Easter Basket Essentials Every Disney Princess Should Have

This post does contain affiliate links. I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase using one of my links.  This post is NOT sponsored by Disney or Walmart.

Easter is right around the corner.  And if you're like me, you're probably DIYing your kids' Easter basket.  Growing up my mom loved putting together baskets that were specific to me and my siblings instead of purchasing the pre-made baskets.  She always made sure to incorporate things that we each loved.  For example, she'd always get me a new piece of heart-shaped jewelry and book because I loved hearts and reading. 

Now that I'm a mom, I'm continuing the Easter tradition that she started.  JJ is still debating on whether he wants a Thomas & Friends themed basket or Lightning McQueen.  Meanwhile, Moo knew right away that she wanted a Disney Princess themed basket.  So, we headed out to our local Walmart to see what goodies they had.  No worries, I'm making a second trip without her to pick up some surprise goodies  

50+ Disney Easter Basket Fillers For $10 or Less

When I was a kid, Easter was one of my favorite holidays because it meant homemade/DIY Easter baskets from my mom.  She had five kids and made sure to customize the fillers of each basket to match our likes and interests.  While Jay prefers to purchase premade Easter baskets for the kids, I enjoy carrying on my mom's tradition of customizing small baskets for Moo and JJ filled with goodies I know they will love.  Since both of my kids are huge Disney lovers (like me), I decided to hunt down some Easter basket fillers that are not only Disney themed, but also easy on my wallet.

3 Reasons To Visit The Easter Bunny At Portrait Innovations

Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by Portrait Innovations.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

Around here Easter and the Easter Bunny are a big deal!   I'd venture to say that they're right up there with Christmas and Thanksgiving as one of the biggest and most celebrated holidays and holiday mascots.  The lovely folks of Portrait Innovations here in Charlotte as well as Gastonia and Huntersville understand that and will be hosting a meet-and-greet with the Easter Bunny on March 16th from 3 to 6 PM. 

I'm excited to attend with the kiddies because growing up Spring Break was always referred to as Easter Break, with the number one activity on almost every child's list (including mine) being going to meet the Easter Bunny.   Now as a mom of two, I'm looking forward to Moo and JJ getting to hang out with Easter Bunny and here's three reasons why you should join us at Portrait Innovations to meet EB too!

FREE Pictures

One of the things that I love about Portrait Innovations is that they understand the importance offering customers a great deal.  Professional pictures can be costly and prices usually go up even more during the holidays. (Supply and demand)  So while other companies are hiking up their prices for our little darlings to snap pictures with the Easter Bunny aka EB, Portrait Innovations is offering them for FREE!  Yes, free as in nada, no dinero, no cash money. 

On Monday, March 16th, Portrait Innovations studios in Charlotte, Gastonia and Huntersville, you can stop in from 3-6 PM with the kiddies and get their pictures taken with EB.  Each child will receive three high-resolution photos on a CD!!  You guys already know that I'm all about good deals and this one is great!  Don't let it pass you by. 

Preserving Memories

Taking pictures is one of the greatest ways to preserve and capture memories.  Our little darlings grow up so fast and pictures give us a way of rewinding time; a way to transport ourselves back to the past.  This will be JJ's first time meeting EB and I'm beyond thrilled that it will be captured on film.

Moo is already excited about going to meet EB.  I'm counting on her excitement to help make JJ feel more at ease.  I don't anticipate any meltdowns though because the folks at Portrait Innovations are like kid whisperers in my opinion from our past personal experiences with them.

Convenience

Just like these one-stop supercenters, Portrait Innovations understands the art being convenient.  Need Spring pictures?  Want to send a special keepsake to Grandma and Grandpa?  No worries they have you covered.  No taking pictures with so and so and then having go design your cards or keepsakes at blah, blah, blah's. 

Now, you can do it all in place.  Your cards and photos can be printed in-house and your keepsakes/gifts can be ordered to ship to you or directly to your intended receiver.  Convenient right?  Speaking of convenient, how awesome is it that starting March 10th until April 12th, you rack up the savings on family photos by taking advantage of their current Spring package that includes 43 pictures, a Free 16x20 wall portrait, and 5 Spring/Easter cards for just $19.99?!  Official promotion details below. 

And the convenience factor just keeps coming because Portrait Innovations offers a vast array of seasonal backgrounds as well as props and poses to choose from.  No having to hunt down a location for your photoshoot because they can create the perfect scenery right in the studio!  Honestly, you'd never really know that the family above was really posing inside of a studio if you saw this.  The backdrop is so realistic and the wagon prop adds major cuteness.

"We're really excited to reveal our new spring backgrounds, and give families that have yet to experience a Portrait Innovations session a chance to see our fabulous studio photographers in action!" said Portrait Innovations AVP of Operations, James Richardson.  "You'll find each studio allows our customers even more creative options for one-of-a-kind portraits that your standard photography studio cannot offer.  Plus, how can you turn down free portraits with the Easter Bunny?"

Do yourself a favor, skip the long lines for the Easter Bunny at the mall and call to make your appointment today for a FREE meet and greet with EB!  Your sanity and your wallet will thank you.  Don't forget to think about taking advantage of their spring picture package either before April 12th.  You can click here for more info.

Not in the Charlotte area?  No problem, you can still get in on some Portrait Innovations goodness by entering the giveaway below for a $100 gift certificate that is good for any of their studios in the continental US!  Also, don't be afraid to call your local PI and see what specials and events they're offering.

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Easter Recap

I know that Easter was almost a week ago, but I'm sharing my recap with you all anyway.  I wanted to get it up on Tuesday but I was busy preparing for my trip to Lake Junaluska among other things.  Anyways, we started our Easter weekend on Saturday.  My baby sister and I had decided that Friday that it would be cool let the kids make their own Easter baskets this year.

So, we headed off to the Dollar Tree and WalMart to pick up baskets, candy and other goodies.  I think we spent $25 for everything to make three baskets.  Saturday came it the kids were thrilled about together own baskets.

Moo's Basket of Goodies

JJ's favorite part was playing with the plastic grass.  We kind of had to hurry and get everything into the baskets because he kept picking the grass out and throwing it in the air like confetti.  He thought it was just too funny.  But in the end all the baskets turned out well.

Finished baskets.  Had to use the hair dryer to shrink the plastic.

Moo was up bright and early Sunday morning.  She was dying to open up her basket despite knowing what was already in it.  Don't just love that about kids?  However, I made her wait until after breakfast and we got dress to open it.  If she had opened it beforehand, she wouldn't have been able to focus on anything else the rest of the morning.

Enjoying a little bubbles and doll house fun.

I kept the Easter attire simple this year.  We were still down at my mom's and I couldn't find anything dressy in any of the stores.  So, I settled for a new polo for JJ paired with khakis and a tiered woven print dress by Healthtex and leggings for Moo.  I'm definitely going to shop in advance or pull out the sewing machine next year.

How cute my maxi dress?!

Needless to say I didn't like the dress I had to wear. So, I went 'shopping' in my sister's closet.  I love florals on clothing and had been asking to wear this maxi dress for a while.  And it just so happens that she had mentioned she couldn't fit in it anymore.  I decided to give it another pop of color by pairing it with my pink Charlotte Rouse wedges.  I got them from Goodwill in Myrtle Beach for $3!  They looked to be brand new because there was no signs of them having been worn on the bottoms!

And yes, I'm trying out long hair and bangs now.  I really like the bangs and the highlights (will have to do a close up of those later).  Church was not what I expected.  It was like it wasn't even Easter.  Half the kids didn't do their  Easter speeches and for the first time in years we didn't do an Easter dinner after service.  And they had moved the egg hunt to the day before and didn't bother to call people until the last minute.

So, I think that next year I won't bother trying to make it to my church in  my hometown but give Easter at our new church a try instead.  I heard they really did Easter right and everyone had a great time.  But oh well.  Overall, Easter is about Jesus' Resurrection and I'm thankful that I got to celebrate that and give thanks to him for paying the price for our sins!

How was your Easter?

Happy Easter

While we're out enjoying egg hunts, spiral ham and this fresh spring weather, let us not forget the real reason behind all of our celebration.  Don't forget to send up your thanks to the Big Man for allowing his only son to die on the cross for our sins.

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Happy Easter!!

Hope that everyone is enjoying their Easter Sunday (if you celebrate).  Moo and I have been enjoying a lovely Easter weekend with friends and family.  Looking forward to Easter dinner later on!!  Well, we're off to church to give God some praise.