Patriotic Quotes to Honor the USA on Memorial Day

Patriotic Quotes to Honor the USA on Memorial Day

Victoria Knight   

Memorial Day weekend typically kicks off the start of summer, and it's filled with lots of time spent outdoors and even special Memorial Day activities like cookouts featuring the best Memorial Day recipes. But while you're enjoying a summer barbecue or even visiting a lake on your day off, it's important to pay tribute to those who earned our freedom. These patriotic quotes will help get you in the mood and keep in mind the real meaning and history of Memorial Day: to honor all the men and women who have died while serving our country.

Trying to get yourself in the right mindset for the day? Add some patriotic country songs to your playlist and check out these super patriotic quotes.

Barack Obama
"In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it."

John F. Kennedy
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty."

Ronald Reagan
"All great change in America begins at the dinner table."

Theodore Roosevelt
"I am an American; free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior, except for his own worth, or as my inferior, except for his own demerit."

Gen. Douglas MacArthur
"Duty, honor, country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be."

Bob Dylan
"I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom."

Gen. George S. Patton
"It's better to fight for something in life than to die for nothing."

Frederick Douglass
"The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous."

Benjamin Disraeli
"The legacy of heroes—the memory of a great name, and the inheritance of a great example."

Franklin D. Roosevelt
"In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved."

James Bryce
"Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong."

Henry James
"I think patriotism is like charity—it begins at home."

Peter Marshall
"May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right."

Robert Frost
“Freedom lies in being bold.”

Claudia Pemberton
"America without her soldiers would be like God without his angels."

Benjamin Franklin​
"Where liberty dwells, there is my country."

Harry S. Truman​
"America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand."

Oliver Wendell Holmes
“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation evermore!”

William Faulkner​
"We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it."

10 Memorial Day Activities to Plan for Your Family

10 Memorial Day Activities to Plan for Your Family

Victoria Knight   

For many American families, a Memorial Day celebration includes a three-day weekend packed with picnics, a trip to the lake, backyard grilling sessions featuring Memorial Day barbecue recipes, and a red, white, and blue Memorial Day dessert to top it all off. This year's activities might be smaller in scale, but it's still important to keep in mind the history of Memorial Day.

This national holiday isn’t about sales at your favorite stores or online or an extra day off from work. It’s about remembering and honoring those who have made the greatest sacrifice for our country’s freedom and lost their lives serving in the U.S. military.

So when is Memorial Day this year? Memorial Day always falls on the last Monday in May. This year, on Monday, May 25, 2020, share your love and respect for those who have served. Or put pen to paper and write cards of appreciation to relatives and neighbors that include one of these Memorial Day quotes to make you proud to be an American. Let the kids help with this craft too! Here are some Memorial Day activities for your family that celebrate the true meaning of this national holiday.

Decorate Your House
Twirl up your house with patriotic decor and other red, white, and blue decorations that are cute and inexpensive to show your appreciation for the women and men who have served our country.

Create a Sidewalk Mural
Kids of all ages (even preschoolers) can get in on the fun of creating a giant sidewalk chalk mural of a flag. Passersby will adore this creative approach to celebrating Memorial Day.

Camp Out In Your Backyard
These backyard camping ideas will make you feel like you're in the great outdoors, including pitching a tent and making popcorn over a fire.

Plan a Backyard Barbecue
A backyard grilling session featuring these Memorial Day recipes for your weekend barbecue is an ideal—and all-American—way to usher in summer.

Set Up a Drinks and Snacks Station
If your Memorial Day includes a laid-back day playing in the yard, set up a drinks and snacks station so everyone can serve themselves. Save the fabric pinwheels and garland made of paper drinking straws for the 4th of July!

Take a Drive
Even if you're just exploring your neck of the woods, it's always nice to enjoy a wide open road with your loved ones in tow.

Listen to Patriotic Music
Crank up the volume and queue up our list of Memorial Day songs. The collection of tracks will have you bursting with American pride.

Post a Special Message on Instagram
Share your love and respect on social media with the best Memorial Day captions for your Instagram posts.

Send a Care Package
Honor the heroes of the past by sending a care package to an active duty service member.

Donate to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Whether you donate time or money, your contribution to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will be greatly appreciated.

St Patrick's Day Costume Ideas - Fun Outfits

St Patrick's Day Costume Ideas - Fun Outfits

Victoria Knight   

St. Patrick's Day gives everyone a good excuse to go wear green costumes! Wear green St. Patrick's Day outfits, or go all-out with a leprechaun costume. Whether you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day at home or you're hitting the parade, don't forget to wear a bit of green in your outfit.

Here we offer you stylish St. Patrick Day outfit ideas that you can use for inspiration. If you love the tradition and you want to wear green then the following outfit ideas are perfect for you. We've rounded up the best outfit ideas you'll want to wear long after all your St. Paddy's Day celebrations are over

To help you out in your search for a stylish look, I've gone ahead and rounded up St. Patrick Day outfits to suit every forecast. Here’s St. Patrick Day outfit ideas applying which you can outshine others as well look apt for the day.

St. Patrick's Costume Catholic

Leprechaun Costume Girl

St. Patrick's Day Accessories

More St. Patrick's Day Outfits Ideas

St. Patrick's Day Decoration Ideas

St. Patrick's Day Decoration Ideas

Victoria Knight   

Looking for a St Patrick's Day Decoration Idea? You're in luck! Kick off the celebration with our shamrock garlands, rainbow balloons, leprechaun traps, and more.

On March 17 there's much to do from cooking recipes and donning your finest green attire to rising a glass in honor of Irish pride. You can (and should!) also make and decorate as part of the festivities. We have ideas for St Patrick's Day Decoration.

Go green with these St Patrick’s Day decor ideas. From festive wreaths to shamrock decorations, there are plenty of DIY St. Patrick’s Day decorations here to help you plan the perfect St. Patrick’s day party. Whether you are throwing a St. Patrick’s day party for kids or adults, there are St Patrick’s Day Decor for everyone.

Many of these decorations are printables of St. Patrick’s Day quotes, so that decorating is quick and easy. You can even create some of these décor ideas with your kids, like the glittery leprechaun hat or rainbow terrariums. These easy DIY St. Patrick’s Day decorations will ensure a giddy time.

St. Patrick's Day Jewelry Ideas

St. Patrick's Day Apparel & Accessories Ideas

St. Patrick's Day Crafts Ideas

St Patrick's Day Irish Decorations Ideas

St. Patrick's Day Leprechaun Hats Ideas

St. Patrick's Day Candy Ideas

St. Patrick's Day Toys Ideas

St. Patrick's Day Recipes - Easy and Fun Recipes

St. Patrick's Day Recipes - Easy and Fun Recipes

Victoria Knight   

Bring good luck to your St Patrick’s Day with these remarkable meals, beverages and desserts. These St Patrick’s Day recipes will put a little jig in your step! Even if you aren’t Irish, you will feel like you are when you try these delectable savory and sweet dishes.

Saint Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and you may be wondering what to do for meal planning on this festive occasion. St Patrick’s Day recipes are fun and many have bright colors with rainbows and all! Cabbage Roll Soup could also be considered a St. Patrick’s Day recipe and it’s one we really love.

I wanted to make your menu planning incredibly simple and give you sort of a one-stop-shop for St Patrick’s Day recipes.

Appetizer for St Patrick’s Day

Healthy Fruit Skewers for st patrick’s day

You will need:
green fruits – apple, pear, honeydew melon, kiwi, grapes
wooden skewers
green ribbon or washi tape

How to:
slice the apples, pears, & kiwi to your desired size and shape
*important* when cutting the melon be sure to cut them into
a large rectangular shape – they will be the base of the skewer and hold it upright.
to assemble:
slide the fruit onto the skewer and fill about 1/2 way
(you don’t want it to be too top heavy)
use the melon as the base of the skewer so that it will stand upright
to diplay:
place the skewers on a flat plate
use ribbon or washi tape to adorn the top

Main Course for St Patrick’s Day

GUINNESS BEEF STEW (IRISH STEW RECIPE

HOW TO MAKE GUINNESS BEEF STEW

Slice beef into roughly 2 inch pieces.
Season beef and brown in dutch oven, then transfer to a plate.
Add in onion and garlic, and cook several minutes, until softened.
Cook bacon pieces until browned.
Add flour and stir well, then pour in Guinness beer, scraping the bottom of the pot.
Add tomato paste, celery, carrots, parsnip, seasonings, coffee and chicken stock.  Return beef back to the pot.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours.
Add potatoes and prunes and simmer for another 30-40 minutes.
Remove bay leaves and enjoy!

COOKING TIPS FOR IRISH STEW

Brown the beef –  if possible… I know it’s an extra step, but I love the extra flavor it adds!
Use sturdy potatoes – I love to use baby Yukon gold potatoes.  They’re so buttery, yet they are sturdy and hold up well to a long cooking time.  Plus, there’s no need to peel them, just halve or quarter them after washing.
Use tomato paste in a tube – Since you only need a little bit for this recipe, I find using tubed tomato paste easier than figuring out what to do with the remaining 5 oz of the can.
The prunes – are optional, but I highly recommend them.  Both the Guinness and the coffee can be a bit bitter, and the prunes really help alleviate that.
Don’t forget to dip some crusty bread into the stew!

Drink for St. Patrick's Day

Leprechaun’s Kiss Cocktail

Ingredients

1/2 C. 4 oz. Orange Juice
1/4 C. 2 oz. Blue Curacao
1/4 C. 2 oz. Vodka
Splash of Sprite
Ice
Garnishments:
Rainbow Sprinkles
Honey

Instructions

Dip rim of a hurricane cocktail glass in honey and then sprinkles until coated.
Fill glass 3/4 with ice.
Add Blue Curacao, vodka, and orange juice; stir lightly.
Top with a splash of Sprite.
Enjoy!