PICNIC PERFECT {GUEST POST FROM JAMIE}

I've invited some friends to share all things picnic in celebration of  upcoming International Picnic Day (06.18.12). Today's post is from a dear neighbor of mine, Jamie.


Hey there, I'm Jamie from Lyrical Journey, I was thrilled when Nikki asked me to share a post for Picnic Week. The Salty Pineapple is one of my favorite daily reads, and Nikki is one of my favorite neighbors. I still can't believe she is leaving our little corner of the world for North Dakota, but I wish her and her family all the best on their new adventure.

Thanks to my job I've been to some pretty amazing places in the last month - I've spent a day ferry hopping along the Bosphorus in Istanbul, a weekend on the beaches of the Mediterranean in Antalya, and an afternoon scaling Arthur's Seat high above Edinburgh. You'd think that with all those amazing places I would have seized the day and had a picnic, but it didn't even cross my mind. For some reason I've bought into the notion that a picnic must be one of those fancy things I see on other people's blogs or Pinterest - with a vintage picnic basket, colorful blanket, antique dishes and gourmet food. But that kind of picnic is never going to happen for me.

I decided I'd pull together a picnic that fit my life - one that required no prep, and especially that didn't require cooking skills! My picnic plan: a quick stop at the market for a bit of my favorite wheat berry salad, some coconut water(already chilled), and wee wedge of brie. From home I grabbed a peach and a handful of crackers out of the pantry.

I made my way to a park near my home, pulled out my picnic mix and watched the sun set. No fancy dishes, no hand pressed invitations, in fact, no planning at all went into my picnic, but that time I spent relaxing to some good music watching the sunset was perfection.

What's your favorite picnic shortcut?