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2013: Easter Crafts, Activities, and Resources

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2013: Easter crafts, activities, and resources

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

With lots to celebrate this month among St. Patrick’s Day, the first day of spring, and Easter, we are playing rather than updating our home decor. I still have Valentine’s Day decorations out, so I skipped St. Patrick’s Day and head right to Easter. 🙂

For me, Easter is a time of reflection. Realizing that my Savior came to earth for the sole purpose of dying for my sin stops me. Contemplating my life and its direction, I pause more so at Easter rejoicing in gift of grace given to me at salvation.

During this Easter season, our family remembers Jesus’ death and burial, and then we celebrate His resurrection complete with egg hunts, coloring eggs, Easter baskets, and Resurrection eggs (my favorite activity of all). As we play and participate together, we remember the reason for Easter and rejoice in the resurrection of our Savior.

In reading through my favorite blogs, I discovered so many creative techniques and new activities. The following list contains my favorite free activities with links to the contributors. Happy planning!

Easter Crafts

Easter Printable Activities

  • Easter coloring pages and matching game by Meet Penny

Easter Recipes

Easter Reenactments

Easter Resources

  • 50+ listed Easter resources by The Better Mom

My girls love the crafts, coloring pages, and printable packs while my son enjoys the games, reenactments, and hunts. With all these resources, we have plenty of options for making our Easter celebration memorable.

With Easter a little over a week away, we are hunting for sales on eggs, gathering our supplies, and pulling out our decorations. In looking at all these great Easter resources, we may need to add a new game or activity to our celebrations. Happy planning!

Question: Which Easter activity is most anticipated at your home?

NOTE: This post contains affiliate links in accordance with Using Time Wisely’s full disclosure policy.

2013: St. Patrick’s Day Activities

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St. Patrick's Day Activities

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Wishing for a lucky charm or the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, Irish fans love a reason to celebrate. In gearing up for a green March 17, enjoy these free St. Patrick’s Day activities:

  • St. Patrick’s Day crafts and recipes e-book from FaveCrafts
  • St. Patrick’s Day printable pack for preschoolers by 3 Dinosaurs
  • Lots of St. Patrick’s Day party and activity ideas from Laurie at Tip Junkie

With all these fantastic ideas and printable activities, you have lots of opportunity to fill your celebration with the luck of the Irish. With March 17 on the way, our family might try a recipe or two and a few activities to help us find our pot of gold. Happy celebrating!

Question: Do you have a special St. Patrick’s Day activity?

Valentine’s Day Printable Gifts

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Valentine's Day Printable giftsValentine’s Day is quickly approaching. With a busy week of activities and projects, my children have completed their Valentine packages for their classmates. My son whipped his out about a week ago, but my daughter (age 5) worked really hard to carefully write the names.

If you are short on time or need a few extra cards, then turn to this list of free Valentine’s Day printable gifts:

Printable Valentines from Deal Wise Mommy

Step-by-step Instructions for Valentine Pouches

I Can Teach my Child offers free instructions for creating simple brown paper Valentines filled with candy.

Printable Coupon Booklet

For a fun twist for your spouse, I Heart Nap Time offers a free printable sheet of love coupons.

In using time wisely preparing for Valentine’s Day, these printable cards and coupons offer quick solutions in a busy season. With all the activities, notes, games, crafts, and resources posted last week, we have plenty of options for our Valentine’s Day celebration. Wishing you a heart-felt day!

Question: Do you have any Valentine’s Day traditions?

Valentine’s Day Activities

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Valentine's Day

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

My son has his Valentine’s Day packages filled with his notes written. As I had all the supplies, my son was ready to get that project done.

My daughter enjoyed the process much more as she carefully chose the items for each of her classmates. Though we have not written out her cards from Krispy Kreme Doughnuts yet, her packages are complete.

As you prepare for February 14th, enjoy these Valentine’s Day activities gathered from around the Internet from very talented bloggers:

Crafts

Food

  • Almost-famous conversation hearts’ recipe from Food Network

Free Printable Activities

Games

  • Valentine’s Bingo and other games by Kaboose

Resources

  • With more than 50 Valentine’s Day resources from recipes to menu planners by The Better Mom

With so many activities, I hope you can find what you need to make your Valentine’s Day holiday a heart-felt success. If you are having a party, then please comment with your party ideas. I look forward to learning from you. Happy planning!

Question: Do you have a special Valentine’s Day tradition?

Planning for Success: Include Holidays – Day 15

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Planning for success - Day 15

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

To receive a daily e-mail around 11:00 a.m. with the new posts of each day, subscribe to my free daily newsletter. In case you miss a post in this series, I will provide the link to each day as the month progresses. 🙂

Day 15: Include Holidays

Our family enjoys holidays. Since I like to decorate for most of them, my girls get so excited when I begin putting away the current decorations because they know a new set is coming. For example, as I took down the Christmas trees in my children’s rooms this past weekend, my toddler asked multiple times to have her Valentine’s Day hearts put in her room. *Sigh* A mother’s work is never done. 🙂

Though most planning tools include holidays within their pages, some do not. If you create your own calendar, like me, then your planning tool is blank, and you add in the holidays. If you need to add the holiday schedule to your calendar, then Day-Finder.com includes the following lists:

American Holiday Schedule

Canadian Holiday Schedule

Realizing that Canadians need a few more holidays and Americans tend to celebrate everything, I included the American holiday schedule on my calendar. Knowing the dates helps in planning events, parties, and celebrations.

As you plan for success in 2013, include holidays on your calendar for which you and your family celebrate. Though there are other important dates and the above lists are not inclusive, customize your calendar with additional days, like Daylight Savings Time.

Keep using time wisely and jot down holidays and important dates to help you save time and energy. Happy planning!

Question: What additional holidays are on your calendar?