Celebrate a Safe, Fun Family Easter
(ContentDesk) April 1, 2004 -- Spring is here and with it comes Easter ? a great reason to fill homes with fresh colors and whimsical accents in anticipation of a visit from everyone's favorite bunny. Colorful eggs, chocolate rabbits, marshmallow chicks and bright centerpieces are tempting to all and irresistible to kids ? though not always safe! Krista Fabregas, the founder of KidSmartLiving, offers these tips to make family Easter activities fun and worry-free.Be a Good EggDecorating and hunting brightly colored eggs tops every kid's Easter "to-do" list. To create the perfect Easter egg, the American Egg Board recommends preparing eggs by placing them in a single layer in a saucepan and covering with tap water to at least one inch above the eggs. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to the water to help the coloring dye adhere to the shell. Cover pan and bring to just boiling then remove from heat.
Let eggs stand covered for 15 minutes, then immediately place in ice water or under cold running water to cool.It's best to buy eggs for boiling about one week prior to use since fresh eggs can be difficult to peel. Select eggs with clean, uncracked shells, and refrigerate until ready to cook. Boiled eggs should not be left at room temperature more than two hours, so instead of dyed eggs, use plastic or wooden eggs for long-term centerpieces and decorations. And remember, both cooked and uncooked eggs have porous shells that bacteria can penetrate, so always wash hands before and after handling.Worry-Free HuntingBecause of their porous shells, Easter eggs can absorb germs and lawn chemicals. If an outdoor hunt is planned, consider preparing a second batch of eggs for hunting and later discard, or simply hide plastic eggs filled with goodies.
Another egg hunt danger to young kids and pets is shredded plastic "grass" basket fill.
Instead, stuff safer, less-messy Easter baskets with colorful tissue paper.Remember to bring plenty of insect repellent and sunscreen for outdoor Easter activities. The sun can be very strong even on slightly warm spring days, and in warmer climates many insects are already out in force.Kid-Smart Easter Treats Some Easter goodies present choking hazards to children under age three, including jellybeans, small wrapped chocolate eggs and marshmallow shapes. Instead, treat little ones to iced animal crackers, shaped sugar cookies with colorful sprinkles, and large chocolate figures ? though many chocolate products contain trace amounts of peanuts, so it's best to avoid these around children with food allergies.Welcome the Bunny in StyleDecorate a kid-tough Easter home using charming stuffed toys and durable wooden accents in areas accessible by young children. Fragile items and springtime floral arrangements can be displayed safely out of reach on mantles, high shelves or decorative wall sconces.
Let toddlers participate in Easter decorating by sponge painting wooden eggs for display in baskets, or Mom can glue these onto wreath or topiary forms for a durable Easter centerpiece.Setting a fancy holiday table this year? Quality unbreakable tableware made from polycarbonate plastic and high-impact acrylic blends create kid-tough tables with style. Plus, these long-lasting plastics really are dishwasher-safe, not just for the top-rack, so clean up is a breeze.Home Safety Never Takes a HolidayWhether celebrating baby's first Easter or maintaining a home full of busy older kids, remember that safety never takes a holiday. But a little caution and creative planning can make an inviting, safe and stylish home easy to achieve any day.EASTER CRAFT IDEAHunting for Easter Fun? Confetti-Filled Easter Eggs are an Unexpected SurpriseFor those who've dreamed of cracking an egg over a certain someone's head, here's your chance. Real eggshells filled with bright confetti create loads of fun ? and quite a mess! So if this year's Easter plans include outdoor activities, easy-to-make confetti eggs might just be the perfect holiday surprise. You'll need:Raw Eggs, Large or Jumbo sizes work bestTable KnifeToothpicksStraight Pin or Ice PickMarkers or Easter Egg DyePaper confetti (2 cups per dozen eggs)Tissue paper cut in ?" squares (optional)Step 1: Empty Egg ShellsRinse eggs under warm water and dry.
Using the knife, break the shell at one end to create a hole about ?-inch in diameter. Discard the broken shell. Poke a small hole in the opposite end of the egg using the pin or ice pick. From the large hole, break the yolk with the toothpick and let the egg run out. Rinse shells thoroughly under warm water and let dry.
Store shells in egg cartons until time to use.Note: Begin collecting shells a few weeks prior to Easter to have plenty in time for the holiday. If emptying several dozen eggshells at one time, the raw eggs can be frozen in an airtight container.Step 2: Decorate EggsKids can carefully decorate eggshells using markers, or eggshells can be dyed using any egg dye kit. Kits designed to apply color by shaking the egg in a plastic bag work best for coloring empty shells. Let eggshells dry thoroughly before stuffing with confetti.Step 3: Stuff EggsPlace the paper confetti in a large bowl. Hold the eggshell over the bowl and stuff confetti into the eggshell through the large hole.
This is where kids' small fingers come in handy! Place filled eggshells upright in egg cartons until time to use. Option: Finish the eggs by gluing a small square of colored tissue paper over the hole to secure confetti.Note: Paper confetti is recommended since it quickly disintegrates for minimal cleanup.Step 4: Have Fun!Crunch, smash or toss eggs to release confetti for colorful Easter fun for all ages. While toddlers from two to three years of age will enjoy the confetti-egg activity, do keep the broken shells and confetti out of the reach of smaller children who might place it in their mouths.Krista Fabregas founded KidSmartLiving in 1999 to help parents create safe, easy-care family homes with style. Find more family-friendly home decorating and living ideas, projects and products on the KidSmartLiving website at www.kidsmartliving.com..
Calorie Wise Holidays - an Answer for Most of Us
We are the generation of calorie counters and carbs cutters. We come from a long line of dieters and every time there is a new way to lose those unwanted pounds we'll try it. Research shows that more than 80% off us was on a diet at least once in their life.We try to be good, eat right and exercise, but here comes the Winter Holidays the Holidays that we love to hate. More and more of us admits that the Winter Holidays are the most stressful time of the year.So have do we deal with our stress this time of the year? What do we have plenty of?
Cakes, cookies, chocolates ? everything full of calories and loaded with that oh so sweet and sinful sugar.No wonder so many of us gain weight and look for a new ways to lose it in the New Year. Did you know that average gain per person during Winter Holidays is 5lbs-7lbs?But what if this year was different? What if we had our favorite cakes and cookies that taste great, but don't contain the enemy ? sugar?Well, than we can enjoy our holidays,...
Baskets > Calorie Wise Holidays - an Answer for Most of Us
Every-Bunny is Hoppy with Gourmet Easter Baskets from Gift Basket Village
Tired of the same old Easter baskets? Surprise your family and friends this Easter this year by ordering them an Easter basket full of gourmet treats and sweets. With Gift Basket Village's unique selection of Easter baskets and free shipping, you're just a simple click (http://www.giftbasketvillage.com/easter-baskets/) or call away from impressing your loved ones.With so many Easter baskets to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect basket for your children, parents and friends. They'll not only appreciate the refreshing baskets, but also you'll save the time involved in building your own."I like to think that our Easter gift baskets are ideal for all ages. I design and create each one, paying close attention to every detail, so that they will truly ?Wow' your loved ones, from the first sight to the last indulgent bite," says Susan Flowers, president of Gift Basket Village.Carol McLeod of Florida is impressed...
Every-Bunny is Hoppy with Gourmet Easter Baskets from Gift Basket Village
Baskets > Every-Bunny is Hoppy with Gourmet Easter Baskets from Gift Basket Village
How to be your Pool Company's Favorite Customer
How to be your Pool Company's Favorite CustomerBy taking advantage of a few easy swimming pool maintenance tips, you can easily make yourself the most profitable customer your local pool business has ever seen.1. Don't clean your pool! A dirty pool is an expensive pool (expensive for you, profitable for your local pool business). The more you let your pool go, the more it will cost to get things back together again. Do you see leaves in there? By all means, let them sit. Are random foreign objects floating around in your pool? Sure, let them stay.
Anything that doesn't belong in the pool, it shouldn't cause any problems, right? Likewise, it's a waste of time to be brushing your pool? especially the dead spots where algae is likely to grow. Your pool company will love you, knowing that you'll need to be buying algaecide, shock, and possibly other products to clean up a mess. Your pool business would love for you to let your pool go.2. Never empty your skimmer or pump baskets. Those...
How to be your Pool Company's Favorite Customer
Baskets > How to be your Pool Company's Favorite Customer
FRANCE LEAVES BAD TASTE IN WINE CLUB MEMBERS MOUTHS
Westlake Village, CA ? February 24, 2002 ? American Cellars Wine Club-the countries premier wine club for hard-to-find "boutique" wines -
has found that France's latest political stance has done more than anger the U.S. Government.
"Our members just do not want anything French" says Marc Musitano, Vice President of Operations for American Cellars.
"We have been receiving returns of French wine at an alarming rate, but we managed to appease most of our members with either domestic or foreign, non-French, replacements."
Asked how he believes this will affect business in the future, Musitano quipped, "Well I can tell you we won't be sourcing any French Wine anytime soon.
However, with the rise of regions such as Australia, Chile, and Argentina, -as well as great domestic product - we have no shortage of great wines to take their place."Founded in 1993, American Cellars Wine Club selects hard-to-find
wines from small, "boutique" wineries...
Baskets > FRANCE LEAVES BAD TASTE IN WINE CLUB MEMBERS MOUTHS
Celebrate a Safe, Fun Family Easter