| organic lollipops | handmade organic bunny | organic easter grass |

| natural egg-dying kit | non-plastic easter eggs | organic fruit snacks | organic jelly beans |

Happy Monday!  It’s been a while since I published a Mama Mondays post.  Ironically, even though I am in the trenches of motherhood with a toddler and a newborn, these are the most difficult posts to put together lately.  I never seem to have my act together on Mondays (or, well, ever).  Let’s talk Easter because if you are like me, it’s about to sneak up on you, and so far you’ve done nothing to prepare.  I can’t help you find a dress for you or outfits for your kids (I certainly haven’t found those for us yet, and there are about one million bloggers who can help us with that task), but I have the eco-friendly Easter basket thing down, and there is plenty of time to order everything and get it in time to play Easter Bunny.

Most of you know that I try to be as mindful and eco-conscious as possible around the holidays without making my children total outcasts.  I know they’re going to eat candy containing Red #40, Blue #1 and Yellow #6 food dye someday, somewhere, and I know they are going to want toxic, plastic junk made in China at some point, too.  But right now, I get the privilege of creating and curating their little world, and I want to keep it natural and real for as long as I can.

Terrain is one of my favorite places to shop (or just get inspired) when I go back home to visit my parents.  There are four locations; the flagship in Glenn Mills, PA, one in Connecticut and two in California, but their website is gorgeous and very shop-able, too.  This retail concept is a little bit house and home and a lot of outdoor living and garden/nursery.  The atmosphere is dreamy, and there is something for everyone, from the minimalist to the girly-secret-garden-type.  Their merchandise mix is carefully selected, and many of the items they carry are eco-conscious.  I love their beautiful Easter Baskets, which are are handmade of grapevine in the USA.   Tim’s Real Easter Grass is a no-brainer for $12 (one package is enough for two baskets).  I bought mine two years ago, and it still smells SO good.  It’s grown on an organic farm in Vermont, so Annabel can chew on it all weekend if she wants and I won’t mind a bit.  Plastic Easter baskets and Easter grass are just not my jam; they’re made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource, and it’s just not the look I’m going for.  (I know I sound like a snob, but at least I’m honest?…)  Plus, that plastic “grass” gets everywhere, it’s not recyclable, and you end up having to buy it again every year.  No, thanks!  We’ve loved using this Eco-Kids Natural Egg-Dying Kit in past years, and we will definitely do it again this year; it’s become a fun tradition.  This kit comes with three plant-based dyes and a natural crayon for decorating, and grass seed that you can grow right in the coconut husk container!  Care to join me in eco-yuppy heaven?

As for candy, some of my favorites for Annabel’s Easter Basket are from Thrive Market. Thrive has healthy-ish Organic treats like Yum Earth Lollipops, Surf Sweets Jelly Beans and Annie’s Bunny Fruit Snacks.  If you are not familiar with Thrive, you are probably overpaying for packaged organic food and Clean home goods.  Thrive sells products for about 30% less than other retailers, like Whole Foods.  The membership is $50/year, but it pays for itself in the savings from just one shopping “trip”.  I seriously save so much when I shop their site; I’ve written a full review on them here.

Eco Eggs are my Easter eggs of choice.  They are just like normal, plastic easter eggs, but they are made from 100% renewable (plant) content, they’re biodegradeable and they’re made in the USA.  And, you know how normal plastic Easter eggs crack and break?  These do not; you can use them year after year, after year.  A win-win-win.

I’m looking for some clean Easter recipes, so if you have any, send them my way!  I might even publish it!

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