Celebrate Fourth of July the Camille Styles way… by throwing the ultimate summer picnic party! The Target Entertaining Expert recently hosted a picnic gathering for friends and family in Houston to kick off the first day of summer, complete with themed décor, festive activities, refreshments, lawn games and more.
Camille did not hold back when it came to incorporating seasonal, star spangled banner-inspired décor. But while it’s tempting to deck out a party in red, white and blue as far as the eye can see, it’s also fun to mix-and-match: “Fourth of July is the perfect time to incorporate touches of Americana, but I love putting a new twist on the traditional red, white and blue palettes,” said Camille. “It doesn’t have to be all about stars and stripes! What could be more all-American than a watermelon or hot dog motif?”
By incorporating fun, summery prints from Target’s POPTIMISM! collection (like the watermelon plates and hamburger napkins) with plenty of Americana touches (we’re eyeing the paper lanterns with star prints and hanging paper fans), Camille created the perfect picnic backdrop. “Embrace the casual nature of a summer gathering and keep things simple. Use disposable dinner- and serve-ware in fun patterns to make clean-up a breeze,” said Camille.
As the mom of two knows well, making a party kid-friendly isn’t hard—it just requires a touch of creativity: “Consider using Kraft paper as a table runner—scatter buckets of crayons and markers on the table and let everyone decorate their own place setting. This will make set-up quick and easy for you and give everyone around the table something to do in-between eating,” said Camille. Plus, she says, lawn games are the key to keeping kids and guests entertained for hours. Her favorites? An outdoor-friendly bowling set and ball toss game.
Another pro tip? “Keep bug spray, sunscreen, and lots of cold beverages on hand,” said Camille. “These are key for avoiding cranky kids (and parents) at the end of the party! The Simply Balanced sparkling water is a go-to in my house. There are so many fun flavors!”
One last thing before it’s time to party—make sure everyone’s ready in their July Fourth best!
“My daughter was decked in red, white and blue for the picnic! My favorite thing about the Cat & Jack collections is that they’re stylish, but also comfortable enough for my kids to play freely. Phoebe was in this dress that incorporates the cutest vintage bandana print.”
Check out more from the Houston picnic party, below!
Ready to start planning your own Fourth of July party? Make sure to add Camille’s favorite spicy Mexican corn salad to your list of must-make dishes. It’s smoky, spicy, citrusy and a perfect side to all your barbecue faves!
What You’ll Need:
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4 cobs of corn, grilled or roasted in the oven
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1/2 red onion, chopped
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1/2 jalapeño, chopped
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1/2 avocado, diced
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1/3 cup mayonnaise
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juice of 1 lime
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1/2 tsp. chili powder
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Handful of cilantro, roughly chopped, plus more for garnish
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Kosher salt, to taste
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Garnish: crumbled feta cheese
What You’ll Do:
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Stand each corn cob on its end inside a bowl (to keep corn from flying all over the kitchen), and use a sharp knife to remove the kernels from the cob.
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In a mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, cilantro, and salt, and whisk until smooth.
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In a large serving bowl, add the corn, onion, jalapeño, and avocado, and drizzle the dressing over. Stir gently to combine. Top with more freshly chopped cilantro, crumbled feta, and another dusting of chili powder. Enjoy!
Shop all things Fourth of July food, décor and more in Target stores and online at Target.com!
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