Eating al fresco is my favourite thing to do during the summer time and one of the funnest ways to accomplish that is by creating a picnic in the park. I love having a picnic lunch and although this is not quite the same as picnicking in Paris in front of the Eiffel Tower (take me back please!) you can still recreate the same fun vibe in your own back yard or nearby park.
““Hey Boo Boo, let’s go get us a pic-a-nic basket” – Yogi Bear
I’m in! Gather up some key items mentioned below and head off to an afternoon of fun!
Lavender is one of my favourite herbs/plants and I absolutely cannot stop myself from smelling it each time I walk by a some. Not only does it smell heavenly and comes in a beautiful purple colour, it also offers the body many health benefits. Did you know that lavender essential oil is great for reducing stress and anxiety as well as improving sleep? I love putting on my oil diffuser as I go to bed or smelling a lavender plant when I feel stressed. Lavender is also amazing for headaches, healing cuts & burns, and other body pain. If you have not had a chance to use lavender in your life I would greatly suggest it!
Along with its amazing health benefits, lavender is a great addition to recipes – have you ever tried lavender shortbread cookies!? Soooo delicious! As it is summer time and I am trying to stay away from my oven as much as possible, I wanted to create a refreshing summer drink to enjoy. After going to our local lavender farm (more on that below) I was inspired by the beautiful lavender fields and the hot blazing sun! What better solution than to create a crisp, cold lavender lemonade drink! I absolutely love anything with lemon in it and the refreshing taste pairs great with the unique lavender flavour.
As you may have already guessed – one of my favourite summer activities is to barbecue anything and everything! I love the flavours and the whole process is fun and easy. Summer never truly feels like summer to me until we bust out that bbq and start grilling. My husband usually does all the grilling in the family which I am thankful for because it allows me to finish up a few additional items when company is coming over! Also he just makes it taste better! A few years back I discovered grilling fruits and we were hooked! Have you ever tried grilled pineapple? A MUST try!
This week I wanted to venture down the avenue of grilled peaches – my favourite fruit to grill. The warming of the peach just makes everything extra delicious- think of peach cobbler or peach pie without the crust! Grilled peaches are an easy dessert to whip up and can be served in many different ways. I’ve compiled a few of my favourites below – I hope you get to try them out at your next bbq!
Summer is all about easy living and my goal is to bring you simple, quick recipes throughout the season. I know I do not want to spend the time in front of a stove all day and I doubt you do as well.
This recipe below falls under the category of “simple to do but looks impressive” and is sure to wow at your next bbq or potluck gathering! I made them for my brother-in-laws birthday and everyone loved them!
Every different season in the year brings on new adventures and fun activities to be tackled. I love me a good bucket list and I have seen so many pop up on Pinterest lately. They are pretty much all encompassing which is great but I wanted to create a special one for entertaining specifically. Most of the items I want to do each month involve friends, family and food so it’s a perfect fit! You can do the below on your own but having people over to enjoy the activities makes it that more special.
Whether you add these items to your main bucket list for the summer or keep them separate – they are sure to be a lot of fun for all!