Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Somewhere Over the Rainbow... Irish Eyes Are Smiling

So last year, as I celebrated St. Patrick's Day, I dug out the big witches cauldrons that I have for Halloween. I tied one to each side of our front steps. I put gold bows taped along the top to resemble a pot of gold. It was cute, but something was just missing. On about March 15th I realized what it needed...
A Rainbow

Fete Ave Moi
So this year, I planned ahead. I visited a local dollar store. Yes $1 each for plastic rectangle shaped table cloths. R-O-Y-G-B-I-V it's amazing how mneumonic devices really do work.  All these years letter I still remember the colors of a rainbow's light spectrum should range appropriately from red to violet. I also invested in a large pack of black hair ties ($1.99 for about 36). Lastly 2 gold table cloths to fill the pot (along with some Halloween stones for weight) and voila. Eleven dollars later we have an adorable, waterproof rainbow cascading down our steps into a pot of gold. Perfectly fit for any leprechaun.

Fete Avec Moi
We also have another set of steps that sit closer to the road down our hill. Needed a splash of color there. A green garland from the Christmas Tree Shop did just nicely.

Luckily, we have a lovely next door neighbor who looks forward to my decorations. So I get to decorate the landing on our level and our hallway too. I haven't gone all out yet. I have a few more ideas in mind for this weekend. But at least I have started adding a little cheer. I still have the $2.99 lit branches I had purchased around Halloween. Love getting a second use out of something so inexpensive. I placed them inside another cauldron, covered the bases with a navy blanket, and wrapped a green clover garland wire ($.49) around the branches. It looks rather ethereal I think. Especially at night when I can light them. They are powered by batteries. Another green garland wraps along the railing of our hallway stairs. Shamrock cutouts that were purchased in a multi-pack for $1.49 were the finishing touch. A few years ago, I purchased a set of bells covered in white and green ribbon that I just love on our apartment door for St. Patrick's Day. Of course, I dug them out.  A large green pull bow that I had in the closet from earlier gift wrap packages completes the look on the landing. When it comes to seasonal decorations I truly believe in choosing a color scheme and re-purposing items that you already have. Free decorating.

Of course, after all that decorating I had to relax and reward myself with a McDonald's Shamrock Shake and some time on the couch with magazines. This would have been the perfect end to a perfect Saturday. Except... then it snowed. Of course it did! I decorated for Spring. Glad all my decorations were waterproof.



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