As Seen on the Today Show: 7 Simple St. Patrick’s DIY Ideas

What’s a holiday without a quick trip to New York to see the fine folks over at the Today Show? This time it’s all about St. Patrick’s Day and a handful of ways to go green this weekend. And not just “green” as in the color, but also in an eco-way as we’ve figured out how to repurpose or upcycle many of the goods you already have into projects perfect for St. Pat’s.

You may recognize some of these ideas from recent tutorials on Brit + Co, but here’s a quick a recap on how to create each of the items on this morning’s show. And, as always, we promise they’re super simple and take 30 minutes or less — yep, even for the DIY amateur!

What to Wear: No one wants to get pinched on Sunday! The key to fashionably rock St. Patty’s Day is to wear green without totally overdoing it. Luckily, emerald is the Pantone color of the year, so you are already one step ahead of the game. Here are a few other creative ways to add a simple touch of green to your wardrobe.

1. Button Earrings: Button earrings are so easy to make and are great for girls and women of all ages. You can even make them with your kids! This one is so easy that it’s almost addictive – we especially love the retro vibe of each pair of earrings. Don and Betty Draper would approve.

2. DIY Headbands: One of our favorite style hacks, all you have to do is grab a foot of green ribbon (be sure to measure around your head), hand stitch a hair elastic to the ends, and you’re good to go. We’ve seen these things sell for up to $15 in stores, but why buy when you can DIY?

3. Gold Toe Flats: Planning on a Sunday pub crawl? You’ll probably want some comfortable, festive, and trendy shoes. How does one create such a shoe trifecta? Easy! Take a pair of green ballet flats, cover with a clear bag and painter’s tape, and spray paint the toes gold for an extra chic color blocked look.

What to Serve: We know that St. Patty’s Day is all about beer, but we couldn’t resist cooking up a few fun sweets as well.

4. Shamrock Cupcakes: Cupcake hack alert! The cake is a simple white box cake dyed green with food coloring. The hack is how we made them look like shamrocks (and yes, we admit to finding this one on Pinterest but had to re-do it in a Brit + Co. way because it’s brilliant)! To create the clover, put your cupcake liners in a muffin pan and place three marbles around the edges of the cup for the shamrock shape. Then, pour your batter in and bake! For stems, we used green Sour Punch straws. So cute!

5. Ombre Pretzels: That’s right. We’re bringing the style trend of ombre to… pretzels! You didn’t doubt we could make pretzels even more awesome, did you? To create the ombre frosting effect, we dipped our pretzels in white candy melts, then pastel green melts, and then topped with sparkly green sprinkles. You can serve ’em up in threes to create a fun shamrock effect. The salty and sweet combo will definitely get your guests’ tastebuds attention ;)

How to Decorate: If you’re the one throwing the party this Sunday, you’ve gotta get your decor in order! Our advice is to focus on beautiful serving trays and tasty beverages.

6. Green Chevron Tray: There’s nothing like personalizing a basic piece of kitchenware to feel like the ultimate hacker hostess. To create the tray you see above (and in the video), create a chevron pattern using painter’s tape and spray paint green. Remove your tape, and you’re all set. Easy peasy.

7. Green Bottle Vases with Green Flowers: Been saving those pretty green wine, beer, Pellegrino, and Jager bottles for a rainy day? This is a great project for all of you bottle hoarders. Using the same technique as above, you can easily turn them into beautiful vases with painter’s tape and spray paint. Look at you, you little mean green decorating machine! (Sorry that was cheezeballs, I couldn’t resist.)

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When St. Patrick's Day rolls around, coffee enthusiasts and cocktail connoisseurs gather 'round one of the most popular St. Paddy's drinks: Irish coffee! Made with piping-hot coffee, a shot (or two) of Irish whiskey, sugar, and fresh cream, Irish coffee makes for one totally irresistible coffee cocktail.

Grab your favorite mug and whip out the whiskey to create our easy Irish coffee recipe – it comes together in just a few minutes! We're spilling all the need-to-know secrets to crafting the perfect Irish coffee, from selecting the finest ingredients to mastering that signature whipped cream topping.

Irish coffee is guaranteed to warm both your heart and soul for the lucky holiday and beyond. Let's get into it!

What is the difference between Baileys coffee and Irish coffee?

Photo by Jill Wellington / PEXELS

The most obvious difference between Baileys coffee and Irish coffee is that Baileys coffee uses Baileys Irish Cream to make the recipe, whereas Irish coffee is made using whiskey and brown sugar. Both drinks use hot coffee as the base and are garnished with fresh whipped cream.

Because of this, Baileys coffee is a bit creamier and milkier than traditional Irish coffee.

How much alcohol is in an Irish coffee?

Photo by Maria Orlova / PEXELS

The standard recipe for Irish coffee calls for 1.5 ounces of Irish whiskey, which equates to one shot. You can always customize the ratio, though, adding less or more whiskey as you please.

Can you order Irish coffee at a bar?

Photo by Andrew Neel / PEXELS

You can order Irish coffee at a bar as long as the bar is equipped to brew coffee and has all the ingredients on-hand. Most bars you visit might not have a full coffee bar, so it really depends. Baileys coffee is super similar to Irish coffee, and might be easier for bartenders to make for you since Baileys is more common.

Is Irish coffee a thing in Ireland?

Photo by Mathias Reding / PEXELS

Yes, Irish coffee actually originated in Ireland and it's a fairly common bar order there. While it may not be as popular as Guinness, most bars in Ireland are prepped to serve Irish coffee at any time. Irish coffee is particularly frequented more on special occasions, holidays, and cold days.

How To Make Irish Coffee

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch / PEXELS

Ingredients

Serves 1

  • 1 cup hot coffee
  • 1-2 shots Irish whiskey (depending on how boozy you want it!)
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar (you can also adjust this amount based on your preference for sweetness)
  • Freshly whipped cream
  • Cinnamon or cocoa powder, optional for garnish

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Directions

  1. Brew a hot cup of coffee how you like it. Just make sure it's fresh for optimal flavor and authenticity!
  2. In a mug, add the brown sugar and hot coffee, stirring until dissolved. Make sure you leave a little bit of room at the top for the booze!
  3. Next, add the Irish whiskey to the mug. Stir.
  4. To make the whipped cream, vigorously whisk a small amount of heavy whipping cream in a separate mug or bowl. You could use store-bought whipped cream, but it just isn't the same as fresh whipped cream. This version is a lot thicker and tastes less processed in the end.
  5. Once whipped, spoon the whipped cream over the drink to create a solid layer over top of the mug.
  6. If preferred, garnish the Irish coffee with a dash of ground cinnamon or cocoa powder for extra flavor and immaculate presentation. For an extra special treat, pair your Irish coffee with ourSt. Patrick's Day Rainbow Donuts!

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Salad isn't known as being a winter comfort food, but seasonal produce like persimmons, squash and pomegranate make *perfect* salad toppings this time of year. After indulging in holiday goodies for the last few weeks (months?), your body will be craving a nutrient-dense lunch or dinner this winter. Stay healthy and keep your immunity up by getting your veggie servings in for the day with these filling and delicious winter salads.

Quick and Easy Winter Salad Recipes We'll Be Making This Month

Harvest Cranberry, Persimmon and Burrata Salad

Half Baked Harvest

If you’ve never had a persimmon, get yourself to the farmers’ market and buy some this weekend. Kind of like an apple, they’re sweet and crisp and pair perfectly with creamy burrata (but let’s be real… what doesn’t pair perfectly with burrata?).

Warm Quinoa, Kale and Squash Salad With Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette

The Green Life

This salad features delicata squash, which is about to become your new favorite veggie. And you don’t need to peel it, which makes this salad a super convenient dinner tonight.

Herbed Kale Salad With Persimmon, Pomegranate and Maple-Cumin Dressing

The Bojourn Gourmet

If kale salad isn’t your jam, this recipe will change your mind. You can sub out the herbs for whatever you may have left over in your fridge to make this totally customizable.

Bourbon Roasted Pear Salad With Gorgonzola and Candied Walnuts

The Suburban Soapbox

This salad will make up for every disappointing salad you have ever ordered or eaten. Pears are roasted with bourbon and brown sugar and then tossed with leafy greens, blue cheese and sweet, crunchy candied walnuts for a perfect holiday salad.

Candied Hazelnut, Kale, Apple and Bacon Salad

Self Proclaimed Foodie

This salad is next-level with its mix of textures and flavors. On Sunday, mix the kale and apple with the dressing and you’ll have lunch ready for the entire week.

Harvest Salad With Pomegranate Allspice Dressing

The View from Great Island

This salad makes a beautiful accompaniment to heavier dishes. The pomegranate dressing is fresh and tangy and pairs perfectly with creamy gorgonzola and sweet acorn squash.

Winter Kale Salad With Almond Butter Dressing

In It 4 the Long Run

You only need six ingredients for this winter salad. It's easy enough to double or triple for a get-together and healthy enough to get all your veggies for the day.

Roasted Butternut Squash Fall Kale Salad

Emilie Eats

Who said salads have to be greens-based? Take advantage of the bounty of winter squash at the market this time of year and make this drool-worthy salad for dinner this week.

Baby Kale Salad With Oranges, Pomegranate and Maple-Tahini Dressing

Can You Stay for Dinner?

This salad packs a nutritional punch that can't be beat. It's delicious too!

Roasted Mushroom and Romaine Salad

Cookin' Canuck

Super-simple ingredients make this comfort salad a go-to for busy weeknights. The mushrooms are tossed with olive oil, rosemary and garlic and then roasted for an earthy bite. Get your vitamin B fix and a powerful antioxidant called selenium, which helps to support the immune system. (via Cookin' Canuck)

Sweet Potato Pomegranate Salad

Two Peas and Their Pod

You *need* to make this potato salad right now. You’ll give the summer barbecue favorite an even yummier upgrade with sweet potatoes, feta cheese and pomegranates.

Brussels Sprouts & Kale Salad With Apple, Gorgonzola + Candied Pecans

Ambitious Kitchen

The best part about kale salads is they get better the longer they sit in dressing. If you’re hosting a dinner party, this salad is the great starter for that very reason.

Brussels Sprout Salad With Butternut Squash, Pomegranate and “Fried” Goat Cheese

Coley Cooks

Brussels sprouts may have gotten a bad rap in the past, but they are the *it* veggie this winter. The goat cheese is rolled in bread crumbs and baked to make this salad feel extra special while still being ultra healthy.

Twelve Superfoods Salad 

Averie Cooks

Winter reminds us of the hunting and gathering period that often occurs right before this time so our minds immediately thought of this superfoods salad. It has sunflower seeds, walnuts, edamame, kale, blueberries, grapes, olive oil and more in it, making it the perfect replenishing meal.

Roasted Brussels Sprout Salad With Rosemary Cider Vinaigrette 

The Original Dish

Satisfy your taste bud's desire for something that fulls robust and earthy this fall. This is one of those yummy winter salad recipes that's going to give you a bit of caramelized and spicy flavor so you'll almost feel like you're not eating something that's on the healthier side.

Follow us on Pinterest for more healthy meal ideas!

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And just like that, it's time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day once again, where rainbows are a staple and you’ll be sure to find a pot of gold at the end! 🍀 Rainbow food has yet to fade away any time soon, but what about turning your food into actual rainbows – clouds and all?

You’re definitely in luck (wink wink) for finding this rainbow donuts recipe now! Gear up for St. Paddy’s Day this year with a little sugary sweetness and tons of color with these rainbow donuts! Let's get into the recipe! 🌈

Ingredients for Rainbow Donuts

  • Plain glazed donuts
  • Rainbow sprinkles
  • Donut icing
  • Shredded coconut

Directions for Rainbow Donuts

  1. Cut your donuts in half using a sharp, serrated knife.
  2. Set your icing in a shallow dish. Dip the tops of each donut half into the icing.
  3. Starting with your pink (or red) sprinkles, line the outside edge of the donut, creating the first "arc" of the rainbow.
  4. Continue adding sprinkles in rainbow order until the whole donut is covered.
  5. Add a little more icing to the top of the donut ends and place a pinch of shredded coconut on top for the "clouds"!

Try to choose donuts that have a very round shape, so the rainbows turn out with more of an arc.

Be careful not to leave your donuts sitting for too long after you’ve iced them. You’ll need the icing to still be wet/tacky when you add the sprinkles so they stay on securely. Plus, you want 'em to look flawless for all the Instagram pics! 

Avoid making your rows of sprinkles overly thick or else you won’t be able to fit in all of the colors of the rainbow. We need the full spectrum!

🎶 Somewhere over the rainbow… there are rainbow donuts! 🎶 These rainbow donuts will be a fun recipe to make with everyone in the family since you can use pre-made donuts – no oven required.

We don’t know about you, but we’re all set for St. Paddy’s Day now! If you're in search of more fun St. Patrick's Day recipes, check out our list of lucky green cocktails, festive green pasta recipes, and try your hand at these delicious dessert shots!

Sign up for our newsletter for more fun holiday desserts like these rainbow donuts!
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Don't get me wrong, tacky holiday decorations can be a lot of fun, from ugly sweater parties to Griswold-style outdoor lights. I love strolling the neighborhood for the most OTT holiday houses and thinking creatively what I'll wear to my friend Marie's annual corny Christmas party. I'm here for all the intentional tacky decor.... just not in my home. Tacky can also mean plastic and wasteful and just well hard to look at if you're going for any sort of non-tacky decor aesthetic. If you want to invest in more natural holiday decor this year (fresh pine wreaths, linen tree skirts, beeswax candles), steer clear of these tacky holiday decorations!

Keep reading for tacky holiday decor ideas you should avoid at all costs!

Super-Sized Yard Decor

Wayfair

Fionnula Bumble Lighted Display

As much as my kiddo loves these over-the-top inflatables and animated light-up figures, I have to say no to the super-sized lawn ornaments, like Santa riding a motorcycle, enormous snowmen, or this Bumble Lighted Display from the movie classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." They can be pricey and take up a ton of storage, but for those who love them the more the merrier!

Christmas Light Explosions

Shutterstock

Covering every square inch of your house, trees, and yard with twinkling, multicolored lights or flashing LEDs can look chaotic and well crazy. It's an art form to get it right, but when done well it can bring holiday cheer to the block. When done wrong, well, it's sort of a waste of time and money.

Tinsel Snot

Amazon

Amazon Christmas Icicle Tinsel

Is tinsel making a comeback? Please say it isn't so. It not only looks tacky IMHO, but it makes it harder to recycle your natural tree. (Our Girl Scout chapter picks up our trees the day after Christmas for recycling - but not if there's tinsel on it!). Anyway, if you have nostalgia feels for tinsel, go for it sparingly and avoid this drippy snot look. We want to see that pretty tree!

Ugly Christmas Sweaters

Tipsy Elves

Tipsy Elves Women's Ugly Christmas Sweater

Ugly Christmas sweaters are intentionally tacky, but what's with all the stores capitalizing on them? I liked it back when you could get creative and DIY your holiday sweater, but now you can find racks full of garish colors, clashing patterns, and glittery appliqués. Maybe we can rein it in this year?

Overly Trad Decor

Wayfair

Faux Lighted Wreath

The angels, the harps, the bells, the Merry Christmas sign, oh my! Overly trad Christmas decor can make a home feel dated. Sure, if you have some childhood favorites, toss them into the mix of modern-day neutral holiday decor, like natural linens, fresh garland, and naturally scented candles.

Metallic Garland

Amazon

Amazon Metallic Garland

Can we just skip the metallic garland this year? It's wasteful, it's hard to wrap and unwrap around your tree (so much so you just want to toss it in the trash after), and it just makes your tree look like a blast from the past.

According to Stanford University's Waste Reduction, Recycling, Composting and Solid Waste Program, household waste increases by more than 25 percent during the holidays with additional waste like packaging, wrapping paper, and one-use decorations contributing an additional 1 million tons of landfill trash each week from Thanksgiving to New Year's. Better alternatives? Satin ribbons, dried orange slices, cranberry garlands, and felt garlands that you won't throw away. Even the classic construction paper chain link would be an upgrade!

Corny Theme Pillows

Amazon

Christmas Theme Pillows

I'm on the fence about the Buffalo plaid too, but it's a classic pattern (we just see it everywhere now). The pillows on the other hand are a little much, no?

Chair Covers

Amazon

Christmas Chair Covers

Why do we need these? Maybe just tie a velvet ribbon with mistletoe or add Scandi-style sheepskin to your chairs and call it a holiday.

Christmas Character Themes

Amazon

Grinch's Christmas Tree Decorations

The Grinch's green isn't quite Christmas green, putting it even higher on the tacky spectrum. Anything with characters says tacky to me and sort of distorts the meaning of the holidays.

Bathroom Decorations

Amazon

Christmas Theme Bathroom Decorations

If you want to make your guests giggle, this tacky set will do the trick.

Porch Banners

Amazon

Christmas Porch Banners

Loud and proud!

Kitschy Tea Towels

Amazon

Amazon Christmas Towels

The jokes just don't quite hit the way they should. Also, the traditional red and green are killing me! But of course, there's a time and place for tacky Christmas decorations and bringing a little joy to the season. Happy holidays!

Find holiday decor on our Pinterestand check out our email newsletter for more holiday inspiration!

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Leonardo DiCaprio, everyone's favorite '90s heartthrob, is officially 50 years old. According to Page Six, the movie star celebrated his milestone birthday at his home in LA over the weekend with some of his celeb posse, and the guest list might actually surprise you! From Brad Pitt to Paris Hilton, here's how our collective Romeo rang in the big 5-0!

Scroll for Leonardo DiCaprio's 50th Birthday Party Details

Kevin Mazur

Page Six reports that DiCaprio celebrated this major birthday on Saturday, November 9, 2024. According to their "spy," the party started off with a smaller, more intimate group — and the festivities grew throughout the night. Early guests included Steven Spielberg, Kate Capshaw, Robert Di Nero, Brad Pitt, and Ines De Ramon.
The total celeb-studded guest list is quite eclectic, however! Here's everyone Page Sixreports was at this celebratory shindig:
  • Steven Spielberg & Kate Capshaw
  • Robert Di Nero
  • Brad Pitt & Ines De Ramon
  • Vittoria Ceretti
  • Tobey Maguire
  • Paris Hilton
  • Edward Norton
  • Anderson .Paak
  • Dr. Dre
  • Mark Ruffalo
  • Jamie Foxx
  • Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom
  • Robin Thicke
  • Benecio Del Toro
  • Cara Delevigne
  • Tyga

An exclusive source for PEOPLE reports that DiCaprio's "old school friends" were there — á la Brad Pitt and a handful of directors and producers. Apparently, the source said DiCaprio was thrilled all night. "He was incredibly happy and hugging all his guests. Leo was on a high the whole night."

As for Brad Pitt, allegedly he was also "in a great mood, was super social and greeting everyone" and hung out in the front patio all night. And everyone else? PEOPLE notes that guests danced "into the early a.m. hours."

Miya Mizuno/HBO

Notably missing from the celebrations is BFF Kate Winslet. The pair have been practically inseparable since their Titanicdays, so it seems surprising that she wouldn't make an appearance. The likely explanation, though, is that Winslet is working on her upcoming projects like The Spotand Trust.

But don't worry — DiCaprio's model girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti, was allegedly there with the Oscar-winning actor all night! At least one of the closest women in his life was there to support the star.

When is Leonardo DiCaprio's birthday?

Kevin Mazur

Leonardo DiCaprio's birthday is November 11, 1974.

How old is Leonardo DiCaprio?

Leonardo DiCaprio is officially 50 years old!

How old was Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Titanic'?

Paramount Pictures

Leonardo DiCaprio was only 21 years old in Titanic. So, yes...that means the movie premiered 30 years ago. BRB while I sob — and buy more eye cream.

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