Easter Basket Shopping {and a Giveaway}

Easter shopping can be fun and easy, especially when you have an idea in mind of what types of items you- ahem, the Easter Bunny- will be putting into the baskets. Each year, the Easter Bunny leaves different themed baskets for my kids, but it’s not something that has ever taken up too much time to pull together. Last year, the weather was pretty warm already by the time Easter rolled around so the kids received baskets full of swimming items. I’m still not sure what the Bunny has up his sleeves for my kids this year, but I wanted to share some ideas that have worked well in the past and some ideas on different themed baskets with items that can be purchased locally.

The Experience Basket

The Cat in the Hat (running through May 3) and Pinocchio (on stage April 18th- May 24th) are both playing on stage at ZACH Theatre. Get your kiddos tickets and then fill the basket with items having to do with either The Cat in the Hat or Pinocchio: Books, stuffed toys, a wooden Pinocchio toy. Fill the basket in with a few sweet treats and your kid will have an experience that will give well past Easter Sunday.

Toys

Depending on the age range of your kids, toys and gadgets can be a gift that keeps giving, both for the kids and the parents! Find some interesting items to stick into the basket and your kids will be entertained until the last hard boiled egg has been eaten. Terra Toys (2438 W. Anderson Lane) is a one-stop-shop stocked with toys, baskets, Easter candy and more. They have a nice selection of games and books as well in case you feel like throwing in something educational.

Spring Garden

As most of us Texans know, springtime in this state lasts for a very short period of time. Sometimes we get lucky and have beautiful spring-like weather for a month, while other years it lasts for only a couple of weeks. We seem to have hit the jackpot of spring weather this year. Take advantage of being outdoors while it’s still relatively cool enough to not melt within the first five minutes. Plants, child-sized gardening gloves, a spade, a decorative bag full of dirt, even some wind chimes tucked inside of an Easter basket would make for the perfect spring planting day.

Candy and Chocolate

It’s not Easter until a chocolate Easter bunny makes an appearance, right? And what about jelly beans? Classic Easter candy is a given in our Easter baskets no matter which theme we go with. I had the pleasure of attending an event at the brand new Sees Candies store (10710 Research Blvd.) last week and was very taken with not only their quality of chocolates (all made in America)  but also with the sheer pleasantness of their staff. It’s definitely a good day when people greet you with a free piece of chocolate! For my teen, he gets the pleasure of receiving the biggest chocolate Easter bunny in the house this year. I will try not to help him too much with the annual eating of the chocolate bunny.

Volunteerism

While many parents think that Easter is a great excuse to buy a baby bunny or chick, know that those live animals take time and commitment for the duration of the animal’s life. If you want to feel good about taking care of an animal, how about donating to a local charity ? Austin Wildlife Rescue takes care of orphaned, sick and injured wild animals. Starting in February and going through May, baby birds, bunnies, squirrels, opossums and more start coming in to the center. These folks could use donations as they are in the peak of baby season. While I realize that it’s not the most attractive of Easter baskets, for those kids who are good Samaritans or animal lovers, stocking the basket with some items that a charity such as the Austin Wildlife Rescue could use would make their heart feel full and happy.

Some items needed at Wildlife Rescue:

• Towels



• Birdseed
• Black Seed Oil
• Acorns
• Pecans

How about a giveaway? The fine folks at Terra Toys, Sees Candies and ZACH Theatre have all contributed some items to make this the best Easter giveaway ever!

Below are the prizes:

1. Terra Toys Easter Basket stuffed with goodies from their fine Easter selection (similar to the one below)

2. A family four pack to see Pinocchio at ZACH Theatre

3. $25 Gift Card to Sees Candies

What do you have to do to win? Leave a comment below or fill out the form by 9:00 a.m. CST on Saturday, April 12, 2014. If you leave a comment, be sure to tell us which prize you would like to win. One winner for each item will be chosen and contacted via email with 24 hours to respond to claim the prize. If the winner does not respond within the 24 hour time frame, a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open only to U.S. residents. The Terra Toys Easter Basket and ZACH Theatre tickets will need to be picked up in person. The tickets for Pinocchio are valid for the April 19, 2104 11:00 a.m. show. The Sees Candies gift card will be mailed to the winner. The giveaway holds no cash value and cannot be switched for any other products. You must be 18 years of age or older to enter. By leaving a comment below or completing the form, you are agreeing to the above terms and conditions.

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