcakes. Add red, white and blue sprinkles if desired.

If you know someone with gluten intolerance they’ll appreciate having gluten-free 4th of July desserts available for them to enjoy the same as everyone else.

Original post can be found here: Gluten-Free 4th of July Desserts

When warmer temperatures begin, people start looking for a reason to spend time outdoors. Are you thinking about capitalizing on the weather? Perhaps figuring out how to organize a fun and frugal 4th of July garden party will do the trick.

Garden parties are simply parties which are held in a garden or on a patio. You can create a great outdoor atmosphere for a party with decoration, music, lighting, delicious food and drinks, and great friends and family. You can use these ideas to help you create a fun a frugal 4th of July garden party.

Begin by determining a budget for the party. You’ll need food, drinks, decorations, and tableware. Do you already have some items or will you need to purchase everything new? Discount and dollar stores are good choices for the tableware items you’ll need.

A couple of weeks before the party, send out patriotic-themed invitations. Be sure to include the date, time and location. If you prefer a particular dress code, you may want to indicate that on the invitation. Don’t forget to provide an RSVP telephone number for guests to let you know they’ll attend.

Clean up your garden or patio. Mow the lawn, pull the weeds, and make the area look inviting. You may even want to plant some new flowering plants around the area. Wash the tables before you place tablecloths on them. Clean the chairs or other seating. If your chairs aren’t as clean as you’d like, you may be able to get some inexpensive covers for them or possibly you can borrow seating from a friend.

If the party will be during the day, you’ll want to provide shade. Set up any umbrellas you have or use a pop-up canopy. Decorate using red, white and blue streamers, star garlands, and other patriotic items.

For night-time parties, you’ll want to use patriotic-colored lighting or single color Christmas light strands. You can also light the area by using torches or candles. Paper lanterns in patriotic colors would also be appropriate. Don’t forget to place several citronella candles around the area to keep mosquitoes away.

If money is a concern for you, you may want to ask your guests to help provide the food by indicating on the invitation that the party will be pot luck. Purchase tableware in red, white and blue. You’ll need cups, plates, napkins and silverware. Single color tableware will be less expensive than printed items.

Set aside a specific area for food and drinks. Decorate the food and drink table with a potted plant with red, white and blue carnations. Place small flags around the area. Prepare as much food in advance as you can unless you are having a pot luck party. This will make it easier for you and allow you to enjoy your party rather than merely serving at it.

Don’t forget to play suitable music. You can either bring a CD player outdoors or open a window and play the music through the window. Patriotic music would be a great choice, but any music that will get your guests in a festive mood will do.

It’s not hard to organize a fun and frugal 4th of July garden party. Once you have the party, however, don’t throw things away just in case you decide to have a similar party next year. Saving as much as you can will help reduce costs for future parties.

Original post can be found here: How to Organize a Fun and Frugal 4th of July Garden Party

Fireworks are an important part of any 4th of July celebration. Some cities have their own regulations about individuals firing them off, so fireworks safety may not be as much of a concern. If your city doesn’t have these restrictions, you‘ll want to know how to have a safe 4th of July fireworks display at home.

To begin with, you’ll want to find out your city’s laws about using fireworks. Some places only place restrictions on personal fireworks displays if there is a fire hazard concern. Other areas will limit the areas where fireworks can be used. Checking with your city will ensure you know their requirements, restrictions and avoid any possible fines for using fireworks if they’re not allowed.

It is also important for all children to understand that they should not handle fireworks of any kind. They can be so dangerous if not handled properly. Even those fireworks which seem harmless, like snakes or sparklers, can cause serious injuries. Fireworks should only be handled by adults and preferably only those who know how to use them safely.

Some adults enjoy drinking alcohol while celebrating on the Fourth of July. However, alcohol and fireworks simply don’t mix. If the person who is planning the fireworks is drinking, it would be best to allow someone who hasn’t been drinking set off the fireworks.

Be sure to have a water hose, water bucket or a fire extinguisher nearby when using fireworks. One person responsible for acting as a ‘fireman’ would also be a good idea. This way you’ll be able to extinguish any flames or fireworks and be ready for emergencies.

Stay away from the fireworks. With the possibility of catching on fire when lighting fireworks, you’ll want to light and run, so to speak. Don’t look into the fireworks tube to see what happens. Holding lit fireworks is also not recommended.

Even though professional fireworks often have multiple fireworks going off at the same time, it would be best for individuals to light only one at a time.

Rather than using grass or gravel, you’ll want to use fireworks on a hard surface which is flat and level. A sidewalk or paved driveway would be the best choice. Barring that being available, you may want to place a sheet of plywood down to use the fireworks on. The more stable the surface, the safer the experience will be.

Speaking about the surface used when shooting off fireworks, you’ll also want the area to be as open as possible. There shouldn’t be any trees or other obstructions in the way. The audience is also best kept as far away as possible. Never use glass or metal containers to hold fireworks when they’re being lit.

There are other fireworks safety ideas to be aware of, but they should be provided in every package of fireworks sold to the general public. Take the time to read the instructions and fireworks safety standards the manufacturers provide. And don’t forget to use them once they’ve been read.

Original post can be found here: Fireworks Safety – How to Have a Safe 4th of July Fireworks at Home

If you’re like most Americans, you love your country. You can show your patriotism by flying the Stars and Stripes during major holidays. You can also decorate your home with red, white and blue decorations. Learn how to make a decorative 4th of July string of stars garland so everyone knows how patriotic you are.

There are several ways to make these decorations and many places you can hang them once they’re made. Here is an idea you may want to try.

You may want to get your children to help you. It’s possible they’ve made something similar to this while in school, so they’re probably old hands at it. If your children are ‘crafty’ at all, they’ll jump at the chance to make these decorations.

Gather together the following items:

* Red, white and blue construction paper
* Heavy-duty string or yarn in one of the patriotic colors
* School or craft glue
* Star template
* Glitter or stickers
* Hole punch

Find or make star templates in several different sizes. Crafts magazines and the internet are good places to find templates. When you have a couple of different sizes of stars, trace around the templates on the different-colored construction paper.

Cut the stars out and place them in stacks of the same color and size. Punch a single hole in each star. Your children can help you decorate the stars by putting patriotic stickers on them. They can also spread school glue over the stars and then sprinkle glitter on them. Let the decorated stars dry completely before stringing them.

When the stars are dry, take one star (all the same size or of differing sizes) from the various colors – making sure to alternate them in red, white and blue – and put them on the string. You can either tie the string which will anchor the star in one place or allow the stars to float freely along the string. Either way, you’ll want to place enough stars on the string to stretch from one area to the next. Tape the garland on one wall or porch post and then stretch it across to the next. If the stars are floating freely, spread them out as evenly as possible.

It’s not hard learning how to make a decorative 4th of July string of stars garland. Your children may even be able to make them entirely on their own. Consider the abilities of your child and give them help if they need it. Then be sure to hang your stars garland with pride both for the country and for your children’s crafting abilities.

Original post can be found here: How to Make a Decorative 4th of July String of Stars Garland