Laissez les bons temps rouler

So here we are on Fat Tuesday! While Carnival season has been going on globally for the last 3 months, it all comes to a head tonight once the clock strikes midnight. One second we are partying and tossing beads around a mere second later it is lent. Have you ever given up anything for lent? If so I'd like to know what and how long it lasted. I personally have never given anything up for lent. However this year I am going to give it a try, it's 40 days, you'd think I could do it, right? So here goes, I'm not sure if my sacrifice counts or not but this year for lent I am giving up being lazy! I know, I know, but seriously people I am one lazy person when it comes to exercise and doing good for myself. Is there anyone out there that would like to give up being lazy with me? Perhaps, you will park further from the store, or take the stairs. How about actually making yourself a healthful meal instead of your standard # 5 on the value menu? I'm talking baby steps here people, baby steps. Here's the way I see it, giving up being lazy is a wonderful sacrifice for my health, and I'm willing to go for it!

Knowing that being more healthy was on the back burner and was going to move up front this month, I decided to have a Mardi Gras party, just kidding, I needed an excuse to decorate and throw a party so I did! Here’s a look at how I decorated and a few of our menu options.

When you walked in to the front door I had a dozen, green, gold and purple balloons floating on the ceiling, on each balloon was tied several lengths of curling ribbon, I didn't get a picture of this however it was pretty neat looking because it really lent to the feel of Mardi Gras and all the festivities; it was fun to walk through the sea of ribbons too! One of my favorite decorations is the chalk board (there is more about it, in a post coming up) It's got a pretty cute crown and on it is the phrase "Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler", let the good times roll.

Ok, so maybe they are all my favorites because I love, love, love this bouquet of fresh flowers! I'm talking love!

I went to the store a couple days before the party to look for tulips in purple and yellow and I was just going to plunk them down in a simple country pitcher. Then I stumbled upon these beauties, can you believe that this whole arrangement is only 2 bundles of flowers! It is as if they were delivered to the store just for me! As soon as I saw them I knew exactly what to do with them. When I got home I got out my trifle bowl and started the magic. A few minutes later and -voila- I had a flower arrangement that I could NEVER afford if I walked in to florist, even if it was half priced! I'll be so sad to see it go; I love fresh flowers in the house, but hardly ever treat myself to them.

Another fun project I took on for this celebration was creating a mantel piece. I hit up the craft stores after Christmas and hit the jackpot in a Michaels store in Fredericksburg. They had all their floral picks on sale for about a nickel each, how could I resist? This is what I came up with, and it got rave reviews.

In another project I made a wreath using a 99 cent eBay doll, left over ribbon from the holidays, a grapevine wreath and more floral picks from Michaels.

I used up the extra ornaments and floral picks I had left over in a glass bowl I keep on the bottom the half moon table in our foyer.

So there you have it, that's how we got festive up in here!

Our Mardi Gras revelers got to partake in my tasty Forgotten Jambalaya, from Taste of Home and assorted sweets! King Cake from Haydel's bakery Who Dat? you may ask, why they are only "the official bakery of the New Orleans Saints" dats who. And my home made Humming Bird Cake. Some people say it gets its name because it's sweet like nectar, others say it's because it's so good it'll make ya hum! I'll let you bake one up and be the judge.