It's Mardi Gras Time!!!!!

There will be some serious partying this weekend down here in Louisiana......  It's the last weekend before Mardi Gras.  I've only been to one parade thus far this year and I'm glad I did because the weather has turned rather nasty.

So without further adieu, here's my Mardi Gras tablescape!  I didn't spend a dime on it.  My cabinets are stuffed to the brim with dishes so I'm trying not to buy any more.  Ha.  We'll see how long that lasts.....  I started out by decorating my new light fixture with beads.

And then moved on to the table.......  I used the burlap runner that my DIL made me for Christmas.  Isn't it pretty?  She used hot glue to piece it together.  Said it took her hours.  She made it long enough to use when the leaf is in my table so I have it tucked under on each end.  I used my green oatmeal glasses to add a touch of green.  Those glasses come from my mother, who collected them from oatmeal boxes.  We ate a lot of oatmeal in those days!  :)

I used the black glass chargers I picked up at Hobby Lobby on clearance and added my cheapo basic white china from Ross.  That's one of my favorite stores for picking up bargains.

Do you see that mask in the center of the pic?  My first born made that way back when he was in second grade and I've saved it all these years.  Nothing like mixing a bit of old with a bit of new, a 20 something year old mask with his wife's handiwork, huh?

In this photo, you can catch a glimpse of my newest purchase that I'm still deciding on.....  Look to the left side and behind the chair.  It's a mirror that I bought at Ross for $39.  I've been shopping for a large mirror to hang there and have found several I absolutely ADORE but they are over $300.  I'm an admitted cheapskate and I just can't justify spending that kind of money on something to hang on the wall.  So I think this mirror will be staying.....

Here's a close up view.....  What do ya think, honestly???  I'm trying to move away from the traditional and add a few touches of contemporary to avoid the stuffiness that my house has taken on due to all the antiques so I picked a coppery kind of frame.  Should I keep the mirror or return it and shell out more $$$$ to get exactly what I want?

Talk to me, pu-leassssss-e.............

Partying today with:

betweennapsontheporch 

staceyembracingchange 

nominimalisthere 

savvysouthernstyle 

diybydesign. 

homestoriesatoz 

Cruise Memories Part 2

We booked excursions for all three cruise ports.  Our first stop was Jamaica.  The islanders there are so laid back and friendly and they kept us in stitches with their refrains of "Hey, mon" and "No problem".  We took a bus to Dunn's River Falls and climbed the falls.  Our guide Peter has been making the climb for 28 years and he never wavered once.  He knew exactly where to put his feet and I followed his lead the entire way up.  It was a lot of fun!

Then we hopped back on the bus and traveled over to Dolphin Cove where we interacted with dolphins.  They are amazingly intelligent animals.  While we waited, they continually swam by and checked us out.  It was clear that they love human attention.

When it was our turn, we walked out onto a plank in the water and the dolphins swam by.  We were able to touch them as they glided by and then each of us got to kiss a dolphin.  It was so neat to be so close to such a beautiful animal!  Of course, cameras weren't allowed but we didn't hesitate to purchase pics!  It was definitely an experience I'll never forget.

On the way out, we interacted with some rather large birds.  If you're thinking that green bird is going to perch on Johnny's hat, you're right on.....

Our next stop was Grand Cayman.  We had to tender ashore via a smaller boat.

We took a glass bottom boat tour that passed over the wreck of the Balboa.  Our accommodating captain donned scuba equipment and swam below and fed the fish.

After the boat tour, we took a bus tour of the island that included a stop at a town called Hell.  It was the site of the original Catholic church and was named after the lava-like rock formations.

There were iguanas in the trees above us.  This one was a monster male.

The last port of call was Cozumel, Mexico where we took a catamaran out to Isla Passion.  There were loungers, hammocks, and complimentary drinks and a yummy lunch buffet.  Our drink of choice was Sex on the Beach.  The guys who brought us our drinks had a lot of fun with that.  Pulling in, it looked like a modern day Gilligan's Island.  The water was crystal clear.