Happy birthday, USA! Independence Day is such a fun holiday, and it’s so fun to celebrating our nation and what makes it great. Here are a few of the festive ways I show that I am proud to be an American – my 4th of July favorites.<\/p>\n

These cups always make me giggle. I got them at Pier 1.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Althought I suspect that I’m glad that I’m not actually partying like it was 1776, given my fondness for electricity, indoor plumbing, cars, and all these other crazy modern amenities.<\/p>\n

I love to decorate my house. Come on in and check it out.<\/p>\n

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And this is the sideboard in our dining room.<\/p>\n

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These place mats from Target make my whole family smile.<\/p>\n

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One of the reasons I really enjoy the 4^{th<\/sup> of July is that it doesn\u2019t have to be complicated. Simple items can do the trick and make a statement, like this wreath on our front door. I never knew the I wanted a red front door until we moved into this house and it had one.<\/p>\n}

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My favorite book for Independence Day is A Patriot’s Handbook: Songs, Poems, Stories, and Speeches Celebrating the Land We Love<\/a> by Caroline Kennedy.<\/p>\n

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\nMy favorite quote about the 4th of July is from Erma Bombeck.<\/p>\n

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One of my favorite videos is this one by the Muppets featuring the always awesome Sam the Eagle and the Swedish Chef who, while he doesn’t speak English, seems oddly very American to me, although really, the most American character of all in this video has to Animal, and not just because he’s red, although that does seem appropriate for the holiday. Love that guy!<\/p>\n