Easter's On Its Way

We're just days away from Easter, and for weeks now, holiday candy has been lining store shelves. Favorites including Peeps, jellybeans, and chocolates shaped like bunnies and eggs are ready for baskets for children of all ages.

The National Confectioners Association says Easter is the second top-selling confectionery holiday behind only Halloween, with 90 million chocolate bunnies and 16 billion jellybeans made each year, just for Easter. With so much candy produced for the holiday, it's no wonder that Easter sweets and treats are used for more than filling baskets.

Every year, two newspapers, The Washington Post and the St. Paul Pioneer Press, host Peeps diorama contests. Entrants depict scenes from pop culture, movies, and significant events in the past year, all starring Peeps. Year after year, the winners from both papers are clever, cute, and creative.

Washington Post Winners:

Pioneer Press Winners:

If you were to line all the Easter jellybeans end to end, they would circle the globe nearly three times. If you think that's too much sugary goodness to eat, you're not alone, which is why perhaps the most famous jellybean maker, Jelly Belly found another use for its flavorful candies – murals. Try creating a mural of your family in their Easter bonnets this Sunday.

Finally, The Hershey Company is synonymous with Easter, distributing pastel-wrapped Kisses and Cadbury Crème Eggs on behalf of the Easter Bunny. If you've eaten enough candy, however, the company has craft ideas to help you celebrate the holiday and decorate your home in style.

What creative uses for Easter candy have you seen? Leave a message to tell me more, and "hoppy" Easter!