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A little goes a long way… Easter Baskets

Today's post by Kara- Noel

It’s easy to use holidays as an excuse to splurge. But if you are in the red, you can’t. Well… you can, but you shouldn’t! Holidays can still be memorable without spending loads of dough. I bet when your kiddos grow up, they will remember the fun traditions more than what was filling their baskets!

I only spend $2-6 total on awesome Easter baskets.

Kind of. I’ll be more specific…

I only spend $2-6 on “extra” stuff for awesome Easter baskets.

Let me break down this year’s Easter Baskets for you:

• My biggest trick is to use holidays as a way to give your kiddos something they were already going to get. Spring/Easter marks the beginning of swimsuit season so the kiddos get new bathing suits in their Easter baskets. I would have had to get them new suits anyway so why not make it into a giftie AND a tradition I can use all the way into their teen years? We also just transitioned from sippy cups to big boy/girl cups. The kiddos needed a reusable water bottle for car trips. I picked up some adorable ones at Old Navy for only $5!
• Save hand-me-downs and gifts for Easter baskets. Last year Eli was given swim trunks that were too big and Cora has a hand me down suit for her new size so this year’s bathing suits are FREE! Also my friend Soni from the Stringbean Company gave the kiddos some adorable super hero capes.  I saved those suckers for some free Easter basket fun!

• The extras should be minimal & cheap. I do pick up 2 or 3 little things to put in each basket. This year they are getting pool noodles from The Dollar Tree. Dollar stores are great for little things like this. Remember to be picky, just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean you should get 20 things! Go in with the goal to only get 3 items maximum and pass on toys that will fall apart in seconds.
• Buy at the after Easter clearance sales. This tip is easier said than done! You have to be organized. I pack anything I get from the clearance sales in my Easter decorations box so it won’t get lost in the garage or in some random bag under the bed. This tip is great if you want to get something Easter specific like a book or DVD about the holiday. If you got something last year for this year, don’t be tempted to buy more!
• We use the same Easter baskets and plastic eggs every year. No cost there! (I’m sure I’ll have to cycle out eggs as the years pass but I’ll pick them up at after Easter clearance sales for cheap) Our tradition is to leave the empty baskets and eggs out the night before for the Easter Bunny to fill up.
• We fill the eggs with candy (which I most likely saved from St Patty’s Day!) and money. Yes folks, money!! An egg might have a quarter or 3 pennies (if your kiddos are older you should up the $$ a bit). They will get to save a bit and donate some to our sponsored children in Africa.  We are teaching the kiddos young about saving and giving money to charity. I’m sure they will figure out how to spend it on their own!
• Use the family! If family members give Easter baskets, don’t be afraid to let them know things you need. I gave my mom a call 2 weeks ago to tell her the kiddos needed Band-Aids and beach towels. Two fun things for the kiddos to get in their baskets and two things we are saving money by NOT having to buy!
• Focus on the meaning of the holiday! Easter isn’t about baskets…

Yep, we are a Easter matching family  … this year we’ll be in blue!!

Find Kara-Noel at Eli's Lids.com

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One Mom who Rocks!

I met the Moms from Moms rock on Twitter. I loved the idea of Moms promoting other moms in business. Kelly is the owner of Childhood Clothing and Leah is the chief Mom of Bookieboo. They are encouraging the basic concept~ moms support mom-owned businesses online! 

 Come take the pledge and join us in supporting moms over the internet!

 “Moms Rock the Economy is a collaboration between Leah Segedie and Kelly Loubet. Leah Segedie is the Chief Mom of Bookieboo and Mamavation, and Kelly Loubet is the Designer of Childhood Clothing and Moderator of Bookieboo. It was designed to give moms a place they could go to persue discount shopping WHILE supporting mom-owned businesses.”

If you decide to take the pledge, please support other moms by tweeting out as well. Here is an example tweet:

"I took the Moms Rock Pledge! Are you a Mom that Rocks the Economy too? http://www.momsrocktheeconomy.com, #momsrock"

I’d like to take the concept one step further and ask you to support women owned businesses on the internet! Some of my greatest strength comes from other women, friends who may not be moms but I would not be the Mom I am without them in my life!

Autumn Rae DesignOne of my favorite Mom owned businesses is Autumn Rae Art . 

As Autumn's facebook profile reads... "I'm a self-taught mixed -media artist and new mom who is doing my darndest to still paint while trying to keep my 13th-month-old from eating my acrylics and shredding my collage paper with wild abandon!"

More on Autumn..I'm hoping to interview her..wouldn't you love to hear more about this amazing momma?

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