20 Easy St. Patty’s Ideas for Overwhelmed Mamas
March 14, 2016
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and purchase an item, I will receive a small commission. For more info, please see my disclosure on my Connect page.
Saint Patrick’s Day is in 3 days and if you are like me life is running at warp speed, your to-do list is 3 pages long, and you can’t even remember your own name so a Leprechaun trap and a full-blown green and gold table setting complete with glitter glass encrusted place cards just ain’t gonna happen.
I used to stress a lot about minor holidays, thinking I wasn’t measuring up because I don’t go all out on decorating and party planning. I am not nor never have I been a party planner. It’s just not fun for me. Now if you dig making a big fuss and it brings you joy, then, by all means, bring on the happy, girl! I think that is awesome and perfect for you. Don’t feel guilty, because that’s not what this post is about. My style is low-key, simple, and relaxed, it fills my bucket. You be you and I’ll be me and life will be a lot more fun for all of us.
A few years ago I realized that my kids didn’t mind if I didn’t throw a giant hoopla for every occasion.
The big ordeal made me cranky and they don’t love that about me. I learned that I don’t have to exhaust myself by putting together huge events every holiday for my family. All they wish for is to spend time with me and do something out of the ordinary every once in a while. They just want a little something special, a bit of occasional magic to break up the mundane.
I can do that.
If big holidays aren’t your thing, you can still have fun and sprinkle in some magic to brighten up the day.
To show you what I’m talking about, I’ve rounded up 20 easy St. Patty’s Day ideas that you can do as a family with very little prep, planning, or cash.
20 Easy St. Patty’s Day Ideas:
St. Patrick’s Day Muddy Buddies
Because who doesn’t love muddy buddies?
Hello, yum!
St. Patrick’s Day Muddy Buddies recipe via Gluesticks & Gum Drops
Clover Hunt
Search for clovers and shamrocks in your backyard or local park.
Printable Decor
Do your kids want decor but you are crafty? Here are some cute free printables! All you do is click on the link and print.
You don’t even have to frame them if you don’t want to.
via HGTV
Kiss me I’m Irish Manicure
Here’s an idea you probably already have in your bathroom! Pull out that green nail polish from the back of the drawer and have a little spa day with your minis. Go all green so they won’t get pinched, paint a pinkie with gold glitter, or even alternate painting nails green and white. If you are a polish hoarder, paint the rainbow across little fingers! They’ll love it! I’d post a nail pic here, but I can’t do it. Yes, I have an irrational fear of nail photos. Like Fallon says, “Eww!”
Anyhoo, remember ladies, time with you is what your kids are craving.
St. Patrick’s Day can be as simple as sitting down with a bottle of nail polish, my friends.
Four Leaf Clover Paper Art
Simple Four Leaf Clover Craft via Meaningful Mama
Rainbows
Draw rainbows or a pot of gold on the driveway with sidewalk chalk. Have your kids each take a square of the driveway and create a St. Patty’s Day scene. Give prizes for the most creative, most green, etc. with chocolate gold coins as the prize. Or, if that is too much, lay on the cement and let them trace you then roll off to the grass and watch them make a leprechaun out of your outline. You can make this as elaborate or as simple as you want!
As always, choose your own adventure.
St. Patty’s Day Puzzles
Check out these cute word puzzles from Education.com
Lucky Charms
Yep, I’m giving you permission to pull out the sugar cereal and let your kids have at it. And, if Lucky Charms are too rich for your blood, go for the Marshmallow Mateys… whatever works.
Read
Sit down and read a book together!
ABC Creative Learning has a list of 30 children’s books for St. Patty’s Day.
Green Pancakes
Have green pancakes for breakfast!
Just add a little green food dye or a bit of pureed spinach to your pancake batter.
Shamrock Hat
Shamrock Hat from a Paper Plate via Alpha Mom
Learn the Story behind St. Patrick’s Day
Ever wonder who St. Patrick was and why we celebrate him to this day? Did you know he wasn’t even Irish and that he didn’t actually drive snakes out of Ireland? What are leprechauns?
The History Channel has a bunch of great videos and resources all about the history behind St. Patty’s.
Learn more HERE.
Draw a Face on a Leprechaun
via Crayola.com
Make Shamrock Floats
Just like root beer floats but with lime sherbet and ginger ale or sprite!
Rainbow Fruit Skewers
If sugar desserts aren’t your thing, Skinny Taste has a fun Rainbow Fruit Skewer with Yogurt Fruit Dip that kids and moms can enjoy together.
You can find that recipe HERE.
Go Green Challenge
I know we usually want our kids to look somewhat presentable, but let it go for one day and have a little fun. Have a contest to see who can wear the most green on St. Patrick’s Day! Maybe surprise them with some fun green or rainbow socks or a funky hair bow to top off their awesome “outfits”.
Gold star if you go green, too.
Watch a Classic St. Patty’s Day Movie
My fam loves Darby O’Gill and the Little People and The Quiet Man.
There are tons of movies to choose from!
But, why would you want something else when you could watch a young Sean Connery sing or Maureen fall in love with John?
Be still my heart!
Green Jello
Come on, you can’t expect me to be from Utah and NOT share at least one thing to do with green jello, can you?
This idea from Mom Trusted is adorable and couldn’t be easier!
Leprechaun Crispy Treats
Make some classic rice crispy treats and add in a little green food dye when you are mixing the melted marshmallows and butter together. Once the treats are spread into a buttered dish, sprinkle the top with green sugar.
I’m not including a recipe on this one because everyone has their go-to crispy treat recipe. When in doubt, remember that the secret to good, gooey treats is having more marshmallow than cereal. Oh, and sprinkle with some unmelted marshmallows before you spread them in the pan. My kids LOVE that.
Food dye makes me leery so I only add a couple of drops but you could make these babies as green as your heart desires.
Oh, hey, while you are at it, grab yourself some flowers and plop them in a bottle just because you deserve them. Go wild and call it a centerpiece.
I hope this gives you some ideas and helps you see how simple and fun this holiday can be.
You don’t need to go over the top and you don’t need to feel guilty.
It’s your life, make it what you want it to be.
Trevon gave me permission this Valentines day to not feel like I always have to have some big way to celebrate these kinds of holidays. Small and simple is fine, but Valentines day has stressed me out for years! Spending way more time making treats for people and much too little time with people who I love, which is what the whole point of that holiday is. So these ideas are perfect for me. Especially with little ones!
Simple is great for when you’ve got littles, Jenny! I think the trick to motherhood and the holidays is to dump the guilt. Holidays are supposed to be fun, so don’t feel you have to make them more intense than they need to be! XOXOX!
I agree – go simple or don’t do it at all. Adding unnecessary stress to life makes for a cranky mama! What a great roundup of super easy ideas to make St. Patrick’s Day fun! I think I am going to try a few of them to add to our fun at home. Thanks!
Thanks for the comment Kirsten! Let me know if you do! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!