Mardi Gras Mambo WINNERS

Renee and I want to thank all of the incredible sponsors for participating in our Mardi Gras Mambo! We enjoyed sharing a little about our hometown and hope you enjoyed learning about the Mardi Gras Krewes!

Let's get down to business!

Day 1: King Cake: Deborah
Day 2: Got Beads Shirt from Jake and Lucy: The Halton Mom
Day 3: Little MissMatched PJ's: Mom2anutball
Day 4: Parasol Diaper Cover Outfit from Sweet Smiles Baby: Think About It
Day 5: $25 gift card to Deb Dutch Designs: Heather
Day 6: Two coffee cozies by Mimi and Reese: Colleen
Day 7: $25 gift card to Funny Fur: Jackie and Ricki
Day 8: Wine Bottle Tray by d'Pholk Designs: Kathy Pease
Day 9: Chicbuds: Amber and JanetFaye

We are still waiting for Day 10 and 11 to close, but we will announce those winners soon! Renee will be emailing everyone to get your shipping address. Please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize.

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Mardi Gras Mambo Day 11: Happy Mardi Gras!

Today signifies the end of Carnival Season, and therefore the end to our Mardi Gras Mambo Giveaway. Did y'all have fun? But, before we go we have one last special throw. The winner of this giveaway will walk away with a bag of goodies!

First, we start off with some yummy King Cake soaps from the etsy store Soapalaya Soaps. King Cake is a favorite treat during the Mardi Gras season, and we wait for it each year. Despite the fact you can't eat them, this soap smells kinda like the freshly baked, over-iced, insanely sweet indulgence they are intended to replicate. Sweet and rich....just like a king cake! Yum!

So, "Laissez les bons temps rouler" - Let the good times roll!

Each king cake is made to order and weighs approx. 6 oz. each.

Second, no Mardi Gras day would be complete without a costume! The Etsy store, Sweetie Pie Tutus, has offered to help us decorate your day with a Mardi Gras Mambo Tutu. This tutu is made with over 100 yards of soft gold, green and purple tulle. It is 8' in length and adorned with coordinating mardi gras beads. All tutus are available in all sizes ranging from newborn to 6 years.

Last but not least, April at Just Typical Life (who is also an awesome photographer) has offered a 5x7 matted and signed Mardi Gras Indian Print to show the true spirit of our city. The Black Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans are a unique sub-culture of a highly diverse and complex group of the local population . The tradition of these masking Indians, dates back to the 1700's. As a result of this lack of a solid path in the knowledge of Indian history, many theories abound, but this much is for certain, the Indians have preserved some of their culture and history in the guise of tradition, and that tradition at the time of Mardi Gras, is now an integral part of New Orleans. In the heart of New Orleans since the 1780's and perhaps earlier, this ancient colorful and artistic culture has been practiced. A culture, that be it known, exhibits all of that tradition, with some of the positive heritage, and is quite a unique history.

Put your arms up, wave them around, and yell "Throw me Something Mister!!" Okay, that won't get you all these wonderful prizes, but wasn't it fun? To win the prizes, just follow the rules below:

Don't forget, we are giving you a chance to DOUBLE your entries by registering here and at What Mommies Need.

How to Win:

1) Visit Soapalaya Soaps, Sweetie Pie Tutus, and April Allen Photo, and tell us your favorite item from each store.

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)
1) Subscribe to my blog.
2) Follow me on twitter (BridgetteLA) or tweet about this giveaway.
3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
4) Favorite me in Technorati.
5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on March 3rd. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo Day 10: Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club

Early in 1909, a group of laborers who had organized a club named "The Tramps," went to the Pythian Theater to see a musical comedy performed by the Smart Set. The comedy included a skit entitled, "There Never Was and Never Will Be a King Like Me," about the Zulu Tribe...

While the "Group" marched in Mardi Gras as early as 1901, their first appearance as Zulus came in 1909, with William Story as King.

The year 1915 heralded the first use of floats, constructed on a spring wagon, using dry good boxes. The float was decorated with palmetto leaves and moss and carried four Dukes along with the King. That humble beginning gave rise to the lavish floats we see in the Zulu parade today.
In the 1960's during the height of Black awareness, it was unpopular to be a Zulu. Dressing in a grass skirt and donning a black face were seen as demeaning. Large numbers of black organizations protested against the Zulu organization, and its membership dwindled to approximately 16 men.

Zulu has grown tremendously over the years. This continual growth is credited to the members for their love, loyalty and dedication to this organization. This year celebrates their 100th anniversary!

Of all the throws to rain down from the many floats in the parades during carnival, the Zulu coconut or "Golden Nugget" is the most sought after. The earliest reference to the coconut appears to be about 1910 when the coconuts were given from the floats in their natural "hairy" state. Some years later there is a reference to Lloyd Lucus, "the sign painter," scraping and painting the coconuts. This, in all likelihood, was the forerunner to the beautifully decorated coconuts we see today.

The etsy shop of Doctor Sweet Tooth has offered up some Coconut Goodies in honor of Zulu and their coconut throw.

Over at Doctor Sweet Tooth, they have Fresh Handmade Bath, Body & Home Fragrance Products! Their products are prepared & sealed after your order is placed so they are guaranteed to arrive fresh. And they use only the highest quality cosmetic grade ingredients, and have a wide variety of scents to choose from.

Now the good news is that they have offered one lucky reader 8 ounces of their Creamy Coconut Foaming Bath Whip.

If you have never used bath whips then you are in for a real treat! This amazing product smells just like creamy coconut and has a super fluffy texture that will remind you of thick whipped cream! It can be used as a shaving cream AND cleanser! It contains the perfect amount of cocoa butter, shea butter and jojoba oil to leave your skin moisturized with out feeling greasy or sticky.

Now that you can't wait to take a bath and smell yummy, just follow the rules below.

If you would like to enter the Krewe of Rex giveaway, stop by What Mommies Need. We are giving away a Personalized Princess Bow!

How to Enter:
1) Visit Doctor Sweet Tooth and tell us which product you must have and your favorite scent!

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)
1) Follow my blog.
2) Follow me on twitter (bridgettela) or tweet about this giveaway.
3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
4) Favorite me in Technorati.
5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on February 26th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible

Mardi Gras Mambo Day 9: Krewe of Orpheus

The Krewe of Orpheus derives its name from the mortal Orpheus, son of the god Apollo and the muse Calliope. The story of Orpheus illustrates the power of music in both this world and the next. Legend is that Apollo presented Orpheus with a lyre, which he played with perfection. His music was celebrated and cherished by all who heard it.
This Super Krewe was founded in 1993 by Harry Connick, Jr. and quickly became a "must-see" parade in New Orleans. Traditionally parading on Lundi Gras (the day before Mardi Gras), one of the staples of this parade is Leviathan, the first float ever to use fiber optic lighting.
When the parade ends, Orpheuscapade begins. This black tie event features several celebrity musical performances and ends with the parade entering the Convention Center to shower the crowd with beads, cups and doubloons.

Sticking with the musical theme, today's Mardi Gras Mambo sponsor is ChicBuds, a sweet treat for your ears! These Swarovski adorned retractable earphones were introduced in 2006. The initial line included 5 standard "flavors" but has since expanded to various casing colors, an iPod-Inspired Designer Series and Limited Edition designs (including Breast Cancer, AIDS, ChicBlvd Fitness in partnership with American Heart Association).

ChicBuds are compatible with the iPod, iPhone, MP3 players, CD players and just about any listening device! The great thing about these earphones is that you can adjust the cord to 5 different lengths in order to accommodate any activity. No more tangled cords!

Gotta have it? ChicBuds generously offered us not one, but TWO pairs of ChicBuds! We will select one winner here and one winner from What Mommies Need, so make sure you enter in BOTH places!

How to Enter:
1) Visit ChicBuds and tell us which item your have to catch!

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)
1) Follow my blog.
2) Follow me on twitter (BridgetteLA) or tweet about this giveaway.
3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
4) Favorite me in Technorati.
5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.
6) If you donate to the Ark Adventure, take one extra entry.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on February 22nd. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo Day 8: Krewe of Bacchus

The Krewe of Bacchus parade was founded in 1968 by several New Orleans business leaders whose dream was to revitalize Carnival.

Owen Edward Brennan, Sr., a New Orleans restaurant owner, realized that tourists in town for Mardi Gras, who were not part of Mew Orleans' society circles, were largely prohibited from taking part in Carnival balls. In the late 1940's, Brennan spent an enormous amount of money to appease his clientele an created the Krewe of Bacchus, open to both locals and tourists.

For several years, Carnival in New Orleans had been losing its luster. In 1968, Owen "Pip" Brennan, Jr., son of the late Brennan, held a meeting at Brennan's Restaurant to address this problem. The solution was to revitalize the Krewe of Bacchus by staging a parade where the floats were bigger and more spectacular than anything seen in New Orleans before. They decided to also add a celebrity king to lead the parade, breaking ranks with 113 years of Carnival tradition.
The Krewe of Bacchus has become a Super Krewe with more than 1,350 members and 33 animated super-floats. This year's theme is "Creatures of the Imagination" and King Bacchus is Val Kilmer.

Bacchus, in Greek mythology, was the god of wine and vegetation. He showed mortals how to cultivate grapevines and make wine. So to show our love of wine and Bacchus, the folks over at d'Pholk designs has offered to sponsor this giveaway.

They are generously offering one lucky reader a Wine Bottle Serving Tray.

Their eco friendly serving trays are made from recycled wine bottles. They carefully clean each bottle and remove the label before placing them into a kiln. Once flattened, each tray is individually decorated and comes with its own cheese knife which is tied on with raffia. Perfect for use in your home or as a gift.

This tray is made using a green glass wine bottle and is decorated with a lovely round focal bead. It comes with a white cork cheese spreader. They follow strict fusing and slumping techniques to give you an original, one of a kind functional and decorative art.

If you would love to have one of these to use at your next party, just enter below.

Don't forget, you can DOUBLE your chances by visiting What Mommies Need.

How to Enter:

1. Head on over to d'Pholk Designs and tell me one other item you would love to have!

Additional Entries (please leave each entry separate):
1) Follow my blog.
2) Follow me on twitter (BridgetteLA) or tweet about this giveaway.
3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
4) Favorite me in Technorati.
5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on February 21st. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo Day 7: Krewe of Barkus CONTEST CLOSED

Woof Woof!!

The Mystic Krewe of Barkus was envisioned and created in November 1992. This is an all dog krewe that parades on foot through the French Quarter each year. The Queen is selected by secret ballot and announced only weeks before the parade, and is always a rescued/adopted female dog. The King ascends through the ranks, usually after being a Duke or Grand Marshall.

Every year the Krewe of Barkus donates the proceeds of the parade registration fees, merchandise sales, and ball profits to worthy animal welfare groups.

This year's theme is BatMutt:The Bark Night

To show our love of dogs and honor their parade, the great folks over at FunnyFur.com have offered to be our sponsors. They are giving TWO lucky winners a gift card valued at $25.00.

Funny Fur is the one stop pet shop online. They have everything you need from designer dog clothes, pet carriers, and collars, to furniture and spa products. Funny Fur even has a gift idea section, just in case you get invited to a dog shower. And, if you are a cat owner, don't feel left out, they even have a feline section.

They definitely have what it takes to make your pet feel like royalty. Now that you are ready to make your dog's day, just enter below.

We are going to select one winner from here and one from What Mommies Need, so be sure to register at both.

How to Enter:
1) Visit Funny Fur and tell us which item your pet would want most.

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)
1) Follow my blog.
2) Follow me on twitter (BridgetteLA) or tweet about this giveaway.
3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
4) Favorite me in Technorati.
5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.
6) If your dog was rescued from the pound, tell us his/her name.

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on February 20th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo Day 6: Krewe du Monde CONTEST CLOSED

Today's featured Mardi Gras parade is Krewe du Monde which parades in LaPlace, LA (not too far from New Orleans). One of the most famous New Orleans "landmarks" is Cafe du Monde. You have not lived until you have sat outdoors eating beignets and sipping cafe au lait!

What is the deal with the leaf in this picture? LOL!

We have got a great accessory for your morning coffee to giveaway! Mimi and Reese has generously offered one lucky reader TWO coffee cozies! Their new Coffee Bling is the new accessory for those gals who cannot leave the house without being perfectly matchy, matchy.
The Cozies are 3" high and fit nicely around the center of most commercial coffee cups. The insulation keeps your hands nice and safe. It is made with high quality fabric, rick rack, large white button, and a lovely felt flower.

Remember we are generously offering you an opportunity to DOUBLE your chances by registering here and at What Mommies Need.

How to Enter:
1. Head on over to Mimi and Reese and tell me one other item you would love to have!

Additional Entries (please leave each entry separate):

1) Follow my blog.

2) Follow me on twitter (BridgetteLA) or tweet about this giveaway.

3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!

4) Favorite me in Technorati.

5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on February 20th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo: Krewe of Muses CONTEST CLOSED

In Greek Mythology the nine Muses were the daughters of Zeus. They are the Greek goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences. But in New Orleans, they are the all female Krewe that has over 1100 members and was formed in 2000. The Krewe of Muses has a vision which is to tap into and recognize the local artistic and cultural resources of the community.

Muses defining throw is shoes that have been decorated by the Krewe members. If you are really lucky (or know someone in the parade), you may walk away with one of these:

In honoring the Krewe of Muses and their love of shoes, we have found something really special! Deb Dutch Designs carries the most adorable hand-painted and monogrammed shoes I have ever seen! For the Mardi Gras Mambo, this Etsy store has offered one lucky winner a gift card for $25.00! And if you order before March 31st, shipping is FREE! Her shoes are extremely well detailed and the color combinations are just awesome. She has designs for all ages from mary janes to hightops.

Isn't she impressive?!?

If you want your little one to walk in these shoes, just enter below:

Remember we are generously offering you an opportunity to DOUBLE your chances by registering here and at What Mommies Need.

How to Enter:

1) Visit Deb Dutch Designs and tell us how you would spend your gift card.

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)

1) Follow my blog.

2) Follow me on twitter (BridgetteLA) or tweet about this giveaway.

3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!

4) Favorite me in Technorati.

5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on February 19th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.
You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo Day 4: Krewe of Thor CONTEST CLOSED

The Krewe of Thor was formed in 1974 and consisted of 500 riders. It is the first Krewe in Jefferson Parish to consist of both male and female members. This Krewe is named for the Norse god of thunder and rain (but they always hope that it doesn't rain on their parade!).

Today's sponsor of the Mardi Gras Mambo is Sweet Smiles Baby! This Etsy shop designs and creates Sweet Bottoms which are adorable diaper covers paired with embroidered white tanks or long sleeved bodysuits.
Sweet Smiles Baby has generously donated this Kimono Sweet Bottoms diaper cover outfit in Parasol! The irresistible large parasol print bow on these Kimono Sweet Bottoms is inspired by the traditional obi and butterfly bow of the Japanese Kimono. What a GREAT baby shower gift!
Don't forget that we are DOUBLING your chance to win! Head on over to What Mommies Need and enter this contest there, too!

How to enter:
1) Visit Sweet Smiles Baby and tell us which item you would love to have.

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)
1) Subscribe to my blog.
2) Follow me on twitter (BridgetteLA) or tweet about this giveaway.
3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
4) Favorite me in Technorati.
5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.
6) Donate to the Ark Adventure and receive an extra entry!

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on February 18th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo Day 3: Krewe of Diana CONTEST CLOSED

The Krewe of Diana was the first womens organization to parade at night in Jefferson Parish.

Their namesake, Diana, is the goddess of the moon in Roman mythology. This Krewe was founded in 1949 and had approximately 200 members. Unfortunately, this Krewe no longer parades.

To celebrate the Krewe of Diana and honor the moon, we have some colorful pajamas for your little one from Little Miss Matched!

These Zany pjs come in three color combinations: white, pink, and black. They are super soft and are made from 100% cotton. The folks over at Little Miss Matched have just about everything you could dream of in awesome color combinations! They have solved the problem of the missing sock with their three pack of coordinating (but not matching!) colored socks. Renee and I just love their messenger bag, which has a reversible front panel!! From furniture to flip flops, they have it all. They even sell pjs for mom and socks for dad! So if you are ready to get a little color kooky, head on over and check out what they have for you and your family at Little Miss Matched.

Right now, Little Miss Matched is giving you 20% off every "heart" purchase! Simply click the coupon below to make your purchase:

Get 20% OFF LittleMissMatched heart favorites with coupon code: LMMHEARTS

And as always, orders over $75 ship FREE!

Remember we are generously offering you an opportunity to DOUBLE your chances by registering here as well as at What Mommies Need.

How to enter:
1) Visit Little Miss Matched and tell us which item you would love to have.

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)
1) Subscribe to my blog.
2) Follow me on twitter (BridgetteLA) or tweet about this giveaway.
3) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
4) Favorite me in Technorati.
5) Grab our giveaway button and post it on your sidebar.
6) Donate to the Ark Adventure and receive an extra entry!

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on February 17th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo Day 2: Krewe of Little Rascals CONTEST CLOSED

The first parade to roll in Metairie is usually the Krewe of Little Rascals. Founded in 1983, this childrens Krewe patterns itself after the adult Carnival clubs. Parading down a 4 mile route, this year's theme was "Sights and Sounds of America."
My family actually went out and saw this parade on Sunday afternoon! It was a gorgeous day and we had a blast!

Today's sponsor is Jake and Lucy, an adorable Etsy shop that carries fun and fantastic baby clothing, bedding and accessories. They have generously donated this "Got Beads?" shirt for your Little Rascal!The 100% cotton T-shirt features a bold applique reading, "got beads?" The emboidered sleeve reads "laissez les bon temps rouler" which means "Let the good times roll!" The T-shirt is available in the following sizes: 2T, 3T, 4T or as a onesie in 3-6 months, 6-9 months, 12 months and 18 months.
Want to get your kids in the Mardi Gras spirit? Win this shirt!

Remember we are generously offering you an opportunity to DOUBLE your chances by registering here as well as at What Mommies Need.

How to enter:
1. Visit Jake and Lucy and tell me one other item you would love to own!

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)
1) Grab our giveaway graphic (on my left sidebar) and place it on your blog.
2) Follow my blog.
3) Follow me on twitter (BridgetteLA) or tweet about this giveaway.
4) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
5) Favorite me in Technorati.
6) Donate to the Ark Adventure and receive an extra entry!

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on February 17th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Mardi Gras Mambo Day 1: King Cake! CONTEST CLOSED

After Christmas is over and all of the presents and decorations are put away, the date I look forward to the most is January 6th, the Epiphany (or King's Day). This day is the official start of the Carnival Season and every New Orleanian knows what that means.......

It's King Cake Time!!!!

So, it is only fitting that we start our "Mardi Gras Mambo" giveaway series with a King Cake Package from Randazzo's Camellia City Bakery!

Renee from What Mommies Need and I just love the sweet smell of King Cake! We knew that we must share this totally yummy tradition (and calories!) with our readers.

King's Day is celebrated as the date the gift-bearing Magi visited the baby Jesus. The King Cake is baked in honor of the three kings and the baby (plastic, porcelain or gold) placed inside the cake symbolizes the baby Jesus. Originally, these oval cakes were a simple ring of dough with a small amount of decoration. Today's King Cakes are much more festive! After the rich Danish dough is braided and baked, the "baby" is inserted. The top of the ring or oval cake is then covered with delicious sugar toppings in the traditional Mardi Gras colors: purple, green and gold.
In New Orleans, King Cake parties are held throughout the Carnival Season. The person who receives the slice of cake with the baby is asked to continue the festivities by hosting the next King Cake party.

The nice folks over at Randazzo's Camellia City Bakery have graciously offered one lucky reader
a medium traditional king cake package (including baby) baked to perfection!

This package includes a unique Randazzo's Mardi Gras theme bag, stuffed with beads, doubloons,the history of Mardi Gras and the king cake, a 2009 commemorative 11x 16 color poster, and a beautiful feather mask.

Randazzo's Camellia City Bakery continues a long family tradition of handmade and braided king cakes and say with heartfelt sincerity that everything at Randazzo's is "made with love from beginning to end."

Randazzo's was even featured on the Food Network's popular program Unwrapped!

I see you drooling! You must want to win a King Cake! Lucky for you, we have one to give away!

Remember we are generously offering you an opportunity to DOUBLE your chances by registering here as well as at What Mommies Need.

How to enter:

1) Visit Randazzo's Camellia City Bakery and tell us which filling you would love to try.

Additional Entries: (Please leave each entry in a separate comment)

1) Grab our giveaway graphic (on my left sidebar) and place it on your blog.
2) Follow my blog.
3) Follow me on twitter (BridgetteLA) or tweet about this giveaway.
4) Blog about this giveaway and make sure to include a link back!
5) Favorite me in Technorati.
6) Donate to the Ark Adventure and receive an extra entry!

Contest ends at 11:59pmCST on February 16th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

You Must Leave a Valid E-mail Address to be eligible.

Let's Mambo!

What are the colors of Mardi Gras and what do they represent? What is a King Cake? What are Krewes? Has Mardi Gras ever been canceled? Why are coconuts a coveted "throw?" How are the royalty chosen?

If you've always wanted to learn about Mardi Gras, you've come to right place! My friend Renee over at What Mommies Need, and I are both native New Orleanians. Mardi Gras is a way of life for us! Some of my earliest memories are on the parade route. It was here that my Grandmother taught me to stomp on doubloons and never reach for them with your hands first (all of my New Orleanian readers are probably shaking their heads in agreement right now)!

Renee and I will be dual hosting the "Mardi Gras Mambo" giveaway series beginning on Monday, February 9th! Each day, we will bring you fun facts about one of the Krewes as well as a coordinating giveaway! You may enter the giveaway on BOTH of our sites which will give you DOUBLE the chances to win (aren't we nice?). We will combine our entries for each giveaway and choose a winner randomly.

Are you ready to party? Make sure you grab our adorable giveaway button (made by Cat over at 3 Kids and Us) and place it on your sidebar so you will be ahead of the game on Monday (and if you really love us and want to help out, please blog about our giveaway!). Can't stand the anticipation? Get a sneak peek at some of our sponsors on my left sidebar under "Mardi Gras Mambo Sponsors" and visit their sites!

Make sure you come watch our "Parade of Prizes" starting on Monday! You never know what you might catch!

New Feature and Call for Sponsors!

The Not-So-Blog is always looking for fabulous, incredible, not-so-ordinary items to share and promote! Interested in being featured with a product review and/or giveaway? I've made product submission faster and easier with a "Review me, please!" form! You can find the form embedded in the Contact Me page or under the PR button on my left sidebar.

I am also currently looking for sponsors for my next giveaway series, "Mardi Gras Mambo" which will be co-hosted by my friend, Renee at What Mommies Need. Starting February 9th, we will be bringing you some interesting facts about the Mardi Gras Krewes that parade in the New Orleans area. Each Krewe will have an associated giveaway to help celebrate Fat Tuesday and get the bloggy world screaming,

"Throw me somethin', Mista!"

Giveaway items need not be Mardi Gras related. Sponsors will have their 125x125 button placed on our left sidebars for the entire month of February. Contact me at notsoblog@gmail.com if you are interested!