Where the Luck of the Irish Doesn’t Apply

If you plan to hoist a pint of Guinness in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, don’t count on the luck of the Irish to get you home safely. Don’t drink and drive, allow friends to get behind the wheel after toasting or ride in a car whose driver has overindulged. If you’re out on the town, instead designate a sober driver or have an alternate plan before you begin celebrating; most towns now have ride-share services that can take you home safely. And if you’re hosting a St. Patrick’s Day party, serve plenty of snacks and nonalcoholic beverages as well as green beer, and ensure everyone imbibing has a safe ride home.

Have a Low-Key St. Patrick’s Day Party

For a low-key St. Patrick’s Day, have a few friends or family members over for a Irish-themed party. “Serve corned beef and cabbage or Irish stew,” suggests WikiHow, along with green beer tinted with a few drops of food coloring. Then, stream a movie to match the theme such as The Quiet Man or Michael Collins (Leprechaun if you’re a horror fan). Or get involved in the nearest St. Patrick’s Day parade by marching with a local civic group, helping design a float or simply cheering the festivities and Irish heritage from the sidelines.

Score Big With DIY Super Bowl Party Decorations

Planning a Super Bowl party is relatively simple: All you need are snacks, beverages and a TV. But you can really score with guests if you take your decorating to the next level with simple do-it-yourself projects such as AstroTurf table coverings and pennants. Or you can download a range of printable decorations and accessories such as Super Bowl bingo cards, game time silhouettes, snack containers and cupcake toppers to really turn your space into sports central. It’s a great way to get in the spirit at a fraction of the cost of store-bought decorations.

The Super Bowl Is Mostly About the Snacks

Did you know that football isn’t even the top draw on Super Bowl Sunday? Electronic invitation service Evite says that 48 percent of people look forward to seeing the new $5 million-per-half-minute ads the most, and 36 percent just want to indulge in party food; the game itself comes in third at 28 percent. In other words, the best game plan for a successful, stress-free party may be to avoid muting the commercial breaks and ask guests to contribute a snack or beverage so that there are plenty of Super Bowl essentials such as wings, nachos, chili and pizza to go around.

Show off Those Summer Whites

Labor Day is the last day of the summer season, and the last day traditional fashionistas say that it’s OK to wear white. While few people still observe the archaic fashion rule, the SheKnows blog says, what better time to throw a White Party? Wear your best monochromatics and serve only finger foods that have little potential to stain for an elegant end-of-summer occasion. After the party, you can pack your summer whites away for the next season, or donate them to ClothingDonations.org.