PengiWear

First of all, a very happy Mardi Gras to all and here we give you an idea for a Mardi Gras birthday party (really, we endorse a Mardi Gras party any ol time before or after Lent, bebe it’s fun!)

Invitations: cut out a fleur de lis shape in gold coloured paper and decorate with green ribbon. Write out your details in purple ink or edge with purple glitter.

Goodie Bags: Give out plastic cups filled with bead strings, doubloons, sweets and a tiny plastic baby doll evocative of the King Cake baby. You can get any of these items in Pittsburgh at a PartyCity or get the real deal from New Orleans at one of the retailers we suggest below.

Snacks/Cake: In Pittsburgh if you don’t want to cook we suggest Popeyes (we do good ba you!) for takeout. Their boxed chicken and red beans and rice sides are awesome and though they’re not Maw Maw’s, they’ll suffice for a party. As for the cake, if you’re a decent baker you’ll want to try a traditional New Orleans birthday cake- the Doberge Cake. One of the Pengi people just made one of these over the weekend, an  8 layer beauty and is sharing it with the guys down the street right now. Be forewarned, fillings can be tricky on these so for kids you might want to half the recipe or save the real deal for a teen party. Otherwise, order a King Cake or bake one yourself. If you’re ordering, be warned that these are seasonal items and are a pastry like dessert, not cake-like as the name suggests.

Activities:
Maskmaking: at a Holcombs, Michaels or online store such as orientaltrading, order mask supplies to have yourself a mask making jamboree. Encourage kids to cover their masks to the hilt- Mardi Gras is about total fantasy.
Dress up Parade: give the kids lots of old clothes and costume jewelry to assemble their costumes and have a parade; let them assemble themselves into mystik krewes and name themselves. For added kick give them poster board and materials to make banners and announce themselves. Take lots of pictures!
Peirot dolls: gather up wooden spools, paints, sequins and some shiny fabric bits and wood glue. Using mardi gras history books or internet reference, put together your spools to form little doll forms and glue fabric over them to cover. Paint the dolls to look like Peirot or Harlequin, favourite forms who crop up in New Orleans souvenier shops.

Music: while you’re creating and crafting, make sure you have lots of mardi music such as Beau Soleil and Papillon

Online shops for New Orleans fancies: CajunGrocer, MardiGrasWorld, MasksandMakeBelieve, NotablyNewOrleans