Hurricane Weather!

I know I promised the final installment of "What was I Thinking...the Blue Challenge", but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to set a table for one of my favorite holidays, Mardi Gras!

I may be a Midwestern girl...but quite honestly...I can make a pretty darn good bowl of gumbo.  So not surprisingly, I just love to throw a Mardi Gras bash...with all the trimmings...and lots of them!  But trust me...just keep piling it on for one fabulous and festive table.

A few years ago, I found this perfect gold, purple and green harlequin checked fabric and made a few simple tablecloths.  Let the layering begin.

I started with some bright gold placemats and then just used my plain white plates and soup bowls, dolled up with some shiny, feathery masks and a few gold doubloons.

Shhh...Just this once I used some purple and yellow paper napkins.   But I wrapped up my fun Aero flatware (Crate & Barrel) with a few strands of colorful Mardi Gras Beads.

No Mardi Gras party would be complete without a few great cocktails.  I'll be serving Hurricanes, just like in New Orleans.

These ceramic chili peppers normally hang alongside the kitchen sink, but today they are my centerpiece!  Why not??

I couldn't resist these Mardi Gras beads on steroids.  For this party, more is definitely more!

Just a few colorful votives make my table twinkle.  For the finishing touch on this festive table, I've used...

cute little Tabasco sauce bottles as placecards!  Excuse me...but I could really use on of those Hurricanes right about now.  Please check back next week for the Blue Challenge.  I promise, it will not dissappoint!