Search Results for: blog picnics 101

Picnics 301—Staying Out of the Danger Zone

In response to a wonderful comment made regarding my blog: Picnics 101, I decided to write another blog on picnics. The person who wrote the comment shared a great idea: instant picnics. If you keep a cooler in the car with basic staples such as plates, utensils, and cups, when the mood hits you can swing through a drive-thru or stop at a store to pick up food, then head to a park… and viola—instant picnic. The idea served as the inspiration for this blog that deals with picnics and food safety. Here’s some food for thought regarding picnic food: … Continue reading →

Picnics 201—Keeping the Great Outdoors Great

In Picnics 101 I listed items that no picnicker should leave home without. In Picnic 201 we cover another essential park of picnicking—location. Choosing a picnic destination can be just as exciting as deciding what you will pack in your basket. Whether you choose to dine at the beach, at a national park or at your neighborhood playground it is always a good idea to be responsible when using a public area. By remembering to exercise the following rules you not only insure that the area you are picnicking in will be viable for years to come, you also set … Continue reading →

Picnics 101

Whenever I am asked to list my favorite hobby I can never decide whether to answer “eating” or “traveling.” I love to do both. I think that’s why I love picnics, because I get to combine both my passions. There’s nothing like traveling to a national park (or one right in your own neighborhood) and spreading out a feast to share with friends and family members. You can plan a picnic to celebrate a special occasion or for no other reason than to take advantage of a beautiful summer day. Of course, a picnic (no matter what the size) takes … Continue reading →

Herbal Insect Repellent

One of my best friends called yesterday and was freaking out a bit. Her two year old son had a tick. I hate ticks. If you read my blog about spiders, know that ticks only fall slightly under spiders because I see fewer of them. She talked about getting an herbal insect repellent for her children and I thought that would make an excellent green living blog. I had actually already bought a herbal insect repellent at Target to send to my husband overseas. If you love Burt’s Bees products, they have an herbal insect repellent that includes oils such … Continue reading →

Recession Proof Your Marriage: Dinner

The other day I proposed that marriages could actually benefit from recession. To start us off on the right-thinking foot, I proposed giving thanks for what we have right now. (Mainly, each other and any time we spend together, because that’s precious in and of itself.) Sometimes it just takes looking at all the good we enjoy to realize everything else isn’t as bad as it seems. However, I also hinted that I’d explore other ways a recession could benefit marriage. After giving the matter some thought, I’ve come up with some date night ideas. Ones that use the recession … Continue reading →

Have A Healthy Picnic

I love picnics. The fresh air, the sunshine… but you have to be really careful with your food. And I don’t just mean protecting your meal from scavenging ants and dive-bombing birds. I mean temperature and bacteria. According to the American Dietetic Association, the amount of bacteria in food kept between 60 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit can double within an hour. So how do you keep your picnic feast safe? Try these healthy tips. Store your food at temperatures of forty degrees or less. Don’t have a ton of extra space in your cooler? Frozen water bottles serve double duty … Continue reading →

How To Pack A Healthy Cooler

No, I’m not going to give you a rundown on what low fat foods you should pack for your next picnic (you can click here for that). This blog gives tips on how to pack a cooler properly so you can avoid getting food poisoning. Take it from me; nothing dampers a summer picnic faster than a bad case of the runs. So we’ve established that picnics are no fun when they cause illness and you likely know that warm weather combined with a lack of refrigeration can increase your chance of getting a food borne illness. But how can … Continue reading →

The ABC’s of Frugal Living: 26 Tips to Live a More Frugal Life

The ABC’s of Frugal Living – 26 Tips to Live a More Frugal Life The frugal living blog at families.com is chock full of great information to help you live a more frugal lifestyle. We all strive to save money and the bloggers in this category are here to help. A: Amazing Dates Have a date night for less! New Cheap Date Ideas A Cheap And Fun Date Idea It’s Date Night Date Night On a Budget B: Budgeting Make a plan and stick to it. Be sure you watch where your money goes each month and try to do … Continue reading →