Host your own Mardi Gras Celebration!

Mardi Gras, French for "Fat Tuesday", refers to the celebration of eating rich, fatty foods before Lent begins on "Ash Wednesday". This holiday is celebrated throughout the world with carnivals, sporting events, parades and wearing different masks/costumes. In 2013, Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday is Tuesday, February 12th. 

First on the list for creating your own Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday Celebration, making the drinks! The best cocktail to make for Mardi Gras is a Traditional New Orleans Hurricane and the best place to have one is at Pat O'Brien's on Bourbon Street where it was created, but we'll have to settle for this recipe instead. 

www.neworleansonline.com

Traditional Hurricane Recipe: (www.newsorleansonline.com)

• 2 oz light rum
• 2 oz dark rum
• 2 oz passion fruit juice
• 1 oz orange juice
• ½ oz fresh lime juice
• 1 Tablespoon simple syrup
• 1 Tablespoon grenadine
• Garnish: orange slice and cherry

Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a Hurricane glass filled with ice. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.

New Orleans food is normally very spicy & rich in flavor. If you don't want to try a whole new recipe, try cooking fish, chicken or shrimp with blackening, Cajun or creole spices (can be found in the spices/baking aisle at the grocery store). If you are in the mood to try something new, here are two New Orlean's inspired recipes to try for this holiday:

Paula Deen's Jambalaya

Spicy New Orleans BBQ Shrimp

For dessert, it wouldn't be Mardi Gras without King Cake! This cinnamon roll cake with frosting and sugars is associated with Christmas in some regions of the world and then associated with the Mardi Gras celebration for the United States. There are now several different styles of the traditional Louisiana cake, but here is a very easy recipe to try for your Mardi Gras celebration.

Easy King Cake (Various Sources) 

• 1 can Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls with icing
• yellow, purple & green sugars

Image taken from Eatathomecooks.com

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and lightly grease a bundt pan or round cake pan. Unroll each cinnamon roll, fold each in half and slightly twist. Then place in the pan. Repeat with each roll to make a circle. Bake 15-20 minutes. Allow the cake to cool then put on icing and sugars and serve.

If you want to get in the true Mardi Gras spirit, pick up some masks, feather boas and beads for your celebration. A fun kids craft would be to pick up pastic masks at Michael's or A.C. Moore and have them decorate their own mask. Once they are all decorated, host your own parade! 

Party City is another great source for Mardi Gras celebration items.

"Mardi Gras is the love of life. It is the harmonic convergence of our food, our music, our creativity, our eccentricity, our neighborhoods, and our joy of living. All at once.” 
― Chris Rose, author

Happy Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday everyone!

Girls Night In (plus shopping!)

Lately, there seems to be more and more companies popping up with independent consultants selling new products! I've ordered make-up, jewelry, containers, bags and the list goes on. I'm sharing with you two of my favorite companies that offer amazing products and the option to "host a party" to earn benefits. This is a perfect excuse to get together your friends and family for a fun girls night in!

Tupperware

My friend Gwen recently became a Tupperware consultant so I invited some of my girlfriends and their moms over for a fun girls night in. We enjoyed wine, appetizers, desserts and shopping all night long! Tupperware has some great products that I recognized from my mom and grandmother having them so it was nice to get my own products. Gwen and I decided to showcase some of the Tupperware items by serving my appetizers and desserts in them for the party. She also handed out recipes, prizes and had games to keep everyone involved. Overall, it was a fun night in with the ladies! 

Plus, for hosting the party, I got half off some items, money towards Tupperware and free stuff! To schedule a party at your house or online with Gwen, visit http://www.my.tupperware.com/gwenlinaberry or her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gwentupperware. 

Thirty-One Gifts

I wasn't able to attend the party at my friend Laura's house for Thirty-One Gifts but saw the website and fell in love with their products. They have the cutest patterns and great sizes for all types of totes, bags, thermals and organizational items. You can also personalize most of their items which is perfect for gifts! 

Same as Tupperware, this company also offers freebies and benefits for hosting a party at your house. To schedule a party at your house or online with Megan, visit www.mythirtyone.com/Meganhabbershon/ or email her at mhabbershon@gmail.com. 

It's Five O'Clock Somewhere

Happy Summer! It's time to sit back, relax in the sun and enjoy a summer cocktail. Below are some delicious cocktails to sip on this summer season. Click on the drink titles to get the recipes!

Mango Margarita

Contributed by: David Yan

Featured on: Food and Wine

Would be perfect for happy hour with some chips and salsa!

Strawberry Basil Margarita

Contributed by: Nancy Mitchell, The Backyard Bartender

Featured on: The Kitchn

The problem with some recipes is that they are for making only a couple cocktails so it is hard to double or triple the recipe with the same taste for a larger party. I love that this is for making a pitcher! Much easier for summer "the more the merrier" type gatherings...

Pog Punch

Contributed by: Mixologist Cody Robertson at Lingba San Francisco

Featured on: Marie Claire

Beautiful summer punch to sip on!

Summertime in Paris

Contributed by: unkown

Featured on: Marie Claire

Another delicious summer cocktail featured on Marie Claire. Can't wait to make this one and dream that I'm in Paris for summertime...

Check out Marie Claire for tons of other chic summer cocktail recipes!

Blackberry Sage Cooler

Featured on: Scaling Back

This is a non-alcoholic cocktail that I thought looked very refreshing for summer. With all the different berries in season, you could easily adapt this recipe to raspberries or other types of mixed berries. You could also add vodka or another type of alcohol! 

Grapefruit Mojito

Featured on: Iowa Girl Eats

I just discovered this blog a couple weeks ago and it's become one of my fav resources for recipes. Can't wait to try this refreshing Grapefruit Mojito recipe and also want to try the Chicken Satay recipe included in the same post. 

Riesling Strawberry Slushie 

Featured on: With Style & Grace

This one is for the wine lovers! Mix up your wine of choice with your fav fruit to make a slushie this summer. Options are endless with this one!

Raspberry Beer Cocktail

Featured on: A Cup of Mai

Last but certainly NOT least, one for the beer lovers! Being a beer fan myself, there is nothing like opening a fresh summer beer at a BBQ or picnic. But I would like to try this fresh summer cocktail that combines beer with fresh fruit!

Hope you enjoy these refreshing cocktails this summer. I know I will!