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Amy Anderson's avatar

My #1 tip for Easter is small baskets 😆 I see the ones that are the size of dinner plates on the bottom and think "Nope!!" Ours are about the size of cereal bowls, they fill up quickly! Some of my go-tos are sticker sheets, pen/pencil sets, bubbles, seed packets (easy to grow stuff like herbs, beans, and wildflowers is fun for toddlers) and sidewalk chalk. Older kids might get card games, Pokémon or baseball cards, or vinyl stickers for water bottles. Oh, and I buy lots of yummy candy from Vermont Country Store!

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Mary's avatar

Yes to small baskets!! We do the same here. I like to just buy slightly more fun versions of stuff our kiddo uses anyway - chapstick, bandaids, hair ties, snacks, etc.

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Laura Kelly Fanucci's avatar

Love these ideas, especially the seed packets & water bottle stickers. Definitely trying the Vermont Country Store rec too, thank you!

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Cindy Trunzo's avatar

Check out The Little Rose Shop (online). They have a great selection of Catholic merch. And @heyjenbrannen, if you like to create simple things with felt and nature.

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Betsy Poell's avatar

Where are the teenagers getting gift cards to?

Also, do you have recommendations for teen bibles? More interested in one he will read not the fanciest.

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Laura Kelly Fanucci's avatar

I think they might just get $10 to Chipotle (their fav fast food) and one to give to someone else! And I wish I had a good rec for a teen Bible. They all seem so cheesy to me, and my kids don't pick them up. :( Will let you know if I find anything. Mine have all adored The Action Bible for elementary years (and honestly learned so many Scripture stories from it that it blew my mind). But I haven't done a deep dive to find a teen Bible they find compelling.

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James Schaefer's avatar

Nice nice ,good read,thankyou ,James

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Bethany McKay's avatar

How about the Catholic Family Crate (https://catholicfamilycrate.com/)? I have older kids now (4 & 7) and so many companies make cute baby stuff OR teen stuff, not the ages in between.

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Laura Kelly Fanucci's avatar

ooo great suggestion! I have loved their stuff in the past, checking it out right now!

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Susan Nordin's avatar

Also feeling I am constantly surprised by annual holidays, birthdays. Surprise! Surprise! It's here again! Even though it has only been a year since the last time it took me by surprise, and merely a year before that when the same thing happened! I consider it part of the package and have come to a bit more peace with it rather than seeing it as a personal failing. I hope you have as well. Love the reach out for help and thank you for gift ideas.

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Laura Kelly Fanucci's avatar

The solidarity helps so much, thank you! Over the years I have decided to frame this as a sign that I am living well into the present moment & not leaping ahead to the future - and that I actually love ordinary time more than the big feasts. So I'm with you on being done with seeing this as a failure.

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Annie M's avatar

(Btw the link to the tin eggs takes one to the peg doll listing.)

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Laura Kelly Fanucci's avatar

Annie, here's the direct link to the eggs in case you want: https://collabs.shop/l9ttga

I just opened up the ones I bought & can confirm that they are somehow even cuter in person than online!

(Also I really hope I just updated the post here & didn't spam everyone with another email - I've never done this editing on Substack before so I hope it worked.)

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Karen's avatar

hows your eggs?

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Laura Kelly Fanucci's avatar

Ah darn, thanks for letting me know! I shall now embark on the adventure of learning how to edit a Substack post which I have long meant to learn 😝 for now I’m sure the tin eggs are on the front page of beaheart.com bc I know they are selling fast!

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