Summer is the season of fun, friends, and flag-waving, but not everyone wants to be over-the-top with it. While many of us will head to the beaches and parks, some of us will opt for a more low-key celebration, possibly a backyard barbeque with a few friends. If you’re going for a toned down effect this 4th of July, let us help you keep it simple. yet stylish and memorable.
Let’s start with the shirts. American flag shirts are a hot trend for this summer, so there is no better time to debut your than on the 4th. I’ve pulled together a few shirts for inspiration. You don’t have to select a shirt that specifically has an American flag on it; a shirt that is prominently red and blue will do the trick.
Now let’s jump down to your feet. When it comes to footwear, some people are more daring than others. Take a look at a few selection that I promise are not too crazy (for the most part).
Okay, so now that you have your outfit together (hopefully) it’s time to link up with your friends. If you’ve been invited to a function at someone’s home, it is bad form to show up empty handed. To keep with the 4th of July theme, I recommend Cane & Abe Freshwater rum. Using only domestically-grown brown sugar, it is fermented and distilled in-house in Madison, Wisconsin, and aged in a blend of both new and used American Oak barrels to achieve its characteristic smooth, robust flavor that is sweeter, yet heavier than most other rums. Cane & Abe is great simply on the rocks, but try it with ginger ale or apple juice for a nice summertime drink.
Good drinks with good friends leads to good conversation (usually). What better way to make the conversation lively than with TableTopics. Featured in O, the Oprah Magazine, on Ellen, and on The Martha Stewart Show, TableTopics are flashcards that guarantee to get even the most quiet churchmouse talking. Coming in cubes of over 125 cards and ranging in themes like “Dinner Party”, “Do-It-Yourself Therapy”, and “What Would You Do?”, participants are challenged to answer questions like “would you rather be addicted to gambling or food?”, “who can drive you crazy in five minutes or less?”, “what alcohol can you never drink again?”, and “what would be one good thing about being the opposite sex?”. There are even travel-size “to-go” editions. Personally, I recommend the Not Your Mom’s Dinner Party” version. Head over to the website, take a look, and let us know what you think.
This is just a quick and easy guide to a relaxed 4th of July. You don’t have to use it only on the 4th; you can use our tips all season long. Stay tuned all summer for more tips on how to POP on the regular.
-Carl Ayers (@ECCA1980 on twitter)
