A Virtual Easter Dinner During the Coronavirus
Can you believe Easter is this weekend? Like many of you, I am not going to be hosting my regular Easter dinner this weekend but instead, I will be having a virtual Easter dinner talking to my family on Zoom this Sunday.
This is a sponsored post with Peach however my opinion is my own.
For the first time ever, I will not be with any family members who don’t live with me. Even though we have children living within 30 minutes of us I won’t be celebrating Easter with them. We all doing our part to flatten the curve of this rapidly growing pandemic. Wearing masks and gloves when we shop is our new normal and so is social distancing from family members. I know many of you are still enjoying the company of your family during the pandemic but we have family members who are high risk and it’s best we keep away from each other at this time. Which means lots of FaceTime and Zoom calls to stay connected. This Easter will be a virtual Easter dinner with my family.
3 Options to host a Virtual Easter dinner
For this post, I am sharing only 3 options for hosting a virtual Easter dinner because I use the three that I mention. I have been using Zoom over the last two years for my Influencers of Midlife conference. I also use FaceTime while working remotely on interior design projects. However, with FaceTime, the other person also needs to use an Apple product like an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. You cannot use FaceTime on an Android phone. Another great app to use for your virtual easter dinner is Houseparty.
Zoom
Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing service you can use to virtually meet with others – either by video or audio-only or both, all while conducting live chats. Zoom is free to everyone and easy to use. You can hold an unlimited number of meetings. Group meetings with multiple participants are capped at 40 minutes in length, and meetings can’t be recorded*. (* To record a meeting you need to upgrade from the free subscription. Which I did. So I will record my Zoom call on Sunday with my family.) Some reposts say that the app’s users started to report an increase in the so-called “Zoom bombing”, seeing uninvited guests crashing meetings and chats.
FaceTime
Apple’s FaceTime is a perfect alternative to Zoom, as long as everyone who’s part of the meeting or chat has access to an Apple device. It seems FaceTime is the safest of the three I use because it uses end to end encryption. It also allows for a group chat of up to 32 people. You use FaceTime with either your phone number or Apple ID. Make both video and audio calls. Use effects to become an Animoji, place stickers, and much more right in your FaceTime call. I love to use the front-facing FaceTime camera to show your face, then flip it to the back camera when showing something other than yourself. Great for sharing your beautiful Easter decor on FaceTime or show off your Easter Table!
Every day my husband and I go on FaceTime to see our little Livie lee. Pops is her favorite and my husband cherishes his daily FaceTime with our little peanut.
Houseparty
My brother Todd compares Houseparty to looking at the Brady Bunch while chatting.
Houseparty is a social networking service app that enables group video chatting through mobile and desktop apps. Similar to Snapchat but on steroids. I never used Snapchat but Houseparty is very easy to use. Users receive a notification when friends are online and available to group video chat. Very similar to getting post notifications on Instagram.
Since it’s Easter, I will have my table set and I will be dressed in my Loreto tie-dye dress from Peach.
My Easter Table
I set my spring table back in March out on my porch and brought everything inside when the pollen started to drop. Read about my spring table here. (You will see how thick the pollen in on the photos I took of my dress outdoors in my courtyard. It will stay green until May.)
I switched out my vintage salad plates to these darling oval bunny plates I purchased last year. Since I won’t be cooking for a crowd like I did last year I only need one table set for my husband and our daughter, Sammy. Read about my Easter table from last year here.
This table will stay set until our family can once again be together again. We will have much to celebrate and be thankful for once we get the coronavirus under control.
I can’t wait to entertain our family again.
The Menu
I will still make the Italian Easter dinner for Sunday that was passed down by my husband’s mother. We have made it every year in honor of her. Traditions should carry on even when we don’t have a family to share them with. I will make the Italian Arancini rice balls and Manicotti, and freeze them to be eaten with our family in a celebration later in May hopefully. Perhaps Mother’s Day if we’re lucky. Our newest member Lucie, will be born on May 13th and Livie’s birthday is the end of April. Read the post I wrote about Livie’s birthday celebration which was on Easter last year. The photos below feature the traditional Easter dinner as well as the carrot cake and desserts for Livie’s birthday celebration.
Sammy and I made videos sharing our favorite Easter recipes. I hope you enjoy them!
Italian Arancini rice balls are served as appetizers along with Alex’s deviled eggs with bacon.
Manicotti, filet mignon, Green beans, and salad are the main courses.
Nana’s carrot cake (recipe from Steven’s grandmother Nanny, is always served at Easter.)
My Easter Dress
Even though we’re not entertaining for Easter, I will still dress up. The temperature in Atlanta was 80 when I shot the photos. The Loretto dress is part of Peach’s Spring Collection.
The dress is made of cotton and spandex which is so comfortable and soft. You can wear it all summer long. If you’re like me you live in dresses in the summer. So this dress is perfect for wearing out shopping or in your home.
You can wear a denim jacket as an extra layer when the temperature drops. This dress also looks great with sneakers!
The hat protects my face from the sun and is perfect for bad hair days. As you follow my posts you will see me wearing more hats as the days spent away from my hairstylist continues to drag on.
See the green pollen that has coated our deck and walkway in the courtyard? No filters were used and I wanted to show you how heavy it looks! Sammy has acute asthma so she hasn’t been out of the house in a month! I lost both photographers since the first of March due to the virus.
How are you celebrating Easter or Passover? Have you been using FaceTime, Zoom or Houseparty for your face to face virtual conversations with friends or family?
Stay safe and stay home!
This post contains affiliate links that may earn income for Hello I’m 50ish.
I will have to try Houseparty! It would be fun to get the family all together at one time – we have 4 kids spread out across the U.S.
Nice to see your Easter spread. I need to Up My Game!
Your table decoration looks amazing Robin and I love that dress!
I am doing a “Skype’ or “Facetime” drinks with my family I use Zoom but more for work, and I haven’t really got into Houseparty!
Have a lovely Easter weekend and stay safe
Julia x
https://www.thevelvetrunway.com/
Your table settings (as well as the food photos from last year) are so beautiful, Robin! You’ve just inspired me to bump things up a notch this Sunday when I have Easter dinner with my husband and youngest son. Like you, there will only be three of us due to social distancing, and a portion of our extended family will be meeting late in the day for a Skype call. I hadn’t heard of Houseparty … I think I’ll check it out and possibly suggest it as an alternative for our long-distance Easter gathering. Have a lovely Easter!
Lauren,
Thank you for your lovely comments.
We ended up using Zoom for our Easter virtual party.
It really was a wonderful way to see all my siblings and parents on Easter.
Just like the Brady Bunch!
We Zoom and FaceTime regularly, but Houseparty is new to me. Thank you! I’ll have to check that one out. I’m struggling with just the three of us for Easter dinner, as well. And no egg hunt… Sigh.
So Liz how was your Easter?
We had a wonderful time on Zoom but it’s not the same as being together.
I always love seeing photos of your table decorations and food. You know how to set a fabulous table. The pollen is a real problem, I would never have realised it could be so bad. Poor Sammy having to stay indoors. Oh Robin it is so difficult not seeing our families. I feel the same. Hugs.
You are so kind Hilda.
I love decorating my tables even if it’s just for me.
I make my mother decorate her home for the holidays instead of keeping everything in boxes.
I think this is very hard on my mother because she is a very active 85 years old with her daily routine of meeting her girlfriends at her local coffee shop.It’s terrible for the elderly as well as our generation.
Family is everything and so is being active in your community.
Hugs from one Nana to another.
Fabulous suggestion for families like mine. Thanks for the tips and ideas, Robin!
Meegan,
I hope you can have a wonderful virtual Easter with your family!
Thank you for stopping by!
Happy Easter!
Robin
I am loving your pretty tie dyed dress, Robin! It is so whimsical and fun and very pretty! I also am loving these days of virtual gatherings. We don’t have any family nearby us and I wouldn’t dare travel far at this point in time, but we also never really had big Easter celebrations anyway. That being said, I do love the idea of virtual get togethers with family and friends. Being a military family stationed far from home, we have become quite accustomed to celebrating holidays this way. So I am kind of loving that the rest of the world is getting to experience what we have experienced for the past decade or more. Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas and linking up with me. Wishing you a very blessed Easter.
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Yes, I realized that as a military family you have spent many a holiday away from your family.
We are so fortunate to be able to see our families through the marvelous advancement of technology.
As much I love hosting large family dinners this year we need to protect everyone who is at high risk.
Sammy has asthma so she’s at risk.
Happy Easter my dear friend!
Robin
Wow you outdid yourself and you seem to always look so beautiful as the same time.
Maria,
You are so sweet!
Thank you for stopping by today!
Happy Easter!
Robin
What a great amount of work you put into this!! Enjoy your family, even if it is virtually.
Family Traditions must go on!
My husband loves this Easter menu because I only do it once a year!
I look forward to reading your book on shooting better photos!
Hugs,
Robin
This is fabulous idea Robin and a great way to reach out to family! Love it!
Thank you Michelle.
It’s the only way we can celebrate birthdays and holidays with our family at the moment.
I may try a virtual Easter egg hunt with our grandaughter!
Hugs,
Robin
Unfortunately, just the traditional reading of the haggadah can take two hours so we’re hoping to Face Time Passover just holding a piece of matzoh! I’ve been using Facebook to facetime with my daughter and 5 month old grandson twice daily since this started. I appreciate you explaining all the different platforms available. And I love your dress. I’m a sucker for tie dye!
I forgot you can use Facebook to Face time with people!
Isn’t it wonderful to see each other virtually wehile staying home!
Happy Passover!
Robin
Hello Robin,
Thank you for clarifying how to properly set up a zoom call and other alternative. For some such as myself this was very helpful. Your table looked beautiful as well as the decorations. I had very similar Easter celebrations in my own home with hosting for as many as forty people. Our Italian menus are also very similar. This would have been the first year my daughter hosted since we moved. I’ll miss seeing my family but I’m looking forward to a visit sometime soon.
Have a very blessed virtual Easter 🐣
Nancy
We should do a collaboration on serving Italian during the holidays!
I would love to know what you serve!
I can’t wait for the celebration of family after this pandemic slows down.
Stay and have a blessed Easter my friend!
Robin
Wow! Virtual party at your place for Easter! Enjoy and hope you can celebrate in person with your family soon!
Thank you for stopping by Cat!
Yes, I hope we’re celebrating as a family by Mother’s Day!
I won’t even mine cooking!
Virtual family time is the new normal until we meet again.
Stay safe and positive!
Robin