Easter Basket Contest

[missangie]

Have you stuffed and/or colored those eggs, filled those baskets, bought those dresses and bonnets? It's Easter time, and if you are like me, this is the weekend to make sure you are ready. I've already been scoping out some yummy treats at Cheryl & Co. and Jelly Belly. Where have you been shopping? What are you giving this Easter? What's your family's special Easter tradition?

Let's spend the weekend sharing tips, ideas, traditions, and stories! AND to make it super fun, if you post in this thread, we'll make it a contest. I'll pick one post to win a "sweet" prize at contest end.

Tell us what you've bought at SR, share a picture of Easter, help us with great ideas for basket fillers, or touch us with a special story. You pick! AND maybe you win!!

We'll play from now until midnight EST on Sunday!

**One Entry Per Person**

[Blessing and Miracle]

I purchased the cutest little personalized T-Shirts and baskets from Personalization Mall for the girls. They are going to wear them to school next week for their Easter egg hunt. I ordered them Wednesday and they should be here Monday. I can't wait for them to arrive!:)

[toystoryduo]

I ordered the Bendaroos during Crazy Credits for my girls' Easter baskets this year. I'm hoping I ordered them in enough time to get them for Easter.:blush:

edited to add....The Bendaroos came in the mail today!!!!!:banana:

[PSL1013]

My son is all grown up now, so no colored Easter eggs or Easter baskets anymore :cry: and I don't cook Easter dinner anymore either, it used to be MY holiday to have the whole family over...passing that chore onto the younger ones in the family now. Our family has dwindled over the years and now it seems when your children grow up, move out and start families of their own, you start new traditions. We now seem to be spending most of the holidays with my son's future in-law's, they have welcomed us into their lives and it's wonderful having a whole new family to spend time and memories with. My husbands side of the family, who we have spend previous years holidays with, are spending their holidays with their son's family.

Does this count as an Easter purchase??....I bought a bunch of stuff from Sephora to make myself beautiful for Easter. I will bring whatever dish they ask me to make and I also took ~Kathie's advice and bought a Cheesecake Factory sampler from Costco to bring for dessert!! :rotfl:

That's my Easter Story!!! :D

[mjjmbnmm]

I ordered my dd's 11 and 10 camera's form ecost and hoodies from aero postle.

[disneyforever]

Since DH and I don't have any kids of our own - we put together Easter baskets for all our employees kids. One of the girls is diabetic, so we go to great lengths to make sure she gets good sugar free candy. (We also give each of our employees a little something too. ;)) The kids have already been asking their parents if "Uncle Corey and Aunt Elaine" are going to bring them fun Easter stuff. This year we got a great deal on stuffed animals at the new Walgreens that just opened down the street from our house. So those will be going into the baskets this year. Also a small neighborhood school was doing a fundraiser - so DH got suckered into buying 10 chocolate easter bunnies - by this very cute 5-6 yr old girl in pigtails. Those will also be going into the Easter baskets. :rotfl:

A funny story. Our office manager (named Michelle) has a boy named Alex who just turned 9 yrs old. Last week I had to meet with Michelle briefly, so we decided to meet at the Sears parking lot. Well she brought Alex with her and he actually found me first. He asked me if I knew Easter was coming soon? I said that I had heard something about that. :angel: I asked Alex if he had any special plans for Easter. He looked at me with a very determined look on his face and said in a serious tone, "I don't know but it had better involve chocolate!" :rotfl::rotfl: I just cracked up laughing. It was so funny and cute, and he was so sincere about it. A kid after my own heart. :love:

[Hedy]

Last weekend I went into psycho Easter mode. All baskets for my brothers, DSIls, Dsils sister, Mom, and of course the boys are set. I got them a bunch of cool stuff; however, I got these decals off of eBay that say "Trumpet Hero" in Guitar Hero font that I'm excited about.
Mom is getting a cast iron skillet as her basket, which I think she will appreciate.
Our big tradition is the easter egg hunt. Every year when I was growing up, we said we would hide the eggs outside-and it rained. So once the boys got to be old enough, Auntie Heather has had the egg hunt out side. this year, we have JellyBean eggs, Sports eggs, Soccer eggs, HSM3 eggs and Hello Kitty eggs (for Auntie Heather). We have extra because this year we are letting the adults join in. I do worry that in 7 years I will find myself on the phone encouraing the boys to come home from college to do Auntie Heather's egg hunt :rolleyes::rolleyes:

[spring]

I am having everyone over for Easter this year, and the grandkids would be disappointed if I didn't have an Easter Egg Hunt for them. With this purpose in mind, I ordered a whole lot of things from Oriental Trading Co. to stuff in the plastic eggs. In addition, I purchased an Easter Bunny Pinata from them. I also purchased a Disney T-shirt for each of the kids through Disney shopping. I have all the "fun" things purchased. Now, I only have to come up with a menu, lol.:sunshine:

[fourfoxesinpa]

Our tradition is that we color our eggs on Good Friday evening. Everyone has to make an egg with his or her name on it. On Easter morning, after the kids find the eggs and baskets that the bunny hid, we eat our "personalized" hard boiled eggs and toast. Baskets always must have marshmallow peeps in them, which, imo, are best when left out unwrapped for a few days until they "cure!"

The only gift I found online for DS's basket is a Tshirt from Kohl's that has a Guitar Hero graphic on it and the phrase "Respect the Colors." I think he'll love it.

And, of course, lots of pictures in pretty clothes in front of the daffodils.

[wilsonfamily4]

I have been waiting until my kids and the nephews and my 1 neice in the area were a bit older. I am thinking this is the year. The year for what you ask?! Well for a flashlight easter egg hunt! I want to have the kids over Saturday night and I will give them all flashlights and they will go out to my backyard and hunt! I am so hoping this will work out but I may need to wait one more year! We'll see. But boy I cannot wait!

They always, always, always have the real Sunday hunt at my mother in laws on Sunday. It is tradition and we all love it. Sometimes it is outside and sometimes if it is pouring it is inside. We'll see how the weather is this year!

[rumrunnergirl]

We usually color eggs without dye, using onion skins, squished berries, etc. One year we made really cute cupcakes with bunny faces out of cut marshmallows and M&M's; another year I cut out "bunny footprints" and lay them on the carpet, leading away from the baskets and to the front door. My kids got a kick out of that. And the Easter Bunny always chews on the carrots left out for him! Now that my kids are older (8 and 9), a flashlight hunt sounds like a fun idea!

We always go to the egg hunt at our church, and the night before Easter I make Resurrection Cookies. Our church also holds a "Jerusalem Revisited" night, which is really cool. We like to do that every year. We also rent Passion of the Christ. I like to remind my kids of the real reason we celebrate Easter. :)

[mmm611]

I don't know if this counts or not.

One of my best friends when I was little (like 3) was an inflatable rabbit named Blue Bunny. Every time I got a new outfit I HAD to get my picture taken, and I just HAD to have a friend in the picture. Blue Bunny is in several of them (currently at my parents' house, so I can't post a pic here). Like all inflatable toys, he eventually bit the dust.

Tonight I was in Walmart and found some cool fabric that was screaming my brother's name and figured I'd stroll by the Easter area while I was in there. I saw the Peeps and decided I would try to see if they still made/sold Blue bunnies. Well, Walmart doesn't have any of the inflatable ones, but I did pick up some of the blue marshmallow bunny Peeps!

[sarah4770]

I am going through this crazy " get organized" thing, i just cant deal with clutter anymore. so i woke up today and told my son I was buying him a computer desk for easter.... I cant stand his tangle of wires in his room!
I ordered it from target .com, got free shipping and %15 off as well... too good a deal to pass up.

[lildebbie]

I just placed an order at Cheryl and Co. The Easter Morning tin is reduced to $19.95 with free shipping, plus use the code MJ for additional $5 off, making it $14.95 shipped.
Well, it's a start.:)

[pbhall13]

I am in the midst of deciding what I want to make for Easter dinner (this is my holiday in the family.....I always do a honey/brown sugar ham......just don't know what extras I want to make).

As a child and into my teen years we always headed down to my nana and pops house to meet up with all the cousins (over 30 of us....mom is from a family of 11!) and we would just eat to our hearts content......and our favorites were my Aunt Phyllis' easter basket cupcakes, bunny cake and mini cherry cheesecakes (not my particular fave but everyone else loved them)....and she still makes all of this stuff even now at age 81 (but now for her grandkids!).

I also color eggs with my girls on Good Friday and later that day we go to Mass that night with my mom. On Easter Morning we wake up to a mini Easter Egg hunt (courtesy of the Easter Bunny).....and I make sure there are paw prints (I make these the night before with some flour.....and yes the carrots are half eaten at our house too)

They girls dive into there baskets and then enjoy a big breakfast. We then go to Easter Mass.

I then come home and run around finishing up the dinner!

As for what I have bought......in the past I have ordered from Fannie May Candies (they make all the candies that Fanny Farmer use to make .....this was big in my family when I was younger)........I also think I am going to check out Cherly & Co for that Easter morning deal. Plus I am placing an order for some books and movies at Borders (% back and in store pick up ;))

Now to figure out the rest of the basket stuff!!

[fanofree]

Well, we are still working through the candy from Christmas!! And, DD doesn't go for the chocolate bunnies - she likes Ghiradelli and the like.

At her ripe old age of 21 I've started to get creative with her baskets. Last year she got a restaurant.com gift certificate. I was thinking about Dale and Thomas popcorn, but it might be to late. I guess it snuck up on me again! :o

[Chris]

We have peeps wars. You put 2 peeps on a paper plate with tooth picks in them. Put them in the mircowave oven until one peep stabs the other.:rotfl:

[disneymomma]

DH was recently laid off work so I can't buy any Easter gifts this year for my 2 kids, but I found a thrifty idea to have fun. I think I will make this pinata and take it to a park, along with a picnic and games using eggs. It will still be a fun day.:)


Easter Egg Pinatas: These take about two days, but they're cheap and awesome!

First, blow up a balloon. Then, cover it with newspaper using a flour and water paste (you are pretty much doing paper mache here). Try to cover with several overlapping layers, wait about 12 hours for those layers to dry, and then add another couple of layers.

When that dries about 12 hours later (you can speed up the process by putting the eggs near a space heater or fan if you want), pop the balloon and pull it out.

Inside the egg, put Easter grass (that plastic stuff) and whatever candy is on clearance. Then close the hole back up using the newspaper and paste (that at this point, you're all too familiar with).

After that, you can raid the kids art supplies and paint the egg so it looks all Easter-y.

[Sahmy]

We visit the Jelly Belly warehouse in WI every year before Easter. I never put Jelly Beans in their baskets so we get them this way. We go on the tour which lets you off in the (what else?) gift shop. Then, we all make up our own bags of goodies.

Nest stop is Mars Cheese Castle for cheese, sausage and cheese bread. Check your arteries at the door please!

And finally, dinner at Apple Holler.

A very yummy day!!

[mjjmbnmm]

Where do you live? I live in Kenosha and was laughing when I read your post.

[MdCaterer]

From the time I was a child we always got a new Easter outfit! So my son is getting new dress pants, shirt and shoes along with homemade chocolate peanut butter eggs and a Chocolate Bunny.

We color eggs as a family. I like to make lots of crazy colors using my icing colors. It is a big event and we always have fun.

Easter morning there is usually an egg hunt to find the basket he will be thrilled with the new Wii game (Kung Fu Panda) I picked up on eBay, he'll wear the clothes and eat the peanut butter egg but since he is not a huge candy fan, his father will get the chocolate bunny!

[Sahmy]

Where do you live? I live in Kenosha and was laughing when I read your post.

We are from Oswego Il but we head up to WI for day trips a lot. Sometimes we go with old favorites and sometimes we look for new stuff to see/try.

[3dog2kidmom]

My kids 9 and 11 and both need new cleats for the new season (softball/baseball), so that's what their baskets this year will contain! I ordered them from Shoebuy with 9% back.

DH is probably getting cigars... too bad the site I get them from is not on SR. He will, however, benefit from the 9% back on Shoebuy that goes to our Disney Cruise Fund!

[tink2008]

This year we are having an easter bonnet contest. We are having all the kids design and make their own bonnets. For example one of my girls is taking a flower pot and making it into her hat. She is having green grass coming out of the ends with flowers to make it look like hair. It shoud be a fun little contest.

[Belle]

I'll share a recipe.

Easter Story Cookies
Ingredients/Supplies:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
zipper bag
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
mixing bowl
mixer
wax paper
cookie sheet

Preheat oven to 300.
Place pecans in zipper bag and beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. After Jesus was arrested, the Roman soldiers beat him. Read John 19:1-3.
Put 1 tsp vinegar into a mixing bowl. Jesus was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Jesus gave his life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
Add a pinch of salt to the bowl. This represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
Add 1 cup of sugar. The sweetest part of the Easter story is that Jesus died because he loves us. He wants us to know this and that we belong to him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. The color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoon onto a cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door, and turn the oven OFF. Seal the oven door with tape. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66 and John 16:20-22. Leave the cookies in the oven overnight, and take them out the next day. The cookies will be hollow. Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

[missangie]

The winner is post #11--rumrunnergirl. Please open a trouble ticket with your mailing address and forum email addy. A "sweet" prize will be on its way to you soon!

Thanks to everyone for participating. You all have wonderful Easter ideas and traditions. If you celebrate Easter, I pray you have a special week leading up to a glorious Sunday!

[OhMari]

We visit the Jelly Belly warehouse in WI every year before Easter. I never put Jelly Beans in their baskets so we get them this way. We go on the tour which lets you off in the (what else?) gift shop. Then, we all make up our own bags of goodies.

Nest stop is Mars Cheese Castle for cheese, sausage and cheese bread. Check your arteries at the door please!

And finally, dinner at Apple Holler.

A very yummy day!!


Where do you live? I live in Kenosha and was laughing when I read your post. I'm in Oak Creek, a lot, since my 2 older kids have an apartment there. We should have a Sunshine Meet, and do the Miller Brewery in downtown Milwaukee.


The winner is post #11--rumrunnergirl. Please open a trouble ticket with your mailing address and forum email addy. A "sweet" prize will be on its way to you soon!

Thanks to everyone for participating. You all have wonderful Easter ideas and traditions. If you celebrate Easter, I pray you have a special week leading up to a glorious Sunday!congradulations

[Sahmy]

I'm in Oak Creek, a lot, since my 2 older kids have an apartment there. We should have a Sunshine Meet, and do the Miller Brewery in downtown Milwaukee.


Sounds like fun!

[tink2008]

:cooldance::cooldance: