I have a frame on my kitchen counter that comes and goes depending on the season. It started with a Halloween free printable that said, “Eat, Drink and Be Scary.” I put it away after Halloween, and then I pulled it back out for Christmas to frame “Keep Calm and Jingle On”.

When I was cleaning up my Christmas decorations this year, I thought to myself…why not find free holiday printables that I can rotate throughout the year? I’m partial to the Keep Calm printables, so I’ve put together a collection with one for every major holiday – Valentine’s, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Print them out for yourself or give them as a gift, after all…they’re FREE, and they’re festive!

If you’re not familiar with free printables, just click the image that you want, and you’ll be directed to a page with the instructions for printing…you’ll even be able to choose your size (8″ x 10″ or 5″ x 7″).

Source: EasyFinance.com

July 4 is near! Are you ready to razzle dazzle in your boldest red, white, and blue?

It’s your patriotic duty to don your stars, stripes, and most Americana ensembles on the Fourth of July. If these colors aren’t found in your closet already, not to worry! There are lots of patriotic pieces available right now for a budget price. Read on for my tips on what to wear for the Fourth of July. I’ll show you five must-have pieces that are all less than $25!

• Keep cool — The Fourth is usually steaming hot, and it’s often spent as a long day in the sun. Make sure you’re wearing something breezy,cool, and comfortable like the maxi dress above. Get one in red, white, or blue — whichever you feel is “your color.”
• Keep casual — Whether you’re going to a barbecue or fireworks, there’s nothing stuffy about the Fourth of July. Keep your ensemble casual and practical for chasing kids, cooking, or sitting on a blanket on the ground. You can’t go wrong with a simple pair of red flip flops!
• Be sun safe – Make sure you and your family is lathered up in sunscreen if your day will be spent outside. Everyone — from mom and dad to the kids — should be equipped with a pair of sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays. Try to head inside for a couple hours during the heat of the day so that no one gets too hot.
• Be ready for water – Whether it’s running through the sprinkler in the backyard, enjoying the pool, or taking your turn on the water skis, make sure you’re ready in a suit that makes you feel great! I love this bright red one-piece from Target.
• Have some fun — Let loose and wear something that’s downright patriotic. These cute earrings from Modcloth come in a set of two — one for you and one for maybe your daughter. And you can’t go wrong with a star-spangled scarf! Are you ready for the Fourth of July?

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written by: Sarah Heckle

author bio: Sarah Heckle is a fashion writer from Indianapolis.

July 4th weekend is a great opportunity to meet with friends and enjoy a party or barbecue. In today’s rough financial climate, it’s much harder just to make ends meet and many of us don’t have extra money for things like parties. Here are three great ways to have your party without breaking the bank.

1. Use Serving Dishes and Pitchers Rather Than Factory Packaging
Serving snacks and drinks on dishes and in pitchers rather than in their original packaging does more than just make your party look better. It also gives you the opportunity to buy generic chips and drinks without looking cheap. Very few of your guests are likely to notice the difference in brand without the packaging visible. This is especially true for soda, which on average is half the price per liter when bought generic.

2. Serve Home Baked Treats
Making small cookies and other baked goods is a terrific alternative to expensive catering foods. Many households already have everything they need to bake basic things like rolls or cakes, so it may even save you a trip to the grocery store. It may be a significant time investment depending on the size of your party, but if things are tight it may be worth the extra effort.

3. Rather Than Shouldering The Cost of Food Alone, Have a Potluck
The most expensive part of most parties is the food. Depending on the size of your party it could cost hundreds of dollars to make sure everyone is fed. Rather than having something like a barbecue and taking on that burden alone, why not throw a potluck? A potluck dinner style party is a great way to avoid the high cost of food and also offer a varied menu of different cultural dishes.

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Written by: Bridget Sandorford
Bio: Aside from school and working part-time as an Assistant Chef, Bridget Sandorford is the resident Culinary Schools blogger where recently she’s been researching Canadian culinary colleges as well as Auckland culinary colleges. She lives outside of Charleston, South Carolina.

Photo Credit:

Image: Sarah Arbogast / FreeDigitalPhotos.net