Are you ready for Easter?  Well, it’s this Sunday, so you better get ready if you’re not!  There’s a lot to do for a good Easter celebration, but it doesn’t have to cause you a lot of stress if you plan ahead.  Here’s a quick checklist you can use to make certain your Easter celebration goes off without a hitch.

The meal: whether you’re having Easter lunch or Easter dinner, the meal is a big part of your celebration.  Many people serve ham as the main dish, but you don’t have to.  Turkey, lamb, even cooking out on the grill are all good alternatives.  As far as side dishes go, you can keep it simple: mash potatoes, some steamed vegetables, salad, and bread make a fine meal, especially with ham.  Dessert is a must, of course, but a simple cake, cookies, or pie will do.  Cookies or little candies for the kids are a good idea, too.  If you’re going to be playing games at the table or visiting for an afternoon, having things like cookies or healthy finger foods like fruit to snack on is a good idea.

Decorations: Easter lilies make a very good centerpiece for the table, but you can also put them in your entryway or on the windowsill.  You can surround the vase with plastic eggs, little rabbits, or other store-bought Easter decorations.  If your kids colored eggs, you can put them in a basket and use them for decoration, too.  A tablecloth, paper plates, and napkins in pastel colors are perfect for Easter.

The Egg Hunt: If you’ve got young children at your Easter celebration and they haven’t hunted eggs already, you should have an egg hunt.  If the weather permits, have it outdoors.  Older kids or adults can hide the eggs while the younger kids stay inside.  Plastic eggs with candy or other treats work best, but you can hide real hardboiled, colored eggs if you want.  If the kids are really young, you might put the eggs out in plain sight. 

Entertainment:  Some families like to play games when they’re together.  You don’t have to plan out what you’re going to play, but having some games on hand is a good idea.  Other types of entertainment include movies or watching sports.

Easter Baskets:  Another thing for the kids is the Easter basket.  You can buy premade Easter baskets from the store, but some of these are cheaply made.  If you want to make your own Easter basket full of treats, it’s pretty easy.  Take any type of basket or bucket, add some of that fake grass, and then add in your gifts. 

That’s about it.  Remember, Easter doesn’t have to be a stressful holiday.  It’s all about enjoying yourself and spending time with your family, so don’t worry too much over the food or decorations.