Ladybugs released

Me and my girl are heading out of town for a little spring break.  See you in a few days!

the basket.

I like it to seem overflowing, so there is paper crumpled at the bottom.  

I found that bag in the dollar bin at Target, it was $2.50.  She will use it a lot; every time she goes to one of her Grandma's she takes all kinds of stuff with her, I imagine it will also make several trips to the beach and pool.  To personalize it I did a little freezer paper stencil action.  

The kid is always asking for marshmallows as if they are a food group, and I don't know why, they are not something I keep in the house.  So when I saw these I thought they would be a perfect treat to go in the eggs.  The bunny fruit snacks will aslo go in the eggs because while I am not opposed to candy, the truth is she will get more than enough from other family members throughout the day.  The marshmallows are a step up from the Cheerios I usually put in the eggs.  Truth be told there will probably be some Cheerios out there.  She will be hungry!  Also some big kid toothpaste, and water balloons and Sesame Street books from the dollar bin at Target. 

The outfit at left I'm hoping she'll wear for Easter with those cute silver sandals I found at Marshalls.  

But we'll see.  

The husband and I went through her basket this morning and felt it was a little clothes-heavy, so I ran to Hallmark and got this cute puzzle I spotted there weeks ago.  It was five bucks, and they also had the cute little wind-up bath toys.  They are too cute--a little manatee and a sea otter.  Stopped at See's for a chocolate bunny and we're done!  

All we have to do Saturday night is fill all the eggs with treats and we are ready.  Whew.  

Cutest Centerpiece

Pretty much the fastest, easiest, cheapest, and reusable-est centerpiece I think I've ever seen.  You're going to need to feed the Easter bunny anyway--done! Ticking so many boxes with this one.  (I've adopted that phrase from all the International House Hunters episodes I've seen.) 

I saw this on some morning show this week, but can't for the life of me remember which one. I'd love to give them credit, so if you saw it, please let me know.  I like to give credit where credit is due.  

I just rinsed them off and tied the tops together about mid-way up so they didn't all flop too one side.  Voila! 

Basket-filling ideas for the littles.

I gathered up some cute Spring/Summer essentials, all of these are from Old Navy and they are all under $20. 

For the girls. 

 And for the little dudes.

I shopped a bunch for Chloe's basket yesterday, but I'm still not satisfied.  There isn't enough "fun" in it yet.  Will share what I've gathered so far on Wednesday.  I really can't say enough about the dollar bins at Target, I found Chloe's "basket" in there for $2.50.  It's a really cute tote that I will personalize for her, and she will get a ton of use out of.  I had first grabbed a bright colored ice bucket that would made a cute basket, but we have too many baskets and buckets around here, and they take up too much space.  I'm happy with the tote, it folds into nothing and she will use it a ton.

I haven't found thee Easter dress.  Partially because she won't want to wear what I've chosen that morning.  Not unless I make something to her exact specifications, and even then there's no guarantee she'll wear it that day.  But I found this little cutie online from Kmart.  That's right, Kmart.  I'm not above it, I love a bargain.  This dress is $7.49.  But Chloe won't like it because it doesn't show enough armpit. It's very similar to one I bought two easters ago, but I just love her in yellow. If only I can make her think it's her idea...

Lastly, Crayola has come out with some new colored bubbles just in time for filling baskets.  They look like fun but come with all kinds of disclaimers about using them outdoors only in your "Saturday sweats not Sunday best."  Along with lots of washing instructions.  Solid colored bubbles would make for lovely photos but I think I'll stick to the old fashioned bubbles, big surprise.  

A painterly debut.

Wolfie made his first ever painting at our house, so of course I had to document it.  

He has a strong sense of color, and his work is filled with bold vertical gestures.  I look forward to seeing more from him. 

I like easter.

I always have.  I love the hunt.  And I think it's a fun day to give because people never expect gifts on Easter.  Before my daughter was born I would make Martha Stewart-inspired cupcakes and fill pastel- colored chinese food containers with candy and goodies and we'd get up early in the morning and leave baskets on the doorsteps of our friends.  The best kind of ding-dong ditch-em.  I made myself crazy with the baking of the cupcakes, but it was so much fun to sneak around on Easter morning and leave gifts around town.  

Geoff and I would have a lot of fun shopping for each other as well, the easter bunny always got him something yard related; one year it was a weed wacker.  Once he sent me on a scavenger hunt, I had to figure out the clues along the way.  The clues even rhymed.  

When Chloe came along we kinda stopped shopping for each other, and I got a lot of stuff Chloe needed, as well as a few things she didn't.  So here is a glimpse at a few Easters past, and in the next few weeks I'll share what she's getting this year.

I am all about the utilitarian basket.  Geoff has given me several bags (I love bags)  over the years.  One was a woven thing perfect for the beach, another is still used for over nighters or trips to the gym. It's been a little trickier for Chloe, but this particular year she needed a bin for toys and I had been eyeing this one at Target, so I  filled it with goodies. But, I totally cheated, there are some bath towels rolled up to fill in the space at the bottom.  

You can view this photo with notes.

The following year the basket was a bit smaller, but it was chock-a-block full.  

There are a lot of spring-themed items from the dollar bin at Target, a swimsuit (which has become a tradition), a sundress, some markers, frilly socks, a bunny puzzle, shorts and a sun hat.  Oh, and that seahorse bubble blower, that thing was awesome.  That was from Cost Plus World Market, which I have to say is a great source for Easter goodies, but it will set you back a lot more than Target would.  I may go there for one toy to include--they have wind up bath toys which were always my favorite, and Chloe has never experienced one of those.  

Looking back, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to out-do the toy box one.  That hand-made bunny puts it over the edge for me.  And I love Taro Gomi's book Spring Is Here.  There is just so much I love about that first basket.  

So.  Apparently the hunt starts now! As in I start hunting for easter basket goodies!  I already have the swim suit, I bought it online a while ago because I am pretty picky about little girl swimsuits looking like they are meant for little girls.  I went with this one because it reminds me of an easter egg.  Totes perfect for this theme.  

I'll be back soon with more ideas.  I'd love to see your ideas and/or previous baskets, so please link away!