4th of July—one of my favorite holidays ever since I was a kid I have just loved the beauty of fire works and the fun of the day, that was one of the days that a lot of my family actually came together.

One of the reasons is because I was such a fireworks enthusiast and the young age that I used to collect fireworks. There is the Roman Candles, there is Bottle Rockets of course, maybe some of The Tanks, I do not know if you ever seen those being lighted and goes rose long or if you need the water they have the boats and go all of the place.

By the time 4th of July would come around each year, I would have collected enough for a very nice, at least, hours worth of show. And because of this, my family would get together and instead of actually going to see the $10,000 display that would go often a half an hour, you know, and went to the parks they would actually come see my firework display.

And that was one of the most precious times because I really got to spend time with my family and it was a lot of laughing and barbecue and just also to great feelings surrounding this holiday. Definitely important having the proper food around, you know, it is not about just the fireworks, it is about the day. It is about enjoying the day with your family, with your friends, hotdogs, hamburgers definitely two staples that you need to have.

Of course nowadays, you know, veggie burgers, a lot of people like veggie burgers. Also I love the chicken, a little bit of barbeque on there, grill it up, lovely. Caesar salads—you do not have to go traditional either, I mean, you could do any kind of salad you want. I love fruit salads to be honest. Fruit—in 4th of July, two things that go together for me.

Steak, for instance, I love steak fajitas even, you do not have to do necessarily the traditional American the type of food. You know, bringing stuff from other regions of the countries. You do not always have to celebrate a holiday the way everyone one else does.

You can add your own twist, add your own flair, you know, I have spent a holiday lying on the beach with my friends, forming the sand in to a pillow putting a blanket over and just sitting up, watching the explosions and just, you know, laughing and having a good time.

I have celebrated it on roof tops, enjoying the fireworks coming off of one the boats here actually in the East River. I have been at the Liberty State Park in New Jersey, beautiful absolutely beautiful. They shot just gorgeous the firework display there but across the Hudson River, in the Manhattan Skyline, you would see their fireworks as well, so it is like you got the double dose.

There are ways to celebrate a traditional holiday, it does not always have to be, you know, whatever everyone else does—find your own way, find your own creativity and enjoy it.