Ginger, on Easter Festivities

Spring is (finally) here and Easter is right around the corner. For most people that means quality family time, visiting relatives, and "helping" younger siblings and cousins during an Easter egg hunt. But what if you're not going anywhere and no one is coming to see you? What if your family, in-laws, or other relatives aren't really the festive type? What if you don't know any children (or people with children) well enough to egg hunt with without being creepy? Well, let me tell you - you can make any day (or holiday) fun and fancy free if you think inside the foil wrapper.

If you're like me, you loved the Easter egg hunt when you were little. I mean come on - running around looking for neon colored mini presents filled with chocolate? Whats not to love? Anyways, who says you can't do the same thing as an adult? Yes, we're probably a little more leery about stuffing pounds of chocolate into our mouths now than we were when we were five, but why not fill those eggs with things you appreciate now? Stuff those plastic eggs with coupons for a foot rub from your special someone, or a romantic bubble bath for two. Or maybe a date night out were you get to pick the dinner spot. Already get enough of that special someone? How about a coupon for 30 minutes of 'me time'. Celebrating with friends? Number slips of paper inside each egg and have coordinating prizes - Amazon gift card, a bottle of wine, something silly like a woopie cushion. The possibilities are endless.

What was best part of waking up on Easter Sunday? For me, it was knowing my mom would wake us up to make a pancake breakfast together (making more of a mess than anythings else), discuss the game plan for the day while we ate, and then be presented with a beautiful basket left at the front door by the Easter Bunny - all before 9am. So what will I be doing this year? Me and my husband will have a lovely pancake breakfast, probably with mimosas and chocolate covered strawberries, and possibly some thoughtful gifts. Depending on how good he is between now and then. But hey, if it's just the two of you for the morning, you can be as daring (edible body paint anyone?) or as low key (cereal and the Sunday paper?) as you want to be. Make a new tradition just for the two of you - your special someone will appreciate the effort and look forward to that special something every year.

Still looking for ways to spice up your Easter? Your local zoo is almost guaranteed to be open and is probably planning some event to make your visit more exciting. Have a historic area near by? Even if the shops and restaurants are closed you can still enjoy a nice stroll - you might even pay more attention to the history if you aren't distracted by the lunch possibilities and shopping. Speaking of lunch - do you live near a park? Why not take a picnic lunch and enjoy the outdoors. (Guys: be romantic and bring a book of poetry to read aloud to your sweetie. We girls eat that Jane Austin shit up.)

That's all I have or now, but hopefully this helps a little bit for you not-quite-singles and couples-without-family out there. I know family holidays can be hard, but it's only one day. You'll get though it, but at least make an effort to make the most of it - you'll be happier at the end of the day.