January 28th, 2010
When we hear some words they connect us with pleasure, play etc. One such word that brings us close to our happiness is ‘picnic‘. The moment we hear or overhear the word ‘picnic’ it takes us to a new feeling of joy.
Today I want to let you know the benefits that a picnic can bring us. Though it appears to be casual event it has huge advantages associated with it directly and indirectly.
- Bonding: A picnic connects all the members to have an understanding about each other. As people find it hard to bond in normal days, a picnic provides a perfect place to associate with the family, co-workers, or even superiors.
- Fun: Picnics are fun events. Many of us are stressed out with monotonous work or vexed with a challenging relationship or even bored doing mundane tasks. A picnic acts as a change agent and adds a touch of life rejuvenating us holistically.
- Beauty: A picnic usually happens in the lap of nature thus bringing us closer to its serenity and awesome beauty. Nature itself acts as an open health spa by allowing us to breathe fresh air and generates a feeling of euphoria.
- Team spirit: Most picnics are loaded with fun games. Playing with new people allows us to develop team spirit. Each one contributes his part to make his team win. We work for a common goal and this indirectly makes us feel good.
- Network: A picnic is a gathering of diverse individuals. You may find a mentor to guide, a friend for life, or even your future life partner on such occasions. It is a great platform to find people who interest you. Relationships flourish, naturally.
I hope you will have lot of fun in your next picnic. Take an initiative to have a picnic with your family, co-workers or friends. Make sure to plan a picnic every quarter with different social groups. Remember a picnic well-planned with the right equipment will enhance your experience and becomes an event to cherish.
Tags: Picnic advantages, picnic benefits, picnic information, Picnic Related News, picnic tips
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December 7th, 2009
I hear a lot of stories about neighborhood picnics and the fun that they can bring to communities. Remember the “old days” when we used to really know all of our neighbors? Well, thankfully, those days are not gone; I think they’re just harder to find.
One way to go about this is to just start talking to your next-door neighbors. They in turn may know the next house and the next house. Start creating a buzz in the air about having a huge neighborhood get-together, and call it the Annual Neighborhood Picnic – or whatever you feel comfortable calling it. Make it seem like a good idea – I think it IS – and you’ll probably get a lot of people saying, “What a great idea!” or “I was thinking we should do that, too!”
I think it’s in all of us to want to get to know our neighbors, it’s just a little harder these days for whatever reasons.
Reserve a pavilion at the closest park to your neighborhood and let everyone know the date. Make sure that the date works for at least your two or three closest neighbors; and I stress that one. Pavillion space should be free, but if it’s not, it’s usually just a deposit that you can get back.
For the first picnic, it might be a good idea to ask your neighbors what they’d like to bring and it would be better if we get any picnic gifts to the neighbours. There are always people who pride themselves in certain dishes and are just waiting to show their cooking skills to the community. Make sure you have a well-rounded assortment of dishes – don’t forget about vegetarians and vegans! – and you’re almost ready to go.
Bring a few outdoor games, a few baseball gloves, a basketball, sidewalk chalk, and a friendly dog if possible.
And have fun!
Tags: Picnic Ideas, Picnic Products, Picnic Related News, picnic tips
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November 12th, 2009
A friend of mine told me a story about a great company picnic she was part of, and I’d like to share it with you. She works for a moderately large corporation, and she and her co-workers are inside an office most of the time. Due to the loads of work and pressure everyone is under, they really don’t know each other very well. But since the wonderful company picnic, things are changing for her a little, and in a great way!
My friend – let’s call her “Lisa”, since that’s actually her name – was a bit hesitant about even going to the company picnic, since she didn’t know who she was going to talk to or sit with. But she had such a great time! They scheduled in during a work day, and it wasn’t required for anyone to even go. But about 80-100 fellow workers showed up. It was at the park, and it was a beautiful sunny day.
Her employers were there, dressed casually – not in their typical suits and ties. That was certainly a refreshing look for them. Instead of the dreaded “company speech”, they hired a comedian to entertain them while they ate. They also gave everyone a personalized picnic tote that they has customized by Picnic Supply World. Did I mention the food? The food was catered from three different restaurants in the area, so they had diverse menus to choose from. And of course, there was beer and wine.
All of those things combined made for a lovely day, Lisa said, and she actually got to know a few really neat people from the office.
I think what employers can learn from Lisa’s experience is to try and give the employees what they want when throwing a company picnic. Work is work, of course. But there are times to let loose a little and enjoy each other’s company. It can only make the office more tolerable and even enjoyable!
Tags: Company Picnic, corporate picnic, picnic experience, Picnic Ideas, picnic tips
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October 2nd, 2009
I’d like to say a little more about Anniversary Picnic Ideas, because this is a big one that people ask about. I don’t think that we can ever have too many ideas.
We talked about getting away for the day and calling ahead and all that. So now I’d like to talk a little about the food, in case you’re bringing your own.
A friend of mine once told me the story of her 15th anniversary, and it moved me. Romanticism can certainly be alive in marriages for 15, 20, even 50 years.
On the day of their wedding – 15 years later – Michelle and Barry set out for what was to be a fun, relaxing day picnicking at the base of a mountain a few miles outside of their town. Barry just couldn’t have gotten things more right that day.
When they finally got to their spot and started laying out the food, Barry explained to Michelle why he packed the foods he packed.
“As an appetizer, I wanted to have something that reminded me of your beautiful blue eyes, so I brought some fresh blueberries,” Barry said.
This continued with some other foods and the lovely wine that Barry brought in the picnic basket, but you get the drift. A man in love with his wife can sometimes see his wife’s beauty in everything – even food or the essence of food. Pick foods that you know your wife will love, and while it’s not necessary to compare her to the food you bring – honestly, how far could a person really take that? – find a spirit of whimsy in your day and what you’re eating.
Make it fun. Even a little “corn”y if possible!
Tags: Anniversary picnic Ideas, picnic for 2, Picnic Ideas, picnic tips, romantic picnic
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September 13th, 2009
Have you ever been to a picnic at a rock concert? It’s wonderful.
This is really one of the easiest and most fun types of picnics to take part in, and the preparation is rather simple. Here’s a few pointers though, just so you don’t forget anything:
Obviously, mark your calendar when they come to town. Call the venue as soon as you can to find out if it’s General Admission or if it’s seated. General Admission is certainly your best bet for really getting into the picnic feel. Get there early, early, early so you can get your spot and keep it.
I recommend sitting as far back as possible, preferably under a tree and with a building at your back. That way, you can rest against the building and you also get some sense of privacy, as nobody will be looking over your shoulder. And if you sit far enough away, you’ll be able to hear the music yet maintain conversation with your picnicking partner.
As usual, make sure to bring the necessary food and drink if the venue allows it; some do and some don’t. If they don’t, not to worry, as many still sell food and drinks. But if they do, I’d recommend storing everything in a cooler, as these summer events tend to get very warm.
You and your loved one can sit back, relax, and enjoy the music you love while still feeling like you’re on a little getaway.
And guys: bring your own guitar and sing to your girl as a nice little bonus for her!
Tags: picnic for 2, Picnic Ideas, picnic tips, romantic picnic
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August 7th, 2009
If you’re looking for a great way to get involved in your child’s schooling and want to meet some other parents, throwing a back-to-school picnic might just be your answer.
This is a fairly easy one to organize, too.
Decide on a day early in the school year. There are a couple reasons for this:
- If you live in a colder climate, it will still be warm in August and most of September;
- There should still be a sort of “new school year eagerness” going on for children and parents.
The best way that I’ve found to get this going is by getting to know your child’s homeroom teacher. After talking to him/her a few times, you may feel comfortable enough to her about putting a sign-up sheet on the door – or wherever the homeroom bulletin board is. There’s usually something like that for parents to look at for each classroom.
The only real tricky part of this is finding out the names of all the parents. And if you can’t, just get a class list and use that. In fact, that might even be better, depending on your taste. Simply create a sheet with all the names on it and leave a blank space after their names where parents can write in what they’d like to bring, like accessories, picnic baskets, etc. Simple.
You’ll need a basic cover sheet that lets parents know where and when the picnic will be and whom to contact should they have any questions. Just put your name and phone number on it, and you’re all set.
You’ll be a hit!
Tags: back to school picnic, early school picnic, Picnic Ideas, picnic plan, Picnic Products, picnic tips, School Picnic
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July 6th, 2009
If you’re anything like most of the population, Anniversary Night typically means going out to eat at your favorite restaurant, maybe followed by or following a movie. While that can definitely be great fun, I have a few other ideas I’d like to recommend to switch things up a little bit.
First the place:
- Where did you meet?
- Where do you like to go together?
- Where is a somewhat-nearby place that you’ve been talking about always visiting.
Once you figure that out, all you have to do is plan it out. Or don’t plan it out! Surprise your loved one with a packed picnic baskets in the back seat of the car on the way there.
Note: if you’re going to surprise him (or her), make sure that he/she LIKES surprises. And if you’re asked what you’re going to do on your anniversary, just call it a surprise.
Again, ONLY if your sweetie likes them.
So once you’ve figured that part out, plan out your day a little. One really fun thing to do is to call ahead – or visit the place a day or two ahead – and let the people with whom you come in contact know it’s your anniversary. Tip them something and see if you or they can come up with something fun and romantic to say or do for you on your little excursion. Imagine how neat it would be if three or four “strangers” congratulated your wife on your anniversary!
Have some food ready to be picked up if you’re not packing the basket. Put the food in the basket or cooler, find some grass somewhere, and sit down with a bottle of wine from the wine basket with your wife and relax the day away.
Tags: Anniversary picnic Ideas, picnic for 2, Picnic Ideas, picnic tips, romantic picnic
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June 2nd, 2009
We’ve all had them, and they’re almost always fun. So what can we add to a great beach picnic that we’re not already doing? Well, maybe nothing, but here’s a few ideas that you may not have tried that you might find interesting:
- Bring extra drinks, whether it’s just water, soda, or beer. This usually works best if you’re not planning a romantic, secluded beach picnic, of course. If you’re at a beach in the middle of the day for a picnic, it’s always nice to be able to offer someone else a drink. What a great conversation starter and way to meet new people, especially if you’re new to the area.
- Bring extra food in the totes for the same reason. Chips – small bags – are a great choice, as are small, bite-sized candy bars.
- Bring a dog. Even if you don’t have one, borrow someone else’s. A ton of beaches allow dogs, and the dog will have a field day running and playing in the water. If the dog is cute (and friendly), everybody will want to pet him. It’s another fabulous conversation starter.
- Fly a kite. Kite People are just cool, and everyone will notice you. It’s a great opportunity to have a little fun and maybe strike up some conversation.
- Bring your mom. No, this probably won’t help you meet new people, but sometimes it can. Sometimes she’ll notice little things about other people that you didn’t. For instance, if you’re a guy looking for a special someone, she often notices the looks that last a little longer than most. You know, things like that.
Have fun!
Tags: beach picnic, beach picnics, picnic fun, picnic tips
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May 18th, 2009
When someone says the word “picnic”, we usually think of the typical picnic in the part with a brown baskets and a red and white checkered tablecloth. That makes sense of course, but that only scratches the surface of this time-honored, fun tradition.
One thing that I’ve stressed to friends is to be spontaneous with picnics – I’ll get into that more at a later time – and to have them at unconventional times and in creative places.
A friend of mine and her husband like to sneak out and have little romantic getaways – picnics – after the sun goes down… or as the sun is setting. And the setup is quite different. After leaving the babysitter with their kids, they drive around for a while until they find a somewhat-secluded area of town, sit down, and call their favorite restaurant to deliver food to them. (Now, this doesn’t work everywhere, of course. Bigger cities likely won’t deliver to a “secluded area”, but if you live in a small town and know the owner and drivers, you’re set.)
The beauty of this type of picnic is that there’s little or no preparation other than calling the babysitter and making sure you have enough gas in the car. It’s a perfect and inexpensive evening out, and it can be a relaxing escape from the day-to-day hustle and bustle of our working lives. Some variations of this might be to blindfold your husband/wife on the way there and see if they can figure out where they are… it might add a little mystery to the fun!
Tags: night time picnic, picnic for 2, picnic tips, romantic picnic
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April 12th, 2009
This may sound like a huge deal and hard to organize, but it’s really a lot easier than you may think.
If you take some of the picnic ideas from some other posts of mine and combine them, you’ll find that we already know how to do this with just a little effort. And think about what you could do for someone’s day!
Arrange a time and date at your local park – let the park manager know what you’re doing – and begin. Just call a few of your neighbors, friends, and family and see what they can make for the picnic. Make a dish or two in your own home, and there you go: the food is done. Grab a bunch of 2-liters of soda at the store ($1.00 each sometimes), and off you go.
The hardest part of this type of picnic is letting the public know. A few really good places to post fliers would be the library, the grocery store, and the courthouse (If anyone has any other great places to add, please do!).
Food aside, I think there may be one or two more things we could add to this picnic for the needy in your area that I think could really add that special touch:
Call a couple friends of yours who may have managerial jobs in the area and invite them to the picnic… and ask them to bring job applications if they’re hiring. (I understand that “needy people” DO work and that many work even full-time. But there is a very large number of our fellow citizens in our communities that still can’t make ends meet. And some still can’t find jobs.) Ask a few businesses in your area whom you may not even know to come and join the fun – tell them there’s free food!
Anyway, these are just a couple suggestions. Many of you already do this and may have much better ways of tackling this. These are just mine for now.
Thanks!
Tags: neighbourhood picnic, Picnic Ideas, picnic plan, Picnic Related News, picnic tips, picnic totes
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