A Twofer!

Hosted by Susan & Leigh
This Amerasian family finally enjoyed a Cinco de Mayo feast! At home of course! Everything was just delicious! Let's just say I'm so glad I did it. We do have good reasons to do so you know...

My teen takes Spanish, it was Cinco de Mayo, the kids are home due to the swine flu alert and Tablescape & Thrifty Thursdays are coming up! See, I told you I had good reasons to do one. LOL

THEME:
"Muy Sabroso!"

INSPIRATION:
Fun & Festive Placemat & Sangria Set

With all of my great clearance finds at Kohl's a couple weeks ago, I earned their $10 Kohl's cash which I combined to buy this set that was already 55% off. My total after tax, $6.21 only! Normally, $35.00 per set. (online picture of the front of the box)

You saw this 90% off Tabletops Gallery "Murado Multi" placemat upside down before but this is what it looks like right side up, with this placesetting using my Culinary Arts "Spectrum Stripes" $1 each dinnerware and I used a different looking crazy straw ($2.59 for 8). Isn't this just perfect for Cinco de Mayo?

I found two twin-sized flat sheets from my children's old bedding set, so I used this dusty blue one as tablecloth (FREE) that complimented the blue in the placemat! The runner was from my daughter's prom night tablescape. See the big green bowl in the middle holding the chips? FREE thru Freecycle- the sweet, sweet lady Edna who gave it to me, said that the two bowls were her mom's when she did catering. The green one is an IVV Italian glass bowl. It's big, heavy and beautiful. It's also in perfect condition!I used it as my centerpiece and scattered votives around, making the table more fun and interesting!
How do you like the table in the afternoon light?

How do you like that spill stain action going on the side there, huh? Proof we used this table! LOL That happened when I portioned out the Sangria onto the goblets while the kids were squealing from waiting to eat. They would literally make a loud noise for every layer I put on the table! I felt bad for being so slow... LOL I had everyone doing something to get this table done because I had a long day- cleaning, cleaning, didn't have anytime to goof off!
I was T-I-R-E-D!!!

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THEME:
Delicious Date Night

INSPIRATION:
Mikasa "Aristrocrat" dinner plate from the
Country English Collection


Isn't it beautiful? I saw three of these at Goodwill last Monday but the third one had a really bad chip on the underside, so I just grabbed these two for 99 cents each!

It gave me the idea to do a late romantic dinner for two since we haven't had one of those in a long time plus we've been cleaning all day. Hubby, in the MBR and me and the kids, in the dining area and living room. I told him to not each so much for regular dinner...

Right after, the kiddos quickly cleared the table and I set to work! I didn't want to sit across from each other or next to him off one side. Plus, we have a bench on one side of our table so that gave me the idea to do a long one-sided tablescape! This is my first attempt. I lined up the candles in a row and I used the flowers the kids came home with for the moms after church last Sunday in their primary classes- FREE pink carnations and daisy-like blooms!


Then I said, let me try this! I staggered the seven candleholders- FREE again- they are the Glade Scented Oil Candleholders I've collected in two years! The votives, a penny each when the nearby Albertson's near us in Mesa, AZ closed down. The goblets, FREE from my sister back in Cali. (Excuse the curtain rod, I told you we were organizing around here. LOL)


Here's another angle with less light. The ivory placemats are from Walmart- a sweet clearance find for 75 cents each! My Farberware "Cameo" flatware has been with me since 2000, also FREE from my sister as a Thanksgiving hostess gift. She paid $1 for a box of 12 settings at the Dollar Tree!

The orange red coloration of the napkin (with iris on the front) picked up on the red orange blooms on the plate. Perfect at $2.99 for 16 dinner napkins from Tuesday Morning. That makes each napkin only 19 cents! Yeah!

We dined on poached tilapia and tomato parmesan angel hair pasta, ice water and sweetened the deal with a shared Japanese steamed cheesecake with cut strawberries! The best dessert we shared, a sweet kiss and a pledge to love one another for another decade or so- at least!



How's that for an inexpensive date?

Thank you both to our wonderful hosts, Susan and Leigh. These memes are so up my alley! Woo-hoo! Beautiful and inexpensive, so my style!