fluffing the nest

With all the meals I have been 

experimenting with...

 new recipes

new ingredients

new techniques

it only made sense that presentation

was soon to follow.

Food presentation usually

involves arrangement

on the plate...

but what about the table?

Maybe it is a Spring thing

but I want
I crave
 pretty.

Nothing says "pretty" like pastel.

So when I saw this cute set-up 

at Pier 1

I started pricing.

I stopped with the first

place mat...

in the $5.50 range.

Now that's not horrible

but if I'm going to splurge with my

budget

it is going to be in the form of 

organic foods and supplies

which can get rather pricey.

While on a recent
visit to TJ Maxx where I was

looking for pillows for an anniversary gift

for Rudy...

and, well...me too

:)

I just happened upon these.

Look familiar?

Not exact

but darn close.

Here's the rundown:

Rectangular mat: $1.99

Circular Mat Pack of Four: $6.99.

After looking at the above pictures

I realized I forgot one item

The napkin from my

hutch to pull it

all together.

How's that for presentation?

Fluffing my nest

on the cheap!