Busy Bee Lifestyle » Easter

Hosting Easter Dinner

Host Bee — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:50:35 +0000

Celebrating Easter 2011!

At Busy Bee, as each holiday approaches, I spend a lot of time writing about specific menus, decorations and gifts. As a result, by the time the actual day arrives, I’m totally over it! But this year, I can’t be “over it,” since Easter Dinner is at my home and 25 guests are looking for the true Busy Bee treatment! Even though I can’t offer readers my own photos just yet, here’s my menu and ideas for decorations!

Easter Dinner Menu

Drinks – I’ll be serving usual sodas, juices, wine and beer, with the addition of a Bellini Bar! Champagne topped with a small scoop of berry sorbets and fresh berries make for the perfect spring cocktail!

Appetizers – This year I am determined to recreate Martha’s crudités display that looks just like Peter Rabbit’s dream garden! (see crudité display; crudite dip)

Main Dishes- I am having both of these entrées catered so that I can focus on the side dishes that I so enjoy preparing!

Leg of Lamb (I ordered from my local market but if I had time to prepare my own leg of lamb, this is the recipe I would use: Grilled Leg of Lamb with Rosemary, Garlic and Mustard!)
Spiral Cut Ham (from Heavenly Ham)

Side Dishes

Maple Glazed New Potatoes
Citrus Roasted Asparagus
Orzo with Tomatoes, Feta and Green Onions
Zucchini Carpaccio with Homemade Ricotta Cheese
Corn Pudding

Desserts

This is where I typically rely on guests to fill in the menu! Baking isn’t my area of expertise, but I will make sure that we have plenty of the season’s favorites such as:

Red Velvet Cake (recipe courtesy of Syrup and Biscuits!)
Gourmet Cupcakes – my family loves the gourmet cupcakes from Princeton’s Bent Spoon
Easter Basket Cake (pictured)

Favors

I’m planning to make Martha’s crafty carrots for every guest! These crepe paper carrots are a variation on the “surprise ball” which is unwrapped in layers to reveal prizes! Adorable and fun- I know that my family will love this type of carrot! (For directions, see Crepe Paper Carrots)

Decorations

I ordered rental tables, chairs and light pink linens for Easter, before I had chosen a decorative plan! Lucky me – I fell in love with a creative and adorable table decoration that elevates Peeps, the classic Easter treat, to a new stylistic level! My plan is to make “peep” topiaries, using both the chicks and bunnies, in an assortment of colors including yellow, pink and purple! (For directions for the pictured topiary, see Peep Sunflower, and check back on Busy Bee after Easter to see photos of my own modified creations!)

If you choose to try one or all of these suggestions, PLEASE share your experience or photos with the Busy Bee community! We love finding others who do the crazy things we do!

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Easter Fun for Families

Host Bee — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:04:23 +0000

Busy Bee’s Easter Round Up – Your Guide to a Fabulous Easter!

From Easter Baskets to Easter Egg Hunts to Decorations and Menus, you’ll find it all at Busy Bee Lifestyle! Take a look now and get inspired for some fabulous family fun this Easter! -

Sending Our Best Wishes for a Truly Happy Easter!

Creative and Unique Easter Baskets and Ideas for Filling

Host Bee — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 01:13:24 +0000

Creating Fabulous Easter Baskets in 3 Easy Steps!

This year Easter Sunday is on Sunday, April 24th. It’s time to start planning as Easter will be here before you know it!

Step 1 – Choosing a Fabulous Easter Basket!

Do your children have special Easter baskets? My children have been using the same, handcrafted baskets since their very first Easter (pictured), and I am still holding onto my own childhood basket! These unique baskets are a big part of our Easter traditions. If you don’t have a basket weaver in the family, or have been using a hodge podge of baskets, consider starting your own tradition with lovely, personalized baskets.

Two great sources for baskets are Pottery Barn Kids and Lillian Vernon.

Lillian Vernon

Lillian Vernon offers wicker Easter baskets with personalized fabric liners in three color combinations (Lillian Vernon, Fabric lined wicker Easter Baskets, $18.98).

Pottery Barn Kids

Pottery Barn Kids offers traditional wicker Easter baskets in white and honey with personalized fabric liners for girls and boys. (Pottery Barn Kids, Easter Baskets for Girls, Easter Baskets for Boys)

Heirloom Easter Baskets

For a truly heirloom basket, consider investing in Easter baskets made by The Longaberger Company. The quality and craftmanship, as well as the cuteness factor, are unbeatable. If you’re interested, take a look at the Easter 2011 basket.

Available separately are an over-the-edge Liner in a cute Easter print and a protector. You will not be disappointed, and you can also be sure that your children will still have their basket when they are parents! (Longaberger Easter Basket)

Step 2 – Filling a Bunny Worthy Basket!

In the interest of limiting the candy that goes into my children’s baskets, I’ve taken to filling each basket around a specific theme. The themes have varied widely from year to year, depending on the age, sex and interests of my kids!

Once you have chosen a theme for each child, filling a basket with fantastic things will be a breeze! Also, by choosing a theme in February, you can keep your eyes open for cute additions as you go about your errands. Some examples for themes are:

For Little Ones

Elmo, Dora, dinosaurs, Polly Pockets, Hot Wheels, Curious George, Barbie, a favorite Disney princess, PlayDough, Fisher Price “Little People” (pictured at right, Fisher Price Little People Easter Egg Hunt), Rubber Ducky or craft items.

For Bigger Kids

All kinds of sports, Lego, pirates, music, Harry Potter, Sponge Bob, beach, nature, outdoors, gardening, or for girls, beauty or spa.

Types of Items to Consider Including in Your Easter Baskets

Little stuffed animals, dolls, small toys, CD’s, balls, small versions of a favorite toy, iTunes gift cards, books, craft supplies, DVD’s, Play Station or wii games, sports accessories or puzzles.
Some of the major retailers like Target or WalMart carry candy in many of the themes listed above and more.

If you need a little more help with specific items for a basket, here are two examples that will help guide you:

For a Baseball Theme

Colors – use a color theme of red, white and blue or if your child has a favorite team, their team colors. Choose fluff and ribbon to match.
Stuffers - consider packages of baseball cards, chocolate balls wrapped in foil made to look like baseballs, an actual baseball, handheld video baseball game, baseball cap, signed memorabilia related to a player or team (try ebay), Big League chew gum, baseball stats book, really attractive baseball podiums from the Land of Nod, and finally, Baseball Pencils With Ball Erasers from eCrater.com.

If your custom is to give a significant gift – Major or Minor League Baseball game tickets or Major League Baseball sheets, comforters, pillows and more from Pottery Barn Teen.

For a Disney Princess Theme

Colors – use a color theme that matches the color of your chosen princess! Green for Ariel, yellow for Belle, blue for Cinderella or pink for Sleeping Beauty. Choose basket trim and filler to match.

Stuffers – Barbie Disney princess dolls are available for each princess as well as Polly Pocket sized dolls, DVDs and CDs of movie music, princess fruit snacks, princess themed candy (available at large retailers), Disney Store candy in cute containers plus a wide range of toys and games specific for each princess available on the Disney Store website, dress-up accessories, little books, tiaras, coloring books, puzzles, card games, stickers, games for a PC or gameboy. The sky is really the limit with this one!
If your custom is to give a significant gift – tickets to Disney on Ice or Beauty and the Beast on Broadway, or a princess scooter!

If you don’t want to pick a specific theme, consider a “color” theme. Pick a color for each child and fill their baskets with little gifts all in that one color. Match the basket grass and ribbon trim to your chosen color!

For Adults

Don’t forget the grown ups in your life! Possible adult themes include:

Gardening, barbequing or grilling, wine tasting, spa, books and movies, gourmet cooking, Italian or other specialty cooking, or coffee and tea

Step 3 – A Few Tips for Attractive Assembly!

Most baskets are deep, so using tissue paper, densely stuff the basket almost to the top.
Top the tissue with Easter grass or crinkled paper, commonly known as fluff! Coordinate the color of the grass to what’s in the basket.
Arrange the items in an interesting way, taller items in the back and smaller items in front.
Sprinkle chocolate eggs and jelly beans between the toys.
Trim with a really pretty ribbon and if possible, tie a little something into the bow!

Don’t worry, if you’re interested in creating one of these baskets and if you start planning now, you’ve got plenty of time to do it right! Happy hunting!!

Vintage Easter Decorations

Host Bee — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 03:14:10 +0000

Fabulous Vintage Easter Decorations!

I so enjoyed writing about the retro trend in Christmas decorations, I just had to revisit the topic for this coming Easter! As at Christmas, there are some really lovely decorations, linens and serving ware that will add a vintage touch to your spring décor or Easter dinner table!

Serving Ware

Williams-Sonoma – New this year, Williams-Sonoma has designed Easter serving pieces featuring vintage rabbit scenes! Selections include sets of plates, glasses, ramekins and a lovely platter and tureen. (Williams-Sonoma, Easter Serving Pieces)

Decorations

Christmas Traditions - The name of this site is deceiving – while definitely offering Christmas items, Easter is also very well covered! There are so many cute decorations here that it’s hard to choose, but here are a few of my favorites:

Easter Cupcakes - these little boxes in the form of vintage cupcakes, complete with glittery sprinkles, are just too cute. Two designs available- either a bunny or a chick! (Easter Cupcakes, item# GG7858, you have to scroll way down the page to find these!)

Paper Mache Chocolate Eggs – fun faux eggs crafted from paper mache, glittered and then trimmed with aqua or pink ribbon and a sweet vintage tag! (aqua ribbon: item #CCPE18, $19.99; pink ribbon: item #CCBE12, $21.99, keep scrolling, you’ll find them!)

Tiny Treat Baskets - tiny treat baskets made of crepe paper, vintage images, flower accents and ribbons will take your guests back in time to the birthday parties of their childhoods! Just perfect for table decorations and party favors. (item #CM6357, $36.99/set of six, keep scrolling, you’ll find them!)

Take a look at this site and be prepared to view the most extensive collection of vintage Easter decorations I’ve seen anywhere! Christmas Traditions, you have to scroll through many items, but you will find these!)

Touch Stone – here you’ll find some fabulous large scale decorations that will make a huge impact in your home or yard! Wooden cut outs featuring a variety of vintage looking bunnies and Easter eggs will add “egg-tra” appeal wherever you place them! (Easter Cut Out Decorations)

Linens

I love the idea of vintage or vintage inspired table linens to complement these wonderful decorations, but these specialty items are few and far between and may just have to be found during a lucky ebay search! But not to worry, pretty and fun Easter tablecloths are easily available – no online bidding necessary!

Easter Jacquard - this beautiful aqua tablecloth features a subtle border of white bunny silhouettes with coordinating napkins and kitchen towels! (Paige’s Place, Jaquard Bunny Tablecloth, $61.95)

Cutwork Table Topper - from Touchstone, this square table cloth has scalloped edges and pastel embroidered Easter eggs along the border! (Touchstone, Cutwork Table Topper, $40)

There is something very special about finding and bringing things into your home that remind you of your childhood! And it’s wonderful that reproductions which spark those memories are available today, allowing us to share them with our children. I love the era that we live in now and all of its sophisticated technology, but the allure of an old fashioned, sparkly, ribbon trimmed Easter egg is hard to resist!

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Find Easter Decorating Ideas at Wrapables.com

Easter Egg Hunt Brunch Menu

Host Bee — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:05:33 +0000

An Easter Egg Hunt Brunch Menu!

Make ahead French Toast Casserole
Fruit Salad
Vegetable Dip served in a cabbage bowl with fresh crudite*
Assorted Mini Bagels – great for kids. Order these in advance from your local bagel shop and ask to have the bagels sliced.
Sides of cream cheese, butter, jam and maple syrup
Baked Ham – do it yourself or buy this one!
Sides of cheeses, mustards and rolls
Fun desserts, see Celebrating Easter with Your Children for some cute baking ideas
Juice boxes and water bottles for the kids
Mimosa and Bloody Mary’s for the adults. (Trust me, they’ll welcome these drinks after the egg hunt!)
Coffee and tea. Don’t forget cream, sugar, artificial sweetener, and lemons

* To make an unusual bowl for serving your favorite dip, place the cabbage stem side down on a countertop. Push aside, but don’t remove, the larger outer leaves and then cut off the top of the cabbage. Carefully carve out the inner parts of the cabbage to form a bowl and fill with dip. Along with your traditional vegetables, try to find some baby carrots and radishes with the green tops still attached. These will look really cute on a tray surrounding your cabbage bowl!

Do you have a favorite recipe for an Easter Brunch? I’d love to hear!

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Tags: Easter egg hunt brunch menu, recipes, ideas