Had to take off most of last week as between work and developing a brand coming down the pipeline, I just needed time to get everything together.
But now that we are here....
Is there a support group for someone that REALLY loves holidays and putting together baskets for their kiddos. Boo Fairy, Easter Bunny, Val Pal's, you name it and I am in and all over it. I may have gone a little overboard this year. I find myself saying this every year and for every holiday. Traditionally, the 'Easter Bunny' leaves one 'big' gift for each kid and then a bunch of fun little things in their baskets. The last two years we have spent Easter in Disney, so Sean and I have to pack everything in one of our usual holiday/birthday Vera Bradley weekenders so that the kids do not see anything.
While they are sleeping, the 'bunny' visits and leaves them each a basket hidden somewhere in the room with all their goodies. This year, I bought the below bunny board from the Bullseye Playground at Target and bought and downloaded THIS svg from the amazing stylethebullseye on Instagram and created the kiddos a bunny tray for them to leave treats and yes, I am packing up mini carrots too, because Mama has no chill when it comes to these things.
super cute, right?!
Time and time again I have mentioned this, but I have a crate on one of the shelves in the Commodore's room that holds treats for baskets, stockings, good days, bad days, etc. Whenever I find something in Target unless it is something I need to give them right away, I try to put it away so that I always have fun things to gift the kids. I had gotten the kids colored pencils and fun travel molding playdough stuff for their basket, but I didn't want to risk it getting all over the hotel and making a mess, so I opted to wait on gifting those and can keep them in their travel container/treat box (surprisingly, or not, these are two separate things). The only thing I was not able to score for Danny that I wanted was the Bingo Easter Basket from Bluey. I did, however get two Blueys and considering how coveted these seemed to be I was not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
UPDATE: BINGO HAS BEEN ACQUIRED, I REPEAT, BINGO HAS BEEN ACQUIRED THANKS TO THE MAMALA.
The kids were out of the house today for only a limited time, so I did not have time to 'set up' the baskets, instead I laid everything out quick, took pictures to show you and packed everything up. I have said it many times and I will say it again, I love the Vera Bradley Weekender bags. THIS bag fits EVERYTHING (I buy mine at the Outlet for a VERY discounted price), in included what was pictured below. Even EV's Frozen Anna doll in that large box (this was an awesome clearance item for $8 at Target) and both of their Easter baskets (stacked). As I mentioned, I went a little excessive, but most things we already had so I can always just choose selectively when we get to the hotel and with everything already packed, not everything necessarily needs to be given and can just be returned to the crate for another 'basket' holiday.
don't judge
The blue and pink bunny baskets I got in the Bullseye section I believe either last year or the year before and I still love them. Did I also get wire baskets with the idea of trading up, also yes.
I also got really cute eggs at the dollar store...excuse me, the $1.25 store (two sets look like bunny peeps and the other set looks like dinosaurs) to fill with treats that I packed and I am almost 100% that I am not going to use them and instead will be saving them for when we get back, but I would rather have them then not. Especially since the weather in Orlando has been shoddy and if by any chance it rains, it will give the kids something extra to do. No one loves a good mystery hide and seek like mine.
I do not want to risk them seeing anything, so I put the bunny board in my travel backpack along with their Easter socks and the Easter bunny ears since my plan is to take pictures of them in the ears in front of the castle. My kids notice EVERYTHING so avoiding opening the bag until the moment it needs to be is imperative to the 'bunny' visiting and not spoiling any surprises. I try as best as I can to get EV and the Commodore similar things because no matter how hard I try or how much I know their personalities, it is amazing how much they will like one anothers things lol.
I did get Commodore the color-changing Chameleon above (THIS was his 'big' gift) and I already know that regardless of the new Anna doll, EV is going to freak over the color-changing lizard. They are pretty good sharers, so normally I would have bought two, but I honestly think they will be cool with the one...but hindsight and all. My kiddos LOVE Bluey, they laugh hysterically over it, think our family is Bluey and can watch the episodes over and over again. Gettin Socks for the Commodore's basket was perfect. If you do not know who Socks is, I am not even sure we can be friends. Socks and Muffin are life-changing on Bluey and yes, Sean and I also watch the show even when the kids are not around, it is that good.
And yes, I did get the Commodore nail polish, he is going to love it and he is going to be crushed when EV gets some and not him so I found some nice neutral colors to not upset the social media masses and as long as the Commodore is happy, that is all that matters to me. Would it even be a holiday basket of mine without bubbles? Because well its bubbles and bubbles need no explaination when it comes to toddlers.
EV and the Commodore love anything that is mini, so I got them each of THESE little Disney Princess Comic surprises, easter socks and of course a Chase mood night light for the Commodore because boy oh boy does he love the Paw Patrol (this can be found in the Bullseye section and comes in a couple different characters like Spiderman, Minnie and Mickey and Elsa).
I found the cute little faux hair strips from the girls section of Cat & Jack accessories. EV is going to love them and 90's Dana kinda wants them for herself. Is it weird that I always get my kids holiday socks and we are a family that never wears them?! But for $1 I just think they look so cute in the basket, so I will never stop this tradition. Don't even ask but EV got REALLY into Camp Cretaceous which if you are not aware is a Jurassic Park cartoon that is probably wholly not appropriate for a 5 year old to watch, but she adores it and has been waiting with baited breath for the 5th Season. Bring it on Netflix! Because of this, getting EV Jurassic Park Barbie clothes (cannot find to link) was a no brainer (apparently my phrase of the day on this blog) and it was a steal for $4.99!
I scored EV the little Honey lovie from Bluey for EV (they have the Bluey and Bingo ones already). EV loves her because she wears glasses too and it is all about representation peeps.
As you can see the Bluey Easter basket is the cutest thing ever (it is on the endcap of the Easter section of Target if you are looking...may the odds be ever in your favor) and I was just happy to be able to get each kid one and there was only two left at our store and trust me, I have been stalking.
I also got the kids a pack of sparkle play dough where four came in a set for $3 in the Bullseye section and I am planning to split them in two's for the kids and of course there is EV's nail polish and her surprise Disney Princess.
EV's 'big' gift was THIS Anna doll, can you believe everything you got for $8?! But again this was in our clearance section so I am not sure if this would be for every Target. Especially since it still seems to be $30 online.
Did anyone elses Target sell out of the Easter bunny ears really quick?! I was glad to get a set for the kids since my plan is pictures in front of the castle and I cannot find these at all anymore as I was going to snag a pair for my niece and nephew. Again, much like the socks, for a $1 even if I can get a quick photo, the glasses are everything. Lastly, if you do not know what THESE Disney mini brands are, you are totally missing out. The unboxing of them that I have seen on the Insta, are the cuteset things ever and I am tempted that even though my kids love mini things more than anything to keep them myself (#sorrynotsorry). I may have even gotten the kids a display for them and by the kids I mean me for when I know I will end up confiscating them especially when I uncover the Tink and Princess Leia (#dontjudgemeIalreadyjudgemyself).
And just to prove that it can all fit...barely! These. Bags. Are. The. Best.
So let me ask Easter baskets, yay or nay?! More of the egg dying and seeker types?!
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