Summer is right around the corner, and what better way to enjoy the weather than to engage in an afternoon of great music, good food, and wonderful friends! Outdoor concerts are a really fun and affordable way to bring your family, friends, or even coworkers together to have a lazy day and relax in the warm sun. But no outdoor gathering is complete without a cooler packed with treats and a cozy set-up for lounging around between songs.

Rock Out

No doubt, you will want your own music at the picnic while the band is taking a break, but who wants to drag along Ipod speakers (especially when there are no outlets available on a grassy field)! Why not show everyone how efficient you are and tote along this Smart Speaker Cooler Bag from Pottery Barn, so you can store your delicious treats and rock out to your favorite tunes. The sleek picnic device has a zippered front that conceals two speakers with iPod connection capability, and has additional pockets for electronics storage. The central compartment has space for food, drinks and ice packs. If you tote this along you will be sure to have the most happenin’ picnic area with your delectable dishes and tech-savvy site!

Lay Back

If you’re like me, then comfort is key when attending a concert on the lawn. The last thing I want is to attend a concert and then wake up with back pain. That’s why I love these foldable, outdoor chairs from Ikea because they incorporate style and practicality all in one. The chairs are so easy to fold up and bring along, and if treated according to the care instructions, they can be left outside all summer long. These chairs are the ultimate solution to comfortable and practical portable entertaining.

Table For Two

With all the time you took to prepare fabulous food, setting it up on a picnic blanket can easily lead to spills. I love this portable table from Crate and Barrel because it is so easy to toss in the back of your trunk and then assemble on the grass in minutes. The short table legs don’t require chairs and its small size won’t add bulk to your picnic site. It also comes with a carrying pack for easy toting.

Keep It Gourmet

No picnic is complete without great accessories for your wining and dining, but after already splurging on concert tickets, who wants to spend money on fancy cutting boards and portable containers for your outdoor fun? Instead of splurging on picnic necessities, create your own by using these simple odds n ends that I’m sure you have lying around your house! An old can is the ideal place to store cheese and crackers, along with cheese knives, and by attaching a cutting board to the lid, you can create an all-in-one portable cutting station for your outside, concert fun!

You’ll Need:

Empty paint can (gallon size) Small, round cutting board Hot glue Ribbon (for the handle) Wrapping paper or fabric (to cover the paint can)

Clean out an old paint can you have sitting in your garage and put the item to good use! For the handle, hot glue a ribbon to the bottom of the can and then up the sides, leaving enough length for the ribbon to become a handle at the top. Attach Velcro to the ends of the ribbon so that the two ends can attach for a handle or detach and fall at the sides when your container is in use.

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Cover the outside of the can with your favorite wrapping paper to add a cute design and conceal the ribbon on the sides.

For the top, you can either buy a small cutting board like this one I found at Metropolitan Market or use one you already have in your kitchen. Using plenty of hot glue, attach the cutting board to the lid of the paint can. The cutting board now becomes the lid to your paint container and your portable cutting station.

Attach a message to the cutting board if you want to spice up your design even more. I chose to write “Bon Appetit” but this is your opportunity to add a personalized touch!

Store knives, utensils, or other accessories inside the can and then tote along your personal cutting station to create a gourmet cheese platter for your friends on the go!

Drink Up

I love this tea over ice pitcher from Crate and Barrel for its space-saving design and fun way to keep your drinks chilled! The two-piece pitcher stacks a little pot over an ice pitcher to chill refreshing iced tea, and when you are ready for drinks, just pour the tea into the larger pitcher. This pitcher will fit great on your picnic table, and its sleek design makes it a perfect piece to reuse for any outdoor entertaining you may do at your own home!

Chow Down

For the ultimate, food storage container, I turned to this chic lunchbox (yes, a lunchbox can be chic!) from Crate and Barrel. The bright color will fit perfectly with your décor and the compartments are great for organizing all your snacks. I love the circular, modern design, but the old-fashioned latch makes me nostalgic for my elementary school days. I would have been the hippest first-grader on the block if I had toted this to Ms. Randall’s class everyday! The vibrant color is also a plus and adds that pop of color I am constantly drawn to.

Tidy Up

To pickup spills on the table, you will need a simple tablecloth, but instead of pulling out expensive linen from your dining room, why not make your own? I used a large, beach towel as a tablecloth, and the rectangular shape left extra material on two sides that is perfect for creating pockets to store napkins, utensils, and additional accessories. I simply folded up the extra fabric and sewed the sides to create two pockets for storage. This is such a fun, inexpensive way to create an outdoor tablecloth and have additional storage for all your picnic goodies. Stuff the pockets full, roll it up, and tie it up to tote to your outdoor fete.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 20th, 2009 at 2:42 pm and is filed under Friends. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.