Weight Watcher' Cheat Sheet: Easter Candy Favorites

I find it extremely enlightening to know I can splurge on 1 Russell Stover's Marshmallow Egg for only 3 points!  Notice the portion sizes too.  If you're like me, part of successfully snacking is "tricking" the mind.  I love know that I can either have 7 mini 3 Musketeers or 4 mini Snickers for the same amount of points.  Um, I'll take the 3 Musketeers, thank you very much.  It's also helpful to see that there is NO REASON FOR A SOLID CHOCOLATE BUNNY in ANYONE'S Easter Basket.  A serving size of the solid is only 1/4 of the bunny, which is the same exact points for and ENTIRE hollow chocolate bunny.  Again, being able to eat "the whole thing" instead of a quarter of it sends a signal to my brain that I have more than enough to satisfy my craving.

But my BEST find?  You got it.  The SweeTarts Chicks, Ducks & Bunnies.  I can have 4 pieces for 1 point (or 8 for 3 points).  WootHoot!  I like to buy these to keep in my desk at work.  I find that if I pull 4 pieces out, and suck on one at a time, the craving for something sweet is completely satisfied!

{{Click for bigger Cheat Sheet}}

Easter Plans

Easter is tomorrow! W00t!

Hunt - No More!

Traditionally, in the past I've either taken the kids to an Egg Hunt or we've had our own with cousins the day before Easter. Well, not this year. It's so late in the season that there were too many other conflicts to have the cousins over this time. And my youngest is 11 years old... so, the days of the Easter Egg hunts are over for now.

Easter Bonnets?

No, not here. I don't think I've ever worn an Easter Bonnet. Growing up my mom did get us or sew us a new Easter dress. That was always fun. My boys don't really care about Easter clothes. My oldest one will be at Prom tonight, so I am going to have him wear his tux to church tomorrow - haha. I did get my daughter a new dress. I found an awesome one last month on sale at The Rack (way less than I could sew one for - $15!!!) My middle one will wear his Sunday suit and we'll call it good. I will be singing in the choir and I'm sure the services tomorrow will be great.

Feast-for-Easter

The menu I have planned for tomorrow's Easter dinner is as follows:

Rainbow Jell-O.

Applesauce Pork Loin Roast.

Yeast Dinner Rolls.

Funeral Potatoes.

Pistachio Puffs.

For beverages I found an array of flavored sparkling lemonades for $.68 per 2 liter. The colors seemed perfect for Easter. I will have to let you know if they taste any good!

We are planning to color eggs as well. Not sure yet if we'll get to it today. It may have to wait until tomorrow. But, all in all, it should be a great day!

What about you? What do you have planned?

Happy Easter!

Easter Dessert?

I will be going to my cousins on Saturday for an Easter dinner and an egg hunt for the kids. What about you? Have ye any Easter plans?


I am assigned salad, bread and dessert. Question is should I stick with "tried & true" or try something new?

Whaddya think? What are some of your favorite Easter dishes???

Easter Tradition: Sugar Eggs

One year my aunt taught my mom how to make these fancy looking sugar eggs for Easter. We always Made Gingerbread houses for Christmas. So, it only made sense that this became our new Easter tradition.

You can find these eggs sold at boutiques anywhere from $3 - $15. And yet they are actually very simple to make. Craft stores sell special molds for the sugar eggs, or you can just use some of these. These large plastic eggs are what we used as our molds every year and they work great.

My mom's always looked more elegant as she knew how to decorate with frosting.

But all seven of us kids loved making them too! We used to fill them with candy and give them to a teacher or someone special.

Here is the recipe for anyone that wants to try it for next year. I always make my egg pieces a few days before I plan to decorate them.

For 1 Sugar Egg (makes 2 halves)

2 C sugar
2 tbsp ice water

Mix with back of spoon till all moist. If you want colored eggs, add a few drops of food coloring to the water before mixing with sugar. Use plastic eggs molds that separate in half lengthwise. Press sugar into molds. Pack solid. With spoon, hollow out inside, leaving "shell". At pointed end make a peep hole. Place heavy card board over egg and turn over. Shake once. Lift off plastic egg. Let dry at least 24 hours before "gluing" together with frosting.
Frosting:
2 egg whites
2 C powdered sugar
¼ tsp cream of tartar

Beat egg white till frothy. Add cream of tartar and beat until stiff. Gradually add pwd sugar. Put both halves together with frosting. Pipe frosting around seam and around peep hole. When dry fill with goodies and decorate.

The Non-Post Post

I have so many posts I am working on. Non ready for today, however. I know - sad. I have been kicking my work-outs up a notch. Same 3 miles, but working harder at them, trying to increase speed, decrease time, add strength training every other day plus a 5-10 mile bike "ride" 1-2 times per week. And y'know what? I am TIRED! Whew.

Ergo, today is a Non-Post Post. Tomorrow we will be back to our regularly scheduled bloggy-program.

Here's my to-do list for the next few days.

• take out "junk" to curb for neighborhood clean-up (has to be done tonight. they come tomorrow @ 8am!)
• clean house
• organize bedroom
• get more laundry done (kids have been helping with this as their "spring break chore")
• spend time with sis's family for Easter. (gotta sink my teeth into somma that hammy!)
• fill in the gaps with flirts, giggles, and my usual shenanigans (my co-workers tell me that the "substitute" FedEx guy may have dropped a hint yesterday... mmm... men in uniform...)

'nuff said. What are y'all doing for Easter this weekend? Big plans? No plans?

A Little Peep-Show

ok - i have lost the website with this cute little stamp-craft. I think this is the cutest thing ever. #1 - I have a sick obsession with those little peeps. #2 - this is sooooo cute. Make a little box, and stamp "just hatched" on the label.

It is cute for Easter OR for a baby shower.

IF anyone has an inkling to make some of these... remember that I would just think receiving one of these would be AWESOME!!!

By the way, it has been my experience that most people either LOVE or HATE peeps. I find that peeps on the slightly stale side are the way to go... Mmm-Hmm... love 'em! What about you? Are you a Peeps-Lovers or a Peeps-Hater? And for the Lovers out there... How do you eat your peeps?