Mardi Gras in the South

I love any excuse to get dressed up and go dance, eat, and drink all night long! Oh and did I mention get out of school for 2 days!! 

Well Mardi Gras is a BIG deal down here in Fairhope/Mobile! Parades and Mardi Gras Balls for 3 - 4 weeks and everyone was out of school for 2 days! Even things like Doctors offices and the YMCA closed down...

We enjoyed the Fairhope Mardi Gras Parade with our sweet friends - the Gardner's and the Stillman's 

If you notice...Mal and I are looking a little tan! We went and got a 'light' spray tan so we had a little more color in our ball gowns ~ LOVED IT!!!!! I would do it again in a heartbeat and recommend it! I was so scared I was going to look like an oomph loompa (sp?) but I think it turned out great! 

Point Clear Parade

We got lots of beads!! 

 MOT Mardi Gras Ball in Mobile

Love these great friends! 

Dancing the night away to Fly By Radio! 

After the MOT Ball! Love this guy. 

Our first Mardi Gras experience was so much fun!!! We can't wait for next year! 

Monster Cookie Bars

I feel like I gain weight just making these bars...but they are worth EVERY calorie!! 

just look at these things....

I know right?!?  You want to eat one right now! Well here is the recipe!! 

Recipe from...  http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2012/08/monster-majic-cookie-bars.html

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup salted butter (see Note)
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 3/4 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
• 1/2 chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup mini M&Ms (or regular)

Instructions

1. Note: You can use unsalted butter here but with all the sweetness in the recipe it really is good to have to salt to counteract it. So if you use unsalted butter, you can either add 1/4 teaspoon salt to the graham cracker crumbs or sprinkle salt on top after the bars have baked.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place butter in a microwave safe bowl and heat up for about 30-60 seconds or until melted.
3. Combine butter and graham cracker crumbs in a medium bowl and then press the graham cracker crumbs into a parchment lined 9x13 baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
4. Evenly pour the sweetened condensed milk over the graham cracker layer. Sprinkle the oats, peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, and M&Ms evenly over the sweetened condensed milk and gently press in a little. Remember that all of the toppings are approximate so add more or less depending on what you like.
5. Bake at 350º for 20-25 minutes or until brown. Cool and slice into squares to serve.

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Now on to my weakness...STARBURST JELLY BEANS!!!  

I was at Target last week (no surprise there) and I saw this bag of ALL pink and red jelly beans IN THE SAME BAG!!!! I was beyond excited! 

Just thought everyone should know that they do exist.