Picnics...Fashion and Food Inspiration From A New England Mom

The "perfect" picnic spot, the people and the food make a picnic both memorable and fun. You can easily gather your friends and family together for a special occasion, or just escape city life and enjoy the outdoors. Many of you know I'm not exactly an "outdoorsy" kind of person. However, it's hard not to be inspired to get out and enjoy the scenery and fresh air when you live so close to such beauty.

This is a spot we found on our way to pick strawberries at a berry patch in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. It's called Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge. I'm wearing a Boden dress from www.thredUP.com and accessories from www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com.

It was quite a long trail for the kids and I was glad I prepared this snack mix to keep everyone happy.

I've used the original Chex Party Mix recipe for years and try to keep it interesting by substituting different cereals, dried fruits , and candy.

It's super easy:

In a large microwaveable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels, bagel chips ( whatever you prefer to snack on) . In a small microwaveable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on high about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings of your choice. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.

Microwave uncovered on high 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool and put in individual cups or small bags to take along next time you plan a little adventure.

We did find some great strawberries that day at Sweet Berry Farms.

I used them with some store bought pound cake to make these awesome Strawberry Shortcake sandwiches.

They are a quick and easy handheld version of a classic Strawberry Shortcake. No spoon necessary! All you have to do is slice 2 cups of strawberries, mix with sugar, and set aside. Beat 2 cups of heavy whipping cream, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and 1 tablespoon of vanilla. Build the sandwiches by putting a layer of whipped cream on one side of the cake, followed by a layer of strawberries. Top with the remaining cake slice and serve immediately.

I put together some healthier treats when we explored some scenic spots and great places to shop in Westerly, Rhode Island.

Pita Pocket bread is a no-brainer when it comes to picnic food. I like to fill them with berries, spinach, balsamic vinegar, and goat cheese.

Chickpeas and tomatoes are also a great savory combination to use to fill up your picnic sandwich pocket.

Here are some of the places we stopped at and some of the things we did in Westerly. I wore a dress I found just the other day at www.francescas.com , shoes from www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com, and my hat is from www.llbean.com.

This is Wilcox Park.

I did a little shopping at Watch Hill.

This is Ninigret Park and a new friend I met that day.

Dee's Creamery was perfect at the end of that long day. When I pack up a picnic lunch , I often plan on enjoying dessert at an ice cream parlor or stopping at Del's Lemonade. Or both.

Now that it is 4th of July Weekend , there are lots of parades, parties, and picnics. I often keep things simple with grilled chicken sandwiches , hamburgers, hotdogs, and watermelon .

However , I do keep my wardrobe festive.

The pants were a recent purchase at www.express.com. All other clothing and accessories are from www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com, except the bracelet. It is from @connectionsbymaya on Instagram and Facebook.

This top and hat are from BCF and jeans and wedges are from Target.

This dress is called the "Love You Always" dress and from www.adornapparel.us.

This dress is from www.marshalls.com and shoes are Madden Girl, from www.thredup.com. I found my flag scarf at www.target.com.

As I said , I've always kept the 4th of July food simple , but I do make fun desserts, such as these "Grill" brownies.

All you have to do is prepare a brownie recipe or mix in a cupcake pan and decorate with candy.

I used a caramel cream candy and red, yellow, and green candy fruit slices to make the kebabs. The pork chop is made from a caramel cream candy, which I stretched out , and used a toothpick to apply black food coloring on. The hot dogs are made with hot tamale candies and black food coloring.

This drink is simple and festive enough for the 4th or any day you would like to make special.

Watermelon Blueberry Cooler

Puree 6 ounces watermelon, 1 ounce blueberry vodka, and juice of one lemon wedge in a blender. Add ice and blend until smooth. If sugaring the rim, pour a small amount of blue decorating sugar onto a plate. Run lemon wedge around the rim of the glass. Dip rim in sugar. Pour cocktail into glass.

It's easy to decorate at this time of year simply without spending too much money or time by simply arranging flowers that are red, white, and blue.

You can bring them to a picnic in a plastic pitcher. Also, if you don't have a huge picnic basket , a wheelbarrow is a fun idea for carrying food , toys , and any special activities you choose to have with you.

Most of all, be creative, keep it simple, and enjoy the moments.