Celebrate the economy by throwing a dinner party for your friends.

Greet your guests in this super chic cocktail apron from Heavenly Hostess: 

It has nice long ties that make the cutest bow in the back.  It will look great as you offer your guests cocktails served in these:

 

Order some personalized coasters (!) to protect your furniture:

 

Serve something great from the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook (her cookbooks are always so well-photographed and her food is delicious) or How To Eat Supper (which I'm on the waitlist for at the library), which Amy raves about here.  Serve it on this:

I saw this china at the mall on Mothers' Day and it looks even better in person. Plus, I love that the pattern is called Chirp. 

And for dessert: