Hooray(s) for Saturday: A collection in red, white and blue

While we are Australian through and through, it's fair to say we have a little soft spot for the 4th of July. 20 years ago, young and adventurous, Vanessa packed her bags, kissed us all goodbye and set off for the U.S of A to complete studies in Journalism at Central Washington University.

The short version of the long story goes a little like this: Girl meets Boy. Girl and Boy fall in love. Girl comes home for visit. Boy comes to visit Girl at her home. Boy proposes before even meeting Girl's parents!! Boy and Girl get married. Girl has baby boy - an Aussie. Girl and 2 Boys move back to the U.S. Girl has another baby boy - an American. (Sister of Girl visits US and gets to help deliver new nephew - that was me, yay!). Happy family resides States -side for (too) many years (Sister of girl allowed to say that.) Girl + 3 boys return to Australia. Girl has another baby boy. Family complete. Australia is home. Girl and Boy and their 3 boys get to visit the U.S. often. They are there right now in fact. Celebrating the 4th of July with friends and family.

So like I said, a little soft spot, a special place in our collective family hearts for the United States. We will miss them tomorrow, when usually the American flag comes out at our parents house and its hotdogs all round.

Patriotism (by association? by marriage?) aside, Red, White and Blue is such a classic colour palette for celebrating all kinds of occasions - preppy, nautical, sporty - so we thought we'd round up a few of our recent favourite celebrations spotted in this scheme:

image via Sambellina's Party

A fun train-themed celebration styled by Kate, our very favourite spotty partyware designer for her own son's 3rd birthday.

image via Jack and Izzy

A handsome Party in the Park with so many lovingly-made details via Jack and Izzy

image via The Tomkat Studio

Nautical and oh-so-Nice, the combo is at its classic best throughout this crab-inspired celebration from TomKat Studio.

Happy 4th of July to our friends and readers from the United States.