Tradition holds that if you are caught not wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day, you’ll get an obligatory pinch.  And lucky for us all (eye roll), it just so happens that this glorious day of shenanigans and spirits (of the adult beverage kind) falls on a Tuesday this year – meaning wearing green to the office is most likely going to happen (double eye roll). While some love to go gung-ho with gaudy green get-ups on March 17, others are perfectly content with adding just a splash of color to their wardrobe as to ward off any unwanted pinches. If you’re looking to fly under the radar this St. Paddy’s day, here are a few subtle selections (sans shamrocks) that not only meet the celebration criteria, but items that can spill over into your spring wardrobe as well.

You really can’t go wrong with adding a belt to your office look, especially one as darling as this!

Kate Spade Interlocking Bow Belt: $78

Add a little green bling to your spring with this chunky bracelet, perfect for festive occasions like St. Paddy’s Day.

Spring Bloom Bracelet: $88

Usually anything floral will do, but we particularly love this bright and cheery scarf that reminds us of a beautiful spring day. With just a dash of green, it’s a perfect match for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

Steve Madden Neon Luxe Bouquet Infinity Scarf: $38

Upgrade your green stud earrings for stunning tassels like these. They’re sure to turn a few heads!

J.Crew Fringe Tassel Earrings: $45

D’Orsay flats are definitely having a moment, and we couldn’t be happier! These reptile embossed, soft green leather flats with rhinestones are an adorable find, adding the perfect feminine touch to your March 17^th attire.

Seychelles Rule of Thumb Flats: $110

Don’t be fooled by the neon – this cropped green blazer boasts some serious class when paired with a simple white dress or slacks.  Save yourself the pinch and try this blazer on for size.

Lucy Neon Blazer: $30

We love a good tribal print – especially this beaded crossbody bag that sports a bright color combo with a splash of green.  Pair this with any black or white ensemble, and you’re good to go!

KC Malhan Kazi Tribal Clutch: $48

The post AKA Mom’s Office Fashion Guide to St. Patrick’s Day appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

I love any excuse for a celebration, especially if it involves food and festivities for the whole family!  The problem is that kids can be picky when it comes to trying new foods.  The struggle at my house is to find festive foods for picky eaters.  Over the years I have come up with a few tricks to combat this problem.  While these ideas aren’t exactly traditional, they are majorly kid-friendly!

Step one to making a special St. Patty’s Day for the kids is to buy some green food dye.  While I typically try to avoid unnecessary dyes in foods, my philosophy is that every once in a while kids should have a little fun.

Start the morning off by dying all of the milk in the carton bright green with a few drops of the food coloring.  That way when the kids wake up and pour themselves a bowl of cereal, they will be in for a surprise when it comes out green!  If you want to add a healthy component to breakfast try “Green Machine” by Naked juice (or any other green juice).  It tastes sweet and the kids will be more likely to drink it since it’s festive.  Just make sure not to tell them how incredibly healthy it is!

If you can find a small shamrock shaped cookie cutter (approximately 1 inch across) you can make a super simple, healthy snack.  Kiwis are already bright green and a favorite of kids, but cutting them in a cute shamrock shape makes them festive too!  You might need to put a tiny bit of oil on the cookie cutter to make sure that the kiwis come out intact.

For a festive meal you can continue with the green-foods theme and dye color neutral foods (green mash potatoes?) or if your kids are more adventurous eaters try pots of gold! 

Ok, it is just butternut squash soup in the most pot-of-gold looking pot you can find, but it’s a fun, healthy St. Patty’s Day food that is both kid and mom friendly!

My inner child gets excited any time there is a holiday with a corresponding colors because growing up that meant one thing, surprise cupcakes!  Surprise cupcakes are just normal cupcakes with a yummy surprise filling.  To make these fun treats just make your favorite cupcake batter (chocolate, vanilla, box mix, from scratch, anything!) but only fill the tins half way.  Then mix an 8oz. block of cream cheese with a ½ of sugar and 1 cup of mini chocolate chips.  Since it’s St. Patty’s Day add 4 drops of green food coloring to the mix.  Drop a small spoonful of the cream cheese mixture in the middle of each cupcake tin, and then fill the rest of the way up with the cupcake batter.  Frost with some bright green frosting and let your kids dig in and enjoy the bright green surprise!

Since it’s a holiday, why not have two dessert options?  A super easy, fun dessert is minty green milkshakes.  Throw a few scoops of vanilla ice cream in a blender with milk (a 2-to-1 ice cream-milk ratio works well) add a few drops of green food coloring and ¼- ½ teaspoon mint extract.  Blend well and top with whip cream and a gold medallion!

Finally we have a non-dessert drink, Green Grape Iceberg!  These would be great with lunch or a healthy dessert.

Green Grape Iceberg

Recipe Courtesy of Lori at Family Economics Blog

Ingredients
4oz. of Sparkling Water

4oz. White Grape Juice

10 Green Grapes (frozen)

Green Food Coloring

Directions
1. Freeze green grapes
2. Pour grape juice into blender
3. Add 8 frozen grapes
4. Add 2 drops green food coloring
5. Blend for 15 seconds
6. Pour mixture into glass
7. Add sparkling water to taste
8. Stir and garnish with remaining grapes 

I love holidays because they are an excuse to make a day extra special and build lasting memories with my family.  With a few of these simple tricks you are sure to make St. Patrick’s Day a holiday to remember!

The post Picky Eater’s St. Patty’s Day appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Looking for ways to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day as a family? There are plenty of ways to celebrate the emerald isle and all that hails from it this week. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Towns and cities all over the nation will be having Saint Patrick’s Day parades. Throw comfy shoes on the family and get ready for some fun!

Irish dance is catching on, look for local festivals or Irish Dance Recitals coming up. 

Throw an Irish party. Irish music is easy to find on iTunes or Youtube. Put on the tunes and have everyone wear green and bring their favorite green food to share.

If you are fortunate enough to have warm weather on Saint Patrick’s Day, take your children out for a four leaf clover hunt. 

Hop in the car and go visit a local Irish restaurant for dinner. There are Irish pubs and restaurants in most major cities in America. If there isn’t an Irish restaurant in your area, make an Irish dinner at home (find great recipes in our Food section).

Whatever Irish activity your family decides to participate in this year, have fun and have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!

The post Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day as a Family appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Saint Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and it’s time to plan an Irish meal for the family. For many Americans the first Irish meal that comes to mind is Corned Beef and Cabbage, but Corned Beef and Cabbage isn’t actually an Irish meal. It was created by Irish families after they immigrated to America. If your family would like to have a more traditional Irish meal this Saint Patrick’s Day, try this recipe for traditional Irish Shepard’s Pie.

Traditional Irish Shepard’s Pie:

• 1 Tbs olive oil
• 1 Tsp black pepper
• 1 lb of ground beef
• 1 large onion, finely diced
• 3-4 large carrots, finely diced
• 1 cup of frozen peas
• 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 glass of red wine
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste
• 2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 cup of stock
• 6 cups of fresh or leftover mashed potatoes
• 1 egg, beaten
• Grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions:

1-Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.

2-Sauté carrots in the olive oil until starting to get tender.

3-Add in the onions and sauté for a minute or two then add the meat.

4-Season with black pepper and thyme.

5-Cook until browned then drain the fat.

6-Add the butter and peas.

7-Sprinkle with flour and stir through.

8-Add tomato paste, wine and Worcestershire Sauce.

9-Let this reduce slightly then add the chicken stock. Allow to reduce down until you have a thick, meaty gravy. Season to your taste.

10-Remove from heat. Grease an oven proof dish (9 x 13) with butter and add the sauce.

11-Spoon or pipe the mashed potatoes over top. Brush with egg and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.

12-Bake for about 20 minutes or until the potato is nice and browned on top.

13-Serve as is or with some crusty bread to mop up that yummy sauce!

For an after dinner treat, try out one of these recipes for a Shamrock Smoothie or an Irish Apple Tart:

Irish Apple Tart

To make the pastry:

• 3.5 Cups of flour
• 2/3 generous cup of fine sugar
• 1 1/2 scant cups of unsalted butter
• Pinch of salt
• 1 egg
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 Tsp natural vanilla extract

Directions:

Put the flour, sugar and salt in a bowl, cut the butter into pieces and work it into the flour with your fingertips. Now make a well in the middle of the flour-and-butter mixture and add the egg, egg yolks and vanilla extract. Stir with a fork to incorporate the flour evenly until you have to begin using your hand. Using only one hand, bring the dry and wet ingredients together (this might take more time in the winter). On a floured work-surface, knead the dough for a few minutes then roll into 1/4-1/2 inch thickness.

For the apple filling:

• 2 1/2 to 3 cups of thinly sliced apples
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 2 Tsp of cinnamon
•  a squeeze of one lemon
• 1 Tbsp of grated fresh ginger

Directions:

Mix everything together and let sit for 30 minutes. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place bottom pastry onto plate. Fill with apples. Place top of pastry case over apple filling. Bake for about one hour. Serve with freshly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. 

Shamrock Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup lime sherbet
• 1 cup plain frozen yogurt
• 2 ounces pear juice
• 1 Tsp lime juice
• 1 Tsp sugar
• 1/2 Tsp spearmint extract
• 2 Tbsp grated chocolate
• Mint leaves

Directions:

Combine sherbet, yogurt, pear juice, lime juice, sugar and spearmint extract. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses, garnish with grated chocolate and mint leaves. Serve. Makes about 2 servings.

Recipes and images retrieved from:

Dewdropdeb, . “Traditional Irish Shepard’s Pie.” Food.com. N.p.. Web. 10 Mar 2013.

McDonnell, Imen. “Irish Recipes and Food from Ireland.” IrishAbroad. N.p.. Web. 10 Mar 2013.

Perry , Beth. A Celebration of Non-alcoholic Irish-themed Drinks. N.d. HubpagesWeb. 10 Mar 2013.

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