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Yes, a candlelit dinner in a fancy restaurant is always a wonderful treat, but when it comes to pure romance, it’s really hard to beat a tete-a-tete picnic for two. Sometimes the hardest part about planning a romantic picnic is to come up with original ideas about where to go: here are some ideas for treating your sweetheart that will really set his or her heart aflutter.

Picnic by Candlelight

As mentioned above, candlelight in a restaurant is all well and good, but nothing says romance like candlelight in the great outdoors! In order to pull this off, you’ll need to use a hurricane lamp or other type of covered lantern to keep the candles lit: it doesn’t take much to blow them out outdoors, so don’t neglect this important step. Choose a secluded spot in the park (preferably under a weeping willow for extra privacy). You can use a blanket or you can bring along a folding table, chairs, and crisp white tablecloth for a more “formal” feel. Don’t forget the wine and a bouquet of flowers!

Sunset Picnic

If you live in an area that boasts some pretty spectacular sunsets, why not take advantage? Surprise your sweetheart by packing a delicious picnic and make your way to where you can see the sunset best: you can hike, ride horseback, or simply drive your car to that perfect lookout spot. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time so that you’ll be spreading your blanket and clinking wine glasses right when the sun goes down.

Fireplace Picnic

Trying to schedule a romantic picnic during the winter months is a special challenge! The obvious solution is to create some magic indoors. Move all the furniture out of the way and spread a blanket out near your fireplace. You should serve all the traditional foods of summer picnics for a touch of whimsy: fried chicken, potato salad, and so forth. But make sure you also include some sexy foods that will turn on the romance: strawberries and whipped cream, hot chocolate with a splash of mint liqueur, or champagne.

Picnic in Bed

Another indoor idea is to spread a blanket right on the bed and enjoy some conversation without distractions, without kids, and without the TV! Keep the food simple and crumb-free, and really concentrate on each other for a change. Make sure you make it “picnic-like” by using a real basket and preparing special foods. Who knows what such a picnic may lead to?

Pulling off a romantic picnic just takes a little creativity and a preparation: let your sweetheart know that he or she is worth the effort by planning something really special.

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In these challenging economic times, Americans are once more returning to basics and indulging in the simple pleasures of days gone by. One of these lovely traditions is taking the family in hand, loading up the car with picnic baskets, and heading to the park or the zoo for a day of togetherness and yummy food. There’s nothing quite like spreading out on a shady lawn and digging into picnic baskets laden with delicious delights made lovingly at home. It doesn’t need to be fancy at all: it just needs to combine nutrition with ease of transport and consumption. Here are some of the very best picnic foods for families.

The Sandwich

This tried and true classic is still the easiest, most versatile choice for picnics that makes everyone happy. The trick to including sandwiches in picnic baskets is to pack each ingredient separately: do not make them up ahead of time! Having all the ingredients on hand gives everyone the opportunity to make their own sandwiches just the way they like them: with or without mayo, with or without tomatoes, etc. Everyone is happy and the amount of whining is greatly reduced. Besides, soggy sandwiches are a real picnic-spoiler, which is reason enough not to make them up ahead of time.

Fruit and Crudites

These are the ultimate in nutritious finger food, and they are generally not messy. Bring a variety so that everyone has a choice: apples, bananas, oranges, carrot sticks, celery sticks, and green pimento olives. One kid-friendly fruit choice is the kiwi: simply slice one in half width-wise and the fruit can easily be scooped out with a plastic spoon.

Dessert

A little treat will make a sweet ending to a lovely family al fresco meal. Brownies, layered bars, peanut butter cookies, and even trail mix or organic granola make easy and no-mess desserts. Try to choose items that need no refrigeration and will not make a mess.

The family outing is back in a big way, so pack up the picnic baskets and enjoy making memories that will last a lifetime.

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As the holidays roll around again, you may be wondering what to give your friends and loved ones that is new, fresh, and topical. Perhaps this is the year to look into giving eco-friendly gifts. Everyone is looking for ways to safeguard the environment and reduce our carbon footprints these days, so why not make a conscious effort to seek out delightful items that support this effort? Here are a few suggestion s for eco-friendly products that make truly thoughtful gifts.

Eco-friendly picnic baskets

The picnic is enjoying resurgence in popularity, no doubt due to the rough economy. People are looking for simpler, less expensive ways to entertain their families and create memories and what could be more enjoyable than going on a picnic? Eco-friendly picnic baskets are PVC-free and will not harm the environment or your family’s health. Polyvinylchloride is a type of plastic that is not biodegradable or even degradable and its widespread use can be curtailed by the refusal to buy products containing it.

Green Clothing

If you like to give clothes, look for online purveyors of eco-friendly green apparel. Green clothing can be made from renewable resources such as bamboo, soy, and organic cotton and many companies even feature clothing made entirely from recycled materials. These clothes are absolutely beautiful, comfortable, and altogether a great alternative for those who want to make an environmental difference.

Make a Donation

For your friends who have everything, why not make a donation in their name to their favorite charity or pet cause? Sometimes getting more “stuff” isn’t as appreciated as much as the thoughtfulness of your making a contribution to something important and lasting.

Giving eco-friendly gifts just takes a little imagination and a little research, but the recipients will love it that you care not only for them, but for the environment as well.

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