Tablescape Thursday - Memorial Day Table

This is my first ever time participating in Tablescape Thursday! I'm excited.






I've been planning this one for a while, and this past Saturday it just all came together. When we moved into our new home, I promised myself I was going to keep all my decorations organized in tubs and actually decorate for holidays (and not just drag out a couple of knick knacks the day of the holiday - I've been there done that.) Easter was a lot of fun, and I got lots of new things on clearance after the holiday for next year. However, I didn't know about Tablescaping or all these wonderful blogs back then. But now! I had Memorial Day and lots of patriotism to celebrate. We have several military men in our family, and many loved ones are now passed, so it was something I didn't want to be "just another day".



I put this all together late Sat night after everyone had gone to bed, (I usually work nights and it was my night off.) so the lighting isn't the best. My camera is a nice point and shoot one, but even on low-light it's still kind of blurry, so I apologize for some of the fuzzy pics! You can click on these to see larger images.


I'm terrible at remembering to take "before" photos, but the red basket of the centerpiece was a yard sale find for $2.00! I snatched it up as soon as I saw it, and the flowers in it were a total of $4 at Dollar General.


The tablecloth is a vinyl one from Kmart, but I've got 4 kids, and it's a hard habit to get out of. I like the way it looks, even though it's a bit glarish in some of these photos.


My table is really wide, so the tablecloth didn't come down very far down on the sides, so I put my red tablecloth under it that I usually use at Christmas. I love the layered look it makes. Pardon my napping cat on the chair.


I was so glad to get to use the milk glasses my husband's grandmother gave me. They went perfect with the red, white, and blue theme. The stemware glasses were another great yard sale find. I got 9 of them for 50 cents a piece.


The white Target birds went great with the colorscheme too. They're so cute!


The little star tea light candles were also from Kmart. I just loved them. I'd have never even thought of getting them if I hadn't been reading these Tablescape Thursday posts for the last few weeks and see the wonderful way scattered candles look on the tables! You ladies are such a great inspiration!


The tapers are in star shaped candle holders I found at Goodwill. I just love these! (I just realized I took a pic of the one that's chipped. Oh well. Keepin' it real.


The star shaped bowls are from Dollar General. They came in three different color/patterns, and since we needed a setting for six, I got two of each. They were actually the starting point for the whole table. I got two of them a few weeks ago when they first put them out, and then when I decided to use them as salad bowls, I went to other DG stores til I found six total.


The next layer was a plate I ended up using as a bread plate when we actually sat down to eat dinner on Monday. This was the layer I had the most trouble with. I could see in my head exactly what I wanted, but I didn't have any plates like that. I finally lucked out when I went to the Habitat for Humanity store on Saturday. I got a set of 3 salad plates and two bowls in one pattern and another set of 3 salad plates and 2 small dinner plates in another pattern that actually almost matches the first set.

They definitely go well together. And since I had 3 of each, I alternated the patterns at the table.


The red "napkins" are actually kitchen towels I found for $1 each at Ingles grocery store of all places! I wanted 3 red and 3 blue. but they didn't have any blue. I think I prefer how they're all red. It kind of ties all the different settings together.


The dinner plates remind me of the Big Lots dishes everyone seems to have. I actually have these in a setting for 12. I got them at Dollar General when they went on sale 1/2 price. Seems like I got all 12 settings for about $40. My mom always wanted a set of white dishes, and when I saw these, I knew why. They just go with everything. And that was way before I even knew about Tablescaping!





Please stop and see Susan's AMAZING site, Between Naps on the Porch where she hosts what I think is one of the most anticipated events in Bloggerville!

Please comment if you feel so inclined. I get so excited when I see I have a new one and I read them all and I will do my best to reply to every single one. I can't wait to go see everyone else's lovely tables today!