Hello.
a free letter for you <3
out of all the holidays in the year, fourth of july is my least favorite (especially now)
but…
that doesn’t mean i’m not going to find a way to celebrate. today i’m sharing some of my traditions and inspiration for activities, music, films, etc for you to do to make your holiday feel special.
activities:
-lakeside picnic: there’s something magical about going to the lake (more so than the beach in my opinion). it gives a more cottagecore adrianne lenker summer type of vibe, which is great if you’re not really into this holiday like me. pack almond butter honey sandwiches, your favorite chips, lots of fresh fruits like strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, and don’t forget a little treat like s’mores or rice crispy treats or my favorite… pie.
-bbq at the beach: if you live by the beach, and it’s not too crowded, this is another great option to do with friends and family.
-poolside soiree with close friends: if you’re more of a pool girlie, this is a great way to feel summery and avoid sand getting into every orifice of your body. don’t forget to bring snacks and cold drinks.
-campfire with s’mores: if you’re lakeside or if you decide to go camping, definitely roast s’mores by the fireside. but don’t fret, if you’re not near the woods, you can still make s’mores at home. here’s an outdoor and indoor recipe from nyt cooking (one of the very few websites i trust for recipes)
-drive in (or regular) movies: this feels like a great way to escape the heat and pass the time if you’re not in the mood to celebrate.
-visit the garden or a u-pick farm: if it’s not too hot, consider a summer activity that’s a little less patriotic.
-make fourth of july food: hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, tater tots, bbq chicken, watermelon, grilled corn, potato salad, coleslaw, etc
-make fourth of july treats: cherry pie, blueberry pie, s’mores, s’mores cookies or bars, red white and blue fruit skewers with strawberries, blueberries, and marshmallows, peach cobbler, homemade vanilla ice cream in a waffle cone, coke or root beer floats, strawberry shortcake is another great idea.
(i know you’ll need a subscription to click those recipe links i provided, but nyt cooking is one of the only resources i use from the internet for cooking and baking and they never disappoint. (alison roman is another great resource). i’ll always recommend cookbooks first. but this is 2024, and sometimes the internet comes in clutch)
-watch the fireworks: if you’re into that sort of thing
-wear red, white, and blue: or not
music:
here’s a little playlist i made just for you - a thought daughter fourth of july
films:
some of these films give me paralyzing anxiety so i won’t partake in watching them, but i do believe they’re quintessentially reminiscent of july
-this is america, charlie brown (1988)
-jaws (1975)
-american pie (1999)
-toy story (1995)
-the sandlot (1993)
-the parent trap (1998)
-charlie’s angels (2000)
-(500) days of summer (2009)
-moonrise kingdom (2012)
-la la land (2016)
okay, that’s all for now. enjoy your holiday and eat lots of good food.
I love you.
See you tomorrow <3
love this post so much! 🥹🩷
Oh I love this list, it’s adorable!! The 4th is my least favorite too (I have a dog and he’s not a fan of fireworks) but you made it sound so cute!
I’ve never heard of honey almond butter sandwiches but I love almond butter and this sounds so good! Plus I’m never one to turn down s’mores or pie or a picnic! ☺️