Luckily, the 4th of July is one of the holidays that we get to spend outside of the office, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t celebrate our nation’s birthday with our co-workers. During the week leading up to July 4th, bring the patriotic partying to the office with some ideas for how to get your #Murica on at work:

1) Take a Break and Sparkle!

Fireworks are a major part of Independence Day festivities, but may be illegal in your state. It doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the bright and beautiful fun. Bring in sparklers for the office; it’ll be a nice mid-day break when you step outside and light them up!

2) Dress the Part

Decree an office-wide red, white, and blue dress code!

3) Throw a BBQ Potluck

July 4th and BBQs go hand-in-hand. Instead of your average lunch break, why not throw a company-wide BBQ in the parking lot? It’s a great way to enjoy the sunshine, spend time with your co-workers, and chow-down on some grilled grub. Make it potluck-style and have each person bring in something different to share!

4) Decorate!

This is your chance to add some pizzazz to the office. Bring in red, white, and blue banners, streamers, pinwheels, and other fun decorations. You can even bring in some red, white, and blue balloons! Decorating the office is a great way to get into the holiday spirit, and your co-workers are sure to appreciate the bright and patriotic enhancements you make to an otherwise drab office space.

Here’s a fun recipe to bring to your office’s 4th of July celebration:

What You’ll Need:

  • 4 cups fresh strawberries, divided
  • 1 ½ cups boiling water
  • 2 pkg. (3 oz. each) JELL-O Gelatin (any red flavor)
  • Ice cubes
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1 pkg. (11 oz.) prepared pound cake, cut into 10 slices
  • 1 1/3 cups blueberries, divided
  • 1 tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip Topping, thawed 

What You’ll Do:

  • Slice 1 cup of strawberries, and cup the remaining strawberries in half
  • Add boiling water to gelatin mixes in large bowl, stir for 2 minutes until completely dissolved
  • Add enough ice to cold water to measure 2 cups
  • Add to gelatin and stir until ice is melted
  • Refrigerate for 5 minutes or until slightly thickened
  • Cover the bottom of a 13×9-inch dish with cake slices
  • Add sliced strawberries and 1 cup of blueberries to thickened gelatin, stir gently
  • Spoon over cake and refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm
  • Spread the Cool Whip over dessert
  • Top with fruit to resemble the US flag, using strawberries for the stripes and the remaining blueberries for the stars

The whole recipe takes about 4 1/2 hours for preparation (since the JELL-O has to firm). It’s a quick and super cute way to celebrate the upcoming holiday, and your co-workers are sure to love you for bringing in a sweet treat to share.

Wishing you a happy Independence Day from everyone at PCG!