STYLiNG | 4th of July Survival Station

Fourth of July Survival Station...

I created this "Survival Station" for practical purposes.
It's a GREAT way to add some festive flair to your neighborhood block party...
but it's also a brilliant, clever way to provide the "essentials" for an evening of fun.
Setting up a centralized location for grabbing blankets, snacks, drinks or even bug repellent
keeps you and your guests outside - where all of the fun is happening.

Although I actually used a table for this particular display...
For those of you actually attending a local fireworks show...
The Survival Station can actually be something as simple as a basket, bag or crate...
filled with a few essential ingredients:

SPARKLERS, SNACKS, BEVERAGES, BLANKETS & BUG REPELLENT
(in addition, if you are hosting an adults-only party, providing matches or lighters is a MUST!)


SIMPLE SNACKS
Stick with simple snacks that can be grabbed quickly and aren't too messy.
You want something that can be munched on while watching the fireworks show.
(And if it's a hot night where you are celebrating, you don't want snacks that are prone to melting)





TEACHING MOMENTS
Keeping little ones occupied while awaiting the fireworks display can prove to be a challenge.
Why not take the opportunity to actually share with them, (or reiterate), the importance of the holiday.
Grab one of the blankets you've conveniently put out for guests to sit on...
and have a couple of age-appropriate patriotic books available for them to sit down and read.
 Or simply find a story online you can share.
(Use that smartphone or iPad of yours - or just print it out beforehand).




MORE TEACHING MOMENTS
Believe it or not...most adults, (let alone children), don't know proper "Flag Etiquette"
Lucky for me, I had the opportunity to host a patriotic themed party some years back.
I researched "Flag Etiquette" and discovered a lot of things I never knew.
I decided to share the information I had learned by creating some simple "Flag Etiquette" cards for guests to take home.





KEY DECOR ELEMENTS
Some of the key decor items used throughout this "Survival Station" include:
Decorative Paper Snack Cups
Striped Straws
DIY Denim Pocket Banner (click for the tutorial)
Small and Large American Flags
White Crates
Aluminum Buckets



FOCAL POINT
I hope you took notice of the fabulous 3x5 vinyl banner hanging behind the table.
It made for a GREAT focal point, don't you think?
 I designed it so it could be used for ANY patriotic celebration/holiday...
 as well as for any "Nautical Themed" event. (smart thinking, right)!!
Banners On the Cheap did an amazing job printing it for me - I love how it turned out!



In fact...
I love the "Celebrate Banner" SO very much...
I want one of you to have one too!
Banners On the Cheap has generously offered to give away one of it's 3x5 Vinyl banners...
to ONE LUCKY winner!

The winner will have the option of choosing the custom designed "Celebrate" banner - exactly like the one shown here...
OR...the winner may select something different from the Banners On the Cheap online shop.

If you live in the contiguous 48...
Here's what to do to enter the giveaway:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

VENDORS/SOURCES

Striped Snack Cups - TomKat Studio

Striped Paper Straws - TomKat Studio

3x5 Vinyl Banner - Banners On the Cheap (custom designed by Pen N' Paperflowers)

White Crates - JoAnn's

American Flags - Family Dollar

Aluminum Buckets - A collection from over the years from Michael's, JoAnn's, and Homegoods.

Beverages - Coke & Cheerwine

KEEPiNG iT REAL

I did a mock set-up prior to the actual photo shoot...

When J pulled in the driveway...

he came in the house with great concern...and said,

"The neighbors are going to think you are selling fireworks!"  Ha!!

A couple of days later, while I was in the middle of the actual photo shoot...

I had three different neighbors stop by to buy some fireworks find out what I was doing.

They offered up many compliments and seemed really inspired.

I even had one of the neighbors come back over with striped Popcorn Boxes in-hand to incorporate into the shoot. (see the very first photo). *wink*

Those are the kind of things that make me happy!!