Wednesday Wanderings and the Shops Found Along the Way - Mardi Gras

Now that the Super Bowl is over and especially since the Saints WON, the New Orleans theme will have to be continued with a visit to Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).  "Laissez les bons temps rouler" - Let the good times roll!

I remember my first Mardi Gras -- I was in high school and believe it or not, my parents let me go!  Unbelievable.  Of course, I might mention that it wasn't THE Mardi Gras in New Orleans, but a smaller one in a neighboring town.  Still, it was Mardi Gras.

I lived in New Orleans for several years (my "moving out of the house and being on my own" time).  Of course, this was made possible because my older brother lived in Slidell which is just across the Ponchartrain River from N.O.  And about 50 miles from where I grew up in Baton Rouge.  Anyway, I experienced the real thing then. 

In honor of that wonderful tradition of floats, crazy costumes, loud music, and "throw me something, Mister" I'm doing a little Mardi Gras shopping.  C'mon, let's go!

                                 

The first stop is at Soapalaya Soaps for her very cool King Cake Soap.  The soaps are the colors of a King Cake and even include a little baby... (Tradition says that whoever finds the baby in their slice(s), must provide the cake for the following year.)  If you've never had a King Cake, you must rush to a bakery in Louisiana and get one.  Decadent.  But you don't need to make a trip down south to try the soap - just a visit to the Soapalaya shop.  By the way, she took her shop name from a combination of "soap" and "jamabalaya" (while on your trip to New Orleans, be sure to get some - delicious).  Being a Louisiana girl myself, I love that idea!

This Feather Mask Pin is the perfect thing to jazz up your Mardi Gras outfit! Be sure to check out the shop, they even have Mardi Gras earrings!  Naturally Native Creations is a husband and wife team who live in Louisiana on their own private nature preserve in the beautiful piney woods area.  How cool is that?

And speaking of jazzing up your outfit -- you can keep your identity secret with this beautiful masquerade mask featuring ostrich and peacock feathers and sparkling jewels.  Perfect for that Mardi Gras party you'll be attending!  Run over to The Treasured Petal for this mask -- plus she has some lovely things to get you in the mood for that upcoming spring wedding!

Want to party hardy all night long and keep your head warm at the same time? Then wear this cool crocheted crown! But be careful, don't get too close to the floats or somebody will surely snatch it to make it their own! It's from Flaming Daisies who says her "signature style is lots of color" -- visit her shop and you'll see!  She's got more Mardi Gras hats and, among other things, some very clever polymer clay sculptures.

Party on Bourbon Street in style with this Mardi Gras Sparkle bottle cozy!  Note the Swarovski crystals placed like a bead necklace around the neck of the bottle! It's even got the marabou trim on the bottom!  Priceless.  It's from Savara Gifts and is great for protecting your bottle and also makes a terrific keepsake to remember your Mardi Gras fun!

Speaking of keepsakes...  Remember your good times at Mardi Gras with this Carnival Mask Ornament - made from a light bulb!  What a fantastic recycling idea!  Be sure to visit The Enchanted Owl -- she has ornaments for all kinds of special days, and will even personalize! I love her "Magical Creatures" section -- unicorns, butterflies, ladybugs, owls and more (even the ever wonderful Hello Kitty!).

Hope you like all my "shops found along the way" today.  I had a fun time shopping!  Be sure to stop back next Wednesday to see where my wanderings take me...