Laissez les bons temps rouler!!

Or, how to throw a stellar mardi gras fete in nine easy steps!!

Step One: Find some inspiration at the best store ever.

Step Two: Create some killer invitations.

Step Three: Collaborate with this party-goddess.

Step Four: Decide upon a delectable menu of red beans and rice, New Orleans style bbq shrimp, baguette slices, a cheese plate, grapes, olives, cheese sticks, mini lemon ice box pies, and of course homemade King Cake!

 Step Five: Create a photo booth by setting up a sheet as a backdrop, placing the camera on a tripod in timer mode and providing a basket with plenty of mardi gras themed props.

Step Six: Borrow a white board and play mardi gras themed pictionary with large mardi gras beads for prizes. Terms should be a mix of easy and challenging with words like parade or French quarter followed by zydeco, hurricane, or beignets.

Step Seven: Set the stage. Blast some great blues, jazz, or zydeco music via Pandora or your own itunes mix. Use mardi gras themes picks in everything. When in doubt, add a pick. Set up a welcome station where guests can grab a mask and some beads, as well as use this key to find their very own blues name. Provide nametags and purple, green and gold sharpies to write the names on.

Step Eight: Wrap homemade pecan pralines in purple cellophane, tie a mardi gras ring to the package with goldeny yellow ribbon, and give away as party favors when guests leave at the end of the night.

Step Nine: Let the good times roll at your very own mardi gras celebration!

What are your plans for Mardi Gras?