Throw Some Beads

"Give me some beads", parade goers would scream that to the krewe. It was such a fun and exciting activity during the Mardi Gras, catching the beads. I got lots of it and ready to ship to my friends back home. The last time, I gave it to a school and parishoners of my mother's church.My sis-in-law gave this beads and I this is my favorite. Do you wanna see the beads that I got? I will post them later.

Well-Decorated House for Mardi Gras

We were in Mississippi for Mardi Gras parade and spent at the ISLE of Biloxi Hotel for 3 nights. We had a blast! Before we drove to the Mardi Gras parade in DIberville, I decided to see my friend who works in Boomtown Casino then, along the way,we saw this well-decorated house, full of Mardi Gras spirit huh?

I thought it's nice to acknowledge the owner for the effort. It was very attractive and lively!If you can't travel to New Orleans, you can set your house into a French Quarter look. This house is located along Porter Street in Biloxi Mississippi. Enjoy the Mardi Gras everyone! Happy Fat Tuesday!

On the Peter Anderson Festival in Ocean Springs Mississippi

Ocean Springs is a charming city in Mississippi, was the hometown of the late Walter Inglis Anderson, a nationally renowned painter and muralist. This place hosts to several festivals and that includes the Peter Anderson Festival.These pictures were taken during the Peter Anderson Festival in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. This festival features the local artists and display their artwork, special unique decor, wood carvings and more.The prices of the products are affordable with world class quality.This town is full of charm and happy people. The community is very supportive to every events and festivals.Here is an artwork area that I love in fact, hubby bought wood carvings of birds. Peter Anderson Festival is the most celebrated event for Arts and Crafts in the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This event is showcasing and giving honor to all the local painters, potters, and craft makers.
There are so many amazing art exhibit, food booths (my favorite), and there are live bands that stimulate the crowds in jolly shopping mood. There are downtown seated dining (sort of Night cafe' in Cagayan de Oro City) and lots and lots of delicious food. People who came to this festival did not only window shop but, they came here to buy the art work. I took a video but, can't find it in my folder. It would be nice to watch video online right? The picture below is my favorite art work. Oh you should check out the artist, he is just talented.Visit Ocean Springs and better check out the schedule of Peter Anderson Festival this year. If you collect art work, you will surely enjoy this festival.

At the Isle Hotel

Today, we wake up with the beautiful view by the Gulf and in the 10th floor of this hotel. We have a balcony so, we are happy with our room.We had a wonderful time here. The room is alright. We have a balcony and the view is truly amazing!Hubby and I booked a hotel stay in the Isle Hotel and Casino. and we have an amazing view of the Gulf, the highway 90 and we can see the beach of the Ocean springs too.This is the Isle Hotel. We ate here yesterday and the prices in the buffet was higher too.This is the entrance of the hotel and we valet our car because we do not want to walk all the way from the garage to the casino area.

The Fun Times

We arrived in Mississippi yesterday around three in the afternoon and the first thing we did after checking in the hotel was drive down the beach. The Gulf of Mexico is the panoramic view from our hotel. The beach is a walking distance and so, we stayed there as we sat comfortably on the available Adirondack chairs. There were Picnic Tables and Park Benches along the beach and anyone can use it for free. The long stretched of beaches along the Beach Boulevard is a good place to unwind and I can sit there whole day watching the sea and enjoying the sea breeze.

During this time of the year, the beach is a beautiful hang out for family and we saw teenagers setting a volleyball net for them to play with friends. At the Ocean Springs Beach, they have a park with the amazing view of the Gulf. That park was financed from the budget allotted to the city from the Katrina fund. They decided that a park would benefit everyone and they added beautiful playground equipment. The children are playing the swing, slides, see saw and water jets. We will be here for the whole week so, I have a lot to share.

Anyway, if you live nearby the beach and wanted to accessorize your patio, visit the links and you can find the items that you need. This company has the infant swing and play system which you can add to your yard for kids to play. The prices of their products are affordable and you should check it out today.

The Clown

Do you like clowns? During the Mardi Gras parade in Mississippi, they are always part of the parade and they gave out candies and make toy ballons. I am not really a fan of the clown but, I don't hate them.

Here is one clown waving at me. This parade happened in Ocean Springs, Mississippi for Mardi Gras.

Unique House

I took this picture in Ocean Springs, Mississippi nearby East Beach. It looks like new and contemporary in design comapred to the other houses in this area. If there's a big Hurricane, the surrounding area can be easily flooded in fact, Hurricane Katrina damaged the houses of it's neighbors. Well, I like the style of this house. Looks like an office building and I think it's built good. No one will gamble to build a new home here without protecting it from the force of hurricanes. All other houses are built high with stilt. This is the oppossite but, maybe because the house sits on highland. Anyway, I like the design and it's unique.

Mardi Gras Parade is FUN

Yesterday was the last day of Mardi Gras parade in Mississippi particularly in Biloxi. Usually, our favorite location to catch the beads in this city is in front of Hardrock Hotel and Casino. The street in this area is very spacious and the city will detour the motorists main road during the parade. I will definitely miss the fun, the crowd and all the happy faces. It's like, when you see everybody, they are all your friends and everybody will smile back at you.

The lil girl on the float is my niece, she was invited to throw beads. The more beads on the float, the merrier because the people who watch the parade is eager to catch the fanciest, the unique beads. For them, it is like a trophy! These pictures were taken last year in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. It was so cold and everybody was covered with a throw blanket. I swear, it was so cold that your nose would start to numb! If you won't join the fun of catching beads, you will be frozen LOL :-) , (joke)!

For two consecutive years, we went to every parade in nearby cities. The biggest mardi gras parade that I love was the mardi gras in D'Iberville in Mississippi. This place has the longest, most decorated floats, and plenty of participants. People came from different direction of the area.

Mardi Gras is indeed different from the parades that we had back home. When you watch Mardi Gras parades, you will participate all through out because you have to catch the beads, moon pies and teddy bears. Remembered my first time, was too shy to wave my hand and get the attention of those on the float :-) When I looked around, I was the only one, sat on my folding chair and everybody else were jumping and tagging the beautiful beads.

I am telling you, it was no fun when you just pick up the beads laying on the streets! When you catch it though, the FUN begins and you want to catch more!

Business Down

Our favorite resto in Ocean Springs in the harbor area is Harbor Landing. I love their food especially the spicy kickers, actually I forgot the exact name LOL! Anyway, the city wanted it back because according to them, it is not in the right zone. The city gave Harbor Landing the permission to do the business in this area but, later the city revoke it. Lately, we found out that the state bought the property for three million which I doubt, the owner will get something for him as a return of investment.

I was wondering what will happen to their workers. In this bad economy? Another problem to hurdle, I guess!

I Will Miss Mississippi

Anytime soon, we will be leaving Mississippi and I am so excited. Don't get me wrong though, I love this place. The view is truly fantastic. I love the casinos and I will be missing the seafood.We live just 5 minutes away from the beach with the beautiful scenic view of the Gulf of Mexico. We actually live inside Gulf Islands National Seashore in Mississippi. If you are familiar with my blog, I wrote about the wonderful places here and the amazing view by the beach.

Since we live in the national park, animals such as rabbits, deers and turtle are common in our backyard. Well, I will surely miss this place because I got my first real job here and I found friends here too. The picture above were taken in Harbor Landing, one of my favorite place to hang out.

Ocean Springs-Mississippi

I worked in one of the casinos in Biloxi, Mississippi and when I punched out, my husband and I always have the time to drive by the beach. We love the beach view in Biloxi and Ocean Springs and I love taking pictures of anything that is interesting. I downloaded my pictures right in that second to TWITTER and FACEBOOK. Living in Mississippi is a blessing for me because life here in this place is simple. People here work hard, spends free time to their family, they go to church, they love to eat.... my most favorite amazement,lol and people here loves recreational activities.

This place have so many community activities and take note, they are involved in their community. Whenever they have one, the members of their family are part of it too. That is the greatest thing right? How many people in this world who spent all their lives working and earned millions and die of loneliness without family who cared for them?

The people here are family-oriented which you seldom find in fast paced place. Family, love of God and respect of neighbors are essential aspects to live a good life. The pictures above were taken in Harbor Landing in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. If you happen to pass by here, visit Harbor Landing Yacht Club and have a good lunch in their restaurant. I suggest that you try KICKERS-it's a spicy crab meat, yummy! See you all in Biloxi and Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Ocean Springs, Mississippi Beach View

I compiled some photos that I took in Ocean Springs, Mississippi Beach. Visitors and locals came here for fishing, swimming, crabbing, boating and just drove by to unwind and relax. The Mayor really gives importance in enhancing the beauty of this place. They just finish the Maurepas Park which is an awesome place to sit in one of the benches and look at the Gulf of Mexico.You can park and swim here for FREE. If you wanna do crabbing and fishing, you should get a license before you can do all these activities. The license is good for a year. But, if you are under 16 years old and over 64 years old, you are exempted. To get the latest information, visit mdwfp.com .
People who park in this side of the beach usually go for boating. There is a nice boat launch nearby and a good point to start boating towards little islands nearby such as DEER ISLAND and Ship Island. That is the Deer Island as you can see in the picture below ( notice the trees at the far corner). It's a bit distance from this beach but, you can see it clearly.
If it's spring time, people stay on the beach playing volleyball. This is the view when you are in Maurepas Park.
The beautiful view of the Gulf with teenagers playing volleyball. On this particular day, the wind is blowing and a little bit chilly but, the warm heat of the sun will give you comfort on the beach.
That is a nice Pier which is good for fishing. A place which is good to visit and enjoy the view of the ocean. Bring a sweater though because after few minutes, you will feel chilly.

This is another Pier which me and hubby frequent for crabbing and fishing. We caught more than a dozen of crabs here and a flounder too. So; if you happen to visit Mississippi Gulf Coast, take time to visit Ocean Springs and the beaches. It is truly wonderful to take a little adventure here.

Mardi Gras Scenes

Last Saturday, we went to Elk Mardi Gras Parade in Ocean Springs Mississippi. It was freezing cold. I wore 3 jackets and a blanket but still I am so cold. I am with my husband, family, aunt and cousins. I wanted to send pictures to FB but, my hands were so cold so, I decided to just use my digital camera.

Here are some animals who participated the Mardi Gras.

a turtle car ... out of the ordinary car

beads that I got

vendor is doing good money too

Fogs in Ocean Springs

After work, the road on the way home look like the pictures below. What time was these pictures taken? It's 7:35 in the morning in Biloxi and Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Yesterday, the rain was pouring hard with strong thunder. It was really scary when we were on the bridge because the lighting was bad. We can't see the Isle Casino or the Palace Casino from the foot of the bridge.

Nearby places had a flood warning but thankfully, everything was alright. Morning comes, heavy fogs. Oh by the way, how bad was it last night? Pretty bad! You can't see the road because the rain will really blinded you. So, my husband decided that we will drive slow but, there were few cars zooming passed us. As if no mishap could happen to them. Unluckily, 1 car turn right and dive into the canal, probably miscalculated the turn. The canal was probably 3ft. high and I saw a person inside still, can't get out. I dialed 911 and my husband reported the incident to the dispatcher. We had no time to stop really. The traffic is heavy, rain is pouring hard and all we could do was call. In less than 3 minutes, we saw an ambulance and police cars rushing towards the area. The person was alright, we guess. The rescue was fast and by the time my husband drove back, the car was pulled from the canal already. The incident happened across the street of Ocean Springs Hospital anyway.

Then 6 blocks away, another car submerged in the canal. There was nobody on it and we bet, the accident happened earlier. That was our enduring journey last night on my way to work.
In the morning, wearing my Saints Jersey here (blurred), I enjoyed the fogs. Cold? Not at all! I wonder why it was not cold?HMMM.
The pictures looks like night time, right? According to the forecast, in the afternoon there will be heavy rain and it did! Nasty Rain.

Fort Maurepas Park

Another project finally opened last Saturday October 25, 2009 at Ocean Springs Front Beach area of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. This is the main building, a great location to view the whole scenery of the Gulf Coast.

Sunset in Mississippi

I had so many pending pictures that I love to share with you here in my blog. These three were just few of them. I love this first photo so much. It shows the beauty of the scenery and the calmness of the sea. It was 9 0'clock when I took this picture yet, the sunset had just begun.

The building at the far end, left side is The Isle Hotel and Casino located in the other city. Just 10 minutes away from where I stood.

There were groups of family on the beach just enjoying the view. Some of them walk their dog out or had their evening routine of jogging. This place is so peaceful and simple. Awesome hideaway.