Easter Basketing

We're almost hopping into April and that means Easter is on the way. I love this holiday as we have a tradition of dying eggs on Easter Eve along with baking cookies while drinking Bay Breezes. Then there's the Sunday feast (that we're hosting this year!) along with an Easter egg hunt. And then there's the basket.

Here are a few of my favorites you may want to let the Easter bunny know about. Most are local finds that will make any little basket happy. All are linked to Instagram accounts that I just love.

Cutest hand-knit bunny in a hot pink tutu, Made

Rewined Candle, Thanks a Latte 

Something monogrammed (in this case a koozie), The Pink Alli

Tassel or cross bracelets (my current obsession; made locally in Holly Springs), Biyou Southern via Thanks a Latte 

Rifle Paper Co. notebook set, Target

All She Wrote Notes notecard set, Thanks a Latte 

Thimblepress Push-Pop Confetti, Stylish Living

And plastic eggs filled with either M&M's speckled peanut butter eggs from Target or popcorn from The Mad Popper. Happy Easter!

Easy Easter Place Cards

While Hank and I were at Lowe's on Sunday, Hank legitimately being there, I got lost in the paint samples. All of the bright Easter colors caught my eye. We're hosting family for Easter Sunday so the paint samples immediately said, I would make the perfect, and free, place cards.

And so it happened. I picked my favorite colors and had May hand letter them for me and voila, easy Easter place cards were born.

Cute Local Favorites

Mrs. Loves Life approved! I love local, and I love discovering that next new place. Here's my running list of favorite (and cute!) shops and lunch spots for a fun Saturday morning around my stomping grounds (plus game plans - game plans are clutch).

Cute Shops 

Cute Buttons, Cary | Stationary 

The Doodling Bug, Apex | Gifts 
Ivy Cottage, Morrisville | Home decor 

Made, Cary | Gifts (Etsy in shop form)
Moon and Lola, Apex | Jewelry

The Pink Alli, Cary | Gifts and 'home of the best $10 monogram'

The Purple Polka Dot, Cary | Gifts and some clothes 

Stylish Living, Apex | Gifts 

Swagger, Cary | Clothes and gifts (grab coffee next door at Java Jive!)

Swoon Boutique, Holly Springs | Clothes 

Thanks a Latte, Holly Springs | Coffee and gifts (and the sweetest family!)

Vestique, Morrisville | Clothes 

Cuter Lunch Spots 

Belle, Cary

La Farm, Cary

Serendipity, Cary

Oh! Drinks & Snacks Too
The Glass Jug, Durham
The Mad Popper, Durham

Saturday morning plan one:

Roll into Thanks a Latte in Holly Springs by 9 a.m. Grab their big chai tea latte and blueberry scone and leisurely shop around until Swoon opens at 10 a.m. After Swoon, head to downtown Apex to shop favorites such as The Doodling Bug, Moon and Lola, Stylish Living and more. From there head to La Farm in Cary for lunch (their mediterraneo is my jam). After La Farm, stop by Ivy Cottage and end your day at Vestique. It's a roughly 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. day that's sure to delight. I took my bestie May on this loop the other morning, and we had so much fun.

Saturday morning plan two:

Start your day at 10 a.m. in Cary at cute shops Made and the Pink Alli (you can pop into Scout and Molly's or grab a treat for your dog at Woofgang too). Then head to downtown Cary for lunch at Belle (or Serendipity) and then stroll from the restaurant to the shops - passing by the cutest Victorian house. Downtown Cary favorite shops include Cute Buttons and The Purple Polka Dot (Gather is worth a quick little stop too). You can even grab a milkshake at Ashworth Drugs or a sweet treat from Blue Moon Bakery. Then head onward in Cary to Swagger which has both gifts and clothes. If you didn't have a sweet treat before, grab an iced chai tea latte (can you tell chais are my favorite) from Java Jive right next door. I grab mine and then bring it over to Swagger to do my favorite - sip and shop.

The above options include a lot of driving I think, but I'm a road warrior and love being a tourist in my own town so it doesn't phase me. I will work on a plan three that includes favorites The Glass Jug and The Mad Popper and some other fun happs over that way. Enjoy!

Do you know of other cute lunch spots or shops I'd love? Email me: mrsloveslife@gmail.com.

You're Invited

Happy Week! If you're looking for a little something fun to do after work this week, all are welcome to shop downtown Apex this Thursday from 6-8 p.m. You'll save 20 percent at some of my favorite shops on one of my favorite streets.

You'll also get to sip and snack while shopping which is a highly-ranked pastime of mine. Here are a few bits on the downtown Apex shops I love.

Moon & Lola is for colorful goodness. This national brand is headquartered in downtown Apex on Salem Street and all of the prettiness is made locally just a few steps away from where you'll be shopping it out. That's 'locally made' at its finest. A few of my fave jewelry pieces are their mini monogram necklace, bright pink monogram necklace and bracelet, and state love necklace and bracelet (but really I love all of it and then some).

This past weekend I picked up this ah-mazing vintage find from The Doodling Bug. I love this old window turned functional piece. I clip happy bits to it, write on it (current chalk note by All She Wrote Notes), it has a drawer pull turned chalk holder and even two hooks for our keys. I'm obsessed. The Doodling Bug is also brimming with all things Southern. 

I also love Stylish Living. They have a great Jellycat stuffed animals collection. I like having one for each major holiday to put out as a 'so cute and so squishy' bit of decor. On that note, squish this evening into your calendar - it'll be fun.

This evening is hosted by #RaleighBlogSociety.

Donut Worry, Be Happy

On a donut note, and a restaurant note in general, I am 'foodie blessed' living where I do. I am surrounded by a ton of ah-mazing restaurants and even more that I am yet to try. 

My favorite local donut shop is Rise. Their first location opened right by our house, and I've been loving it ever since. Number two favorite local donut shop goes to Baker's Dozen Donut Shop located on Buck Jones Road. We drive past it on our way home from church and finally stopped in to try it. Not only is their glazed donut airy perfection, their walls are adorned with donut-y sayings like "donut worry, be happy." Their prices are the epitome of cheap at 85 cents a donut and 99 cents for a cup of coffee. They even have Martinelli's apple juice which is a favorite of mine. My number three favorite donut shop is Monuts in Durham, and I look forward to trying Duck Donuts in Cary soon.