Yesterday I showed you the Mother’s Day brunch I threw for my mother and grandmother. This was a pretty simple party — just Sunday lunch at home with family. But as a special touch I did a project I’ve been wanting to try for a long time: I made big black and white posters out of old family photos.

This was surprisingly easy and inexpensive! It just cost me a few dollars, and it was a fun, special touch that could work for so many parties, from birthday celebrations to wedding receptions. Here’s exactly what I did so you can try it too, if you like.

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Everyone needs a few go-to dinner recipes like this. Think: fresh, flavorful, and fast. Mild white fish gets a boost from smoked paprika, Parmesan, and a brown butter sauce. Shredded greens are then sautéed in the same skillet for the ultimate 10-minute meal. Mind-blowingly simple, mind-blowingly good.

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My mother had eight kids and raised us well (in our unbiased opinion!). She homeschooled us in our early years, and taught us important things like how to make sloppy joes and fold fitted sheets properly, then sent us off into the world with good grace. It seems a little silly to single out Mother’s Day as just one celebratory moment, but this spring holiday is still a good occasion to gather the whole family and enjoy a meal together. This week I’ve been sharing the bright, colorful Mother’s Day brunch I hosted for my mother and grandmother, with simple food and one big special surprise — posters made of old family photos!

Here’s a little more about the party: what I did ahead, how I set the table, and what I served, including lemon sticky rolls and a breakfast potato gratin.

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If you spend your days reading food blogs, flipping through food magazines, and browsing cookbooks, chances are good you run into a lot of recipes you want to try. But how to ensure you actually make the recipes and don’t just let them disappear into the depths of Pinterest or your recipe binder? This is the very simple system that works for me.

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