What is it about swimming that makes people sooo hungry? We celebrate the 4th with a swimming party, and our grandchildren swim for awhile, then they want to eat for awhile; swim again; eat again, and the cycle continues into the night.
They love sugary snacks, but fortunately, they also like healthier snacks, so that’s what I try to provide. I used a red, white, and blue quilt for a table covering.
I used two casserole dishes inside my patriotic wagon. The first casserole holds a bag of ice.
It helps keep the cheese and cherry tomatoes in the second casserole from getting too warm.
An animal cracker cookie jar holds crackers for the cheese.
A shaker with plain salt and a shaker with cheese salt are for the popcorn. Those are my Moda Home melamine snack/dessert plates.
Apples, waiting to be sliced when someone wants one, and star shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are also part of the snack menu.
Chefs hold up a bowl of grapes.
Instead of putting candy in the candy dispensers, I’ve filled them with whole grain graham bears and Fruit Loops cereal.
When I took these photos, I hadn’t been to the store to get the vegetables and ingredients for the dip that will go on top of the cake stand.
They won’t drink plain water, but they will drink Kool-Aid. The problem is that they all want a different flavor. I love these little Kool Aid flavors that you squirt into a bottle of water. They can each have their own favorite.
When I married my sweetheart, almost 45 years ago, I drove him crazy wanting to stop at yard sales, but I’ve ruined him. He now stops at yard sales even when I’m not with him! When he was campaigning in six counties, he spotted someone selling this commercial popcorn popper. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw what he brought home! (Of course, the night that he left home to campaign and came home with a puppy shocked me even more! Our marriage is still full of surprises.)
I put bags of popcorn in these plastic popcorn boxes, so they won’t fall over while they are keeping warm inside the popcorn popper.
Flag decals turn brown paper bags into patriotic popcorn servers.
This is the final day of the red, white, and blue blog celebration. I’m so happy to have been a part of this. 
Thank you for coming to celebrate the red, white, and blue with me. laurie
I’m linking to Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters and Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.
25 comments:
OMG Laurie,
All I can say is Wow, Wow, Wow!!
This is just the best 4th of July spread I have ever laid eyes on.
The fact that your husband brought home that popcorn wagon, just shows how much he loves you!
I still want to be your grandchild. They are the luckiest little ones around.
Big Hugs friend,
You rock!
Cindy
OMG Laurie,
All I can say is Wow, Wow, Wow!!
This is just the best 4th of July spread I have ever laid eyes on.
The fact that your husband brought home that popcorn wagon, just shows how much he loves you!
I still want to be your grandchild. They are the luckiest little ones around.
Big Hugs friend,
You rock!
Cindy
Laurie, your Fourth of July settings and displays are so fabulous! I know the grandchildren must love being at your house! This is awesome!
What an awesome set up you have for entertaining your family for July 4th. I love your tablescape with the festive red, white, and blue details. I know you grandchildren love to use your big popcorn popper every time they visit!
Wow this is so fantastic, how creative and festive! You really went above and beyond! I would love to be at your 4th of July party!
Beautiful, Laurie. Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing all of your great ideas and tips for a fun 4th of July! You REALLY go all out. I love it!!
OOh I want to come to this party!! Love the set up and I bet your grandkids get so excited if this is what they are greeted with! Very festive! XO
Laurie,
Thanks so much for this great party!!
Love your post and i will be back ( just got home from work) to check out all the others!!
Hugs,
Deb
Laurie I want to come to your party! :) You really know how to throw a 4th of July shindig! That's a great idea to keep a casserole dish of ice under the cheese- that's one thing that grosses me out at parties, when the cheese sits out and gets warm. Love your popcorn maker and the idea of kool-aid with little water bottles. Thanks so much for joining the tour!
I've said it many times before, but here it is again……Your grands must love to spend time at your home. You make everything fun and super special. Looks like you have the healthy snacks covered, Laurie.
Kudos to your sweetheart for eyeing the popcorn machine and bringing it home. As for the puppy, well, all I have to say is, that's one lucky puppy!!!
Happy 4th of July! Thanks for the week of inspiration.
I love love looking at all your vintage things and I love all the red white and blue collectables, what a wonderful posting on these thanks as always for sharing....
A woman after my own heart. I love bargains. I also love the stories about your husband. I would have a gave him a big hug when he came home with that popcorn popper!
What a wonderful, inspiring post!
Hi Laurie, WOW what a fabulous post sharing your celebration for the 4th with healthy snacks. I love the popcorn machine. How wonderful is that?? Your hubby gets major votes for that!! Your grands have to be so excited to spend holidays with you.
Yes, swimming does make one so hungry.
So you have a new puppy~~well, he is one blessed pup to live with you!!
Hugs
Now there's a man to keep! My dh would have told me about the popcorn maker he saw, but that would be it!
What fun!
Love all your fun patriotic things, what a great party!
I love your party set-up! Such fun and an awesome vintage feel! Happy touring with you! ~Christy
Oh, how I remember the days of eating and swimming, swimming and eating. Treasured memories when the word calorie didn't exist, lol. Lovin' your Fourth of July party set up and that quilt is fantastic. You look dialed in for the summer, love your inspiration!!
How is it I don't find out about these parties until they're over? I guess I need to start paying closer attention while online!!!
I would have been bowled over BIG TIME if my husband came home with a massive popcorn popper like this one! I'd love it, but I would be scolding him about where he thinks we might store such a huge thing! (I'm sure that would be of little concern to him since he says I somehow "invent" space out of nothing!) Smart idea to place the bags down into the boxes to keep them from tumbling over, too.
This is a really, really cute set up, and I know the grandkids just feel 1000% special! How could they not? Grandma even cares enough to buy them whole grain (even though THEY don't know it!) graham bear snacks! Such a cute dispenser!
This is an all-out part-ay!!!
I love that popcorn popper! You must be the coolest grandma on the block with stuff like that. It all looks so wonderful. It makes me want to celebrate with a big old picnic. Then, I step outside and think... maybe not.
I love your cheerful and festive outdoor setting! That popcorn wagon is wonderful. Love the way you have every detail covered. Great party!
Wow Laurie! You're the best Grandmother ! I do remember getting extra hungry when I swam as a kid. You put on quite a spread! That popcorn maker is the best!
What a perfect party for children to celebrate the 4th of July! All your snacks are so wise, and your red white and blue decor is so much fun! I bet their eyes got big when they saw the popcorn machine, that is fabulous!
Jenna
Laurie you go all out for the 4th! I love that you used a quilt as the tablecloth and your patriotic wagon is the cutest thing ever! Great job!
What a fantastic display, Laurie!! Just idea after idea, but I could hardly take my eyes off that quilt...spectacular!!
Your grands are so lucky to have you making such fun memories for them. Every inch of this layout is just delightful!!!
What a celebration!! Your grandkids are so lucky to have such a great par-tay at your home! Enjoy!
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