Best St. Patricks Day Books for Children

We are in the process of turning our children into readers so we try and hit the library at least once a week for new books.

We have found that you have to check out holiday books fairly early in the season or you simply miss out on them. We have loved these St Patricks Day books. The kids giggle the whole way through them, they are illustrated well, with simple stories that help them understand what leprechauns are, and all about the silly tricks they play.

Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk is good for all ages, but especially older children because the story is a little deeper. But, little ones still enjoy it. The other three are simpler so younger children follow easily and older ones still enjoy them.

Happy Reading! Hope you enjoy them.

Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk by Gerald McDermott

That's What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting

How To Catch A Leprechaun by Adam Wallace

The Night Before Saint Patricks Day by Natasha Wing

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Friday Favorites

Saint Patricks Day. A bit of an excuse to party between Valentines Day and Easter but hey I'll take it.

A few of my favorites this year now that the kiddos actually know what it is. We loved making Dads Home made Oreos and coloring the frosting green for the holiday. Find the recipe here.

As with any holiday I love stopping by Targets dollar spot and the Dollar Store well in advance of the Holiday to pick up a few fun things on the cheap. I also check Oriental Trading for holiday loot. They have free shipping days here and there and sometimes you can find some good stuff that comes right to your door which is always a plus.

This year I found small green party hats, leprechaun gold, straws with gold stars, and these glittery shamrocks pictured above from the dollar store. Perfect to use here and there as St. Patty's Day approaches. Check out the Leprechaun party we used them for here. Such a hit with the littles.

I also stopped by the paint aisle at Walmart and picked up a rainbow of colors to use on some project or another. I have a few ideas so we'll see what happens. If you are a banner maker it would be cool to do something with them.

Other St Pattys items I'm into at the moment:
Green Rice Krispie Treats, make the recipe as normal and add food coloring.
The Walmart Great Value brand of Lucky Charms called Magic Treasures Cereal. They are half the price of a regular box and the kids like them just as well, and they are fun to get for the holiday.
Wilton Candy Melts in green. I plan on melting them over chocolate chip cookies or pretzels.
Shamrock Shakes (Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream) with whip cream and green sprinkles.
Werthers Caramels are the best for St Pattys because they look like little gold coins.

Party big or party small. For this holiday especially its just fun to do little things here and there that are different from the norm and make things fun for the adults and kids in your house.

Happy Friday Friends,
xoxo, Jordy

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Saint Patricks Day Homemade Oreos

We make these cookies several times a year and they are usually gone in one sitting. They are just so good. So for St. Patty's Day we tinted the frosting green and called it a Holiday treat. ;) You are welcome.

Homemade Oreos

1 Devils Food Cake Mix

1/2 Cup Shortening

2 Eggs

Tub of Vanilla Frosting

Mix all ingredients together.

Roll the couch into dime-sized balls and place on a cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.

Cool cookies.

Place desired amount of frosting in-between two cookies.

Optional- use green food coloring for St. Pattys Day.

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How To Host A Leprechaun Party

The kiddos are just starting to understand what a Leprechaun is so we had a Leprechaun party to search for Leprechaun Gold, build a Leprechaun Village, and snack on green treats. Fingers crossed we have a visit to our village sometime from a  sneaky little leprechaun leaving treats.

I made a quick trip to the dollar store for a few themed St Patty's Day items. Gold coins, mini green hats, stickers, and some sparkly green shamrocks. I also picked up a rainbow of paint swatches.

Then I pulled out random things from my house and crafty stash. Popsicle sticks, yarn, clothes pins, cookie cutters, green and gold paint, and a footprint stamp I use for baby showers. 

Finally, I keep a box of just random stuff. Used hot chocolate cans, baby food jar lids. Just weird random stuff so when the time comes for the kids or myself to create something we have a box of go to building stuff. Saves money and makes you be creative.

We laid out our goods and got to work. We built a village fit for any Leprechaun and had so much fun doing it. We pulled it off the kitchen table and put it on the floor out of the way where the kids can play with it for a week or so until its time to move on to the next holiday.

For our party snacks we put some Wiltons Green Melting Chocolate on the kids favorite pretzels and added some green sprinkles.

When we were done village building we headed outside to search for leprechaun gold. We hid pieces of gold and the kids put it in little "Lucky" sacks we made with glue and glitter. Easy easy.

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