I’m not usually one to brag but since it is almost Mardi Gras season I have to tell you about the single most epic party I have ever thrown. It all started with the idea of Mardi Gras centerpieces and, from there, my natural genius took it away.

First off, if you don’t know what a Mardi Gras centerpiece is, picture this. The table at a party needs some kind of decorations, right? Well, imagine if the centerpiece towers up over you as tall as a person. Some are smaller, but a lot aren’t. usually they comprise a bunch of balloons or plumage, or both, and are surrounded with streamers or boas swirling up in a spiral pattern. But sometimes they are decorated with Mardi Gras masks, and that is what gave me my best idea.

I had two big tables out, one with snacks and one with drink mixers. I talked to four of my female friends and got them to agree to help out. Meticulously, I wrapped each of them in streamers and plumage like a centerpiece. Of course, that is all they were wearing, so everything had to be placed just right. Then they donned their masks and we covered them in metallic body paint. Two of them stood motionless on the tables as centerpieces. After about 30 minutes the other two traded places so they wouldn’t get tired.

Of course it took forever to repay the favor, but I think they liked the attention. Everyone we know talks about that party to this day!