Splish, Splash! Swim Basket
The weather is warming up and that means spending more time outdoors! Whether you’re at the lake, beach, or in the pool, Coolibar swimsuits have UV protection that won’t wash off when the sun is out and the surf is up!
Their easy on/off zip front swimsuits are soft and comfortable, plus resists chlorine and saltwater and the best part is they have UPF 50+ built right into the fabric so we know we are staying safe while also looking stylish. And speaking of style, we love that they have father-son matching options and colorful prints for moms and daughters. The brand is playful and comfortable for the kids, so they will want to wear the clothing and as parents we’re thrilled because we know that much needed sun protection is in place.
Tested more than any other brand, endorsed by experts worldwide and recommended by dermatologists, Coolibar industry-leading fabrics block 98% of UVA/UVB rays to provide you with ultimate UPF 50+ protection guaranteed for the life of the garment as set by ASTM/AATCC standards
All Coolibar fabrics have been approved as an effective UV protectant for covered areas. Coolibar is the first clothing company to receive The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation.
A unique Easter gift idea is to do a family experience or activity together. We love Great Wolf Lodge. With locations in Gurnee and 18 across the country, it can be such a fun way to surprise the family with some fun. The indoor waterpark is open year round.
Each site has an enormous indoor waterpark. Make sure to check the site to see what the park you are planning on visiting has to offer. Each Great Wolf Lodge waterpark has something for everyone. Our family spent most of the time going between Fort Mackenzie and Whooping Hollow. From water cannons and water tables to water slides that are just the right size for toddlers and little ones, there was so much to see and do. We also loved going into the wave pool when the waves were on and enjoyed shooting hoops at Chinook Cove. The adults took turns riding the water slides. Our favorite was the Mountain Edge Raceway. I mustered up some courage and rode the Wolfrider Wipeout. It was fun but definitely challenging. I wiped out but not before catching a few waves!
As much as we love being in the water, it is nice to have some activity options throughout the day to take a break. A complete list of all of the daily activities and times are listed in the Lodge Life schedule you receive at check-in. When we were not in the waterpark, we had a blast enjoying all the resort had to offer. We also enjoyed doing some yoga in the morning. The moves were set to a story and led by the activities staff. We had a Wolf pass so we made sure to enjoy the bowling alley, mini golf, arcade and Howly Wood XD Theater. It was fun watching everyone try to bowl. Even little sister got in on the action. For the older kids, there is MagiQuest, a live action game where you go throughout the resort to play. There is a Mini Magi Mode for guests five and under. Because there are so many amazing things to do, we share an overview of our experience at Great Wolf Lodge including all of the ongoing activities. Each season, they have themed activities for guests to enjoy.
FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME: SPORTS BASKET
Batter up! We are so excited baseball is back in session with the pros and with our own Little Leaguers. We love using Easter as an opportunity to refresh some of our sports gear and Dick’s Sporting Goods is a great stop for all our baseball needs. This season we are working on our hitting so we are surprising the bunnies with some batting aids like the Sklz Catapult machine Sklz Lightning Bolt pitching machine and portable instant screen. The lightning bolt uses soft micro balls and has adjustable speeds. It is something that you can easily set up in your backyard or garage. Because the balls are smaller, it helps train your eye to focus on a target. The Catapult machine replicates a soft toss drill for hitting which works well with the portable instant screen so that you don’t have to chase down the balls. The catapult also can work for those wanting to practice pop flies for fielding. We love these because as much as we love practicing with our kids, we also love equipping them to practice and do drills on their own or with their friends.
For those wanting to hone their pitching skills Dick’s Sporting Goods also has the Sweetspot Baseball Backyard Homerun Kit. This is definitely an upgrade from trying to throw a strike through the tire. It comes with a high-strength, collapsible Strike Zone that is outfitted with plexiglass for backyard sessions and 3 Spaseballs™ which feature a hollow plastic core with a synthetic leather cover. They are great for learning how to pitch. They are lightweight but are the official size and feel.
And while we enjoy baseball, we also love the idea of a family sport… like tennis! Not only is tennis a life sport, but it’s something we can all enjoy together. A practical tip when it comes to Easter baskets, is yes themed is fun as we suggest, but choose a theme that can incorporate something you might already need to purchase for your little one. For example, we signed our summer up for tennis camp this summer for the first time. He’s super excited but since he hasn’t played before, he needs all the gear. Enter Dick’s Sporting Goods. Dick’s is already our go-to for the family, so naturally we stopped by to pick up racquets for the family and tennis balls.
Putting together a sports basket for our son meant including the items he’ll need for summer camp… both tennis and baseball. It lasts longer than chocolate and we can practice on the courts prior to the start. One note is to be sure to get the right size racquets for your kids. We went with the Prince 2020 Attack Junior Series and whether you’re in-store or shopping online, Dick’s provides great support on selecting the right sizes based on ages and height. Plus mom and dad needed the Wilson US Open BLX 100 Tennis Racquets to keep up with the kiddos on the court!
From school to sports and activities, our family is on the go. Rather than eat out, we love packing our meals and snacks in Planetbox lunchboxes. They are non-toxic and stainless steel and help cut down on all of the plastic baggies and paper bags. I love that it is easy to clean and they are BPA and phthalates free. Plus kids can personalize their Planetbox with magnets and matching carry bags
I love how Planetbox not only has compartments for food, but it also has pods and “dippers” for sauces. I have a bunny that does not like their carrots to touch their cucumbers and has to have hummus to eat their veggies. But also gets upset if the hummus spills on any other food. So all of the Planetbox accessories are helpful in keeping everything in place and making sure he is fueled up for his activities. Because we go from school to activities, I fill the entire Planetbox lunchbox with food and any food that isn’t eaten at lunch is definitely eaten before sports. The compartments also help me to see which foods they are gravitating towards and which foods I might need to switch out or that they might need more of.
Adventure Awaits: Travel Basket
Trade your basket for an Aloha Bag! The ALOHA Collection Day Tripper is the perfect go-to travel tote, but is this case, the perfect Easter Basket size as it has an expandable full zipper top to maximize all the candy, books and gifts from the Easter Bunny!
The technical fabric of ALOHA bags was developed to be as soft as it is functional. It is lightweight, splash-proof, and easy to clean. We take our ALOHA on all our adventures from the beach to whale watching, road trips to work out, and they are excellent to section our your clothing and accessories when it comes to packing.
ALOHA Collection pouches come in multiple sizes and are perfect to stow damp swimsuits, post-workout activewear, accident-prone toiletries, make-up, and are most commonly used as a fun clutch! We use our mini pouch as a snack holder in my purse, and my kids know, they go straight for it any time we are out and they are looking for a treat. We love all the designs too. It makes us feel like we’re always on vacation!
Our kids are still at an age where Easter egg hunts are still a highlight. We put candy, toys and even coins in our plastic eggs that get hidden around the yard so it’s not only rewarding to find (and collect the most) eggs, but it’s fun to see what the surprise treat is inside. Pediped will be the shoes on our kids feet as the brand has been a mainstay since our kids first learned to walk. Thanks to their commitment to technology and safety, their shoes are not only comfortable and stylish but they are recommended by pediatricians and podiatrists for promoting healthy foot development. The boys love the sneakers and wear them to school and the park. From genuine leather, to a Flex Fit System that allows to adjust the fit of the shoe, to style and the promotion of healthy foot development as approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association… pediped has become a staple year-round in our home.
The girls love the sandals and the touch of glitter on many sandals. Both are big fans of the water shoes too… especially since we live near the beach and spend most of the summer in the ocean or at the pool! Pediped has shoes that start with soft sole shoes for babies to youth size 4 so a pair of Pediped shoes is the perfect addition to any age Easter Basket!
NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL BASKET
Chocolate bunnies and creme-filled eggs, sure those are Easter favorites but this year elevate your basket game and personalize your candy! We are enamored with Sweet Lolli. These amazing candy charcuterie boards are perfectly curated for any occasion. We love the idea of getting a big board for the family and using it as a centerpiece to your Easter table so guests can graze on candy carrots or sugar chicks at will. The Hoppy Easter board boasts 5 pounds of deliciousness.
For the kids individual baskets we opted for the Easter Mini Set of 2, which is 1 pound of candy each, and took it a step further to personalize the packaging and have the kids names written on the top. Sweet Lolli makes it so simple, and fun, to customize. You can pick colors, candy lettering, fonts, sizes and more… they encourage you to have fun and make your candy board your own with messaging that makes it truly one-of-a-kind. The sky is the limit, think graduation, mother’s day, seasonal, special occasions… get inspiration from their site, or create your own new category!
Plus, a portion of proceeds from each sale will be donated to organizations that support children’s mental health. This focus is extremely important to both founders who believe that helping children and guiding them in the right direction will create a better and sweeter world for the future.
If you are looking for an Easter egg alternative to chocolate eggs, we love Musee Bath. They have a set of golden eggs in pink and blue egg cartons that are perfect for Easter baskets. Their Easter collection includes their best-selling bunnies and two new balms, Spring Chick and Little Lamb as well as a Rainbow bath balm set! The kids love getting to use the bath balms not only because they get a surprise when the balm dissolves but because they love the way they smell and the “magic” of the bath balm dissolving. In addition to their festive Easter collection, they also have bath balms for adults, bath salts, shower steamers, candles and more. We love using Musee because their balms and salts smell so good and they leave our skin feeling so soft. Not only are their bath balms handmade in the USA with ethically sourced, natural ingredients, their bath balms are cruelty-free, paraben-free and sulfate-free and safe for all skin types. We also love that they are committed to restoring lives by providing work for vulnerable people in their community. They hire primarily women in recovery, people with disabilities and people who have lived in chronic poverty.
We absolutely love books so of course we have to include Zonderkidz titles in the Easter baskets for our little bunnies! From board books, to hardcover, famous franchises to new characters, and even stickers and activity books… there is a story for every age.
For Easter, we like to choose books that go beyond the hunts and brunches and into the meaning of the holiday so titles like Twas the Morning of Easter and Easter Love Letters from God, top our list. Our family loves anything Berenstain Bears so we definitely have to round out our collection with titles like The Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story, The Very First Easter, Easter Sunday, the Easter Fun Sticker and Activity Book, as well as their staples like the Values and Virtues Treasury where kids can learn about kindness, patience, love, respect, and much more through 8 stories.
Bunny Finds Easter is an adorable new board book for the littles to learn What is Easter? And for older kids with questions, How High is Heaven? is a great title for the curious. Of course Bibles and devotionals are perfect additions to an Easter Basket for any age. Zonderkidz has made online shopping simple with their Amazon Easter Shop curating classics, favorites and new titles too.
