Music Friday: Emeli Sande

The other day while on the way to a grocery store I was listening to the radio. There happened to be an interview going on with this musician I had never heard of, Emeli Sande. She is apparently a break out artist in the UK right now and I think that soon she will be here too. 
                                           
 
She has an album coming to the US soon but you can download the music now on iTunes or Amazon. 


I thought she was amazing when she sang on the radio and I listened to more of her music on YouTube and have to say that I was really enjoying it. Check her out below.
                                           

What do you think? 

I hope that you have a great weekend and if you have not yet, check out these Easter posts. 
Filling the Easter Basket: Sans Sugar
Homemade Easter Dyes

Filling the Easter Basket: No Sugar

So we have made eggs and we are working on the baskets. The problem is candy. I am not opposed to a small treat but I really don't want an entire basket filled with candy for my kids to eat. In general we don't eat sweets very much so this occasional bump in consumption is not a big deal but since everyone else who gives them a basket is bound to put candy in it I want  to try and do the basket sans candy. 

We are also giving baskets to a few other kids/teens and I don't want to give too much candy there either. Especially considering how bad it really is for us (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57407294/sugar/?tag=currentVideoInfo;videoMetaInfo). 

So I have been trying to come up with a list of other ideas that are not too expensive and that will work for a wide range of ages. Here is what I have come up with so far. 
 1.

Paper Clip Bookmarks

This cute easy craft would make such a great Easter basket gift, you could use any number of things at the top changing it according to the person you are giving it too. I was thinking a button for a teenage boy.

2.

stressballs

Homemade stress balls would be a fun easy and colorful addition to the Easter basket that most any kid enjoys. 

3. Gak in Easter plastic eggs, here is a recipe: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/glue-borax-gak


4. Books. 
                
 
                 
 
               
 
                 
5. Pens/Pencils/Crayons:
I love these little tiny versions of these games on a pen! They are so cute. 
                                             
 
                                               


                                              
6.  Small games or cards. I like the Story Cubes they are so neat for creative thinking and story telling.
                                             
7. Seeds or bulbs. Sunflower seeds are great because they are easy to grow and have huge impact.
                                                
8. Gardening gloves/tools. 
                                               
9. Make your own little egg garden to give them. 

egg garden

This is a cute little egg planter from Roy Joy.

10. Bubbles like these touchable bubbles. 
                                            


What do you like to put in Easter Baskets? 


UPDATE: 
Here are some photos of the bookmarks we made, some more eggs Tie Died, and plastic eggs with blubber/gak stuff. 

These eggs were made with old silk ties. My son was having a blast staging this "photo shoot" with him and his sister. He is the one who set everything up and decided where they should sit, etc. :) Complete tutorial for the eggs here.