Trends for March 11, 2002

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, March 11, 2002 | 8:29 a.m.

Bit o' the Irish

It's been said before: On St. Patrick's Day, everyone is Irish.

So, to help celebrate your temporary heritage on the holiday (which is Sunday, in case you haven't looked at a calendar), Doris Lehman, author of "Dublin Off Season and On" (St. Martin's Griffin) and a supposed expert on the Irish city, offers a few tips:

Very crafty

Time to fire up the old hot-glue gun: March has been designated National Craft Month by the Hobby Industry Association.

Some of us find fashioning home decor items out of eucalyptus bark, wire hangers, broken ceramic tiles and spit a stress reliever. Others would prefer to skip the inevitable stress involved with the creative process and let craft goddess Martha Stewart do all the work then fork over the cash to buy the finished product from her website.

However, the folks at HIA contend, crafting doesn't have to equate to frustration. To maintain a fun, upbeat mood, they recommend (among others) keeping craft work spaces in order and free of clutter by organizing supplies.

Also, keep interruptions to a minimum by turning off the ringer on the phone during craft time. Play favorite music or relaxation tapes while you're working on projects "to set the mood or relive favorite memories."

Tackle the toughest part of projects first, when your patience isn't waning. And don't hesitate to turn down "unrealistic requests and demands" for your craft talents from others and those placed upon you by yourself.

For additional information about National Craft Month, visit i-craft.com.

Milking it

The Milk Mustache people are at it again.

Apparently milk not only does a body good, but brains, too, since the geniuses behind this advertising campaign never seem to be short on ideas to get the good word out about moo juice.

The latest gimmick is the Hometown Rookie of the Year contest, in search of a high school athlete to go one-on-one on the basketball court against Memphis Grizzlies player Shane Battier.

Any high school student athlete who completes his or her freshman year during 2002 is eligible to enter via the website whymilk.com. He or she will find a form to fill out (and mail) and instructions for the required 100-word essay explaining "the important role milk plays in the nominee's active lifestyle and their outstanding athletic achievements."

The entry form and essay are due by June 14.

The grand-prize winner will visit the Milk House (ewww!) at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., to pose for a Milk Mustache ad (to be featured in ESPN magazine) and take the court against Battier.