Can you believe that it’s already July? I can’t believe we’re already half way through the year!  Aside from the upcoming fireworks, burgers, and red, white & blue desserts that a lot of us will be enjoying this holiday weekend – July also brings another reason to celebrate – the sales!

I was at the mall this weekend and found tons of great summer entertaining items on sale at Pottery Barn and Crate&Barrel… and even though you might notice a red, white & blue palette going on here as a collective group, all of these items can be used on their own for dinner & cocktail parties after the holidays with just a red/white or white/blue palette that you can use anytime!

Pictured at top: Pottery Barn Finds

1. Decorative Buoys - This set of 2 decorative buoys has a distressed, worn look that will instantly give parties and patios that relaxing, summer beach house feel.
Reg $35, now $22.99

2. Party Dinnerware – This durable dinnerware is made of steel & finished with a shiny coat of enamel; perfect for outdoor entertaining!
Reg $12.50 - $34, now $8.99 - $34 (There are limited quantities online, but several colors & elements of this collection are still available in stores.)

3. More of the Partyware collection is pictured here – but I actually wanted to feature this image for the food presentation ideas. Hoagie sandwiches look great when halved and served upright in parchment paper pockets, and small pails are perfect for displaying utensils on the buffet table. For a cute 4th of July look, use white pails to display red and blue utensils, and embellish the pails with bands of red & blue ribbon or decorative paper.

4. Resin Starfish, set of 4 –  These all-white starfish are perfect accents for beach-themed tablescapes and centerpieces.
Reg $29, now $16.99

Pictured above: Crate & Barrel finds, shown clockwise from left:

1. Large Marin Fish Bowl – Serve up seafood feasts or pasta dinners in this fun, fish-shaped bowl!
Reg $32.95, now $24.95. Coordinating Marin Bowls are also on sale from $6.95 - $34.95 to $3.95 - $19.95.

2. Pesce Mosaic Bowl - This fun ceramic bowl is rimmed with a handpainted mosaic of Mediterranean blues and greens.
Reg $12.95, now $6.95

3. Seafood Dish Towels – These cotton dishtowels don unique seafood motifs featuring blue dory, crabs, mussels and shrimps. (For a July 4th segment I created for a local news channel earlier this week, I actually folded the lobster towel into a long rectangle and used it as a “table runner” and spread the blue dory towel out on top of the drinks table as a "table topper" - which gave the party a fun beach house feel!)
Reg $16.95, now $14.95

4.Chowder Mix – Whip up this kosher, ready-made chowder base in minutes, or pair it with a Small Marine Fish Bowl for a cute gift set for your seafood-loving host/hostess.
Reg $5.95, now $3.95

5. Lobster Claws - $5.95, which is actually the regular price, but still a great deal and so perfect I for a seafood/beach theme that I had to sneak it in!