Love and Mardi Gras

Mardi-Tines Day Party
1- Pool party to celebrate Mardi Gras, Valentine’s Day, and to scare away the winter blues. We called it Mardi-tines because it was part “Mardi” Gras and part Valen”tines”
2- Allowed us to learn about and celebrate the holidays and immerse ourselves in the culture of New Orleans/Mardi Gras
3- It met some of the social (in a group visiting with their peers), emotional (boosts spirit to socialize, participate in physical movements, experience the sensory stimulation of the colors/sounds/taste), physical (hit and kicked and tossed the beach balls and balloons), and cognitive (learned about the two holidays–the history and the culture of them) needs of our residents.
4- Played traditional Mardi Gras music and love songs
5- We had 250 balloons in an inflatable pool. The balloons were red and pink for Valentine’s Day, and Purple, Green, and Gold for Mardi Gras
6- We also had inflatable ocean animals, and beach balls of various sizes
7- Each resident was given Mardi Gras Beads of various colors, a Mardi Gras top hat, and a heart shaped necklace that lit-up.
8- Refreshments were served; and also followed the theme of the party: Tropical smoothies for the pool party were also purple in honor of Mardi Gras; Muffaletta sandwiches which are a traditional New Orleans/Mardi Gras food; and Pink/heart shaped cakes for Valentine’s Day.