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| Choose two colors to make your color palette more simplistic. |
What do you think of when you hear
the words Memorial Day? You probably picture enjoying some delicious barbecue
amongst friends while surrounded by red, white, and blue. It's true; most
Memorial Day gatherings are a bit cliche, involving ample American flags and
the traditional offerings of hot dogs and hamburgers. But this year, why not
put your own spin on things? Of course, you still want to pay proper respect to
the fallen soldiers, but you can do so in a classy way while letting your
creativity reign. Here's how:
Pick Two Colors
Instead of making sure everything has all three patriotic colors in it, why not just choose two and go from there? This will make your color palette more simplistic and less cheesy. If you can't get yourself to give up the famed combination of the three, perhaps just use small doses of the third option. For example, use a red, casual tablecloth, topped with blue and white bandanas for the placemats.
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| Mason jars are an ideal serving container. |
Keep it Casual
Okay, so you probably don't want to go quite as casual as paper and plastic dishes and utensils, but you certainly shouldn't bring your fine china outside. Melamine dishes are a nice compromise. They aren't disposable, come in festive designs, and won't break if they are dropped. If you don't have any on hand, this is one investment you will use time and time again for every outdoor event you host. Just make sure you don't pick something too holiday specific so you can use it for any occasion.
Okay, so you probably don't want to go quite as casual as paper and plastic dishes and utensils, but you certainly shouldn't bring your fine china outside. Melamine dishes are a nice compromise. They aren't disposable, come in festive designs, and won't break if they are dropped. If you don't have any on hand, this is one investment you will use time and time again for every outdoor event you host. Just make sure you don't pick something too holiday specific so you can use it for any occasion.
When it comes to the beverages, mason jars are an ideal serving container for a laid-back affair such as Memorial Day. Create your own specialty cocktail in advance (preferably in a red or blue hue) to put in each container. Place the sealed jars into a large ice-filled steel tub, and your drinks will become the talk of the party. You may also want to offer up a selection of bottled craft beers, water, and soda, to satiate everybody's unique taste buds.
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| Kabobs are a lot of fun to serve. |
Kabob it Up
Even though you want to stay away from hot dogs and hamburgers, your guests are still going to want some meat to savor. A fun way of bringing in the protein is with make-your-own kabobs. Have a variety of meats marinated and veggies chopped in advance, and then let your guests choose what they want on their kabob before throwing it on the grill (Hint: Do the actual kabob creating yourself to avoid any cross-contamination from the raw meat). Dessert kabobs can also be a lot of fun, and you can offer up some fresh raspberries and blueberries to bring in the colors of the day.
For more home tips please visit
homechanneltv.com.