A WINTER PICNIC GUIDE

Image from We Heart It.

Image from Tumblr.

Picnics are the awesomest thing ever, but they are usually relegated to the warmer months. Here in Australia, though, it never gets too cold (although this Winter is shaping up to be a real killer), so I don't see why the picnics can't continue. In fact, I think they can be made even more fun and way more romantic, with plenty of blankets, cushions, cuddling and hot chocolate. If it rains, fort up! Maybe use some tarp or plastic sheeting over the blankets to waterproof?

one || Hurricane Candle Warmer Lantern // for cold nights you're going to need to keep warm, and a fire isn't really an option most of the time, unless you are in an actual wood or something. But that sounds scary, I never venture very far for my picnics. Most of the time Rob and I have picnics in the park either across from his house, or up the street a little. Sometimes, if we're feeling adventurous, we'll venture down to the wharf. 

two || Organic Cotton Knit Blanket // the best thing about Winter picnics is the opportunity to snuggle up together under a warm knit blanket. 

three || Isabela Picnic Basket // I love my basket, but there are plenty of other cute ones around the interwebs. I think that a picnic basket is a great thing to invest in, since you can pretty much keep it forever. 

fo||ur || God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens and The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins // picnics don't just have to be about eating, they can be for reading as well! Rob and I are both outspoken atheists and we like to read up on our atheist literature. 

five || Picnic Blanket // a proper picnic blanket is especially important for a Winter picnic, because   they have a plasticky side, in case the ground is wet. 

six || Grey Thermos // it's Winter, and you'll probably want to eat warm things, so a thermos is your best friend. Have one for soup and one for hot chocolate. 

seven || UGG boots // yes, I know they're ugly, but they are so freaking warm. I am planning on getting a pair on sale tomorrow, but I don't think I would pay full price for UGG boots, they're usually more expensive than other brand boots of the same (or better) quality. They're basically asking you to pay a premium on ugly.

eight || Donna Wilson Cloud Cushion // to add to the warm, cuddly atmosphere, bring along some cushions and pillows to sit on. 

nine || Mason Jars // for everything - holding tea light candles; drinking hot chocolate out of; or collecting flowers or leaves. 

Images from One for the table, and A food lover's journey.

What to eat at your Winter picnic ||


❄ Cheese: brie, brie, brie. Brie is the most deliciousest thing in the world. Other cheeses are good too: Camembert, Stilton, Chevre... Summer or Winter, your picnic must have cheese. Unless you are lactose intolerant, or a vegan. But if you just don't like cheese, then you're dead to me.

❄ Crusty bread: baguette or sourdough, you must have crusty bread for your delicious creamy cheese. Crap, I really want cheese right now. Other things to have with your bread: home-made pesto, guacamole, or jam and butter.

❄ Soup: to warm you up. For a Summer picnic I would recommend watermelon, but a Winter picnic needs soup. Pumpkin, spinach, or my favourite, leek.

❄ Berries: you'll probably want some fresh fruit to cut through all that creamy, rich stuff above. Berries are the most wintery of fruits. They're also pretty, delicious and will go well with your...

❄ Hot chocolate: the first thing that comes to mind when I think Winter picnic. Buy or make hot chocolate kits in jars (which also make awesome gifts) and bring boiling water in a thermos.

Image from Creative Organising.

If you are in the southern hemisphere right now, or live in a particularly chilly area in the northern hemisphere, then I wish you many lovely cold-weather picnics to come.

LAST MINUTE VALENTINES

Source: How About Orange

So Valentine's Day is approaching. You know you shouldn't care because it's a holiday invented by corporations, but just in case you do and you need some last minute gift ideas for your significant other, I have some I am willing to share. I am feeling benevolent.

♥ Books: I think books are one of the most romantic gifts ever. If you know your Valentine well enough, you should be able to get them a book they will really really enjoy. One year Rob and I got each other books for Valentine's Day. Some people didn't get it, but I thought it was the best Valentine's gift ever (he bought me Gregory Maguire's Wicked and Son of a Witch).

♥ A mixtape: Cliche, I know. All music is digital these days, I know. But there is still something a little bit awesome about a homemade mixtape. Music seems so much more precious and significant when it comes in a physical form like a CD. It doesn't have to be full of romance songs or anything, fill it with Notorious BIG, if that's what you're in to (hint: everyone loves them some Biggie Smalls). Also, you HAVE to make an awesome CD cover a la Michael Cera in Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist.

♥ Personalised cocktail: I will let you in on a secret - red/pink beverages are the best. Also, alcoholic beverages are the best. Put them together, and you have an awesome explosion. Concoct your own deadly drink and name it after your beau, then make up a giant batch for Val Day, settle down in front of the sunset/fireplace/television, enjoy. Some ideas for cocktails - watermelon puree, lemonade, Bacardi, Malibu; pink grapefruit juice, strawberries, vodka, peach schnapps; Campari, OJ, soda; scotch, lemonade, grenadine; or something from here.

♥ Hot chocolate kit for two: Purchase two cute mugs and place in them two sachets of chocolate powder/hot choc mix; two sets of mini marshmallows; two Cadbury Flake sticks; wrap it all in cellophane or place in a basket. It's a date and gift in one. Particularly awesome if you are living somewhere that has snow right now.

♥ A freaking adorable date: Everyone loves animals, so find your nearest zoo or aquarium or wildlife sanctuary and purchase two tickets. Then make or buy a card with your SO's favourite animal pictured on it and place the two tickets inside. If you can't pre-purchase the tickets, or if you buy them online or something, print out or make two Admit One tickets and put those inside instead. I hope my boyfriend is reading this, because THIS IS WHAT I WANT.

♥ Something for your nerdy Valentine: Buy a Rubik's Cube and write something on the white blocks, like I LUV YOU, YOU AND ME, I♥U 4 EVA, etc. Then scramble the cube, wrap it up and give it to your loved one to solve. Give them some ultimatum as well, like "if you can't solve it then you must not really love me" to really motivate them into spending all their waking hours working on that frustrating little cube. Bragging rights: I can solve them, bitches.

Of course, you could always go the well-trodden route and give your Valentine some overpriced roses, chocolates or a sickly sweet card with a cheesy poem inside, but those things are really bloody boring. I mean, a dozen roses delivered on Val Day costs the same as a Taronga Zoo annual membership and I think we all know which is more awesome.