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The Best Places to Gather Easter Basket Treats

by Vanessa Druckman

April 06, 2009

Although Easter is less than a week away, I'm sure there are many other parents in the New Jersey area who are procrastinators like me and are not quite ready for the big day. Or maybe even not ready at all! If you're feeling a little stressed about getting some special items to fill your child's basket, this list of my favorite places to fill my children's Easter baskets should come in handy.

• For a Few Special Chocolates: head to Chocolate Etc in Wyckoff. Although the bulk of my kids' Easter loot is from the supermarket, I love to have a few special pieces of really good chocolate and other delicacies. I highly recommend the chocolate covered peeps and chocolate covered rice krispie treats as well as bunnies in every possible shape you could imagine.
• For Some Fun and Cheap Tchochkes: fill their baskets at Five and Below in Paramus on Route 17 South. You'll find arts and crafts supplies, make-up, hair bows, coloring books, bubbles, fuzzy pillows, and stuffed animals, all under five dollars. Incidentally, this is also a great place for birthday party favors.
• If You Have a Girly Girl: she'll love a basket filled with colorful hairbows, hairbands and bandannas, Hot Jewelry in Ridgewood has a great selection of hair accessories and costume jewelry at great prices.
• If You'd Like to Tip the Balance Away from the Candy: You'll find tons of cheap books and toys at the Christmas Tree Shops. Their selection varies from store to store and day to day but on recent trips I found sleeves of Little People, packages of Matchbox cars, and set of Littlest Pet Shop animals. 

Good luck shopping and happy Easter!  Read more...