Cinco de Mayo Themed Party

Cinco de Mayo is around the corner and what a wonderful opportunity to host a Mexican themed party commemorating this holiday. This holiday recognizes Mexico's victory over the French militia in 1862, but many of us have deemed it a day of celebration.

To help with planning your fiesta, here are some helpful hints:

Decorations

The decorations pictured are a perfect option for the budget conscious individual. The mini plastic hats available in various colors can be purchased at any party supply store such as Party Adventure or Dollar General for only .50 each.  At these retail stores you can also find fiesta themed decor like the pop up displays, maracas and plasticware and paper plates, cups and napkins to make the day mucho grande.

Whatever you chose, make sure that attention to detail is not sacrificed. The placements pictured I found at Pier One for less than $5 each. Combine them with napkins of siesta colors such as golden yellow, orange, red and forest green, you have perfectly set table sure to "wow" your guest.

Drinks

Tequila is synomous with Mexico and the number of drinks that can be concoted with it are endless. Mojito's and Margarita's are the most popular. If you are a novice and need help, Epicurious.com has a great demonstration of how to make these drinks and more.  Ole!


Music


If you are lucky enough to know a Mariachi band to play at your party, the better!  If not, grab a CD that has a variety of popular Mexican songs such as La Cucharacha, La Bamba or any Latin flavored musical!  Grab the maracas, your sombrero and cha cha the night away!

Easter Table Scape Ideas

April 8th is Easter and the time has come to plan your Easter festivities. What color linen to use? Which china to serve? What type of glassware to set? So many questions, so little time! To lessen the chaos of those holiday dinners, here are some ideas to make your dinner preparations go a little more smoothly.

Linens: Spring is a wonderful time of year. The beautiful subtle colors of new beginnings are slowly emerging from the cold winter. The soft colors of Hyacinthia's, the vivid brightness of daffodils, and the crisp clean look of crocuses. All of these colors can be incorporated into your table scape for Easter. A subtle change in the color of your linens, changes the look of your place setting.

White Table Linen:















Lilac Table Linen:
















Name Holders: If you are entertaining a number of guests, it’s a good idea to use name holders to let your guests know where to sit. Stores have a wide variety of name holders or place holders for every season and occasion. Pier 1 has a great selection for those one of a kind trinkets to make your entertaining extra special. For Easter, you have an array of choices, such as the chick and egg place holders, used in the following pictures.

Centerpiece: A table is not complete without "dressing" it up a bit. Whether it is a traditional floral arrangement or an Easter wreath with plastic pastel eggs (pictured below, an elegant or fun centerpiece is always a nice touch. Also, adding the green grass and placing the candlesticks in or around the wreath lets your guests know that you care.



















Table Decor: Setting a table entails a great deal of preparation and detail. Choosing the right linens, centerpiece, flatware, and china are all very important in setting the mood for the party, but adding a little pizazz like themed statues or topiary (picture below) encourages table conversation and sets the ambiance for the night.



















Whatever the occasion, whatever the theme, choosing the right table presentation ensures for an elegant, successful party and it will definitely be stylish.