Turn up the heat right where you are by hosting your own classic Mardi Gras festivities. Order the beads, buy the outfit, and collect the booze – because that's what Mardi Gras is all about. Invite everyone you know, and spark a mock parade down the street towards the nearest bar town. Bar hop 'til your pants drop.

King cake is the staple of any New Orleans' Mardi Gras celebration. Green, gold, and purple adorn the top of this sweet-n-spicy pastry that signifies the start of the Louisiana tradition all over the country. Grab yourself one at the local super market for a taste of the party in the comfort of your home. Better yet, make your own from scratch.

Mardi Gras brings out people from all walks of life in costumes you could have never imagined. This Southern holiday is like a next-level Halloween — for adults. Think about it: Festival-goers trick-or-treat for beads and complimentary drinks, no one is dressed as themselves, and anything goes. It's got the makings of an PG-13 rated Halloween holiday.

Make it your plan to put together the costume of all costumes, recruit your friends, and paint the town red — err, purple, green, and gold.

The party doesn't stop down south in the bayou. Do your research for other attractions around the country or world, and find the celebration that best suits you and yours. Universal Studios in Orlando, FL is fun for the whole family, or for your group of friends still in touch with their child-like wonder, and the park hosts its very own Mardi Gras celebration through February and March.

You know the drill — as if you needed another reason to throw a party. Now, you've got a theme, the party favors, and the food-n-drink table on lock. Just add guests.

At some point, you need to bite the bullet and make the trek to New Orleans to experience the biggest party in the country for yourself. There's no better time than now to book your ticket to buckets of booze, beads galore, and your first bite of beignet. Ever heard the saying, "Y.O.L.O."?

The energy down in New Orleans during Mardi Gras is brought not only by the massive crowds, but also by the entertainment. Live music, parades, dancers, and more flood the streets and local attractions to keep the tourists and festival-goers partying until the sun comes up. If there's one thing you need to do during Mardi Gras, it's seeking out local entertainment to recreate the excitement from home.

Mardi Gras, also know as "Fat Tuesday," is basically a celebration of life, marked by flowing booze and rich, fatty foods. Like any other holiday, it's an excuse to indulge, unbutton your pants, put your hands in the air, and wave 'em around like you just don't care. Go all out this Mardi Gras with a "Fat Tuesday Feast." Invite your closest friends and serve true-blue Louisiana classics like gumbo, fried okra, and creole bread pudding.

Crack open a book, or Google, and get to know the widely-regarded carnival celebration that is Mardi Gras from its origins. Learn why it's really called "Fat Tuesday," when it all began, who started it, and who still considers it a holiday today. If you don't know, now ya know.