Happy March 1st, Friends! You know what’s coming in a few weeks … St. Patrick’s Day!
We are an Irish family. My husband’s parents are from Dublin, both born and raised there, and a few years ago we were able to visit there and meet new family! It was an experience of a lifetime for my husband and me.
Here I am with Paul’s 2 Irish uncles in 2007. 
Handsome men, I’d say!
The funny thing about Irish food is that my husband ate so many boiled potatoes growing up, and all the other Irish traditional foods, that to this day he doesn’t crave any of them.
Which makes me happy, because I really don’t have a desire to cook a lot of Irish food!
But … when St. Patty’s Day rolls around, we usually do a little celebrating with our kids or friends.
This year I am SURPRISING our Irish family down in California with a Harry & David Timberline Gift Tower!
I can’t wait for the element of surprise when UPS knocks on their door.
And they open it to find these special items.
I love the healthy combination of pears, cheese, nuts, and savory snacks in Harry & David’s gift towers.
Plus the 3-tiered tower boxes are reusable, and my motto is to take the ones I have, and repurpose them with a meal or snack enclosed for another family in need.
Now you can WIN the same basket we sent our family. Here’s the GIVEAWAY scoop:
WHAT TO WIN: One winner will win the Timberline Gift Tower
You can receive the towers at your home, or send to your favorite Irish family!
HOW TO WIN: Leave a comment here on RE.
How will you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year?
EXTRA WAYS TO WIN: Visit here, here, and here, and Harry & David, here. And come back and tell me that you’re following.
WINNER ANNOUNCED: Contest ends Monday, 3/4/13 at 11:59 pm. The winner will be announced on Tues. 3/5/13 and the basket will be mailed right away to you! USA only.
ENJOY!
And as the Irish say: “Wherever you go and whatever you do, May the luck of the Irish be there with you.”
Harry & David provided the giveaway towers but I was not compensated for this post today. As always, all opinions are my own.
Hi, I'm Sandy. Five years ago I stocked up on beautiful glasses from the Dollar Store. As I started writing about dinner parties, I realized that this "icon" portrays a great message. 
I want to share with you some of my favorite places to visit in blog-land, sites that I learn from and am inspired by, and some beautiful friends that I’ve met over the years.
With corned beef & cabbage, irish soda bread & beer – of course!!
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A corned beef brisket will spend all day in my crock pot, with some cabbage cooked with it (for my husband) and some cabbage cooked separately (for me and my son). We will be at home, as our green-beer-swilling days are behind us!
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I always make a simple soda bread and stew.
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We do the whole thing!
Corned beef, soda bread and custom limericks for everyone.
My Irish family LOVES St. Patrick’s day.
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We’ve never done anything special to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Shocking, I know!
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following on facebook!
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following on Twitter!
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It was a tough move for this Irish heritage girl to move from Boston to North Carolina. I so miss family heritage celebrations!
So, I deck myself out in green (that’s almost every day anyway) and bake soda bread and hope to make it to a local Irish pub since it is the weekend this year!
Oh, how I’d love to enjoy this Harry and David set too!
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following on Pinterest!
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Always wear green and clover dealy pops.
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I already follow/like you on Facebook.
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Following Harry & David on facebook!
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And, I already follow you on Twitter, too.
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Will be enjoying some cabbage in my St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
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And, I already follow you on Pinterest.
(starting to feel like a stalker here)
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Following on Twitter and also on Facebook both the Reluctant Entertainer and Harry & David.
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I’ll be celebrating with the quintessial Irish- American corned beef & cabbage!
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I already follow you on FB!
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I follow you on Twitter!
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We probably won’t do much…but we will do something for the kids!
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I follow Harry & David on Facebook and Twitter!
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We have corned beef and cabbage, green dessert, a hunt for gold (chocolate and real coins), decorate like crazy, fun favors and talk about great-grandma from Dublin.
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And now I “like” Harry & David on Facebook too.
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Word is that I do have a little Irish blood from my mom’s side. At any rate, I got an Irish first name! We don’t really celebrate the holiday much, but I will probably sport a little green that day. One time my mom made our eggs with green food coloring (they looked so disgusting) and my kids love to hear that story and beg for their own green eggs, so perhaps they’ll make an appearance!
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By wearing my favorite shamrock pin and winking my Irish green eyes at everyone I meet!
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Karen Barnett Reply:
March 1st, 2013 at 12:32 pm
And I’m following on all four–FB, Twitter, Pinterest, and H&D on FB.
Fun!
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we celebrate our Irish heritage everyday! this time of the year we see the Irish parade here in coastal NC and we make Irish soda bread and brown bread, corned beef and cabbage and Irish potatoes including the lil sweet ones with the cinnamon on them…we deck the house out in light up shamrocks and everything green sparkly and glittery..we sing along to Irish tunes and dance to the jigs..we unwind listening to the bagpipes and deliberately play Clare Delune and danny Boy for our late mama who loved them so…In the meanwhile I’ll keep my Irish eyes smilin’ waitin to win this fabulous gift to share with my fabulous new friends and family here!
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Our family hails from County Cork Ireland ♣
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Oh, I loooove St. Patrick’s Day! I will be making Irish Soda bread – one to keep, many to share!
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Drinking two beers: one for myself, and one for my husband who will be deployed.
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Following on Twitter.
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Liked on Facebook.
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Shamrock shakes from Mcdonald’s. I don’t eat red meat so the meat and cabbage stuff is not a happening thing at my house.
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Following Harry & David on FB as well.
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Also following on Pinterest.
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Hoping the luck of the Irish is with me and I WIN your awesome give-away!!! ha!
Our son’s birthday is the day before, so we’re usually in birthday mode each year and do very little to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But I usually celebrate and get me a McDonald’s SHAMROCK shake every year. ha!
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I always make soda bread. And often colcannon. And this year I’m doing a St. Pat’s 1/2 marathon that weekend.
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Saladgoddess already following you on Twitter.
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With corned beef and cabbage of course.
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I’ll be celebrating with Guinness and lots of green!
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Laura Reply:
March 1st, 2013 at 1:07 pm
And following on Twitter (@GarlicGoddessLC), and on Pintrest
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Since it’s just my husband and I, we don’t really celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But last year my brother-in-law made corned beef and cabbage and he inspired me to try it this year!
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No real celebration planned I’ll just be wearing my green so nobody pinches me:)
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We try to make rainbow cupcakes every year for SPD…:)
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I’m going to try my hand at making fully homemade corned beef – I’m really excited but a little nervous!
And maybe a Guinness or two
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We always have traditional corned beef, cabbage and potatoes, sometimes salt-rising bread.
It is great fun.
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I adore H&D, especially their white cheddar! The 17th falls on a Sunday so I would guess that we will be at church…but then will probably try to plan an Irish-inspired dinner, and drink some Guinness!
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Following all links.
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Cheering my husband on @ the LA Marathon.
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I tend to forget about St.Patrick’s Day till it is right upon me. This year will probably be no different
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I always do corned beef, cabbage, colcannon, Irish soda bread but this year is a even bigger deal: our 11 month old grandson will be dedicated at church.
His Irish ancestors will be proud!
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To be honest, I’m not sure how I’ll be celebrating yet!
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following on facebook!
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following on twitter!
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St. Patrick’s Day is our wedding anniversary and this year is extra special since it is our 40th anniversary! A lovely dinner at home will be perfect for us. We hope the weather cooperates and we can go on a hike but if not, we will find something else to do. Thanks for offering the giveaway.
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I follow RE on Facebook.
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I follow you on Pinterest.
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I follow Harry and David on Facebook.
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I’m celebrating St Patrick’s Day at work with a pot luck in our department! And wearing green of course!
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Ooh i’m not sure, but will definitely be making my Irish beef stew!!
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We are going to have company this year making our celebrations extra special!
I always make corned beef, cabbage rolls (or a cheater casserole) and veggies my children like with a side of bread. For dessert it is always a cake with white icing and green icing accents.
It is our tradition!
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We eat green foods all day and then corned beef and cabbage with lots of horseradish for dinner. My husband is English so the fact that we celebrate St Patty’s is bizarre to him but he goes along with it.
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liked you on fb
sara peterson davis
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follow twitter @saramama
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follow pinterest @saramama
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liked H&D FB
sara peterson davis
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Corned beef & cabbage, Irish Car Bomb brownies, Irish oatmeal apple crisp with Jameson whipped cream, Guinness, several great friends and my handsome, sexy Irish boyfriend!
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I will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day be dressing in green and running the Portland Shamrock Run {my favorite run}, followed by a beer on the waterfront!
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I’m following you on FB!
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Of course I’m following you on twitter!
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I follow you on pinterest!
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Though I get my Irish from my dad and could be your hubbys sister, I am not a huge fan of the St Patricks Day traditional meal. However I could live on potatoes, boiled, fried, baked, steamed… who cares, just feed me potatoes! I always wear something green so no one will pinch me. Happy St Patricks Day to all you who have Irish blood.
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I wil probably just wear something green.
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corned beef (no cabbage), Guiness and Jamesons (if I am good, the guiness will go into gingerbread and the Jamesons will be neat – but we’ll see )
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By wearing green!
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I like to dress in green and I love Irish soda bread. Might just try my hand at baking some!
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We might head to Boston to celebrate!
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Wonderful that you get to visit family!! Yummy stuff
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If I have my baby by then, I’m going to celebrate with a Guiness, which I’ve craved all pregnancy. If not, I may bake the Guiness Stout Chocolate Cake by Smitten Kitchen.
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I also follow you on Facebook
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We just moved our Irish family from Boston to Portland, OR, so I’m making a special effort to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with all our favorite Irish foods this year, most especially Irish soda bread and stout!
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Making shamrock cookies!
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Friends usually have a big Saint Patty’s Day shindig but I am not sure if they are this year. If not we will stay home and relax.
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What a wonderful giveaway. I love this healthy prize pack. This St. Patrick’s Day, we’ll visit a family friend who is Irish. We’ll bring some goodies (I just tested out some Mint Shamrocck Macarons recently) and have a few drink and dinner together. This will be a nice gift to bring to the host. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for hosting the giveaway.
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I’m following you on Facebook, Twitter, PInterest, and Harry and David on Facebook.
Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
amy [at] utry [dot] it
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Our town, Spokane WA, has a great family friendly St. Patricks Day 5K run and parade. I took our children to the parade for the first time last year and we had such a fun time that we will be attending again this year. For dinner, I usually make crockpot corned beef and cabbage or corned beef and swiss melts. Something warm and simple to satisfy cold parade goers ( ;
I also like to give my kids a pinch if they’re not wearing green ( ;
Thanks Sandy!
(I’m now following you on Pinterest)
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I usually make Shepherd’s Pie or Mince and Potatoes and soda bread or scones. Brussels Sprouts are always on the menu! The past couple of years, our Costco has good Irish Stew for sale, so I may do that with mashed potatoes. We eat Irish food anytime I feel in the mood to make it!
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Oh, and we go to local sessions anytime we can on Wednesday nights. Sometimes I perform step dancing at functions this time of year.
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St. Patricks is my Birthday so I really make sure I wear green. This year is the BIG 50 so I hope theres lots of celebrating
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St. Pat’s was my dad’s birthday. So I always remember him and enjoy reubens at a picnic out in my greenhouse. It’s a great place for a party!
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corned beef and cabbage of course
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we will be celebrating the same way we do every year….with a pint o’ guiness (or 2), of course!!
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Will make corn beef and cabbage
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WOW! Fun giveaway!
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Nice giveaway! Always have loved Harry and David.
Three of us celebrate every year by hitting an Irish pub in the neighborhood!
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We do soda bread and an Irish Stew. We feel obligated since we have one of those O’ names and red-haired children
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We will be celebrating my baby boys 7th birthday! He was born March 16, & we always celebrate on St. Patricks day!
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Following on facebook
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It is my niece’s 15th birthday, so we will be at my Mom and Dad’s house having a traditional Irish dinner. A tradition each year.
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We are friends on FB.
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We will you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year at home just cooking and baking.
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I am a follower of Reluctant Entertainer on FB.
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I am a follower of Reluctant Entertainer on Twitter
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hi! i’m happy to meet you! great giveaway. i always celebrate st. patty’s day with a big old corned beef brisket, i LOVE it!
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Always with the corned beef, cabbage, and some boiled potatoes. Usually go to the local Irish pub and partake. BTW, Harry and David’s is an awesome giveaway.
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We will be celebrating with birthday cake for our one-year old granddaughter, Penelope!
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I am a follower of Reluctant Entertainer on Pinterest
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Always with the corned beef, cabbage, and some boiled potatoes. Usually go to the local Irish pub and partake. BTW, Harry and David’s is an awesome giveaway.
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I am a follower of Harry & David on FB
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We celebrate with our three children by having a “naughty” leprechaun visit during the night and turn over dining room chairs and make a mess. He leaves chocolate good coins to be found and a box of Lucky Charms for breakfast. It’s easy and fun:)
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I always celebrate by making some soda bread; it reminds me of my grandmother who was also from Ireland. Must have some good Irish whiskey as well!!!
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I’ll be making Irish Soda Bread and writing a note to my Irish friends that live far away.
I might even make Irish Stew in my crockpot for my family.
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I’d like to celebrate by not being pinched by my kids all day! My birthday is the day before St. Patrick’s Day, so a lot of times I went to school on St. Patrick’s in new clothes, completely forgetting about wearing greens. I got pinched a lot on 3/17 as a kid. My kids are merciless pinchers if I forget the green.
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I always make my Irish Beef Stew and then we go out and meet friends.
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I plan to do a pub crawl with friends.
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I follow on facebook.
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we always have corned beef and cabbage and wear green
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I like Harry and David on facebook.
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I like reluctant entertainer on facebook.
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We will go out with friends to celebrate.
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I have to say I have not planned it specifically yet, but I know for sure we will have Irish Soda bread.
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I am following you on twitter.
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I am following you on pinterest.
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I will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day a little differently this year. It is the day of my new grandson’s Baptism so we will have corned beef and cabbage and also Italian food.
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I’ll drink some home brewed beers!
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Hi Sandy,
What a nice give away! Our celebration of St. Patrick’s Day will be pretty low key. We might color the milk green–or make green scrambled eggs. And of course I will be wearing a green shirt or socks. I’d love to win the giveaway for the pretty boxes alone! Have a great weekend!
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St Patrick’s Day I take all of the shamrock plants that I have bought up all over town (they often have them at the 99 cents store) and put them out in my garden. Some people think they are pests, but I love them with the little white flowers and they go for quite awhile (then they come back!)
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I like Reluctant Entertainer on Facebook
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I like Harry and David on Facebook too
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I follow you on Pinterest
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I follow you on Twitter as @AnnaZed
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Green beer, of course!!!
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we make corned beef and cabbage, calcannon and soda bread
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I like you on facebook
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I like harry & david on facebook
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I follow you on pinterest-immortalb4
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Going to try a new recipe–corned beef and cabbage soup
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Hopefully get 4 days off for my husband and me to drive 9 1/2 hours to visit daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren in North Carolina.
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Hi, What a fabulous giveaway…We always go to my in-laws for
green beer, Corned Beef and Cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day!
Many thanks, Cindi
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I follow you on Facebook…
Again, many thanks!
Cindi
Cindi Hoppes
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Also, I follow you via Twitter!
Thanks bunches…Cindi
cmh512
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I follow you on Pinterest…
Merci, Cindi
Cindi Hoppes
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I also “Like” Harry and David on Facebook.
Thank you…Cindi
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I will watch the ST. Patrick’s Day parade here in Savannah, Georgia!
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I liked you on facebook.
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I liked Harry and david on facebook.
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I’ll be in Chicago watching the river being dyed green as well as the St. Patty’s Day parade as we celebrate our daughter’s 30th birthday!
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I like you on FB!
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I follow you on PINTEREST!
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We’ll have corned beef, potatoes, cabbage, soda bread, and beer! Since we have Irish in us,
we’ll be wearing green of course!
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I don’t celebrate in any way. But my grandmother was from Ireland, and I have visited there.
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It’s my nephew’s birthday so we will be having a birthday party!
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I don’t think I’ll be doing anything special on St Patricks Day.
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I will be making corned beef and cabbage for my husband & our brand new baby.
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I love the whole American St. Patrick’s Day deal – I do the corned beef, cabbage and potatoes, soda bread, Irish beer and whiskey and of course, the music.
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I will be at work on St. Patrick’s Day!
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I like your Facebook page.
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I follow you on Twitter.
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I follow you Pinterest boards.
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I like Harry and David on Facebook.
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Celebrating my birthday! And I’ll make soda bread.
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Love Harry and David.
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Already following you on facebook!
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Following Harry and David on Facebook. I really can’t believe I have not been following them before. They are my go-to mail-order for all occasions. i love their products!!
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I am following you on Pinterest!
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I’ll be at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade!
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Like you on FB
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Follow you on Twitter
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Follow you on Pinterest
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Like H & D on FB
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Last year my husband made corned beef and cabbage for us, and I’m hoping he does it again this year!
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I followed you on Facebook and Pinterest also.
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I will be celebrating by working :-/ But you can bet your bottom dollar I will be wearing my green scrubs and have some cupcakes for my coworkers
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We will celebrate St Patricks Day with tons of green and a dinner party with friends
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I like you on FB
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I follow you on twitter
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I follow you on pinterest
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I like Harry and David on FB
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Love to celebrate, but don’t like corned beef and cabbage so much. We’ll enjoy Rueben sandwiches and a stout ale!
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My mom always made a corned beef and cabbage dinner, I’m going to try to do the same. I put out my cute St. Patrick’s day flag on the front porch yesterday. Thanks for a chance to win.
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We (my family and I) have a housemate who is from Northern Ireland
She is the worship leader at our church so we get to enjoy many “Irish” traditions throughout the year. This St Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday so we will be at church, then probably have some friends over for dinner.
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I already follow you in Facebook
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I “like” Harry & David on Facebook
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Traditional corn beef dinner and some leprechaun mischief.
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I “like” RE on facebook
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I “like” Harry and david on facebook
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i follow you on twitter!
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i like your facebook page!
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this st patrick’s day, i’[ll be fervently wishing for an irish lad of me very own.
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i like harry & david on facebook!
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baking irish soda bread
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I am making corned beef and cabbage. I love it! And, Blarney Stone cookies, which are simply shortbread cookies with peanuts in them. Delicious!
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I like you on FB!
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I like Harry and David on FB!
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I follow you on twitter @gratheeus!
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I follow you on pinterest as gratheeus!
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I will be celebrating by doing dinner at Erin’s Snug.
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I’m making Irish Soda Bread.
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I make all foods green for the kids and enjoy a little pinching if they forget when they wake up in the morning!!
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Cook corned beef and cabbage.
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I will do something “green” for our kiddos.
Lynn G.
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We want to enter too
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We always celebrate with cornbeef tacos for dinner!
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I’m celebrating with my Irish best friend and her family!
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I married into an Irish family too! We’ll probably combine Irish soda bread and Corned beef with my Dad’s birthday cake — his b-day is on the 18th.
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I would love to win this! My kids and I decorate a little bit, and always wear green. My husband sometimes plays along. I don’t think it’s celebrated much in Texas.
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Nether my husband or me are Irish but we always have Ruebens for dinner on St. Patty’s day.
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We always make soda bread
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I am spending it with family we will probably eat some great corned beef.
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Both Blake and I have not one ounce of Irish blood in us, so St. Patrick’s Day is more or less a reason to celebrate with some kind of green minty dessert!
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St. Patty’s Day parade and pub crawl
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I plan on making corned beef and cabbage (a new recipe) with all the fixings, and Green Velvet Cupcakes with a butte-cinnamon frosting.
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I made Guinness stew and irish soda bread.
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Facebook follower for Harry & David
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I like Reluctant Entertainer on Facebook
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Pinterest follower
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I’ll wear green and make a St. Patrick’s Day dessert.
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