Peeps In Da House

In our Easter package from my mom was a pack of four stuffed Peeps. Gwyneth immediately became enamored and went to bed with all four clutched in her little arms that night after running through the house shouting "peep peep" for the evening.

The above picture is what we got when asked to show us her peeps. She grabbed each color individually.

Mind you, she won't touch an actual peep with a 10-foot pole, unlike her mother who loves the things, but the stuffed animal version is just the fit for her.

PS - the cutest thing a 2 year old can ever say is "peep peep."

Repurpose Plastic Easter Eggs as Snack Containers

 

 

Apparently those damn plastic eggs make great little snack containers. Great idea, but I would totally get a little angry every time I found one in my cupboard just because of how many times I had to pick one up off my floor only to find it there an hour later.

 

Repurpose Plastic Easter Eggs as Snack Containers.

The Plastic Eggs Are Taking Over

Are plastic eggs taking over anyone else's house? I mean, they're everywhere.

Lurking under the couch, in the couch cushions.

I opened the back of my car and plastic eggs fell out.

Whenever I turn a corner I can hear a plastic egg rattling in the back of my car.

I bought a pack before Easter so we could play egg hunting. While unpacking the Easter box I realized I already had quite a few packed away. And then she got even more over Easter. They multiply like rabbits, I tell you.

I know, I know. Why don't we just pack them away? Well, she likes to play with them and we're slowly eating all the candy my mother-in-law stashed inside of them.

But boy can I not wait to pack those suckers up.

Easter Egg Hunt In Colorado Canceled Due To Aggressive Parents | NPR

 

It seems like we're not the only ones who experienced the Easter egg hunt mayhem. Parents of older children, was this normal 5 years ago or is this a new development?

It seems like if everyone keeps this up there will be no community Easter egg hunts any longer.

Easter Egg Hunt In Colorado Canceled Due To Aggressive Parents : NPR.

Easter 2012

Easter was simply delightful. The weather was nothing short of beautiful so we were able to enjoy most of the day outside. Margaritas were flowing and conversation with my husband's siblings was anything but dull.

Gwyneth had a blast showing off her easter egg hunting skills  while our large family watched on. The Easter bunny left her  nifty things she played with until finally passing out in the car on our drive home.

Maybe it was the fact that Gwyneth napped or that I didn't have to excuse myself every few hours to go and pump or that we have grown as a family,  but this was hands down the most fun holiday celebration to date. Stress levels were low while the fun levels were high and frustrations from the previous easter egg hunt were completely forgotten.

How was your Easter?

Why We Will Never Go to a Community Easter Egg Hunt Again

As we followed the hoards of people on their way to an Easter egg hunt we had high hopes. I imagined something like the last scene of  "Steel Magnolias."  You know, where everyone is socializing under the shade of a tree while the children run around in their Easter best? That one.

We were greeted by throngs of people pushed up against a ribboned off lawn that was filled to the brim with Easter eggs. Children were squirming in parents' arms as they were forced to look and not touch the thousands of eggs in front of them. There was one woman walking around with a megaphone announcing 10 more minutes before the zero to 2-year-olds could hunt.

Five minutes later the woman allowed part of the crowd to go under the ribbon.

Even though everyone knew the hunt was scheduled to start in 10 minutes, they assumed she had given in to the pushing crowds. Kids were rushed under the ribbon and the egg hunt began, or so it seemed. Parents were yelling at eachother. Some stayed back, others pushed forward as if they were given a green light.

Here is where I admit that we were some of the people who went ahead. The mob mentality got to us and survival mode kicked in. Gwyneth had to get some eggs, damn it. As I went under the ribbon onto the grass, I stupidly thought that an age appropriate Easter egg hunt would involve letting the babies do whatever they wanted. I thought I would just let Gwyneth run around on the lawn picking up eggs if she wanted to. As I walked under the ribbon and set her on the lawn, I suddenly realized I had to protect my baby. I had to protect her from the parents.

She was nearly trampled, trampled I tell you. Not by all the other toddlers, but the mothers who were shouting at their BABIES to “get the eggs!” I saw a baby’s basket filled with more than 20 eggs while Gwyneth managed to pickup two.

I was terrified as I took my eyes off  Gwyneth for a second to search for my husband. I’m not being overdramatic. Children were crying and parents were yelling at one another, it was mass chaos. I scooped her up, turned to my husband and we exchanged a glance of “we need to get the hell out of here.” And that’s just what we did.

As we walked away we heard  the woman with the megaphone announcing that the hunt did not start and everyone needed to wait. I wish I'd seen how the hunt went from then on. From what I read on Facebook, it didn’t go well.

As we drove away from that horror scene, I announced to the family that was to be our first and last community Easter egg hunt we would ever go to. No free plastic Easter egg with a stale Now and Later candy is ever worth that nonsense.

Did you go to any egg hunts this year or have a similar experience in the past? Were you at this particular egg hunt? How did you feel about the situation?

Happy Easter!

We've got a big day planned. Hanging out with family, hunting for eggs and eating some ham. Hope you have a great day however you choose to celebrate.

Adorable Bunnies for Easter | Babble Pets

This is a nice break. Escape the stress from the day and look at cute bunnies!

Adorable Bunnies for Easter | Babble Pets.



Oh, and what's that? Two cute bunnies allegedly eating weed? Hey, Lauren, those bunnies look familiar. You know, like your pet bunnies you used to have? We thought so too. My husband was reading an article about athletes eating their weed  and saw this photo of our rabbits. After further investigation, if you google "eating weed" or "bunnies eating weed" our rabbits are the top hit. They're all over the stoner community on message boards, with captions. It's unreal. Some guy on Flickr stole it. Here's the kicker everyone. It's not weed. It's a bush in our front yard. Doesn't that speak volumes to how intuitive those pot heads are?

Relief Society Potato Recipe

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Image via CookingLight.com"][/caption]

In the good ol’ days, growing up in Las Vegas, my family would visit model homes as a past time. Sometimes the builders would give out things for touring the homes, like oh, I don’t know, a honey-baked ham.

We got together with our family friends who were with us when we all received those glorious hams and were lucky enough to be introduced to Relief Society Potatoes. Creamy, cheesy, Relief Society Potatoes. From that day forward if ham was ever served in our home, Relief Society Potatoes were always served with it.

So in honor of all the ham that is going to be eaten this Easter weekend, I present to you the recipe for Relief Society Potatoes. I realize these are nothing new and also more commonly known as funeral potatoes. Maybe you’ve heard of them, maybe you haven’t. Regardless they are delicious and deserve to be shared.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:3]

 

10 Things to Put in Easter Eggs That Aren't Candy | Family Style

What do you put in your easter eggs? As we got older my mom got a little crazy and filled ours with gift cards and money. It was pretty exciting. Here's a slideshow of 10 things to put in easter eggs that aren't candy. While some of them are silly ($35 friendship bracelets?!!?) there are few other good ideas that I wouldn't have thought of.

10 Things to Put in Easter Eggs That Aren't Candy | Family Style.

Spring/Easter Word Art Freebie | Ali Edwards

Print 'em out and use them like they're going out of style. Table decoration? Gift labels? Cards?

Spring/Easter Word Art Freebie | Ali Edwards.

Easter Egg Hunts in Reno & Sparks {2012}

Check out the Easter category of our events calendar for a full listing of Easter events.

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  O'Brien Middle School's Easter Egg Hunt on April 5th (new!)

  
  

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  Wolf Pack Eggstravaganza Easter Egg Hunt on April 7th (new!)

  
  


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  Easter Egg Dash at Idlewild Park on April 7th

  
  


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  Scheels Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt on April 7th

  
  


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  The Garden Shop Nursery Easter Egg Hunt on April 7th

  
  


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  The Great Egg Race at Damonte High School on April 7th

  
  


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  Stickhorse Rodeo & Sagebrush Easter Egg Hunt in Palomino Valley on April 7th

  
  


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  Sparks Nazarene Church Easter Egg Hunt on April 7th

  
  

Easter Bunny Photos are available at:

Meadowood Mall

Shoppers Square Mall

 

Friend Easter Card :Thirty Handmade Days

Any holiday puts me in the giving spirit. Even Easter makes me want to give all of my friends a dozen cupcakes with a hand written note telling them how much I appreciate them. And what would you know? There's a free printable courtesy of Thirty Handmade Days to do just that.

 

Friend Easter Card Thirty Handmade Days.

The Great Easter Bunny Hunt of 2012

This weekend I was pumped to get a picture of Gwen with the Easter Bunny. The plan was to go after she woke up from her nap. As you can guess her nap lasted longer than usual and she woke up 30 minutes before the bunny festival was scheduled to end. We walked in as everyone was packing up, including the Easter Bunny himself. We walked out with three goodie bags, a baby dressed in her Easter best and no picture with the Easter Bunny. Luckily World Market had cute bunnies that she could pose with. I'll let you know that the sales associate said it was perfectly fine if I did so.

On Sunday we tried again. We got ourselves dressed and out the door by 9:30 am and drove to Learning Express Toys. We waited in the empty parking lot for the store to open. When asked if we needed any help I proudly announced we were there to see the Easter Bunny. The sales girl kindly let me know that that was happening at the other store on the opposite end of town. We drove 30 minutes to their other store, stood in a small line and finally met that freaking Easter bunny.

 I do believe that Gwen will forever be stone faced whenever put on the lap of a costumed adult. Have you ever seen a child happy as a clam on the lap of a character? I think that would be weirder than the upset ones.

Oh, and just because it's too funny not to share.

[caption id="attachment_3655" align="aligncenter" width="622" caption="That's me on the right, screaming. Do you think Gwen's my daughter? I can't tell."][/caption]

Apparently I Have a Thing for Peeps

Do you ever realize you’re passionate about something and you’ve never even noticed?

My husband took a business trip to Washington DC. When he returned he brought back the best souvenir a man could ever bring his wife, a bag full of Peeps from the Peeps store. Peppermint Peeps, chocolate reindeer Peeps, regular Peeps. I was in heaven as I devoured all three packages over the course of a week (don’t judge).

Easter rolls around and as I unpack my box of decorations while eating Peeps, I pull out Peeps after Peeps decoration.

Every Easter idea I pin on the web revolves around Peeps. It's true, look at my Easter board.

Then I get an email that reads, “P.S. Easter always reminds me of you because of your love for Peeps!”

Would you believe me if I told you I had no idea about any of this? When I asked the husband how he knew I’d love the Peeps he brought me he said, "Simple, you have a thing for Peeps."

I guess he’s right. I have a thing for Peeps.

PS- the word Peeps was used 15 times in this post.

 

TUTORIAL: PEEPS Bunny Bunting and Door Hangers | MADE

Were you like, Lauren! I can totally relate! I love Peeps too! after reading my post about Peeps? I know this is what you were thinking because I find it hard to believe not everyone loves a cute and tasty sugar bomb otherwise known as a Peep.  Naturally, you're next thought was I want to make that felt Peep you pictured in your post. Get out of your mind, right? 

I  made some Peeps bunting last year and as an amateur sewer  found the curves pretty difficult to sew. Don't fret, the felt and Peeps are quite forgiving and I'm proud to say that the bunting is my  favorite Easter decor (just don't look too close). Follow the link for detailed instructions on how to make your own over at MADE.

TUTORIAL: PEEPS Bunny Bunting and Door Hangers | MADE.

Past Easter Projects: eighteen25

To say that I'm a huge fan of the girls over at eighteen25 would be an understatement. So when they roundup all their past projects you know I get all crazy and want to do all of them (if I haven't already). I highly recommend you go and have a look.

 

eighteen25: [past projects] easter.

Embellish: {free printables} Easter Basket Scavenger Hunt

One of my most cherished memories as a child was waking up and seeing the Easter Bunny's footprints on Easter morning. It's definitely a tradition we'll carry on as soon as the kids get old enough.

Check out this freaking adorable printable collection complete with bunny footprints, a doorhanger form the Easter bunny himself and tags for clues for a Easter basket scavenger hunt.

Embellish: {free printables} Easter Basket Scavenger Hunt.

Peeps Family Portrait Tutorial

Last year each one of us in our family received one of these in the mail, courtesy of my mom. That lady, I tell you.

A personalized portrait of our family in Peeps form!

Lucky for you my mom taught me how she made them so you can make your own.

Materials needed:

• 8 x 10 canvas


• Yellow spray paint (or acrylic)


• Brown acrylic paint (you only need a little for the eyes and nose)


• Little bows for adorning on the girls (available in the scrap booking section or wedding section of any craft store)


• Acrylic paint for accessorizing (necklaces on the lady Peeps)


• Contact paper (available in the kitchen organization aisle at your grocery store)


• Iron


• Pencil with rubber eraser or foam brush

Step 1. Head on over to MADE and print out her adorable Peeps template she uses for her Peeps bunting.

Step 2. Trace and cut out Peeps shapes with exacto knife onto contact paper.

Step 3. Line your Peeps shapes up on your canvas. Take off the backing of the contact paper and adhere them to your canvas.

Step 4. Spray paint your canvas being sure to leave your Peeps shapes on.

Step 5. Let spray paint dry

Step 6. Peel away contact paper to reveal your Peeps family.

Step 7. Give those little guys eyes using the eraser of a pencil or the end of a foam brush, as pictured below courtesy of MADE.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="384" caption="Image via Made"][/caption]

 Step 8. Accessorize the ladies of the family using the same eraser technique for the necklace. Glue on little bows.

Step 9. Enjoy your adorable little Peeps family portrait.

I am linking up to these linky parties. My entry into Creative Me is sponsored by Appliances Online and Bosch Washing Machines.

100 Great Easter Free Printables | Craftionary

The blog, Craftionary, has been kind enough to gather over 100 easter printables for our perusal. From subway art to preschool activities there is something to tickle everyone's fancy.

100 Great Easter Free Printables | Craftionary.