July 4th Party Planning

The 4th of July will be here before you know it! If you are like us, you can't wait to host a fabulous red, white and blue themed cookout with your closest friends and family. Hosting a party can be a little stressful so we are here to help. Check out a few of our favorite recipes, decorating and wardrobe ideas for this fun filled holiday.

When it comes to the 4th of July, nothing says summer like good 'ole American BBQ, corn on the cob and fresh sliced watermelon! We found an amazing (and super easy) recipe for BBQ chicken sliders from the Cookin Up North blog. This recipe takes only minutes to make and uses a rotisserie chicken.

You will need:

4 c. shredded chicken

1 c. BBQ sauce

2 T. honey

12 pickle slices

12 Kings Hawaiian buns 

Heat the BBQ sauce and honey. Add the chicken and heat through. Scoop onto buns and add pickle slices. Is that easy or what?? :)

When hosting a great party, it is absolutely necessary that you have a delicious cocktail ready for your guests when they arrive. We found this tasty recipe for red, white and blue sangria from Punchbowl. 

You will need:

Strawberries, sliced

Blueberries

Pineapple, cut into star shapes

2 bottles dry white wine

1 cup Triple Sec

1/2 Cup berry-flavored vodka

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup simple syrup

Combine the ingredients in a large pitcher and stir. Chill in the refridgerator for at least four hours. Yum!

For decorations, we love how Lauren Conrad (from MTV's The Hills) went with this colorful display. Target is a great place to find cute, affordable decorations for the 4th of July. Red, white and blue paper napkins, plastic wear and plates are a simple touch to any cookout. Another store to check out is Party City. They have an overload of all things red, white and blue: beads, balloons, flags, noisemakers and more!

We have saved the best for last-what to wear. Planning a party can be stressful and picking out the perfect outfit can add more stress. We picked out a few of our favorites to help keep things simple. 

 A bright red or blue top is always a great choice and can be worn with denim shorts or white jeans. Add a simple necklace, some bangles and wedges and you are good to go.

(Tops, $39. Also available in white)

For a slightly dressier look, we are loving this blue and white chevron print maxi dress. Wear this with gold flats or a white wedge and accessorize with a touch of red jewels for a patriotic look. 

(Dress, $69. Also available in mint and white)

We hope this helps take the stress off planning your fabulous 4th of July soiree. To shop more red, white and blue looks, check out our website www.sageclothing.com. And don't forget, new arrivals every Friday! :)

Happy 4th of July from all your friends at Sage!