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A Party Fit for America

Share the goods.

Would you really be making the most of your holiday if you didn’t throw a kickass party, full of boozie treats and fire hazards?
Before we get into how to throw a phenomenal 4th of July party (since you have a day to plan), we want to remind you that our furry friends are not fans of exploding things and loud noises. Keep your pets in the house with some soothing country music playing while you enjoy the festivities outdoors.
We know your attention span is short, so we have organized the party into categories:

Drinks (obviously this is first – we know our audience):

  • You will have a terrible sugar headache, BUT spiked bomb pop cocktails are the best.
  • Whiteclaw. Obviously. (They have 70-calorie cans now?! But they’re only 3.7% alcohol, sooo maybe stick with the original 100-calorie, 5%)
  • It’s actually possible to drink endlessly and stay hydrated at the same time. Spiked water is the answer (but they catch up on you quickly, so be careful).
  • ICE. Buy out the whole cooler at Meijer. When someone says, “But I need a bag for my cooler,” remind them that you will be drinking lots of iced red wine on the 4th. We promise that the questions will stop after that.

Food (we guess you have to eat):

  • Channel your inner Martha Stewart and make good use of red and blue fruit by putting it on top of a cake in the shape of the USA flag. #Merica #Carbs
  • If you’re an advanced baker, the 4th of July is a perfect excuse to break out those skills. Try making some festive macarons to delight and impress your guests. Also, tag us so we know who to invite to our next party.
  • Fill up your dog’s kong with a treat to distract them (or your drunk cousin) during the loud fireworks.
  • WATERMELON. BUY OUT THE WHOLE SECTION AT MEIJER. EXPLAIN YOURSELF TO NO ONE.

Decorations (for all the basic betches out there):

  • Buy a plastic kiddie pool. Fill it with booze. Thank us later. Better yet, buy 2: one for your booze and one for you to sit in because it’s too hot.
  • Is Target basic enough for ya?
  • We don’t care if you don’t have a pool, get this anyway.

Entertainment (if the drinking doesn’t work, try this):

  • Kan Jam is a must! Everyone loves outdoor games, and this one will either make or break friendships.
  • Need a flick? Might we suggest…Independence Day. Everyone cries at the Bill Pullman speech. It would be unpatriotic if you didn’t. A true classic.
  • Oh the 4th, who doesn’t need a fun, easy, stupid game? Set aside some jumbo marshmallows, golf clubs and your dignity. Then…dip some marshmallows in water dyed with food coloring – red and blue. Once they dry, place one on a tee, and see who can smack it the farthest.
  • Make a playlist ahead of time, so you can focus on the more important matters at hand (cocktails) during the day.
  • If you don’t have sparklers while you wait for the fireworks to start, are you even American?

Now, doesn’t all of this sound so very American? Stay safe, kids, and happy 4th from all of us at 8THIRTYFOUR.

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FUN FACT FRIDAY: It’s only fitting for us to own a building where a trailblazing female operated her businesses in 1906. The Phillips family represented one of the longest-running retail tenures in Grand Rapids history; L.E. Phillips Jewelry in the 1365 Plainfield Ave. building from 1906 until 1973.
Dr. Eva Phillips, a certified and licensed optometrist ran her practice out of the jewelry store’s secondary parlor and was an equal partner in the jewelry store.

Together, they offered a unique one-stop shot which expanded to include appliances, record players, and more. The couple operated the shop through two World Wars and the Great Depression, acting as the neighborhood matriarch and patriarch.

@crestongr @crestoncorridor @crestongrandrapids @citygrandrapids @grandrapidspubliclibrary

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 17898983202545176
FUN FACT FRIDAY: It’s only fitting for us to own a building where a trailblazing female operated her businesses in 1906. The Phillips family represented one of the longest-running retail tenures in Grand Rapids history; L.E. Phillips Jewelry in the 1365 Plainfield Ave. building from 1906 until 1973. Dr. Eva Phillips, a certified and licensed optometrist ran her practice out of the jewelry store’s secondary parlor and was an equal partner in the jewelry store. Together, they offered a unique one-stop shot which expanded to include appliances, record players, and more. The couple operated the shop through two World Wars and the Great Depression, acting as the neighborhood matriarch and patriarch. @crestongr @crestoncorridor @crestongrandrapids @citygrandrapids @grandrapidspubliclibrary

Have you tuned into The Happy Hour Hustle Podcast yet?
If not, a) you’re missing out and b) you need to follow immediately. Hosted by @bodespeaks, episodes drop every other week, and feature some pretty bada$$ guests if we do say so ourselves.

This week, Kim sits down with @kelsey_orchard , VP of Marketing and Communications at @fifthwheelfreight to chat building a personal brand, Gen Z entering the workforce, misconceptions about logistics, spotting fake LinkedIn profiles – oh and why your GPA doesn’t matter anymore.

Grab a watermelon margarita, sit back and enjoy for lots of laughs and real talk.

Listen now at the link in bio.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18112263326023209
Have you tuned into The Happy Hour Hustle Podcast yet? If not, a) you’re missing out and b) you need to follow immediately. Hosted by @bodespeaks, episodes drop every other week, and feature some pretty bada$$ guests if we do say so ourselves. This week, Kim sits down with @kelsey_orchard , VP of Marketing and Communications at @fifthwheelfreight to chat building a personal brand, Gen Z entering the workforce, misconceptions about logistics, spotting fake LinkedIn profiles – oh and why your GPA doesn’t matter anymore. Grab a watermelon margarita, sit back and enjoy for lots of laughs and real talk. Listen now at the link in bio.

National Perimenopause Month starts today. We have a LOT to say, and we’re not going to be quiet about it, especially this month, so buckle up.

We were not prepared for perimenopause, much like our periods, sex, or anything else to do with our bodies. God forbid we talk about it openly.

We were taught to be ashamed, keep quiet, and to accept that it is just part of being a woman. We reject that narrative. In fact, like @bodespeaks, we want to bring it up in every conversation.

When we normalize perimenopause and the conversation around it, we stop isolating, and we’re all more prepared.
Join us for Uncomfortable Conversations: The Pause on September 24th — a powerful conversation hosted alongside the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan
Women’s Business Council, featuring some kicka$$ experts who will give you the real talk on perimenopause (more to come on them later).

Register at the link in bio.

3 0
Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18132641716644887
National Perimenopause Month starts today. We have a LOT to say, and we’re not going to be quiet about it, especially this month, so buckle up. We were not prepared for perimenopause, much like our periods, sex, or anything else to do with our bodies. God forbid we talk about it openly. We were taught to be ashamed, keep quiet, and to accept that it is just part of being a woman. We reject that narrative. In fact, like @bodespeaks, we want to bring it up in every conversation. When we normalize perimenopause and the conversation around it, we stop isolating, and we’re all more prepared. Join us for Uncomfortable Conversations: The Pause on September 24th — a powerful conversation hosted alongside the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan Women’s Business Council, featuring some kicka$$ experts who will give you the real talk on perimenopause (more to come on them later). Register at the link in bio.

You asked, we delivered.

Introducing the Women`s Owners Network - a new program built for what comes first, joining our proven Fellowship model to support Michigan women at every stage of business ownership.

Whether you`ve got a team of 10 or it`s just you and your laptop, you deserve a room full of women who get it.

Six months of leadership, finance, operations, capital access, paired with real support for the isolation, emotional volatility, and decision fatigue that come with owning your own business.

You`ll have your own board of directors in your corner, including @bodespeaks plus a group of mentors, instructors, and coaches who`ve been exactly where you are.

Applications due October 1. Apply now at the link in bio.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18089775152664042
You asked, we delivered. Introducing the Women's Owners Network - a new program built for what comes first, joining our proven Fellowship model to support Michigan women at every stage of business ownership. Whether you've got a team of 10 or it's just you and your laptop, you deserve a room full of women who get it. Six months of leadership, finance, operations, capital access, paired with real support for the isolation, emotional volatility, and decision fatigue that come with owning your own business. You'll have your own board of directors in your corner, including @bodespeaks plus a group of mentors, instructors, and coaches who've been exactly where you are. Applications due October 1. Apply now at the link in bio.
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