Memorial Day – the day on which the USA acknowledges those who died while serving in the armed forces – is a hallowed day in America. While it is often celebrated with barbecues, friends, and family, it is also a time to show reverence for those who gave their lives in the service of their country. There’s no better time to show your patriotism and show off your best red, white and blues. Of course, you can always spruce it up with a little something extra, and I’m here to show you how to do just that.

Image courtesy: Getty Images

Give Your Hair Some Flair

There are a few days in the year when you can drastically change your hairstyle without getting funny looks from everyone. If you don’t want to commit to coloring your hair, that is just fine. That’s what wigs are for! A bold red, white and blue wig is an appropriate tribute while still being fun. It goes with just about any outfit and when you’re done you can just take it off – easy as pie. Which, by the way, should be eaten during any kind of patriotic celebration.

Doll Up the Dog

What’s more fun than dressing up the dog? Fido wants to get in on the action too, and you can make that happen – if they’re a willing participant, that is. Whether it’s a stars and stripes leash or collar stitched with the likeness of George Washington, your canine companion can contribute to the fun.

Food with Fanfare

Food and celebrations go hand in hand. Presentation goes a long way in making food seem appealing, and this is especially true during specific holidays. It’s easy to find red, white and blue ingredients and throw them together for some patriotic cuisine.

However you decide to celebrate Memorial Day, make it a memorable one, and remember the good people – both the living and the dead – that have valiantly served our country.

The excitement of Easter can overwhelm kids with happiness and smiles; excessive free candy, toys and trinkets, hunting for fun filled eggs, and not to mention that adorably happy Easter Bunny.  But not always does that joyful bunny appear so joyful.

Here are a seven examples of how eerie and frightening an Easter Bunny can be.

http://nedhardy.com/2012/03/30/30-disturbingly-creepy-easter-bunnies-2/

http://nedhardy.com/2012/03/30/30-disturbingly-creepy-easter-bunnies-2/

http://www.ryot.org/these-super-creepy-vintage-easter-bunny-photos-look-like-scenes-out-of-donnie-darko/648149

http://nedhardy.com/2012/03/30/30-disturbingly-creepy-easter-bunnies-2/

http://happyplace.someecards.com/easter/the-creepiest-easter-bunny-photos-ever-taken/?page=4

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/18/creepy-easter-bunnies_n_5173166.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/18/creepy-easter-bunnies_n_5173166.html

Have a Happy Easter, and remember – keep the bunnies friendly because, though the excitement of the holiday can be a lot for a kid to handle, I imagine the fear of a giant human shaped bunny monster is a lot less easy to handle.

Ah, yes, St. Patrick’s Day – the day when everyone is Irish! Most days of the year, you probably don’t want to drink green beer or dress like a leprechaun, but this is an exception. March 17 provides an opportunity to be as crazy as you want without having to explain yourself – or your ancestry.  If you’re having trouble deciding what look you want to go far, look no further – help is here! Whether you’re bold or subtle, everyone can sport a charming look on this magical day.

Wear Your Lucky Charms

If you want to be more subtle, accessories are the perfect way to show your Irish spirit. Consider a green derby hat. They’re easy to find, cheap, and in some cases disposable if you get a plastic one. What you should do, however, is get one that you can wear year after year! You can also carry around your own miniature pot of gold and hand it out as a party favor. Chocolate gold coins would be splendid for this.

Make Them Green With Envy

If you’re feeling a little sultry or going to a grown-up party, release your inner sexy lass! It’s fun to dress up and draw a little attention to yourself once in a while – you’ll be everyone’s good luck charm! For extra fun, make four leaf clover notes with Irish sayings to hand out to fellow party people.

Erin go Bragh!

If you want to go all out, think of every Irish thing you can wear and put it on! You can use face paint, a wig, or anything else you think of to pay tribute to the isle across the Atlantic. Whatever you do, do so with enthusiasm and speak in your best Irish accent. It may not be accurate but nobody else’s will be either, so you can all laugh together as you sing late into the evening.

Before some people fast for Lent, they like to party. You’ve seen their colorful beads and festive makeup – typically it comes in shades of purple, gold and green. Mardi Gras season is upon us and it’s sure to be a wild time. Whether you’re going out on the town or celebrating at home, you can’t do it without getting dressed up! Here are some ideas to help you get in the spirit of things.

Shake up the Makeup

If there ever was a time to get crazy, it’s Mardi Gras. Forget subtle shades of eye shadow – this is your chance to be bold. Three words: gold glitter lipstick – the brighter the better. If you want to paint your face, try a combination of purple and green. You could do half and half or color your face in four different sections. Whatever you do, use your imagination! This is not the time to be conservative.

Dress to Impress

The same rules that apply to your makeup apply to your outfit. If you don’t have something in Mardi Gras colors, consider renting from a costume shop. It’s crucial to dress up in proper colors and they should have plenty of things in stock. For a more classic appearance, try a Mardi Gras-themed flapper girl look. For something more unique, dress up in costume as a clown or jester.

Bake a Cake

Many celebrations call for festive food, and Mardi Gras is no different. A King Cake will make the perfect centerpiece for the food table, and you can have as much fun with it as you want. It’s a traditional dessert and has religious significance for some, but whether it’s part of a specific observation or just a good time, your party won’t be complete without one. Depending on the number of guests at the party, you may want to have more than one.

No matter what you decide to do for your Mardi Gras party, do it with gusto! Encourage your guests to come in costume and make it an event to remember. Whether you’re hosting the event yourself or helping someone else plan, be creative and enjoy yourself – like every other holiday, it only comes once a year!

This past week, I got a ridiculously exciting email from Ruth Margolis, a positively lovely writer for BBC America.

On Wednesday, October 29th, I’ll be taking part in a Twitter chat on the concept of an all-American Halloween. We’ll probably talk traditions, crafts, costume and party ideas- whatever you guys want! Ruth wrote a really neat article that kicked off the idea, called 13 Hacks for the Perfect American Halloween that you should go read to get pumped.

A bit of background: #MindtheChat is a weekly Twitter chat hosted by BBC America’s very cool blog called Mind the Gap, which talks about American and British culture. Its tagline is “A Brit’s guide to surviving in America.”

Go read some of their stuff- it’s pretty hilarious. Here’s one of my favorite quotes from one of Ruth’s articles, “10 Things Brits Say… and What Americans Think We Mean“:

7. What we say: “I got off with this fit bird.”
What Americans hear: “I disembarked with an athletic pigeon.”
Don’t expect Americans to even attempt a translation here. But if they do manage to guess that “got off with” means “made out with”, be sure to clarify that what you mean by “bird.”

And then please stop by and talk with us about the all-American Halloween on Twitter, from 2-3pm EST, on Wednesday. Follow the conversation by using the hashtag #MindTheChat 

Words cannot express how excited I am for this Twitter chat, but perhaps Jeremy Renner can:

Yup, that’ll do.

Thank you so much, Ruth, for this incredible opportunity! I feel very honored to be asked to be part of this. And thank you, everybody, for reading and loving Halloween as much as I do. See you Wednesday!