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Looking for a Blog Reading List?

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If there’s one thing we know for certain, it’s that there are a lot of entertaining, funny, touching and fascinating blogs out there, written by a host of talented bloggers. That fact was underscored by a recent project we took on with the Milk Mustache team – asking a group of 50 bloggers to share their reading lists of the blogs that start their day right (while relaxing over their morning latte, of course).

 

If you’ve been looking for a great blog – or a hundred – to scope out on a daily basis, click through the links below to get a few recommendations. We are certain you’ll find something you like!

 

Thank you to all of the wonderful women who participated in this campaign to honor their favorite bloggers, and to the Milk Mustache team for making it possible.

 

Go get yourself a latte while you peruse these suggestions! Click through for the reading recommendations from:

 

Adrienne, The Mommy Mess

 

Alicia, Making Time for Mommy

 

Amy, MomSpark

 

Amy, Grinning Cheek to Cheek

 

Amy, The Lacks Boat

 

Angela, Angela’s Analysis

 

Arianah, One Little Mom

 

Bridgette, The Experimental Mommy

 

Connie, Brain Foggles

 

Courtney, My Crazy Savings

 

Crystal, Kid Things

 

Danielle, Happenings of the Harper Household

 

Debbi, Debbi Does Dinner Healthy

 

Diane, Dollops of Diane

 

Emily, Busy Mommy

 

Gina, Chic Homeschool Mama

 

Hanan, Lilac City Momma

 

Heather, Rookie Moms

 

Jamie, Roubinek Reality

 

Janel, A Mom’s Take

 

Jennifer, Redhead Ranting

 

Jennifer, The Dirty t-Shirt

 

Jennifer, Just Jennifer

 

Kate, The Guavalicious Life

 

Kenda, Remaking June Cleaver

 

Kim, Mommycosm

 

Lauren, Crazy About My Baybah

 

Laurie, Guessing All the Way

 

Leila, Life as Leels

 

Lisa, Oh Boy! Oh Boy! Oh Boy!

 

Liz, Thoughts of a Mommy

 

Louise, MomStart

 

Melanie, Melanie in the Middle

 

Meredith, The Mom of the Year

 

Mimi, Woven by Words

 

Misty, Giveaways & Glitter

 

Natalie, Mommy of a Monster and Twins

 

Nicole, Pretty Opinionated

 

Rachel, Running Rachel

 

Rachel, Mom Colored Glasses

 

Sarah, Sunnyside Up

 

Sia, Thrifty Northwest Mom

 

Stephanie, Trying to Be Super-Mom

 

Steph, A Grande Life

 

Tonya, Create-Celebrate-Explore

 

Valerie, Mom Knows It All

 

Whitney, It’s Gravy, Baby!

 

Xenia, Thanks, Mail Carrier

Oh, Snap: Taking Great Photos of Your Kids

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Every year since my oldest was born, my husband and I have made a photo calendar of the kids as Christmas gifts for the grandparents. Consequently, we’re always on the lookout for “calendar shots” throughout the year. I remember one Easter eve. We were coloring eggs and my son was about seven. I wanted a picture of him and his four year old sister dipping their eggs and smiling. Trouble was, he just didn’t look happy enough. “Smile,” I urged him repeatedly, as he focused on not dropping his egg and splashing dye everywhere. “SMILE.” Unsurprisingly, my son looked increasingly stricken in every photo I snapped until, in the final one, he is wearing a terrified grimace and holding his egg out to me as if afraid I will crush it over his head.

 

You will not be shocked to learn that that picture did not make the calendar.

 

Fortunately for all of us, I am not in charge of handing out the photography tips around here. For that, we have a cracker-jack team of great moms and brilliant photographers whose kids do not start to tremble and break out in hives when someone whips out a Nikon. Hosting our photography talk today was Heather, aka Sprittibee. She was joined by Stacy of Kids Stuff World, Jamie of See Jamie Blog and Jamie Worley Photography, and Jacquilyn of Jacquilyn Avery, all with tips on how to capture those fleeting moments with your kids – and have fun at the same time.

 

 

Heather’s Hints

 

Heather dropped hints for getting good pictures throughout the talk like my kids drop Teddy Grahams throughout the house. I’ve gathered them here for your enjoyment (the hints, not the Teddy Grahams):

 

#1 : FRAME your shot.  Make sure the light is not too harsh, clear the clutter from your background – those are things that can’t be fixed easily in Photoshop… the aim is to try and take your BEST shot inside the camera.

 

#2: Get to know your camera. Read your manual. Get informal lessons from others who use your camera type if you are the SEE IT rather than read it type.

 

 #3: Look at other people’s photos for inspiration. Keep a folder of favorite pictures you want to try and mimic with your children for fun, or just take some notes and use your imagination. (See some of Heather’s favorites here.)

 

#4 : Get yourself in some of the photos or you’ll regret it later. Don’t feel sorry for yourself that no one else in the family thinks to take pictures of mom – be assertive and ASK someone to take a picture!

 

#5: Take photos of them with the things they love, doing what they love. This is a great way to memorialize the moments that make life and your unique kids special.

 

#6: Look for a different angle. Always shoot more than one shot of the same picture Sometimes just getting down on your kids’ level or getting a picture of the scene from a new vantage point will make your photo pop.

 

#7: Take some silhouette and profile shots. It used to be popular to have a dark photo with the light from the side, and to draw silhouettes and mod-podge them. These are coming back in style and there are some great iPhone apps that allow you to make the most creative photos from empty silhouettes filled with photos.

 

#8: Play with photo editing. It’s not that hard. IPhone apps are super fun, and easier than learning Photoshop. Heather has printed many of her iPhone photos that she has edited with apps and framed them in her house, the quality is so good. Heather recommends checking out Alli Worthington’s e-book to learn about iPhone apps to use for photography.

 

#9: Don’t miss the action. Learn to pan, learn about shutter speeds, get your kids running, laughing, doing whatever quirky thing they do. This is another reason why our DSLR cameras aren’t always enough.The iPhone is revolutionizing photography because it is always in your pocket.

 

#10: Make collages to tell stories. You can make collages on Picasa, on iPhone apps such as Diptic, and on BigHugeLabs.com from your flickr photos.

 

#11: Make friends with your iPhone and load up on photo apps.  Heather says, “I couldn’t do a talk without mentioning Instagram.” Heather’s blog post on Instagram is definitely a worthwhile read.  Stacy also has a great iPhone tip: “Did you know you could take a photo using the volume button on your phone? When you want to be in a photo yourself, use the flip camera option and use the volume buttons to better control how you frame your shot.”

 

 

More Brilliant Ideas

 

I’m a Pinterest junkie. If you are, too, you’ll appreciate all the great photography ideas and tips on Stacy’s photography board. Pinterest is a great way to collect and organize shots that you admire and would like to try. Stacy’s advice about taking pictures of kids is,  “Head out with the mindset of just having fun. Don’t expect to go out with lots of young children and do a professional shoot of some sort. For me, the magic of catching children in photographs comes through catching them in the moment. Go out to have fun and THEN  you will truly get some great shots.” Jacquilyn agrees: “Make picture taking fun! Act goofy – be crazy!”

 

I wish I’d talked to Jacquilyn before terrorizing my poor little dude trying to get him to smile at me while he was busy coloring eggs. She says, “Another tip I use with my own family is, don’t always worry about capturing images with them looking at the camera. My oldest son suffers from severe autism and has NO interest in looking at the camera whatsoever. We structure our photo shoots around capturing interaction. My husband and I playing with the kids, looking the direction they are looking, tickling or reading together. Capturing moments that are dear to us vs. trying and trying and trying for that perfect look into the camera everyone smiling shot… because for us, it just isn’t going to happen and that’s totally ok!”

 

And when it comes down to it, the stiff, posed shots aren’t the ones you love to look at over and over. Jamie notes, “I’m kind of a stalker, even in my family, for natural, un-cheese shots.” Those are the ones that turn out to be the treasures. As Stacy observes, “I think an often overlooked part of shooting our kids is just capturing those sweet moments part of your everyday life. The ones you truly want to remember, not the ones in the fancy clothes or the uncomfortable shoes. Just moments that, without the shot, you might not remember on your own.”

 

(Check out the transcript of the talk here for more great ideas and links.)

How to Be Fashionable on a Budget

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We all have that friend who shows up at a party looking like a million bucks. When we pull her aside to ask where she got her outfit, it turns out it came from everywhere–a shirt from Target,  a designer skirt and shoes she got on sale at the mall, a bangle bracelet she picked up on vacation, all pulled together with an amazing belt she scored for a dollar at Goodwill. How does she do it? If I tried to pull all those elements together it would look like Goodwill threw up on me.

 

Fortunately, that fabulous friend came to The Motherhood yesterday to share her secrets, in the person of our talk host Melissa of All Things Chic and her guests Michelle of Everything’s Abuzz, Jodi of Blush Mamas, Kerri of Raising Three Savvy Ladies, Jyoti of Style Delights, April of Knocked Up Fabulous, and Alissa of Fun Finds for Families.

 

Fashion Find #1: Don’t Ignore the Fundamentals.

 

April stated, “I think the most important thing that women can do for themselves before shopping is to be very familiar with their body type…knowing what styles best flatter their features.” Just because something is in fashion doesn’t mean it will look good on you–Michelle says she tried the maxi dress look, but it just doesn’t work on her petite frame. And as Melissa noted, “If it doesn’t fit, you won’t wear it.”

 

Just as important as your body type is your undergarments. Deborah said, “I think that expensive and low-cost clothing can both look awful if your underthings aren’t appropriate. Get a professional fitting. ” Our panelists agreed wholeheartedly. After all, no painter tries to create a work of art without preparing the canvas first, right?

 

Fashion Find #2: Know When to Save, Know When to Splurge

 

Obviously, it’s easy to look great if you have unlimited funds. For the rest of us, we have to pick and choose our fashion investments. The consensus: spend more on classic items you’ll wear all the time like denim, coats, handbags and shoes, save on trendy items that will last only a season and on accessories you pick up to accent those classics. Jyoti says, “Clothing for the most part is my save item as the trends change season wise. A good carry all bag, riding boots and skincare/makeup is my splurge as these are timeless items and you use them most of the time.”

 

 

Fashion Find #3: Find Your Source for Deals

 

Everyone has a favorite place to look for their fashion bargains. Jodi notes, “Target and Kohl’s are a GREAT place to find trendy things to update your wardrobe staples! I also love shopping for jewelry at Old Navy and Forever 21!” Alissa, Melissa and Michelle also like TJ Maxx and Marshalls.

 

April says she’s found great stuff at thrift stores. Kerri says, “If I am lucky to get free time without children, I love to go to the mall and hit the sale racks. Right now, summer items are heavily discounted. I also find that sometimes the higher end stores have better items that are so deeply discounted that you make out better.”Jyoti also takes advantage of off-season sales and makes use of coupons and online codes. Many of the panelists have scored great deal at consignment stores, too, particularly ones that specialize in high-end merchandise.

 

Fashion Find #4: Use the power of the Internet (judiciously).

 

The Internet can be a great way to find deals on wardrobe staples and unique pieces alike.  Jyoti finds that that e-stores and small boutiques sometimes have great trendy pieces for affordable prices and that many offer free shipping. Kerri pointed out that some of the sites charge outrageously high shipping, though, and April likes to actually be able to see and handle items before she buys them.  Nearly everyone was enthusiastic about Etsy, though, as a way to find statement jewelry pieces and other trendy items, support small businesses, and get great prices. And eBay can be a great way, as Jodi notes, to find that “have to have” item you missed out on at the store. Often it will be discounted on eBay, even if it’s still new with tags. However, Melissa points out that you should be very sure of your size since returns may not be possible on an eBay purchase.

 

 

Fashion Find #5: Shop creatively.

 

Many stores offer deals in which you spend a certain amount and then receive a certain discount. You don’t have to load up your shopping bag with things you don’t need (and won’t wear) just to reach the target number. Deborah says she and a good friend pool their purchases to receive the discount. Bonus: shopping is more fun and you have a fashion consultant with you who will be more honest than any salesperson. And sometimes shopping doesn’t even mean spending: Michelle says a friend of hers hosts a “fashion swap” in which everybody brings five items to swap with others’ stuff. If you and your friends are different sizes, you could still do this with handbags, belts, jewelry and other accessories.

 

And the best accessory of all? The cash you’ll have left over after shopping with the experts’ tips–use it to enjoy a night out on the town in your fabulous new outfit.

How To Bring On The Funny In Life And Parenting

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What do you do when you’re stressed, angry, at the end of your rope?  A lot of words probably come to mind – and I doubt “laugh” is one of them.

 

But that is exactly what Shari Simpson-Cabelin – blogger at Earth Mother just means I’m dusty, comedy teacher at Gotham City Improv, and all-around funny lady – advises we should do.  In times of stress, laugh!

 

Shari gathered a group of side-splittingly funny bloggers in The Motherhood today to share their take on bringing humor into the home: Marinka of Motherhood in NYC, Alexandra of Good Day, Regular People, Tarja of The Flying Chalupa, Erin of I’m Gonna Kill Him, and Ann of Ann’s Rants.

 

 

Why the Stress?

 

Life is stressful, yes. But we all have particular triggers that can turn a little tension into a lot of anger. For Tarja of The Flying Chalupa, “Low blood sugar is the cause of much non-humor in my household. Because nothing is funny without a full stomach. For me or my kids.”

 

So rather than succumb to the triggers – try to inject some lightness and humor into the situation and bring your family back from the Dark Side.

 

If “The Funny” doesn’t come naturally to you, don’t worry. “Funny does NOT come naturally to me when I’m running late for preschool. Or in a fender-bender. Or dealing with sick kids. Or…a lot of the time,” said Tarja. But “you CAN learn humor. I finally found it by the 4th year of college.”

 

Humor Through Humility

 

The jokes don’t always need to be about someone else, as Marinka of Motherhood in NYC reminded us: “It’s great to be able to show your kids that you can laugh at yourself, that someone else doesn’t have to be the butt of the joke,” she said, and Ann of Ann’s Rants agreed, “I think laughing at ourselves gives our kids permission to take life a little less seriously. It’s when they start heckling me I have a problem.”

 

When your kids still show signs of flying into a full-on tantrum, Tarja of The Flying Chalupa takes the if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em approach. “I like to indulge in the Adult Boo-Hoo,” she said. “You’re gonna cry? Mommy’s gonna cry too! Get’s ’em every time. Or it gets me every time at least.”

 

Having – and Being – a “Fun” Parent

 

It’s okay to laugh with your kids.  Humor done right won’t make them respect you any less, and they’ll thank you for it when they’re older.  “My kids do get embarrassed when I dance around or sing, but I know they will have fond/terrifying memories of it later,” said Ann of Ann’s Rants.

 

“I would much rather have an embarrassing mom than a boring one,” added Tarja of The Flying Chalupa about her own mother.

 

“My two teens feign embarrassment. But deep down I have myself convinced that they’ll be telling stories about me with their hand over their mouth stifling a laugh. In a very good way,” said Alexandra of Good Day, Regular People.

 

Bringing Humor to Your Own Family

 

1) Use exaggeration and sarcasm. “It’s the best tip in the world and works every single time with everyone,” said Marinka of Motherhood in NYC, and Erin of I’m Gonna Kill Him added, “Exaggeration and sarcasm can totally be taught – even my 3 year old knows when I’m being ridiculous.”

 

2) Keep track of the funny moments. “I keep a hard copy family calendar in the kitchen only for the funny that they say. I’ve been writing down the funny they do or say since they could move. So, I have 17 calendars of all the funny stuff,” said Alexandra of Good Day, Regular People. “They’ll get these out and laugh at them. They think of themselves as funny b/c of this proof. To think of yourself as funny is a pretty good self esteem builder.”

 

3) Do pet voices. Shari does her dogs’ voices, and her “kids (and husband) LOVE that,” she said.  Alexandra voices her two beta fish, and Marinka does her cat’s voice: “And she’s always saying how right I am about everything.”

 

4) Turn on the music. Tarja of The Flying Chalupa gets “loosey goosey when I turn on the music. I’m curious – which songs helps you lighten things up?”

 

5) Know what always works. “My kids can always make each other laugh with funny faces. Of course, I’m stuck with mine,” cracked Ann of Ann’s Rants.

 

And if you can’t do it for any other reason, bring some humor into your house because it’s healthy.  And so is chocolate.  No joke.

Managing the OMG Moments as Parents of Special Needs Kids

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Parenthood, in general, is rich with “OMG moments.”If you’ve never had a child belch loudly during a religious service or run naked from the house to greet his sibling’s school bus, you’ve probably never had a child.

 

Parents of kids with special needs have more than their share of moments–some printable, some probably not. And like all moms, they do their best, with all the love and grace they can muster, every single day. On this particular day, a really wonderful group, led by Ellen Seidman of Love that Max, gathered in The Motherhood to trade stories, tips, and wisdom. Along with Ellen, we got to hear from Sunday of Adventures in Extreme Parenthood, Jennifer from Into the Woods, Living Deliberately, Lisa of Autism Wonderland, Dana of Uncommon Sense, Kate from Chasing Rainbows, Katy of Bird on the Street, Hallie from Visions of Johanna, and Shasta of Outrageous Fortune.

 

 

Handling Emotional Responses: Yours, Theirs, and Those of Total Strangers

 

So…those moments. Ellen asked the panel how they stay calm during OMG moments. Kate pointed out that it’s helpful to remember that “kids feed off our emotions.” If the adult can’t keep it together, there’s no way the kid will. Along the same lines, Ellen reminds herself to “Just breathe.” Dana hears, “Slow down,” and Jennifer tells herself, “I can do ANYTHING for fifteen minutes.”

 

And sometimes it’s not our responses to a meltdown that are the issue. So often, helpful folks in public feel the need to comment loudly on a child’s outburst or behavior, or at least stare with obvious dismay. Because, you know, nothing helps calm a distraught child (and mom) like public disapproval.

 

Sometimes, the rude people need a really direct response. For those folks, Sunday will stare right back and say, “My kid’s autistic–what’s your excuse?” Dana will also respond to a stare with a stare, and, if that doesn’t work, offer to allow the rubbernecker to come and fix the problem. (I didn’t ask, but I’m guessing that no one has stepped up.) For people who seem a little less hostile, both Ellen and Jennifer have found that introducing the person to their child in a matter-of-fact way goes a long way toward defusing tension. Even better, Jennifer notes, is if her daughter does it: “You can say hi. He just has autism.”

 

Family Matters

 

Siblings can be such great protectors and advocates for kids with special needs. But they have their own needs, too, and juggling everybody’s stuff is exhausting, as all moms know. It’s amplified when one or more of the kids needs extra transition time and has therapy and other appointments. Ellen and several other moms chimed in to say how important it can be to have a schedule. Sunday pointed out the impossibility of managing everything, saying, “Both my boys require 100% of me but I can’t do that so I do a sort of parenting triage. The big things get done first and the others have to wait.” Jo, another participant in the talk, added, “I guarantee your other child isn’t so much focused on the exact minutes spent with him/her vs. your child with special needs. Rather, make every minute count. And breathe into it. It’s impossible to please everyone all the time – for ANY parent – special needs or not.”

 

 

Spouses and partners (even exes) are usually a vital part of the operation–even if they don’t necessarily take control of it. Lisa said, I am so lucky to have the kind of husband I have. He’s very involved and supportive. Though I spend time delegating what needs to get done – but if I ask him, he’ll do it. If left to his own devices…” That seemed to be, as Ellen observed, a theme: Moms do the planning and big-picture stuff, dads do a lot of the day-to-day. And as Hallie pointed out, it can be a big issue in a marriage when both partners are not heavily involved with the kids, especially when special needs are in the picture.

 

Summertime, and the Living is Easy Stressful. And Expensive.

 

Summer is coming up soon, and it doesn’t always mean relaxing days, especially when your kids have special needs. Sunday says she struggles to take her kids on outings by themselves because it really requires two adults to watch them both. Ellen commented on the general lack of summer programs for kids with special needs. Lisa said the worst part for her family is the transition back to school when summer’s over.

 

And of course, summer can mean vacations, which come with their own challenges. Jennifer said that her family finds it helpful to keep biological functions (eating, sleeping, and toileting) on the same schedule as at home. Katy also noted that even on vacation, it really helps to maintain a regular bedtime. She also passed along a tip from Pinterest: to keep kids from rolling out of bed, put a pool noodle under the sheet. Easing into vacations with shorter, weekend-length trips works for some families. And Ellen pointed out that Disney is really wonderful with special needs kids.

 

 

Mouse ears don’t grow on trees, though, which brings up a concern raised by Shasta and Sunday: vacations are expensive, especially when you’re limited to one income because someone has to take the kids to all those doctor and therapy appointments–which are also pretty costly. Ellen says her family has a special vacation fund. And Katy pointed out that sometimes spending the money on a vacation is just necessary: “I spent two years pouring every extra dollar–and some other people’s dollars into therapy. My husband got a bonus and I realized that sometimes having a good time is therapy too.”

 

It can be hard for any mother to take care of her own needs, especially when her child needs so much. Sometimes the self-care needs to come in the form of a much-needed vacation. And sometimes it comes in the form of a half-hour spent talking about it with friends who have been there, too.

Delicious Summer Picnic Recipes and Tips

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With holidays from Memorial Day to July 4th to Labor Day, summer is a great time for picnics.

 

Chef George Duran joined a great group of eager picnickers in The Motherhood for the fourth and final class of the 2012 Cooking Connections series, brought to us by ConAgra Foods and ReadySetEat.com, to discuss new picnic flavors and great recipe ideas for this summer.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qRfYqZnk2k

 

 

George started off his video demonstration with a recipe for Greek Pasta Salad from ReadySetEat.com.  “LOVE pasta salads in the summer!” said Kim of At Home with Kim.

 

“Can’t wait to make it,” agreed Kim of My Cup of Creativi-Tea. “I love any kind of Greek salad! The cheese and olives are my favorite.”

 

“Gluten Free pastas like Tinkyada work really well too,” suggested Kristy of Mommy Hates Cooking.

 

For picky eaters especially, “pasta is also perfect for kids,” pointed out Amanda of Parenting by Dummies. “I have 1 that is picky & he loves pastas!”

 

The second recipe George demonstrated, Caesar salad spring rolls of his own invention, was a big crowd pleaser. “Such an easy dressing! LOVE IT!” raved Wendy of Around My Family Table, and Devaki of Weave a Thousand Flavors suggested adding cherry tomato halves for an extra pop of flavor.

 

George suggested making the wraps just 3-4 hours in advance so they don’t dry out in the fridge overnight.

 

“Raise your hand if you are hungry!” said Jodi of Mom’s Favorite Stuff.

 

Agreed Angie of My Four Monkeys, “I now have all these ideas of things I could wrap in rice paper to make it an on-the-go meal!”

 

 

Picnic Tips from George Duran

 

Rinse pasta in cold water to stop the cooking after you’ve drained it for your pasta salad.

 

To save calories in preventing sticky pasta while you’re preparing your other pasta salad ingredients, spray a little PAM Olive Oil nonstick spray in your pasta and mix it around. “Yes- I always have a problem with sticking! Great idea!” approved Yoli of Sassy Mama in LA.

 

To create a non-slip surface for your cutting board, put a damp paper towel underneath it.

 

To eat salad with your fingers, turn it into a spring roll.  Make your salad and roll it in rice wrappers. “Just dip the wrapper in the water long enough to coat it. Then set it on plate and wait 10 seconds. Perfect moisten spring roll wrapper. I’ve been making spring rolls since I was 7,” said Kim of My Cup of Creativi-Tea.

 

To make your own croutons to save money and eat healthier, cut up bread, put it in a sheet pan and spray it with PAM Olive Oil, then toast and season it.  Freezes well.

 

Kid-friendly picnic foods are usually finger foods like small sandwiches, cubes of cheese, watermelon wedges and other items that allow kids to keep moving while they’re eating.

 

To keep foods fresh over a long period of time, stick with cold foods that don’t contain milk products, and use ice packs while transporting.

 

Fancy picnic drinks like sangria should stick with white wines for a light drink option. “Fancy Sangria sounds really good!” said Piera of Jolly Mom.  George cautioned to take it easy with alcohol during hot picnic weather, when it’s easy to get dehydrated.

 

At a picnic, bring giant cutting boards for serving.  If a table isn’t available, they will help create a flat surface for pitchers, plates and other items.

 

For an alternative to sandwiches, try bringing wraps.  Kids will love these peanut butter apple wraps from ReadySetEat.

 

Remember to pre-cut food so people can easily eat with one hand or eat standing up at the picnic location.  Grilled vegetables are a great picnic option, especially for vegetarians and vegans.

 

To make sure you’re getting a sweet watermelon, buy a pre-cut watermelon so you can see the color inside.  Make sure it’s bright red.

 

Consider creating a toppings bar if you have guests over for a picnic.  Grill hot dogs and hamburgers and let them choose their own toppings.

 

For more great picnic ideas, check out the New York Times piece on 101 Picnic Dishes that Angie of My Four Monkeys shared. Here’s another post that has lots of great ideas – 101 Picnic Dishes.