Krewe of Nyx Ball. Time to par-tay!

Okay, I've been a blogging slacker. Blame it on the mind numbing, ridiculously cold weather.  I've been in mental hibernation mode.

But Mardi Gras is bringing me back to life!!

I have been having so much fun preparing for my inaugural ride in the Mystic Krewe of Nyx....decorating purses (post on that to come), making headpieces and getting ready for the ball!

The Nyx ball was held at the New Orleans Riverside Hilton on February 1, 2014. Prince Charming and I had our baby girl chauffeur us to the ball...open bar...need I say more?? We're...um...responsible adults and parents.








Did I mention this is a formal masquerade ball? I mean, you gotta love an occasion that allows you to not only get all dressed up, but wear a feathery, glittery mask, right???  It's nice to have your arm candy all decked out in a tux, too.

I'm afraid we had so much fun that I didn't take many pictures...and the ones that I did take were on my antique iPhone...and it was dark, so the quality isn't stellar.

Anyway, we got in, found our table...reserved thanks to our awesome float lieutenant who even made us these awesome light up cups, complete with boa trim, thank you very much.

While we're talking tables, can I just say the centerpieces and the room in general looked AMAZING!

Glorious pink and bling EVERYWHERE!!

LOVE the pink plumes and crystals

We had drinks, made merry, and sat for the presentation of the float lieutenants, Captain and Godesses, past and present. Lots of second lining, ladies hooting and hollerin'.  Then a first ever meeting of the Captains and Goddess of Nyx and Zulu.

The crowd went wild when the Zulu Warriors entered the room.  

I warned you that the pictures were really, really bad.  

Remember....old iPhone...dark...open bar.....

After that fun, they served dinner and we danced, danced, danced...got hungry again....enjoyed the breakfast buffet and finally called a cab and headed home sometime in the wee hours of the morning.  

Thanks to the ladies of Nyx, and these two wonderful ladies in particular, I am having the time of my life. Hail Nyx!!

Now if we can just get Mother Nature to cooperate on Feb. 26.....

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Nyx, Goddess of the Night

One of the exciting things I have on the horizon is my inaugural ride in the Mystic Krewe of Nyx on Wednesday, February 26, 2014. Believe me when I tell you, it can't get here soon enough.

Nyx was the Goddess of night. Her name, synonymous with Night, describes how her dark light falls from the stars, and she dictates to men and also to the gods.

Yep, that's me alright...Goddess through and through.  I must say, the irony of being a "Goddess of the night" is not lost on me....I can barely stay up past 10 pm.   Not to worry (throwing my head back and standing up tall), I am a Goddess, I will persevere....yawn.

Back to Nyx....along with signature beads, cups, coozies and assorted light up blinky things, Nyx's signature throw is a purse.  A purse you ask?  Yep, a purse...but not just any purse...a personally handcrafted glittery extravaganza of a purse.  

I hope to be attending some "official" purse decorating parties with other members of the Krewe soon, but in the meantime I couldn't help myself....I got started.

Now, give me glitter, feathers, jewels and a glue gun and I become drunk with excitement....drunk, I tell you!   Okay, there may have been a glass or two of wine involved. 

Did I mention glitter....and this is just a small sampling.  I will look like a Twilight vampire for many months to come. 

We just had our first official membership meeting this week and saw our signature throws for 2014.  AAACCCKK!  I can't give you any of the juicy details, but I can tell you come February 26, 2014, grab your mom and dem, pick your favorite spot... neutral ground or sidewalk side...and get ready. You will NOT want to miss the ladies of Nyx 2014. 

Just yell, "Throw me something Goddess".  Yep, that's got a nice ring to it, don't ya think?

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....and so the party ends....

Yep, Mardi Gras is officially over. 

I'll be working on getting some pictures posted, but right now I'm trying to get my blood sugar back to an acceptable level.  

I have officially had my fill of King Cake and every other sinful culinary temptation in the Big Easy. 

Now begins the Lenten season.  I am not Catholic, and I'm not going to get into any religious conversations here, but in light of the PIG OUT FEST I have just gone through...and if I'm being honest, this began back at Thanksgiving, so it's been quite a "Fest" this year....I am swearing off sweets until Easter!!!  I may make an exception for my birthday in a few weeks, but other than that, I'm done...finished...kaput. 

Not a morsel of chocolate shall touch

 these lips until near the end of April. 

Oh..My...Gosh....the reality just hit me...no chocolate...

this could get ugly. 

Consider yourself forewarned.

Anyway....I promise...Mardi Gras pictures coming soon. 

As soon as my sugar withdrawal lets up.....

Who got da baby???

It's full on King Cake season here in the Crescent City.  Mardi Gras begins in earnest this weekend, culminating in FAT TUESDAY on March 8th.  Since Mardi Gras is so late this year, it means we've been eating King Cakes now for...oh....about 8 weeks, and we still have 2 more to go.  Scale?  What scale?  I don't need no stinking scale! 

Bring on the stretchy pants.

King Cakes are bascially oversized cinnamon rolls, covered in THE most delicious blanket of creamy white, sugary frosting, then showered with crunchy yellow, purple and green sprinkles.  Some King Cakes have filling....cream cheese, lemon, apple, strawberry, pecan/praline and just about any other fruity filling you can conjure up. Sadly for my waistline, I don't think I've ever met a King Cake I didn't like.  I am THAT PERSON who looks at the King Cake and strategically places myself near the piece that has the most icing so I can dive right in at the appropriate time.  I'm not proud of it, but there it is. 
Be forewarned and stay out of my way.

Each King cake comes with a little plastic baby (symbolizing the baby Jesus) like this one stuffed inside.

Kind of like this.

Hmmm...baking a symbol of the Baby Jesus in a pastry...creepy?

I think not.

Tradition is, if you get the baby, you have to host the next King Cake Party...or at the very least, buy the next King Cake.  Yes, some cheapos have been known to swallow the baby, or find other ways to shirk their duty, but most people proudly proclaim, "I got da baby!"...and you've gotta say it with a Yat accent.

Why do we eat King Cakes during the Carnival season?  Well, it's got everything to do with 12th Night (Epiphany).  The cake was orignally baked during 12th Night parties in honor of the three kings who came bearing gifts for the Baby Jesus.  Today we eat them because...well, they're just good.

If you're not fortunate enough to live in New Orleans, there are zillions of King Cake recipes on the internet.  Personally, I've never attempted to make one and probably never will.  Down here, you can find them at every grocery, big box store, bakery.  I ain't heatin' up da kitchen when I can just run to da corner and buy one.

You can also order them from a local bakery and have them shipped to you.  My personal favorite is Manny Randazzo's....and no, I'm not affiliated with them in any way.  I'm not even getting any freebies for this advertisement.

So, put on your purple, green and gold, order (or bake) a King Cake, invite over some friends and have Mardi Gras wherever you are!

Now...who got da baby????

It's Carnival time!!

That's right!!  Today is 12th Night, King's Day, Epiphany...the official end of the Christmas Season and the beginning of Carnival. 

You know what that means, don't ya?  Just 6 days into 2011 and it's already time to forget about those New Year's Resolutions to lose those last few baby pounds (so what if the baby is in college....and don't feel bad...see my earlier post about Pajama Jeans...those'll work for ya) and start eating King Cakes.  It's a dirty job,
but somebody's gotta do it, might as well be us.

And here's the kicker.  Mardi Gras is late this year....March 8th, so pace yourselves.  That's a whole lotta king cake time. 

Ah well, there's always Lent, right?