Mardi Gras Week Begins

Mardi Gras is part of our lives in Southwest Louisiana! We prepare all year long to put on a production for the whole world to see!
My week began with the Senior Citizen Ball. Having a grandfather that is a resident of an assisted living facility, I was very excited to be introduced as their Mardi Gras Queen of SWLA! Not to mention, I got to wear my train and mantle for the first time since being crowned!!
This ball is when the kings and queens from each Assisted Living Residences are announced. My grandfather was the king of his Residence last year!
The Grand King and Queen for this year were dressed all in red! Their crowns were beautiful and trains and mantle where big as well! Filled with rhinestone and feathers, here in SWLA we wouldn't have it any other way!

Mardi Gras came and went!

WOW! To think that Mardi Gras season is already over for the year amazes me!! I had so much fun representing my home town of Lake Charles as their Mardi Gras Queen of SWLA for this season.
There are many many memories that I will begin to share with y'all and pictures to go along with them. I don't know what I would have done without the love and support of my friends and family! Everyone was such a BIG help in so many ways! Keep an eye out this week as I bring you back to Mardi Gras week and let you know what it was like to be THE QUEEN!

Krewe de Carnival Ball

January 22! Oh what a night! I was so happy to be invited to the Krewe de Carnival Ball! It was a BLAST!! The theme was 1920s! So in true fashion I dressed the part!

The ball was held at the Civic Center. It was decorated in top notch fashion. Black and white feathers and balloons filled the whole room! The king and queen looked amazing dressed in a short flapper dress and a glittered out suit and top hat! 

We left a little early and had a boiled shrimp afterparty at Steamboat Bills!! One of my favorite restaurants!!

On the hunt...

Yesterday was a very long day! We started in Lake Charles and ended up in Lafayette looking for the perfect Mardi Gras dress! I finally found it and it is on its way to Lake Charles!! I'm not going to post any pictures of the dress, you will just have to wait till the Royal Gala in March to see it!!
Thank you to my mom for riding all over the country side with me, giving her expert advice, and listening to me gab the whole day!! It was a lot of fun!!

The Pageant...

On January 15, 2011 I was crowned Miss Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana 2011! I am so excited to start my new adventure this year!

A little history: About 7 years ago I was encouraged to compete for the title of Jr. Miss Mardi Gras. After placing first alternate, I knew I had to try again. Well, 8 years later and many many tries later my dream has come true!

I hope to blog about my year as the newly crowned Miss Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana so that everyone can take the adventure with me! Hope you enjoy reading and following me as I travel our beautiful state promoting the best festival of them all -- MARDI GRAS!!

Thank you to Guidry's Photography for this AMAZING picture from the pageant!!