Delight with a taco night

Summer may be winding down, but this fiesta makes the most of these last sunny days! The cheery accents add tropical flair, while the effortless menu surprises with a hint of spice

Greet guests with a bold buffet

Create a functional focal point with a colorful taco buffet, like this one styled by Lori Goldman ( Popofgold.com). To get the look, top a picnic table with fresh blooms, potted plants, terra- cotta pots and trays filled with taco fixin’s. For inexpensive ambience in a flash, use fruit to fill in extra space!

Offer tasty flavors with a topping board

For an effortless party, the more you can make ahead, the better. Goldman prepped toppings ahead of time and set them in mini bowls. Then she put the toppings on a cutting board filled with edible extras like cilantro, limes and orange slices. A few snippets of blooms and a faux mini cactus from the dollar store help ensure the board coordinates with your buffet setup.

Add fun and festive details

For a smile-worthy sign that comes together in mere moments (and doesn’t require perfect handwriting!) follow Goldman’s lead and pick up one of the season’s trendiest party details: a letter board (like the 12"x12" Letterboard by Room Essentials, $15, Target.com). Add a fun message and prop the board up on a tray. A few flowers in a bud vase and a mini sombrero add eye- catching flair!

Tempt their taste buds with ‘pepper’-kissed cupcakes

These chili pepper–themed cupcakes are sure to please! To make, whip up a batch of vanilla cupcakes, then frost with yellow-tinted icing. To make chili pepper toppers, fill the corner of a zip-top bag with red-tinted icing and snip off the corner. Place the tip against the yellow icing and gently squeeze the bag, slowly pulling away from the cupcake. As you pull, apply more pressure to the bag, to creating a chili pepper shape. Add details with green frosting.

Refresh guests with a margarita ‘pop-tail’

Margaritas pair perfectly with tacos— and this “pop-tail” version adds a flavorful twist! The night before your party, make the ice pops: Blend 21⁄ cups of cubed mango, 2 Tbs. of 2 tequila, 1 Tbs. of triple sec and 1⁄4 cup of lime juice; pour into 6 molds and freeze. To make the margaritas: Pour 3⁄4 cup of tequila, 1⁄4 cup of orange liqueur and 2 cups of limeade in a pitcher; stir to combine. Next, dip the rims of six glasses in honey, then in coarse salt. Fill with margarita mixture, then add an ice pop and half a jalapeño pepper.

Brighten any surface with fiesta flowers

Add even more color to your table with a burst of colorful flowers that will catch everyone’s attention. You don’t have to fuss with a complicated arrangement, either! To make this charming casual centerpiece, gather flowers in shades of orange, yellow, pink and red from the supermarket or the garden. Next, create a mini bouquet in your hand by alternating different colored blooms, crisscrossing stems. Tie the stems where they intersect, using twine or a rubber band. Repeat with the rest of the flowers, making several small bouquets. Place the bouquets in a wide-mouthed vase, turning each outward for a rounded effect. Place the vase inside a ceramic plant pot for an extra hint of color or texture.