One of the things I like to do when I'm throwing a party is to decorate for the occasion.  Cinco de Mayo is fun to decorate for because it is colorful and fun.  I found a ton of great decorating ideas that were so easy to make but they may take a little time to make.  The paper flowers (below) were made like this.

I decorated my Valentine table early this year. I love to take a theme and run with it. My table will be set like this for a week before the big meal...next up; Academy Awards, Mardi Gras or St. Patrick's Day.

I started with a white tablecloth, used a red and pink runner and then used red bud vases, candles, plates and napkin rings. Then I sprinkled red stones along the runner.

For Valentine dinner we are having lasagna, red fluff, spinach salad with fresh strawberries, pomegranate Sierra Mist and for dessert individual heart-shaped cakes...

Like these. I made a boxed white cake and poured the batter into 5 heart spring-formed pans I found at Target (these would be great as a layer cake or cupcakes too).

After cooking and cooling, I sliced the cake in half horizontally and spread a layer of seedless raspberry jam. This is my favorite and I can get it at Walmart.

Chill the cakes for about an hour then spread with whipped cream cheese frosting (below).

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups heavy cream

Beat shipping cream until stiff peaks form, set aside. Combine cream cheese, sugar, salt and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Fold in whipped cream.

Prepare frosting 1-2 hours before frosting cakes so it can set up in the refrigerator. Frost on top and sides of cake. Store in refrigerator. Amore' Printable recipe

I loved my Thanksgiving table. Our little family stayed home this year and shared Thanksgiving with our neighbor. I wanted to make our table look like we were celebrating a special occasion. I didn't want to stick with the usual fall colors so I looked around my house to see what I could put on the table. Some white and silver gourds, silver pear candles, silver apple place card holders, and silver chargers and white plates worked but it lacked color. So....while I was minding my own business at Walmart I passed the fabric section. They had bolts of fabric for 5 bucks! BOLTS! I picked up this great green fabric and used it as a runner. Then I picked the last of the herbs in my garden and put them in little vases with silver ribbon. I thought the table turned out pretty nice. Onward to Christmas! Stay tuned for some great recipes.

I love my Halloween table this year. I took a nice black tablecloth, I used orange scrapbook paper for a placemat under each plate (yes there are only 5 of us). Then I used my everyday plates and white fabric napkins. The spider on the napkin is from Pottery Barn (clearanced from last year). I tied Halloween ribbon around the glasses and rested a plastic skeleton on each one.
The skeletons on the table are from Zurchers party store but you can get them at Michaels or Hobby Lobby. I got the skeleton candle holders at Albertsons...can you believe that?! The little flower holders are from Ikea and I just wrapped some ribbon around them and filled them with orange carnations. I'm excited for dinner Sunday afternoon.