It caught me completely unaware. I flipped a page in my calendar and SURPRISE, it's March! Which meant Spring Break was right around the corner and I had done nothing to prepare.
Sometimes, I have spring break planned before the new year even begins. Come the first week of March, I am locked and loaded! But this year, it managed to sneak right up on me. (Yes, it's been that kind of year. Pray for me?) Luckily, I have some muscle memory (and a village) to fall back on.
A few quick phone calls and a little googling established the rough sketch—my brother and nephews coming to town for the week, a bit of back and forth between my house and mom and dad's, a few highlights (indoor waterpark, horsebackriding excursion, picnic at the farm), and a lot of just spending time together like we love to do.
Next I turned my attention to my favorite part of planning anything—stocking the counter, fridge, and pantry with enough treats, sweets, and eats to sustain four adults and three teens throughout the week.
Spring Break Snack Spread
Mom and I both have large kitchen islands, perfect for constructing a makeshift snackbar filled with treats our kids can grab as they go about their days. We'll keep Gallons of Little Cookies, tubs of our favorite Snack Mix, a Giant Wheel of Cheese with crackers, and whole fruit like apples, cuties, and bananas out all week long.
I'll also include a tin of Mexican Wedding Cookies because they're my brother's favorite (and mine!) along with the Peanut Brittle my dad sneaks when he thinks we're not looking. And a Pound Cake, of course, because it's our family's tradition. I'll also pull out a large glass drink dispenser (usually reserved for parties), which I'll keep filled with a rotation of citrus-infused water, lemonade, and iced tea.
Gathering Round the Table
We're planning some special meals, because we love gathering the whole family around the table. We'll make at least one large, lazy brunch—featuring biscuits with gravy and jelly, my brother's famous fluffy eggs, bacon and sausage—and crowned, of course, with a Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake. We'll also keep a stash of Baby Cakes in the freezer for quick breakfasts, because our kids are teens and tend to sleep late these days.
I've earmarked a few recipes I want to try and Mom will make the tuna salad and pimento cheese that we've all loved forever and can't keep our hands out of. Mom and I will stand at the stove frying corn tortillas into crispy, golden shells and stuffing them with garlicky ground beef and shredded cheese while everone eats in shifts as soon as a few are ready, because that's the very best way to eat a taco. And we'll top every sandwich, taco, and bite with a Crybaby or two because that's our latest obsession.
Whether you're reading this blog in preparation for Spring Break or at a different time of year entirely, we're always here to help you order the sweets, treats, and eats that will sustain your family for a week at home or abroad. We can even ship a box full of goodies straight to your cabin, condo, or vacation rental. Just call, email, or visit our Sweet Retreat to place your order today!