Fun and Safe Tips for Celebrating this 4th of July

Summer is our favorite time of year here at Pinwhirls. With the 4^th of July just a couple of weeks away, we thought it would be a great time to share some backyard party and cookout tips. As always, we'd love for you to share your tips and ideas (or just tell us what you've got planned this 4^th of July) with us in the comments.

Fireworks: Make Your Celebration Fun for All Ages

Adults and children alike love the fun of fireworks. Sparklers are always a great hit, but sometimes little ones are scared of these fireworks or they're just too young to handle them on their own. For the younger kids, we recommend handing out summer toys like our Pinwhirls pinwheels. The twirling motion will be captivating, entertaining, and safe. Plus the kids can take them home when the party is over.

Be Weather-Wise

July can really be hot and muggy. Beat the heat at your party, cookout or picnic by seeking out shaded locations for your event. Or you can create your own shade with tents, awnings, or patio umbrellas. 

Bring plenty of sunscreen. If you're going to be poolside this July 4^th, monitor how long you're in the water. Many sunscreens need to be reapplied in order to offer full protection.

Remember Food Safety

The extreme heat can make your favorite foods spoil quickly. Make sure your cookout or picnic foods are safe to eat. If you need to brush up on your food safety tips, visit FoodSafety.gov. Right now, they're highlighting Barbecue Basics.

If you're looking for recipe ideas, we recommend stopping by the Real Simple website and checking out their Cooler-Friendly Picnic Recipes. They've compiled a list of 14 yummy recipes that are great for picnics or cookouts.

So what are your plans for the 4^th of July holiday weekend?

How to Celebrate Dad All Day Long This Father's Day

A father carries pictures where his money used to be.  –Author Unknown

Our fathers sacrifice a lot to make sure that we have everything we need. Even with mostly empty wallets they raise us and provide for us, and that's cause for a special celebration!

Father's Day is right around the corner, and we've got some tips to help you plan a full day of celebration. You don't have to spend a lot of money to celebrate your Dad this year, but you can make sure the whole day is a great one for him!

Happy Father's Day from Pinwhirls.com!

How to Celebrate Your Dad All Day Long

Celebrating Father's Day in the Morning

·      Let him sleep in! There is no better way to start a great day than to feel fully rested and refreshed. Make sure the house is quiet until it's time for Dad to rise and shine.

·      Make his favorite breakfast. When Dad finally makes it to the kitchen, have the table set, his coffee waiting, and his favorite meal piping hot at the table. (You could even make a centerpiece with Pinwhirls you customize just for your dad. 

Celebrating Father's Day in the Afternoon

·      Make plans to do something your dad really enjoys – maybe a walk at the park, followed by a picnic or a few hours of fishing at his favorite spot.

·      Take care of Dad's chores for him. Whether it's time to clean out the garage or mow the lawn, make sure Dad has the day off from chores.

·      Give your dad a special gift and or a Father's Day card. It doesn't have to be pricey, but it should be thoughtful – something your dad is sure to appreciate.

Celebrating Father's Day in the Evening

·      Plan a fun activity at home. You can have a family game night and let Dad pick his favorite game, or you can watch his favorite movie and break out the popcorn and candy.

If you can't be with your dad this Sunday, make sure you give him a call Sunday morning.

Tell us what makes your dad great!

6 DIY Tips for Planning Weddings on a Budget

Do-it-yourself – or DIY – options can be a great way to optimize your wedding planning budget. If you want to have the perfect wedding with money to spare for the honeymoon, we've got some tips for you!

Most brides don't have unlimited wedding funds, and they have to plan their ceremony, reception, and honeymoon on a strict budget. And sometimes it can be difficult to find that perfect medium where your dreams and your limited financial resources aren't constantly at odds with each other.

Many brides learn how to steal a little from one line in their budget in order to splurge a little in another and you can put this practice to use too. For instance, when you find the perfect dress but it's $250 over your dress budget, you might find that you can make up the difference by saving money on things like flowers or makeup.

6 DIY Tips to Save Money on Your Wedding


Wedding Flowers – Silk flowers can be arranged by a novice because they hold up to the trimming, placing, and arranging it takes to get a bouquet just right. Plus they are cheaper than fresh flowers and can even be sold or donated when you're finished with them. Look for pictures of arrangements you like, and duplicate your favorite styles. However, give yourself plenty of time to work on your arrangements so that your finished product is something you truly love.

Wedding Favors – Look for items to enhance your guest tables that you can craft on your own to save money. We don't mean to brag, but we think our DIY Pinwhirl kits aren't just classy and fun, they are an affordable way to create beautiful favors for your wedding!

Wedding Invitations – You don't have to go through an overpriced printer to have customized invitations. With specialty paper and a home printer you can create your own wedding invitations or save the date cards.

Cupcakes – If you're a bride who likes less conventional wedding desserts, you can try making and decorating your own cupcakes. The cakes freeze well so you can plan ahead, and icing them is much easier than decorating the traditional tiered wedding cake. After some practice, you can decorate like a pro. (Check out some great cupcake recipes and toppers.)

Wedding Makeup – We know not every bride wants to do her own makeup. However, if you're willing to skip on some extra pampering, you can save money by foregoing the cost of a professional makeup artist. Get a free makeover at a cosmetic retailer, buy the necessary items in your colors, and apply it yourself or ask a friend or family member to help you with the application if you're too jittery with nervous energy.

Photomontage – Compile your own photomontage rather than hiring your photographer or videographer to handle the job. With today's technology it's easy to put together a slide show or video on your home PC.

What DIY wedding planning ideas can you think of to help brides save big on their special day?

5 Steps for an Even Better Birthday

You might think there is no better way to throw a birthday party than to have good friends, great cake, and fun games, but we've got some ideas to help you make that special day even better — whether you're celebrating the birthday of your child, sibling, parent, best friend, spouse, or anyone!

Step One: Use Hats

Cone-shaped birthday hats just don't get enough love these days. They are so fun, no matter what your age, and they also double as the perfect cup for those extra tasty birthday sweets. Find birthday hats to fit your guest of honor's personal tastes or the party theme.

Step Two: Have Cake for Breakfast

Nothing tastes quite like birthday cake, so why not have it for breakfast? It only comes around once a year, after all. Serve it in bed with a glass of milk.

Step Three: Collect Special Birthday Notes From Family and Friends

Nothing brightens a person's day like a special note from family and friends, especially those who can't be with the birthday boy or girl on the special day. Save up notes and cards and present them in a special album or scrapbook.

Step Four: Make it a Week-Long Celebration

It might get expensive to give a gift every day, but there are other small things you can do to make sure the celebration lasts all week long. Give your child a week off from chores or start each day of your mom's birthday week with fresh floral bouquets.

Step Five: Make it a Surprise

The traditional surprise party is the obvious way to go, but there are other ways you can fill the day with special surprises that the guest of honor would never expect. Show off your new found cooking or baking skills or coordinate a surprise visit from family or friends that live out of town.

Don't forget to share your special birthday ideas with us in the comments!

Our Favorite Memorial Day Recipes

Memorial Day is almost here, and it's time to finalize the menu for your backyard cookout or family picnic. We've scoured the internet looking for some deliciously summery foods that you can share with family and friends this Memorial Day. So if you've been putting off trying to plan a menu or select the perfect item to take and share, check out these yummy recipes for a little inspiration!


Cherry Orange Salad


This delicious mix of greens and fruit comes from Elana's Pantry. It's light and summery and complements just about any menu. Plus it's also a gluten-free salad.


Watermelon, Feta and Arugula Salad


This recipe comes from the Recessonista, so it's tasty and cheap! We thought the ingredients seemed a little unorthodox, but it's a dish that doubles as a conversation starter. How refreshing is that?


Patriotic Taco Salad


Memorial Day originally started out as a way to remember those who served in the Civil War and has turned into a day to remember our veterans, soldiers, and loved ones lost. So patriotic dishes are certainly appropriate on this special weekend. In lieu of the typical patriotic berries and cream dessert, try out this new American flag-inspired dish from Taste of Home.


Barbecue Spiced Chicken


No Memorial Day menu is completed without a barbecue dish. This tasty barbecue chicken recipe comes from Razzle Dazzle Recipes and features the savory seasonings of onion, garlic, dry mustard, Tabasco and brown sugar. So light up the grill for a one-of-a-kind BBQ treat!

Don't forget to check out Pinwhirls.com for tablescape ideas and fun, festive yard pinwheels!

Fun in the Sun: Backyard Party Tips

Pinwhirls Make Great Outdoor Centerpieces Too!

If you're ready for some fun in the sun, don't miss these tips! Plan ahead for your Memorial Day and 4th of July cookouts, family reunions and block parties.

Backyard Party Tips

1. Add something special to your outdoor decor. Just because you're going to be outdoors doesn't mean you can't decorate! You can make the party festive with just a few simple finishing touches including hanging decorative summer lighting; lining your walk, driveway, or garden with twirling yard Pinwhirls; using torch lights or candles; and hanging beautiful flowering plants from lawn hooks or overhangs.


2. Think about food safety! Remember that foods that require refrigeration can be difficult to manage at an outdoor party. If your guests will be grazing on food over several hours, the majority of foods you select should be safe to serve and hold at room temperature. For everything else, keep it refrigerated or on ice until just before serving. Then put it away after everyone has been served. Cold items can be brought out again later if people are still hungry for seconds.


3. Don't forget the yard games. Depending on the size of your yard, you can play lot of fun games at your party from badminton and volleyball to cornhole and horseshoe. Ask your guests to bring over their favorites.


4. Send your invitations early. Summer schedules can fill up quickly, so send out party invitations early! It's a good idea to send out save the date reminders and announcements for your summer block parties and family reunions too.

Summer is a great time to get together with friends. What outdoor party tips would you add to this list?

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

"Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love."  
--Mildred B. Vermont

Pinwhirl Bouqet Inserts

Mother's Day is only a few days away, so have you thought about how you are going to celebrate this special day with your mom? Many families will be treating mom to a special dinner and be extra helpful around the house to show her just how much she is loved and appreciated. 

Many husbands and children are also trying to find the perfect gift for the special mom in their lives. We have some ideas to help you find just the right thing for your outstanding mom.

Special Gifts for Moms

1. Bouquets: Flowers are a traditional Mother's Day gift. You can go with daisies or roses or lilies or whatever flower happens to be your mom's favorite. Check with your florist to see if you need to order early to make sure they can keep up with the huge demand. If you are looking for something a little more unique, try a Pinwhirl bouquet. They're colorful, fun, and the don't die or require extra care.
   
2. Coupon Booklets: Give a gift that keeps giving and create a booklet of coupons for extra hugs, dinner out, help cleaning the kitchen, a manicure, and much more that Mom can redeem whenever she wants.
   
   
3. Subscriptions and Gift Cards: These can be personalized for your mom, no matter what she's interested in. Try magazine subscriptions, salon gift cards, or Kindle gift cards for starters.  

No matter what you decide to get mom, the most important thing you can do is personalize it. Include a handwritten note in the card or make a thank you video to let her know how much you love her and appreciate that she has been there for you!