Wishing you a Fourth of July filled with pride, honor, and lots of fun!

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese belief that states that the way your home is organized will, in turn, influence everything else in your life. From your finances to your inner happiness, the aspects that feng shui influences are limitless. If you want to decorate your home in a way that better serves your feng shui, use these basic principles.

• Keep things minimal. First and foremost, improve your home’s feng shui by getting rid of everything that you don’t need—including furniture, clothing and even kitchen supplies. This will leave you with more space for movement, creativity, and positive energy.
• Maximize natural light. Take down heavy drapes and blinds and replace them with sheer curtains that allow in as much natural light as possible.
• Add plants. Feng shui emphasizes the importance of having green plants to clean your home’s air and add a peaceful look to every room. Try options like jade plants and aloe plants that require little maintenance.
• Leave entryways clear. Feng shui says that the doors allow positive energy to flow into your home, so be sure to leave yours clear.
• Face the doors. Important pieces of furniture, such as your desk and your bed, should always face the door of the room without sitting directly in front of it.

Feng Shui 101 for Your Living Space [Wonder How To]
10 Easy Feng Shui Rules You Should Follow [Kris Carr]
Feng Shui Decorating Tips [Real Simple]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr saiberiac

Whether you're throwing a dinner party, planning a birthday bash, or having family over for the holidays, these simple tips will teach you how to play host or hostess without the unnecessary stress.

• Start early. At least a few weeks ahead of time, start to think about the major details: the number of guests, the menu, and anything that you may need to rent. This will start to ease you into party planning mode and avoid any last-minute surprises.
• Prepare ahead of time. Make as much of the food ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze it so that you don’t spend the entire day in the kitchen. This way, you’ll just have to reheat and add the finishing touches.
• Create enough seating. Even if you don’t have a large dining room table to fit all of your guests, you still want to make sure that everyone has a place to sit. Borrow chairs from a neighbor or invest in floor cushions for a more casual affair.
• Set the mood. Play fun music, clear out any unnecessary furniture to create more space for socializing, and plan a few games in case of any awkward lulls in conversation. These are tried-and-true tricks that will prevent your party from hitting a slump.

Dos and Don’ts of Hosting a Dinner Party [Rue Mag]
How to Host a Dinner Party so Everyone Enjoys It [Lettuce Eat Kale]
101 Party Dos & Don'ts [House Beautiful]
Entertaining [My Home Ideas]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr Maria Eklind