The Krewe of Kings & Drama Queens is ALWAYS down for a good party, whether indoors, out, or riding down the street on a Mardi Gras Float! Check out our video of this year's MardiParty Float, as we rode through Long Beach in their annual Mardi Gras parade!
Interested in riding with us in future parades?! Contact us via facebook.com/KingsDramaQueens or twitter.com/KerriPaul.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Check out Stacy and I on CBS' The Amazing Race, Sundays, at 8/7c!
Name: Kerri Paul
Hometown: Gulfport, Miss.Connection to your teammate: Cousins
Current occupation: Program Coordinator
Describe what you do: I coordinate recreational programs and cultural events for the city of Gulfport.
How will these skills help you win The Race? I am very skilled at the planning and execution of events, activities, etc. I pay very close attention to detail which will help at completing tasks with precision.
Three words to describe you: Loquacious, resourceful and driven.
Favorite hobbies: Running on the beach,More... organizing (my home, social events, gatherings) and watching reality TV.
What famous person reminds you of yourself? Beyonce – big hair and southern girl flair
What famous person reminds you of your teammate? Angelina Jolie. Stacy is a smoking hot mom! She is a dynamic individual, beautiful, adventurous and has a big heart. You never know what her next move will be.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? I am a first generation college graduate. I’m most proud that I was the first person in my family to graduate from college, and I was the first to obtain a masters degree as well. It was a proud moment for me and my entire family.
What scares you most about traveling? The thought of the unknown scares me. In the U.S. everyone speaks the same language and has the same culture. It’s frightening to imagine stepping off a plane where you can’t even ask people questions because they don’t speak English.
What excites you most about traveling? It’s exciting to get the opportunity to see places that you’re only able to see on TV or the internet! Growing up I’ve been fortunate to travel all over the U.S., but I’ve never had the opportunity to travel abroad. It will be exciting to experience different customs, foods and ways of life. It’s a chance of a lifetime!
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on The Race together: Stacy doesn’t assert herself enough. I want her to give her ideas, thoughts, opinions and not hold back. I can be very overpowering at times (“mouth of the south”), and I want her to speak up more and not have me do all the talking.
Pet peeve about your teammate: She’s fashionably late to everything. My super procrastinator cousin always has everyone waiting or her to arrive. Also, she tends to go off on a tangent with these long, drawn out stories/monologues. I find myself “listening” to be polite when I really want to cut her off and start talking myself.
What country and place would you most like to visit and why? Brazil/South America, because I think the culture is very exotic and colorful. I would love to experience “Carnival” because it is the birthplace of Mardi Gras, which is a tradition that my family celebrates coming from South Mississippi (near New Orleans).
What do you hope to accomplish by running The Race (other than winning one million bucks)? We have been separated in our adult lives due to Hurricane Katrina, college, marriage, etc. We hope to use this time together to strengthen the bond that we once had as children. Also, I want to take this time to travel, accomplish my goal of winning The Race and to do something adventurous before my husband and I settle down and start having children.
Name: Stacy Bowers
Hometown: Gulfport, Miss.
Connection to your teammate: Cousins
Current occupation: Self Employed/“Basketball” Wife
Describe what you do: I spend most of my time working on various projects. My husband and I are currently working on a Youth Basketball Camp to be held this upcoming summer. I also spend a lot of time traveling back and forth between the U.S. and Italy, where my husband plays professional basketball for “Umana Venezia” in Venice.
How will these skills help you win The Race? I can multitask easily. I have developed a lot of skills and resourcefulness throughout the years.
Three words to describe you: Analytical, witty and tenacious.
Favorite hobbies: Spending time/playing with my children, cooking and gaming (Sudoku, Monopoly, Scrabble, Taboo). I’m also very much into politics. My friends often look to me to explain the latest "possip" (political-gossip) and hot political topics.
What famous person reminds you of yourself? Jennifer Lopez, because she goes from sweet to heat in 0.2 seconds.
What famous person reminds you of your teammate? Kerri is a mix between Beyonce and Tamar Braxton. She is absolutely beautiful, adventurous and intelligent. She's also very talkative. I never know what "craziness" will come out of her mouth!
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Other than being a great mommy, I am proud that I was able to complete my MBA with a 4.0 GPA.
What scares you most about traveling? Traveling is not really scary to me, however, the thought of being stuck in the middle of nowhere with no means of communication is a bit scary.
What excites you most about traveling? I am excited to see and experience new cultures.
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on The Race together: Kerri has a big mouth and often talks over me. She also always automatically assumes that her opinion is the only one that counts -- or that my opinion isn’t important.
Pet peeve about your teammate: Not only does Kerri speak often but she also speaks very loudly sometimes. She just wants to be the only voice heard throughout the planet. She is 100% drama queen.
What country and place would you most like to visit and why? I would love to visit Spain – especially Barcelona, mainly because it’s a very beautiful country, rich in culture and history. Plus, I’ve always wanted to try authentic Spanish food.
What do you hope to accomplish by running The Race (other than winning one million bucks)? I hope to prove to both of my children, but especially my 11 year old son, that anything is truly possible with hard work and determination. He had speech challenges early on, and would easily get discouraged and very frustrated with his situation. I want him to see me work through challenges with steadfast determination. I hope that in seeing me compete, it will encourage them to dream big and show them that there are no limits to accomplishing one's ambitions. I want them to think to themselves, "If Mommy can compete for the sky, then we can reach the moon!"
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Frugal Fashionista’s Night In: No Need to Shop; Let’s Swap!
What the heck is a swap?
Your dreams have come true! You can pick out some "new" accessories without the hassles of the mall, the crowded stores, or your credit card. We're inviting all our friends on Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 6pm to Kerri Paul's house and turning her living room into a mini-chic boutique! At the swap you'll be able to trade in your gently used items for your friends cute clutch or dangly earrings you've been admiring for months! With submitted items arranged in a shopper-friendly fashion, everyone can find something they love. What better way to increase your FABULOUSNESS while spending time with gal-pals without spending a dime!?
What can you swap?
Bring 5 to 15 items including, but not limited to, handbags, costume jewelry, belts, scarves, accessories, cosmetics, etc that you would like to swap. You should only bring items that are clean, in good condition and not hopelessly outdated. (Vintage is ok, however!) We want our "Swap Store" to be full of TREASURES, so make sure to bring things that you are sure other people would be interested in. No clothing, please.
How the swap will work?
The "store" will be arranged into 5 categories: Penny, Bronze, Silver, Gold, & Platinum
- Penny category items are appraised for less than $10 (ex: costume jewelry; drug store cosmetics-eye shadows, nail polish; hair accessories-head bands)
- Bronze category items are appraised for less than $10—$30 (ex: high end accessories; books; DVDs, watches)
- Silver category items are appraised at or around $30—$50 (ex: designer cosmetics; hair styling tools; home décor; luggage sets-overnight bags)
- Gold category items are appraised at or around $50—$100 (ex: designer perfume, nice handbags, electronics)
- Platinum category items are appraised at or around $100 and above and are luxe items (ex: designer handbags, electronics)
DISCLAIMER: Items and appraisal categories will be determined by brand, make, and condition of your goods. Please be mindful that we will do our best in determining appraisal of each item, but remember that this is all for fun so please bring items that you are comfortable parting with.
The Day of the Swap
As guests arrive, they will be numbered by the order in which they arrive. This number will determine your "Swapping" order. (READ: The earlier you arrive, the better chance you have on first dibs on the nicest items!) You will then give your items you are swapping to the "Appraiser." The Appraiser will place a value on your items and in return she will give you a token that coincides with that value.
For example: If you bring 1 coach purse (Platinum item), 2 pairs of earrings (Penny items), a nice scarf (potentially a Silver item) you would receive 1 token to shop the Platinum items submitted by your friends, 2 tokens to shop the Bronze items and 1 token to shop the Silver items. Each item in each category is worth 1 token "trade" per person.
The first 5 guests will swap first, and so on, in rounds, until everyone has exhausted all of their swapping tokens. We will allow multiple guests to swap at once, with each guest having three "trades" until their next "swapping" round. If multiple "swappers" decide on the same item, they will be given a chance to compete for the item once all swapping rounds are complete.
Examples of Swap Items
Gently Used:- Costume Jewelry: Earrings, Necklaces, Bracelets, Rings, Jewelry Sets, Etc.
- Uniqueness is key!
- One woman's "this old thing" is another woman's "Hot New Bling!"
- Purses, Handbags, & Clutches
- Designer and non-brand, we want them all!
- The more unique, the better!
- Make sure to clean it out before you bring it. We want stain-free stuff!
- Cosmetics: eyeshadow, new lipsticks, blush, perfume, hair products, etc.
- Last year's Christmas gift of Viva La Juicy perfume that you never used
- That same shade of purple eye shadow that you have in three different compacts
- That nude lip gloss that came in the set that you never used and isn't your color
- You're growing out your hair, so you have no use for that 1'' barrel curling iron/flat iron
- Books, Movies, Music, Stationery, Etc.
- Boxed sets are GREAT!
- Complete your collection or swap your collection with us!
- Home décor
- Make a cute gift basket of the misc items you have in abundance
- Cute picture frames
- Artwork
-"My friends are beginning to predict my fashion choices…" SWAP IT!
-"I'm sooo over this hot pink lipstick… but Susie would look great in it!…" SWAP IT!
-"Oh my gosh! I forgot I even owned this!…" SWAP IT!
Swapanista Tips!
-Bring a variety of things. Try to bring at least one item from each category.
-Group items of like characteristics together to add value. Ex: Jewelry Sets, Household novelty items, ect.
-It's Christmas time! Make a Christmas bundle including extra tape, wrapping paper, leftover Christmas cards, etc!
-Cards and stationery are GREAT swaps!
-Write a description or something about the item you're swapping on a note attached to it to make it more appealing. "Made me LOL." "Would make a great gift."
-SWAPS are a Re-Gifter's paradise!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Mean Mugg...
Now, for months, I never responded. Well, on the occasional "I feel sorry for this poor idiot" day I'll sputter the obligatory "hi," but for the most part, I leave him hanging. But one day, I felt the need to be real with the young chap and put him out of his misery. I was brutally blunt and confessed that the reason that I never chat with him is because of his Gawd Awful profile pik and that his entire being freaks me out in general.
Why oh why did I do that? I swear it gave the fool more ammo! I'm wondering, was my callous statement, to him, a proverbial "come hither?" Because my response sparked a barage of messages from him: "Why do you say that?" "What's wrong with my profile pik?" "Why don't you ever talk to me?" Bla, bla, bla, aaagghhhh! For a moment there, I felt like I'd morphed into Laura Winslow (upgraded 2010 version, of course!). As I read on, my brow furrowed deeper into confusion as I tried to make sense of how downright insult to the poor fellow can result in amusement (arousal, even!) But then, I dug deep down into the recesses of my brain, (you know, the practically useless part that women rarely use but men rely on)... And took a minute to try and think like a male would think (DO they even think?)... Alas, the conclusion was simple: MEN LOVE THE CHASE no matter what the costs (war wounds) that come with it!
It's funny, b/c sooo many of my girlfriends cry and whine about not having a man, can't keep a man, yadda, yadda, yadda... But I wonder if I've found out the secret that men have been knowing and excercising for years: Treating men like the dogs that (MOST OF THEM) are will keep them coming back for more! It's simple! "It's elementary, my dears!"
I mean, look at all the women who stay with men who treat them like dirt. I'm sure every last person reading this right now can instantly think of that auntie, cousin, BFF, "little brother's baby mama" who is in the exact same predicament. He talks to her crazy, occasionally "jumps stupid," and downright disses the poor child on a daily, and magically, she's back in his arms, night after drama-filled night.
Now, in no way am I endorsing disrespect, violence, and plain old tomfoolery, but I can't help but to state the obvious. It's almost uncanny, but thanks to Facebook, I have unlocked the secret to what makes a man tick and his heart melt and it's all about being a plain old, big fat "meany!" :)
Come to I think of it, I wish I'd collected stats on the countless guys who I have come across on FB who have told me that I was mean. But FTR, these same "accusers" keep coming back for more! I didn't know what it was at first... Maybe they like the attention, but the more I say things like, "Not interested," "Don't hold your breath," or "You're one type-o away from becoming defriended," the more they keep the lame pick-up attempts coming. Maybe all guys, deep down inside, are searching for that verbal dominatrix... The one who will bring them to their knees with that quick witted tongue! Haha. Even I had to laugh at that one.
But seriously, I'm not making this stuff up, I just write it, and I can assure you that there are facts to back up the madness. And if you don't believe me, try it out. What can it hurt (besides their big fat egos?)
I guess that in a way, I'm just venting about the guys who keep interrupting my daily Facebooking with their constant mindless IMing, but there seems to be a lesson in it all. And here it is: For all you single sistas searching, call off the search party and pump up the attitude. It seems to work at keeping 'em interested. Just make sure you get the hang of turning it on and off. There's much that can be said about doing things in moderation.
It's something like Sour Patch Kids candies. At first they're sour, then they're sweet. And we love them either way. We've gotta harness that "best of both worlds" spirit. No one wants to be with someone whose always the same, boring... vanilla. Add some of that cayenne pepper!
And that is all... And this is your daily Kerrapy! :)
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Wellllllllllllllllll, it's CARNIVAL TIMMMMMMEEEEE...!!!
Of course, janky ole' Murphy and his "Laws" showed up, of course... And our oh-so-reliable cousins Bud and Johnny messed up the music! I don't know why, after 3 years of riding in parades, we don't have a standard music system set up yet, but I guess we wouldn't be the Krewe of Krazees if something didn't go wrong.
So, musicless, yet STILL crunk, the parade rolled on. Leave it to El and Kim to have the most ridiculous throws ever - yes, the Joneses showed up and showed out! We had V-Day treats for days.... The typical Mardi Gras panty? Oh, that's sooo pase! The Joneses roll w/ REAL heart emblazoned boxers and REAL tank and panty night sets! Hehehe... Can my fellow Coasties imagine how those parade go-ers were killing themselves for THOSE talismens! It was quite the experience, I MUST say! And even though I didn't chip in a dime on throws, there were tons to spare!
My sis and I ponder the phenom of Mardi Gras throws every year. Why oh why do people darn near throw themselves in front of moving vehicles for a 2 cent plastic frisbee, stuffed bear, or worse yet, the coveted "titty bead?" But there's something magical about catching plastic what-nots from mobile chariots filled with drunkards. On any given Sunday, a bag full of purple, green, & gold beads, doubloons, candy, and trinkets is considered worthles junk, but on Fat Tuesday these things are the treasure of all "Coast Trash!"
But the phenom definitely is multi-faceted as it differs between pardade goers and parade riders. I've spent 20+ years as a goer, and courtesy of my old neighbor Timmy, I have been upgraded to a "rider." I remember it like it was yesterday. Picture it, Forest View Apartments, 2006... I was standing in my parking lot talking to my neighbor Timmy, when I suggested for him to make me a float out of the eyesore trailer that was bringing down my property value by the minute. He said SURE he would - of course I didn't believe him until he pulled up in my lot about a week later w/ the project completed w/ flying colors. So the Krewe of Krazees was born that fateful day, and the rest is THERAPY! :)
And like I mentioned, parade "riding" is a totally different monster from parade "going." There's the countless hours spent painting and decorating the float and counless dollars spent on throws. This year, I piggybacked off Mom and Kim on throws (thanks guys!), but I can attest that they've spent hundreds, if not thousands on trinkets. It's funny, if you really think about it, to spend soooo much on seemingly worthless crap that will be literaly thrown away to hundreds of screaming "Throw Me Something" Misters... But wait, that's just it... It's the rush of delighting the random 6-year-old whose day you make by tossing them a simple Mardi Gras bead that makes it all worth it. Seriously, it's an AMAZING rush when the little boy celebrates after catching the purple frisbee you just tossed him. (Personally, I get happy when my aim actually gets the treat to the right person!)
Anyway, that's Mardi Gras! And this is your daily Kerrapy!
Friday, February 12, 2010
V-Day! Aaarrrrggggg!
OK, so it's the Friday before Valentine's Day... And of course I have a few thoughts on the holiday...
First of all, I don't really complain much, ok, so let's get real, I probably really do complain a lot... but ANYWAY. So, I'm referencing my first V-day gift which I received today. I'll begin by saying that I am really thankful for the gift and for the fact that someone loves and cares enough about me to even send me a gift at all. Secondly, by the mere fact that I referred to the gift as my "first" gift (meaning that there are more to come) it would kindof make me sound like a spoiled brat, for the simple fact that I'm actually "complaining" about a gift, especially when this is one of many... Alas, I am me... And I must keep it real. Brutally honest, if I do say so myself. So here goes the rant...
Let me start w/ a little background on the situation. My significant other and I are, if my memory serves me correctly, sitting on the couch last night watching NBA Wives, a documentary on E! Very cleverly, the advertisers pop up w/ all these V-day commercials, (knowing that only "hopeless romantics" or "wanna-be spoiled wives to be" would be watching a show of this caliber) and an "Edible Bouquets" commercial comes on. So of course I verbally expressed my interest in edible bouquets. And if you really know me, you'd KNOW that I love things w/ multi-utilitarian purpose. Fashion+Functionality might as well by my middle name, b/c I absolutely LOVE things that can be used for multiple purposes, recycled, re-gifted, etc! I know, I know... a little A.D.D. of me, but hey, that's KERRI! Henceforth, the whole concept of an edible bouquet is simply brilliance! Fashion+Functionality. Loves it!
Anyway, I have duely noted numerous times my detest, well, not detest, but moreso "apathy" (thanks Ja Rita for the vocab refreshser!) towards flowers. I mean, they're really good for only one thing, and that's to get attention at work. Fellas... and I'm serious about this one... DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT EVER send flowers to a woman at her home when there is an opportunity to send them to her at work, in front of all her jealous co-workers! ;) Sounds crazy, but 'tis true. Flowers are just sooooooooo un-original! And you have to put them in a vase (clothe them), water them (feed them), and make sure they have light (attention)... Hell, yall might as well send us an INFANT! I'm just soooo not one for gifts that you require upkeep.
So anyway, back to my original thought... I distinctly expressed my love for edible arrangements in front of my boo, and this boy sends me roses today at work. The nerve! :) Now, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised to receive the roses. It was a sweet thought, yes. But as I struggled to pry open the box (in which my nails were messed up in the process!) fidgeted w/ the paper, rubberbands, plastic, foam, and all the other trappings that come along w/ assembling my GIFT, I admit that the ugly "this man does NOT listen to me" thoughts crept up my medulla oblongatta into my cerebellum and eventually made themselves to the area of mild disgust and unsatisfaction!
I keep telling myself, "it's the thought that counts" but the more I ponder, the more I begin to think that there was little to no thought at all that went into this "gift." *pouting* I mean, I was really craving that chocolate covered strawberry and pineapple bouquet!
I swear, it KILLS ME to have to write this, but I must always adhere to rationality and reason. And on this V-Day eve, my cognitions have gotten the best of me.
So guys, please learn something today... Just because something is the "holiday mainstay" it does not mean that it's in your best interest to partake. Some women may be enamored w/ flowers, yes, but my point is, MAKE SURE YOUR WOMAN LIKES FLOWERS before you sent them to her. Because as for Miss Kerri Babee, I can think of COUNTLESS things that could have been well spent by two twenties, other than the traditional dozen roses. And if you insist on doing the flower thing, MAKE SURE that you get them delivered by a local florist so that when they walk into the building, they're already arranged and pretty. Because, as you can see in the above picture, the boxed (set 'em up yourself) version is truly lackluster!
If there's something else out there that you're sure you would like better for the price of the flowers, go for it! That new dress she's been eyeing in the window of BCBG, so-and-so's latest fragrance, even the boxed set of her favorite sitcom (*ahem, cough,--> THE GAME, cough*) would make MUCH better and MUCH more thoughtful tokens than the wickedly outdated 1-800 FLOWERS bouquet. #justsayin
No disrespect, boyfriend. I'm certain that this gift was sent with love and adoration, but um... FAIL! :)
-My daily Kerrapy
Fell free to comment. Your "constructive" criticism is welcome!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Welcome to Kerrapy
Soooo.... I've always said that there is one thing in this world that I do well, and that's TALK! Miss "Mouth of the South," I've been dubbed since Mrs. Hawthorne's second grade class.... So what better way to harness this God-given talent of mine than to start blogging. I know, I know, I'm like, 10 years late on this one, but hey, I never said that my strength was punctuality! :)
So here I go, typing off into the wild net-yonder... Rambling, as you can see. I am a woman of many thoughts and words, but at this moment, wittyness seems to evade me. Hence, I will get back to work (ugh) and see if something inspires me.
Ciao!
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