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The Ultimate St. Patty’s Day Guide

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Suffolk chapter.

What to wear…

Whether you’re staying in the city for Boston’s legendary parade, bar hopping and fun festivities, or hosting a party of your own with a bunch of friends, you should be fashionably prepared to show your St. Patty’s Day spirit. One thing is for sure, Beantown knows how to throw it down…so plan to look your best! As you’re out and about shopping, be on the lookout for fun touches that you can easily work into your plan, style & look. In planning ahead, you won’t be scrambling around a few days before trying to figure it all out. Whatever you do, keep it classy and green all over ladies!

A subtle touch of green is all you need to pull off a great, tasteful and stylish look at your St. Patrick’s event.  If you want to go all out, get something that will be funky, trendy and unique for pictures.  Even though your green will blend into the crowd, with these style tips, you will stand out and make a fashion statement to be remembered.  

Whether it’s a fun pair of glittery sneakers, dangly jewels, a vibrant purse, clover-covered scarf, or Kelly green tunic, keep an eye out for something that strikes you, and then work around it!  Here are a few fun ideas…

Finishing touches…

Makeup and nails are really fun accents you can easily dazzle for a fun St. Patty’s party.  Do it up…the more green sparkles and fashion forward touches, the better! Check out Julep’s awesome and festive polish colors to dress up your nails.  

Whether you’re in the mood for a “Bombshell” look, or if you consider yourself more of an “It Girl,” this trendy boutique carries colors from vibrant kelly green and glossy sparkles to dark hunter green and soft mint. A coat of silver or gold sparkles over your choice of matte green looks great as well – the absolute perfect finishing touch to your ensemble.

Want to make the crowd swoon over your sexy eyes?  MAC has a spectacular statement for you to make, of course. They have the most fabulous selection of vibrant shadows, sexy glosses and fun false lashes to dress up your everyday and party look.  MAC’s new Fantasy of Flowers collection is absolutely irresistible for St. Patty’s. Your eyes will look bright and bold coated in MAC’s “In the Meadow” palette, and your entire face will glow in “Petal Power’s” soft, blissful sparkle.

Here are a few funky and fun examples to play with, from face to nails:

Oh, and don’t forget to primp up your pup…

Festive food…

So many really fun, inexpensive and unique ideas you can easily prepare to serve at your own green gathering…or bring to a party.  With this menu, your guests will certainly be feeling the St. Patrick’s Day Spirit and their taste buds will be deliciously pleased.  Spice up your event with these awesome recipes!

Luscious “Grasshopper” Cocktails…Ice Cream Style

  • 5 quarts of Mint Chocolate Chip or French Vanilla ice cream
  • 3 shots of green Crème de Menthe liquor
  • 1 shot of Jameson Irish Whiskey
  • 1 shot of white Crème de Cacao liquor

Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl. Use two big spoons or ice cream paddles and blend the ingredients together. Once the mixture is mixed well, get out fun green cocktail glasses to serve this sweet, divinely decadent cocktail to your guests. Top off each glass with fresh whipped cream and green crystal sprinkles! Mint sprigs can be used for extra garnishing.

Four Leaf Clover Pizza

Okay, we’re not literally topping off our pies with four leaf clovers to bake, but something that is St. Patty’s day approved and strictly delicious: cheesy spinach arugula pizza. A quick and healthy preparation that all of your guests will enjoy!

  • Green (spinach) pizza dough
  • 1 cup of arugula to top
  • 6 tablespoons pesto sauce
  • 1 package of feta cheese
  • 2 garlic cloves, sliced thin
  • 1 teaspoon of olive oil

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough. Smooth the pesto onto your rolled-out pizza dough to create a coating on the base. Crumble the feta cheese, spredding it evenly, and then add the sliced garlic. Use olive oil to put a light coating on the crust. Once the pie is placed in the oven, bake for the amount of time indicated on the pizza dough wrapping (until you see the crust turning a golden brown color). Allow time to cool, slice it up, and serve on a pretty festive platter.

Kiwi & Green Grape Fruit Kabobs

Buy wooden fruit kebeb skewers and decorate with your choice of green fruit – kiwi, green grapes, green apple or avocado.  These make absolutely perfect appetizers/snacks and they look spectacular served on a decorative tray.  If you’re feeling artsy, tie tiny green bows on the top of the wooden skewers.

Can’t forget the best part! Sugary snacks for Saint Pat’s…

Betty Crocker’s Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • 1 package of Betty Crocker’s Sugar Cookie Mix
  • ½ cup of softened butter or margarine
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon of mint extract
  • 6 to 8 drops of green food coloring (the greener, the better!)
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1 cup Andes “crème de menthe” baking chips
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chunks

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the sugar cookie mix, mint extract, softened butter, egg and food coloring into a big bowl.  Stir together.  Once soft dough is produced, add in the chocolate chunks and crème de menthe chips. Make dough balls to place on the cookie sheets. Once the cookie sheets are organized, put into the oven to bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool them on a wire cookie rack. These tasty delights will simply melt in your mouth…they are that good!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

This classic dessert is one of a kind that everyone loves to savor. Melt semisweet chocolate chips in one pan, and white chocolate chips in another. Once the chocolate is melted, dip the fresh strawberries in the chocolate, and then set to dry. Decorate with fun St. Pat’s clover sprinkles or make green designs by drizzling edible glitter gel.

Irish Cupcakes

What’s a St. Partrick’s party without cupcakes, Irish cream, Guinness and whiskey? These cupcakes are made of sinfully divine chocolate Guinness cake, filled in the middle with a luscious chocolate ganache—with naughty hints of Irish whiskey, of course. They are frosted with Vanilla Buttercream (which includes delicious Bailey’s Irish Cream), in addition to clover and crystal sprinkles. These creatively decadent delicacies will have everyone at your festivities craving more…

Brown Eyed Baker most certainly knows best! Click here for the recipe and instructions: http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2011/03/14/irish-car-bomb-cupcakes/

Have such a fun holiday… keeping it classy, stylish and green all over!

My name is Alexa Mellardo and I am currently a sophomore and Broadcast Journalism major at Suffolk University, located in the heart of one of the most charming cities in the world: Boston. A passionate journalist, I am fortunate to be doing what I love to do….writing! When I’m not composing articles for two awesome online publications (hercampus.com and also collegefashionista.com) and attending classes, I intern at a trendy magazine in the city. In between, I love to shop and spend time with my friends and my boyfriend. I have two addictions: shopping and cupcakes. In light of that, what better place to be than just blocks away from Newbury Street, Charles Street and Quincy Market? My quaint, vintage brownstone apartment in Beacon Hill is where my two best friends and I keep it strictly classy and fashionable. We turned our apartment into a comfy fashionable haven, and we enjoy relaxing and entertaining our friends. Living in such an awesome city provides a wealth of opportunity, fun, and culture to embrace. My dream is to one day be a respected, well-known broadcast journalist.
Julia is a senior at Suffolk University in Boston, MA. She is an English major and Psychology minor and is the Blog Section Editor and a Campus Correspondent for HC Suffolk. After graduation, she hopes to write for magazines such as Glamour or Cosmopolitan, where she can pursue her interest in sex, love and relationships, beauty/make up, and fashion.