With Easter just a few weeks away, now is the time to start thinking about eggs, bunnies and Peeps. Many stores that have been stocking Easter merchandise since the day after Valentine’s Day are offering discounts to early birds. This is great if you are looking to snag money-saving deals on Easter goodies for your spring fling. If you don’t have the funds to go hog wild on Easter Bunny decor, then simply get creative with items you may have around the house. For example: Ice Bunny: Use a bunny-shaped cake pan to create a unique ice sculpture centerpiece to … Continue reading →

Easter is right around the corner. Thankfully, all of my Christmas decorations are put away. Of course, places like Target and Wal-Mart, which have been hawking Easter paraphernalia since the day after Valentine’s, don’t make the countdown any less stressful. Does candy expire? Because at this point I don’t even want the Easter treats that have been sitting on store shelves since mid-February. Then again, rotten candy is the least of my worries. I got sucked into coordinating our church’s annual Easter party. Consequently, I have to complete the kids’ game and activity line-up by Friday, so another mom can … Continue reading →

I am no craft queen, but that doesn’t stop me from channeling my inner Martha Stewart from time to time. Today was one of those times. Our local mall sponsored an Easter egg decorating contest last weekend and the entries have been on display ever since. Today my daughter and I went to drool over the winners. When we were done wiping our chins we learned how to make some of the elaborate Easter eggs, including a spectacular sugar version that is created from just a few simple ingredients: SUGAR EASTER EGGS Ingredients: 4 teaspoons cold water Food coloring 2 … Continue reading →

With Easter less than 48 hours away, many families are making the last-minute hop to the holiday finish line. I can sorely relate. I still have eggs to color, candy to sort, baskets to build and hiding places to hunt down. I also have to contribute to an Easter Sunday brunch we’ve been invited to, which means I will be in the kitchen most of Saturday trying to whip up spring-themed recipes. I spent way too much time today trying to figure out what constitutes a “spring-themed” dish. I figured the brunch’s hostess meant we’re supposed to make recipes with … Continue reading →

Easter egg hunts are not the only way to keep kids’ boredom at bay this holiday weekend. Your children will love partaking in the following Easter-themed games and activities while they wait for the bunny to deliver their sweet treats: Bunny Hop: This simple activity is a classic and takes its cue from a traditional wedding dance song. Simply line up the kids inside or out and let them hop like a bunny once you turn on the music. You can give prizes to the child who has the funniest hop or the one who lasts the longest. Bunny-Pokey: This … Continue reading →

My 6-year-old is the joke queen in our home. When she tires of repeating her favorites (What kind of cheese is not yours? Nacho cheese!), she makes up her own (Why did the penguin cross the road? Because there was a fish he wanted to eat on the other side!), and it’s hard to tell which are funnier. During the holidays she excitedly adds to her joke collection thanks in large part to the dozens of greeting cards she receives from family and friends. In addition, she is a huge fan of kids’ websites that feature a seasonal riddle or … Continue reading →

Old Man Winter refuses to release his ugly grip on the Midwest. Easter is a week away and tonight I learned that we’re expected to get 6 to 9 inches of snow before Good Friday. Seriously, we are currently under a winter storm watch… in April!! “Hope you didn’t put away your shovels just yet,” chuckled the TV weather guy. In my opinion, the only shovels we should be using at the end of April are ones designed for the garden. I have yet to see a single sign of spring in our yard, save for some dirt exposed by … Continue reading →

Time is ticking down to the great sugar rush. My daughter has a list made to leave out for the Easter Bunny in hopes that she can persuade him to leave a few toys instead of the traditional chocolate eggs and pretty Peeps. Wishful thinking, kiddo. She also wants to leave out something more for the bunny (besides carrots) to sweeten him up a bit, you know, just in case. Of course, she came to me to see what “goodies” I had to leave out. I suggested lettuce, but upon further consideration I decided that it might make the bunny … Continue reading →