Each Memorial Day started with a silent ritual of my grandfather raising the flag at dawn each year, and quietly taking it down at dusk. He never talked about his experience in the Pacific but something inside told me that there was a private experience swirling inside him that allowed him to cherish the American flag more than the rest of us. Raising the flag in our home is a sign of hope, celebration and jubilation. He hangs it when a birthday is celebrated, when good news is hoped for and when memorials are remembered. The flag is his way of celebrating the joys in life, and each time he raises it I see a glimpse of that 18 year old that served as a medic in the second war and earned a Purple Heart along the way.
This year we are celebrating my grandfather by preparing a party that will bring the extended family together in a sizzling Memorial Day grill out that warrants both a patio make over and a menu filled with his favorite dishes. With 3 generations gathering at sunset, we need plenty of seating, copious amounts of food and a grill that can keep up with hungry demands.
Enjoying a special family gathering while trying to play hostess at the same time is complicated, but not impossible if you plan ahead. I must admit, time is not on my side these days and with our move to Seattle quickly approaching, I had “causal party” in mind when I ventured on line and shopped for my new items at Kmart.
Create a party station
Creating party stations allows for your guests to move around the party without congregating in one central area, allowing for a more relaxeed entertaining environment. Cluster small seating arrangements and tables together, offering a unique food or beverage at each one. With so many children to accommodate, S’mores are by far our most popular station, followed closely by Sparkling Pomegranate Punch. Place your station off the traffic path, but close enough to the fun to ensure that people flow freely between stations.
Embrace Relaxed Entertaining
Place settings are fabulous for formal affairs or long meandering dinner parties…not so much for a family party with 3 generations trying to keep the over 80 crown and the under 3 crowd grinning from ear to ear. To create a table scape that gives the effect of style without the confinement of place settings, offer your guests a buffet table complete with centrepieces, candles, plates, cutlery and beverages. It will give you party an anchor, and give your guests a destination both before and after the meal.
Keep it clear
I love using white dishes and heirloom silver (had you noticed?) but for this party, I am going clear. I love the modern style it offers the table, and it allows the blue, red and white theme of the party decor to shine without competing with the dishes. Alas, it is not always easy to find everything you need when you go for a clear theme….so be creative, stroll the bathroom accessories section, I seem to always find the best ice buckets disguised as bathroom rubbish bins there.
Embrace the Red, White and Blue
One cannot have a patio make over for Memorial Day and not indulge in a red grill. While I wanted the food to carry the bulk of the color theme, I did want the table accents to complete the decor. Chilled white wine, a berry and meringue layer cake, sparkling pomegranate punch, extra large red jelly beans, white candles, a denim blue table runner with matching napkins and a red table mat gave me the Memorial Day color theme I was looking for.
All American Menu
Grilling in Arizona often includes salsa, guacamole and any number of various taco combinations. Creating an All American Menu keeps the cooking simple, and the clean up quick. Burgers, corn, and veggies for a grilled salad means that everyone can sit down together to eat, including the grill master.
Create your own Memorial Day Grill Out Make over with Kmart, these deals are currently on offer:
- 20% all patio cushions, umbrellas, all folding lawn furniture
- Metal arbor with gate on SALE for $79.99 (reg $149.99)
- 50% off hanging basket plant stand & deluxe basket plant stand
Shop Your Way Rewards members save more each and every season and for every $1 you spend you get 10 points, find more great Shop Your Way Rewards information by following them on Twitter, and don’t forget, you can lock in today’s low prices for all of your upcoming events with Kmart Layaway. Connect with Kmart online, Twitter, and Facebook. Find the items I purchased for my Memorial Day Grill out in the Kmart Outdoor Living Catalogue.
Top 5 items from my Memorial Day Makeover include:
- Dakota Dining Set
- Benton Sling Stack Chairs
- Garden Oasis Folding Table
- Red Kenmore Gas Grill
- Garden Oasis Swing
See my Kmart shopping adventure on Google+
I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric. All images, content and oppinions expressed are my own. See my full shopping experience plus extra photos from our makeover on my Google+ Page.