Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all! While I have been snowed in, yet again, (Don't they know the first day of spring is THIS Friday?!?!) I am still getting in the green spirit today with my shamrock socks. I just couldn't resist! 

Maybe I will get a little inspired and whip up one of the Irish dishes I shared with you all last week or just enjoy a delicious Irish beer while I finish up filling out my March Madness bracket. I am hoping some of this Irish luck will rub off on my March Madness bracket this year! You can start a pool in your office (with or without prizes-bragging rights are enough in my office) by sending this bracket PDF from ESPN.com to all your co-workers. Good luck!

What are you doing to celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year? 

xoxo
Megan

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This time of year can cause some people to get a little crazy and slightly obsessed. They wait in anticipation for when they can be reunited with their true love as they will only have a few weeks to treasure their time together. Yes, I am talking about McDonald's Shamrock Shake. And with over 60 million shakes sold since it was first introduced in 1970, they must be doing something right.

While I have never had one of these shakes from McD's (I do not support that establishment) I do like to enjoy a seasonal themed beverage like a mint green milkshake. So for those who are like me and do not go to McDonalds, or for those who would like to enjoy the minty shake year-round, here is a great recipe on how you can make your own Shamrock Shake. Please not that this is supposedly the Ultimate Shamrock Shake Recipe from Top Secret Recipes who reverse engineers the country's favorite foods. So if it is not exactly like the original you can take up that matter with them! :) Enjoy!

Shamrock Shakes by Top Secret Recipes
Serves two

Ingredients

• 2 cups vanilla ice cream
  
• 1 1/4 cups low fat milk
  
• 1/4 teaspoon mint extract
  
• 8 drops food coloring
  

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth. Stop blender to stir with a spoon if necessary to help blend ice cream.
   
2. Pour into two 2-ounce cups and serve each with a straw.
   

And if you want to make this a drunk Shamrock Shake just add 3 ounces of Jameson Irish whiskey (two shots, or 6 Tbsp.) Are you taking part in any Shamrock celebrations this year? Have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo
Megan

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It's Irish week on The Preppy Planner as St. Patrick's Day is just six days away. Last year I shared with you some great recipes, crafts and decorations to help you create an amazing St. Patrick's Day celebration. However, you don't have to go with the "green" theme when it comes to picking your St. Patty's day food. This year when making your St. Patrick's menu go with some of the traditional Irish dishes (and then throw in some fun "green" themed ones). I have put together a list of some delicious traditional Irish dishes that are perfect for this year's Irish celebrations. Enjoy!

1. Irish Soda Bread recipe from Martha Stewart
2. Colcannon recipe from Boulder Locavore
3. Boxty recipe from The Parsley Thief
4. Irish (Lamb) Stew recipe from Recipe Girl
5. Potato Soup recipe from Southern Living and Bread Bowl from Home is Where the Boat Is
6. Corned Beef with Cabbage recipe from Steamy Kitchen
7. Shepherd's Pie recipe from Irish Central
8. Bangers & Mash recipe from Kohler Created
9. Irish Beer & Whiskey (from Ireland! haha)
10. Irish Apple Cake recipe from Kleinworth & Co.

What is your favorite Irish dish to enjoy for St. Patrick's Day?

xoxo
Megan

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Happy Tuesday to you all! There are so many great holidays to celebrate during March, like Mardi Gras and St. Patrick's Day, but the list doesn't have to stop there! There are so many great reasons to celebrate this month so without having to wait any longer, here are a few of my favorite reasons that will have you reaching for your party hats...

March 4th: National Pancake Day. And it is also Mardi Gras aka Fat Tuesday aka Pancake Day! So really there is no excuse not to enjoy a fluffy stack of pancakes in celebration today.
March 6th: National Oreo Day. This year is Oreo's 102nd Birthday and I say we celebrate with the birthday Oreo cookie!
March 10th: National Napping Day. Since you loose an hour of sleep the day before because of Day Light Savings I think this is the perfect excuse to celebrate National Napping Day today.
March 12th: Girl Scout Day. Because you still want/need a reason to justify buying that box (or three) of Girl Scout cookies. Go ahead and splurge!
March 13th: Popcorn Lover's Day. Today is the perfect day to enjoy popcorn and share it with others. Enjoy it the traditional way, with salt and butter, or add anyone of a number of flavors to it like cheddar cheese, parmesan, garlic, and even hot pepper! YUM!
March 14th: Pi Day! The best way to celebrate? By eating 3.14 pies of course. (I'll let you figure out the math on how to cut .14 of a pie.)
March 17th: Bracket Monday. For some, March Madness is better than Christmas (Please note I said some as it does not include me - I love Christmas way too much!). So grab your basketball buddies, fill out those brackets and let the craziness begin!
March 23rd: National Chip & Dip Day. While March 14th might be National Potato Chip Day, you know you like and enjoy chips that much more when you can eat them with your favorite dip. Celebrate by hosting a party and have everyone bring their favorite chip & dip combination. 
March 26th: Make Up Your Own Holiday Day. It doesn't matter what you want to celebrate today as you are allowed to make this whatever you want! Maybe throw a celebration for celebrating? haha 
March 30th: Pencil Day. Today is the day that we celebrate the official creation of the most famous writing utensil ever! They can write underwater, in space, and upside down. Take that pens! 

What holiday are you looking forward to celebrating the most this month? I know one thing for certain, no matter which holidays you celebrate you definitely won't go hungry! Happy Fat Tuesday!

xoxo
Megan

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Did you know that there is a National Peanut Butter Lovers Day? Well there is, and it is tomorrow! (Woo hoo!) So in celebration of this festive holiday (because who doesn't love peanut butter? Well maybe those who are allergic to peanuts, but they don't count - sorry!) I found a super easy recipe on how you can make your very own peanut butter. Here is what you will need:

Ingredients

• 2 cups roasted shelled, unsalted peanuts
  
• 1 tablespoon peanut oil
  
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional for low salt diets)

Directions

• Place peanuts, oil, and salt into a blender or food processor.
  
• Blend well, until desired texture is reached.
  
• Place peanut butter in airtight container.
  
• For crunchy peanut butter, add 1/4 cup of peanuts and blend again, but, for just a short burst or two.
  
• The oil can separate from the peanuts during storage. Simply stir and serve.
  

How easy is that?!?! Though I will probably still keeping buying my jar of Jif peanut butter, one day I will make my own! And now for some fun ideas on what you can make with your homemade (or store bought) peanut butter:

Apple Peanut Butter Sandwich from Best Friends for Frosting
Peanut Butter Cookies from Tammilee Tips
Peanut Butter Cheese Ball from The Girl Who Ate Everything
Peanut Butter Bars from Shugary Sweets
Peanut Butter Pumpkin Bread from Crazy for Crust

What is your favorite way to enjoy peanut butter? Have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo
Megan

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Don't put those party hats away yet, it's the annual carnival season! Carnival season starts on Epiphany (January 6th) and continues until Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. During this time tons of parties and feasts are hosted in celebration before the season of Lent begins. While this time of celebration started as a Catholic holiday season, it is now celebrated by people of all denominations. In America some of the largest Mardi Gras parties can be found in Mobile, Biloxi, New Orleans, and Pensacola. Even if you don't live near Mardi Gras central, you can still celebrate this holiday in style by putting together your own Mardi Gras celebration. Here are ten of my favorite things about this holiday...

1. Purple, Green & Gold Everything! You really can't go wrong with these decorative party colors. 
2. Decorative Beads. You can wear them, craft with them or use them as decorations 
3. The Parades. See if there is a parade taking place where you live and if so grab a group of friends and head that way! Some cities will have parades in the weeks leading up to the holiday as well.
4. The Food. You will find some amazing recipes like crawfish, gumbo, shrimp, and this Mardi Gras Jambalaya from Cajun Delights.
5. The Music. You can't have a Mardi Gras party without music. For the perfect playlist find songs by zydeco, brass and jazz bands to get you in the party mood.
6. The Costumes. I am a huge fan of all the decorative masks that people wear during the Mardi Gras celebrations and the characters that they portray. You could make your own for the celebrations this year!
7. The Drinks. Yes, drinking is heavily associated with this festive holiday (but really what holiday isn't?) so have some fun in creating a holiday themed drink like this Cajun Bloody Mary or New Orleans Hurricane.
8. The Fleur de Lis. While some people have their obsession over chevron, I have always loved the fleur de lis. There is no holding back on the use of this symbol in your Mardi Gras decorations!
9. The Decorations. Feathers, glitter, beads and more take over the decorations during this carnival holiday season. Create your own party wreath for the occasion like this one from esty store Holidays Are Special.
10. The King Cake. What would a Mardi Gras celebration be without a king cake? 

What is your favorite thing about Mardi Gras?

xoxo
Megan

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Last week was filled with tons of candy, cards, flowers and chocolates as people celebrate Valentine's Day. With all the snow that we had last week (and can still be found in huge piles in the parking lots) Valentine's Day turned into Valentine's Weekend as many people got snowed in and couldn't get out. As such, last weekend when I was at the grocery store I was bombarded with sights of one delicious treat: chocolate covered strawberries. I had just put a container of fresh strawberries into my cart when I passed by these treats so I was not about to pickup chocolate covered ones that were $5 for a handful of strawberries. However seeing them did cause me to start craving them! So like most random food cravings that I get I decided I would make my own chocolate fondue instead!

So now that you know how this week's food inspiration came about here is the recipe that I used to create my own chocolaty goodness.

Chocolate Fondue from Every Day with Rachel Ray
Ingredients

• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  
• 1/4 cup water
  
• 1/2 cup milk
  
• 1/8 cup sugar
  
• 1 - 12 ounce bags semisweet chocolate chips
  
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  
• Bananas, Apples, Graham Crackers, Strawberries, Marshmallows, etc. for dipping
  

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the cocoa powder with the water and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Stir in the milk and sugar and bring to a simmer. Add the chocolate chips and vanilla and cook, stirring, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth, about 5 minutes.
2. Serve the fondue (or just leave it on the stove set on simmer) warm with all your goodies for dipping. 

I dipped strawberries, slices of banana and graham cracker pieces into my chocolate and then stuck them in the fridge to enjoy throughout the week. Just a note to any fondue newbies (a lesson I learned from this cooking experiment) if you stick strawberries into the freezer to help the chocolate harden, don't leave them in there so long that the berries freeze. Because if you do freeze them when you "thaw" them so that you can eat them they turn to mush. (Thankfully I only lost 3 berries!)

And don't throw away your leftover chocolate! You can use it as icing, cake filling, or turn them into truffle balls for another yummy dessert!

What is your favorite thing to dip into chocolate fondue? And besides chocolate, what is your favorite type of fondue to make? Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!!

xoxo
Megan

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Even with all the snow we had last week, the girl's and I were still able to get together this past weekend for our next theme dinner. With the winter Olympics being held in Sochi, Russia we thought it would be fun to try out some traditional Russian dishes. Our menu for the evening included:

• Cabbage Soup
• Russian Salmon and Potato Salad
• Piroshky
• Chicken Kotleti with Mushroom Stuffing
• Cheery Blintzes

I attempted to make the Chicken Kotleti with Mushroom Stuffing (my backup was a bottle of vodka) and I have to say that they came out pretty good. I got the recipe from Olga's Flavor Factory, a blogger who grew up enjoying Russian food and loves to cook and entertain. She has a ton of great Russian recipes to choose from if you want to browse through her site for more great Russian recipes to try. You can find the complete recipe with step-by-step pictures how how to make your own Chicken Kotleti with Mushroom Stuffing here. If you are not a fan of mushrooms you can also try one of the other Chicken Kotleti variations that she has on her site instead. (My hands were a little too messy from the chicken mixture to take pictures. Oops!) 

While all of our dishes turned out great (trust me, we were all surprised) we did come to the conclusion that Russians must not like adding seasoning in their dishes. I decided to mix things up a little bit (and give the cabbage soup some more flavor) by taking one of my leftover chicken kotletis, cut it up and added it to my cabbage soup along with some salt and pepper. It actually turned out to be a leftover dinner with salad the next day! 


Have you tried any Russian dishes in celebration of the winter Olympics? Be sure to share your recipe below!

xoxo
Megan

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This has been one crazy week! From the President coming to town to getting snowed in with over 14 inches of snow I have completely lost track of my days. This morning I finally went out and played some in the snow (yea!!) and created this cute little Valentine's Day heart to celebrate today's holiday. So from a snowed in blogger to everyone out there Happy Valentine's Day! 

If you are still in need of a cute gift for your Valentine this year (and if you had a week like mine I wouldn't blame you!) try this cute homemade fruit roll-ups fortune cookie DIY from SheKnows. 

You can include your own adorable Valentine fortunes like "Sweets for my Sweet" or include some cute inside jokes that you share with your cutie. These fortune cookies are fun to make and enjoy! For a full step-by-step on how to create these treats check out the tutorial here.

What are you doing to celebrate Valentine's Day today?

xoxo
Megan

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The Olympics are back and its time to celebrate! While you can host a Winter Olympics party anytime during the next two weeks I am in favor of hosting one during the opening ceremonies, which airs tomorrow night. To get you into your team U-S-A spirit I have put together some fun ideas to help you create a fun Winter Olympics Party, with a few Russian additions of course! 

Invitations
A great way to coordinate a viewing party is to create an online invitation like this one from evite. They have a dozen different Olympic and team USA themed designs to choose from and you don't have to worry about postage!

Food and Decorations
There are so many different ways that you can choose to theme your Olympic menu and decor. For an opening ceremonies party you can come up with fun food ideas using the Olympic rings and decorate with flags from every country. With Russia hosting the Olympics this year you could also add some unique menu items that those in Sochi might be enjoying.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Entertainment
This one is pretty easy. Check your local listings and see what time the Olympics will be on TV. Make sure you have plenty of seating room for your guests and let the cheering begin! 

And for a complete schedule of what sports are competing which day here is a great chart to follow or you can download the NBC Olympics Highlights and Results app from iTunes. 

What events are you looking forward to watching during the 2014 Winter Olympic Games? Go team USA!!

xoxo
Megan

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