The Perfect Pack

Happy second day of picnic week! I shared my picnic inspiration yesterday and I'm very excited to share my perfectly packed picnic basket (or straw bag!) today. It's busting with many of my favorite things that all equate to the best relaxing day imaginable. Packed inside is a comfy blanket, my favorite pair of shades, a lazy day read, refreshing cocktails, delicious sandwiches (recipes coming later this week!) and some adorable printed napkins. A picnic is more than packing a bag and eating on the ground with a group of friends. To me, it's escaping reality for a bit and unplugging to fully enjoy the time you have with those you love most. That's exactly what my bag encompasses, relaxed quality fun!

What would be in your ideal picnic basket?

Color Me {Picnicing}

I'm kicking off this week with a bit of picnic inspiration. Whether you live near the beach, lake, mountains, or plains, indulging in a summertime picnic can be one of the most fun and relaxing things you do over the summer. Pack up a basket with all your favorite snacks, beverages, a good book and take off. Hang out in the sun all day and soak up time with the ones you love most. Let the kids run around and have fun while you sip on refreshing cocktails and munch on indulgent treats. Get lost in a good book or catch up on that stack of magazines you haven't read in ages. Either way, a picnic is summertime fun for the whole family.

As the week goes on, I'm going to share more and more picnic fun with you including my perfect picnic basket tomorrow, a delicious easy sandwich everyone can enjoy, mango peach sangria to sip on, and so much more. So, sit back, relax and enjoy all the picnic fun this week and maybe plan your own for the upcoming weekend!

Have a great Monday!

Essentially {Bonfire}

No fall gathering is complete without a bonfire. Drinking cocktails and roasting marshmallows around a warm fire is what the season is made of. Whether it's the focus of your get together or the ending to your Thanksgiving meal, there are some bonfire essentials that you can't do without. From blankets to benches and everything in between, here's my list of all you need to throw the perfect bonfire!

1. Apple Cider Cocktail: Perfect for sipping with friends around the fire. It might even help calm your nerves during the ghost stories!

2. Ghost Stories: This spooky tradition will sure excite guests! Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories is filled with tales bound to scare.

3. Roasting Sticks: You can't make the perfect hot dog or roasted marshmallow without it.

4. Warm Blankets: Cold nights require wooly warm blankets like this chic one from Ratzer.

5. Rustic Benches: Everybody needs a seat around the fire so why not gather a bunch of hand built benches and sit in style?

6. S'mores: The ultimate bonfire essential. A piece of dark chocolate, a warm roasted marshmallow, and a crunchy graham cracker are all I need to make it a perfect night by the fire!

Essentially {Picnicking}

With blue skies above, I dreaming of hosting an al fresco picnic. Perched in the park on a vibrant blanket, sipping wine, munching on French baguettes, grapes, and cheeses sounds like the perfect Saturday afternoon. I can imagine relaxing and just enjoying good friends and good times. Here are my picnic essentials...

1. French Baguette: Fresh from the bakery, bread is my favorite treat, especially dipped in exotic oils. 

2. Blanket: Grass is itchy and no fun to sit on. Add some flair to your picnic with a bright, patterned blanket like this Mexican inspired one from Amazon.

3. Grapes: Perfect for popping in your mouth. Try freezing them before you leave to keep them nice and cold all through the day. 

4. Picnic Basket: An obvious essential. This one is great because of the straps that will keep your plates and silverware in place while strolling to the perfect location. Even better, it has a spot for your wine glasses! 

5. Wine Glasses: Make a stylish impact by using hand painted glasses like these hibiscus ones from Lolita. The pattern is reminds me of a tropical land far away. 

6. Wine: Whether you like red, white, or champagne, no picnic is complete without a good bottle of wine. My personal preference? Anything from Cupcake Vineyards is light and pairs well.

The Perfect Gift {The Traveler}

Another day, another gift guide. But this one I must say is one of my favorites all about the perfect gift for the explorer. Travel can be difficult. There are so many things to remember in order to be comfortable while on your adventure. You have to consider what you will need to leave the country, to be comfortable during your stay, and of course what you'll need in order to remember the amazing trip you are on. But, no worries, I've laid it all out for you in today. Here are my top travel gift picks!

{1} Journal: A picture is worth a thousand words, yes. But a picture can't capture the same emotion of the moment, taste of the food, or names of the people you meet like a journal can. It's a must keep in my travel bag to record all of the funny happenings, sayings, places I would recommend to others, and memories of my adventure. A true must for any traveler.

{2} Lug Life Pillow Blanket Set: This 2-in-1 pillow blanket set is a necessity. Planes can be cold, and the pillows are never comfortable. Since lugging the large pillow from your bed is not always an option, this is perfect for sleeping on long flights or on airport floors in case of delayed travel. 

{3} Alternative Duffle: A duffle is a great bag to travel with. It's typically the perfect size if you decide to carry your bag on and durable enough to be checked. My little travel secret is that I always fold and stash an extra duffle in my suitcase just in case I buy too many treasures on my trip. This way, I can stuff the bag with gifts and carry it on with me! 

{4} Eye Mask: It's happened to everybody. You are on a plane, or maybe even a train, and the passenger sitting next to you has the light on to read or you are getting blinded by the glare of the in flight movie, both of which make it a little difficult to sleep. An eye mask is great because it blocks out any unwanted light making it easier to rest up before the big adventure. Plus, this one looks like Holly Golightly's in "Breakfast at Tiffany's"!

{5} Kate Spade Passport Cover: Necessary? No. But it does help to preserve the life of your passport if you use it a lot. Plus this one is just incredibly cute!