Summer Party Ideas - Patriotic

** This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Now is the perfect time to stock up on patriotic party supplies at the Dollar Tree. Not only can you decorate for the 4th  without spending a lot of money, but you can also find everything you need for a party from patriotic dinnerware, crafts, flags, and more.  

There are several different patterns  for their plates, napkins, cups, and tablecloths. If you like the more traditional red and white checked bbq accessories, they have that too. 

This Uncle Sam wreath was my favorite find this year.  I mean how cute it this for only $1.  I might change out the ribbon with a bigger one, but I will definitely be hanging this one on my door.  

They are several wooden wall signs that you can use as is, or use in other projects. 

These signs are almost 2 feet long, and make great welcome signs. 

One thing that the Dollar Tree seems to have every holiday and season is truck decor..  They change the colors and details, but they are always big sellers.   You can see many of the holiday truck items from last year in this post here.  

Another very popular item that the Dollar Tree has been bringing out every holiday this past year is gnomes.  This summer they are in the form of metal garden stakes.  I think my favorite is the red one holding the heart.  

They also have metal truck garden stakes, and wall signs. 

Their solar lights are a really good quality and a great price at only a dollar each.  These red, white and blue lights are perfect for the 4th.  There are many other styles to choose from as well if you want to use them all year. 

Here are some other party finds from this year, mini buckets, a inflatable cooler, and a patriotic headband. 

A recent find was this 11 foot welcome home sign.  It was huge, and would sell for several dollars more at other stores. 

Here are two other options for banner/garland to decorate your home.  The one on the left says Happy 4th of July, and the one on the right is a combo of stars and tassels.  

In this picture are just some of the tinsel garland, and mini signs that are available.  Believe it or not there are a lot more patriotic items that I do not have pictured in this post.   You can see more Dollar Tree items here on the Dollar Tree website.  If you do order anything from their website remember you don't have to pay shipping because they will ship your items for FREE to your local store.

How do you plan to celebrate the 4th of July this year? 

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Dare to Share #470

It's Friday night, and you know what that means.. 

It is time to Dare to Share! 

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!  It's the unofficial start to the summer and today it the coldest, rainiest day we have had in weeks.  Last weekend it was in the 90s, this weekend we were wearing actual coats again because it was in the 40s this morning.. Brrrrr  

We are still in school a little longer, but I did have time to share a quick post.   If you like to craft, Craftsy has 70% off EVERY class through the end of the month.  You can read more about it on my post here.

I have another post that is almost finished and will go live this weekend.  It is a new post in the summer party ideas.  This week I am sharing all the Patriotic Party Supplies I have found at the Dollar Tree.  It is a great time to stock up for your 4th of July get togethers. 

I have also been experimenting over on Instagram this week.  I recently took a free webinar by Chalene and Brock Johnson.I loved it, and learned so much.   I have been trying some of their tips, and they have really worked.  One of their tips was to share other peoples posts with an Instagram sharing app.  The few posts I have shared have gotten a big reach, and credit the original poster.  I would like to feature some of your Dare to Share posts on my Instagram. If you are on Instagram let me know in the comments, so I can find you.  You can find me at PamsPartyPlanning.

Well it is time to get this party started.. Link up and HAVE FUN! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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Save 70% on every Craftsy class

                                        

                                          

Have  you ever tried out Craftsy? Craftsy is a website where you can find 1000s of online classes in many creative areas.  Want to learn how to decorate a cake?  They can show you how.  Want to knit or crochet? They can show you that too. 

Here is a list of some of their class categories 

drawing

painting 

jewelry making 

photography 

paper crafts

gardening 

woodworking 

writing 

cake decorating

baking 

cooking 

embroidery 

sewing 

quilting 

crocheting 

knitting 

and more.. 

Now until the end of the month (5/31/21) they are offering 70% off all their classes with the promo code Bloom70. 

You can also find several FREE CLASSES on Craftsy. Be sure to check them out! 

Happy Creating! 

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Dare to Share #469

It is Friday night, and you know what that means.. 

It is time to Dare to Share! 

Just a few more weeks of school, and then we successfully made it through a school year like no other. A year full of social distancing, masks, and quarantines. While I have been very blessed to have missed out on a handful of quarantines because I was far enough away from affected students, I know many students and teachers at my school who were not as lucky. The end is near though, and next school year is planned to be pretty much back to normal.   When is the last day of school where you live? 

Last week I mentioned I would be writing a post about our unexpected benefits of using a meal box.  I was very happy when I found out what my daughter thought.  The benefits have definitely made our experience a worth it, so check it out if you have considered getting one.  

I will be adding a new party to the Dollar Tree Summer Party series.  I have found some really cute new items, like this Uncle Sam wreath and will be sharing many of them in a post this week.  

If you would like to see my Dollar Tree finds and other photos and stories be sure to follow me on Instagram.

Well it is time to get this party started.  Link up and HAVE FUN! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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The Benefits of an Every Plate Meal Box

Meal box unboxing day 

My daughter and I decided to try a meal box for the first time about 2 months ago. I had heard that Every Plate was very affordable, so when I saw a special deal I signed us up.  We are currently on our 5th and 6th box, and we have been very happy about the side benefits that we were not expecting.  I recently asked for my daughters thoughts, and I found she liked receiving it for many of the same reasons as I did.  

Loaded Baked Potato Chowder  

My Favorite Reasons 

Cost  - The cost of three meals for two people is cheaper than eating out once at a chain restaurant.   The final cost per week is less than $20 per person for the entire week, and that's with shipping included. I am also spending less on groceries since I have to buy less at the store.  

Healthier Meals -  On nights when I had a long day, I have been known just to throw some kind of frozen food in the oven or air fryer and call it good.  They were not usually the healthiest choices.  We are eat A LOT more vegetables with our meals in our Every Plate box. 

Apricot Glazed Pork Chops 

Trying New Things -  I have to admit, I am not exactly adventurous when it comes to food. When I eat out, I have my regular menu choices at most of the places we eat on a frequent basis. I also have my mainstays in what I buy at the store.  Every Plate has a lot of menu choices we have not tried before, and I have been eating meals that I probably would not make on my own if I didn't have a meal box. 

Convenience -  Our Every Plate box arrives at our door on the delivery day we choose.  It is nice not to have to run to the store to go pick out something to eat for dinner. I know I already have everything I need for dinner right in my refrigerator. 

Time Spent Together - The last couple of years, my almost 20 year old daughter and I have not spent a lot of time doing things together. We don't always want to do the same things, so she would not go anywhere. She has also had a few years where she was dealing with bad anxiety and depression, and didn't want to leave her room.  She has been feeling a lot better lately, and we both enjoy cooking the meals as a team.  She cuts all the produce, while I am usually the one at the stove.  

Recipe Cards - We receive a recipe card with every meal.  Several of the recipes we have tried have been so delicious, we know we want to make them again.  We can make them anytime we want to, since we have the recipe.  There have been several glazes and sauces that we have loved that we can easily make and use with other meals.

Red Hot Ranch Chicken Sandwich and Spiced Potato Wedges 

My Daughters Reasons

Like Old Times/Time With Mom - When my daughter was young, she loved helping in the kitchen.  She told me that cooking dinner with me several nights a week makes her happy, because it reminds her of good memories of when she was a kid. 

Portion Control -  While the portions are big, and we do not always finish them, overall there is less waste and leftovers than meals we would make on our own.  

Variety -  She likes the variety of the meals, and trying things she normally would not try.  

Extras - We don't always finish off all the spices and seasonings.  We are able to keep it and use at a later time on something else.  

Eco - Friendly - My daughter would like to save the planet. She likes recycling, and not having a lot of waste.  The meals are shipped in boxes, and with recyclable freeze packs. 

Farmers Market Penne 

There are only a couple of small things that we wish were a little different, but they are minor.    I don't like hot, spicy food, and my stomach is not happy when I eat it either.  There have been some recipes that I would have like to try, but they only came in a spicy option.    My daughter's wish is that there were more veggie options.  Over the last several months she has decided to go more vegetarian, and has cut back on eating many meats. Every Plate does have some vegetarian options each week, but she would like to have more.   

There has been a couple of weeks that we have skipped.  It is easy to do on the website where you choose your meals.  We have done so on weeks when we were going to be too busy to make meals, or could not agree on three meals for the week.  

Would you like to try Every Plate?  They have a special promotion going on where you can get $20 off your first box. 

You can find out more and get your special reduced price box here. You may find that there are special benefits for you and your family too. 

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Dare to Share #468

It is Friday night, and you know what that means.. 

It is time to Dare to Share! 

How was your week? I know parts of the country have a rough couple of days with the gas situation.  Hopefully everything will be back to normal soon.  Were you one of the ones affected by the gas shortage? 

This week my daughter and I received another Every Plate box. Our favorite recipe this week was the Farmers Market Penne. It was so good! While we were making dinner I interviewed my daughter to get her thoughts on the meal kit box.  She made me very happy with her answers.  I will be sharing a post early next week with what she said. 

Another thing that happened this week was I received a Dollar Tree online order.  I had ordered the hanging baskets for a project I am making for my friends birthday/retirement party that I am planning for later in the summer.  I remembered I had made another party craft with the hanging baskets so I shared a post on  how to make a crepe paper party chandelier.

It looks like it is time to get this party started, so link up and HAVE FUN!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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How to make a crepe paper party chandelier

In this post I am going to share a fun and easy party decorating idea that you can use for all kind of parties.  

I am planning a big birthday for one of my best friends later this summer. I am planning to make a special chandelier for her party. 

** This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

When I came up with the idea, my Dollar Tree had sold out of their hanging baskets.  Since I need at least four for my new idea, I ordered from the smaller quantity section online and had them shipped free to my store.   This was the second time I had ordered a smaller quantity online and it is a great way to get hard to find items. 

Today I remembered how I used the hanging baskets to make these  crepe paper chandeliers for my daughter's slumber party.  While we went with a rainbow theme, I think these would also be really cute in red, white and blue for any upcoming Memorial Day or 4th of July party.   

(If you are thinking of having a Patriotic Party, you find all of the Dollar Tree Patriotic Party Supplies here.)

My daughter helped me wrap long pieces of crepe paper around the top rim of the hanging basket. 

While the crepe paper is easy to make, there is an easy way to hang it without making holes in your ceiling.  I attached a small command hook on the ceiling and removed it when the party was over.  

It was super simple, and my daughter and her friends loved it.

 You can read more about our art themed slumber party here

and how we made our own rainbow rock candy here.

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Dare to Share #467

It's Friday night, and you know what that means.. 

It is time to Dare to Share! 

Happy almost Mother's Day!  Do you have anything special planned? 

I am currently struggling to write this post because I am visiting my boyfriend and forgot to bring my computer mouse. I am struggling to use the touchpad.  For some reason, it has never been easy for me to use it.  Do you like to use a mouse or the touchpad  on your computer? 

Yea!! He just gave me a mouse to borrow to write this post.  

Did you see my post this week? How to throw and amazing party with the Dollar Tree.  The Dollar Tree has really stepped up it's party game and weekly I am surprised with new party supplies that show up on the shelf.  Just tonight, I found some new party items that are so new that they are not even in this post.  

Speaking of parties, it is time to get this one started.. 

 

Link up and HAVE FUN! 

  

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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How to throw an amazing party with the Dollar Tree

If you are not a regular shopper at the Dollar Tree, you might not realize how large the party supply section has become recently.  You can throw so many amazing themed parties, and save money at the same time.   

** This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

My first stop in the party supply section is the basic paper goods.  They have tablecloths, plates, cups, napkins, and more in several color options.  Even if you don't have a theme in mind, you can figure out what your colors you want to use for your party in this section. 

Another basic staple that I always buy at the Dollar Tree is birthday candles. You can choose several different kinds, including numbers and specialty candles.  A new addition to the basic party balloons are the numbers and word balloons that you you easily blow up without helium. 

If you like to decorate with streamers, the Dollar Tree offers so many affordable 2 pack options. 

But there is so much more than just the basics... 

There are many themed party lines available for both boys and girls. 

Some of those themes include Lego, dinosaur, super hero, unicorn, mermaid and emoji.

I pulled together some of the items for a dinosaur party. In this picture is a giant gift bag, wall mural (photo booth backdrop), two types of banners, plate and napkins. 

You can get some more dinosaur ideas with the dinosaur party I threw for my son here.

Here are a few of the super hero options, a photo prop backdrop, a photo frame for the kids to hold, a super hero gift bag, tablecloth, plates and napkins. 

Here is even more options with the LEGO blocks. In the basket is a tablecloth,  two types of banners, centerpiece, cups, and favors. 

Thinking of having a LEGO party and need ideas? You can find ideas for food, games and more here.

What is so great about the their party supplies is they have much more than just birthday.  Currently they have an entire row of summer luau supplies.  

If you are interested in having a luau, you can see the luau parties I threw for my daughter here.

Are you having a baby or planning a 1st birthday? They have really expanded their baby shower and baby themed options. 

If you have a graduate, the Dollar Tree is the place to go. I don't even have half of what they offer in these pictures.   

Getting married? They have bachelorette and wedding items. 

More current party options in store right now are all their patriotic party options. 

A newer product available at the Dollar Tree are these licensed character cups. Just some of the options available are the Minions, Star Wars, Frozen, Trolls, Minecraft and Avengers.  You can see more of what is available on the Dollar Tree website here.  These cups would make a great party favor. 

I LOVE these new animal favor buckets.  There are so many things you can do with these.  

Here are a few of the parties that we threw that I wish I had these cute buckets to use as favors.   

Cat party, Safari Party, Zoo Animal Party, Beach Bash

There are so many great toy items that make great favors. I found these Trolls World Tour toys this past week. 

The Dollar Tree has their own line of catering/serving ware. They have ice buckets, serving platter, serving bowls and utensils. 

 You can buy so many party supplies online. Definitely check  out what is available here.  While they have a lot in store, there is so much more that you might not see in store like the extremely popular 80 oz candy jars that are selling out immediately.   (update: I just ordered a case of them online. I will be receiving 16 large candy/storage jars for only $16)  If you buy anything online, you can have it sent  free to your local store. 

I hope this post inspired you in some way. I would love to hear some of the great party finds and ideas you have had using Dollar Tree items. 

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