The weather is definitely getting warmer (yay!) and outdoor gatherings of up to six people are now also allowed, making it easier for friends and families to meet outside (double yay!).
Things seem to be looking up for the foreseeable future and that's not even counting the fact that this weekend is Easter weekend! We all know what that means: four days off, chocolate for breakfast, sugar-hyped kids, and (hopefully) sunny drinks in the garden!
And maybe there's even a little bit of last minute panic about what you're going to do to keep the family entertained all weekend?
Don't worry, I've put together a fun-filled list of treats and activities for you and your family this weekend which are sure to keep everyone smiling!
WHAT TO EAT
Cornflake Cakes
An oldie but goldie! Is there anything better to make at Easter than cornflake cake nests? Super, super easy to make with the kids (or for yourself - yep, that'll be me this weekend! 😂), no actual baking required, very quick to make, and can be tailored for different dietry requirements. For example, I'll be using dark chocolate for the cornflakes and Doisy & Dam dark chocolate drops from Holland & Barrett as a dairy-free mini egg substitute!
Ingredients:
100g milk or dark chocolate
50g butter
2tbsp golden syrup
100g cornflakes
Mini Eggs to decorate your "nests"
Method:
Bring a saucepan of water to the boil, then down to a simmer.
Break up the chocolate into squares and place in a mixing bowl with the butter and syrup and place the bowl over a pan of the gently simmering water until everything is melted and smooth.
Add the cornflakes and stir with a spoon until they are well coated in chocolate.
Place 12 paper cupcake cases in a muffin or cake tin and spoon the mixture into the cases. Place in the fridge to set for 30 mins. Decorate with the mini eggs and et voilà!
Easter Eggs Cheesecakes
Super indulgent but super delicious! Another easy one to make with the kids, and something interesting to make out of the Easter eggs they've been given.
Ingredients:
An Easter egg (halved)
60g crushed digestive biscuits
45g unsalted butter (melted)
120g double cream
250g mascarpone cheese
80g icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Various fillings, for example - peanut butter, oreos, Reeses, Kinder Bueno, Kinder egg, ice cream etc
Method:
Mix the digestives and butter together, then pour into a baking paper-lined baking tray and chill in the fridge for about 15 minutes.
While that is chilling, beat the mascarpone, vanilla extract, and icing sugar until smooth. Add the double cream, mix together fully, then set aside. You want your mixture to be as firm as whipped cream, if it is still runny you'll need to keep beating until it firms up.
Get the biscuit mixture from the fridge and crush it into small crumbs. Then add the mixture to the Easter egg halves.
Top the mixture with any toppings of your choice and then set in the fridge for a minimum of one hour. They will keep for three days, but are they really lasting that long??
WHAT TO BUY
Easter Crates - Crafty Jax
I am utterly obsessed with the hampers which Crafty Jax puts together, and their latest Easter hampers are no different! These hampers come in wooden crates which can be painted various colours or kept rustic. The standard crates include an Easter egg, a DIY bunny egg cup kit, a Kinder egg, a mini egg cone, as well as various Cadbury Creme Eggs & other chocolate eggs!
Standard personalised crate - £25
Personalised crate only - £18
Bespoke contents - custom price
Personalised Easter PJs - Framed With Love by Beckie
How absolutely adorable are these personalised PJs from Framed With Love by Beckie? Lots of lovely colours and designs to choose from which can be a perfect outfit for their morning Easter egg hunt! She also personalises baby grows for baby's first Easter! Although, make sure you order quickly to guarantee they're ready in time for the weekend.
Message her Instagram page for details and prices.
WHERE TO WALK
Sefton Park - Aigburth, Liverpool
It may be quite an obvious choice for a walk (and if you live in Liverpool you might be sick of the sight of Sefton Park 🙈) but oh my goodness do they have a gorgeous collection of daffodils there at the Marie Curie Field of Hope! Let's face it, does anything scream "spring!" more than a bright and beautiful daff? Also, they make a great backdrop for a springtime selfie or a DIY photoshoot with the kids!
Sefton Park Drive, Aigburth, Liverpool L17 1AP
Walton Gardens - Higher Walton, Warrington
I'm afraid I'm absolutely going to have to add Walton Gardens for the same reason as above! I've done so many lovely Mother's Day photoshoots around the gardens with the daffodils in the background. Why not pack a picnic and meet up with some friends now that the government's rule of six is allowed to go ahead? Plus, the children's zoo will be reopening from the 12th April!
Walton Lea Road, Higher Walton, Warrington WA4 6SN
WHAT TO MAKE
Free Kids Crafting Classes - National Maritime Museum, Cornwall (Facebook Live videos)
Join their live Make and Take crafting sessions hosted after the Easter weekend with one of their learning officers Sophie. The sessions will be broadcast live on their Facebook page each day from Tuesday 6th – Thursday 8th April (and will then be available on their website). Learn how to make all sorts of underwater-themed musical instruments, from Jingling Jellyfish to Crab Shakers and Sea Drums! They also have other free Easter weekend fun available online here.
The link to view their Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/theNMMC
DIY Paper Daffodils
If you don't fancy venturing out to look at wild daffodils or just want some of your own to brighten the house up (without the daffodils wilting) why not make your own? This is a fun and simple activity to do with the kids, and you get lots of lovely daffodils made with love which can be displayed as decorations around the house or for homemade Easter cards for friends and family!
What you'll need:
Different shades of yellow and orange paper (or crepe/tissue paper has a much better "petals" look and texture)
Scissors
Glue stick
Green pipe cleaners
How to make:
Start with a 4″ square of yellow paper. Fold it in half diagonally once, then fold in half diagonally again. And finally fold it in half one more time so you're left with a little triangle.
Cut a petal shape into the triangle of paper and snip a hole in the triangle point (this is where the stem will go through). Open to reveal the 8 attached petal shapes.
Now cut a piece of dark yellow or orange paper into one big circle ( this will be the middle of the daffodil). The you can cut that circle in half to reveal two semi circles.
With the glue stick, apply glue to the straight edge of one semi circle and shape the semi circle into a cone.
Assemble the daffodil by putting the small end of the cone into the in the middle of the petals and attaching with glue.
Finally put the pipe cleaner through both holes so it peeps through the petals and cone, and there you have it - one finished paper daffodil!
Don't forget to share your creations with me on Facebook & Instagram so I can reshare them!
Paige x
Paige Edge Photography