Bagpipes and Clovers

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hello lovelies <3 I hope you had a wonderful St. Paddy's (Paddy = Patrick; Patty= Patricia)

I've always loved St. Paddy's since I was a little kid. My parents play the bagpipes so I grew up around bagpipes, kilts, parades, and celtic traditions (Scottish, not Irish though). I've marched and danced in parades and we even have our own tartan.

When I was in grade school, my parents came every St. Patrick's Day to play the bagpipes for us. On a side note, Amazing Grace is probably THE saddest song on the bagpipes We would march around the school yard and pretend we were in an actual parade. I remember one year, I think I was 6 or 7, I taught a few of the girls how to do the highland fling (again, Scottish).

Have I proven how much fun St. Patrick's Day was for me growing up?

This year I went to New York (friday-sunday) to celebrate with some good Irish food, atmosphere, and of course, Guinness.

    

I stayed with one of my college roommates and we had a lot of fun. We relaxed on Friday and went out on Saturday. Saturday day, we went shopping in Herald Square. I got a few things that I am super excited about so look out for a haul video hopefully soon.

That night, we went to Connolly's on 45th St. (there are three different locations in midtown). It was SUPER busy (good thing we made a reservation). The host was a super pleasant balding Irish man and the rest of the staff was lovely. Our food was absolutely DELICIOUS and it came out super fast. 

The only negative thing (and it wasn't even that negative) was that neither the waiter nor the bartenders knew what a grasshopper drink was (or a thin mint, girl scout, or dirty girl scout). I had to tell the waiter what was in it and the bartender made it from. It was good for a first try, but not at all what it was supposed to be. It was served in a baby glass on the rocks... oh and it cost $10. Creme de Menthe and Creme de Cacao do NOT cost that much. Side note: why would you even have those two things on your alcohol shelves and not know how to make a classic old lady drink like a grasshopper?

Now that that rant is over, I would definitely go back or recommend Connolly's for the food and atmosphere. The architecture and decorations gave the feel of a legitimate pub atmosphere.

Jumping back to the present, I am making Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes (based on the drink) today and bringing them to the bar. I'm not crazy about the name of the drink, but I hope the flavours of the cupcakes come together.

I'm going to leave you loves with an Irish Blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

The rain fall soft upon your fields

and until. we meet again

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

How do you spend your St. Paddy's Day?

love always,

xo