Oh my, I forgot the BIGGEST money making holiday next to Christmas! HOW could I forget Valentine's Day?

Could it be that there isn't a man in my life? Some things are soooo over-rated. LOL ;o)

patty_cakes

the Dollar Tree has some of their Easter decor out already. I see they have those neat rugs again. I love them when they have them.

Usually between Valentines and Easter I put out my Fairies or Noah's Arks. Or maybe it's my birdhouses.

patty_cakes, I've never decorated for nor celebrated Mardi Gras, but think it would be fun. A sit-down dinner or buffet would work, but I think I would already have the masks ready for the guests. I can "see" one of Judith's table settings with the stacking cake plates done with the bright beads and trinkets of Mardi Gras and a mask laying on each plate. A "King" cake is a must. We always had one growing up. And of course beignets. You could google and see what others do to find your own interpretation. Let us know what you decide please.

I don't observe the Chinese New Year and don't know anyone who so I can't help here.

I do Valentine's Day. I decorate, we have the usual gifts and a nice dinner. That's it there. And I bet you would be surprised to find how many married ladies would trade places with you more than once. LOL

We were born and raised celebrating St Patrick's Day. I decorate for it, and buy a card and Irish what-knot for my son. We always have cabbage and potatoes which we love. And, I don't think you have to be Irish to celebrate.

Minnie, I've never seen the rugs you're talking about at Dollar Tree, but I'm going to check them out this year. Sandi

Sandi, I just love your enthusiasm! Motivates me to want to do more decorating. I enjoy the creating process of it, and how nice it makes things look.

I am really impressed that Minnie has FIVE boxes of Valentines decorations. This must be an important holiday for her. Who wouldn't like the idea of love, and of course, most all females like pink, red, and white.

Can't help with Mardi Gras ideas. I'm seem to remember a post on here about someone decorating for it. I'll see if I can find that post again if I have time.

Pattycakes, I think you are on the right track--it is more fun to look for things to celebrate and decorate for. Sandi had some good ideas for you. I think it was Dollar Tree that had some unpainted masks. Just paint them and glue on some feathers and beads, sequins, etc. Have fun.

Luvs

FIVE boxes of Valentines decorations

So am I haha

just stuff I've collected thru the years.

The rugs for Easter are flat ones with pictures on them. I like to put them over the corners of other throw rugs to keep the corners flat!! And one for the cat to sit on while she eats in the kitchen.

I haven't decorated for Mardi Gras in several years but I think as long as you keep the colors - gold, green and purple - you could do just about anything. And you have to have the King Cake at the party otherwise how would you know who has to host the next party? Our party and craft stores always have a lot of decorations so I have a Mardi Gras tree with lights in gold, green, and purple - it is the same tree I use in my bathroom. I just remove the ornaments that look Christmasy and add small masks and jesters.
PF

Why not celebrate Groundhog Day? It could be one of those just because days to break up winter. I found some cute groundhog cupcakes a couple of years ago that I made just for fun. I think if you wanted to do a fun, lighthearted theme around it, you could.

Here is a link that might be useful: Groundhog Cupcakes

Thank you ladies~still in the 'thinking' stage of the madigras party, not planning, yet. LOL

Luvs, how long ago did you see the masks? I know I don't have a Dollar General or a Family Dollar, but there could be a Dollar Tree SOMEWHERE, not TOO far from me~will check the yellow pages. If I don't do a party, would like them for my madigras tree. I have a gorgeous mask I use as a tree topper, and decorate with lime, purple, and turquoise beads. Got a lot of ornaments at Big Lots that had a madigras look to them, but couldn't find masks anywhere. Thanks for the head-up.

Minnie, FIVE BOXES of Valentine's decorations? WOW! My 10 year old grandaughter would love to get into that! LOL

The rugs sound cute, too. I haven't decorated for Easter since the kids moved out, and don't do dinner at my house, either~maybe it's something I need to do it just for ME~it's ALL about the decorating!

PF, do the lights have to be gold, green, and purple~what's the significance of the colors? And what *is* a King cake? TIA

patty_cakes

adellabedella, Those cupcakes are so cute. And I think it would be a cute idea to celebrate Groundhog Day within my family. I'll have to save the cupcake idea. Sandi

Patty, Mardi Gras traditional colors are gold, green, and purple. Gold for power, Green for faith, and Purple for justice. A king cake (a braided cake with purple, green and gold frosting and colored sugar on top) is baked in honor of the three kings who traveled twelve days to honor Jesus' birth, they arrived on the twelth day after Christmas, 6 January or the day of Epiphany. Long ago they put a bean in the cake but in the south they put a tiny baby (represents Jesus). Whoever gets the piece with the baby is declared King or Queen (you can have a King and Queen cake), give them a crown and they get to host the next party or provide the next King cake. Many people think Mardi Gras started in New Orleans, but it was actually Mobile, Alabama and it is celebrated along the coast from Florida to Louisianna with parties and parades. Traditions have changed over the years and everyone has added their own touch to the parties so you can do what suits you. Mardi Gras ends on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday which I think will be 20 February this year. It is a fun holiday.

I am not an expert on Mardi Gras, just what we have done in the past. You could probably find out more on the internet.

PF

Paintingfool, The baby Jesus hidden in the cake is the same as one of the Mexican holidays! One of my Hispanic customers at the bank ran a grocery store. He always brought us one of those cakes each year.

Adellabedella, loved those cupcakes. I too plan on keeping that idea. Little GD is too young to enjoy it now, but should be a big hit in a couple years.

Pattycakes, I was at Dollar Tree just about a week ago. The masks were in the section where they have the shells, stickers, etc. They are unpainted ones--here they were hanging on a hook. Good luck. Your tree sounds lovely. Nice that you can get extra mileage out of a Christmas tree. I'm getting a fake one next year too--so I can keep it up longer.

Sandi, I cook corned beef and cabbage for St. Pat's--and I do have an Irish heritage, but mostly like the idea of celebrating for good luck! You'll have to be sure to see my painted wood leprechauns--I'll post them on the painting forum--will try to remember to put them on here too.

Luvs

Luvs, I forgot to say we cook the corned beef with the cabbage. How could I forget that when I grew up eating it? One side of my father's family came from France and the other from Ireland.
We have got to STOP talking about Mardi Gras cause it's giving me ideas and I can't afford to buy more decorations and I want the masks! LOL
I would love to see your leprechauns. My son believed in leprechauns until he was way too old. LOL

I loved the groundhog cupcakes. Once when my kids were little I made Groundhog hamburgers. I mixed rice with the meat and they looked a little "prickly" the kids wouldn't est them. They thought it was really groundhog.

Patty cakes. Do it for you. I do it for me. No one ever sees my decor except one DS and he rarely comments on it.

Minnie, You are so right--we have to do the things that make us happy! Your DS may not say anything, but bet he would miss it if you didn't do it.

This thread is making me hungry. I just made cooked cabbage the other night for the first time in a long time. Just sounded good to me--maybe because the weather has cooled off so much.

In fact, I woke up to white slush all over the ground and rooftops this morning. That hasn't happened here in about 15 years! Usually only SEE it on the mountains north of us. I'm supposed to be in sunny California. LOL

Have to enjoy the cooler weather--it makes it seem even more important to decorate our homes and make them feel warm and cozy. Nice chance to light our candles and enjoy the sight and fragrance too.

Luvs

Our family does up those holidays. We do it mostly because in the middle of winter we need any reason we can get to party, even if it is just a little.

Martin Luther King Day - marble cake and someone reads a speech

Burns Night - Cock-a-leakie soup, neeps and tatties, and cranachan (nope, no haggis) for dinner and everyone reads a Burns poem

Chinese New Year - red place mats, a Chinese lantern hung from the chandelier, flowers on the table, and Chinese take out

Mardi Gras - beads hung on the chandelier and plopped on the table and worn by those who want, sometimes we make masks for table decoration, jambalia from a box, a king cake made by refridgerator cinamon rolls untwisted and reshaped into a large circle

Mostly these are little more work than the usual family dinner.

My goal for this year is to get CDs of music to accompany many of these. It would be an excuse to get more world music into our home.

Duckie, Tell me about Burns Night--haven't heard of that one. Sounds like your family takes every opportunity to have a little fun--that is wonderful. Luvs

A Burns Night is a celebration of the poet Robert Burns on his birthday January 25th. He wrote Auld Lang Syne as well as My Luve's Like a Red Red Rose, Jon Anderson My Jo, A Man's a Man For A' That, and a host of others.

To do it 'right' you do things like have the guests rise as a bagpiper ushers in the haggis (Scottish sausage). There is a Robert Burns grace, toasts to ladies and the gentlemen, and lots of recitation of poetry and songs and a fair bit of drinking. We tame it down quite a bit for just the family, though.

A heads up! The Dollar tree has lots and lots of St Patty's Day decor things!!

Pf(what's your name?), thanks for all the info re:colors and King's cake~I didn't have clue to either. Of course I know about the Epiphany, but didn't realize it realter to madigras, nor did I know about it originating in Alabama!

All this talk about corn beef and cabbage is really making me hungry~that's something i've never made before and have always wanted to try. Maybe this year!!

Still have to get to my Dollar Tree!!! ;o)

patty_cakes

It looks so bare after all the Christmas decs are down! I do a little bit for Valentine's Day and if I do a dinner party during that time, I do my table with that theme. St. Pat's is a definite. My birthday is in March and I have rec'd many lovely "Irish" gifts over the years. I make sure to bring them all out. And some type of entertaining is a must. I am of Irish heritage.
I agree with previous posters, if it makes you happy to decorate for the holidays, do it. It is bleak here until Spring and it makes the house a bit cheerier with the Valentines, St. Pat's and Easter decs.