Fabulous Friday: Nifty Little Touches to Make Your Party Table Interesting

I really wasn't sure how to title today's post... so it's a long one.. but it hits the nail on the head...Nifty Little Touches...

I have always found the little unique ideas people do to make their party tables fun makes all the difference.... it's a little like going to Disney... it's the little touches everywhere that makes the place fun... it's all in the details.






The picture above is a Nautical themed party table from Martha Stewart and has a wealth of ideas you can use.... from the white rope napkin "rings"... a fantastic look and inexpensive too... to the pretty yellow lantern on the table.... the white starfish is a little added touch that's inexpensive too.... sea shells would work well also.....stripes and solids in nautical colors tie the theme together... the flags are an easy project made with ribbon. Go to the website for easy to do instructions.



This Patriotic theme is from Country Living and has loads of possibilities... from the striped table cloth to the nifty flag fan... look for an inexpensive novelty item to liven up the place setting.. mixing and matching patterns but keeping to a simple color theme makes for a fun look...



I thought these Mason Jar Tumblers were so cool... a little pricey but a little splurge now and then is fun... they're available at Olive & Cocoa.



And you thought all Paula Deen was about was food... she has this great little centerpiece made from a little galvanized bucket... some paper pinwheels stuck in some monkey grass... have no idea what monkey grass is .. but you get the idea... check our her 4th of July Deck Party for some other great ideas..

Fabulous Friday Find: Party Beverage Dispensers

Summer parties and parched guests just seem to go together... so why not make serving your beverages special... check out some of these Fabulous Finds...






I love the bright red dispenser above... it's funky look is perfect for casual parties for all ages.. from the backyard to the beach or a picnic... This one is available at Amazon.



With summer parties getting into full swing....This stylish beverage container is perfect for backyard BBQs and parties indoor or outdoor. Reasonably priced it's available at Target online only... but it ships free.

It's durable, with a wide mouth top... it will fill easily and ice is easy to load in too. It holds up to 3 gallons.... and the spigot sits high so a cup will easily fit under it.





Maybe you're having more of a "Tavern" theme to your party with "Happy Hour" munchies or maybe burgers and fries... why not continue that theme with this Tavern Pitcher.. this even can be monogrammed... available at Pottery Barn





Serving Fresh Lemonade or Sweet Tea?...or maybe both.. Doesn't this just make you want an ice cold glass of lemonade? .... so will your guests...Classic Hostess has a large selection of beverage dispensers ... a wide variety of designs and one for every budget...check them out online.

Fabulous Friday: Nifty Ideas for that Backyard BBQ

I recently came across a couple of pretty cool ideas from Real Simple that would not only be functional, but looks terrific and .... with practically no cost!

How's this for inventive.... colorful and practical... a perfect tote for those BBQ table essentials... don't spend money on those boring plastic or wood carriers... re-use a 6-pack carton... a truly simple and great idea!



Cold ice is essential for those cold drinks at the BBQ... but in the heat... the ice is almost always sitting in water.... this solution is ingenious! A colorful colander over a bowl or jar... colorful and practical... a perfect solution.

You can find these and many many more really simple ideas at.... Real Simple... one of my favorite magazines and sites...

Fabulous Finds: Creative Herb Gardens

What is cooking without herbs? Bland bland bland...

Herbs can be expensive... so the best solution is .... drum roll please... GROW YOUR OWN!

Don't have a lot of space? No Problem! There are many options that are perfect for indoors and out... apartments or houses... even tiny kitchens.. read on...

Need to keep them away from kids and critters? The picture above is a hanging Herb Garden by Lakeland Mills and is available online at ATG Stores

Here are some more of the best creative Herb Gardens around... and they won't break the bank either!















This is from Williams Sonoma and is perfect for the person who wants a portable herb garden. Move it to whatever location you want... great for decks, patios and rooftops. This willow basket is lined with a professional grade planting bag... plant directly into the bag or slip in pre-planted pots of your favorite herbs. It folds conveniently flat for easy storage when not in use. At $29.95 and lists free shipping at the moment... it's not a bad deal. They also have some other types of containers from window boxes to a vintage looking crate... all at reasonable prices.. definitely check out the link.



Window Boxes are perfect for an herb garden... and they come in so many sizes, shapes, styles, colors ... from the plain to the nifty... the picture above is a beautifully designed window box for a herb garden. It's available at White Flower Farm.

Planter Boxes are great if you have the space in a yard for one and are perfect for growing herbs... these are from Simply Planters... who says planters have to be boring and ugly....they are not only functional, but they're beautiful and truly add to the decor of your outdoor space. All are reasonably priced (and on sale right now) from $89.98 and up.







Maybe Individual Pots of herbs are more your style... have a sunny location in your kitchen... you can not only cut your food budget by growing your own herbs but also add to your decor at the same time... from plain shiny white pots to an array of colors to accent your kitchen... maybe unique pots to add interest... they're available all over from gardening stores to online stores..

These rustic posts come in "Rosemary" "Parsley" and "Thyme" and are available at Home Decorators.



I hope you found this info helpful... happy gardening!

Fabulous Friday: Spring Centerpiece Ideas

A pretty table can take an ordinary meal and make the whole experience fabulous. I thought I would do an extension of last week's Fabulous Friday Post that featured Easter Place Setting and table Ideas... and feature Spring Centerpiece Ideas...

Setting a pretty table does not have to be expensive or hard to put together... using household items such as pitchers, glasses and bowls ... filling them with spring flowers or fruit and vegetables... candles... can be both simple and elegant.

The picture above is from Martha Stewart. I love her ideas, she has so many simple ideas.. nothing says spring like flowers and a garden... so what better way to make a centerpiece than by using something from the garden, like this watering can. She has a terrific slide show of ideas.. click the link to see more.

Here are some of the best finds I found this week.. I hope these ideas inspire you..








This first picture caught my eye because it reminded me of when I was first married. We couldn't afford to decorate with expensive things so I took the simpliest things and used them in our loft.... our first spring as a married couple... I placed plain, inexpensive clay pots of daffodils on our table...

The picture above came from Home Goods... this bright centerpiece is simply made of bright yellow daffodils ... set the pots into a basket and you're good to go.

The next two pictures show what you can do using a simple pitcher and plain glass bottles...

I have a classic white pitcher I always fill with flowers... inexpensive pink carnations from the grocery store.. they last for about two weeks and brighten a table right up.

Collect unusual glass bottles... olive oil bottles are particularly good... even the ones that have the label embedded in the glass... just pick flowers that compliment the colors in the label..

These next pictures are from Ideal Home Garden... a wonderful site.. with how-to instructions for their many creative ideas.





Pretty teacups and teapots also make wonderful bases for centerpieces. This next one is from Better Homes and Gardens... click the link to their slide show of many ideas for spring centerpieces.



This next one is also from the folks at Ideal Home Garden... a pretty little bird cage... i have seen these at craft stores... and with the little ceramic bird on top... so springy and sweet... perfect for a spring luncheon table.



This next idea, also from Ideal Home Garden, perfectly illustrates using fresh fruits as a centerpiece.

It reminds me of a scene from the movie The Breakup with Jennifer Aniston. She becomes upset with her boyfriend (Vince Vaughan) for only bringing home a few lemons.. he just doesn't understand why she needed more... she sighs... it was for the centerpiece... I thought... great idea!

Lemons and limes work really well as a centerpiece.. a metal wire basket is perfect for it as is this bowl...

Fabulous Finds: Easter Place Setting and Table Ideas

Fabulous ideas are not always expensive .... the idea above comes from Better Homes and Gardens... the colorful take-out containers are readily available at craft stores and discount stores... just place a jar inside and fill with flowers...


I love to make a table festive and fun… and I’m always looking for great ideas …

These adorable bunnies and chicks make a really cute place setting or finger puppets that kids will love….. They’re easy to make with a kit you can get at Paper Source.


Need something more adult looking for your table? ... How about this wonderful idea..




This idea comes from the folks at Southern Living. They have easy step by step instructions to make these beautiful eggs. You should be able to find nests at your local craft supply stores.

Fabulous Fridays

Aren't Fridays just glorious? ... if you work a Monday through Friday 9 to 5... Fridays are the finish line... the last stop before the freedom of a weekend... the evening can mark the start of celebrations and parties... so with that in mind.. I decided to share Fabulous Ideas and Finds on... of course... Fabulous Friday!

So mark it on your calendar... Fabulous Fridays at Cooking Tip of the Day!


Hope you enjoy this new addition to Cooking Tip of the Day.