Preparing for Easter

I finally got around to putting a few decorations up this weekend. It is fun to change out some of the old and usher in some of the seasonal...
I made the big fake Easter bunny the centerpiece of my dining room table this year. Put him up on a cake pedestal, and he greets guests as they arrive into our home. Got him last year at Kohls--and it looks so real (but it is heavy plaster, believe me.)
Two of the 4 pots of grass are on a moss table runner. Everyone that comes in runs their hands over the grass. So pretty!! You still have time if you haven't planted yours just yet--GO FOR IT!!
Our kids all have their own Longaberger basket for Easter. We do a "Wild Goose Chase" where they have to figure out riddles and look for clues to their baskets. Last year, one was in the dryer and another was in the trunk of our van.
I've been baking cookies and freezing them like a woman on a mission...
My niece is turning one in a week, so I made these for her party...
I use royal icing and buy it by the bag at a cake supply shop. Easy and FUN...
I bagged a bunch up for guests on Easter too. These are 6" cello bags purchased in bulk...
I'd love to see your decor and what is fun and new with you for the holiday too! Feel free to post a link--sharing is a good thing!!

ETA: My cookie recipe: (No kidding here.) I go to GFS and buy the frozen sugar cookie dough, thaw it out and add about 1/4 Cup flour to 12 cookies and roll it out and cut. Tip: keep the dough cold so the cookies don't puff up when you bake them. I also use parchment paper so I don't really transfer the cut out shapes--I roll the dough directly onto the parchment and transfer the whole thing to a cookie sheet. I have tried several other sugar cookie recipes, but I don't love any of them as much as I do the GFS ones--there is a hint of almond that is just divine. I also enjoy a firm but SOFT cookie--not crispy. I'm no Martha--I love sharing shortcuts--and hearing them too!!

Frosting: I use the powdered royal frosting in a package and add water and food coloring paste. You can find royal icing powder at any cake/candy supply store, or craft store for that matter. You will want it the consistancy of toothpaste. I use pastry bags to pipe it out, making sure to edge the cookie first and go back in to fill in the dam. It is wet, but dries in about an hour, and it dries smooth. I know you can also make your own using this recipe too. Tip: Make sure you don't use any metal when working with royal icing, and that you cover any unused icing with a wet towel while you're frosting the other cookies. This will prevent it from drying out. I also let the cookies dry overnight before bagging them up to harden properly.

Cookie Cutters: I have collected them for years. I especially love these and these, both of which I used this year.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions! Thanks for all the sweet comments today--you all put a smile on my face. :)

Have a wonderful Monday, all!!