Pearls & Polos: Slainte for the Irish Bride!

Celebrating and toasting friends is one of my favorite pastimes. I don't care if it's a simple celebration of a productive day at work, or as exciting as my St. Pat's weekend of celebrating my friend Q's last few weeks as a single woman. I am always down for a toast and some dinner, drinks, laughs and hilarious antics with my girlfriends! As you scroll down, you will see some of the crazy things that happened the night we celebrated Q's Bachelorette in true Irish style, St. Pat's weekend, obviously.

We started with an array of snacks at her adorable downtown loft apartment, all color coordinated for the occasion in orange, green and white. Orange peppers, cauliflower, green peppers, hummus, apples and oranges started us off on a right note, which was quickly followed by your choice of Jameson and ginger, Guiness, Harp, or your usual lemonade and UV. Perfect way to get a party started. We went off and enjoyed a delish dinner at Jackson Street Tavern, where we surprised the bride-to-be with an ode to her via the piano man. Unfortunately, his range was not extensive and he ended up serenading her to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Why, you ask? We have no idea.

Our night continued to, where else, The Dubliner!! One of my favorite haunts in the Old Market, any given night, on St. Pat's it's even better! A live band entertaining us with Irish drinking songs, dance ballads and jovial sing-a-longs had the crowd roarin' and the beer and whisky flowin'. A couple of Irish Car Bomb shots and whiskey sours later and some of us were rolling on the floor. No, literally, I was on the floor. Now, hold your horses, this was not by choice. I was actually somewhat stalked by this dude in dental school who is apparently sweet on me, much to my chagrin. Hilarity ensued including him on the floor kissing my feet in apology and me having an entourage of three 40 year old body guards. This was a crazy night.

We left the pub early, right before things got really wild and more of us ended up with our rears on the ground and headed back to Q's apartment. Little did she know that waiting for her in the spare bedroom was something no party is complete without...a pinata! Took her a few good swings, but she showed that shamrock papier-mache who was boss. To end the night, we had a couple more drinks of Jameson and turned on a movie. Non other than, Leap Year. The perfect Irish romantic comedy to end the perfect bachelorette party evening.

Can't wait for April 20 to celebrate a beautiful and loving marriage!

Me with the beautiful and fun bride, one of my dear friends! She sure loved sporting those glasses ;)

Q, completely embarrassed that we had the piano man serenade her. Maybe it would have been better if he would have actually played a song that related to the situation at hand. Somewhere Over the Rainbow didn't quite cut it.