Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Dates! #1 Picnics.


Dates are super fun and a great way to get to know your loved one. They're also a great way to show someone how much they mean to you. Now dates don't need to be flashy. They don't need to involve flowers and candy and expensive dinners for two. Their one requirement is that the both of you are able to have fun together! So come on girls, lets show those boys some fun!

Picnics!

Picnics are always fun. And some thing I've learned it that you don't always need to have picnics at the park. You can have them at beaches too, back yards, lakes or even in your living room! The main things you'll need to have a proper picnic date is as follows:

Blanket - You can pick up proper picnic blankets for around $12 nowadays, so spring some dough for one. You'll use it more than you think!

Basket or esky - Depending on the food you'll be bringing you'll need either of these to transport it. You can now buy picnic baskets that come with cutlery and glasses! Though they are rather pricey, why not stop off at a thrift shop and find a nice big basket? Some cheap wine glasses and unique utensils. You could get one without a lid, it doesn't matter. Just get some 'picnic-ey' material and line it and make a cover. Remember when packing the picnic basket that you have at least one spare glass incase one breaks, or just pack plastic. Cheaper and less cumbersome than glass. Though doesn't give the same feel. But its what you make it, not what you bring that counts. Also you'll need to pack a large chopping board to put the food on, you don't want to have it directly on the blanket and the ground underneath will prove hard to balance glasses on.

Food - For Summer time picnics, bring a french bread stick, cheese, dips, pickled and sun dried things, sandwiches, crackers, little cakes and a drink that's big enough for both of you to enjoy over a few hours without having to run to the shops. A bottle of wine, some lemonade would be good. Keep it light and refreshing! For colder weather picnics go for a thermos filled with hot cocoa, some croissants and things to put in them, crunchy bread sticks with dips, if you want wine go with a nice red - if you don't know much about wine you can always ask the clerk at the liquor store to suggest something that would go with your food. - red wine will keep you warm and can turn your nose a cute pink! Remember to pack a blanket too, and some mugs for the cocoa. For sweets pack some rich chocolate and decadent cakes!

When planning food do not pack junk. There is nothing worse than sitting in a park with your lover scoffing Doritos and drinking carton chocolate milk. It looks awful and this is meant to be romantic people!

Ambiance - If you want some music to listen to on your picnic date pick up some speakers for your mp3 player and make a playlist with songs that make you feel fuzzy inside. For me thats Frou Frou, HelloGoodbye, Postal Service, Deathcab for Cutie, Love drug, Bloc Party and Her Space Holiday to name a few. They all have one thing in common, my man and I both love them! Don't make a playlist off all the songs only you love, ask your partner what they like too! Its great if you have similar tastes, but sometimes you don't. Keep everyone happy and put in a bit of both your tastes, or try to pick out songs you both like from each others genre's.
If you want to have a night time picnic, stop by your local hardware store and pick up some lanterns to place on the blanket, you should only need about 2 or 3 to keep the area lit well enough to see everything properly and not knock over bottles of wine all over each other. Or you can go old fashioned and get candles, but they can be a bit hard to keep lit of its windy.
Warmth is sometimes an issue on picnics, especially in winter or you're at the beach. Bring a blanket you can both cuddle up in and rub noses to keep warm. Making out can get things pretty hot too. But don't be that couple in the park who women have to shield their kids eyes from. Keep it tame, you are in public after all.

Have fun girls!

xoxo

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