We are BIG fans of 4th of July in the Schwartz Household! If am being honest, the girls and I start talking about the 4th of July before the snow has even melts! #sorrynotsorry We dream of melty Bomb Pops, Sparklers, water balloon fights, sandy feet and most of all spending time with our friends and family! Even before we moved to the lake I dreamed about what the 4th of July would be like once we did! Every year I take a few minutes and look around, down our hill to the lake and smile at the sound of kiddos running around, parents chatting and my patriotic playlist playing in the background. We are so darn grateful for living where we do and are unapologetically patriotic!
In honor of our favorite holiday, I thought it would be fun to share a few of our favorites essentials!
First up–I always get the girls special 4th of July outfits for the day! Although they rarely last long because their swimsuits are on in a matter of seconds, there is something so sweet about two sisters dressed up in patriotic dresses! It just gets me. This year I went with these adorable seersucker dresses from Target. I mean–the ruffles and the bow on the back!? Take allll my money. Added bonus they had them in toddler and girl sizes! I also picked up these matching swimsuits for the girls because we can never have too many, right!?
I have been LOVING this drink caddy this summer that just so happens to be perfect for the 4th! It is so dang handy to bring drinks out to the (unfinished — for now) deck and for the kiddos! The cups are enameled metal so I feel good about them drinking out of them vs. plastic and they won’t break! Magnolia also has an adorable entertaining line this summer– I am eying up so many other things! Another option is these Ball Aluminum Cups— they are an amazing alternative to the traditional Red Solo Cup! They are made of aluminum so they can be recycled until the end of time, keep your drinks colder and honestly, they just look dang cool! We have been using them this spring/summer and I honestly love them! I also grabbed these compostable/biodegradable silverware since Lord knows I am not going to be doing dishes over the 4th! Traditional disposable silverware make me cringe so these make me feel a little better!
Sunscreen is also a MUST for the 4th and, well all summer of course! We love Beautycounter’s Sunscreen Mist! It is safe, easy to apply and works so well! I did a whole blogpost about choosing a safer sunscreen you can check out here if you want more information!
Water balloon fights and the 4th of July are basically BFFs but who wants to freaking fill and tie those little buggers up!? Not me! We have used these for years and absolutely LOVE them! So quick and easy and the kids get such a kick out of how they tie themselves! We fill them up outside using a hose and let them fall into a cooler– works perfectly!
These little flags give a patriotic touch to pretty much anything! My mom always pops a few in her potted plants during the 4th and I have started to do the same! They also look cute in a little mason jar.
Lastly, what is the 4th of July without some good old fashioned s’mores!? I found this little s’mores caddy at Target but it looks like they are pretty much sold out online and in all the stores, at least the ones around around me! I found it on Amazon though but it is a bit more expensive! Addie is absolutely obsessed with it and I have to say, it is pretty darn handy! Don’t forget the baby wipes–they are key for s’mores with kids! 😉
We are kicking things off with our annual neighborhood kiddie parade this weekend and we cannot wait! The girls look forward to it every year! ALSO– I’m working on a fun (and delicious) patriotic cocktail today and it will be hitting the blog soon! Stay tuned….
