Mardi Gras Party

Good Monday morning!

We actually thought we would wake up to snow, but we were a little too cocky, I think. It's okay though. Everyone is still talking about the wonderful snowy day we enjoyed ALL day Friday. Those memories will last us a while.

Which brings me to my Showcase Pic. That's right. A pretty snow scene.

The Gallery Pics contain the rest of the snow day pictures I took Friday. (I'll be sharing Mr. Faulkner's birthday, Zac's birthday, our Valentine Banquet, etc. as the week continues. There is no sense using ALL 49 of my pictures in one day!

Weekend Review

I woke up a sceptic Friday morning, but I went to bed Friday night a believer! Lots of snow (for us), but we kept our electricity and the roads were clear. Perfect! We were able to eat at Chick-Fil-A AND go sledding AND warm up in a nice warm house when it was all said and done.

Austin DID get to chaperone the 7th grade boys on the Knoxville Mission Trip. He was 15 minutes late because of wrecks on the back roads of Jacksonville (trying to get to the interstate), but around 99 people cheerfully waited on him before the buses pulled out. He ran in my front door... I shoved a packed duffel bag in his face... he kissed/head bumped me on the forehead... and he ran out the door. (It was one our sweeter mother/son moments!) He had a wonderful time.

Roxie's dance remained canceled, but she was happy because she still spent time with friends all day Friday.

Mike and Josh did NOT go to the Car Show Friday night. They opted for a guy movie, and I crawled into my nice warm bed very early Friday night... and pretended we were in the mountains.

Saturday was spent in Oxford with Mike's family celebrating Mr. Faulkner's 83rd birthday. We ate, talked and played Wii for several hours. They even let me Wii Bowl again... as long as Matthew (my great-nephew) was not in the room. (This is in reference to Christmas when he walked behind me while I was bowling and I hit him in the forehead... hard. Really, really hard. I got a strike, but I'll never forget how he looked at me after I smacked him. When you ACCIDENTALLY hit a baby in the head, even a strike in Wii bowling doesn't make you feel better. Well, not a lot better.)

Sunday we went to church and then we were off to my sister's for a birthday celebration for my nephew, Zac. Since I am officially his 8th day of the "12 Days of Zac," he spent the night with us and today we are taking him to see Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I'm looking forward to seeing that movie. It looks like a good one.

Last night we waited until Austin arrived home from the Mission Trip (around 7:30), and had our family Valentine's Day Banquet. As I stated in Project 365, I'm not sure how much longer this tradition will last for all five of us. We're on a year-by-year basis now, but I was glad we had at least one more year. It was fun to be able to include Zac in the festivities, too.

That's it. Some of the things I had planned for the weekend took place. Actually, most of them "came to be." And we had a few surprises along the way (sledding invitation, etc.) which were so much fun.

It was a good weekend, and I'm thankful it isn't quite over for me, Josh, Roxie and Zac. Four day weekends are the next best thing to summer.

Mardi Gras Party

I've never been to Mardi Gras, and I have to admit it is not on my "List of Things To Do Before I'm 90." That being said, I wouldn't mind learning a little more about this event (which is celebrated February 16 this year), AND maybe having a King Cake at the house. (I think purple and green cakes are pretty... and I LOVE when surprises are baked in a cake, don't you?)

The purpose of Mardi Gras is to partake of food, drink and fun before the beginning of fasting for the Catholic holiday Lent. (Being a Southern Baptist, this would probably explain why I've never celebrated Mardi Gras. But even though I'm a Southern Baptist, I still like to experience and learn about new cultures, customs and traditions. And let's face it. Anything nicknamed "Fat Tuesday" can't be all bad!)

1. Leave this invitation on everyone's pillow in your home. Buy regular-sized chocolate bars. Carefully remove the label. If there is not a foil wrapper on it, wrap it neatly in aluminum foil. Take gold or yellow construction paper, and cut it to size so it will wrap around the chocolate bar. Write your party invitation with green and purple pens or markers and wrap the paper around the bar with the information on the inside. On the outside of the label, write the words, "Laissez les bon temps rouler," which means, "Let the good times roll." (This is going to be my new mantra this week. It is just so free-spirited... so "un-me.")

2. Here are some tips for decorations... Traditional colors of Mardi Gras are green, purple and gold, so you'll want to include as many of these colors as possible. Hang holiday lights around the room if you can find a set in a single color. Green is usually easy to find around Christmas. Use purple and gold streamers, and try to find your table cloths and table settings in the traditional colors.

Go to Party City and buy some solid colored face masks (the ones that cover the eyes and nose). Coat them with craft glue and lay them in a foil tray filled with gold glitter. Hang them around the room.

Get green, gold or purple Christmas ball ornaments. Tack a string or clothes line across a wall. Hang the ornaments on the string so that they are right next to each other, touching. This garland will look like a giant string of popular Mardi Gras beads.

Make a centerpiece by putting floral foam in a bowl or basket and stuffing the mouthpiece of the noisemakers into the foam. They will stand up like a noisemaker bouquet. The kids can take them out of the centerpiece to toot during (or after) the celebration.

3. Have some New Orleans brass band music or Cajun country music playing during the party. If you don't have a certain theme party music (cowboy, Hawaiian, Cajun country, etc.), you can call the Birmingham Public Library and they have a huge selection. They will even tell you over the telephone if they have something there and hold it for you. You check music out just like a book!

4. The following are some activities and games for this great party:

Everyone can make their own Mardi Gras masks. You can purchase pre-made plastic, cardboard or foam mask shapes, and have an assortment of decorating materials: craft glue, beads, markers (paints will take too long to dry), fabric scraps, and, of course, a big bag of assorted colored craft feathers. They can wear their masks during the party.

Play "pass the baby." This is a game like "hot potato," only using the traditional Mardi Gras baby, which stems from the celebration's religious roots. Play music, and have everyone pass around the baby. Whoever is holding the baby when the music stops is out. Keep going until one winner emerges. You may wish to "crown" this person with a paper crown and make them king or queen of the Mardi Gras Ball.

Have a "Treasure Hunt" game. Before the party starts, hide a large quantity of Mardi Gras beads. You can buy Mardi Gras beads at Party City (and they are very inexpensive). Let everyone go on a hunt to find as many as they can. Everyone can wear them with their mask during the party.

5. What to eat? What to eat? Hmmm. Here are a few suggestions.

Go for the traditional Louisiana fare... gumbo, jambalaya or steamed craw fish! If your family and friends are not sea food enthusiasts, try making a chicken gumbo or pork jambalaya with bits of ham and rib meat. Don't forget the dirty beans and rice.

Make colorful punches out of fruit juices, ginger ale and sherbets for your guests.

No Mardi Gras is complete without a traditional "king cake." This delectable pastry cake is decorated with icing and sprinkled with colored green, yellow and purple sugars. If you don't want to make a king cake, make a regular cake and sprinkle the white frosting with pixie stick sugars. Or, line up cup cakes, each sprinkled with a different color sugar on a tray. (You can buy "king cakes" at Wal-Mart or local bakeries the week before Mardi Gras.)

You can plan this JUST for your family, or invite another family to participate. The more the merrier!

The idea for this party came from www.essortment.com.

ANNOUNCEMENT - For more Mardi Gras party ideas, check out my comment section (the first comment) from my friend, Jennifer. If she's throwing her 9th Mardi Gras party for 100 or so people, I think the girl knows what she's talking about, don't you? Thank you, Jennifer.

Have a fantastic Monday! I hope if you're out of school you enjoy every minute of your day off. I know we will! Tomorrow I have a fun main course recipe and I might have some Randomness to share... or a Topic of the Day. Since it is still the "Love Month," I may regale you with the story of how Mikie and I came to be. You never know what will happen on a Tuesday.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting and Free-Spirited Belinda