EASTER BASKET IDEAS FOR TODDLER GIRLS

I can't believe Easter is less than four weeks away! I feel like I was just putting Hadley's Valentine's basket together. As usual, I went a little overboard on her Easter basket. I started buying stuff when I would see it on sale or something I knew would sell out quickly so I've been collecting items for a little over a month now. I didn't do a themed basket at all, that would be too constricting for me. Instead I got a variety of items, some fun activities, summer time items, clothes and of course some everyday items that I know Hadley loves. I found a lot of small items at Target in the dollar isle. I went the day they put it all out and I'm glad I did because it wasn't but a few short days later and they were already out of stock of a lot of things. You won't find a bunch of candy in her basket, I tend to stay away from candy with her...she gets a little crazy after she's had sugar. I did get her bag of the bunny marshmallows, they are little lower in sugar and she lovesssss them! There are a few items I've listed that I haven't got for Hadley yet but plan to when we get closer to Easter. I hope you all enjoy and can find some good ideas for your little girls! Happy Wednesday!

Hadley's Bedroom

Hadley's bedroom is by far my favorite room in the house. We put so much time and effort fixing this room up. Most of the room was all set before Hadley was born, there was just some little finishing touches we wanted to add. I think I could constantly add things to the decor though, especially if I keep going to Target! 

Below are some pictures of her room. I have created links for the majority of the decor. The furniture we had custom made in Amish Country. My mother, my mother-in-law, and my grandma bought all the furniture. It was such a wonderful and special gift. We can now pass it down to our next child, (no I'm not pregnant). We choose the dark wood to match our wood trim we have in our house. There isn't a certain theme that we tried to stick to, I just wanted it to be light and airy. I love Disney everything but I didn't want to make it all Disney. We ended up going for a fairytale type of decor and I love it!  I hope Hadley still loves her room when she gets older!

DIY Valentines

Valentine's Day is much more fun to celebrate now that I have Hadley! There are so many fun things you can do to make it a fun and special holiday for your child/children. You can throw a party with cousins or friends, make valentines, craft and don't forget all of the yummy themed snacks! Hadley's favorite is always the snacks and she loved helping me make these cupcakes! This is an easy strawberry cupcake and icing recipe I found online. Then just add some cute heart sprinkles or this heart cupcake topper from Glitter Party Co and your all set! 

Whats a party without a party hat?! This sweet party hat comes is from Little Blue Olive and comes in different colors. I also incorporated some small gifts for Hadley. The necklace is perfect for any age and is from Hooray Everyday. Then I got some fun Valentine's Day books for her from our local Target. If you want a direct link for the books you can find them in my previous post!

The Ever Co has some adorable valentines that you can purchase from their website and print at home! I thought of some fun gifts that could be apart of the valentine and they are both affordable, easy and fun!

I love the Unicorn valentine! You can have your kiddo color or paint them or they are just as cute left blank! I found this awesome unicorn hot chocolate recipe and of course had to try it! As a fun goodie to put with the valentine I thought it would be neat to measure out the ingredients and put in a little bag and you can then attach one to each valentine. 

The other card I chose was the fairy themed valentine. This activity may not be suited for children under three. Hadley had a lot of fun making the fairy dust but there is now glitter on every inch of my house. I choose just three colors of glitter to mix because I was going for a rose gold color. The little jar I found at my local craft store for $1.29 so this craft/gift is very inexpensive to make! 

Below the pictures you can find the cupcake recipe, the unicorn hot chocolate recipe, and the fairy dust details. Hope you all enjoy and have a Happy Valentine's Day!

STRAWBERRY CUPCAKE RECIPE:

3/4 cup fresh strawberries, sliced in half

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

2 large egg whites

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350'.
2. Using cupcake liners, place 12 liners in a muffin pan and set to the side.
3. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt and set a side.
4. In a food processor or blender add strawberries and process until pureed.
5. Empty pureed strawberries into a 1/3c measuring cup and set aside. Add rest of strawberry puree to a small bowl and set aside to use in the frosting.
6. Using a electric mixer with bowl, cream butter on medium high speed until lightly fluffy.
7. Gradually add sugar and continue to mix until well blended. Reduce speed to low and slowly add one egg and egg whites and mix until lightly blended.
8. Add vanilla extract if using.
9. Mix together milk and 1/3c strawberry puree.
10. Alternate flour and milk mixture to mixer slowly ending with flour. Scrape down sides of bowl and continue to blend well.
11. Using an ice cream scoop or tablespoon, add batter to prepared muffin cups.
12. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.
13. Cool cupcakes completely on a wire rack before adding the frosting.

FROSTING RECIPE:

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 to 2 tablespoons milk

3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
***I added a couple drops of red food coloring to make pink frosting

DIRECTIONS:

1    In medium bowl, mix powdered sugar and butter with spoon or electric mixer on low speed. Stir in vanilla and 1 tablespoon of the milk.

2   Gradually beat in just enough remaining milk to make frosting smooth and spreadable. If frosting is too thick, beat in more milk, a few drops at a time. If frosting becomes too thin, beat in a small amount of powdered sugar. Frosts 13x9-inch cake generously, or fills and frosts an 8- or 9-inch two-layer cake.

   

      UNICORN HOT CHOCOLATE:

• 1 Icing, Blue
  1 tbsp Imperial sugar
  1 Pastel sprinkles
  1 Pink food coloring
  1 tsp Vanilla
  4 oz White chocolate
  2 cups Whole milk
  colored mini marshmallows
  ***I used marshmallows from lucky charms and also added whip cream topping
  
  
  FAIRY DUST:
  
  small jar
  tags
  string
  glitter
  
  I added a lot of pink and then some silver and gold to create a rose gold color. You can make your own tag or sticker to label it with but I bought a set of tags that came with string for only $1.25 at my local craft store.