How to Do Easter on the Cheap (When Easter arrives so soon after the April 18th tax deadline!)

The title of this blog is somewhat “tongue-in-cheek”, but I really did set out to create a great holiday table with just a little bit of money.

I can get totally carried away with beautiful, expensive things, but beauty can be bought cheaply, too.

I began my quest a couple of months ago looking for inexpensive purchases for my Easter tablescape. I wanted to set a table for the eight members of my family, so I had to be creative. My one not-so-cheap item is the beautiful Ralph Lauren tablecloth. However, white tablecloths can be found in any price range in those wonderful stores like TJ Maxx, Marshall’s or Tuesday Morning. I already had this one, so I did not try to find a less expensive one, just for the blog.

Now, let’s look at these great bargains! I found these egg-shaped placemats at Bed Bath and Beyond for only $1.99 apiece.

A discontinued J C Penney pink plate went on top of the placemat. These large plates were found on Replacements for $7.99 each. They work really well as chargers for most regular dinner plates, too.

Four of the Clay Art “Sunflower” plates were purchased at T J Maxx for almost nothing, but I did have to pay around $6.50 each for the other four. I bought them on Amazon.com from one of their online stores.

The robin’s egg blue napkins were found at Marshall’s. They were packaged four to a set for $4.99 and I actually found two matching sets!

I bought the cute napkin rings from Kohl’s for a sale price of $1.60 each. They were very similar to some that I had found at Dillard’s for $5.00 apiece. Quite a savings for eight of them!

I used white flatware from Walmart. It comes as a 20 piece set for $14.97. I bought two sets and used everything, except for the soup spoons. That means I got 40 pieces for $30.00 - less than a dollar each. What a deal!

The musical Rabbit was a previous Cracker Barrel find, but was not expensive, even then. He plays, “Here Come Peter Cottontail”. Of course!

He is placed on a glass pedestal cake plate. This is one of three that I found at TJ Maxx. They are different sizes and can be stacked in a tier. This is the middle size one of the three. I cannot remember exactly what I paid for them, but I think the largest one was $7.99. This one was probably around $6.00.

Egg shaped place card holders and the little bunny dish were bought at Michael’s. I cannot find the ticket for them, but they were quite inexpensive.

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny salt and pepper shakers have been around my house for years. They were not just inexpensive, they were cheap! However, our family still enjoys seeing them every Easter.

I have had the Schott-Zwiesel water goblets (they can, also, be used for red wine) for many years. However, they do fit into the theme of the table, because I purchased them at an outlet store, when I did buy them!

The cut glass ice bucket was the least expensive of all – a gift from my mother-in-law!

My favorite recent purchases are the Kaldun & Bogle egg cup/votive holders and pitcher. I found them on sale at One Kings Lane. The pitcher was only $19.00.

The egg cups were two for $7.99. I think they look much more expensive than $4.00 apiece!

The glittery eggs inside were a Pier I buy – 12 for $9.95.

I think I did pretty well in creating an inexpensive table for eight guests – with all of the money that I saved, maybe, I can afford to feed everyone!!

Now, let the Bunny Parade begin…

-Diane

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Erin go Bragh

Erin go Bragh - Ireland Forever!!




March 17th! Leprechauns and Shamrocks await...




Saint Patrick’s Day – wearing of the green! After to traveling to Ireland, I understand why green is so important to the Irish people. I was there in the month of November and just look at how green the grass was at Blarney Castle.




It was just as green on the Dingle Peninsula, which was one of my favorite places in Ireland. My friend, Jane, who had visited there, told me not to miss it. I am eternally grateful.




Another of my favorite places was the Waterford glass factory in Waterford, Ireland. I carried back several treasures from my trip. One was a Waterford biscuit barrel for my mother-in-law.



Recently, my mother-in-law gave me several pieces of crystal that had been in her collection and, happily, the biscuit barrel was among them. I used it as a centerpiece on the table to hold the green and orange flowers (Irish flag colors!).




Waterford is not the only manufacturer of crystal in Ireland. The other crystal on my table is made by Galway. It is the old “Longford” pattern and I have had it for many years. The shapes of the pieces have changed a bit, since then, but I still love mine. I acquired it, when my mother gave me a surprise check and told me to buy myself something pretty. I used the money to order the footed iced teas and champagne/sherbets from Ireland. I never set my table with “Longford” that I do not think of my mother who died fourteen years ago.

Many thanks to my mother and mother-in-law for helping to make my table beautiful!

I was determined to have Belleek "Shamrock" salad plates for Saint Patrick’s Day this year. Some time ago, I ordered them from a company who does business in Ireland and America. Not only did I never receive them, but the company does not answer my e-mails! Fortunately, I have green dishes. They are the “Samarra” pattern by Royal Doulton. This china was one of the patterns that I chose, when I married.




The sterling flatware is “Strasbourg” by Gorham.




The green tablecloth was purchased at Ross and the napkins are ones that I have had for years. The napkin rings came from Dillard’s. I used several shades of green on the table - they remind me of all the greens of Ireland!




I found the shamrock place mats at Home Goods.




The pretty beaded coasters were bought at TJ Maxx, I think, and the darling etched shamrock Irish coffee mugs were an Ebay purchase.




Watching over the table are two Annalee Leprechaun elves.




Also, decorating the table are sprinkles of leprechaun and shamrock confetti. Hopefully, the Leprechauns left the gold coins for some lucky dinner guest!

While I do have some Irish heritage, I am afraid that my ancestors came from the northern end of the isle – the Scotch-Irish. However, on Saint Patrick’s Day, we can all be officially Irish. Who would not love a man who ran the snakes out of a country?

Instead of an Irish recipe, I am going to leave you with the lyrics to an old Irish song:

AN IRISHMAN'S DREAM 

Sure I've roamed this wide world over

But of all the lands I've seen

There's no spot I'd rather dwell in

Than my little isle of Green

Only last night I was dreamin'

Of a sight that thrilled me through

But what I saw I'll see no more

'twas too good to be true

Sure the shamrocks were growing on Broadway

Every girl was an Irish colleen

The town of New York was the county of Cork

All the buildings were painted green

Sure the Hudson looked just like the Shannon

Oh, how good and how real it did seem

I could hear me mother singin', sweet Shannon bells ringin'

'twas only an Irishman's dream

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day - may we all have the luck of the Irish!!!


-Diane

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