Hopping Down the Bunny Trail: Easter Entertaining

Chocolate bunnies, Dutch tulips, decorating eggs – they can mean only one thing: Easter! As a child, we celebrated Easter with my grandparents, attending church and relishing in festive traditions at our country club. Swathed in a sea of pastels, we participated in a wildly fun egg hunt on the driving range (my brother always found the coveted “golden egg”), followed by a delicious brunch and an afternoon amusing ourselves with Easter baskets brought by the bunny himself. I’m a bit of a chocoholic, and according to my mom, had usually devoured my Easter treats by the day’s end!

Whether you're spending this year's holiday with family or friends, follow my tips for a truly wonderful Easter Sunday. 

DECOR
Bunnies, baskets, and speckled eggs, oh my! Here are some of my favorite Easter decor items: 

• Darling topiary rabbits for outside your front door or inside decor
• An elegant glass candy dish to entice friends and family to enjoy sweet confections 
• Beautiful speckled eggs to fill bowls and vases - I have tons of these! 
• A festive and fabulous yellow banded Easter platter to dress up your table or buffet
• A classic Easter egg decorating kit to create little works of art 

EASTER BASKETS 

This playful tradition isn't just for the little ones! Did your bunny ears just perk up? Easter baskets can be customized for both children and adults and here's how:

Purchase wicker baskets, stuff them with Easter grass, and fill them with goodies including:

• Kids: The cornerstone of every child’s Easter basket, be sure to include plenty of sugary sweets – chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, chocolate eggs, and lollipops – as well as non-edible treasures such as stuffed animals, crayons, coloring pencils, and books. 
• Adults: No matter our age, many of us still have a sweet tooth so include a bevy of Easter treats – chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, chocolate eggs, and lollipops – as well as thoughtful items tailored to the recipient. For instance, if you’re making a basket for your husband and he loves Kiehl's, include some of his favorite products from their line; if you’re making a basket for your sister and she loves to garden, include some precious monogrammed gardening gloves. 

FLOWERS

Synonymous with spring – and speaking of, happy first day of spring! – fresh flowers bring beauty and life to any home. Not to mention the incredible fragrance they emit! To help inspire you, here are three arrangement ideas for under $100 that I created:

Arrangement 1: Lovely for a guest room, living room, or even kitchen table. I love the different textures, heights, and pop of pink.

Tulips, Stock, and Brunia Albiflora 

Arrangement 2: Gorgeous for the dining room table or as the centerpiece for the buffet, this arrangement was inspired by Peter Rabbit's garden. I wrapped a leaf around the inside of the vase to add a polished look.

Freesia, Kale, and Ranunculus 

Arrangement 3: Perfect for a library table or in the den. Again, I wrapped leaves around the inside of the vase to add dimension - I love the contrast of the tight rose blooms with the full hydrangeas. 

Hydrangeas and Roses 

DINING

We all remember a truly sensational meal, so “Bring the Buns” and impress your family and friends this Easter with this delicious menu!

Easter Brunch

*Barefoot Contessa Recipes 

Country French Omelet

Hash Browns with Fresh Herbs 

Toasted Baguette Slices with Raspberry Jam 

Sour Cream Coffee Cake 

Fresh Fruit with Honey Vanilla Yogurt