Mother’s Day is coming up quick, so start planning to give mom a special party to celebrate her day. I have some decorating, and menu ideas for a lunch or brunch, to help you make mom feel like she is queen for the afternoon.
Mother’s Day Decorationg Ideas

Cut a vase full of fresh spring flowers for the table. Here are a couple flower arranging tips and tricks.
Let the kids do the decorating with handmade cards and banners for mom.
Add these leaf covered candle holders to the table.
A Mother’s Day paper bouquet the kids can help make.

Menu Ideas for a Mother’s Day …read more

I featured a list of Easter and spring brunch recipes yesterday here at She Knows Parties. Today I have another yummy Spring brunch recipe to share with you from Mealtime.org.
Add a colorful, nutritious touch to your spring holiday menu. This easy-to-prepare kugel, made with canned pineapple and carrots, as well as apples, cranberries and almonds, is the perfect side dish or way to top off your feast. And it’s another way to fit fruits and veggies in!
Spiced Pineapple Carrot Kugel
Ingredients:Vegetable oil spray
1 can (15 ounces) sliced carrots, drained
1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple in juice, drained
2 apples, cored and chopped
1/2 …read more

Betty Crocker has some new recipes posted on their website to celebrate Spring. If you’re hosting a Spring party, or an Easter Brunch, check out a few of these delicious recipes.
Easy Do Ahead Brunch Bake
Bunny Cake (my favorite)
Zesty Deviled Eggs
They have a ton more recipes at the Betty Crocker website, and a whole section of Easter on a budget recipes to choose from too.
We have a couple dozen eggs to color for Easter, so I think I might give the zesty deviled eggs a try. They have several other deviled egg recipes to choose from, to help you use …read more

A couple years ago a friend of mine had a summer garden party. She set up tables in her apple orchard, between a couple of her flower gardens. It was a wonderful setting for a party.

Everyone brought their favorite garden dish, with a copy of the recipe. The hostess also served herbal teas, and beverages. It was so much fun to sit out among her beautiful flowers, sip tea, and talk about gardens and food.
She had everyone decorate a garden hat to wear to the party. When everyone was seated we voted on out favorites. The hostess had …read more

Deb gave you a list of 60 awesome barbecue recipes, so I thought I’d throw in the dessert. Because you gotta have dessert, right?
1. Cupcake Flag
2. White Silk and Berry Tarts
3. Jean’s Blueberry Quickbread
4. 32 Unique Homemade Popsicle Ideas and Recipes
5. Simple Summer Cupcakes
6. Dirt Cake
7. Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits
8. Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
9. Homemade Organic Fruit Snacks
10. Creamy Berry Fruit Mold
11. Icy Cold Summer Lime Smoothie
12. Zebra Pop Cookies
13. “Springish” Fruit Pandowdy
14. Frozen Pudding Cups
15. Candied Flowers
16. Homemade Ice Pops
17. Grandma’s Homemade Banana Pudding
18. Strawberry Frozen Yogurt
19. Molded Rhubarb Rosemary Cucumber Salad
20. Strawberry Shortcake
21. Baseball Cupcakes
22. Peanut Butter Pie
23. …read more

When I make punch for a party I almost never use plain ice cubes. I usually make my own decorative ice ring. It’s simple to do with a little pre-planning, and your guests will be impressed.
I use a Jello mold, or Bundt pan to freeze my ice ring in. To make the ice rings I show here I used a Wilton Silicone Mini Fluted Tube Pan. It released the finished ice rings without much fuss.
To add texture and color to your ice rings add in season fruit like strawberries, or lemons slices. You can also add …read more

Here’s a simple simple summer cupcake idea for your Mother’s Day, or Memorial Day celebration, candied flower cupcakes.
Simply candy some violets, lilacs, violas, or nasturtiums. You can do this ahead of time, while they’re in full bloom.  They’ll keep nicely in a sealed container once they’re candied.
On the day of your party bake your favorite cupcake recipe. Ice the cupcakes with your favorite color of icing and top them with the candied flowers. I used lilacs and violets here. The flowers add a delicate summer touch to your party. I used Wilton Decorating Tip 2D and gave …read more

Want to really impress your brunch guests? Check out these coffee art videos: