Most of you know Mardi Gras as “that awesome day in New Orleans where everyone gets super drunk while wearing glitter and feathers, and flashes the crowds for plastic beads,” but really, that is far from the whole story. 

What makes Mardi Gras different from Halloween or a Gay Pride celebration is its connection to Carnival Season - the time between the Twelfth Night of Christmas and Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Carnival is celebrated throughout the world as the official time to shake your sillies out, eat King’s Cake and indulge in all those goodies you plan on giving up for Lent. Because, hey, if Jesus could spend 40 days and nights fasting and being tempted by the devil in the desert, the least you can do is stop eating cheeseburgers until Easter - and that kind of discipline requires preparation.

But if you’re not the cheeseburger-devouring, booze-guzzling, booby-bearing type, how do you properly prepare for Lent? Here’s what devout Christians do during Mardi Gras season: They have PANCAKE PARTIES!

On Fat Tuesday (aka Shrove Tuesday), many Christians clear their refrigerators of perishables and indulgences that are off-limits during Lent. Guess what falls into that category... butter and syrup and pancakes, oh my! And it gets better. Tradition (and legend) calls for PANCAKE RACES on that fateful Tuesday, for in 1445, one woman reportedly lost track of time while making pancakes and ended up running to Church, frying pan still in hand.

So next year, instead of waking up on Ash Wednesday with a hangover and a list of regrets, wake up satisfied, knowing you spent Fat Tuesday eating tons of pancakes - and then running off the calories!

Here are some stand out runway looks from Fashion Week 2012:

Just kidding! I confess, I've been having a bit of fun following the trends on .  Don't tell my fellow fashionistas, but the fun I have on that site rivals even the best Fashion Week parties. If you haven't tried it yet, you just must! Check out our Middle Sister Pinterest Pinboards  - it's like a peek backstage into the lives and personalities of me and my sisters!

Love and kisses! Drama Queen

Ashli Molinero is a middle sister. She’s also nerd with a “blonde soul” who loves her family, the Steelers, Madonna, and helping people in need. And we think she is AWESOME.

Ashli received her first bottle of Middle Sister Wine on the beach in Ocean City, New Jersey. Her two sisters presented her with “Forever Cool” while at the family’s annual vacation spot - probably quite ceremoniously, since they both scored “Drama Queen” on our quiz - and Ashli has been a Super Sister ever since. We recently interviewed her to learn about her inspirations, her guilty pleasures, and where she gets her joy de vivre.

Here’s what went down:

Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where are you from?
I am from Pittsburgh, Pa. I have lived here my whole life.

Cool! I've never been there, but I hear its a great place to live. What's your favorite thing about living there?
It is hard to pick one thing in particular. I love the people here, the culture, and of course the Steelers and Penguins. The Warhol Museum is one of my favorite places here.

Haha yes, I've met some Steelers fans. you guys are crazy!
We are crazy!

Are you married? Any kids?
Not married and no kids. But that is a good thing - it leaves more time for my nieces and nephews, whom I adore.

Oooh! How old are they?
Madison is 17, Frankie is 15, Spencer is 12, Chloe is 5 and Benjamin is 3.

Wow that's a spread! You spend lots of time with them?
Yeah, as much as they let me. Haha. And I am the middle sister of three!

I was just going to ask! Older and younger sisters?
Kelly is older and Heather is younger. They bought me my first bottle of MS at the beach.

You spend a lot of time at the beach?
Yes, we LOVE the beach. We go every year with all of us. We've been doing it forever. It is everyone's favorite time of the year. We go to Ocean City, NJ. I wish we could do the whole summer- that would be awesome! But no, usually just 1 week. We keep trying to expand it to two, but it never works out.

So I have to ask... Since we're talking about the beach and the sun and all... is that blonde natural? It is FABULOUS!
Hahaha! I could tell you yes, this was my hair color when I was little. But, no, it got darker and my older sister did this to me. And thanks!

Haha "Did this to me"! Well it looks fantastic.
It is hard to keep it up, I'll tell you that much. Sometimes I wish I could go darker, but my hair dresser won't change it back because one time he did, and I took a Barbie doll with me the next day and said change it back. He said I have a "blonde soul."

You are too cute! So do you always work in Philadelphia? It sounds like you travel around for your job.
I do travel a lot for work, but not necessarily to Philly. I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh.

Oh wow, cool. What do you teach?
I teach in Rehabilitation Science and Technology. I am a nerd. My Doctorate is in Information Systems and CommunicAtion. Ha - and they should take it back for not being able to spell or type on this iPad!

Ah! You ARE a nerd! "Rehabilitation Science" "Technology" "Doctorate" "Information Systems" "Communication" AND iPad!
Seriously!

Rehabilitation science? What does that mean?
Rehab science and tech has to do with the technologies that people with disabilities use to accomplish their daily activities.

That's pretty cool! So you teach people to help people (to completely simplify it).
In a nutshell, yes. I have my dream job.

Wow! Everyone should be able to say that :) What got you interested in rehabilitation?
It was by accident. I wanted to go into marketing, but also wanted to go to graduate school. I loved that the rehab engineers were using their talents to make a difference I other people's lives, and wanted to do the same. Then, the Internet came along and I got into web development. Then I realized that people with disabilities were having trouble accessing websites, so tried to put my energy there.

Ok, you're super cool.
Aww, thanks. I am just a nerd.

Well, nerds rule.
Everything just happened at the right time for me and I was open to the challenges/ opportunities.

That's so important, to be open to it all. Life is full of opportunities if you let yourself see them.
Definitely!

So I take it web development got you involved in social media. You're pretty active on twitter, I noticed!
Oh yeah, social media is my thing now. We use it to get the word about our latest disability research out to the people who need it.

Any great new discoveries in disability research we should know about?
The big thing right now is telerehabilitation, which is providing services remotely. It brings the clinical expertise to rural areas. Robotics is big, too.

It’s hard to imagine not being able to get the services you need because of where you live. Telerehabilitation sounds so futuristic!
Futuristic, but very doable.

Well, we love you at Middle Sister. How did you find out we were active in social media? Did you seek us out?
I think I was trying to find out how to get MS in PA, so I visited the website. Then all of a sudden, I found RR on Facebook and I loved that you were using social media in such a cool way. It just seems like a cool company, all the way around.

Thanks! We try to make the brand as engaging as possible. We love that we can give women confidence in their strong voices. We aren't all cookie cutters, and we should celebrate that!
Yes! I am a happy girl now that I don't have to go to the beach for some MS!

Yes! Let Middle Sister be your beach! I have just a few more questions for you.
Fire them at me...

Who inspires you? Anyone personal? Anyone we've maybe heard of?
Well, my parents and my sisters and their kids to start. They are all fabulous and fun. Then, of course, I love Madonna. Ha! And Eddie Veder from Pearljam.

Hah! Fantastic! I love it.
Madonna - because she does what she wants and does it well. Eddie Veder, same reason I suppose. He does what and says what he thinks is right. Both Madonna and Pearljam have been my favorites for a lonnnnnggg time. They are sort of contrasting musically, though.

You can like both!
Yeah, I don't like to be predictable. Hahah!


Ok ready? next question: What's the hardest thing you've ever done?
Hmmm..... my doctorate. It was a test emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.

School can be so hard. I know the feeling.
For sure!

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
Hmmmmm....not much because I started a healthy diet for the New Year. But, I always have chocolate and coffee.

Which Middle Sister Wine is your favorite taste-wise?
I haven't tasted all of them yet, but so far I think I like Forever Cool and Rebel Red the best.

Awesome! Thanks! You really are a force to be reckoned with :)
Hahah - Thanks. It was definitely fun.