If you ask a few strangers about the most memorable picnic they’ve ever been on, chances are that they’ll share stories of a great idea gone awry. It is deeply embedded in human nature to focus on the negative. Having something go wrong incites the same part of your memory that holds grudges and spawns bitterness. What does all that have to do with planning a picnic? In order for your picnic to be memorable, it needs to be imperfect in some way. Don’t worry about planning something specific to go wrong. A picnic that goes off perfectly is still a very nice thing. Are you ready to spend some quality time with your partner in a unique location enjoying food and drink along with the company of somebody you like? A picnic is one of the best ways to make that happen. For ease of use, I’ll refer to your partner as “she”. Picnic time!

Know Your Picnic-Partner: Unless you are certain that your partner is a terribly good sport with a lot of patience who will eat anything, you need to do some research before your picnic. Find out the answers to as many of the following questions as you can:

1. Does she enjoy being outdoors? All is not lost if she hates plants and fresh air. An enclosed observation deck of a skyscraper is a neat spot for a quick picnic.
2. Does she hate particular foods? You should know better than to grill steak on the beach for your vegan love interest. Know better.
3. Is there a particular place she enjoys? If you know of a place she associates with relaxation, that’d be a good spot for a picnic.
4. Is there a time of day she likes best? If she’s a morning person, and especially if you’re not, she’ll adore you for planning an early morning breakfast picnic.
5. Does she enjoy a particular sort of weather? This ties into the first question. If she loves storms, check the weather and plan for a soggy outing. Sunshine is easiest to plan around.

Once you have your answers, you’ll be in a good position to take the next step in the planning process:

Choose a Location: The simplest way to pick out a location for a picnic is to focus on the areas in your community that are either in very beautiful areas or offer interesting scenery. Do you live near mountains? Perhaps you’re within driving distance of a lake, a river, or the ocean? If you live in an extremely populated area, check out any nearby parks. It never hurt to ask a friend with a nice balcony if you could borrow the space for an hour or two. The trick is to pick a spot where you’d like to have your picnic and choose an alternate location. That way, if your beach picnic is getting rained out and your lady doesn’t like rainy walks on the beach, you’ll have a place to go all picked out!

Pick Your Props: Now that you’ve picked your location, what will you need for “props”? Do you want to go all out with a table and chairs set up on a mountaintop or would you prefer to go simple with an old quilt spread on the grass? How are you going to pack your picnic: Cooler, picnic basket, paper bag? If you are a silly person like me, you might want to include an actual prop. I once purchased two ten-gallon hats to wear during a picnic. Passers-by thought it was quite amusing and we had more fun because of it! A sense of adventure probably won’t be the death of you so reach out and choose things you’ll really enjoy. Will you bring music? If you have access to a portable soundsystem like an iPod docking station, you can bring your “Summer Picnic Soundtrack” playlist and get your party started.

Choose Your Food: If you know what type of food she likes, this one shouldn’t be too hard. A simple rule that will allow you to really enjoy your picnic food is to make everything finger food. Pre-cut pieces of fruit, cheese and crackers, and sliced coldcuts are all easy to eat. Foods with mayonaisse or eggs in them can spoil quickly in hot climates. To be safe, avoid them so you don’t end up visiting the hospital later in the week. If you really need to make that awesome pasta salad or cold fruit soup, go ahead. Just make sure you bring the necessary plates or bowls and plastic tableware. Bring a replacement or two in case one breaks or is dropped. The easiest way to prepare food for a picnic is to pick up some freshly-made sandwiches that are pre-wrapped in wax paper. All you need is some chips, fruit, and veggie slices to complete the spread. Please note, especially if you are going to be picnicking in the sun, make sure you bring enough fluids to drink! Alcoholic beverages do not count as hydration!

Packing List: Just a few things you should be sure to bring along on your picnic:

• A camera – Especially if your picnic goes off without a hitch, you’ll want to have photos to remember your adventure!
• Paper towels – I always forget to pack papertowels or napkins. Don’t be caught without them! If you’re going to be eating a lot of fingerfoods, wet-whipes are a good addition.
• A garbage bag – It’s good to make carry-in/carry-out a policy for all of your picnics. A plastic grocery bag should be large enough.
• A blanket – Sitting on the ground really isn’t any fun. Don’t forget the blanket!
• Sunscreen – If you’re going to be out and about on a sunny day, make sure you wear protection!
• Food – In the rush of all your planning, don’t forget the eats.
• Insect Repellent – The mosquitoes seem twice as large when you’re trying to have a conversation with somebody you really like. There are some insect repellents available now that have a really pleasant smell. Make sure you bring some along.
• First Aid Kit – You don’t need to have it at your side at all times. Just make sure you have one in your car.
• A Sense Of Adventure – This will carry you through any obstacles that you come across in planning and enjoying your picnic.

In all your preparations, remember that the main intent of a picnic is to enjoy the company of the person you are spending time with. You can forget to pack everything but our sense of adventure and you can still have an enjoyable time with your lady. Make the time to plan a picnic this summer and find out for yourself just how much fun a simple picnic can be. Good luck!

If you’re interested in continuing “the holidays” for another few weeks, here are some unique and fun ideas for celebration:

• Take a bubble bath. January 8 is Bubble Bath Day. Have a party for one (or two) in your bathroom. Or get the girls together and go to the spa for a group celebration.

• Have your cake and eat it, too. Forget that resolution you made to go on a diet and do some backing to celebrate Chocolate Cake Day on January 27.

• Have an art-making party. January 31t is Inspire your Heart with Art Day. If there was anyone  you didn’t get to see over the holidays, send out an invitation to come catch up and be creative at your place. Get some paints, some magazine scraps, some glitter and a bunch of snacks. Have fun making an artsy mess!

• Visit the local zoo. Go on January 20 for Penguin Appreciation Day. The following day for Squirrel Appreciation.

• Play games. January 4 is Trivia Day, January 18 is Thesaurus Day and January 29 is National Puzzle Day. Isn’t any excuse a good one to play some games instead of working?

• Hug, cuddle and stay in bed. If you really need a reason to do any of these things, there are days set aside in January for each of them. January 21 is National Hugging Day for those who want to get out and get their arms around someone. January 6 is Cuddle Up Day, something that we could all use a little more of in our lives. And January 16 is National Nothing Day so if what you really want to do this month is absolutely nothing, make a celebration out of it!

Perhaps these holidays aren’t quite your cup of tea. (By the way, if you like tea, January is also Hot Tea Month.) If these didn’t tickle your fancy, you can take a glance at some other fun January holidays here and see if there’s something else you’d rather celebrate instead!

• Times Square in New York. We’ve all been in the position of being home on New Year’s Eve and watching the ball drop on our television screens. If you’re getting off the couch and getting out on the town, this is probably the first place that came to mind as a New Year’s Eve destination. Just because it’s cliché doesn’t mean it’s not hot!

• Anywhere in Amsterdam. There is no party in the entire place that is a bad party to go to this year. Drink some absinthe, kiss some little green leprechauns and get ready to start your new year in a city known for its liberal attitude. Here are a few of their parties.

• Puerta del Sol, Madrid. Take the town square of a Spanish city, fill it with fun and get ready to ring in the new year.

• Mexico City. The streets of this largest of all cities come alive at the beginning of the day and don’t stop thriving and thumping all throughout the night. If you want to be in a huge urban area to start the new year, this is where the party is at.

• Anchorage, Alaska. If you don’t mind being a little bit cold, this is a unique destination for a New Year’s Party. It was recently approved for residents to shoot off their own fireworks for five hours on this night so expect to see all kinds of chaos in the sky.

• Fremont Street in Vegas. Vegas may be a place where time stands still but that doesn’t mean they forget when it’s time to ring in the New Year. Get off the Strip and head downtown for the big party. Who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky?

• French Quarter, New Orleans. The city is revived and wonderful and people are there to party.

• Sydney, Australia. Want to go somewhere warm where the party is happening on the beach? The southern hemisphere is the place to head and this down under location is where the party is at.

So I was online, searching for cool topics to write about when I came across this announcement about holidays and I got to thinking how weird some of them are and how crazy we are for following them and celebrating them and why some are national holidays and others are just word-of-mouth holidays and why in the world there are e-cards available for pert near every crazy funky holiday there is and…

Oops. Was I babbling? Hey, I was just getting a jump start on Babbling Day.Yes, it’s true. Your annoying cubemate officially has her own day on October 21, so you’ll have to cut her some slack when your eyes glaze over as she launches into yet another incoherent dissertation on … nothing. But only on the 21st – otherwise, it’s business as usual.

So where did this illustrious holiday come from? Nobody quite knows. There is very little history available on this all-important day, so my theory is that whoever the originator was probably created Babbling Day in honor of their spouse, since it’s seemingly not the creator who had a babbling problem, otherwise we’d know more about him or her. In fact, perhaps this poor soul had a whole slew of blatherskites (that’s fancy-talk for babblers) in their life and needed some outlet of forgiveness when those incessant yappers got to be too much. Thus, a holiday was born. Hey, it’s just a thought.

Whatever the history, however its humble holiday status began, be sure to celebrate this special day. After all, it would be a shame to let a good motormouth go to waste.

(Photo via flickr cc)

One of my favorite things as a kid was taking flying leaps into big piles of freshly-raked fall leaves. Of course, my parents didn’t think this was funny and I had to rake them up again, but somehow, the “punishment” never seemed to deter further crimes.

Now that I’m older and far more sophisticated, I look forward to complementing my leaf pile escapades with some good, old fashioned leaf viewing. Every October, my family and friends like to pile into the cars, head out on the road, and drive up into the mountains. From so high up, you can see valleys, hills, and countryside painted with the most spectacular reds, oranges, and yellows that the world can offer.

If you live in one of the colder parts of the country, you’ll start to notice cooler temperatures, the smell of autumn in the air, and the beginnings of leaf change. Perhaps they’re not at their most spectacular yet, but they’re certainly on their way. Towns and cities all across the country will celebrate these changes with fall festivals, offering traditional games (bean bags, anyone?), warm apple cider, hay rides, and, of course, apple picking. AThere’s nothing like a fresh apple pie to soften the bite of a cool fall day.

In many ways, the beginning of autumn is one of the best times of year, and bright, beautiful leaves are a big part of why I love it so much. What’s your favorite part of fall?

(Photo via flickr cc)

Time for Halloween already? Yep, that’s what the calendar says. It’s so hard to believe that we’re standing on the threshold of spooky parties laced with grape Jell-o shots, pretzels dressed as bats and sandwich spread intricately formed to look like brains. Ah yes, what a time for celebration.

So do you have a party to go to this year? You do? Great! What are you wearing? You know you have to have the best costume of all this year, because you will not be humiliated when the party’s judging committee (consisting of five heavily intoxicated revelers) laughs at the ghost costume you’ve tried to pass off for the last four years straight.

Sound stressful? Aww, don’t worry; that’s where we come in. Here, some of the top costumes available this season. No excuses, now. Make this your best year yet.

Want something funny? Maybe the Baby in a High Chair schtick would do the trick. Or perhaps the Chick Magnet (for a guy, of course) which is a gigantic horseshoe-shaped “magnet” with little rubber ducks attached to the ends.

A gamblin’ man might love the Slot Machine, whereas an outdoorsman might fancy the Outhouse. Also available are the Body Bag, Barrel of Monkeys, Pocket Knife, Statue, Royal Flush, Cockroach and more. Get ‘em while the pickins are good.

Feeling hungry? Well then dress up as food! Everything from Burger King to Wheaties, Peeps to Pez Dispensers, Frankenberry to Count Chocula, and Beer Kegs to Martinis are all on the menu to help curb the munchies (or at least hide your ever-expanding gut after you’re ravaged the snack table).

Want to dress as part of a couple with your honey this year? The old stand-by Salt and Pepper Shakers and Ketchup and Mustard Squirters are still good bets, but more creative options like a Brick Layer (man) and Brick House (woman) are way more fun. You can also find Super Beer Guy and Super Beer Girl, a crazy (albeit funny) twist on your traditional super heroes. Perhaps one of the best couples costumes making the rounds this year is the Bunmaker (man) and Bun in the Oven (woman). Too cute! Also hilarious are the Nut and Bolt, Bacon and Eggs, Plug and Socket, and Lock and Key sets.

Have fun partying down and be sure to take lots of pictures! A Happy Halloween and Hilarious Hijinx to all!

Marshmallows are very popular in the United States with nearly 100 million pounds purchased annually. Each year, we celebrate the marshmallow with National Toasted Marshmallow Day on August 30th.

The history of marshmallow dates back to ancient Egypt when the pharaohs found that by squeezing the mallow plant, a sweet extract emerged. They flavored honey with the extract and it become a luscious delicacy reserved only for royalty. Over the years, marshmallow went through a lot of processing changes and in 1920’s became popularized as a delicious campfire treat.

Roasted on a stick over an open fire, marshmallows become gooey and delicious. The heating creates a carmelized outside with a melted layer underneath. These warm, sticky treats are extremely popular with campers across the U.S. and around the world. Today, you can rarely find a campground that doesn’t have someone toasting marshmallows.

A single roasted marshmallow and Hershey chocolate bars sandwiched between two graham crackers form what we call a S’more.The first official S’more recipe was published by the Girls Scouts of America in 1927 – “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.”

In the 1950’s, the process of infusing air into marshmallows was developed. This jet-puffed process gives marshmallows the light fluffy texture that we know today. On August 30th, celebrate National Toasted Marshmallow Day by taking a camping trip with family or friends and roasting marshmallows.

• Marshmallows – Get info on jet-puffed marshmallows from Kraft
• Camping Resources – Camping organizations and equipment
• Campgrounds – Locate a campground in your area
• Camping Blogs – Read blogs about camping tips and experiences

(photo credit flickr cc)

What’s more American than a good, old-fashioned summer barbecue? A Labor Day Weekend rib cook-off, of course! Between August 29 and September 3, Sparks, Nevada will host the Best In The West Nugget Rib Cook-off, featuring live music playing on six stages, children’s games and activities, cash prizes, and, of course, the best rib recipes in the country.

For the low, low price of free admission, you’ll get a chance to sample 24 cook-off stands from all over the United States. Featuring chefs and companies from around the country, the Best In The West Nugget Rib Cook-off competition will award $7,500 to the 1st place winner, $3,000 to the 2nd place winner, $2,000 to the third place winner, $1,000 to the fourth place winner, and $500 to the 5th place winner. Those are going to be some delicious ribs!

If you can’t get to Nevada for this year’s cook-off, why not sponsor one right in your own backyard? Fire up your barbecue, invite you friends, and have a go at all those recipes that you’ve been wanting to try. Throw in a little friendly competition, and you’ll have yourself some good laughs and great food.

This is the year to spice it up: traditional barbecue sauces have been augmented by citrus marinade, jerk seasoning, and blackened meats, creating an entire array of flavors on your plate. And it’s not just the main course that you’re cooking on the patio. In fact, entire meals are being created on your backyard grill. As you cook your meat, try adding a few grilled side dishes to the menu. It’s easy, it’s fun, and it’s oh-so-festive for this Labor Day Weekend.

Today is Sandcastle Day, an appropriate holiday for the hottest of summer months. After all, who doesn’t want to take a bury their toes in sand and dip in cool waters on a hot day? So if you need a little inspiration in choosing your sandcastle destination of choice, we have some excellent beaches to recommend.

This world is filled with a fantastic assortment of black, pink, and white stretches of gorgeous sand. Some of them have simply amazing sandcastle competitions, and the Travel Channel’s number one pick is the Myrtle Beach Open Sand Sculpting Competition. With over $12,000 in prizes and serious sandcastle hobbyists, true masterpieces are created. If this kind of competition strikes your fancy, check out more of the Travel Channel’s Best North American Sandcastle Contests.

For your own amateur sandcastle fun, head to one of the best beaches in world:

• Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica: Located along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio National Park is home to some of the most beautiful white-sand beaches and sparkling blue waters you’ll ever see.
• Pink Sands, Bahamas: Harbour Island’s stunning natural beauty, elegant resorts, gentle Caribbean waves, and the namesake pink sands will pleasure all five of your senses. Make sure that a long day of fun is capped off by one of the beach’s famous sunsets.
• Wailea Beach, Hawaii: On Maui’s gorgeous coast, you will find that this beach offers golden sands, warm waters, and unique humpback whale watching opportunities. Hawaiian hospitality mixes so well with fine resorts and amenities that you’ll never want to pack your bags and go home.

Of course, you don’t need to pack your bags and board a plane to enjoy a beautiful beach. If you have only the weekend, or even just a few hours, a little bit of time at your local beach will do you a world of good. So whether you live near an ocean beach, a lakeside beach, or even the glorified sandbox in your backyard, head to the nearest sandy expanses with your bucket, shovels, and sandcastle molds.

(photo credit flickr cc)

If you don’t have much grilling experience, here are some tips for using a charcoal grill like a professional.

Lighting Up the Grill:

• Crumple up newspaper and place it on the grate.
• Cover the newspaper with your charcoal briquets.
• Form them into a pyramid shape.
• Add lighter fluid, if necessary. (Some briquets don’t need lighter fluid, so be sure to check the bag.)
• Light the charcoal. The briquets will be ready in about 20-25 minutes – they will turn ash gray.
• Spread out the briquets after they are hot.

Cooking on the Grill:

Ideally, you should only have to turn meat once while grilling.

Use the following grilling guidelines for total cooking time for 1″ thick steaks and 1/2″ thick hamburgers. These estimates are for Medium. Cook slightly less for Medium Rare and more for Medium Well and Well Done.

• Ribeye – 12-14 minutes
• T-Bone/Porterhouse – 14-16 minutes
• Top Sirloin – 18-20 minutes
• Hamburgers – 10-12 minutes

Menu for an End of Summer BBQ:

Sample BBQ Menu #1

• Grilled Steaks
• Potato Salad
• Baked Beans
• Watermelon
• Peach Bellinis
• Iced Tea

Sample BBQ Menu #2

• Grilled Beef and Chicken Fajitas
• Flour Tortillas
• Grilled Tomatoes, Onions and Peppers
• All the fixings – sour cream, guacamole, etc.
• Fruit Salad
• Margaritas
• Lemonade

Get more barbeque recipes and party planning tips.

Don’t forget the condiments, paper cups, paper plates, nakpkins and plastic utensils. Make sure to get strong paper plates, such as Chinet brand, that won’t soak through.

Games to Play at an End of Summer BBQ:

If you have a large backyard or planning your barbeque party at a park, consider putting together a game of softball.

If you don’t have enough people for softball, tossing a Frisbee, throwing a football or hoolahooping are fun for children and adults alike.

More Information BBQing:

• Barbeque and Grilling – Resources for recipes, a guide to grilling and much more.
• Cookout Meal Planner – Get complete menu guides and BBQ planning tips
• Grills Direct – Purchase a charcoal or gas grill from GrillsDirect.com.
• Outdoor Party Planning – Tips and ideas for planning an outdoor party.