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You can follow along on Instagram @saltypineapple Have a great week!
June 25, 2012
THE TRIP
You can follow along on Instagram @saltypineapple Have a great week!
June 22, 2012
STAY IN TOUCH KITS
Now what is a party with favors, or goodie bags? I'm so excited to show you what we put together for Davis' friends.
I spent some time wondering the aisles of Target and picked a bunch of bright and gender neutral notes cards. Colored pens and shiney stickers are the cherry on top.
I thought Davis and his friends would get a kick out that bacon card.
Once I had sorted the cards into a million different piles it was was time to assemble the kits.
Each package had three notecards with envelops, stickers, a colored, pen, and a notecard with our new North Dakota address. It was a lot of fun to see how excited the kids were to get these and talk about writting letters back and forth.
sources: notecards, polka dot tape and pens - Target, orange twine and paper bags - Orson Gygi, stickers - Joann
Salty Signature—Begin typing above
June 21, 2012
SERIES\\ MOVING ON...
A moving away party was a must for Davis. Over the last year he has created some really great friendships, and I think he is taking this change the hardest. Because our house is in limbo, with packing and moving, the party had to be held somewhere else.
We decided Airborne Trampoline Arena would be the perfect place for 20 hyper kids to run around and have a good time together. Once the party location had been decided it was time to get an invite designed.
I contacted Diana, from Livy Love Designs, and she put together this invitation with my design inspiration. I love how it turned out. Once the invites were sent all we had to do was show up to the party and have fun.
Have you ever been to a trampoline arena? Uh, can we just say FUN! Lots and lots of fun.
As we pulled up, I saw there was a timing mix up that had me panicked for a good ten minutes. The arena hours had changed. They were not scheduled to open until 12. And you can see my invite says 10. I wondered if I didn't read/hear right when I scheduled us. My brain is really
In my ten minutes of panic I called two other establishments and was preparing to get everyone across town to the bowling alley. Ryan, from Airborne recognized the mix up and totally made things right. The doors were opened and we ended up having the entire arena to ourselves. I really appreciated Ryan helping us make this party happen like we wanted it to.
As a little momento for Davis, I had the kids at the party decorate and sign a pillowcase.
It's hard to imagine life with out these smiling faces, but we are exicted to meet and get to know many more.
Salty Signature—Begin typing above
June 20, 2012
SERIES\\ MOVING ON...
Moving is a pretty big deal. I know I am not the only one that feels that way. I've asked some friends to share some tidbits while we are working on our big move.
I'm so excited to have Jane, from See Jane Blog, share her moving experience with us. If you don't know Jane, you must head straight to her blog (after you read this post of course)!
Q. Where was your from and to?
A. We moved from Orem, Utah to Boston, Massachusetts almost a year ago. And now, we are moving from one house to another in our same town. Call is move-lovers!
Q. How old were your kids at the time of the move?
A. Our kiddos were 4, 8, 11, and 13.
Q. How did you tell your kids you were moving?
A. Honestly. About 18 months before we moved my husband casually said over family breakfast one morning, "We should move to Boston." And on the down-low, all the planning began. This was a plan that had been discussed even more casually over the course of ten ears leading u to that on moment. Our move was completely voluntary. We moved all the from Utah to Boston just because we wanted to live on the east coast and my husband is a Red Sox fan. Seriously. My husband travels for work and it was a lot of work to move, but has been one of our best adventures to date.
Q. What were some of the challenges with the move and how did you overcome them?
A. Well, we had few big hiccups.
First - the moving truck. We had so many challenges with our moving company. I really hate to mention names here so we'll leave that out - but, after weeks of waiting for our stuff to be picked up in Utah, and fr it to finally be delivered in New England - it became a joke. That was the only way to handle the situation --- we laughed instead of cried.
How did we handle it? After spending two weeks as a family of six in one small hotel room, I went to IKEA and purchased the most basic of what we needed and moved in tour new home {which, is not new - it was built in 1861!} I figured we could either keep spending the money on a hotel room night after night and go ballistic on one another in 400 sq. ft., or we could use that same money {that didn't exist} to purchase furniture and move in! Lesson learned: you must have back -up funds for all these hiccups.
Second, we found it very challenging to rent a home in Boston vs. living out West. Why? First of all, lead paint. The housing market in the city doesn't want to rent o anyone with a child under 6 years old because of the lead paint laws. Every home is Boston is old , and everything old has lead paint! Ugh.
Third, a family of six is a big family on the East and landlords frown upon the idea of having such a large family in their homes. We were turned down multiple times trying to rent home because they "Didn't want that much wear and tear from such a large family on the home." Crazy talk. I know we would maintain a home better than most twenty-somethings without kids! In the end, I truly believe in the fate and knew we would end up exactly where we should be. And we did.
Q. How have you embraced your new town?
A. It helps to move with kids, because immediately we were immersed in three schools - a preschool, elementary , and middle school. We also had our neighborhood, and our church community. My husband and I also love working-out. So we had new gyms to cross paths with new friends. I immediately put the kids in all their usual activities -dance, baseball, etc. Everyone made friends by doing what we love naturally. I'd say it took about four months to feel settled with new good friends. Until then we heard the kids' complaints on a regular/daily basis. After four months the complaints about moving were less and less. Now: Our kids are split 50/50 after our first year here. Two {the oldest} want to stay forever, and two would jump on a train to get back to Utah! However, I will say, it was one of my favorite summers ever because the kids didn't have friends yet in our new city. They just each other to play, and hang out with. It was a cool family element.
Q. What tips would you give to another mom moving her family?
A. Be organized. Start packing and de-junking as soon as you know you are moving. Don't waste tie. Plan a yard sale if you need to downsize/rightsize. Try to make packing fun for the kids. I used a Pinterest idea and we used some of our bubble wrap for hopscotch when we were packing. Make leaving a big deal - plan going away parties for each of your kids, even if they're really causal. Make sure they know that saying good-bye is a part of life. And, be very positive and optimistic about what lies ahead! Our kids are old enough to google, and use computers. So when the y were disappointed about moving I'd give them a topic to research about Boston. For example, the children's museums and beaches. Then with in minutes they were looking forward to the new things and places we were going to see! I also like to get eh kids excited about their new bedrooms, and small detail can make it special. -You will have a "cool window," or a "big closet," - my kids like to be involved with me as I prepare for any new decor or plans with moving.
We are currently getting ready to move again! We have now lived in a home a couple of years old, a home we designed, and a home that is 150+ years old. We have learned that we do prefer new{er} homes. As much as I've come to love the charm of our old home - we could do without ants at meal time, ants in our cupboards, ants in our beds, the mice in the kitchen, radiators that don't heat, roofs that leak in multiple places, no garage, no a/c, etc etc.
This time we are moving just across town, not across the country. I'm finding that we lived ready-to-move-again this past year. Meaning: I like to use plastic storage bins for organizing items we don't use on a regular basis. This keeps storage organized + when it's time to move, you're ready! I only needed to pack what we are using. Yes, that's still five closets + wall art + the kitchen + so much more, but it saves time that all our storage items are already packed and ready to go.
Lastly, expect challenges. If you are mentally ready to deal with the fact that the move will not go smoothly - you're less likely to fall apart when the trials hit. Keep moving forward! {pun intended.}
Thanks for having me Nikki, and good luck in North Dakota! I can't wait to read about your moving-adventures! xo.
Warmly,
Jane
I'm so excited to have Jane, from See Jane Blog, share her moving experience with us. If you don't know Jane, you must head straight to her blog (after you read this post of course)!
Q. Where was your from and to?
A. We moved from Orem, Utah to Boston, Massachusetts almost a year ago. And now, we are moving from one house to another in our same town. Call is move-lovers!
Q. How old were your kids at the time of the move?
A. Our kiddos were 4, 8, 11, and 13.
Q. How did you tell your kids you were moving?
A. Honestly. About 18 months before we moved my husband casually said over family breakfast one morning, "We should move to Boston." And on the down-low, all the planning began. This was a plan that had been discussed even more casually over the course of ten ears leading u to that on moment. Our move was completely voluntary. We moved all the from Utah to Boston just because we wanted to live on the east coast and my husband is a Red Sox fan. Seriously. My husband travels for work and it was a lot of work to move, but has been one of our best adventures to date.
Q. What were some of the challenges with the move and how did you overcome them?
A. Well, we had few big hiccups.
First - the moving truck. We had so many challenges with our moving company. I really hate to mention names here so we'll leave that out - but, after weeks of waiting for our stuff to be picked up in Utah, and fr it to finally be delivered in New England - it became a joke. That was the only way to handle the situation --- we laughed instead of cried.
Second, we found it very challenging to rent a home in Boston vs. living out West. Why? First of all, lead paint. The housing market in the city doesn't want to rent o anyone with a child under 6 years old because of the lead paint laws. Every home is Boston is old , and everything old has lead paint! Ugh.
Third, a family of six is a big family on the East and landlords frown upon the idea of having such a large family in their homes. We were turned down multiple times trying to rent home because they "Didn't want that much wear and tear from such a large family on the home." Crazy talk. I know we would maintain a home better than most twenty-somethings without kids! In the end, I truly believe in the fate and knew we would end up exactly where we should be. And we did.
Q. How have you embraced your new town?
A. It helps to move with kids, because immediately we were immersed in three schools - a preschool, elementary , and middle school. We also had our neighborhood, and our church community. My husband and I also love working-out. So we had new gyms to cross paths with new friends. I immediately put the kids in all their usual activities -dance, baseball, etc. Everyone made friends by doing what we love naturally. I'd say it took about four months to feel settled with new good friends. Until then we heard the kids' complaints on a regular/daily basis. After four months the complaints about moving were less and less. Now: Our kids are split 50/50 after our first year here. Two {the oldest} want to stay forever, and two would jump on a train to get back to Utah! However, I will say, it was one of my favorite summers ever because the kids didn't have friends yet in our new city. They just each other to play, and hang out with. It was a cool family element.
Q. What tips would you give to another mom moving her family?
A. Be organized. Start packing and de-junking as soon as you know you are moving. Don't waste tie. Plan a yard sale if you need to downsize/rightsize. Try to make packing fun for the kids. I used a Pinterest idea and we used some of our bubble wrap for hopscotch when we were packing. Make leaving a big deal - plan going away parties for each of your kids, even if they're really causal. Make sure they know that saying good-bye is a part of life. And, be very positive and optimistic about what lies ahead! Our kids are old enough to google, and use computers. So when the y were disappointed about moving I'd give them a topic to research about Boston. For example, the children's museums and beaches. Then with in minutes they were looking forward to the new things and places we were going to see! I also like to get eh kids excited about their new bedrooms, and small detail can make it special. -You will have a "cool window," or a "big closet," - my kids like to be involved with me as I prepare for any new decor or plans with moving.
This time we are moving just across town, not across the country. I'm finding that we lived ready-to-move-again this past year. Meaning: I like to use plastic storage bins for organizing items we don't use on a regular basis. This keeps storage organized + when it's time to move, you're ready! I only needed to pack what we are using. Yes, that's still five closets + wall art + the kitchen + so much more, but it saves time that all our storage items are already packed and ready to go.
Lastly, expect challenges. If you are mentally ready to deal with the fact that the move will not go smoothly - you're less likely to fall apart when the trials hit. Keep moving forward! {pun intended.}
Thanks for having me Nikki, and good luck in North Dakota! I can't wait to read about your moving-adventures! xo.
Warmly,
Jane
June 19, 2012
THE PICNIC
We had a great time at our International Picnic Day celebration. Thanks to all those that came out to picnic with us. I have decided that big trees and play sets are the perfect combo for a nice picnic with kids.
A huge thanks to The Sweet Tooth Fairy and Cafe Zupas for supplying the desserts! There wasn't a single treat I didn't enjoy. BTW the coconut cake bites were a crowd favorite.
Thanks to Melissa for helping throw this shindig. We definitely need her to share the lemon water recipe.
I'm looking forward to another good picnic next year!
Salty Signature—Begin typing above
June 18, 2012
PICNIC PERFECT {GUEST POST FROM ALISON}
I've invited some friends to share all things picnic in celebration of International Picnic Day (06.18.12). Put your hands in the air for my girl Alison....
Hey picnic pals! It's Alison from The Alison Show. And if you know me, then you definitely know there are few things I love more in life than a nice, chilled drink. And though I'm usually sporting the caffeinated variety, I thought I'd try to concoct both a tot and picnic-friendly beverage in honor of International Picnic Day! So here's a peek at my Watermelon-Coconut Picnic Slush.
I added Gingerale, mostly because my daughter's name is Ginger, and because the colors were too good pass up! But you could add any light fizzy drink you'd like. Head on over to my party place, The Alison Show, for the Watermelon-Coconut Slush recipe. Nikki, thank you so much for letting me crash your picnic!
xo
Alison
Hey picnic pals! It's Alison from The Alison Show. And if you know me, then you definitely know there are few things I love more in life than a nice, chilled drink. And though I'm usually sporting the caffeinated variety, I thought I'd try to concoct both a tot and picnic-friendly beverage in honor of International Picnic Day! So here's a peek at my Watermelon-Coconut Picnic Slush.
For picnicking, and life, I like to keep things elaborately simple. Meaning, I love to put in the effort for that "WOW" but I know when to stop. These drinks take a tiny bit of prep, but will undoubtedly make your friends crown you you Queen of the Picnic.
Here's how to ensure that your drinks will be perfectly chilled at your next picnic:
I added Gingerale, mostly because my daughter's name is Ginger, and because the colors were too good pass up! But you could add any light fizzy drink you'd like. Head on over to my party place, The Alison Show, for the Watermelon-Coconut Slush recipe. Nikki, thank you so much for letting me crash your picnic!
xo
Alison
June 15, 2012
PICNIC PERFECT {GUEST POST FROM LAURA}
I've invited some friends to share all things picnic in celebration of upcoming International Picnic Day (06.18.12). Let's give a warm ALOHA welcome to today's guest blogger Elle!
hello there friends- Laura here from xoelle.com and I am bringing you pocket pies today! I adore picnics but really want them to be as convenient as dining out (= hate coming home to a basket full of hot-from-the-car-dishes) so when I bumped into the glorious idea of pies that you can tote in your hand, I knew that I had found my perfect picnic food. I mean, is there anything unlikeable about pie?
I began with this basic pie crust (oh Martha, it's perfect) and cut out lotsa hearts using a 3 inch heart cookie cutter. For my fillings I used some overipe berries, pasta leftovers, and sauteed spinach (so, in other words, stuff that I was about to toss out of the fridge). I mixed the berries with a spoonfull of sugar and a dash of cornstarch and topped the leftover pasta and sauteed spinach with some shredded mozerella. Each filling was lovingly tucked between two pastry hearts and squished at the seams with my fingers, the placed on a baking sheet. I baked them at 350 until they were starting to brown on top- about 15 minutes.
I made these a day early so that they could chill and set overnight in the fridge and pack well (not being too crazily gooey and soft) and it worked splendidly. The next day, after our normal work/school routine we packed ourselves into the car and headed for an adventure on the North Shore. The pocket pies packed beautifully into a lunchbox (lined with tea towel- so no napkins! no baggies! no silverware! no plates!) and looked so incredibly delicious when we arrived at a new-to-us beach in Waialua and unpacked them. It was like a three course meal in pie form: 1. spinach, 2. pasta, 3. berries. Yum.
Everyone liked them- even our kiddos who are pretty famous for being food snobs. We gulped them down and then explored our lovely location. Mountains on one side, ocean on the other. Bright sunshine and wind, a world full of tiny shells and treasures to sift from the sand. And sea turtles. And orange dump trucks. Everyday is an adventure, my friends.
xo elle
hello there friends- Laura here from xoelle.com and I am bringing you pocket pies today! I adore picnics but really want them to be as convenient as dining out (= hate coming home to a basket full of hot-from-the-car-dishes) so when I bumped into the glorious idea of pies that you can tote in your hand, I knew that I had found my perfect picnic food. I mean, is there anything unlikeable about pie?
I began with this basic pie crust (oh Martha, it's perfect) and cut out lotsa hearts using a 3 inch heart cookie cutter. For my fillings I used some overipe berries, pasta leftovers, and sauteed spinach (so, in other words, stuff that I was about to toss out of the fridge). I mixed the berries with a spoonfull of sugar and a dash of cornstarch and topped the leftover pasta and sauteed spinach with some shredded mozerella. Each filling was lovingly tucked between two pastry hearts and squished at the seams with my fingers, the placed on a baking sheet. I baked them at 350 until they were starting to brown on top- about 15 minutes.
I made these a day early so that they could chill and set overnight in the fridge and pack well (not being too crazily gooey and soft) and it worked splendidly. The next day, after our normal work/school routine we packed ourselves into the car and headed for an adventure on the North Shore. The pocket pies packed beautifully into a lunchbox (lined with tea towel- so no napkins! no baggies! no silverware! no plates!) and looked so incredibly delicious when we arrived at a new-to-us beach in Waialua and unpacked them. It was like a three course meal in pie form: 1. spinach, 2. pasta, 3. berries. Yum.
Everyone liked them- even our kiddos who are pretty famous for being food snobs. We gulped them down and then explored our lovely location. Mountains on one side, ocean on the other. Bright sunshine and wind, a world full of tiny shells and treasures to sift from the sand. And sea turtles. And orange dump trucks. Everyday is an adventure, my friends.
xo elle
June 14, 2012
PICNIC PERFECT {GUEST POST FROM CHRISTEN}
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 all the way down under!
Hello lovely Salty Pineapple readers! My name is Christen, I live in Melbourne, Australia, and I write the twirling betty blog.
I'm delighted to be contributing a guest post to Nikki's Picnic Series.
The thought of a picnic makes me weak in the knees. There's something so very alluring about packing delicious food into something you can carry and setting off for a gorgeous picnic spot where you can lay your rug or picnic blanket and relax.
In my mind we sit on a beautiful handmade blanket, sip pale pink moscato from champagne flutes and nibble cucumber sandwiches before we dig into the quiche and some witty conversation with our picnic pals. However, the baby bettys and the dictates of practicality tend to make our picnics more of a sitting on any old pilled rug we found in the boot of the car, wolfing down hastily-prepared vegemite sandwiches and a biscuit and then chasing after the children before they hurl themselves into the duck pond in excitement. But better that, I say, than no picnic at all.
I keep on striving for my dream picnic and here's an idea for a dessert I think would be utterly perfect: trifle in a mason jar.
Trifle is such a pretty dessert and really very simple to make. Especially if you take some cheeky shortcuts.
What you need:
Mason jars (duh)
Little jam rolls/ jam roly poly
Custard
Canned.tinned peaches
Whipped cream
Jelly/Jello
What to do:
Carefully spoon each layer in, in the order the ingredients are listed above.
Some notes:
I am not snobby when it comes to pre-packaged food (some of my best friends are pre-packaged foods eg., the jam rolls above) but I just don't like the taste of bought custard. So I make mine to my grandmother, Betty's, old-fashioned recipe. If I could find a bought custard I liked though, I would be pouring that fella over the jam rolls like there was no tomorrow. I suppose you could also substitute vanilla pudding for the custard layer.
If you can't be bothered whipping you cream, just get some of the canned stuff. An unsweetened one would work best as there is lots of sugar in everything else and you need the unsweetened cream as a foil for the sweet layers.
I like to use good old Aeroplane raspberry jelly. I just pour it into a shallow tray and let it set. Then I cut it into cubes with a knife. I like the sharp-edged gleam the cubes give on top. But you can also just scrabble it up a bit with a spoon and dollop piles on. It tastes equally good.
So there you have it folks, the perfect end to my dream picnic.
And my preferred picnic spot here in Melbourne?
The Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens.
It's a blissful spot - just on the edge of Melbourne's CBD.
Happy picnic-ing!
twirlingbetty.com.au
Hello lovely Salty Pineapple readers! My name is Christen, I live in Melbourne, Australia, and I write the twirling betty blog.
I'm delighted to be contributing a guest post to Nikki's Picnic Series.
The thought of a picnic makes me weak in the knees. There's something so very alluring about packing delicious food into something you can carry and setting off for a gorgeous picnic spot where you can lay your rug or picnic blanket and relax.
In my mind we sit on a beautiful handmade blanket, sip pale pink moscato from champagne flutes and nibble cucumber sandwiches before we dig into the quiche and some witty conversation with our picnic pals. However, the baby bettys and the dictates of practicality tend to make our picnics more of a sitting on any old pilled rug we found in the boot of the car, wolfing down hastily-prepared vegemite sandwiches and a biscuit and then chasing after the children before they hurl themselves into the duck pond in excitement. But better that, I say, than no picnic at all.
I keep on striving for my dream picnic and here's an idea for a dessert I think would be utterly perfect: trifle in a mason jar.
Trifle is such a pretty dessert and really very simple to make. Especially if you take some cheeky shortcuts.
What you need:
Mason jars (duh)
Little jam rolls/ jam roly poly
Custard
Canned.tinned peaches
Whipped cream
Jelly/Jello
What to do:
Carefully spoon each layer in, in the order the ingredients are listed above.
Some notes:
I am not snobby when it comes to pre-packaged food (some of my best friends are pre-packaged foods eg., the jam rolls above) but I just don't like the taste of bought custard. So I make mine to my grandmother, Betty's, old-fashioned recipe. If I could find a bought custard I liked though, I would be pouring that fella over the jam rolls like there was no tomorrow. I suppose you could also substitute vanilla pudding for the custard layer.
If you can't be bothered whipping you cream, just get some of the canned stuff. An unsweetened one would work best as there is lots of sugar in everything else and you need the unsweetened cream as a foil for the sweet layers.
I like to use good old Aeroplane raspberry jelly. I just pour it into a shallow tray and let it set. Then I cut it into cubes with a knife. I like the sharp-edged gleam the cubes give on top. But you can also just scrabble it up a bit with a spoon and dollop piles on. It tastes equally good.
So there you have it folks, the perfect end to my dream picnic.
And my preferred picnic spot here in Melbourne?
The Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens.
It's a blissful spot - just on the edge of Melbourne's CBD.
Happy picnic-ing!
twirlingbetty.com.au
June 13, 2012
PICNIC PERFECT
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| National Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C. photographed by Michael Mohr, Redux |
I love to make my own picnic just as much as I love to pick up some take out. Here is Smithsonian's picks for best and worst picnic foods.
A picnic blanket is a definite must when eating outside for me. A Sewing Journal has a great round up of 8 different blanket tutorials.
Have you ever wondered where the best picnic spots in the world are? National Geographic has a top ten list for you.
Are you planning on picnicing this Monday? If you are in Utah, I hope you can join us!
Salty Signature—Begin typing above
PICNIC PERFECT
1.Tiffen Lunch Box 2.Lollypop Kid's Backpack 3.Metro Collapsible Basket 4.Traditonal Basket
5.Picnic Hamper
There are so many fabulous way to carry your picnic these days. I love how each of these picnic baskets are so unique and fabulous at the same time. Right now we are using a vintage basket similar to number four. I love the look of the tiffen boxes, and might need to get a couple of the smaller ones to to hold our food inside our current basket...
Salty Signature—Begin typing above
June 12, 2012
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?
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.
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?
June 11, 2012
PICNIC PERFECT {GUEST POST FROM VICTORIA}
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 the lovely Victoria of vmac+cheese!
When Nikki sent me a note and told me it was International Picnic Day, I felt instantly happier. Who doesn't love a good picnic? I know I do!! Whether it's a small affair with just a baguette, some cheese, and fruit, or something much grander (I once went to a picnic where someone brought a fondue maker), there's nothing to lift the spirits like getting outside with friends, enjoying the sunshine, and yeah, okay, stuffing your face.
One of my go to items for a picnic or any sort of backyard barbecue is a pasta salad. You'll instantly make friends with the vegetarians, and it provides a light side dish option for everyone! I recently made a dish I named Puttanesca Pasta Salad, and it's the perfect thing for a picnic. You can serve it warm, room temperature, or cold, and it easily holds overnight if you want to make it ahead. Plus, it's super easy to make! Here's the recipe:
Puttanesca Pasta Salad
Easily serves 4 as a meal; 6-8 as a side dish
1/2 pint spicy marinated pitted olives, drained (I got mine from the olive bar at Whole Foods)
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cloves of garlic
1/4 cup tightly packed fresh Italian parsley leaves
-freshly ground black pepper, extra virgin olive oil
10 oz conchiglie (shell) pasta (you can also substitute rotini, rigatoni, penne -- basically anything except long noodles)
1 orange bell pepper, seeded and diced
1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- extra parsley leaves for garish
OPTIONAL: cooked diced chicken
In a food processor, combine the olives, and any juice (up to maybe a tablespoons worth), the cheese, the garlic, and the parsley leaves. Grind the black pepper, then pulse until the mixture is coarse. Open the top of the food processor and scrape down the sides. Put the top back on, and with the machine on, begin drizzling in the olive oil. You'll need about 1/4-1/2 cup to get a smooth, pesto like consistency. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again if need be to mix the ingredients well.
Transfer the olive mixture to a large mixing bowl. Add in the chopped orange bell pepper and the tomatoes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions, then reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain the pasta in a colander, without shaking it too much - you want to retain some of the pasta water. Pour the pasta over the veggies and the olive mix, then toss to combine. The olive mixture will coat the pasta, but if you want it a little thinner, add a couple of tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. If you're using chopped chicken, add it now. Garnish with the parsley leaves and serve - it's great warm or cold, and will last a few days in the fridge!
Thanks for having me today to celebrate International Picnic Day, Nikki! I share lots of similar recipes on my blog, vmac+cheese, along with lots of other fun stuff, so be sure to stop by!
{Image credits: Madam Stoltz; Style Me Pretty; Apartment Therapy; Victoria McGinley for vmac+cheese}
June 10, 2012
PICNIC PERFECT {THE PARTY}
Melissa, from I Still Love You, and I are throwing a little picnic party for International Picnic Day. It's going to be lots and lots of fun. There is even going to be dessert provided by two of my favorite Utah establishments, Cafe Zupas and The Sweet Tooth Fairy!
If you can't make it to Utah for our picnic, be sure to throw one of your own.
Tweet, Instagram, and Facebook to spread the word. You can follow me on Instagram @saltypineapple and on Twitter @salty_pineapple.
Use the hashtag #internationalpicnicday or #ipd or #ipd2012
Salty Signature—Begin typing above
June 07, 2012
SERIES\\ MOVING ON...
Moving is a pretty big deal. I know I am not the only one that feels that way. I've asked some friends to share some tidbits while we are working on our big move.
hi everyone! i'm lyndsey from the stationery place and i'm so happy to be here helping nikki out while she moves to north dakota.
if you can't tell by the title of my blog, i have a slight obsession with pretty paper and i'm ALL over any opportunity to send pretty snail mail. since nikki's kiddos will be leaving friends behind in utah, i thought i'd share a roundup of cute, kid-friendly stationery they could use to keep in touch. even if your child isn't a huge fan of writing, they'll WANT to send a note if they get to use awesome stationery like this.
clockwise from top left: fire truck notes from minted | eco-friendly hello notecards from children inspire design | robot card from dot and line design | stick figure stationery from luv 2 scrap 4 u | cute photo cards from minted | colorful "hello" animal cards from additional postage
good luck with the move, nikki!
xoxoxolyndsey
<< the stationery place
thestationeryplace.com
@paperlyndsey
hi everyone! i'm lyndsey from the stationery place and i'm so happy to be here helping nikki out while she moves to north dakota.
if you can't tell by the title of my blog, i have a slight obsession with pretty paper and i'm ALL over any opportunity to send pretty snail mail. since nikki's kiddos will be leaving friends behind in utah, i thought i'd share a roundup of cute, kid-friendly stationery they could use to keep in touch. even if your child isn't a huge fan of writing, they'll WANT to send a note if they get to use awesome stationery like this.
clockwise from top left: fire truck notes from minted | eco-friendly hello notecards from children inspire design | robot card from dot and line design | stick figure stationery from luv 2 scrap 4 u | cute photo cards from minted | colorful "hello" animal cards from additional postage
good luck with the move, nikki!
xoxoxolyndsey
<< the stationery place
thestationeryplace.com
@paperlyndsey
June 06, 2012
SANDAL SEASON
 |
My old sandals bit the dust this week. I'm in the market for an amazing new pair, and these are a few that have caught my eye.
What? You think they all look really similar? You're crazy. They are so different!
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June 04, 2012
SIMPLE SOLUTIONS
Are you one of the lucky ones that has started your summer break already? We are finished this Tuesday, and I couldn't be any more excited.
Summer is a time for staying up late then sleeping in the next morning, movies outside, park play dates, and swimming it up at the pool. Or beach if you are so privileged.
My kids have a slew of dive toys, boats, and goggles they want to haul to the pool. Instead of searching out the house for these items each time we go, I carry them in a mesh lingerie bag from the dollar store.
The mesh bag lets the toys air dry and keeps them safe in one place. If we were at the beach we wouldn't worry about carrying any sand home either. Toss the toys in, hose off dirt, sand, or whatever your picked up while you were playing and then you are on your way.
A few years back I carried buckets and shovels for the park in a similar bag too. The bag stayed in the back of my car ready for action at any time.
Salty Signature—Begin typing above
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