Mardi Gras

I don’t know about you… but I’m heading down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras!! NOT… I wish I could, but I have this thing called a job :-p  Here is an article that I wrote that talk about some other great places in the U.S. that you can travel to if you want to celebrate Fat Tuesday.  Or if you happen to live in one of these cities, enjoy and party on!

Most people associate the celebration of Mardi Gras in the United States just with New Orleans but that is not the only city that is known for celebrating Mardi Gras!  Many other cities in the United States pride themselves on their Mardi Gras festivals and celebrations.  As a result, many people are finding that they don’t have to travel to New Orleans to get their fill of Mardi Gras Carnival celebrations.

Mobile, Alabama is considered to have the oldest Mardi Gras Carnival celebration in the United States with history that dates back to the 1800s.  Mobile’s celebrations revolve around the mystic societies which are basically organizations that put on parades, masked and costume balls, and other events for members of the mystic societies and guests and also the public.  To become a member of one of these mystic societies is a secret and not general knowledge.  Members of the mystic societies take a big part in the the colorful floats and parade part of the Carnival celebration and have been known to toss small gifts (ranging from beaded necklaces, candy, stuffed animals, cups and hats) to the crowd.  It is a big part of the city’s celebrations each year and is popular for the residents and visitors alike.

The state of California has at least 3 different recorded events and celebrations of Mardi Gras although not all are continued at this current time.  Up until 2005, San Luis Obispo had annual Mardi Gras Carnival events but have been halted since they have gotten out of control with college students and visitors to the city.  San Diego has a corporate sponsored celebration in the Gaslight district and a San Diego Brazil Carnival Ball is usually held around the same time.  And then in San Francisco, the annual Carnaval San Francisco is a street parade and a festival that is held annually each May.

St. Louis, Missouri claims that they have the 2nd largest and 2nd best Mardi Gras celebration after New Orleans.  The city was founded by French settlers and has a strong Catholic background and so it makes sense that Mardi Gras would be big here!  Events include a pet parade where people can dress up their pet and walk in the parade with them and it is followed by Wiener dog races.  The Fat Tuesday parade always occurs in the evening and has been moved to Downtown St. Louis and mainly put on by corporate sponsors.

There are over 20 other cities in the United States that pride themselves on the Mardi Gras celebrations so the big question is just deciding where to celebrate Mardi Gras this year!

Live – Laugh – Love – Travel

AJ

Happy Birthday!

It’s a Birthday Month!  Happy birthday to my awesome Uncle, my gorgeous Aunt, and to my wonderful Mother! Love you all! XOXOX

 

 

Babies!? Decorating the Nursery!? Yes Please

I found this out a month or so ago, but I waited a little while to share the news.  My little sister is having a baby!  I am sooooooooo excited  I was so inspired that I wrote a piece on decorating your home for the baby.  I hope you enjoy it.

As you prepare to welcome your new baby into the world, you obviously want to create a picture-perfect nursery in your home. A baby’s nursery should create a warm, comfortable environment for your baby to rest and relax in. It also is an environment where your baby will grow and thrive, and perhaps even reach certain milestones in. It is in this room where your little one will likely first sleep through the night. He or she may learn to sit, crawl, stand, and even utter those first few words in this room. You certainly want to spend time preparing this special place for the wonderful memories that will be made here.

Some parents struggle with the decision of what style a nursery should take. When a child is older, he or she will no doubt have plenty of say in what the style of the room looks like. For now, however, the style should reflect feelings of comfort and warmth, but you certainly want them to be aesthetically pleasing as well. Some parents may choose a special theme for the room while others may simply opt for a general color theme. Many babies will enjoy viewing animals, geometric shapes, and patterns within a few months after birth, and so designing with these elements in mind may be suitable for your space.

Some parents will opt for a more traditional nursery, and decorating with traditional toys, teddy bears, dolls, or other stuffed animals is a great way to achieve this look. Toys may initially be used as decoration on display shelves, and then may be taken down later when they are age-appropriate for your growing child. Murals, wall appliques, and more are wonderful additions to any nursery. When decorating, keep in mind that your child will spend much of his or her first year or two looking at the ceiling in this room. This may be before or after waking, or even laying on a play mat in the bedroom. Taking time to decorate the ceiling creatively can make the space more pleasing to your little one.

The furnishings you choose for this space will also contribute to the overall style of the space. There are many different styles of nursery furnishings as well as different hues of wood stains and painted wood furnishings you can purchase. Most nurseries will include a crib and a rocking chair. A small dresser is often helpful for storing little outfits, diapers, blankets, and bibs. Optional furnishings include a small bed or couch for the parents to sleep on during those late nights with the baby as well as a changing table.

Perhaps the most important factor to consider when decorating the nursery is the baby’s level of safety in the space. Most of the time your baby spends in this room initially will be spent in the crib. So ensure that bumper pads are not used, and that large stuffed animals, pillows, or other items that may suffocate the baby are not within reach. Also ensure curtains, wall coverings, and other items are not within reach of the crib.

Decorating your little one’s nursery can be a truly enjoyable experience. In years to come, your child will one day wonder what this special room looked like, so be sure to take photos of the preparations you went through to welcome him or her into the world as well as the final look of the nursery.

Live – Laugh – Love – Travel

AJ