Le Petit Chateau: bring on the bunny

Raison d'etre is an expression I glommed on to early in my French lessons. Translated, it means 'reason for existence'. I have found many raisons d'etre in my life but none more important than my two daughters, Renee et Nicole.

Hosting events, where family and friends gather close, to celebrate the holidays has always been key to my goal of creating warm and happy childhood memories for them. I admit, as an avid entertainer, my reasons for Puttin' on the Ritz are not purely selfless - I so enjoy throwing a party!

This year we will be celebrating Easter in Palm Springs but that doesn't mean I can't take along some of my favorite traditions.

Easter just isn't Easter unless you have the right basket for that special hunt. Click here for some great ideas for using and decorating Easter Baskets

We start our festivities early by coloring hard boiled eggs and blowing out raw eggs to use in our decorations. Saturday night, the girls fill their grass lined baskets with these eggs and set them out along with some carrots and a note for the Easter Bunny. Legend has it, the Easter Bunny hops in, replaces the eggs with chocolate goodies and hides them for them to find Easter morning. Upon waking, they run around the house searching for their treasure - looking in cupboards, the oven, behind curtains and drapery, under beds and on top of furniture. Even now, as teens, they relish in this fun hunt and their just rewards!

Who wouldn't love going from this....

to this?

Once the baskets have been found it's time to start cooking. We've been cooking the same dishes for years now. This classic French Toast made with buttermilk is the best you will ever serve. I personally love this spicy Bloody Mary and of course it wouldn't be a spring brunch without asparagus in hollandaise sauce.

Martha Stewart's Classic Buttermilk French Toast Recipe from 1991

Martha Stewart's Spicy Bloddy Mary Recipe

Saveur's easy Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce Recipe

Spring decor is always easy. With so many colorful blooms just outside the door all it takes are some simple vessels, a little moss, some blown eggs and voila! - instant spring.

For a cheery welcome make this simple door decoration. Take an ordinary umbrella, tie a ribbon 1/3 way up. Create pockets with the front ribs then fill with moss, a nest with blown eggs, and some spring blooms tucked in vials or plastic bags filled with wet oasis. Goodbye rain - hello sunshine!