If there's one thing that Americans love doing in honor of this festive Irish holiday, it's that everything turns green. Clothes, drinks, rivers: whatever you want and we can make it green for a fabulous celebration. Say hello to St. Paddy's Day with these St. Patrick's (and mostly green) celebration drinks and dressings:
Brewskis festive
If you have a beer on St. Paddy's day, let it be a Guinness. This dark stout dominates the Irish drink scene, although there are also other beers to choose from. Murphy's Irish Stout is another dark beer, while Harp Lager is a refreshing alternative for those who enjoy lighter beers. You may see green pints in bars, but you can also do them at home by simply adding a drop of food coloring to a light beer. The Spruce offered tips for choosing the right beer, mentioning light American lagers or pale-colored craft beers. You can try adding green dye to the darker beers, but you'll probably only see the effect on the foam for a few minutes.
Irish whiskey
Store whiskey because many of the Irish love this spirit as much as Guinness. While Jameson is probably the most popular, there are many other brands to try. Straight or on the rocks is perfectly appropriate for the holidays, or opt for an old style with an Irish twist instead of bourbon. For a modern twist, try one of these Irish whiskey cocktail recipes from Food & Wine, or simply have a sweet glass of Baileys Irish Cream. You can even look into recipes with whiskey in your corned beef.
Green clover cocktails
If you're not a fan of whiskey, you can stay with other cocktails, such as green mint mojitos, appletinis or lime and cucumber spritzers. If you're a tequila fan, mix it with kale, cucumber and lemon juice, ginger ale and simple syrup for this delicious recipe for green Town & Country cocktail. For more inspiration, try one of these Bustle Saint Patrick's Day cocktails.
Garnishes
You can add a festive touch to any drink if you're creative with the decor! Add some green rock candy to your champagne and not only have a fun garnish, but your drink will acquire a festive shade of green. If you are a fan of a sugar-rimmed glass, use green dye to give the granules a festive tone. Cut cucumbers in the shape of clover, then roll them with straws to give a decorative touch to San Paddy. You can also freeze some clovers in ice cubes to give it a fresh touch, or top off your drinks with edible gold flakes. If you feel elegant, decorate your drink with an aromatic herb, such as rosemary, thyme, basil or cilantro. Other classic dressings that turn out to be green include olives, mint leaves and lemon slices.
Have fun decorating your own drinks, and while you have Guinness and a shot of whiskey, you'll be drinking and celebrating like the Irish. Cheers! decorate with flowers and enjoy the Party
Get out and smell the roses! With an extra hour of sunlight and the warmth of spring moving slowly inward, it's finally time to take your entertainment back outside. Follow these tips as you start planning your next outdoor brunch, lunch or dinner:
Fight against insects
There is nothing like irritating mosquitoes or mosquitoes to send everyone inside. Cover your dishes with mesh strainers or food stores to prevent insects from eating them before your guests can do so. Clean standing water in gutters, pots or other containers, as these pools are the ideal place for mosquitoes. Plug in some fans and invest in some insect-repellent lanterns and candles to keep insects away in style. Beyond the party, these will help you survive the warmer months with less insect bites!
Get the melodies that go
Make a playlist in advance so as not to be struggling with DJ while preparing food and entertaining guests the day. Aim for about four or five hours of music. If you know the taste of the audience, try sprinkling some of your favorite songs in the mix. Otherwise, the classics are usually liked by the crowd. Think of Stevie Wonder, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Elton John, Eric Clapton and the Eagles. The soft and easy listening as Simon & Garfunkel, Mumford & Sons, Amy Winehouse, Ed Sheeran and Billy Joel also augur well as background noise. Alternatively, find a jazz playlist or dinner online to set the mood.
Go for the buffet
Line up the treats and let the guests choose what they want: it's the tried and true way to feed a crowd. Choose simple dishes that are very helpful, such as chips and salsa, hamburgers, macaroni and cheese, salads, fruits, mixes to eat and sandwiches. Of course, you do not want the food to sit in the sun for a long time, so follow this Bon Appetit guide to get ready for the best outdoor party. Make sure you have enough ice and refrigerators to keep the drinks cool throughout the meeting, and keep filling them up as the party goes on.
Transform your garden into a cozy space with the natural aroma and beauty of the flowers of the season. Your meeting is the perfect excuse to refresh your gardens for spring and summer, filling your garden with beautiful flowering plants. In addition, you can decorate tables with fresh bouquets or some of these popular spring flowers. Hanging flower displays is also an easy but elegant decoration, and your guests will love taking some photos in front of the magnificent backdrop. Here is a guide to making these Recipes & Roses flower chains.
Prepare for success
Preparation is the key to organizing an outdoor party without effort. That means cutting the lawn a few days before, cleaning tables, fixing tables and chairs, ordering the house and outdoor spaces, cleaning bathrooms and cooking in advance. That way, you can join your guests outside instead of hiding in to prepare everything in the real meeting. For easy cleaning, cover the tables with rustic brown craft paper or decorative tablecloths. Just throw the paper or put the tablecloth in the wash and you're done. Prepare your buffet with trays so you have to make fewer trips in and out of the house.
These are just some of our favorite ways to organize an incredible brunch or dinner outdoors. It's time to start enjoying the beautiful weather again. Pick up your favorite flowers and plan. Happy accommodation!
It indicates the changing of clothes, the longest days and the budding leaves: spring is here! Cool your spaces to match the spirit of the season with these spring cleaning and decoration tips:
Make a checklist
Spring cleaning in every inch of the house is a daunting task, so make a checklist to divide it into each room. If you need help getting started, check out this Country Living spring cleaning checklist. Also, you do not have to do everything in a day. You will feel more manageable if you designate a few days and address different areas of the house one at a time. When you have finished, reward yourself by dining at your favorite restaurant, not only because you deserve it, but also because the kitchen will remain impeccably clean for another day.
Reconsider your organization
Beyond the drawers and junk cabinets, spring is also a perfect time to review your pieces of organization. Find new storage pieces that double as decoration. Store blankets and pillows in a modern trunk, or hang colorful hooks for bags, keys and scarves. In bathrooms, try using an open bookcase to roll additional towels and keep tissues, hand lotions and other toiletries nearby. Board your shelves with a duster and rearrange books and knick-knacks as you go.
Bring the flowers in
Once the house is clean and organized, light up your spaces with spring flowers. Fill your spaces with simple vegetation, like succulents in pots, or cover your countertops and tables with a bouquet of these popular spring flowers. Choose tones that complement your décor, or leave your comfort zone with a touch of vibrant color. Choose from the colorful Speaking Roses spring arrangements, always delivered personally by a local florist. In addition, all come with a magnificent vase in which you can keep flowers throughout the season.
Make small decorative changes
With some simple aesthetic improvements, you can arrange your decoration for the change of seasons. Throw a daring and colorful rug in the living room, or blow it up with new brightly colored sofa pillows. Cover your windows with light, colorful treatments and cool your walls with new illustrations. Transform the bed you've been hibernating all winter with a duvet and lighter pillows. Change the hardware in your cabinets or install new door knobs. Invest in a quirky and fun lighting fixture, paint an accent wall or upgrade to a patterned headboard to renew your spaces with new statement pieces.
Finally, open the windows and enjoy the fresh and warm air while relaxing in your clean, organized and ready for spring spaces.
Doctor's orders: treat yourself to a bouquet of flowers. Beyond its good looks and its sweet aromas, there are many surprising benefits for the health of the flowers. Keep reading to learn some of our favorites.
Easy breathing
Do you remember your high school biology class? The plants emit the oxygen that our bodies need and love, while we exhale the carbon dioxide that is easily consumed. By purifying and detoxifying the air, this symbiosis helps us breathe better. In addition, plants naturally release water into the air, which introduces a healthy level of moisture. This helps to improve minor health conditions, such as sore throat, dry skin, cough and blocked nasal passages.
Keep in mind that you may be allergic to some flowers and the pollen they produce, which unfortunately does the opposite for your breathing. Find the ones that do not affect your allergies and never come back!
Reduction of stress and anxiety
There is a reason why a nap under the sun in the park can be so revitalizing: connections with nature promote mental health and happiness. When we are surrounded by vegetation and flowers, we immediately feel less stressed. Bouquets especially increase positive feelings because we often associate them with thoughtful gifts, special occasions and happy events.
Take it a step further and grow your own flowers. It is believed that gardening helps with depression, anxiety and stress.
Mood enhancer
Along with the lower levels of stress and anxiety, flowers provide a dose of happiness and energy. Some of this comes from mental recognition, where different flowers and colors can stimulate concentration and focus by stimulating the mind and the senses.
Adding bright colors and natural elements to your home and office gives you the visual stimulation you need to be more productive. In addition, as they oxygenate and purify the air, the flowers promote better cognitive function, including memory retention.
Sensation of calm
The soothing properties of flowers can help relaxation and healing. Specifically, chamomile can help soothe headaches, in addition to improving sleep patterns and digestion. Lavender especially evokes a feeling of calm, making it the perfect plant for rest and for a better night's rest. Lavender water can even soothe the skin and treat acne. Rosemary twigs can also relieve headache and tension.
If you are thinking about sending flowers to someone, you should do it! Research shows that flowers create better healing environments for hospital patients, send them Get well soon Flowers since recovery occurs much more quickly when they are calm and relaxed.
Now you know some health benefits of flowers. The next time you feel sad, raise your spirits with flowers!
Finally, it's time to say goodbye to the rich, carbohydrate-rich winter and welcome the vibrant, light flavors of spring products. Head to the grocery store or the local farmers market to get the freshest fruits and vegetables in the spring, and follow these inspiring suggestions on how to fill your table with seasonal flavors and spring products:
Veggie Heaven
Get your dose of vegetables with the most ripe vegetables of the season, which include:
Asparagus
Carrots
Artichokes
The beets
Spring greens
Peas
Broad beans
Leeks
Chives
Many of these flavors can be combined well for some delicious spring vegetable dishes. Choose your favorites from the list and keep it simple with roasted vegetables. Fill the baking sheet with a splash of olive oil and then load it with chopped vegetables, sprinkle the salt, pepper and seasoning you prefer and then store it in the oven for about an hour. Check every 20 minutes or so to rotate them. If you are a cheese fan, sprinkle a little on the vegetables during the last five minutes of cooking to get a crunchy layer. Combine it with a piece of fish or chicken and you will have a healthy but totally tasty spring meal. For another easy mid-week dish, combine any of these vegetables with your favorite pastas.
If you get bored with the pasta, mix it with this spring vegetable risotto with the poached egg recipe from Bon Appetit. For a different type of garnish, sauté the peas, asparagus and beans with oil and lemon, then cover them with pieces of bacon for extra flavor. If there is still a slight chill in the air and you want to lie down with something hot, try this pea, mint and tender onion soup from BBC Good Food. Do not forget the parmesan cookies for a crunchy and totally delicious alternative to bread or cookies.
Fruity delights
Top your salads and spice up your dinners with the juiciest fruits of spring, such as:
Apricots
Strawberries
Rhubarb
Pineapple
Cherries
Grapefruit
Kiwi
Lemons
Strawberries combine well with almonds, feta cheese and spinach for a fabulously fresh and naturally sweet salad. This Spring Kitchen spinach fruit salad adds nuts, cranberries and pineapple to the mix. You only need four ingredients to make this apricot chicken recipe from Genius Kitchen, which goes well with rice and steamed vegetables. Of course, lemon and garlic are a classic combination to flavor birds, fish or vegetables, and this recipe from Home & Plate shows that grapefruit and honey are a delicious duo to transform your next chicken dish.
Finished sweets
With fresh fruits in abundance, you can satisfy your sweet tooth with tasty cakes and delicious baked goods throughout the season. Strawberries and rhubarb are the stars of spring cakes, but they also work well in cakes, crumbs, buns, galettes, oatmeal bars and even pancakes. Also, you can not forget the classic strawberry cakes! Check out these strawberry and rhubarb dessert recipes for Country Living Spring for inspiration to bake. Saveur also served some fabulous spring dessert recipes, including pineapple tea cookies, almond cheesecake with strawberries and mint, lemon cream pie and yogurt sticks with strawberry rhubarb.
It's time to throw off the winter coat and cook!
