Independence Day TGIF! 7.1

slartybartfast

What is in store for you in your corner of this big, beautiful, and diverse country (or whatever corner of the world you are in and then also please ignore the fireworks below)

slartybartfast

-Today we go to the zoo and then a barbeque at fancy house which means good food
-Tomorrow our friends are in town and we will have a barbeque which means crappy food unless I bring something good but awesome awesome company
-Sunday I'll swim laps and then we go to a barbeque at medium fancy house which means good food but laid back atmosphere and great company.

-Monday we're gonna hike up our local mountain and then head into town for music and fun. I'll probably pass out before fireworks... like I do...

jennbaylor12

Well, roofers woke us up today stomping around - we've been in the queue for our roof replacement for weeks and, surprise!, now they're here. So today and tomorrow I'll be trying to manage a 2yo with all that going on....fun!!
- monthly girl's night with my sister tonight!
- DH works 12-14hrs on Saturday
- Sunday = my birthday!!!
- we have an invite to the lake house for the holiday weekend but I'm not sure if we're going. Since DH works Sat, we wouldn't be able to leave until Sunday which would mean traveling there on my birthday and then he has to work Tuesday so turning around and coming back on Monday unless he were to take an extra day off. I just don't know. I think I'd rather just hang out and relax at home

Happy July!! One of my 2 most favorite months!!!

em01092

We're going to a friend's birthday party/4th party. I'm in charge of bringing fireworks. Heehee. Let's just say I make all the kids in the neighborhood bow to my awesomeness. It was more fun when "real" fireworks weren't sold here in Georgia. We'd make the trip to the South Carolina border and get the good stuff, then be the envy of the block with our show. 

juliehollz13

@jennbaylor12 - happy birthday!

All we have planned is to do the yard, get halo-halo (filipino ice cream type dessert) and host a small cook out on the 4th.

QUESTION: I am so terrible at classic american cuisine, what are good foods to accompany a cookout???? I know we'll have hot-dogs (the good kind) and I'm thinking burgers but man oh man do I HATE having to have a huge platter of veggies for people to make their burgers. You have to whip out like 20000 condiments and toppings. Potato salad is cool but I'm a little weirded out by it sitting out for a few hours. I need some menu ideas please! I was thinking of doing kebobs but idk if it's weird for the 4th. 

slartybartfast

Happy Birthday @jennbaylor12 - also your monthly sisters girls night sounds so sweet!

whitneyp26

I was planning on waiting until Monday as I like to do something on actual holidays, but I'm feeling so festive I don't know if I can wait! We don't have anything really planned but buying small fireworks to do with the kids and FOOD. 

@juliehollz13 my number one 4th food is bacon wrapped cream cheese jalapeños! I'll probably do kebabs as well. Now that I think about it, I better get my butt to the store before all the good jalapeños are gone! This is a problem in Texas lol

dmontgo

@jennbaylor12 Happy Birthday! 

Today we are going to buy fireworks and put together baby furniture!

Tomorrow we are going to a friend's house for dinner.

Monday we are having a very small get-together here. Grilling and fireworks.

@juliehollz13 There's a lot of great side dishes you can make for cookouts! Grilled corn, cornbread casserole, loaded baked potato salad, baked beans, grilled veggies, crockpot spinach and artichoke dip, macaroni and cheese, chips, sliced fruit, pie, salad...there's a lot of options! Pinterest has a lot of great ideas too.

jennbaylor12

juliehollz13 said:

@jennbaylor12 - happy birthday!

All we have planned is to do the yard, get halo-halo (filipino ice cream type dessert) and host a small cook out on the 4th.

QUESTION: I am so terrible at classic american cuisine, what are good foods to accompany a cookout???? I know we'll have hot-dogs (the good kind) and I'm thinking burgers but man oh man do I HATE having to have a huge platter of veggies for people to make their burgers. You have to whip out like 20000 condiments and toppings. Potato salad is cool but I'm a little weirded out by it sitting out for a few hours. I need some menu ideas please! I was thinking of doing kebobs but idk if it's weird for the 4th. 

Fun! Will kiddos be there? Our go-to sides for cookouts are queso and tortilla chips, guacamole, mac and cheese if there's kids although the adults definitely like that too :-), a fruit tray. That kind of stuff. I never do potato salad because I'm always afraid of it going bad

Kacie209

Working today, but hoping to get out a couple hours early - which is usually the norm before a long weekend. However, I am waiting on a couple things to finish and HOPE they come through by that time. IF, we get to leave that is.

Sat/Sun - not sure actually! DH may be going into work to do some stuff that he couldn't do during the week, so I'll probably be home by myself most of the time. I may go through the maternity clothes my SIL handed down to me and weed out what I will REALLY wear and get them washed up to add into my rotation. I plan to relax, and may go on a couple walks in the morning before it's supposed to get hot.

Monday - going over to SIL's house for the 4th Party they have hosted for many years late afternoon. They have a huge yard and have a few pools out for the kids. Mainly family (parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings) are invited... so a small but big bunch. I think 14 RSVP'd. We'll sit outside, eat some food (potluck style with grilled hamburgers for the main course), have some cocktails (water probably for me). I am bringing some sort of s'mores bars... just have to decide on a recipe! We usually buy fireworks that the kids can use safely - sparklers, smoke bombs, etc and have a lot left from last year since the weather wasn't that great.

phoenix870509

DH has to work all weekend long (actually he works Saturday to Saturday) so no clue what is going on. Have to go drop off some stuff at Goodwill that's been sitting here for a week. Also have to get the rest of the food we brought over to my parents house. We might have a cook-out, depends on how DH feels.

mysteryship

@juliehollz13 I make a great potato salad with mashed avocado and lime juice in place of mayo, makes me feel better about it sitting out. I also love black bean and corn salsa as a bbq side. 

ETA Bump ate half my post. I'll be working at the farmers market tomorrow, maybe taking Sunday off to go berry picking, then working on the farm Monday. No summer holidays for me

beff12

This has been a crazy week and DH has been working super long days - he's taking a half day today so will be home all afternoon! I'm already predicting a nap. I always try to nap when DD does, but it goes better when he's home. 

Tomorrow will be for relaxing and working on Etsy orders. 

Church sunday morning and a cookout at my brother's house Monday! 

@juliehollz13 my mom makes a great pasta salad with veggies, seasoning, and Italian dressing on it. It's less weird to be sitting around outside because there's no mayo in it! And baked beans and chips are always good too. 

jennbaylor12

mysteryship said:

@juliehollz13 I make a great potato salad with mashed avocado and lime juice in place of mayo, makes me feel better about it sitting out. I also love black bean and corn salsa as a bbq side. 

I'd love to get this recipe! Living in Texas, there's no way that I would make a traditional potato salad but that sounds awesome

cayaylonglegs

I'm working today and tomorrow and tomorrow is our 5 year wedding anniversary so that's exciting. We'll celebrate on Sunday and on Monday DH won field box tickets to the Cardinals baseball game. It's going to be a great weekend despite the 3-5in of rain they are predicting for St. Louis.

Murrica! Oh and happy Canada Day to our Canadian gals!

tinattt23

In-laws are coming to town Sunday night. So most of the weekend will be deep cleaning house to be ready for them. MIL loves dogs but is slightly allergic so I have to get as much dog hair out of this house as possible. Add to that helping my grandma unpack her new house so she's ready to host BBQ on Monday. Also need to do some shopping so I have clothes that actually fit when I have to get dressed everyday of the week. Working from home has let me get away with tank tops and pj shorts most day. 

KatieJo1205

We are going camping for the weekend.  I haven't been camping in a tent in 13-15 years so I'm sure this will be interesting!  

@juliehollz13 - my family's favorite cookout food is a pasta salad with shrimp.  We are also very big on grilling brats that have been pre-boiled in beer and onions.  And I second @dmontgo suggestion for grilled corn - so good!!!  I now wish we had bough some for camping this weekend!

cjt121413

Today I have to work, although sometimes they let us go home early before a holiday weekend.

Tomorrow I have a prenatal massage at 12:30 woohoooooo. Then I have to go into the office booooo. Tomorrow night DH and I may go to dinner or something while DS is with his dad.

Sunday we'll do church and then Sunday evening we're going to the big fireworks show/a party with some of DS's dad's friends.

Monday will be a lot of relaxing, and Sunday afternoon we'll go over to my parents' house or meet them for dinner or something.

The best part?  I get to sleep late tomorrow. So tired this week.

em01092

@juliehollz13 I second what the other gals have said. My standard sides with hot dogs or burgers are baked beans, macaroni salad (same as potato, just use macaroni instead), deviled eggs, chips, and pickles.  I agree about burgers being kind of a hassle with all the condiments and toppings, so in that regard hot dogs are much easier, especially for kids, but some adults are weird about eating them even if you get the all beef/Hebrew National/etc. 

princesslockness

@Kacie209 Try smore brownies. Gram cracker crust (halved) then brownies. With 5 minutes left on the timer put marshmallows, chocolate chips, and peanuts(optional) on top.

bakerstreetboys

Happy Canada Day!
We're going to drop in at a pig roast BBQ (in though I won't eat it) and then spend the rest of the weekend relaxing!

jptrumptone

We are moving to a new house sometime this month, so I get to spend my weekend going through stuff and deciding what to keep and what to donate. Oh Joy! At least I get today off work while they move my whole team to a new building.

We usually go to my friends place on the 4th cause they live in an unincorporated part of the county and can shoot off fireworks, but they aren't doing anything this year cause if still Ramadan.  So this year we are probably chilling at home. 

LinziLoo09

I have a brunch planned for tomorrow, but this friend has a habit of flaking...so we'll see. One way or another, my mom is coming to babysit so I can go for a hike. 

Sunday the in laws are coming to visit for the day. 

And Monday we're going to a friend's picnic. I'm excited to see friends but have also warned DH that there's a time limit on how long I'm going to tolerate being around people. 

karabearrr

Saturday - Updating my registry and going to Target and Babies R Us. My mom really wants me to hurry up and pick out a stroller so she can buy it before my shower in 4 weeks.

Sunday - Going to laze around in the afternoon, and there is a fireworks show in town at 9:30pm. Hopefully by then it will be much cooler, because it's supposed to be 100 degrees this weekend! 

ErikandAfton

My Dad called and wants to go to lunch today, that should be fun. Other than that I've been making pies and getting the last few things together for our camping trip.

Tomorrow we are leaving early to go to the coast for the weekend. We are camping which could prove interesting for how uncomfortable I've been at night so we will see

beff12

cayaylonglegs said:

I'm working today and tomorrow and tomorrow is our 5 year wedding anniversary so that's exciting. We'll celebrate on Sunday and on Monday DH won field box tickets to the Cardinals baseball game. It's going to be a great weekend despite the 3-5in of rain they are predicting for St. Louis.

Murrica! Oh and happy Canada Day to our Canadian gals!

I'm so jealous that you're going to a Cardinals game! Have fun! 

kbduke

We are going to the lake for a week! I'm super excited to have an entire week off (it's been like 3+ years since this happened). It's just me and DH so I'm hoping for a super relaxing week.

sammyl1221

@jennbaylor12 Happy Birthday! 


@juliehollz13 I do love potato salad but you can also do mayo free potato salad. i am a huge pioneer woman fan and she always has awesome party suggestions! Check out her page. I make her salsa, potato salad, double baked potatoes - so good, and anything dessert related. Yummmm.

My DH is redoing or basement so I know he's working on that all weekend. For sunday we're going to our neighbors bbq. Monday were going to our towns fireworks. I kinda want to do a lobster and shrimp bake so I might do that Monday. 

dmontgo

Fresh Market is having a great deal on a July 4th dinner. For $20, you can feed 4 people:

-4 gourmet hamburgers of your choice
-4 brioche hamburger buns
-4 ears of corn
-1 pack of sliced cheese, any flavor you want
-1lb. Of macaroni or potato salad
-1 box of cookies of your choice

Not bad!

Also, Motherhood Maternity has tank tops for $5! I also got a pair of khakis, and the gave me another pair of shorts of my choice for $5. 

Thought I'd mention the deals!

Edited to add the corn.

ashleaf2018

My parents come into town this weekend, which I have really needed with FI's family driving me insane. Plus gender reveal party. It's not so much an exclusive party for gender revealing as it is a potluck Fourth of July party that everyone knows we will be bringing a gender reveal cake to. 

Awhile ago I mentioned how my cousin indirectly ruined my first pregnancy announcement to my dad, and this same cousin is bugging me to tell her the sex of this baby and that she promises not to tell since she has to work on the fourth. I'm not taking the bait. If I have learned anything, it's that if you have a surprise planned, you don't tell the people who have already ruined surprises before. I have other friends and family who can't come and no one else is bugging me to know before we have the reveal. 

dmontgo

@ashleaf2018 I wouldn't tell her either. To me, if I tell you something secret and you blab your mouth, shame on you. Second time, shame on me. You get one shot with me!

karmba

Tonight - shake shack and cosmic bingo at a casino.
Saturday - baseball game and Mall of America
Sunday - food?  That's the only plan so far.
4th of a July - cookout and fireworks!

edit - I hit post too soon.

leksiL

@ashleaf2018 stay strong don't tell that cousin anything!! How does she believe you would ever trust her after last time?? 

leksiL

Hope everyone has a great holiday! We got up at 3:30 this morning to fly to CO (from CT) and now I'm pooped! We will have a great weekend biking around and might do some light hiking. Lots of eating. I enjoyed a cheese plate and a slider of PBJ, banana, honey and bacon so far. I've had both deli meat and cured meat today whoops

tinattt23

In-laws called this evening to let us know they are in the way and will be arriving tomorrow night instead of Sunday night. Cue panic mode. Off to do two days of house work in one...

ashleaf2018

@tinattt23 Stay strong! You can do it! 

@dmontgo @leksiL Yeah, I was just nice about it and said that we are keeping it a secret from everyone, not just her. She quit blowing up my phone, which is good. Now it's time to relax before I go crazy making this cake from scratch!

dmontgo

@ashleaf2018 You go girl. Scratch cake is the best cake.

ashleaf2018

@dmontgo I'm so excited! It's a four layer cake and the two middle layers will be cut out and we're gonna fill it with blue M&M's. I'm making it the day before just in case I mess up!

mysteryship

@jennbaylor12 I don't really follow a recipe, I just mash up enough avocado for the amount of potatoes I have, add lime juice to thin it out a bit, and mix it with the potatoes and a little salt & pepper. Made it last night and added scallions and radishes for crunch.

slartybartfast

Toddler at a bbq is mayhem. He loves the people and excitement, is happy, but constantly everywhere and into everything. I'm just chasing him around trying to make sure my kid doesn't become someone else's problem (because I HATE when parents take their kids places and then let them run rampant seeing it as a time for them to take a "break")

Anyone have any tips for toddlers at bbqs? I have a feeling the real answer is... there's no way around it, toddlers are just nuts.

princesslockness

@slartybartfast maybe have him finger paint a plate using pudding/condiments? You could have a 'replicate this one' thing going.