![\"Cake\"](\"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Cake-220x270.jpg\")
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Image via goodwillvirginia.org<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nLet\u2019s start off with one d\u00e9cor tip that will go a long way: Making your food pull double duty! Every event needs food. Whether you\u2019re hosting a huge gathering or just preparing enough for your family, it\u2019s easy to color code your foods to fit the theme. Arrange a red, white, and blue dessert in a clear glass bowl (browse a wide variety of shapes and sizes at Goodwill for a great price!) and use it as a centerpiece. This great idea comes from the Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia (Richmond) blog<\/a>. It\u2019s a roundup post so check it out for even more d\u00e9cor ideas!\n Marion Goodwill Industries<\/a>\u00a0(OH) has some easy 4th of July ideas, too, on their patriotic Pinboard. I especially love this idea to organize silverware into mason jars with red, white, and blue bandanas! Every piece of this easy-to-assemble display can be thrifted and the best part is that you\u2019ll be able to use them all after the event, too! There\u2019s a secret satisfaction I get when I can assimilate seasonal d\u00e9cor into off-season functionality. It\u2019s just so convenient! I\u2019ll definitely be trying this one.<\/p>\n When I think of the 4th of July, I envision our glorious flag (and what it represents), booming fireworks, and a laid back happy vibe. No matter where you are celebrating or how many people are involved, those are the top three things, I think, on everyone\u2019s Independence Day celebration checklist. The problem with party planning for an event like this, though, is that when you\u2019re the host sometimes the details can overtake your ability to actually enjoy the free-spirited mood of the day. We don\u2019t want you to miss out on the fun, so here are a few tips to help you capture the atmosphere of the holiday without missing out on the good parts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":775850,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-775848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-shop"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/775848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=775848"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/775848\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":775849,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/775848\/revisions\/775849"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/775850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=775848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=775848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=775848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Dining](\"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Dining-decor-203x270.jpg\")
\nImage via asoftplace.net<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n![\"Red](\"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Red-White-Blue-Ensembles-470x264.jpg\")
\nImage via theendlessdiaryofasororitygirl.blogspot.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nSince your very festive table is now set, and we\u2019ve decided that our d\u00e9cor this year must be functional, let\u2019s talk about attire! Having the clothing you wear contribute to the color scheme is a simple yet effective way to create a cohesive look without having to put a lot of time into party prep. Start by looking through your closet to see what you already have. I\u2019m big on whites and blues, so finding something to wear with those two colors wouldn\u2019t be a problem for me. Red, however, is a hue I very rarely buy. That\u2019s why I\u2019ll browse Goodwill first.\n\nSure, it\u2019s lovely to find some really fun an on-trend pieces at the mall or online, but the thrift store secret is that the item you\u2019re considering buying brand new might actually be waiting for you at Goodwill for only a fraction of the price. Plus, when you buy second-hand items you\u2019re helping the earth! A lot of the pieces in the display above were collected by Sophie of the blog The Endless Diary of a Sorority Girl<\/a> at her local Goodwill and they\u2019re all super stylish! What\u2019s hiding out and waiting for you at yours?\n\nWhile I really enjoy celebrating our nation\u2019s independence on July 4th, I also want to mention my year-round independence inspiration: Goodwill. You may be a fan of thrift shopping because it\u2019s less expensive and better for the environment, but did you also know that when you shop at and donate to Goodwill you are helping to fund Goodwill\u2019s employment programs? These programs promote independence and dignity for people within your own community who need support to provide for themselves and their families and that\u2019s only possible with your help. I can\u2019t think of a better way to honor our nation\u2019s birthday than to assist my neighbors in their efforts toward achieving the American Dream.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"