What’s your favorite thing about August? Mine is picnicking! I feel like June is for wrapping up loose ends at work or school before slipping into the excitement of July with fireworks, BBQs, and the beach. But in August, the days seem calmer and quieter, with just the buzz of cicadas to keep time. In my humble opinion, August was made for picnics.
Image from http://goodwillhoarding.com
So imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon this blog post from the ladies of Goodwill Hoarding. It’s a picnic with a Pyrex theme! In case you didn’t know, Pyrex was my first thrift love. I adore collecting dishes piece-by-piece because they work as functional home décor; they’re fun to track down, convenient to use, and gorgeous on display. Maybe I’ll plan the first Annual North East Pyrex Picnic myself!
Image from http://trendythriftynow.com
To do that, I’ll first need to find a picnic basket set so we can have utensils and plates for all of that Pyrex-packed food. I’ve seen lots of sets for sale with matching cups, plates, and napkins, and they always seem like a great idea as I’m drooling over them in the store. Then I look at the price tag and nearly faint. Why do picnic sets have to be so expensive? The great news is that they aren’t expensive when put together DIY-style from Goodwill®! I love this post from Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina (North Charleston) because it includes a full list of picnic essentials. If you want to make your own picnic set, check out the list, and add to or subtract from it according to your needs! You may find that you can skip the corkscrew that you would have paid for in a pre-made kit, but that you instead need to add a picnic blanket—which readymade sets lack. When you customize your own picnic set from Goodwill, you will have exactly what you need (including money left over after the transaction).
Image from http://www.fashionofgoodwill.org
Just one piece of advice from a picnic expert: bring a hat. Even if you know there’s a shady spot where you are planning to plop down, there’s nothing worse than squinting through lunch with your honey because the sun is reflecting off of the lake. Staying covered when you’re in the sun is also an important defense against future skin damage. And, honestly, how often do you get to sport a floppy sun hat and lounge about as if you’re a Southern Belle? Live it up! Goodwill of Greater Washington (DC) just shared a great blog post showcasing three different trendy toppers that will class up your quaint afternoon. Which hat style do you like best?
We would love to hear about your perfectly thrifted picnic if you decide to give it a go this summer. Stop by Goodwill (one of the largest nonprofits in the United States and one of Forbes Magazine’s Top 25 most inspiring social enterprises) to stock up on the necessities and let us know what worked best for you!
