Mardi Gras (when you don't live in New Orleans or Texas)

Mardi Gras doesn’t have to mean parades, crowds, or complicated plans to be fun.

In our house, it’s all about food, color, laughter, and a little extra joy in the middle of winter. It’s one of those holidays that feels like pure fun—no pressure, no expectations, just an excuse to celebrate and be festive. Use this amazon link to shop some of our simple favorites!

And honestly? That’s my favorite kind.

Our Favorite Mardi Gras Tradition: A Shrimp Boil

Let’s get this out of the way—I know crawfish is more traditional.

But listen… we don’t love sucking heads. 😂 So shrimp it is for us.

We love doing a big shrimp boil, and if we’re feeling a little extra bougie, we add crab legs. It’s messy, loud, hands-on, and perfect for family-style eating.

We use our huge stockpot (one of our best kitchen purchases ever), throw everything in, and make it an event.

Our boil usually includes:

🦐 Shrimp

🌽 Corn

🥔 Potatoes

🌭 Sausage

🧄 Onion & Lots of seasoning

It’s simple, fun, and feels like a party without being complicated.

Simple Mardi Gras Decorating

Just like with Valentine’s Day, I don’t decorate my whole house for Mardi Gras—but I do make our dining area feel festive.

Because that’s where we gather.

That’s where we eat.

That’s where the memories happen.

My Go-To Mardi Gras Decor Formula:

✨ A festive tablecloth✨ A simple centerpiece✨ Beads scattered on the table✨ Maybe a few gold or purple accents

I love using beads as part of the centerpiece—they’re colorful, fun, and instantly say “Mardi Gras” without needing a ton of decor.

I usually shop at:

• Hobby Lobby

• Marshall’s

• TJ Maxx

You can find great festive pieces without going overboard.

Fun Mardi Gras Activities for Kids

Mardi Gras is such a fun opportunity to lean into creativity, color, and play.

Here are some easy, low-prep ideas:

🎭 DIY Mardi Gras Masks

Let kids decorate their own masks with:

• Markers

• Stickers

• Glitter

• Feathers

• Sequins

Bonus: Have a mini parade around the house when they’re done.

🎶 Mardi Gras Dance Party

Put on some upbeat jazz or New Orleans-style music and let them dance it out.

You can even:

• Dress up in purple, green, and gold

• Throw beads

• March around the house

Mardi Gras-Themed Foods (Kid-Friendly + Fun)

Not everything has to be traditional—just festive.

Here are some fun, easy ideas:

Sweet Treats

• Make a King Cake using a mix!

• Sugar cookies with purple, green, and gold icing

• Cafe Du Monde Beignet mix

• Rice Krispie treats with festive drizzle

Snacks

• Popcorn tossed with purple and gold sprinkles

• Fruit skewers (grapes, pineapple, bananas)

• Cheese cubes and crackers on festive toothpicks

Dinner Add-Ons

If you’re doing a boil, keep sides simple:

• Garlic bread

• Coleslaw

• Cornbread

Or do a Cajun-inspired ( Zatarain's has box dinners that we add a protein to and find them to be delicious) night with:

• Jambalaya

• Red beans and rice

• Chicken and sausage skillet

Remember: It doesn’t have to be authentic—it just has to be fun.

Make It a Moment, Not a Production

That’s the heart of Nourished, Not Perfect.

Mardi Gras doesn’t have to be a Pinterest-level event.

It can be:✨ Shrimp instead of crawfish✨ Paper masks instead of fancy costumes✨ Store-bought treats instead of homemade✨ Beads from last year

What matters is that your home feels joyful.

That your kids feel the magic.

That you laugh a little more than usual.

That you create memories without exhausting yourself.

A Little Encouragement

You don’t need to do it all.

You don’t need to do it perfectly.

You don’t need to impress anyone.

Pick one or two things that sound fun—and let the rest go.

Joy doesn’t come from doing more.It comes from being present.

And that’s what we’re all about here.

Happy Mardi Gras, friends 💜💛💚

Let the good times roll—Nourished, Not Perfect style