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St Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland and St Patricks Day is the 17th March. It’s celebrated not just in Ireland but around the World.

Now, if you want an excuse for a party, but don’t fancy champ and colcannon – and I don’t blame you if you don’t – then here’s a themed St Patricks Day Menu that you might like to try.

The colours of the Irish flag are green, orange and white.

For starters, try a creamy basil tomato soup, garnish with a swirl of cream and chopped basil and there you have the beginning of your theme – green, orange and white.

For main course, I would favour a poached salmon with watercress sauce, served with carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and new potatoes – that puts two orange, two green and two white items on your plate.

For dessert, try a mixed fruit salad – kiwi, mango, lychees, green grapes, orange segments and sliced pears – top it with whipped cream, chopped angelica and a shake of cinnamon or ginger – lots more green, orange and white.

Finish your St Patricks Day Menu with Irish Coffees – sweetened black coffee with a shot of Irish Whiskey and cream floating on top – delicious – and you might find you want more than one.

Continue your colour theme with a white tablecloth and green and orange candles and napkins.

White tableware would be nice – I always think food looks better served on white crockery.

Play some Irish music – if you don’t like the traditional folk music, then maybe Thin Lizzy will do as Phil Lynot was proud of his Irish ancestry and there’s normally ‘Whisky in the Jar’ on most compilation CDs Or you might even go for The Nolan Sisters or Val Doonican – only joking.

Dave Allen was an Irish comedian and there are CDs available of his shows. He was very funny, one of my favourites and it would really entertain your guests if you could find a recording.

To drink, you can have Guinness – which is very good for you, so they claim – Irish Whiskey is freely available, but of course neither of these are suitable for serving with your poached salmon.

I’ve researched heavily for Irish wines – and they do exist, but you’re unlikely to find any on general sale.

Ireland doesn’t have the climate to support large commercial vineyards – those that exist are very small – 5 acres or less and all around Cork (well, if you’re going to produce wine, you need cork).

One of the vineyards makes wines for its own restaurant and the others just supply local shops and restuarants.

The largest produces a mere 3000 bottles a year.

If you search though, you can find Irish people who have emigrated to wine producing countries and the vineyards will have Irish sounding names – the best I can do as a wine recommendation for a themed St Patricks Day Menu.

I like champagne with salmon – a nice, medium dry fizzy wine is great and it adds to the celebration to have champagne corks flying.

If you don’t like fizz – then go for a medium dry white – Nierstein, Piesporter or similar.

There is no reason to limit your costume wearing to Halloween only! St. Paddy’s Day is a great opportunity to get gussied up. Learn what the top three St. Patrick’s Day costume ideas are for getting your Irish on.

Idea #1

It is all about the Leprechaun! The most popular and natural Irish costume is dressing as a Leprechaun. It is easy to go the traditional route with the top hat with a buckle, velvet jacket and breeches and a beard. Another option is to put a sexy spin on this classic idea. Short skirts and thigh high stockings with a jaunty top hat for the ladies or shirtless with a green vest and tight trousers for the men.

Idea #2

Wear lots of green accessories. If wearing a pre-made costume is not for you or you just want to personalize the outfit you do choose, you can accomplish this with plenty of green or St. Patrick’s Day themed accessories. These can be worn alone or in conjunction with your costume. There are plenty of fun wigs and hats, shoes, glasses, beads and props.

Idea #3

Dress up your dog! Just want to wear a green t-shirt and be out the door but still want to showcase some creativity? Then perhaps putting your dog in a fun St. Paddy’s day costume will be for you. There are several Irish and Leprechaun costumes designed just for your pooch.

St. Patrick’s Day is a day for fun – so no need to stress yourself out when choosing your St. Patrick’s Day costume. As long as you include plenty of green in your outfit or accessories you will perfectly be in the Irish spirit!

Men are just as romantic as women when it comes to expressing their love on St. Valentine’s Day, according to a recent North American study. But, will it mean red roses, fluffy teddies, heart shaped chocolates and romantic cards in your house, or will the day pass without fanfare?

Although February 14th invokes different feelings for many people, it appears that gender is not an issue. In a recent North American poll for a leading flower supplier 1,800 men and women were questioned about how they felt about expressing their love to their partners on this special day. The results showed that 75 per cent of men and almost 79 per cent of women were happy to express their feelings verbally, indicating that gender certainly has no boundaries when it comes to love.

But, when it comes to being able to put their emotions into writing on St. Valentine’s Day, ladies are slightly ahead of their male counterparts at being able to do this easily; 80 per cent compared to 70 per cent of men.

Of the males questioned 58 per cent said they had sent and received a love letter at some point in their life. But, percentages only show part of the picture; one lady described how she had received a love letter from her husband via email every day since 2002, the year in which they married. Furthermore, he also sends flowers every week, turns her sheets on her bed and tells her daily how much he loves her.

Interestingly, age does seem to have an impact on a person’s romantic tendencies. According to this research, the number of people corresponding via love letter declines with age; 83 per cent of the 18 – 34 year old age group admit to sending love letters, compared to74 per cent of middle aged couples. That figure drops even further to 66 per cent when it comes to seniors.

It also seems that the younger generation is more in tune with their emotions and not afraid to express themselves to their partners.

So what will they be doing to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day this year? Many say they will opt for a romantic hotel break, whisking their partner off for surprise couple of days, others will opt for a meal in an extravagant restaurant complete with the trimmings. But, most say they will be simply writing a thoughtful loving message on a hand-picked card, and perhaps accompanying it with flowers, champagne and a box of chocolates.

Who says romance is dead?

Among the best-value St. Patrick’s Day party ideas, printable party games are well worth checking out. Whether you are organizing an event for your school, a family celebration or the local community hall or church group, the perfect printable product is available.

What are important points for you to consider when planning a St. Patrick’s Day party?

Who’s coming?

Is the crowd mainly children? Seniors? Young couples? It’s wise to select games suitable for your mix of guests. Typically, a single game consists of a gift exchange game, printable trivia quizzes, a word search, or word game like a “mad libs” word substitution game. Your game supplier should make it clear who the game is suitable for and how many players you’ll need to get the most out of it.

Your entertainment budget

Individual printable games start at $6.95. This cost is fixed, so no matter how many people play the game, the expense is the same, yet the more guests you have, the less the pro-rata cost. So if, for example, there’s seven people at your party, a game is going to cost $1 per person; but if you have 35 people, the cost falls to just 20c per person. If you’re selling tickets to an organized event, this cost per guest is an important factor when you’re making up an event budget.

Multi-game packs might be a good solution if you have a mixed crowd and will need more than one game to entertain them, but are on a tight budget. Typically consisting of ten or more games for around $20, the bundle will be more than enough action for any St. Patrick’s Day party.

Ideas for hosting the games

You should make sure you familiarize yourself with each game before the St. Patrick’s Day party begins. Some games require a copy of one or more pages to be printed per guest (such as trivia games); but even these can be adapted if the circumstances require it.

What if your printer is short of ink? You could print just one copy and assign somebody the role of Quiz Master. They will read out the questions and each player will record their answers on a blank sheet of paper. If you have a laptop available, you don’t even need to print one copy: your Quiz Master could read the answers straight from the screen.

Be sure to break up the party. Don’t clump all the games together at once; spread them out. Allow guests time to arrive and mingle before starting a game, then perhaps move onto the food. Give people time for each game to sink in; their enjoyment of the next may be as much about anticipation as anything.

One of the most interesting St. Patrick’s Day party ideas is to include themed prizes. Gift exchange games need at least one parcel to unwrap, though one per ten people playing is usually a good number, so everybody gets their hands on a gift more often. Trivia games are always more competitive if there’s a prize up for grabs! Something Irish, green, or beer-related (for older crowds) would be appropriate.

I hope these St. Patrick’s Day party ideas have whetted your appetite for printable games this year! Have a wonderful party.

First off, i have never had a Valentine on valentines day and I think it is an overrated holiday. However, my boyfriend thinks it is important for us to celebrate it because it is our first valentines day together. We have been going out for 6 months and i have no idea what to get him. I was thinking typical sexy lingerie and do something we would both enjoy but that’s not creative. I want to do something that will really show him that i care. Maybe bake for him and something else. Any ideas ?

What can i do for valentines day and where can i take my gf for dinner?
im pretty bad at surprises or setting up events for my girlfriend. can i get some help for this valentines day. i live in Southern california (los angeles, riverside) any suggestions for dinner? surprise events?

Love has captivated hearts since the first inception of human beings, and yet no individual has succeeded in explaining the phenomenon. The best of orators and the most learned individuals have attempted and reached a zilch. But for poets, whose vision is beauty, words come together and make the readers see the meaning of love without even attempting to explain it. Ever since the times of emperors and queens, love songs have been created to articulate the undying love of individuals in unique ways. In today’s times, presenting love songs on Valentines Day has become a popular means of expressing deep feelings of love, towards their respective beloveds, for most individuals.

For Valentine’s Day, individuals have expectations, idyllic pictures of romantic evenings with the setting sun in the horizon and violins in performance, and there is no better way to bring this scenery alive than in form of a song. Love songs are expressions of unspoken feelings and thoughts of lovers about what they think of their partners and what their beloveds mean to them. They are often not rhymed but still convey to perfection the truth and sentiments of the lover.

Valentines Day love songs are either incorporated from the lyrics of well-known love songs and albums or originally created for the event. They are available in stores, imprinted on several V-Day cards and recorded in cassettes. During Valentines, certain local poets provide their services to general individuals and write love songs on their behalf for their love interests. Some enthusiastic lovers attempt to put their feelings into songs all by themselves. However, such songs might not qualify as lyrical ballads, they prove to be more valuable as the intention behind them is genuine and show the extent of the lovers’ involvement and dedication towards their beloved.

Many websites supplement numerous love songs for Valentines Day. The users can browse the sites, select the songs of their choice, and either download or forward them to their loved ones.

I am totaly in Love with my girlfriend and we have both had crappy valentines days in the past, this time around I want to make it extra special but on a budget as I am saving up to take us both on a trip to Florida. Is there any creative things I can do to make it a special Valentines day for her?

Dedicated to Saint Valentine and celebrated every year on the 14 of February, Valentines Day is a day to celebrate love. Though the day is dedicated to a saint, it never has been a religious holiday for reasons unknown. Dove, Cupid, and red roses are the popular symbols of Valentines Day.

The color red signifies love; hence it is of consequence to Valentine’s Day, which is celebrated with much gusto across the globe. Valentines day gifts are exchanged between people in love, spouses, friends and family members who value each other’s presence, more than anything else in the world.

With the influx of western culture, Valentines Day, celebrated with champagne or wine and a candle light dinner is gaining popularity in Asian countries like India, as well. For youngsters it is a day of fun and frolic at the campus. Buying expensive Valentines Day gifts may not be possible; hence they save up from their allowances to splurge on suitable gifts.

For adults however it is a reminder to take time out, for their loves ones. Valentines is not all about lovers, as is most often misconceived. Every relationship which is cherished, like friendship, mother daughter bond, love for father, and other significant familial relationships are celebrated. The celebration is incomplete without Valentines Day gifts which may vary from chocolates, roses, bouquets etc. A bunch of red roses is indispensable to the celebration. They are rightly known as Valentine roses.

Besides these, there is the Valentines Day cake which may be rich chocolate or exotic varieties like truffle, black forest and creamy pastries. Heart shaped cookies and chocolates sell like hot cakes during Valentine’s week. There is no limit to what you can gift your valentine as creativity knows no boundary.

Gifts like curios, gold pendants, perfumes and electronics are also popular Valentines Day gifts. Specially designed Valentines Day candles, customized mugs, photo frames, and T-shirts make thoughtful gifts. Customized cakes are also totally in and a regular feature during Valentines Day celebrations.

You may procure gifts at a physical store or online mart. If you are separated by distances then for timely delivery, online marts are the best option. Send Valentines Day gifts to India, availing this benefit. They generally have a wide range of selection for gifts like cakes, Valentine flowers, chocolates, combos, apparel, electronics and other mementoes. And shopping online is definitely the easiest option.

So as the festival season is approaching, save up, to splurge on exquisite gifts for your beloved. Make sure to make the day really special by meticulous planning. Roses, chocolates and cakes spread the message of love with fragrance and aroma. Make sure to spread your message of love in the most special way you can.

I’m wondering what I should give my boyfriend for valentines day, he is 25 years old.

I love medicine balls! They are great for strength, power and agility training. They’re not just used to throw at a boxer’s stomachs, you know!

Medicine balls have been around since ancient times. They were used by athletes such as wrestlers and on the other end of the spectrum, Hippocrates’ rehabilitation patients.

Medicine balls typically come in weights ranging from 2-25 lbs and can be made from various materials. Some look basketballs, some like Pilates balls and other are made from leather.

You can use the medicine ball simply as added resistance to basic exercises such as squats and lunges. Or as a substitute for free weights, like for tricep extensions and bicep curls. Alternately you can combine the basics with the free weight exercises comfortably with the ball to form some pretty badass compound exercises. My favourite compounds with the medicine balls are:

lunge + tricep extensions

walking lunges + twisting for the abs

squat + bicep curl + shoulder raise

Using the ball this way really gets your heart going and definitely makes you sweat.

Medicine balls are commonly known for power training. When I train outdoors I do a drill where I throw the ball out from my chest as hard as I can, sprint to it, throw it overhead and repeat. This really works your chest, arms, shoulders, abs and legs. With a lighter med ball I lay on my back, throw it up in to the air and catch it. However, you have to have good hand-eye co-ordination for this one and also, know how to get away from the ball, in case you can’t catch it!

Medicine balls are also great for ab work. Adding a little resistance to your crunches puts on muscle and holding on to the ball is more comfortable than a free weight. Pretty much any crunch you can do, can be enhanced with a medicine ball. Try your crunches with a medicine AND stability ball. The possibilities are truly endless!

Medicine balls are affordable, transportable and durable. They make a great addition to home gyms, outdoor training and are a great way to take your workout up a notch.

Try it!

Valentine’s Day cards are one of the special attractions for the day. The cards embody a wide range of emotions- humorous whimsical, humorous, charming, ornate, romantic, sensitive, and many more. Cards for Valentine’s Day can be sent or given to anyone and everyone whether they are lovers, friends, or family members.

The tradition of Valentine’s greeting cards dates back to the Middle Ages. It began with Charles, Duke of Orleans in 1415, who addressed a poem to his beloved spouse while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London after the battle of Agincourt. The greeting card is a special memoir and a part of the manuscript collection in the British Library. By the sixteenth century, the tradition of Valentine’s Day greeting cards gained momentum. Handwritten cards were intricately decorated with laces, silk or satin, flowers, gold leaf or even perfumed sachets. Colored paper and watercolors were amongst the essential elements used to create the card.

The tradition of exchanging printed cards for Valentine’s Day came into prominence as a consequence of the printing press and less expensive postage rates. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions at a time when subtle emotions were the order of the day and direct expression of one’s feelings was discouraged. Paper Valentine cards were very popular in England. Manufactured cards with images of Cupid and hearts were on sale by the end of the nineteenth century.

In USA, Greeting cards for Valentine’s Day began in 1840s, with Esther A. Howland who sold the first Valentine’s Day Cards, produced on a mass scale in America. Ever since, the exchange of cards has continued as an extremely popular ritual on this day. According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion Valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. This reiterates the significance of the day in the lives of Americans.

The most common one liner in these cards is “Be My Valentine.” A Valentine is a person singled out especially as one’s sweetheart on Saint Valentine’s Day. Not only confined to soul mates, Valentine’s Day cards have become an important occasion to send cards to good friends, family, relatives, teachers, students, and other social relations as a symbolic gesture of love, respect, and admiration.

In the age of electronic greetings there has been a revival of a fascination for handmade Valentine’s Day e-cards. Whatever the form maybe, a unique, sentimental handmade card, an e-card with a personalized message, or a printed card, it is the message that the card carries that remains unaltered through the ages.

What’s the best gift for your Valentine? What’s the worst? There are great and terrible gift ideas for V-Day. The main thing is to be a hero and not end up in the doghouse. You don’t want to scare someone new off with a pricey pair of diamond studs, yet you don’t want to seem cheap with a dollar store gift either.

Appropriate gifts depend on the stage of your love relationship. If you are newly dating, a pretty box of candy and a card is just fine. If you are dating seriously or married, then you will want to avoid the following Valentine’s Day disasters!

(V-Day Don’t List):

1. Avoid the gargantuan candy bar or box of candy: She will never eat it, and if she does, she may complain for weeks how fat she is and that it’s your fault.

2. Gift Cards are a definite no-no unless she specifically asked for one. Gift cards are very un-romantic. You could take her on a shopping trip to her favorite store, but only if she enjoys that.

3. Unwrapped gifts are tacky. Nothing says I don’t care as much as an exposed gift in a plastic bag with no card and no thought given. Pick a pretty paper or gift bag. Remove the receipt and price tags. Save the receipt for later just in case.

4. Cheap jewelry is not a great idea, unless she has a brand of costume she likes. Avoid rings unless you are married or going to pop the question.

5. Whatever you do, don’t give her anything that plugs in; no vacuums, blenders or coffee makers. Women have been known to give the silent treatment for days over this mishap. Men, on the other hand, will think that electronic toys are a very hot gift. (V-Day Do list):

1. When choosing a Valentine’s Day gift, think of what your love would enjoy. Even though roses are quite pricey during Valentine’s Day, they still make a romantic statement. Rainbow roses can offer inspiration to tradition.

2. Write a thoughtful note on a personal card. This lets your love know that you really took time to appreciate them.

3. Think before you shop. A spa day, an in-home massage or a weekend getaway make lovely and romantic gifts.

4. If you have run out of ideas, try something over-the-top like having a star named after your love. This one is just right for the love of your life that has everything. Tickets to a show is also a winner.

5. If all else fails, go for a nice piece of jewelry. Birth stone studs, a bracelet, or a Tiffany heart necklace make beautiful gifts. If you are playing for keeps, the diamond solitaire is forever the most romantic and dazzling gift of all on V-Day.

Always say thank you and I love you, whether giving or receiving. Whatever you decide, I wish you an abundance of luck and love this Valentine’s Day!

According to the old saying, everyone is Irish on St. Patricks Day. So, how can you get in on the act and celebrate the green on this most festive of holidays? It is a little easier than you might think. In fact, if your idea of celebration involves throwing a party, you are in luck. There are some excellent ways to usher in this holiday in grand style.

What kind of party to throw exactly will depend a lot on your particular style. You might desire a lively and rowdy gathering of friends to celebrate March 17th, a small gathering or even a very intimate affair with just you and someone special. I have some ideas that can help you in all three cases.

So, how do you get started? Pick your flavor of party and go from there, of course.

Here are some of my favorite ideas, depending on the size of the party in question:

Big and lively. If a big, loud and lively celebration of this holiday is to your liking, you will have the luck of the Irish on your side if you take a few steps in advance. To keep things relatively simple, consider basic appetizers, green beer and plenty of green derbies, vests and Kiss Me buttons. A local Irish restaurant should be able to help you with the appetizers. Some hearty Irish stew is always a hit, too. Do not forget to turn on some traditional Irish folk music and set the tone so your guests can cut a rug and dance a jig. Do expect to welcome up the sun the next day though. This kind of party can turn out to be a bigger hit than you might expect.

Small, but fun. Should you have your eyes on a slightly smaller and less rowdy celebration of all that is Irish, a dinner party among couples or a few friends will work well. If you are not skilled in the culinary arts, like me, call a caterer or local restaurant for plenty of corned beef, potatoes, rolls and greens. If a touch of class is desired, opt for green champagne or wine instead of the beer. The Irish folk music is still a great idea, as are the hats and party favors. For a smaller party, consider slightly more romantic Irish tunes blended into the mix.

Intimate and romantic. If you and your sweetheart would prefer to have your own party, St. Patricks Day can prove perfect for romance. A quiet candlelit dinner at home with a few party favors and green champagne to toast to your fortunes should do the trick. There are some excellent holiday themed gift baskets that can also help liven up a celebration for two. Some even offer all the party favors you need to go green and have a blast together.

Celebrating St. Patricks Day in style is more than possible, even if you are not skilled in the fine arts of party planning. This holiday just lends itself to making a party a blast, even with minimal preparation.