Don’t Do It Yourself. DDIY. Not that you can’t – but maybe you don’t have the time. Or energy. Or the skillset. Whatever reason it is, you don’t have to do it yourself. You can hire someone.
If you hate doing the dirty work, then you’ve come to the right place. Let Be New Orleans tell you about our favorite people and businesses who can handle things for you!
Right now, everyone in New Orleans is getting prepped for Mardi Gras and everything that comes along with that. Beads, ladders, cooking, cleaning – EVERYTHING. How do you even get all this done? We’ve got your back!
Mardi Gras Ladders/Seats
The ladders that line St. Charles might be the bane of many people’s existence. But, for you, it’s the only way to keep your little ones contained. We all know between parades that everyone’s kids roam free and play football in the street. Once the parades start rolling though, you need to make sure they are close by.
ParadeSeat.com sells seats to put atop your ladder to keep the little ones in. With a seatbelt and Mardi Gras bags fixed to the seat, the only thing you need is the ladder to attach it too. Bonus: it has wheels to make for easier transport of your ladder! This ladder seat is made of plastic and not wood.
The Mardi Gras Step has it all. From the full ladder contraption to just the seat. They even sell bonus accessories like cup holders, seat belts, and adjustable footrests.
Mardi Gras Catering
There are so many places you can order catering from! We couldn’t even list all the places in the city that offer amazing food.
Many Meals by Jenny might be my absolute favorite though. Jenny is from Donaldsonville and really knows how to whip up some awesome southern dishes. Whether you need a vat of gumbo or jambalaya for your parade party – she’s got you. If you just need some awesome side dishes or dips, Jenny can make those too. Bonus: SHE DELIVERS!
Gracie’s Bakery is run by Savannah Lloyd who can whip up a mean king cake. How is this getting someone to do the dirty work? Well, Savannah delivers. If you don’t want to move your car in fear of losing an amazing parking space, just pre-order and have it brought to your house.
Mardi Gras Costumes
If you find yourself running out of time to assemble a Mardi Gras costume, we’ve got some people who can whip something up for you!
Keep in mind though that if you’ve waited this long, you’re unlikely to get a massive costume creation. You may have to settle for a headpiece and you can throw something on from your costume closet.
Crafty Lil Devil, aka Elizabeth Zibilich, can provide you with a consult for your costume or help assemble something on the fly.
Lady Walker is another favorite for beautiful headdresses.
Midori Tajiri not only does amazing make-up, but she creates stunning costumes.
For something truly out of the box and one-of-a-kind, message Dede Mitchell. Her pieces typically have moving parts!
Loading your Throws on a Float
TJ’s Carnival & Mardi Gras Supplies has multiple packages for float loading.
Plush Appeal is another awesome option for getting your throws onto your float.
The Occasional Wife, while traditionally known to help organize your home, also offers float loading and organizing!
Photo Credit: Glitter Buzz NOLA Facebook
Glittering Your Throws
Time is running up and you don’t have the patience to get all your throws decorated and glittered. Great news for you! Someone else is willing to do it for a price.
Glitter Buzz NOLA creates beautiful, quality pieces that you will be proud to hand off this Mardi Gras season. Be sure to check out her Instagram to see every amazing piece: @glitterbuzznola
Melissa Daigrepont with Glitterous Stimulation can also help to customize all of your throws. Bonus! She also makes super fun headpieces!
Lesley Nash of Fly Right Galaxy will decorate your ladders, shoes, goblets, purses – whatever!
Pet Care
Whether you’re marching or riding this Mardi Gras season, making sure our pets are taken care of is very important! These awesome businesses can still make it to your house and take care of Fluffy – even if you live “in the box.” (For the noobs, “the box” is a section of Uptown that is extremely difficult to get or out of once parades start.)
Uptown Girls Pet Care Services have been trusted with my own pets. Reliable and reasonably priced – they don’t disappoint. If you have friends traveling from out of town, they also provide hotel pet sitting and walking.
Sarah’s Pet Care Revolution is highly regarded by many of our past clients – even the ones who have very particular needs.
Cats, dogs, and even tarantulas are all a part of a normal day for the folks at NOLA Critter Sitters. They are used to the unconventional pets. Which, let’s be honest, your snake still needs to eat even if you’re riding in Tucks!
Have a safe and happy Mardi Gras season y’all!
Check out our to-do list task force for other ways to make your Mardi Gras easier!
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