Let’s Fill Those Easter Baskets!

It’s that time of year again! Just because the world has gone crazy does not mean we cannot make this time of year just as fun for the family! It might be even more of a reason to make it extra special this year. Waking up on Easter morning to see what basket the Easter Bunny had left me used to be just as exciting as waking up Christmas morning! When I was a kid, Easter baskets were traditional wicker baskets with treats, toys, and candy. Nowadays, Easter baskets can be shoes and umbrellas … literally anything can be a basket!

Let’s put together the perfect Easter basket! Just so you know, you’re child can never be too old for an Easter basket – I have been reminding my mom this every year since I graduated high school. With all that is going on with non-essential businesses closing due to the COVID-19 situation, it would really help your community if you were able to purchase any of your Easter supplies locally to help out your small business owners.

The first step is to find your “basket”. As mentioned earlier, your basket can literally be anything! Here’s a list of ideas for your baskets:

  • A normal basket
  • A string basket – you can find directions to make these here!
  • Rain boots
  • Umbrellas – you can find an idea here!
  • Camping chairs
  • Hats
  • Toolbox
  • Baking pan/mixing bowl
  • Fishing tackle box
  • Backpack
  • A small kiddie pool
  • A beer cooler (for the recipients older than 21 of course)
  • A new lunch box

Next, let’s fill those baskets! Who says that Easter baskets need to be filled with candy?! When choosing a basket, you can use the basket as the theme. Let’s take the mixing bowl for example. If i were giving an Easter basket to someone who loved to bake, I would make the mixing bowl the basket and fill it with related baking items: cake mixes, frosting, measuring cups, sprinkles, muffin tins, food coloring, etc. Let’s take our list of baskets and fill in a few ideas for each of them!

  • Rain boots – outside games like jump rope, chalk, rain coat
  • Umbrellas – rain coat, rain hat, sidewalk chalk
  • Camping chairs – items for s’mores, new camping gear
  • Hats – some of your child’s favorite snacks and movies
  • Toolbox – a couple new tools, candy
  • Baking pan/mixing bowl – baking supplies and candy
  • Fishing tackle box – fishing line, lures, bobbers, hooks
  • Backpack – art supplies, a lunchbox, jacket
  • Small kiddie pool – a new swim suit, swim toys, beach ball, towel
  • Beer cooler (for the recipients older than 21) – beer, snacks, movies
  • New lunch box – snacks and candy, small table games

Of course, if the basket is the main gift, you can always fill it with candy instead of other items that fit the theme. Mom, if you’re reading this, Reese’s Eggs are my favorite – no need for a basket! There are also creative ways to make baskets with candy!

Photo Credit: Jill

If you’re looking for ideas on how to support your community by shopping locally for your Easter basket gifts, you can always purchase gift cards from them and stuff them in your Easter eggs. Here are a few other ways you can support your local businesses during this tough time:

  • Eat locally for Easter dinner – most places are doing a curbside or delivery service
  • Gift someone flowers on Easter from a local florist
  • Buy your groceries for Easter dinner at the local grocery store
  • Buy the kids hot chocolate Easter morning from the local coffee shop as a treat
  • Purchase a gift card from your hairdresser to use once this storm calms down – your children will love the idea that they are “paying” for something with their gift card
  • Buy your chocolate treats for the baskets from a local chocolate shop

If you’re looking for a few creative ways to dye your eggs for Easter, check out this website! Hopefully you are able to make this an Easter your kids will not forget during this crazy time! If you have any other Easter basket ideas, leave a comment below!

Talk to you later!

Samantha

Staying Sane During Self-Isolation

As most of you know, we are going through a global pandemic right now — the spread of the Coronavirus. For some people, this means they are quarantined to their house from anywhere between 14 to 30 days without much social interaction. Those of us that are not quarantined to our houses are still urged to practice social distancing of 10 people or less. This can be a very stressful time for people, and it does not make it easier when people are stuck at home all day … trust me, I am on day 7 and I myself am going crazy!

How do you get through these next few weeks and stay sane while doing so? Some of us are at work, school, and other activities more that we are at our own house most of the time, but now we are supposed to strictly stay at home. A lot of people are panicking because of the global pandemic, but a lot others are panicking because staying home with our roommates or families for a few weeks seems stressful … some people are panicking for both reasons. I am going to help you come up with a few ways for you and your friends or family to get through this crazy time!

I think the most important thing to do, is to remind yourself of a few key realities. When you start to think “I am stuck at home”, replace that thought with “I get to be SAFE in my home and spend time with my family/friends”. When you start to get paranoid and think “I am going to get sick”, replace it with the mindset of “I will self-isolate and wash my hands, this will significantly decrease my chances of getting sick”. If you find yourself thinking “I will run out of items at home during self-isolation”, reassure yourself with “I have prepared for this and I will use my items wisely – I have everything I need for now”. Replace “everything is shutting down, I am panicking” with “The most important places, such as medical centers, pharmacies, and grocery stores remain open”. Lastly, if you find yourself worrying about all of the uncertainty, remind yourself “I cannot control the situation around me, but I can control my actions: breath work, calling loved ones, getting enough sleep and proper nutrition, prayer, and doing activities I love at home – these action will all help during this time”.

If you are worried about running out of activities to keep you and your family busy during self-isolation, well that’s where I come in! I am going to give you ideas for activities to stay sane while you are safe in your home either by yourself, with family, or with friends. During this time, it is important that you do not set yourself up for failure – such as giving yourself strict daily schedules that you may not be able to stand by. Do not beat yourself up if you sleep in an extra hour, take a midday nap, or don’t get through all your daily chores. Be nice to yourself and others during this insane time, everyone will be thankful for kindness!

Activities for one

  • Movie day
  • Start a new show on Netflix
  • Reread your favorite novel
  • Go through old scrapbooks, photo albums, and yearbooks
  • Daily journal entry – you can find a list of random topics here
  • Go through and get rid of clothes that you don’t wear anymore
  • Try new recipes from a cookbook you’ve been wanting to make
  • Daily play dates with your dog … treasure this time!
  • Write letters to loved ones that live far away
  • Enjoy a home spa day
  • At home workouts
  • Yoga
  • Spring cleaning – here is one of my previous blogs to help you get started!

Activities for two or more

  • Movie marathon
  • Start a new series together on Netflix
  • Board game day
  • Plant flowers in the yard
  • Have a baking competition
  • Card night
  • Go through old pictures together and point out your favorite ones that tell stories
  • Come up with a play and post a video on social media for your friends to enjoy
  • Have a painting contest and post pictures for your friends to vote for the best painting
  • Group Spring cleaning – get the job done faster together!

Activities for the kiddos

  • Craft day – find some creative kids crafts here
  • Teach them the basics of cooking their favorite meals
  • Have a karaoke contest
  • Have them write a play and then act it out with them
  • Play Bingo
  • Teach them a new board game
  • Read their favorite book with them
  • Show them your favorite childhood cartoons
  • Go through their rooms with them and have them make a charity pile
  • Reorganize rooms
  • Create cards for senior citizens for when self-isolation is over
  • Play “store” where kids earn Monopoly money to buy extra snacks and treats for the day (see picture below)

As you can see, there are a lot of activities that you can participate in while being in self-isolation in your home. Do not think of this as a negative time, think of this as a time to either spend with your loved ones or to get that self-care time you are always longing for. I know that being alone is quite dreadful for a lot of extroverts – if this is you, try to think of only positive things. Don’t forget, phones still work … so do not forget to use it to call friends and loved ones that you are not isolated with.

If you have any other ideas to stay busy while in self-isolation, please comment below – I would love to hear some other activities that I did not think to mention!

Talk to you later!

Samantha