13 March 2024
Just a quick post to share what’s going in our kids’ Easter baskets this year! (This might be as much for me as you – I love having the record of what they’re loving and how they’re growing each year.) I know Easter baskets are not for everyone, but I’ve really grown to love the opportunity they give me to celebrate an important holiday in our faith, support small businesses, replenish basics at the turn of the season, and create some magic for our kids. And personally, as a creative person, they’re just really fun for me to collect, curate, arrange, and fluff! I might enjoy them even more than the kids :) This year, it turns out everyone is well-stocked with some of my usual suspects: bathing suits (I usually turn to Boden, Hanna Andersson, or a consignment sale), pajamas (consignment sale, always), swim goggles, water bottles, sunglasses, chalk, and Natives. I still came up with some sweet goodies, though :) Here’s what each of our kids will be getting in their Easter baskets this year (note that some items are still en route to me!): June, age 8, will have a sketch pad (this brand is the best, and reasonably priced!), a spiral notebook bought from a favorite local shop, socks, stickers, a jump rope, a Brain Quest deck, a stopwatch (I predict this will be one of the most popular items), a few Yoto cards I’ve stored up from our Yoto Club membership, dark chocolate caramel bunnies, conditioner, and the CSB One Big Story Bible. (We were going back and forth between it and the Explorer Bible!) Shep, age 5, will have a sketch pad, a stopwatch (it was a two-pack!), dive gems, a snack container for kindergarten, bath bombs, a paint-by-sticker book, a few Yoto cards,
8 April 2022
Is it too late to talk about Easter baskets? (Nah – you’ve still got a weekend and a week to prep, if you need it! :)) I know they’re not for everyone, but I’ve really grown to love the opportunity they give me to highlight an important holiday in our faith, support small businesses, replenish basics at the turn of the season, and create some magic for my little ones. And personally, as a creative person, they’re just really fun for me to collect, curate, arrange, and fluff! I might enjoy them even more than the kids. (If you’re curious, I’ve written extensively on my feelings about Easter baskets in the past – this post captures why I love them and feel they’re an important part of our faith tradition! This post covers some of my tips for keeping baskets budget-friendly.) Onto the stuffing! Before I get into the 2022 specifics, here are a few things I consider including each year: — A Bible or faith-based book to add to our library. I’ve rounded up some of our favorites here. (I try to buy these from a local source when possible, like Quail Ridge Books or McIntyre’s Books!) Of course, Write the Word Kids is also a perfect pick for 5-12-year-olds. — Pajamas. These usually come from Hanna Andersson, Old Navy, or my favorite consignment sale. — A bathing suit or beach item. Again, Hanna is our go-to, along with Boden and Target. Also love this terry striped cover-up! — A fun accessory or clothing item, like a Little Poppy hair bow, stick-on earrings, a Harding Lane needlepoint hat, the best kid sunglasses, or a twirly dress from Alice & Ames. — Summer shoes. In our house, that’s usually a pair of Saltwaters and a pair of Natives, if they need the next size up. — Something fun to play with, like a DIY magic wand, MagnaTile cars, a mini play mat, color-changing ponies, a sticker activity
19 March 2019
Anyone else working on Easter baskets? It feels odd to look ahead to Easter when we’re still at the beginning of Lent, but the alternative is… buying things the night before? Can’t do it :) We chatted last year about Easter baskets – whether celebrating with them takes away from the religious significance of the day – and I loved reading your thoughts. For now, we’ve landed here: Jesus is the best gift we could ever be given. He is love. The day of his resurrection should be the best day of the year. These are hard concepts to illustrate to a three-year-old, but tangible excitement can help – so a basket, given with love from her parents to celebrate the happiest day, is where we’ve landed, along with lots of discussion leading up to the day! (We just added this book to our collection.) A few budget tips: 1) Save crinkle paper from boxes that arrive throughout the year to line your baskets instead of buying it new. 2) Include items you’d be refreshing for the spring/summer season anyway – pajamas, a bathing suit, sandals, sidewalk chalk. Maximize the impact of money you’re already spending! 3) Though the ideas I’m linking here are all new, use them as inspiration to buy secondhand, if you can. I often pick up toys or clothing at a favorite church consignment sale, including the little wooden bus I included in June’s basket from last year, above. 4) Don’t be afraid to include toys they already own! I love to tuck in June’s two stuffed bunnies, and she thinks it’s so fun to see them hanging out in her basket! :) 5) Presentation is key. Take a minute to arrange things nicely, tie a big bow on top, choose things in their favorite color
9 April 2018
Is it too late to talk about Easter? No? Good :) As I mentioned, our Easter weekend was full and very fun! On Saturday morning, we gathered with friends for our neighborhood’s egg hunt. The report: it was over in about two minutes flat, and June was much more interested in opening and closing the eggs than anything that was inside them :) It was not the world’s most challenging egg hunt, let the record show. We had a bit of time before our next engagement even with a playground pit stop, so a detour for beignets down the road from our house – a favorite weekend indulgence – was in order. Then it was on to our next destination – a classmate’s third birthday party! This was really our first experience with a birthday party geared toward kids, and June enjoyed herself IMMENSELY. The party was held at a local farm, and June got to pull weeds for chickens, feed the weeds to the chickens, pet and hold baby chicks and rabbits, collect eggs, and ride a pony! The pony ride was undoubtedly the highlight of the day. Even though June kept saying she wanted to ride after we introduced the idea to her, we weren’t sure she’d follow through — but she did, and grinned like a maniac the whole time! As someone who grew up infatuated by horses on my aunt’s horse farm, this was obviously delightful to me :) My family has quite the farm legacy (my aunt’s farm, the one my Dad grew up on, is the oldest continually-working family-owned farm in Connecticut), and though it’s detached from my everyday life, it looms large in my personal narrative and identity. Not to get too philosophical, but this felt like the tiniest beginning of including June