Leprechaun Tomfoolery

As The Naughty Leprechaun Story promised, when we awoke this St. Patrick’s Day morn, there was no doubt that both the naughty and nice leprechaun twins visited us overnight! 

Obviously the work of Liam the good leprechaun, the littles delighted in a pint sized and totally green breakfast of pancakes, grits, yogurt and fruit.  He was a remarkably resourceful little imp to go digging around in the attic at midnight to scare up the poofs for the rainbow arch and bag of fake snow for the clouds (if I do say so myself.)









 

And while breakfast was a smashing success, it was Leyland’s mischief that had the littles in stitches.  Much to the delight of my two littles that adore every.single.thing even remotely having to do with the potty, the green potty water and toilet paper strewn all about the den were perhaps the funniest things they’d ever seen.







After our first breakfast at the crack of dawn, we also managed to squeeze in brunch, a baseball game, a visit from Sister and her family AND a birthday supper out with Honey’s family!





Happy St. Patrick’s Day, y’all!
xoxo

St. Patrick’s Eve Entertaining

We wrapped up a gorgeous Southern Saturday with a super impromptu gathering of neighbors for corned beef sandwiches.  At five p.m. we had plans for one couple to come down, I ran to the grocery store at six and by seven there were seventeen of us.  It’s one of the things I love love love most about our neighborhood!!

We sipped on the delish and refreshing Southern Living cocktail of the month – The Dogwood.  For each drink, shake over ice 1/4 c. white grapefruit juice, 3 T. vodka and 1T. St. Germain.  Garnsih with a rosemary sprig and lemon wheel.



We sat out on the porch for hours catching up, listening to music and snacking.





But it was definitely the grilled corned beef bar that stole the show!  Honey grilled up corned beef and swiss, traditional reubens, and corned beef and cheddar with guinness caramelized onions. 

 
And dessert was the creme de menthe brownies that make exactly one time a year.  Find the recipe here – they are pretty much life changing.  I wasn’t expecting a crowd when I made these earlier in the day and I’m more than a little sad that I only have one left.  This might be a red letter year as I’m already considering making them again :-)


The littles wished for Liam the good leprechaun to visit again this morning and, as luck would have it, visit he did!  This time bearing green candy sticks.

  
Happy St. Patrick’s Day Eve, y’all!
xoxo

The Naughty Leprechaun Story

Last night kicked off what I hope will become a new tradition in our household – The Naughty Leprechaun Story by Atlanta mom Stephanie Hicks! 

While we were away in Savannah, it seems a pair of leprechaun twins left us with their story and our very own golden coin.  What luck!



I (literally) threw together this tablescape for the BBQ supper Mother and Daddy-O sent back with us (knowing I’d arrive home at supper time with not a thing in the fridge.) 


I picked up the mini shamrock attachment for my Happy Everything plate at Polka Dots in Savannah.  The shamrocks from Miracle Greenhouse will spend the next few days on the kitchen table before I plant them in the yard.

 
The littles were all ears as I read them the story of the Naughty Leprechaun.  Here’s the gist…
Each year starting on March 14, Liam the good leprechaun and his twin brother Leyland the naughty leprechaun visit little lads in the days leading up to St. Patrick’s Day! Liam rewards doing your best by leaving treasures and treats, while Leyland creates all sorts of mischief.  Before bed, children leave the coin out with the face of the twin they’d like to visit that night facing up.  If they have tried their best that day then they have created their luck and the wish will be granted.  If they did not then they will have to wait and see which of the twins visits in the morning – it’s just the luck of the draw.  On the last night, both twins visit leaving tricks, treats and treasure for St. Patrick’s morn!




 

The littles both agreed that they wanted a visit from Liam on the first night, so they carefully laid the coin out before going to bed.



And wonder of all wonders, look what the little imp left behind!  A treat indeed!
 

Pots ‘o gold (pots from Party City, chocolate coins from Dollar Tree)…



…and shamrock hot chocolate!  (See the how to here - it's super easy)



Something tells me they will be hoping for Leyland tomorrow.  I’d better get my naughty thinking cap on :-)  A huge thank you goes out to bestie S for bending my ear about this fun find!
xoxo

Visit The Naughty Leprechaun Story site here.

See all of my St. Patrick's Day posts here!

Savannah: DIY Door Decor from Screens

When on our Tuesday shopping spree, Mother and I fell in love with the door decor at Matty’s ($45) and set out yesterday to make our own!


We made three – for both of us and Sister – and are beyond thrilled with how they turned out!!  (Note, this was before we touched up paint over the staples.)



They are made of screening material and should be very durable in the elements.  It was certainly a trial-and-error effort, but here’s the gist of how we did it.

You’ll need:
- Roll of screening material – use the one pictured below – we learned the hard way
- scissors
- latex paint and brushes
- stapler
- ring clip or pipe cleaner for hanging

Here’s how:
1. Use chalk to draw out your pattern.  You will need two pieces for each finished piece.  One should be about an inch larger all the way around – that will be the top piece and allow for it to puff up a little once assembled.




2. Cut out your two pieces and paint front and back of each piece.





3. Add decorative accents to top piece (larger one) once the base color is dry.



4. Lay the two pieces on top of each other.  You will staple together where the edges of both pieces meet – this will allow the top piece to puff up a little.  Staple once at the top, once at the bottom and then once on each side to start.  Then fill in staples in this same manner until it is fully connected.
   
5. Cut two small slits near the top of the back of the bottom screen and insert your ring clip for hanging.



6. Touch up the staples with the base paint color.



7. Admire your handy work!! (This was before we touched up the paint on the staples – we couldn’t wait to see what it would look like!)



We’ve already started on our Easter screens!!!
xoxo

See all of my St. Patrick's Day posts here!

St. Patrick’s Day Favorites

Hailing from Savannah, St. Patrick’s Day is one of my all time favorite holidays!!  It was such a big deal growing up – with parades and parties and green on everything from the river to the biscuits at Bojangles.  And while it’s not as widely celebrated here in Atlanta, I love to bring a little bit of the fun I remember as a kid home for my own littles.

Lucky Leprechaun Breakfast

Lucky Lunch

Beef & Guinness Stew

Shamrock Hot Chocolate

Lucky to Have You Printable

Creme de Menthe Brownies

 

Black & Tan Guinness Brownies

Top o’ the morning, y’all!

xoxo

See all of my St. Patrick's Day posts here!