Tailgating Gear Review: Caliente Grill and Cooler

Wow…whoever came up with this idea is genius! It’s a grill and a cooler. It’s portable and easy to pack making it excellent for picnicking and tailgating.

The BBQ (charcoal) grill has a 10” grate providing a 78.5 sq. in. grilling surface making it just the right size for a couple of steaks or burgers for 6. The cooler holds six 12-oz. cans and comes with a strap and carrying handle plus extra storage in an external pocket.

We found it easy to pack up and set up was a breeze. It fits easily into a trunk or back seat and carrying it over short distances is no problem. The entire set weighs around 12 lbs so carrying it up the side of a mountain would be a little iffy depending on how hard core you are. For tailgating, it’s pretty much perfection. Since it’s so easy to pack, unpack and bring along it really is a must have. Plus, all your tailgating friends will want to know where you got that cool grill. You’ll be the envy of the tailgating season.

Great Gift Idea: Oniva Seat Sport!

August is the precursor to back to school, Labor Day and the official kickoff to tailgating season. With all that in mind we got busy scouring our sources to locate a gift that is not only functional but fun.

The popular Oniva Seat Sport is great for grownups and kids love them too making this gift appropriate for all ages! At $39.95, the Oniva Sport Seat is a twist on the regular Oniva Seat but still contains all the same features that made the Oniva Seat one of the most popular products of the summer. It’s adjustable and sturdy and can be used indoors and out and is made with a durable steel frame. This seat will get tons of use for years to come.

The best part and what really sets the Oniva Seat Sport apart is you can personalize your gift - you can choose a baseball themed seat for a baseball lover, a basketball themed seat for the basketball lover, a camouflaged seat for the hunter and on and on. In our opinion, this makes it super cool and super fun.

The Oniva Sport Seat ships quick and through the end of summer qualifies for the FREE SHIPPING summer special. It’s a great way to purchase gifts for now or for later (hint, hint…Christmas). The Free Shipping promotion is applied to all purchases during the checkout process.

Ok, there you have it. Now, what are you waiting for???? Let’s get shopping!

For more info on the Oniva Seat Sport, click here: http://www.picnictrend.com/beach-accessories-9/oniva-seat-sport-2763.html

Labor Day Outdoor Activity Planning

August is here and this month is the perfect time to get in last minute vacations, camping trips, picnicking and of course the traditional Labor Day weekend is lingering right around the corner. This is THE time to get ready for Labor Day family gatherings, outdoor barbecues and parties. Here’s a quick plan to get help you get ready for the outdoor festivities.

Things You’ll Need:

Picnic Basket or Cooler

Food

Drinks

Cutlery (forks, knives, spoons)

Condiments (salt, pepper, mayo, relish, mustard, ketchup, etc)

Paper towels

Hand Sanitizer

Grill (portable grills are great)

Picnic Blanket

Think about the number of people to invite and where your event will be held. Sometimes, a back yard is just as good as a park but it’s a good rule to scout potential places out in advance and call ahead to be sure the facilities are available. Many parks and beach picnic areas fill up quick, especially around the Labor Day holiday.

Decide what kind of gathering you’ll have. Is it a potluck picnic or will you be providing the food? Having people bring a dish helps offset cost and fosters the feeling of community. It also simply feels more casual. But it’s nice to invite people to come relax without asking them to prepare in advance. Either way, don’t wait until the last minute to decide on a menu. Do this upfront at the beginning and let each person you invite know what’s expected.

Make a plan B in the event bad weather strikes. Many parks and beaches offer covered picnic areas. Just check the 10-day forecast and have an alternate plan that is easily accessible for the people you are inviting.

Games and competitions are fun and keep everyone involved. Corn hole is a great outdoor game. Partner people up who wouldn’t normally be together and make a double elimination tourney out of it. Kids and adults love this game and it’s super portable and easy to set up and break down. Horse shoes are also easy to play and you can make it interesting by placing bets or making up new rules like the loser gets squirted with squirt guns and place squirt guns in the hands of the people who are watching the game. Be creative and have fun.

With a little bit of planning, some thought and preparation, your Labor Day barbecue or outdoor picnic party will be loads of fun for everyone. Who knows…it might end up being so popular, it becomes an annual event!

Free Shipping!

Everybody loves Free Shipping! Through the end of Summer, all orders ship Free.

Romantic Picnic Ideas

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a picnic? If you said 'Ants', you're funny, but wrong. What most people will respond with is 'Romance'. Picnics provide significant others with the perfect setting to enjoy one another's company. There are no distractions, just you and your loved one.

While you know your potential local picnic destinations better than we do, we thought we'd give you some general ideas when it comes to planning your next romantic picnic.

Picnic in the Park - Yes, its obvious, but we had to start with the most common picnic locale; the park. Find a quiet (let us stress the 'quiet' part again) park that will allow you two lovebirds to sit and let all of your worries fade away. Warm summer nights are perfect for a relaxing one on one picnic. It may be considered cliche, but everyone can appreciate a good old picnic in the park.
Recommended Picnic Supplies: Romance Picnic Basket

Picnic at the Beach - This idea may still be somewhat common, but it does pair two amazing experiences in one. Few people can say that they don't enjoy picnics, and even fewer can say they don't love visiting the nearest beach or lake. As long as you come prepared to deal with the elements (sun, sand, etc.), then you are destined for a picnic to remember.
Recommended Picnic Supplies: Malibu Botanica Picnic Tote (pictured)

Picnic at Home - This picnic idea will allow you to combine something sweet and romantic with the familiarity and comfort of your own home. Whether it's in your backyard, front yard, or even your living room, a spontaneous picnic at home saves you the hassle of lugging around lots of food and drink, but still allows you to concentrate on what's most important...each other.
Recommended Picnic Supplies: Piccadilly Picnic Basket

Sunset Picnic - This romantic picnic idea depends less on the location and more on the time of day! Find a comfortable place with a view of the western sky and plan to set up shop around dusk. A sunset is universally symbolic of love and caring. Couple that with a picnic and you've got yourself a foolproof romantic experience. Remember to bring some form of lighting so that you can enjoy your picnic beyond the waning daylight.
Recommended Picnic Supplies: Willowbrook Picnic Basket

Sunrise Picnic - Why not be spontaneous and do the opposite of a Sunset Picnic?! Extra points will be awarded to you if you can successfully pull of a Sunrise Picnic. If all goes well, it will surely go down as one of the most romantic ideas you've ever come up with. However, if you're not known to rise before dawn, then a breakfast picnic will work just as well. Pack some breakfast food and surprise your loved one with a nice morning drive to a location of your choice.
Recommended Picnic Supplies: Java Express Coffee Tote

Wine and Cheese Picnic - No need for a big meal in this situation. Take the love of your life on a simple wine and cheese picnic. This way, you'll be able to focus solely on each other. Pick a wine and assortment of cheeses (and maybe some fruit) that you both like and enjoy a classy picnic experience.
Recommended Picnic Supplies: Serrenta Wine and Cheese Tote

Dessert Picnic - This is by far and away our favorite! After a nice romantic dinner out at your favorite restaurant, hold off on dessert and head off to a quiet location where you can impress them with your baking skills. They will never see it coming!
Recommended Picnic Supplies: Metro Melrose Equinox Picnic Tote

Please feel free to let us know of any unique romantic picnic ideas that you have!

Picnic Time Reclining Camp Chair - New Product Review

Every year, Picnic Time expands their product line with new and innovative items. This year is no different, as they have just launched over 50 new products to their existing line of picnic baskets, picnic backpacks, wine and cheese accessories and much more.

It is our goal to review as many of these new products as possible, so that you, the picnicker, can get an in depth look into what's new from Picnic Time.

We have decided to kick off our series of reviews with the product that we are most excited about: The Picnic Time Reclining Camp Chair.

Here are some key observations:

Versatility: Similar to the Sports Chair, the Reclining Camp Chair is perfect for any outdoor occasion, whether it be a picnic, a tailgate, a campsite, or simply a day at the local soccer/baseball field. The chair is both lightweight and easy to transport. It comes with a carrying case that has a shoulder strap, so you can take the chair virtually anywhere.

Durability: The Reclining Camp Chair is covered in durable 600D "rip-stop" polyester canvas, so you dont need to worry about it snagging on a branch while on you next camping trip. Even more impressive is steel frame construction with a 300lb. weight capacity, which even exceeds that of the Picnic Time Sports Chair! This chair is one tough piece of furniture, which is ideal for all of the times you'll want to use it.

Comfort: To be completely honest, you may be hard pressed to find a more comfortable chair...and we've sampled quite a few. Both the seat and the head rest are nicely padded, so even long periods of sitting won't be a bother. The best part about the whole chair, however, is the reclining feature. The Reclining Camp Chair comes with 3 adjustable positions so you can enjoy your chair however you prefer. The adjustable armrests also work seamlessly with the reclining options.

Additional Perks: One might say that this chair is inferior to the Sports Chair because it lacks the side table and side pockets. Well, it may not have as many useful pockets, but the Reclining Camp Chair does come equipped with a large zippered pocket on back of chair for all of your accessories. The chair also comes with an insulated drink holder in the right armrest, so you really will never have to get out of you seat if you don't want to! The chair also comes in three great colors: black/gray, navy/silver, and green/black. Last but not least, this chair is $10 cheaper than the Sports Chair!

All in all, we are very satisfied with this Reclining Camp Chair by Picnic Time, and we already have a few to keep for ourselves!

Click here for more information on the Picnic Time Reclining Camp Chair.

The Perfect Wedding Gift - A Wedding Basket!

Chances are that you will have to attend a Wedding within the next year. Many times, the first question that comes to mind is "What should I get for the happy couple as a wedding gift?". The most common approach is to simply order something off the registry. Don't get us wrong, the registry is an easy way to make sure that you are getting the couple something that they actually want. If you really think about it, however, is a registry really all that great? How would you like it if you knew all of your gifts before even getting them? Where is the fun in that?!

We're here to recommend going with something different. Stand out from the crowd and get them something unique and something creative. One of the most important aspects of a wedding is the memories that it creates. Get them something that will always remind them of that special day. We believe that the following two items are perfect wedding gifts in the sense that they are both practical and meaningful.

The Wedding Heart Picnic Basket - The Wedding Heart is a 17", heart-shaped picnic basket that comes with everything needed for a romantic picnic for 2. What better way for a couple to celebrate an anniversary and reminisce about their wonderful wedding? This classy yet practical basket will surely be one of the most appreciated gifts of any newlyweds.

The Harmony Honeymoon Champagne Set - The Honeymoon edition of the Harmony Champagne Tote is a gift that the bride and groom can put to use right away! The Harmony comes with a compartment for a bottle of the finest champagne, 2 handblown champagne flutes, 2 wedding-themed glass charms, a tw0-sided doorknob hanger ("Just Married/Do Not Disturb"), and 2 napkins. In addition, you can add a picture of the bride and groom to the outside of the tote to make it just that much more personal and meaningful. You can guarantee that this gift will be put to good use over and over again.

For 10% off either of these wonderful wedding gifts (or both!), simply click on the links provided above and enter the coupon code WEDGIFT during checkout.

Let us know what they think!