Tag Archives: easter

Coronavirus Cabin Fever

We’re at the end of week 4, sheltering in place is feeling a bit more normal. I go from my daytime yoga pants to my night time sweats. The kids have asked to stop going places, because well, we can’t! I’ve had to make sure I get in my steps and take laps around the neighborhood for fresh air, or even just hop in the car for a drive…just to get away. Everyday is a new challenge and while we try to adjust, so do the kids. But is anyone feeling coronavirus cabin fever?

I spoke to parenting expert and author Donna Bozzo, and she have some sound advice and ideas for how to handle being hunkered down during coronavirus. In the video there are a few takeaways, like cook a family meal and re-create a restaurant experience with the kids, or repurposing household items to create finger puppets with the younger babes, and helping the older kids become a bit more domesticated with a good old-fashioned sewing lesson.

And with Easter on the horizon, and many of our normal traditional on hold this year, she suggest spinning the egg hunt into a treasure hunt adventure.

For more advice and ideas from Donna, check out her books What the Fun and Fidget Busters.

DIY Spring Crafts

Spring has sprung and with Easter around the corner and our current “shelter in place” lock down, many of us are feeling isolated and confined to our homes. Well, I’m no expert, but pair that with the sudden home schooling duties with our kids and chaos of being throw in to a different routine, and I am all ears for ideas on how to keep the peace!

I’ve been working from home too, and while my regular lifestyle show has been put on hiatus status in favor of additional coronavirus programming, I am finding new ways to connect with people and do online interviews with zoom!

Today, I was joined by the owner and top crafter at Sacramento’s Paper Garden Boutique, Stephanie Nishikawa-Yee, and her son Miles. Stephanie is so fun and has so many idea for cute and easy crafts you can do with the whole family. So, in our video, she showed us how to assemble simple baskets made with and filled with candy! The only non-edible item is the plastic grass inside the basket! Okay, so you can load it up with other items too, but these days I am all for a little (comfort) sugar! Ha!

She also showed us an easy way to make cute lollipop treats with a butterfly silhouette and lollipop, perhaps add a special message to it and leave it for a neighbor or friend, along with crafting a paper bunting for the house to get into the spirit of Spring! These are great ideas to burn some creative energy into the day and have lots of fun doing it too!

DIY Easter Basket for the Kiddos + Giveaway

easter

Last week I started thinking I need to “get on it” in regard to making Easter baskets for my boys. They are still pretty young and can’t really understand the concept of Easter or the bunny, egg hunt, etc…, BUT I need to get in the habit of planning and putting together things like Easter baskets, in advance, or else I’m subjected to what’s left when I make a last minute dash to the store! So, I started thinking about what to put in their “homemade” baskets and it can be a little more challenging when you’re assembling these for infants and toddlers because the typical Easter “fillers” of assorted candy, chocolates and peeps aren’t exactly something I want to give to my babes. Ok, so all that said, I teamed up with GILT to show you some 3 of my favorite picks for baby’s Easter basket!

birdpushtoyBird Push Toy by manny and simon exclusively for Gilt. I love this cute, friendly little eco-friendly bird that any tot would enjoy! Push toys are big for new walkers or “trying to be walkers,” the 100% recycled wood construction is durable and the soft color (made with non-toxic and ultra low odor paint) makes it a perfect addition to any Easter-themed basket. GILT: $32

magentic blocksFour Magnetic Cubes by Tegu. These magnetic blocks come in a fun pastel color palette and are sure to brighten up any basket. I must have a thing for the wooden toys because the set of 4 cubes are made up of FSC-Certified Honduran Hardwoods. A great gift item for any child ages 0 and up, its magic magnets will be sure to attract them to this toy instantly! GILT: $10, Original Retail: $15

fluffy bunny

Fluffy Buffy Bunny by Maileg. And what basket would be completely without a loveable plush toy?? This soft rabbit is adorable with its floppy ears and body. Any child would love to put their arms around this one and give the (Easter) bunny a BIG hug. GILT: $38

So there you have it a few of my favorite Easter basket musts for the infant/toddler set – girl or boy, available on Gilt! To purchase any of these to add to your Easter basket, use this link http://www.gilt.com/53weeks especially created for 53 Weeks to purchase the products…OR…GUESS WHAT?? You can win them right here on 53 Weeks, because I am giving all 3 items away to ONE lucky winner!

The “53 Weeks Easter Gilt Giveaway” runs April 1, 2014 until Tuesday, April 8, 2014, and that’s when the winner will be selected! It’s free to enter, just fill out the official entry form below, then LIKE AND leave a comment on this post sharing what some of your plans are for Easter or a DIY basket! Good Luck!

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