Dinner parties don't have to be too elaborate or expensive. Sometimes it's refreshing to have some friends over with a simplistic menu, table and decorations.

It's no surprise that I like to reuse household items and incorporate them into my parties. One, it saves cost on buying items for every party and two, it's always great to get dual uses out of regular items.

The centerpiece is a very simple fabric, mason jars with faux flowers filled with corks (who doesn't have a million of those laying around?) and some tealight candles.

Place settings are very easy too. A dinner plate, with a salad plate on top, white fabric napkins folded into a single pocket (check out the how-to here), silverware with a flag placecard placed in the fork. Don't forget the stemless wine glasses and small water glasses. Make sure there is a pitcher of water on the table as well.

There is a cathedral ceiling in our dining room so what better way to add a great ambiance than to string white Christmas lights above the table. With it being a snowy day here, this little bit of light will create the ambiance of dining al fresco.

The menu is Italian themed and a pot luck. Doesn't get much easier than this!