Have a Really Green St. Patrick's Day!

On March 17th, the whole world will “go green,” but not the eco-friendly type. But celebrating the Irish holiday doesn’t require you to give up your “I love the earth” convictions! So in the spirit, we’ve pulled together a few helpful hints on how you too can enjoy a truly green and eco-friendly St Patrick’s Day!

• Invite your friends and fam to the festivities via evite, but if you just must send a paper invite, make it dual purpose. Use one side as the invitation (duh!) and put a piece of Irish trivia or a number on the other side and include it in a party game.  
• Please, please don’t buy those cheap plastic cups and plates that will end up in a landfill somewhere. Instead use the glass cups and dinnerware you already own. Give them some St. Paddy’s flair by getting some resin based glass paint to cute little Irish sayings on the glasses and plates. Try: “Kiss me! I’m Irish” or “Hands off me pot-o-gold!”
• If you’ve got some old holiday stuff hanging around, now is a good time to use them.
• Cut up those green envelopes from X-mas into shamrocks.
• Have leftover hearts from Valentine’s Day? Glue four together at the points, paint them green, and, voila, you now have lucky four leaf clovers.
• Got a witch’s cauldron hanging around from Halloween? Fill it with edible gold wrapped coins (you can recycle the foil!) and when people ask, tell them it’s your pot-o-gold. And if you’re feeling cheeky, offer a piece of “gold” for a kiss, on the cheek of course!
• Everyone loves to dye all their grub a festive shade of green for P-Day, just make sure it’s natural green food coloring like cream de mint.
• Look your best – and “greenest” – on this holiday. If you’re rummaging through your closet and can’t seem to find the perfect green top or pair of pants (hey, you never know, green pants could come back in style … maybe?), head on over to your local thrift store and pick something up. Chances are it’ll be cheaper and you’ll be doubly green by buying something used.
• And while you’re at the thrift shop, pick up a piece of inexpensive green fabric to create your own green tablecloth masterpiece. It’s super easy and you can reuse it later on, think Christmas time.
• Looking for the perfect accessory to your green duds? How about the super cute “Green is the new black bag!” It supports the environment and is in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day.
• Dead set on giving party souvenirs? How about giving your peeps a green SIGG that’s green in color and in design. It’s a safe, stylish alternative to plastic water bottles.
• And don't forget the obvious earth-friendly steps like carpooling with your friends and buying locally grown and organic goodies!