Fourth of July Celebration Tips with Alexandra Hedin!

I'm partnering with my friend Alexandra Hedin this month for posts on celebrating Independence Day in style! Stop by her blog here to see my post on blending cultures to create your own very special 4th of July. Below you will find her stylish ideas.

The Fourth of July is by far my favorite holiday to celebrate. There is none of the pressure of the Christmas season, with just as much fun, family - and occasionally sun! I absolutely adore it. Add to that a killer color combo and I'm positively swooning. It's no wonder that every year we gather together a huge group of family and friends, fire off the cannon (yes, we have a cannon), and party through to the next morning. We've even been known to karaoke.

Creating the perfect party every year is not hard - even when we know it's for more than fifty people - because we make the most of the food ahead, make all the drinks D.I.Y., and kick off our shoes. Here's what I would make, if I were you, with recipes gathered out of my book, Entertaining at Home.

Menu

Spiced Popcorn

Herbed Goat Cheese Spread (recipe below!)

Steamed Clams and Mussels

Roasted Potato Salad

Baked Fried Chicken

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

For a cocktail, I'm making a version of an Arnold Palmer that's delightfully refreshing and very much grown up. We're calling it Mr. Palmer's Punch.

Herbed Goat Cheese Spread

8 ounces goat cheese

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons lemon zest

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon tabasco

1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley

1/4 cup fresh chopped dill

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Mix all ingredients together with a fork. Refrigerate at least one hour or up to one week. Serve with crackers, vegetables, or a loaf of bread!

I hope you have a fabulous holiday and celebrate the Fourth of July surrounded by people who make you smile. Don't forget, life is a party!

Alexandra Hedin is a Lifestyle and Entertaining Expert based in the Pacific Northwest. Her simple approach to making every day lovely has made her an admired contributor to magazines and television across the west coast.

In Winter 2010, Alexandra's debut book was released. Entertaining at Home features ten complete parties including menus, simple recipes, crafts, and helpful tips for hosting your own event. The beautifully photographed book includes hundreds of photos to inspire and tempt any hostess-to-be to take her next even to the next level.

Alexandra has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens magazine, Design*Sponge, and on the Seattle affiliates of CBS, ABC, and FOX. Her parties, recipes, and crafts can be found in every issue of 425 Magazine.

Alexandra grew up in the bustling kitchen of a home economics teacher helping to feed a large extended family for holidays and regular weekends together. She still spends her free time cooking in her Seattle kitchen for her husband and three young children.

Find Alexandra online at www.alexandrahedin.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AlexandraHedin, and follow her on Twitter @alexandrahedin.

Sixth Annual Tablescape Contest

It's that time again! The Sixth Annual Tablescape Contest is on for another year and the theme is all about dressing up your home-cooked meal. What does your meal look like? Whether it's breakfast, lunch, dinner, even dessert - I want to know!

Everyone is so busy nowadays that they often don't have time to sit down to a home-cooked meal, let alone prepare one. I have always felt that sitting down and eating a wholesome meal with your loved ones is one of the most important aspects of life. Not only does it provide you with the chance to reconnect to those you hold dearest, it is much healthier and more nutritious than the prepared food to go you might pick up on the way home from a busy workday.

In addition to the health advantages of sitting down to eat a home-cooking meal, there are many other added benefits. Columbia University's Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse has conducted the same study since 2001 to determine these benefits:

• Teens from families who didn't eat dinner together on a consistent basis were more likely to experiment with drugs.
• Increased family dinners have shown a positive link with improved academic performance.
• Families that eat together regularly show higher rates of discussion about all aspects of their childrens' lives, including sports, current events, school, and their friends and social lives.
• 70% of teens who eat dinner with their families at least 5 times a week reported that their parents were proud of them.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• 3 or more family meals per week are associated with a 12% reduction in the likelihood of being overweight, a 20% drop in the odds of eating unhealthy food  on a regular basis, and a 35% reduction in disordered eating.
• Kids are 24% likelier to eat healthy food like fruits and vegetables, breakfast, and take a multivitamin.

Use your creativity, mixed with Rosanna collections, and remember that home-cooked meals don't necessarily have to take place inside! Share with us the story behind your tablescape design. What does your favorite, go-to meal look like? Birthday cake for a special someone? What about Sunday breakfast or an easy weekday meal? Winners will be chosen by me personally. So join in for your chance to win a $500 Rosanna gift certificate, and be featured on Rosanna's Table Talk blog!

Get Setting!
Our Sixth Annual Tablescape Contest will start on June 18th, 2012 and end on August 31, 2012. Winners will be announced shortly after. For a little inspiration, take a look at the photographs from our last few contests:

2011
2010
2009
2008
2007

The Prizes
1st Place: $500 Rosanna gift certificate
2nd Place: $200 Rosanna gift certificate
3rd Place: $100 Rosanna gift certificate

Official Rules
1. Anyone with a passion for Rosanna-ware and tablescape design is welcome to compete, regardless of age.
2. Set the table for at least two. No actual food or Rosanna products are required.
3. Contest begins on June 18th, 2012 at 12:00am PST and ends August 31st, 2012 at 11:59pm PST.
4. Submit up to 2 photos of your tablescape and the story behind each design. Digital submissions must come as jpegs, around 4x5 inches, no less than 72 dpi and no more than 180 dpi.
5. When entering, make sure to include your name, city, and an email or phone number where we can reach you. We respect your privacy and will not give out any of your information.
6. Photos in hard copy will not be returned.
7. Rosanna, Inc. reserves the right to use and/or publish photos of your tablescape submissions however we see fit. Photos may be published on social media sites. Publishing does not necessarily constitute a winning entry. By submitting your photo, you agree to these terms.
8. Please email all entries to info@rosannainc.com.
9. Mailed entries should be sent to:
    Rosanna, Inc.
    Attn: Tablescape Contest
    6755 East Marginal Way S.
    Seattle, WA, 98108

Good luck!

With love,

www.rosannainc.com

Free Shipping at Rosanna.com!

June is a time for celebration! From weddings to baby announcements, graduations to Father's Day - celebrate those you hold dearest with a fabulous gift from Rosanna! All month long, enjoy free shopping on all U.S. retail orders at http://www.rosannainc.com! Click the photo above for more.

www.rosannainc.com