I could not be more excited to see Memorial Day on the horizon. Being only a few weeks away I’m gearing up for my families annual Memorial day party where we open our summer cottage to celebrate the start of sunny weather and honor those that have served our country.Memorial day is so much more than the time we spend with those we love, or the sum of that enticing weekend Sale. Spawned from the desire to dignify unknown soldiers in unmarked graves at the end of the American Civil War, the true purpose of this holiday is to honor our fallen soldiers, and the best way to honor them is to remember their courage and sacrifice in a way that feels right for you. It is also a time for families to come together to acknowledge and honor their fallen kin as they appreciate the company of one another.

Paper Bag Luminaries are a wonderful way to honor fallen soldiers on Memorial Day.

In honor of our fallen soldiers and my Grandfather, I have donated a bouquet of flowers to be placed at a the Korean War Memorial. You can also donate one here and choose the Memorial site of you would like your flowers to go to. In keeping with Memorial Day traditions, I’ve decided to light several luminaries to keep the purpose of the holiday in mind.

We’ve also created a Free American Flag Printable for you to download and DIY your own American Flag Straws! Both can be recycled for 4th of July party decorations as well!

Step 1: Purchase Navy and Poppy USA Made Straws from Luna Bazaar, then Download and Print our Free American Flag Printable sheet.  Step 2: Carefully cut out flags from sheet. Step 3: Apply glue to the back of each flag and carefully wrap around straws, leaving room for folks to sip! Line up the edges of the flags before pressing flat.  Step 4: Allow time to dry and place straws in a decorative vessel for your guests to grab, nearby refreshments.  We put ours in this pretty Vintage Milk Glass Vase (ruffle top design) and placed it upon a Cotton Lace Doily.

Step 1: Purchase Navy and Poppy USA Made Straws from Luna Bazaar, then Download and Print our Free American Flag Printable sheet. Step 2: Carefully cut out flags from sheet. Step 3: Apply glue to the back of each flag and carefully wrap around straws, leaving room for folks to sip! Line up the edges of the flags before pressing flat. Step 4: Allow time to dry and place straws in a decorative vessel for your guests to grab, nearby refreshments. We put ours in this pretty Vintage Milk Glass Vase (ruffle top design) and placed it upon a Cotton Lace Doily.

Nothing says patriotic like red white and blue, so my Memorial Day decorations are going to be based around good ole’ American spirit. Celebrating the memory of our fallen soldiers on this day doesn’t mean your BBQ can’t be blast! I’m opting for some red, white and blue bandana rice paper lanterns, red paper stars, white paper stars, blue paper stars, red, white and blue honeycomb paper decorations mixed with red and white pom poms, Eco-friendly dining ware, luminaries, hanging candleholders, milk glass and lots of American flags! And did someone say KARAOKE?

Decorations from Left to Right: Cobalt Blue 14 Inch Honeycomb Paper Flower, Red and White 24 Inch Paper Star Lantern, White 30 Inch Tissue Paper Pom-Pom, Navy Blue Block Printed Square Paper Lantern.

Decorations from Left to Right: Cobalt Blue 14 Inch Honeycomb Paper Flower, Red and White 24 Inch Paper Star Lantern, White 30 Inch Tissue Paper Pom-Pom, Navy Blue Block Printed Square Paper Lantern.

As for Beverages I will be serving some old fashioned Ice tea with fresh pressed lemon. And we will have an assortment of margaritas, and berry white wine sangria. Check out our Memorial Day Recipes below!

I decided to add a delicious twist on the good ole American burger by making the beef patties out of organic grass fed ground beef with diced sweet onions.

Memorial Day Burger Recipe:

Sweet Onion Burger Recipe: 3 lbs of lean grass fed beef, 3 large sweet onions, chopped, and salt and pepper to taste. In a large bowl mix together beef, onions, salt & pepper and then form into patties. Cook as desired. (I usually cook on high heat for about five minutes on each side, and then melt some Vermont cheddar cheese the last two minutes) 1lb beef: 1 large onion makes about 4 burgers. Feel free to also add some bacon! ….yes, please!

Memorial Day White Berry Sangria Recipe: VIA The Lovely Bits

-1/2 a cup of washed strawberries

-1/2 a cup of washed blueberries

-1/2 a cup of diced pineapples

-1/2 a cup of sugar

-1 bottle of crisp white wine

-1 liter of club soda

Outdoor Tips:

-Sage is a natural fly repellent so grab dried sage at your local market and throw it on your campfire! -Wet wipes can be a life saver—keep some close by! -Hide a few unscented dryer sheets under your table runner. They can help keep bees away from food. -Stock up on making ice a few days before! -Prepare for the chance that it may rain but making sure you have several games handy! (Karaoke)

Edited by Maia Bissette