Planning the Perfect Picnic
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in love with the idea of having the perfect picnic.
You know the one; brown wicker picnic basket, dainty finger sandwiches, a red and white blocked picnic blanket, and, of course, the perfect sunny and green picnic area.
Having a picnic always seemed like the perfect, relaxing Springtime activity. I’ve had “picnics” where I’ve gotten with friends and we ate lunch at the local park, but it never felt like the picnic I have always dreamed of having.
I did, however, finally get to have that perfect picnic recently, and it was even better than I imagined it to be, despite not being the traditional picnic I had imagined.
Here’s how I did it, and how I recommend you should do it too.
First things first, you’re going to need a basket…
I have always wanted the traditional picnic basket - this was a must & non-negotiable for me. I checked online to try and find a good one, but they were incredibly overpriced! I’m talking $75 for a basket and some placeware type of expensive. I’m all for making my dreams come true, but your dreams shouldn’t have to break the bank and they most certainly weren’t about to break mine.
So, I did what any frugal person would do, and I took my on-a-budget butt to Goodwill. That’s right, secondhand picnic baskets are where it’s at. I ended up finding a picnic basket almost identical to that $75 one for only $5! Sure, it was missing a couple glasses, and some utensils, but who cares! I’ve got that stuff at home.
Alternatively, you could op for a picnic backpack, like my boyfriend chose to do. They’ve got some pretty awesome picnic baskets nowadays which come with all of the placeware, blanket, and cutlery you’ll need for your picnic. These ones, unfortunately, are more on the pricey side of picnic things, but these are a bit more practical if you plan on having your picnic at a location that requires more of a trek because you can wear this one as a backpack, as opposed to having to lug around a big, wooden box for a couple miles.
Now let’s pick the perfect blanket…
Yes, I know I said the traditional picnic blanket is checkered red and white, and that’s totally fine to use...if you can find that (I actually did manage to find that perfect picnic blanket, but didn’t feel the need to buy a new one)! For me, personally, I had to switch it up. I thought about using my Mexican blanket, which I have before, but then I remembered how much grass and dirt the bottom picks up, so that was out for this round.
But, since my boyfriend had the picnic backpack, it came with the perfect picnic blanket! It’s a super cute green and white blanket that’s equally cozy as it is durable. It’s made with a soft fleece topside and then a water-resistant underside, which helps keep the grass and dew or dirt from sticking to the blanket = no mess.
Here are the qualities I look for in the perfect picnic blanket:
Cute AF - Does it have a fun and colorful pattern that reflects your personality?
Compact - Can it roll up easily and fit into a tote bag?
Durability - Is this blanket going to absorb every element it sits on top of?
Affordable - Will buying this blanket break the bank?
It’s menu & prep time…
There are two ways to plan your picnic menu. The first way is the traditional way; sandwiches, a veggie salad, a potato salad, and maybe a bottle of bubbly or something along those lines. This is cool and all, but we can definitely do better than that, and I did!
Let me give you the second way, my way! Don’t get me wrong, I love a good sandwich, but for my perfect picnic, I wanted delicious, light, and picturesque food! Naturally, we turned to the internet.
My boyfriend was the one who was actually in charge of the menu and he presented me with an article of 22 Healthy Picnic recipes, and had me choose from there. From that article, we chose four items:
It seems like a lot (and it kind of was, so I recommend cutting the recipe in half unless you want leftovers for days), but it ended up being the perfect food for our picnic.
It worked so well for a few reasons; we chose the menu ahead of time and prepared the food the night before, all of the food could be eaten cold or at room temperature (which is a necessity for picnics since you don’t have access to a microwave, it was all super delicious, and finally, when plated, all of the colors of the food looked immaculate! Take those factors into account when planning your picnic menu.
Find the perfect spot…
The good thing about choosing a picnic spot is that you have a lot of options to choose from. The bad thing about choosing a picnic spot is that you have A LOT of options to choose from!
You’ve got your neighborhood parks, rivers, lakes, mountains, hills, etc. I, personally, wanted to have my picnic as a portion of a day-date. So, we decided to have our picnic on the lawn at The Getty Center!
We packed our picnic baskets/backpack and left them in the car while we explored the museum. Then, when it was time to eat and when the sun was hitting the lawn just right, we fetched out picnic items and set up shop right there in the garden. It couldn’t have been more perfect.
There are so many choices, which can be overwhelming, but let me help make it less overwhelming.
When choosing your perfect spot, think about a couple of factors:
What’s realistic for you? If you’re not the type of person who enjoys a two mile hike just to go eat some pasta on a rock, then maybe don’t choose a picnic spot in the mountains. If you’re the type of person who loves swings, then you might want to have your picnic at the local park that’s situated next to the playground.
What’s the weather going to be? I always recommend having a picnic on a sunny, 75 degree day, but I understand how that might not always be an option. In that case, take into account the various aspects of the weather. Remember that picnic spots near water will be a bit colder, parks without trees on a sunny day could lead to sunburns, and if it’s a windy day you might lose your noodles!
Once you’ve chosen your spot, all that’s left to do is find a day and time that fits with your schedule, and you’re all set to have your perfect picnic!
That’s it! Let me know how your picnic went by sending me an email or tagging @borderlinemillennials on the Instagram pics I know you’re going to post!