This year, St. Patrick’s Day is on a Thursday on March 17th, 2016. To help with your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, I came up with four festive ideas. You can incorporate green in several areas of your life. Since your weekdays may be busy, these are incredibly simple, non-time consuming strategies that anyone can do. You won’t need crafty skills and a free afternoon to show how spirited you can be on this holiday. Even the busiest of parents can make this holiday fun.

4 Simple Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

One of the easiest ways to show enthusiasm on St. Patrick’s Day is with some fun home decor. You can decorate your home without going far from the color and design scheme you already have. One sophisticated and fun item I found was Uno Alla Volta’s St. Patrick’s Day Dish Set. This pottery set has a beautiful, rich blue, complimented by the deep green clovers. When you put all four of the dishes together, they make one large four leaf clover. This item comes with a certificate of authenticity, and each is handmade one at a time in Poland.

I used this dish set for a about a month. I was very impressed with its quality. Even after using hot spoons covered in thick sauces, I was pleased to find that the dishes wiped clean easily. The set was a beautiful addition to my kitchen. I usually have solid patterns on my dishes. This festive set added a dash of personality and fun to the room. I liked that the size was just right for any size spoon or ladle.

You can incorporate green foods without the food dye and sugars that candies and cupcakes have. When you’re on the go and preparing a snack, double check that your kids get the nutrients they need! Eating green foods is a festive and healthy way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. One way I get my kids to eat their greens is with Plum Organics snacks. These items are healthy and delicious.

To my daughters, the fruit and veggie pouches are the best. We have regularly purchased these pouches for years now. Both of my daughters love the flavors. As a testament to my daughters’ affinity for these snacks, they finished off their supply of samples within a week. Plus, since my daughter sometimes goes by Sammy, she also adored the Jammy Sammy snack bars.

On St. Patrick’s Day, double check that you send your kids off to school wearing some green! I’ve spotted tons of cute accessories, from headbands to necklaces. Some of my favorite items that have green are from IFME Children’s Footwear line. These shoes subtly incorporate the color green, so you can continue to wear the shoes for many other occasions. I received a purple pair with multi-colored stripes for Georgiana. She can wear the shoes through the spring and summer, while the green stripe will put some green in her outfit for St. Patrick’s Day. Plus, the shoes will coordinate well with any other green accessories.

For dinner, try a traditional Irish meal. You don’t have to try a gourmet recipe to make something festive. In my family, after a long workday, it can be nice to have the occasional night when no one makes dinner. Minimal clean up and cook time helps everyone have an easier evening. From Blake’s All Natural, you can get delicious frozen meals, such as the shepherd’s pie, which traditionally comes from the United Kingdom. I tried this out, and I really liked the taste. I had never eaten shepherd’s pie before, but this was delicious. After trying this meal, I discovered that making shepherd’s pie at home wouldn’t be too hard to do in the future, and I’m looking forward to making it.

These four simple ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day will bring a festive spirit to your home, without taking up too much of your time. As a working mom, I rely on quick, easy strategies since I’m not often able to pull off the more time consuming crafts and activities. A frozen meal, some pretty new dishes, snacks on the go, and fun shoes will bring smiles to my whole family. How will you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year? Do you make crafts for the holiday, or prefer to do something more simple? Share in the comments section below!