Whether you are picturing this summertime classic as an extraordinary event for a big group of friends and family, or if you just want to make lunchtime a bit more thrilling for you and the kids at the park, there are some essential tips you can follow to make sure your outdoor meal is a success!

This week, we put together a small list of Picnic Pointers that will come in handy for any outdoor meal you are planning; big or small, in the backyard or on your mountain hike. But that’s not all! In collaboration with recipe developer and blogger Unsweetened Caroline, we suggest two easy recipes to take with you for your open-air dining event: an easy-to-toss-together Asparagus Pasta Salad with Goat Cheese and Lemon Vinaigrette, and deliciously sweet Sugar-Free Strawberry Rhubarb Thumbprint Cookies!

With Unsweetened Caroline’s delectable recipes and our great tips, eating outdoors will be a sure way to up your everyday fun level over the summer months!

Pointers:

1. Picnics should be a breeze!
   Don’t stress over planning them& just take it easy. The great thing about picnics is that they are informal and simple.
2. Be Prepared:
   Accessories like corkscrews and napkins are easy to forget and don’t grow on trees! Create an organized checklist of all the necessary items you’ll need!
3. Travel and Transport:
   Make sure you have a sturdy, cool, and spill-proof way to transport your food. A backpack might be necessary depending on how far you have to travel, but if your destination is close by, something whimsical like our Biscayne Picnic Basket could be just right! Better yet, it comes fully loaded with a service for 4, including a wine cork!
4. Avoid Fragile Food:
   Leave the frosted cakes at home. Cookies are an easy dessert that won’t fall apart and that don’t require any assembly at your destination. Plus, it will satisfy your sweet tooth just the same!
5. Feature Fresh Finger Food:
   Dishes that are easily served and consumed, perhaps by only using a fork or nothing at all, and that will hold up in the heat (try to avoid mayo) are perfect picnic choices. A fruit platter, for instance, is easy to share, a crowd pleaser and will keep foodies feeling refreshed!
6. Dismiss Dining Conventions:
   Drop the formalities and forget the fancy dinnerware. No need to plan separate courses, so let guests enjoy as they please! Lightweight reusable melamine dishes are the best way to go for dinnerware and are a good choice for the environment!
7. The Forecast is a Factor:
   Whether it be hot or cold, sunny or cloudy, the weather is a factor. Bring sunscreen or an extra cozy throw to cuddle up in–just in case! Place food that needs to stay cool in the shade and don’t forget about other outdoor necessities like bug spray or bug repellent candles!

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Here to help you prep a meal that is useful for a hike, convenient to take to an outdoor sports game, or to set the mood on a grassy hill at sunset,

Caroline is the photographer, writer and recipe developer behind Unsweetened Caroline, a food blog that features healthy, sugar-free recipes. In addition to being sugar-free, most of her recipes are vegetarian and can be made allergy-friendly. She created Unsweetened Caroline when recovering from a sugar addiction, in hopes of inspiring others. When she’s not cooking, she’s either hiking, practicing yoga or dreaming about new recipes.

Caroline is a soon-to-be dietitian living in Saint John, New Brunswick. You can follow her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or on her blog for more recipes!

With March comes longer days, melting snow, and weather in the positive digits – what a relief! The milder weather gets us inspired to open the windows for the first time in months and to let the sunlight and fresh air in. This is the perfect moment to take a good look at our homes! They have been our havens for the long cold, dark months, but it is time for change, it’s time to seize the moment and see how we can clean, improve, or organize before the warm weather truly hits.

As one of the most important rooms in your home, your kitchen deserves to get all the attention it needs to make it the most efficient and practical room in the house, as well as the most beautiful and welcoming space. With you in mind, we put together this list of ways you can make your kitchen more convenient by saving on space with storage tricks, arranging frequently used items in more accessible ways, keeping food  fresher longer by storing them in the best way and generally creating a more user friendly space.

Once you put to use these tips in your kitchen, we hope it won’t only be the most important room in the house, but also everyone’s favourite room in your home.

1. If you use it at least a few times a week, keep it within arm’s reach!

Spatulas and big spoons are always needed at the stove. A container or even a vase keeps them tidy and stops them from always getting jammed in the drawer! Check out our set of kitchen tools here.

2. Have no doubts about which tin to grab with clear organizers.

Ones that have windows do the trick as well like these clearview canisters.

3. Keep cutlery up right and easy to grab while entertaining by storing them in jars.

You don’t need to splurge on single purpose organizing tools – use something like jars, a cup or pitcher to pull off this trick.

4. Get rid of bulky packaging, say cereal boxes for example, and put in something reusable!

It’ll save space and is better for the environment. Go with our big glass storage jar for something completely clear AND you can use our Trudeau glass markers to label them!

5. Keep life in and outside the kitchen coordinated with a hanging memo board. 

Meal planning, activity reminders and why not some cute pictures of your family too?

6. Put it in its place!

These items were designed with your food in mind to keep it fresh! A dark dry spot for bread, a covered dish for butter, and aerated tins for garlic, potatoes and onions!

7. Use the walls and vertical space!

A knife set that hangs on the wall skips the counter hogging knife block and magnetic spice jars can stick to the fridge or any other metal surface.

8. Use something you already have to help you store more efficiently!

Bamboo steamers might seem like a single use item, but they’re great for anything that needs to be stored with ventilation such as onions and garlic!

9. Two-in-one tricks

Dish racks don’t have to be just for drying. Add one to a shelf or drawer to keep pot lids organized by stacking them like plates.

10. Easy access to E-recipes

Save on space by using e-recipes instead of cookbooks and print outs cluttering your kitchen.

11. Collect your cookie cutters in a clean cut way

A paper towel holder can double as a neat way to hold your cookie cutters by stacking them through their centers in place of the paper towel.

12. Dishes as Décor

Why not use some of your favorite dishes as décor for the walls, or on shelves, in the dining room? This will save tons of cabinet space in the kitchen.

Here to help you make sure your kitchen brings you joy,