To get you Fourth-of-July-ready, we've rounded up five awesome essentials that you need to show off your Americana spirit in style. From a patriotic, bold button-up to a fun, fringed bag, these five must haves will take you from a day in the sun to an evening of festive fireworks.
Letting a pup have a few bites of corn isn't a horrible idea provided she's not allergic, but I wouldn't recommend doing this on a regular basis. The issue is not with the kernels (which can be a dog food "filler" item), but cobs are very dangerous for pets — they can cause intestinal obstruction if swallowed! Make sure to hold on tight while she nibbles, and throw it away in a pet-proof trash can after the snack to make sure she doesn't go in for seconds.
If you're in an area where you can't completely shield a pet from fireworks by keeping her inside far from windows, or drowning out the sound, there's a possible solution to get her used to the distant booms.
While it's possible to purchase fireworks CDs for this purpose, you can download some for free online, like these when you right-click. To use, play in the house quietly and slowly work up to a louder volume. (The same can be done for sirens if you live near a hospital.) Have you ever desensitized a pet in this fashion?
You don't need to wear green liberty spikes to celebrate Independence Day. Last year I gathered a few festive beauty-related Fourth of July products, including an idea about how to make your own American flag manicure. Even if you don't want to go all out, here are a couple more ways to feel festive.
Red gloss: This American Beauty Fabulous Feel Liquid Lip Color in Red Velvet ($12.50) is a great way to attain an understated July 4th beauty look. Throw on some blue jeans and a white tee, and you'll be doing the red-white-and-blue thing without getting too corny.
For one other option, read more
Happy Fourth of July! I've shared my tips to prep pets for firecrackers, but for those of you who can hear them from your homes, are your pets ever affected?
I want to include my pooch in our fireworks-less Fourth of July plans, but North and yums mix all too well! He's very well-behaved outdoors with many things to sniff (and has a lovely red-and-white striped harness), but I'm worried to have him so close to a hot grill. . . . and all that temptation. 
With pets near a BBQ tomorrow, or any day for that matter, give them plenty of safe space away from the savory smells, or keep them indoors or leashed while burgers are flippin'. If you must pamper a pooch with people food, save a bit of unmarinated, boneless chicken breast or other cooked lean, skinless meat as a freshly-grilled snack. Remember, even though bones sound like great dog treats, I don't recommend giving these items from your table to your pups as many can splinter in their throats or cause canines to choke.
Do you let your pets try tomorrow's tasty treats? What do they use those powerful puppy dog eyes to get?
Now I'll use nearly any excuse to buy North a new item but I'm not sure we're quite patriotic enough for a full on flag print! In spirit of the Fourth of July, I've hunted down some of the cutest products for your furry friends featuring stars and stripes. While these items may be mostly red, white, and blue, they're not too seasonal to be used all year long!
Happy Birthday, America! Today is the day to celebrate our country, our independence and relish in what makes us feel beautiful! I'm such a sucker for a holiday—gimme any reason to dress up in theme and I'll jump. So I've come up with a couple of fun ways to show your American spirit and support for July 4th!
Create your own Patriotic Manicure or Pedicure by choosing colors like OPI Nail Polish ($7) in Blue My Mind, Big Apple Red and Alpine Snow.
You can either alternate painting your nails different colors, or you can carefully paint your own stars and stripes on each nail. Have fun and enjoy your creative liberties!
For two more July 4th beauty must-haves read more
