FitSugar

Make a Healthier Easter Basket

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:56:44 PDT

Easter is coming up, and for some of us that means a big brunch followed by a helping of candy - think Cadbury Creme Eggs, Peeps, and lots of jellybeans. While we're fans of putting a few treats in our Easter baskets, there's nothing that says we have to weigh it down with chocolate eggs and jellybeans - especially when you consider how many calories are in Easter candy! Whether you're making a basket for a girlfriend or the little one in your life, here are some healthy items to fill it with:

Carrots - the Easter Bunny loves sharing!
Healthy homemade desserts like our pumpkin-carrot bars with cream cheese frosting.
Decorated hard-boiled eggs.
Spring flowers like tulips or lilies.
If you're going to go chocolate, choose dark chocolate that's organic or Fair Trade.
Health and fitness magazines or DVDs.
Pastel-colored fitness gear like headbands, socks, or workout tanks.
Especially for kids: puzzles, small toys, stuffed bunnies, stickers, magnets, disposable cameras, packets of seeds and gardening tools, plastic eggs filled with coins or beads, Silly Putty (it even comes in its own egg), pastel-colored socks.

How Would You . . .

CasaSugar — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 05:26:55 PDT

Happy Easter! Did someone in your family or circle of friends receive a cute basket from the Easter Bunny today? If so, I bet all of you eco-savvy Casa readers aren't going to just throw that basket out. Instead, think about how you could reuse it!

For this latest How Would You post, I'd like you to think outside the home-decorating box and find some creative ways to repurpose a woven Easter basket. How would you use it in your home? In what room? For what purpose? Would you use it for holding bath products? For craft projects? For jewelry? Add anything to it? Repaint or refinish? Leave a comment below and let me know how you'd fit a woven Easter basket in your home.

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A Healthier Easter Basket

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 07:30:00 PDT

You've seen the Easter Candy breakdown. You cast your vote for your favorite Easter Candy over on YumSugar...and now you're thinking maybe I should make a healthy Easter Basket. Well you know I am going to second that option. I am going to go so far as to give you some suggestions.

Carrots - The Easter Bunny likes to share
Fresh fruit
Homemade cookies that are filled with healthy ingredients like oats, raisins, dried cranberries, walnuts, and dark chocolate chips

Bars of Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate covered peanuts, pretzels, or raisins
Mini banana bread muffins
An exercise DVD
A scented candle
Hand soap shaped like bird's eggs (my girls love these)
A jar of all fruit jam
Granola bars
A potted plant
Small picture frames
Herbal teas and a mug
A CD of relaxing music
Silly Putty - it comes in its own egg
For kids: a coloring book, colored pencils, puzzles, small toys, stuffed bunnies, stickers, play-doh, magnets, disposable cameras, packets of seeds and gardening tools, plastic eggs filled with coins, beads, and books about Easter.

Fit's Tips: I don't believe in denying yourself anything, especially during special family and holiday times. Make sure you do enjoy yourself (and the treats), and try the things you love, just don't go overboard and eat the ENTIRE 12 inch chocolate bunny in one sitting.

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5 Egg-cellent Easter Basket Treats That Leave Sweets Far Behind

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:06:09 PDT

Chocolate and marshmallows are the hallmarks of Easter, but they don't have to dominate lil one's baskets. When tots wake on Sunday morning, surprise them with a few treats that carry on the holiday's egg theme without adding more sugar to their day. Check out five fun picks I've found below.

Clockwise from top left: Lego Easter Basket ($9), Play-Doh-Filled Easter Bunny ($10), Dinosaur Train Hatchers Kit ($5), HEXBUG Nano Bunny ($5), Weebles Spring Basket ($15).

Welcome Spring This Weekend With DIY Treats

Angelica Marden — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 03:05:55 PDT

Looking for a fun project to do with your family this weekend? Get a head start making Easter baskets by making homemade treats. These DIY sweets are the perfect way to get creative and celebrate the season together. Surprise the kids with these twists on traditional items or invite them to join in on the making and decorating.

For Easter Brunch, Paint the Table With Pastels

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 03:34:57 PDT

It's easy to create a beautiful tablescape for an Easter brunch: simply use the holiday's iconic symbols (eggs, baskets) and colors (pastels). Cover the serving table with a yellow table cloth ($120) and offer the food on large white platters ($70). Throw in striped cocktail napkins ($3) and colorful plates ($2.50) and glasses ($12). Add a few Easter baskets ($4) and a gorgeous bouquet of flowers and call it a day!

How are you decorating for Easter?

18 Easter, Earth Day Freebies and Discounts You Can't Miss!

Emily Co — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:11:40 PDT

For those of you who missed out on Tax Day freebies, don't despair. The free loot you're getting for Earth Day and Easter is even better! Big-name retailers like Starbucks and Disney will be handing out freebies, so be sure to take advantage of them.

American Eagle: Print out this coupon and get a 20 percent discount on American Eagle products. Good until Sunday.

Anthropologie: Check out these Anthropologie locations to see what Earth Day craft workshops will be held near you. Children will learn how to pot, and there will be workshops that teach participants how to make crafts with corks.

Caribou Coffee: Get a free cup of coffee at any Caribou location today when you bring in a reusable cup.

Disney: Get a free (and really cute!) tote bag at the Disney store in exchange for five plastic bags.

Drugstore.com: Shop green products that are natural and organic at Drugstore.com today, and get 60 percent off the retail prices.

For more great freebies and discounts, read on!

Simply Pretty Decorating Ideas For a Modern Easter Party

Elka Karl — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 06:00:06 PDT

Colleen Reilly and Stephania Stanley's Thursday Night Dinners are a fun, low-key way to connect with girlfriends through crafting, cooking, and quality time. For the past seven years, Collen and Stephania have faithfully hosted these events and have also branched out into numerous other events, classes, and undertakings. (Read more about what the women are up to on Thursdays, their fun website.)

Since Colleen and Stephania have previously shared fantastic hosting ideas and tips with us, I knew they'd have some easy, pretty, and modern ideas up their sleeves for hosting a modern Easter party. As Collen and Stephania noted, "With the egg hunts and candy-filled baskets, Easter is often relegated a kids’ holiday. But Easter is all about springtime and bright colors, and you’re never too old to enjoy that."

Check out these simple decor ideas for your big-kid Easter party.

Russell Brand Has Kisses For Wife Katy Perry at His UK Arthur Premiere

Allie Merriam — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:08:11 PDT

A Dolce & Gabbana-clad Russell Brand had lots of love to share this afternoon at the UK premiere of Arthur in London. His wife, Katy Perry, was on hand for the red carpet, and her sparkly nude gown was evidently a hit with Russell. He threw his arms around her to give her a big kiss before temporarily leaving her side in order to pose with his costars Greta Gerwig and Helen Mirren, who also had a sweet PDA moment with her own spouse, Taylor Hackford. One cast-mate didn't make the trek, though, as Jennifer Garner celebrated her 39th birthday back in LA. Katy is on a break from her Teenage Dream world tour, and she jetted to England after spending the weekend with other celebs at Coachella. Russell arrived in his home country a few days ago to do press for the European opening of his film, which opened in the US to relatively underwhelming results. We managed to catch up with him at a screening in NYC, where he talked all about his love for Helen and his hopes for Easter Sunday. Russell said:

On ranking Helen on a scale of 1-10 of awesomeness: "There's no number, it's beyond Pythagoras, beyond mathematics, beyond numeracy. There's a system of signs that belongs only in the heavens - that is what I would give Helen Mirren. Astronomy cannot answer how much I love that woman."
On his connection with Helen: "I love her very much, there's nothing but sparks there. That woman is a pyrotechnical display all in herself. I think crush is a rather glib word for the profound tidal love that swells in my stomach every time I look at that woman."
On what he wants in his Easter basket: "I think it's bad to eat too much sugar. An apple, photograph of the queen, just more baskets, an endless Russian doll effect of baskets, a wicker tower reaching to god himself, or herself, who knows."

A Whole Lotta Lil in This Week's Links

LilSugar — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 03:15:37 PDT

Don't miss this beautiful baby shower for a pregnant teacher.
Colorful, eco-friendly toys the whole family will enjoy!
Mariah Carey gave us a peek into her twins' nursery!
Noncandy egg treats for your lil one's Easter baskets.
Baby shower cakes you may want to avoid at your next celebration.
We spoke with one of the stars of Jake and the Never Land Pirates.
Easter apps to get the family ready for the holiday.
Another funny baby has us ROTFL!
Passover treats to carry tots through the end of the holiday.
Annabel Karmel shares a fun Easter treat kids can make for Sunday.