Need a new door decoration...

I know July is over.

..What should I do with my door?...

Soooooo, I have had this paper creation up on my door since July 4th. And I know I should take it down. But I feel like I should put something up in its place. I really, really like this accordion folded creation. I love driving up to my house and seeing this big 'ol paper thing in my door. It sets me apart in a neighborhood that is a tad cookie cutter. Don't get me wrong, I really like my neighborhood.  It's just that the houses look so so similar.  I have been known to drive past my own house or pull into a driveway several houses down without even realizing it. Ok, maybe that says more about my brain than my street.

I suppose what is best is to just remove it, since it is not July 4th. Or even July. Maybe a blank door is better. I just realized, this is like keeping your Christmas lights up all year! Ok. Got it. Paper accordion thing...you are gone.

But now what?


(and today is the first day of school...I am full of mixed feelings today.  Yesterday I felt like I was anticipating a funeral!  What is wrong with me!  Don't worry, I have only had a happy face and encouragement for my two nervous students.  I will let you know how the first day goes.)

Happy Birthday and Independence Day!

Ahh...Good to be home. Good to see you again, too! I didn't get much time to recover from our 2-day drive home before putting on a birthday party for my littlest. I really enjoy his birthday because it is on July 4th! (I get to combine patriotic ideas AND birthday ideas!) {squeal}

I literally threw together this birthday party in a day! Even I am surprised that I pulled it off!

But I found such great ideas from other craft blogs while we were on vacation. {Love you, craft bloggers!} I just had to make them all as soon as we got back. I had about 24 hours to pull it off. So if you are ever looking for some fast party ideas with big impact, these are worth noting:

Poke cake for the birthday cake...

~~Make a white cake, poke holes in top of cake with a fork, dissolve 1 box of jello with 1 cup boiling water and pour over cake (do this for each layer), chill 3 hours, frost cake with cool whip topping~~

Ice Cream Sandwich pops...inspired by this at Living Locurto.

I had to make some red, white, and blue cupcakes with Homemade Buttercream Icing!

I will make buttercream icing any time I have a reason to!

Red and blue Jello flavored popcorn...I found the recipe here at Claire's Creations.

...What are your "go-to" party ideas?...

And seriously, I might have found my new July 4th tradition- Cheesecake Filled Strawberries! Mmmmm. Sadly, I don't have a picture of these, but I filled strawberries with cheesecake filling and topped each with a blueberry. I apologize for no pic. But we ate them all! And honestly, if it weren't for my husband (who knows I get super side-tracked during a party) I wouldn't have any pics at all. I think he took all of these. I did have to rescue them all with some quick editing in iPhoto. Note to self: Teach husband how to focus camera...even on auto.