Bring the flavor of New Orleans to your home on Fat Tuesday with these party plans.

It's easy to turn your house into a family-friendly French Quarter for Mardi Gras with a few decorations and most importantly, some Cajun cuisine.

Traditionally, Mardi Gras is a three-day celebration prior to Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. The final day of Mardi Gras is known as Fat Tuesday. It serves as the last big chance to "live it up" before forty days of fasting.

Here are a few ideas to make your party the hit of the season:

• Send out paper masks as invitations to a masquerade ball. In New Orleans, invitations, not tickets, are distributed for attendance at Carnival balls during Mardi Gras season.
• Use bright colors and shiny flatware for your table or buffet. The official colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. Lay aluminum doubloons or shiny chocolate coins around your table interspersed with sparkly, colorful beads and masks.
• Bring the party to Bourbon Street by setting the mood with a little Zydeco, Cajun or Jazz music. Bands like the Funky Meters, Buckwheat Zydeco or Preservation Hall Jazz Band are sure to set the tone.
• Pass out feathered masks or inexpensive paper masks and beads to guests as they arrive at your party, then ask the guests to add their names to an elaborate Mardi Gras-themed hat. Crown a king or a queen for the day by picking names out of the hat, then have the king and queen wear the hat for the rest of the party.
• Bake your own King Cake—a ring of twisted pastry or bread topped with purple and green frosting or colored sugar that contains a plastic doll hidden inside. The person who finds the doll is supposed to have good luck for the year and is crowned the "King of the Feast." To make your own King Cake, try adding colored frosting to our Swedish Tea Ring, Cinnamon-Swirl Coffee Ring, Cinnamon Pecan Ring or Cherry-Nut Tea Ring or use one of these recipes from TasteOfHome.com readers.
• Have children follow a parade route through the house conga line-style. Give them colorful beads and doubloons to throw to the adults at the party, or vice-versa.
• Read more at Taste of Home

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Well, Tomorrow is Halloween and it is our families tradition to carve our pumpkins the night before Halloween. And what a great Friday Family Fun activity pumpkin carving is... I have tried a lot of different carving techniques over the past few years, but the best one I have found is from Martha Stewart. I love her idea of cutting a hole in the bottom (rather than the top) and using an LED battery operated flameless candle rather than an actual candle. I am such a worry wart and this feels much safer than an open flame to me. ;)

Here are the basic steps to any pumpkin project, along with some of our tools of choice. Remember: The best pumpkin projects start in the patch. Search for pumpkins that are smooth, symmetrical, and firm.

Step 1

The first step is hollowing out the pumpkin. Use a keyhole saw to cut the hole. If you'll be using a candle for illumination, you can cut the hole in the pumpkin's top (always put the candle in a high-sided glass and never leave unattended). For electric lights or flameless candles, make the hole in the bottom or side so you can hide the cord.

Step 2

Scoop out flesh, pulp, and seeds with a plaster scraper or fleshing tool.

Step 3

Now it's time to transfer your selected designs (use one of our templates or draw your own). Affix it to the pumpkin, and trace the design by poking holes with a sharp awl, needle tool, or T-pin.

Step 4

Remove the template and carve along the pattern with a miniature saw or linoleum carving tool. If you want to make holes in the pumpkin for eyes, use a drill equipped with a 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch spade bit.

You can also get creative with patterns and designs using these 10 basic pumpkin-carving tools.

Step 5

If desired, place candles, small flashlights or battery-operated light sources inside your pumpkin. Tip: Prevent exposed areas of the pumpkin's flesh from turning brown by applying a film of Vaseline. Click here to read the entire artilce from Martha Stewart for yourself.

Happy Fall! Fall has officially begun and I am excited about all of the fun fall family activities. With the ushering in of fall's cool weather, this makes it a great time to get outside with the kids and have some fall fun! I have gathered a variety of suggestions to help your children learn and keep your children entertained during the months of fall. These activities also help you and your children spend quality time together.

• Take a nature hike with your children. This is a great opportunity for your children to collect leaves for a special leaf project. It's also a perfect time for you and your children to talk about their day/week at school. 

• Plant bulbs with your children to enjoy next spring.

• Go on a hayride to a pumpkin patch and have your children pick their own pumpkins.

• Make corn husk puppets with your children.

• Go horseback riding on a scenic trail.  

• Wander through an apple orchard or pumpkin patch.

• Make homemade applesauce, caramel apples or apple cider.

• Check out fall-themed books from the library and read with your children.

• Create a scarecrow from leaves, straw and old used clothes. 

• Help your children press fresh fall leaves and make a pressed leaf scrapbook. 

• Bike through a national forest with your children.

• Visit a local fall craft fair, Oktoberfest or farmer's market.

• Show your children how to create a summer memories scrapbook filled with photos and mementoes from last summer.

• Have your children rake leaves from your yard into a big pile and jump in them!

• Let your children finger-paint a fall scene on construction paper. They can even make fall-themed cards for friends and family. 

• Make a fall wreath using collected leaves, pine cones, acorns and paper plates and hang it on your front door to greet visitors. 

• During a walk in the woods, look for animal tracks and help your children identify them.

• Take your children to a football game.

I know, I know...it's only July, but I came across this Homemade Holiday Gift article and I thought that it really could apply year round. I would love to receive a homemade jar of cookie mix as a housewarming gift or birthday gift. It also make a great teacher appreciation gift for when our kiddos go back to school next month! And, of course, I love that my kid's can help!

Makes: 1 mix in a jar; about 3 dozen cookies
Prep: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brownulated sugar
3/4 cup swirled chocolate chips 

Directions:
1. Have ready a clean 1-quart reusable plastic or glass canister.
2. In a medium-size bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Spoon 1 cup of the flour mixture into a second bowl and add cocoa powder and cinnamon. Whisk to mix thoroughly.
3. Begin packing jar for gift: Spoon about half the flour mixture into bottom of jar. Use a small spice jar to lightly compress. Spoon in half the cocoa mixture; compress. Spoon in remaining flour mixture and cocoa mixture, compressing each layer.
4. Top second cocoa layer with granulated sugar and brownulated sugar, compressing each slightly. Pour chips over sugar and seal jar.
5. Write baking instructions on a tag (or print out); secure to jar with ribbon. Baking Instructions: In a large bowl, combine 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) melted and cooled unsalted butter with 3 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir in contents of jar. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto baking sheets. Bake at 350°F for 13 to 14 minutes. Cool on sheets for 1 minute; transfer to rack. Note: Brownulated sugar can be found in your grocery store's baking section.

Click here to read the entire article.

These were super easy to make and so much fun for my little ones!

• Butter two slices of bread on one side with 1 teaspoon butter (or coat the iron with vegetable cooking spray)
• Place 1 slice of bread in the iron, buttered-side down
• Top with 1 1/2 to 2 slices of cheese (you can also add tomato if you like)
• Cover with the remaining slice of bread, buttered-side up
• Close the lid firmly and cook until golden brown (about 2 to 4 minutes).

When it comes to kids, a love of animals almost seems universal. My 21-month old is fascinated with animals and will spend more time sitting still with a "ZOONOOZ" magazine (the monthly publication for San Diego Zoo Members) than with anything else, even Elmo-- and that says a lot! Since we're heading out to the San Diego Wild Animal Park this morning, I thought I'd suggest a few fun animal-related activities for you! 

• For older kids, here's a fun Zoo Animals Word Search that can be printed or played online
  

• Make an animal-related craft-- Check out these archives from No Time For Flashcards for ideas

• Head to the library to check out some animal-themed books- the choices are almost endless!

• Take a walk in a nature preserve to watch birds, and look for signs of animals like tracks; have kids take a notebook and keep track of what they see, then when you get home, they can research more online.

• And of course, you can head out to the zoo, or even an aquarium! If you're unsure where the closest one is, check the directory at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums

And speaking of animals, here's a really neat opportunity to nominate someone young who's making a difference- they can win a special Build-A-Bear and a charitable donation given in their honor!

Do you know a young person between the ages of 7 and 18 years old, doing extraordinary things in his/her community or around the world to better the lives of others? Now through February 27, you can enter these young leaders in the 2009 search for Build-A-Bear Workshop® Huggable Heroes®.  Twelve Huggable Heroes will be selected and each will be awarded with a $7,500 educational scholarship and $2,500 in the form of a donation to the 501(c)(3) charity of his/her choice. Entry forms are available at all North American Build-A-Bear Workshop stores and online at http://www.buildabear.com/huggableheroes.

Visit buildabear.com/huggableheroes for more information, full contest rules or to enter someone you know for the Huggable Heroes program. To brighten your day, check out the gallery of past Huggable Heroes to see how young people can truly make a difference!

Looking for something fun to do in your area this weekend with your family. Have you checked out The Mommies Network? This is a great resource for fun family activities going on in your area. Just click here and see if there is a Mommy Network in your area. Let us know some of the fun things you and your family did that you found out about on your Mommies Network site. 

With Christmas just around the corner, now's the perfect time to take your family to the kitchen and do some baking together! Here are some fun resources, links and recipes to get you going!

• Popcorn Balls~ a how-to video! 
• Banana chocolate chip bread~ a family recipe from moi!
• Vintage Mommy has a whole slew of recipes for food gifts!
• Fruit Loop Rice Krispie Treats would be especially fun with kids!
• An even more decadent rice-krispie-creation: Peanut Butter Fudge Treats!! 
• C&H Sugar has a fun guide to baking with kids

• And I love About.com's rules for your "budding chef":

1. Get permission to use the kitchen.
2. Wash your hands with soap and water before starting your kitchen preparations. Continually wash hands as needed like touching the trash can or picking up items from the floor. 
3. Re-read the recipe several times.
4. Make sure you have all of the necessary ingredients. Put them out on the counter.
5. Get out all of the equipment like pans and measuring cups.
6. Follow the recipe exactly.
7. Use oven mittens or pot holders when taking food in and out of the oven.
8. Clean as you go along.
9. Share your wonderful dessert creation with your friends and family.

Take Your Family on a Treasure Hunt!

This weekend, here's a fun way to have some fun together as a family! Put together a on old-fashioned scavenger hunt for your kids, and go ahead and piratize it into a treasure hunt, matey, for added fun! You can set up clues anywhere, but this is a great opportunity to get your kids outside and enjoy a little bit of nature. 

Amanda Soule talks about a form of this in her book, The Creative Family (which I highly recommend!), specifically the activity of "questing." Here's what she says about it:

"Questing is an old tradition that is growing in popularity in the United States, and throughout the world. It combines elements of nature exploration, creativity, treasure hunting, community building, and place-based education. Following treasure maps, clues, and hints left by a network of other seekers, you travel through nature to find a hidden object. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to spend time together in their natural world, seeking and searching as a team. It provides not only a connection to the earth, but to a community of fellow seekers as well (page 123)."

  A Few Resources

• You can print out some cute treasure hunt clue cards from Family Fun Magazine!

• Melissa at The Inspired Room did a great treasure/scavenger hunt that's bound to give you some ideas!

• Check out Letterboxing.org for info on this "intriguing pastime" (letterboxing is synonomous with questing).
  

  **Also, MOMS, if you live in Orange County, you can go see and support Patricia Ann Designs this weekend (through Sunday) at the Junior League's annual Christmas Company event! It's a great place to look for Christmas decorations and gifts. 

"If you like 'jean parties', purse parties, shopping, food, amazing home decor, doggie luxuries, chic jewelry, stunning ceramics, children's clothes, toys, chic clothes for us, baby gifts, Christmas decorations, wine tasting, cookbooks, kitchen accessories, or just fun window shopping, there is so much to see and enjoy!  It's a super fun shopping extravaganza to get you in the Christmas spirit! Truly one stop shopping with affordable prices and so much selection!!!" ~ Shelley, from PAD

Spend Time Together in the Kitchen~ Cooking as a family

So often, those of us moms are in and out of the kitchen, getting dinner cooked as fast as possible before moving on to the next task at hand. Here's an idea for slowing down a little and enjoying the little things in life together as a family. Why not cook a meal or do some baking together? 

Even the youngest kid will get a kick out of getting involved in the kitchen. Just today, I had my 18-month old standing on a stool and holding her own spoon while I mixed up some pudding. Older children will absolutely love to help you out, even if it's something as simple as stirring a mixture or tearing up lettuce. Find a task that's simple enough and appropriate for your kid's age and let them have at it! 

Another benefit to this, besides the obvious quality time being spent together as a family, is that getting your kids involved in the process may make them more likely to eat what's for dinner! They'll be proud of their accomplishment in the kitchen and excited to take part in enjoying the fruits of their labor. 

Here are a few final ideas for a fun time as a family in the kitchen:

• Designate age-appropriate tasks for kids
• Occupy and include a toddler in the process with a simple spoon and bowl or a few pieces of tupperware on the floor.
  
• Get a step-stool so shorter cooks can help out easier
• Try a new recipe together
• Make something fun, different or creative
• Bake some yummy goodies and then take them to neighbors, even when it's not a special occasion 
• Have a special apron for each kid that they get to make during family cooking times

And above all, enjoy yourselves and the food!

Bon apètit!