February 5, 2008 is right around the corner and that means FAT Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is the day before Ash Wednesday when many celebrate with lavish meals, parades and parties. Traditionally a French holiday, Mardi Gras is famous in the French Quarter in New Orleans as well as in other major cities across the United States. Parades feature floats of jesters wearing the official colors of Mardi Gras- purple, gold and green. Participants masquerade and throw beaded necklaces to parade goers.

Notable Mardi Gras parades include Pensacola, Florida, St. Louis, Missouri and Galveston, Texas. But you don't have to travel to have an extravagant Mardi Gras celebration of your own! Start with a Mardi Gras invitation featuring masks, a jazz musician, regal crowns or festive top hats. Create a Bourbon Street mood with purple, gold and green decorations and provide masquerade masks to get the party started!

Mardi Gras stands for Fat Tuesday, so load up on goodies for your guests. Creole and Cajun cooking are traditional, but any snacks will do. If you would like to make a great impression, bake a traditional King Cake. A King Cake has a small toy or item baked inside of it, and the guest who is lucky enough to get the piece containing the toy is granted special privileges throughout the celebration. The newly honored King or Queen could wear a crown and be in charge of the festivities. The cake often tastes like a cinnamon roll and is round, but can be made with any boxed cake mix and a bundt pan. It is topped with a sugary icing and purple, green and gold sprinkles. Let your guests know on the invitation that you will be serving a King Cake, and the anticipation to find the winner will add to the fun!