Flavor of the Land If there's one way to make someone feel happy on the 4th of July, it's by giving them some delicious treats to enjoy as they watch the parades! And since it's such a monumental day in the history of the country, it only makes sense to present something that screams 'America!' What are your options? Well, you could put together a food basket with different food items that represent the American spirit. You can have a basket filled with different items that are included in a barbecue like sauces, oils, meats, dressings, garnishing, etc. You can also have a basket with different popular national beers or other brews. Candy, chocolate, cookies, cupcakes and other sweet treats, all wrapped in stars and stripes will be a great addition to this food basket. Make sure that the handle of the basket has a bow of ribbons made using the three flag colors! One of the best parts of the Independence Day celebrations are the decorations that begin sprouting up all over the place. Why not make a gift of these patriotic embellishments and make someone happy this year? You don't have to go for streamers and flags, you can go for something more classy and well, something that will add to the aesthetic value of the person's home. You can look in stores, or shop online, for things like calendars, fans, lanterns, throw pillows, miniature figurines, wreaths, themed flower arrangements, plaques, picture frames, etc. They're all available in the special 4th of July theme. They make for great corporate gifting ideas too. Movie Mania If you and the person you're gifting are both movie buffs, then this one's perfect! Make a list of all the most popular patriotic movies that have been made. Old and new both! Now, hunt video stores for at least 5 to 6 of the movies from the list. You may want to pick one movie from each era. Wrap each movie case using wrapping paper in red, blue and white and stick a pretty bow on it too. Give this to the person, and you all can enjoy your day watching some great movies to reinforce the patriotic spirit.

• • Born on the Fourth of July
• • Independence Day
• • The Patriot
• • 1776
• • Men of Honor
• • Glory
• • Saving Private Ryan
• • Pearl Harbor

Miscellanea These might seem a little unconventional, but at the end of the day we all know that a useful gift is more appreciated than something that will be taken out of the closet once a year, right? In keeping with this line of thought, you can look around for various everyday use items that have a '4th of July' flavor to them. Your options include things like:

• • Stationery
• • Paper Napkins
• • Plates and Cutlery
• • Flip flops
• • Jewelry
• • Aprons
• • Cookie jars
• • Tin boxes
• • Coasters
• • Wine glasses
• • Apparel
• • Paperweights

You can personalize any of these gifts to make them more special and add a more personal touch to them. Have a wonderful time celebrating the independence that you enjoy!