Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad with Balsamic-Basil Vinaigrette

We purchased these tomatoes at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market so it would be hard to go wrong with this dish. Clean and fresh flavors, with a little bit of sweetness from the balsamic and the tomatoes. This was the dish I kept eating.

Grilled Corn with Basil Butter-Oil

Basil on corn is actually a flavorful combination and the butter-oil with the infused basil was delicate and not too overpowering. But next time I will chop up the basil even more so it doesn’t look like seaweed.

Grilled Chicken with a Homemade Rub

David wasn’t in the mood for steak, so instead I purchased these air-chilled chicken thighs and with a blend of homemade spices we grilled them. Because of the fat under the skin, the grill kept igniting, hence the burnt skin, but these were delicious!! David couldn’t stop eating these.

Tomorrow I’ll bring you the S’mores Bars my neighbor, Paula, volunteered to make. They’re setting in her fridge right now (my mouth is watering while I write this). I’ll post photos tomorrow.

I’d love to know what you ate this Labor Day. Hope it’s delicious!

This collection includes: an 8×10 “Happy Labor Day” sign, tons of fabulous party circles, and tented cards you can personalize yourself. I hope this collection inspires you to get creative and have some retro fun decorating!!

DOWNLOAD THE HIGH RESOLUTION FILES FOR PRINTING HERE

8x10 frameable sign

Labor Day food and drink party circles

Labor Day party circles

Tented cards you can click on and personalize

What a retro cool collection!

Thank you, Krysten, for this amazing collection!

To learn more about Krysten, please visit her blog, Clickable Party and also check out her shop where you can buy more of her fabulous printables.

When I saw this photo from Jennifer T’s All American BBQ, I thought what cute hamburger cupcakes. Then I found out they weren’t cupcakes at all, but hamburger COOKIES! I’ve never seen this before, so I asked Jennifer if she’d put together a tutorial… And here it is! Thank you, Jennifer!

First off, there is only one rule before I share this with you…When you make these and someone asks you if they were hard to make, we are to always say YES   I mean if we are going to “slave” away in the kitchen for a few minutes (yes, I said a few minutes is all at it will take to make these) then we are going to get some appreciation LOL

SUPPLIES:

• Nilla Wafers
• Mini York Peppermint Patties
• Buttercream frosting (or pre-tinted frosting in red and yellow)
• Red & yellow food coloring
• 2 plastic baggies (for piping frosting on cookies)
• Sesame seeds (optional)
• Caro syrup (optional)
• Cold beer (optional but you ARE ”grilling”)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Alright, let’s get our stuff together!

Yes we did start off with 8 of the patties…Aren’t you observant!  (don’t judge me, I see chocolate I eat it….)

For those of you coloring your own frosting do so now. Bottled frosting users (don’t worry, we won’t tell) you are set!

We are going to add “mustard” to one side of the patties and cover with a Nilla Wafer.

Then on another Nilla Wafer, add the ketchup, then set the mustard, pattie, and wafer on top of the ketchup.

You’re thinking I can DO this!  RIGHT?  Of course you can!!!  To add sesame seeds (shown in pic below), take a pastry brush with a small amount of Caro Syrup and lightly brush the top of the cookie and sprinkle sesame seeds.

Voila!  The finished product!! (Shown with the sesame seeds.)

Thank you again, Jennifer, for this totally original tutorial!  If you make these for your next party, please send photos, I’d love to share them.

Also, check out the adorable parties Jennifer has added to our main site, and to learn even more about Jennifer, please visit her brand new blog, Ain’t She Sweet.

I’m always impressed by people who can throw amazing parties on the tiniest of budgets. I was a fan of Melissa N’s Baseball BBQ when I first saw it, but then when I read she put it together for $100, I had to know more.

So here are Melissa’s top 5 tips for how she saved money throwing her Baseball BBQ…

1.  REUSE – I use items over and over in different ways until they look too beaten up.  I use a lot of different containers and replace the tags on them or add ribbons depending on the theme or colors.

One can of chalkboard paint has gotten me through 5 parties so far!  I use them for signs and all sorts of decor!  The scoreboard for the baseball party is being reused for a 7th birthday party… just using some chalkboard paint to cover the last sign. (I use chalkboard markers on the boards and they tend to not all come off that easily, so I like to repaint them.)

2.  RECYCLE – I save almost all glass jars and large plastic containers to use for parties. Just clean them out and put them into a box for future use.  I also find a lot of glassware at garage sales.  I used what baseballs we had at the house to make the glass jar centerpiece for the baseball party. Cost nothing!

The green “turf” on the table was used at our Easter Egg Hunt and made a great covering for the baseball party also!  Cost was $8 and so far I have recycled it through two parties!

3.  DOLLAR TREE – Amazing what you can do with dollar store items!

4.  BUY ON CLEARANCE – Rummage through the clearance bins and dollar bins at Target, Party City, Walmart and more. I always buy anything in primary colors because they can always be altered with paint and other crafty items.

The striped table clothes that you see on the tables and on the main baseball table were purchased at Target on sale, and I am reusing them for 3 more up coming parties!  Big savings there!

5.  RESEARCH way a head of time – I always use the Internet for research beforehand and using FREE printable (making sure to give credit back to the original blog or website).

Thinking outside the box, and being creative with food also, the s’more pops were a big hit and easy and very economical to make!

Thank you, Melissa, for these helpful money-saving ideas! My two biggest takeaways from this post are… Reuse anything and everything, and chalkboard paint is your friend.

Take a look at all the fabulous parties Melissa has added to our site. She is definitely an entertaining expert!

We’re heading to a friend’s BBQ. I’ll be eating a burger with all the fixings!

I’m hoping we’re not too fogged in tonight to see the incredible fireworks shows along the beach. I LIVE for fireworks!

Also, I’m excited to see all your celebrations. Please add them to our site so I can show them off!

Norene’s 4th of July Party

Laura’s Americana Luau

Magnolia Creative Co’s Budget Friendly Patriotic Party

Lindsey M’s Little Firecracker’s 4th of July Riverside Soiree

Molly E’s Celebrate our Independence!

Need more ideas? Take a look at all our July 4th parties. And if you need free July 4th party printables, we’ve got you covered with four different printable collections.

Do you need free printables for your 4th of July BBQ? Well, we’ve got a full assortment for you! (Below are sample images. Click on the link or image to see the full collection.)

Our “Red White & Blue” Collection, designed by Brady from 9 to 5 Mom, includes invitations, party circles, tented cards, drink straw flags, favor tags, sparkler holders with directions (cool, right?!), matchbox covers, and my favorite part… a “Let Freedom Ring” banner.

Our “Star” Collection, designed by Ana of Love Party Printables, includes invitations, party circles, party flags, tented cards (2 varieties), water bottle labels, napkin rings, favor tags, and a “Happy July 4th” banner.

Our “Rockets” Collection, designed by Kerry and Noelle of Sweet Craft Cakes, includes party circles, an invitations, water bottle labels, tented cards, and a fun “Celebrate” banner.

And finally, our “Happy 4th” Collection, designed Melody of Tea Party Designs includes party circles, water bottle labels, and a “Happy July 4th” banner.

If you use our printables for your 4th of July celebrations, please send photos so I can post them. Wishing you all a fabulous 4th!!

Are you throwing a July 4th BBQ? Then you’ll want these adorable free “fireworks” July 4th BBQ printables from my friends Noelle and Kerry of Sweet Craft Cakes.

The collection includes: party circles, an invitations, water bottle labels, tented cards, and a fun “Celebrate” banner.

Party circles

Invitation

Water bottle labels

Tented cards

"Celebrate" banner

"Celebrate" banner

"Celebrate" banner

"Celebrate" banner

"Celebrate" banner

Download the high resolution files for printing:

• Party circles
• Invitation
• Water bottle labels
• Tented cards
• “Celebrate” banner

Thank you Noelle and Kerry for these awesome BBQ printables!

If you use these printables for your July 4th celebrations, please send photos to jillian@catchmyparty.com. I’d love to show them off.

Also, to learn more about Noelle and Kerry please visit their blog Sweet Craft Cakes and their Etsy shop for party ideas, inspirations, and adorable printables.

And finally, take a look at all of our free July 4th party printable collections! There’s bound to be something for you!

Who would like more free July 4th printables for their Independence Day celebrations? Well, we’ve got some!

Melody from Tea Party Designs created this cute set of party circles, water bottle labels, and a “Happy July 4th” banner. Thank you, Melody…

Party circles

Water bottle labels

"Happy July 4th" banner

To download the high resolution files for printing:

• Party circles
• Water bottle labels
• “Happy July 4th” banner

Thank you, Melody, for the designs! To learn more about Melody and see her designs, please check out her Facebook page, Tea Party Designs, and Etsy shop.

Also, check out our other free July 4th printable collections.

Party circles

Download the high resolution party circles

These would work great at all your outdoor BBQs, decorating your burgers, hot dogs, cupcakes, treats… really anything. Get creative, and please send photos to jillian (at) catchmyparty.com.  I’d love to show off what you do.