DIY Sparkler Send Off

Summer and outdoor weddings beg for a little sparkle and shine.  Making a romantic, sparkler send-off a must-have photo op for brides and grooms.  After all, who doesn't love a glamorous, dramatic send-off?  In three easy steps, create your very own sparkler send-off for guests to light your way as you leave your wedding reception.

Supplies:

Personalized matchbooks

Sparklers

Ribbon

Scissors

Hole Punch

Paper and Frame

Bucket or tray for holding the sparklers

Step 1: Gather your supplies. Cut your ribbon and prep your matchbooks with a single hole punch.  (Providing each guest with a book of matches is way easier than trying to pass a few lighters around a group of 100+ people.)

Step 2: Tie sparklers (we used groups of three) to your matches using your pre-cut ribbon.  Place into your bucket or tray.

Step 3: Write your send-off sign (If you have terrible hand-writing like me, simply print your own).  Insert into frame and voila.

All-American Backyard Wedding

This All-American backyard wedding shoot, captured and conceptualized by Dani Fine Photography, is American as apple pie. The goal was to create a classic backyard wedding with a traditional patriotic palette of red, white and blue. They spiced up this theme with vintage nuances and modern sensibilities.  Don't you think the pinwheels and bandanas are the perfect touch?

The overall design of the shoot was the work of the creative planners at Engaged Connecticut.  We adore the lush, bold floral arrangements created by Azalea Floral Design.  Props, antiques and other well placed treasures, supplied by General Eclectic, made for a fantastic overall ambiance and detail shots that were full of character.  If you are having a Fourth of July or Memorial Day wedding, then you will not be short on inspiration here.

Photography: Dani Fine Photography / Event Planner: Engaged Connecticut / Venue: Private Residence / Calligrapher: ka benlliure / Cake Designer: A Little Something Bakery / Floral Designer: Azalea Floral Design / Makeup Artist: Crystal Vazquez & Company / Wedding Dress: The Wedding Embassy / Caterer: Eclectic Tastes Catering / Cinema and Video: Epic Filmakers / Props: General Eclectic / Specialty Foods: Sweet Emotions Candy Shop / Soda: Hosmer Mountain Soda

Great 4th of July Recipes

Happy 4th of July everyone! It 's that wonderful time of the year when we all get the burgers and brats on the grill, have the drinks chilling in the cooler and the sparklers ready for the sun to go down. I have found some recipes you can add to your holiday cook-out this year. The following recipes are sure to add some fun and yum to your 4th of July Celebration.

Photo: Taste of Home



Patriotic Dessert Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 cup finely chopped pecans

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar

• 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided

• 1-1/2 cups cold milk

• 1 package (5.1 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix

• 3 cups fresh strawberries, halved

• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries

Directions

• In a bowl combine flour, pecans and butter. Press into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

• In a bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar. Fold in half of the whipped topping; spread over crust. In a bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set.

• Spread over cream cheese layer. Cover with remaining whipped topping. Decorate with strawberries and blueberries to resemble a flag. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Yield: 12-15 servings.



Photo: Taste of Home

Red, White and Bleu Slaw Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 cups angel hair coleslaw mix

• 12 cherry tomatoes, halved

• 3/4 cup coleslaw salad dressing

• 3/4 cup crumbled blue cheese, divided

• 1/2 cup real bacon bits

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the coleslaw mix, tomatoes, salad dressing and 1/2 cup blue cheese. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Just before serving, sprinkle with bacon bits and remaining cheese. Yield: 6 servings.

Recipe by Guy Fieri and Photo by: Kate Sears

 Fourth of July Cocktail

Ingredients

• 1 ounce watermelon schnapps

• 1 big splash cranberry juice

• 1 very thin slice jalapeno or serrano pepper

• 1 slice lemon

• 1 slice lime

• 1 1/2 ounces tequila

• 1/4 ounce blue curacao

• 1/2 ounce simple syrup

• Watermelon wedge, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Mix the schnapps and cranberry juice in a shaker; pour into an ice-filled glass.

Muddle the jalapeno pepper, lemon and lime slices, tequila, blue curacao and simple syrup (to make a batch, dissolve sugar in equal parts hot water and chill) in the shaker. Slowly strain into the glass over the red layer. Garnish with watermelon, if desired.

Enjoy and Happy Fourth of July to you and your family!