I can’t believe this is going to be my 6th Mardi Gras season here. We just re-financed out home, and “permanent resident of the greater New Orleans area” has a nice ring to it! Coming out of my fog from my dad passing, I realize I have so much to do to get ready for Mardi Gras and the kids’ Mardi Gras school vacation (yep – they get that week off). My cousin asked me if we decorate for Mardi Gras – yep sure do. I have a few things outside – totally bush league – but am trying. Inside I display all the cool throws and doubloons we have collected so far (still need to do that).

Now for the checklist

* Weight to lose before parades and balls begin – check (phew). I tend to gain more weight than the holidays during these festivities due to good food, adult beverages and my love for King Cake.

* Gowns – check – (got 2 consignment shop steals I adore).I think we are only planning on one ball this year and that works for me.

* Spanx – check

* Ball tickets – check

* Wagon to haul stuff to parades – shoot – ours broke last year and was shot out at the firing range. Gotta get a new one!

* Make plans to hit parades with friends and their families…must get on that.

Yes, folks…my kids will be at all the parades with me – it is very family oriented! Not all the 3 kids love parades equally, but all have a great time once they are there. As for hubby…he would skip parades, except the one he rides in if I let him. Nope -he never gets off the hook and always has a wonderful time!

Laissez les bon temps rouler! (Let the good times roll).

Last weekend, my handsome hubby and I attended the Thoth Krewe’s ball. We were guests of the Queen’s family and I “recycled” my black, safe Tadashi gown from last year and added some borrowed, fun jewelery. Besides watching all the pomp and circumstance and the amazing costumes, part of the fun is people watching. Surprisingly, I was not overwhelmed with many of the dresses this year. The gals I was sitting with and I were asking each other to pick out our favorite dresses of the night and there were only a few to choose from. Few had the “wow” factor. For those of you unfamiliar with Mardi Gras balls, there are many teens in attendance as well. They definitely can get away with different things than I can! The dress requirement was full length gowns and tuxedos for the men (they have it so easy). So here goes my opinions and observations from Thoth:

* No matter how awesome your dress or your body…if you are going to spend the night fixing yourself and look uncomfortable – forget it! Tape and the tailor are your friend!
* Very few one shoulder dresses, considering how popular they are.
* Tons of Purple – heck it is Mardi Gras – I expect that!
* Only a few reds, lots of colors from the spectrum, very little white. Then again, much of the court is in white – so maybe not a great idea.
* The teen and 20 crowd wore lots of print dresses. You definitely have to be tall, skinny and young to pull these off.
* Minimal bling this year. Some rhinestones as dress accents but very few sequins gowns.
* Well endowed women should be proud of their assets, but to the 2 women who were…ummm….overflowing….less is more sometimes.
* Dancing shoes should be comfortable! If you intend on taking your shoes off – make sure you are not stepping on your dress.
* There were very few trains. Sorry lady I was dancing next to who had one. Ya – I unintentionally stepped on your train but am sure I was not the only one. I will never wear a train to a Mardi Gras ball again.
* My hubby prefers to rent his tie and vest for each event. That keeps things fresh and he always compliments me nicely. Fun Mardi Gras ties, vests and/or cummerbunds for men are awesome are plentiful!
* ***** If you feel beautiful in your gown – that is priority. Every woman should feel gorgeous – like a princess, queen or whatever you desire. It is a night to shine and have a good time! There really are no rules beyond the length of the dress on your ticket.

This weekend is the Original Krewe of Orpheus ball (hubby’s Krewe) – soooooo excited to wear my new fun “wow” dress! Hint…it is purple and one-shouldered.

***Make sure to read the awesome post on Mardi Gras fashion written by my friend Kerri-Anne.

Update as to not confuse anyone. Wanted to add this comment from my friend Ryan of Seersuckers and Sazeracs

Be careful when attending a ball if you’ve never been. Masks are only for krewe members. If you are attending merely as a guest, you are not to be masked. if you are casting with the krewe, your mask will be with your costume.

Furthermore, the masks depicted here are of the venetian style. In New Orleans the masks are typical much simpler and quite frequently disposable.

This is my intro to this post:

This is my 5th Mardi Gras season living in the New Orleans area and I still have so much to learn. I thought it would be fun to ask my childhood friend and forever fashionista, Kerri-Anne Rizzotto, to write a guest post regrading Mardi Gras and fashion. She is the first person I turned to when deciding on a ball gown this year as her taste is impeccable. Kerri-Anne has visions of what Mardi Gras is like and wrote her post based purely with her imagination. She grew up in MA with me and now currently resides in New York. She is a world traveler and has been into fashion since we were in grade school. I will be sure announce her upcoming fashion blog when it makes its’ debut! She always picks the best items to highlight on her Facebook and she did not disappoint with this post. I think she did a phenomenal job.

Hello Everyone – I was so delighted when my long time, childhood girlfriend Greta Perry asked me to be a Guest Blogger and post about Mardi Gras and fashion. Now fashion is definitely my passion and I am in the midst of creating my very own fashion blog, but I by no means claim to be an expert on Mardi Gras and New Orleans. So when viewing this please keep in mind this post is through the “eyes of an outsider.” I was asked to do this because of my fashion style and not because of my “expertise” on Mardi Gras. I did know the “official colors” for Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. I did not know the colors represent something : Purple representing justice, green stands for faith and gold stands for power. With that being said I of course found these colors consistently when doing my research. I know Mardi Gras represents one big GRAND party and that is right up my Street. I love these photos of decorated balconies.

Part of the fun (and fashion) are two things you can incorporate into an outfit in many ways at Mardi Gras are beads and feathers – I love this photo where someone made a fun decoration out of their beads after Mardi Gras. What a fabulous idea!

I will make Mardi Gras in the future (ahem…..Greta) and when I do I expect a fabulous invitation to one of the many Balls that I have heard of! I love the invitations I came across and thought how fun it would be to send one out to all of my friends!

Now in keeping all that in mind – What to wear to these fabulous Balls……Oh and I would absolutely need to wear a mask as I have attended many Masquerade Balls and I collect them! for me – when I started seeing all the fabulous masks – I decided I would base my outfit around the mask. How fabulous are these? I have to say depending on the event (if I had to choose) the white beaded mask would absolutely be MY choice!

The Dress – I am more of a fitted, drapey dress girl (Greta said “No” to the suggestion of white:) but with the right accessories you can really make a statement. If I were to choose more of a ball gown look I would go with the lavender.

And now to accessorize – I absolutely died when I found this feather belt and shoes …..I would add that to the white dress but any minimal dress would welcome those accessories!
The Purse – depending on the shoes if you have not added any feathers as of yet – one of these would be perfect!

I cannot wait to see Greta in her gown – as she made a gorgeous choice!”

Disclaimer: All these pictures were found on various sites and apologies you will not find the links to them. I think Kerri-Anne did amazing!!!

This Time article compares the safety of the 2 locations. In fact the safety was compared back during Mardi Gras. I’d write more, but I have to run to the studio in the French Quarter by the scene of a murder of a great lady committed by a group of teens. I still love this city and won’t leave. Let’s FIX the problem! Talk amongst yourselves..must run……

The most wonderful package arrived at my doorstep today (coincidentally on my birthday). href=”http://soldiersangels.org”>Soldiers’ Angels (over 900 waiting for adoption right now) Operation Overseas Mardi Gras was such a huge success this year that the news articles and pictures keep rolling in thanks to so many wonderful people as far away as Germany. The package contained the most beautiful American Flag I have ever seen because it was sent with love and a framed certificate (see below). These items will be placed in Soldiers’ Angels Museum for all to see because it was sent because so many of you stepped up to the plate and helped send Mardi Gras cheer to our troops – Hooah!

The certificate reads,

” The accompanying American flag was carried aboard Combat mission F-4 over Iraq in a UH-60A Blackhawk Helicopter, Tail #79-23310 on the 27th of January 2009, Delta Company 1-244th Aviation (ASLT).

This flag is presented to Soldiers’ Angels Operation Overseas Mardi Gras on behalf of Delta Company while while deployed to Balad Air Base, Salah ad Din Governorate, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and America’s Was on terrorism.

Thank you for your support! CPT James D. Wells – Commander and 1SG Michael E. Swanson-First Sergeant

“We will not waiver, we will not tie; we will not falter, and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail.” President George W. Bush October 7, 2001.

c/p at Hooah Wife and Soldiers’ Angels Louisiana

“Hail Orpheus, Hail Yes!” is the saying from the Krewe my husband rides in. The Original Krewe of Orpheus rolled last night in Mandeville and hubby had a fabulous day, beginning with golf at 8:30 and ending after 11 with the end of the parade in walking distance from our house. My curiosity got the best of me at the Oprheus Ball this year as to why the parade was referred to as the “Original Krewe of Orpheus.” What I was told was they they had been in existence since 1987, when another Krewe was formed in New Orleans in 1993 by Harry Connick, Jr. and took the same name. There were no copyright laws, just gentlemen’s agreement stuff and well…the rest is history. Anyhoo, I’m not one for sour grapes and am glad that hubby is part of this awesome Krewe.

Tomorrow night, myself and the kids will be with the giant rodent saying “Hail Mickey, Hail Yes!”

Off to go sort through the Mardi Gras loot we collected this season before we head out…

As most of you know, I have been working on Operation Overseas Mardi Gras this year with Soldiers’ Angels. In 5 weeks, we managed to get out over 700 packages to 3 Louisiana Guard units. This e-mail I received yesterday, makes every ounce of effort worth it!

Dear Ms. Perry:

I want to let you know how much the soldiers, aviators and mechanics of 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion, TF (task force) Voodoo, enjoyed the care packages coordinated and sent through your organization, Soldiers’ Angels. The soldiers hung the beads in our AO (area of operations), dressed up in costume for some of our meetings and have been getting in the Mardi Gras spirit as Fat Tuesday approaches. We have a few outstanding cooks in the unit that have used the red beans, rice, Zatarain’s spices and other items to prepare Red Beans and Rice on Monday and Gumbo on Friday in keeping with New Orleans and southern Louisiana tradition. The other very cool thing we are doing is arranging for some of these items to be given by our soldiers to some of the Iraqi children who love receiving things from our soldiers. No matter where you are in the world and what the politics are, children are children.

I want to let you know that the packages were a huge morale boost to the soldiers. I know some of the soldiers here in Balad from other areas of the country do not understand our culture and excitement over the items you sent. Once again, thanks so much for everything you have done.

Patrick R. Bossetta
LTC, AV
Commanding
MOJO 06

c/p at Soldiers’ Angels Louisiana

I am asking people who have attended Mardi Gras whether they think it is family friendly or not and why?

I’m also asking those who have not attended if they think it is or not and why?

I bring my kids to the French Quarter (just not Bourbon Street) all the time and they love a parade!

Here is a little glimpse of a small parade and Family Gras. The funniest things is the girls couldn’t wait for Jesse McCartney to perform and then they did not believe it was him!

Skydiving, rock climbing, climbing to the top of the Swiss Alps, skiing down a black diamond were all exciting, but were not comparable to the 3 hours I rode in the Krewe of Eve last night. Though I continue to preach to people that they must experience Mardi Gras at least once in their life, my words (though I am a decent writer), could never duplicate the experience one gets while a parade passes them by and they scream for a stupid bead or cheap carnival toy or what my ride was truly like. Some of it is the crowd mentality that brings out the energy in you, but there is also something mysterious that weaves itself into the spirit in the air. Sure, there is a ton of alcohol involved, but Carnival is truly a family event.

You probably will never understand why someone would pay at least $1,000 to ride in a parade and purchase items to throw into a crowd of strangers and adorable children. Riding in a Krewe is an experience, a year round social group, whose purpose is to achieve the success of the parade day, while developing bonds with other Krewe members. Many of the Krewes also do charitable things throughout the year and most Krewes are made up of upstanding community members. The Krewe of Eve is an all women’s parade, and you especially become close to the women riding on your float. Yes, a social club that you buy into but so much more.

The day of the parade began with the Queen and Kings’ breakfast and was followed by the loading of the floats. This is where you take the $500 or more of items you have purchased and place them in your designated area. Usually you set up at that time too, but with the threat of a possible rain cancellation, many of us held off until later in the day. We returned in the early afternoon party that was thrown by the Queen and there was music, food and dancing. BYOB, so this is when the partying really begins. Now was the time to get your area all situated for the ride and to get organized the best you can. There was also an opportunity to trade the “float beads” you purchased with other float riders. I was quick to unload the “clown” medallion I had and trade up for some very cool beads to add to my collection.

When it was time to roll, there was a felling of nervousness and excitement and yes, I had a good buzz going too. There was a “no throw zone” until we hit a certain point and then it just happens. Feeling like a rock star who everyone wants, the crowd screams and yells for you to throw them something. Hands in the air, children on shoulders and ladders, people wearing crazy costumes to get your attention and you doing your best to pace yourself so you don’t throw out everything too fast. Of course, it is obvious that the crowd is not screaming for you, but are in their “Mardi Gras mentality” and doing what is expected on their side while we are playing Santa for a few hours. It actually gets pretty exhausting as the parade goes on and you constantly have to fix your beads, drink your alcohol *grin*, smile, dance to the music and throw stuff out (who woulda thunk). When it was all over, all I can tell you is that I will be saving my money to do it next year. It is a rush, a thrill ride that also brings so much joy to people in my community.

Last night I also thought about the Mardi Gras that Soldiers’ Angels was able to share with 700 men and women in Iraq this year and hope they get some joy out of all the items they received. Mardi Gras has something over this community and the people that have experienced that you will never understand until you experience it yourself. There is still time to come this year – if not – See you next Mardi Gras season!!!