I have a confession.

One of my all time favorite things is a wreath!  I adore them.  I love changing up the wreaths on my front door, and I have wreaths hanging in my home too.  I am slightly obsessed. 

I also love all things Red, White and Blue.  It makes me happy.  4th of July is one of my favorite holidays, and seeing that color combo always reminds me of happy family times.

So, Red, White and Blue PLUS a wreath.  Be still my heart!!!

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America.  Memorial Day was formerly known as Decoration Day. Annual Decoration Days  involved family gathering at the graveyard, some would travel hundreds of miles, and put flowers on graves and have a family reunion of sorts. There often was a religious service and a picnic-like "dinner on the ground" (potluck meal).  It is believed that this practice began before the American Civil War and is the origin of the "memorial day" idea we celebrate now.

Here are ten ways to celebrate Memorial Day with meaning.

 *  Raise your flag.  Showing your thanks can be as simple as flying Old Glory at your house.

  *  Pray for the families who have lost a loved one protecting our country.  The grieving doesn't stop and they need our support.

  *  Watch/Listen to the National Memorial Day Concert.  The concert is held on the west lawn of the United States Capitol and includes music and  tributes to the men and women who gave their lives for their country.

  *  Visit a Veteran.   Many retirement facilities have large numbers of veterans living there.  Let them know how important they are!

  *  Attend a parade. This is a fun family activity to show support to our Veterans. 

  *  Call a Veteran.  If you know a veteran or family of a veteran, call them and say thank you.

  *  Visit your local cemetery.  Bring  some flowers and help to decorate a few of the less cared for graves.

  *  Attend a memorial service. Many veterans groups plan these events for the holiday and they are a great way to show appreciation to those that have served.

  *  Write a letter or send an email to someone currently serving our country and thank them for their service.

  *  Share a photo of a fallen serviceman/woman on Facebook or Instagram.  Share their story and help others to remember what this day is about.

How do you Celebrate Memorial Day, beyond the BBQ?

It's Saturday! Tomorrow is Mother's Day......are you still looking for that perfect gift! No stress! We have a few ideas for you! A colorful purse is sure to please, even the Mom who has everything! Looking for something a little friendlier on the wallet? Try some delicate flower studs. For the tech savy Mom, a cute new phone case would be perfect. Do you know her favorite scent? Perfume is always a safe gift bet. For the Mom who loves to make her house a home, try looking for a cute coffee table decoration. Succulents are all the design rage right now, so try to go in that direction. Do you know what she likes to collect? Help her add to that collection. Look at thrift stores for fun unique finds. And if all else fails, FLOWERS and a note. Mom's really just want to know that they are appreciated and loved! Any thought will count in her book! Are YOU a Mom? HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! Have a great weekend and know that the work you do is appreciated!!! Love, Heather Sparklers Co-Founder and Creator

Hello everyone!  We feel so blessed to be able to work together to bring you our dream of an uplifting and encouraging magazine to help celebrate others and life! 

We have a few exciting things coming up, and the first thing we are excited to share with you is our new blog!  We think having this blog will be a great way to grow with our readers, and to keep ideas coming your way.  Please keep in mind that we are busy Moms, and our focus is to keep bringing you Sparklers Magazine, so we won't be daily bloggers!  But we do feel that it is important to keep in a more regular contact with you, or readers and friends, than what our monthly issue can do.

Want more ways to keep up with us?  Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook and Google+.  We are still trying to figure out how to use some of these options, (I can honestly say I have never tweeted in my life, and I have no idea what Google+ was until a few weeks ago!) but we will learn and grow as we grow.  Do you have any helpful hints or tips?  We would LOVE to hear them!

Thanks again for all of your support!  We love our Sparklers!!  Happy Friday!!




Love,
Heather
Sparklers Co-Founder and Creator