Adorn Your Picnic Table with an Edible Fruit Arrangement

As you prepare for a special party around your picnic table, finger foods are especially attractive. An edible fruit arrangement can serve as a colorful centerpiece for the picnic table and a tasty finger food for your guests. You won’t be able to wait until they see the lovely scene and delicious smells that liven up the picnic table.

I have tasted the expensive fruit arrangements that come from specialty companies. They are good, but there’s nothing about them that’s any better than what you can easily create at home. All you need is a container or vase, some wooden skewers, and some fresh fruits. I think the best choices for an edible fruit arrangement are probably pineapple, strawberries, grapes, and a firm melon such as honeydew or cantaloupe.

Form the big flowers from pineapple rings with a flower-shaped cookie cutter. Use one of the other fruits as a center for each flower. Press the pineapple onto the skewer first, just a little way down. Top with a melon ball, de-capped strawberry, or seedless grape. After you make several flowers, secure them in the container. Place foam or playdough into the container and stick the skewers into it. Fill out the edible fruit arrangement by skewering other fruits and placing at different heights around the arrangement.

To fill in with greenery, wash silk leaves and intersperse these with the fruit, or use fresh parsley. None of these fruits will grow brown in the air, but it’s still best to wait until just before the guests arrive to bring the edible fruit arrangement out to the picnic table. Enjoy!

Chaise Lounge Decorating Tips

I have seen some attractive arrangements with a chaise lounge at the center. Based on these stylish scenes, I have compiled a list of hints and tips. These chaise lounge decorating tips help you achieve some of the looks I’ve crossed.

• Set up a breezy canopy above your chaise lounge for a tropical island flair. Place four posts in a rectangular shape and drape a flimsy fabric over top. Gather each corner and secure with a tie.


• Pair a multicolor cushion with a resin chaise lounge and a side table, each a different color from the cushion.


• Use cushions of different but coordinating colors or patterns for a set of chaise lounge chairs.


• Buy a patio umbrella with a canopy that matches your seat cushions.


• Flip adjacent chairs in opposite directions, so that two people lying side by side can meet each other’s eyes without turning their heads all the way to the side.


• Combine chaise lounge cushions with contrasting throw pillows. Make sure these pillows are recommended for outdoor use.

With some creative thinking, I’m sure you can expand on these ideas further. For more great decorating ideas for a chaise lounge, flip through pictures from outdoor magazines. Sometimes these pictures can look impossible to achieve. But I have found that if I focus on just one or two elements in the picture, I can create my own variations of the look.

Variations in Bar Chairs

Whether you seek bar chairs for a bar counter, breakfast nook, or kitchen island, you’ll find numerous variations in style. I have found bar chairs both with and without backrests. I think the backless versions provide a more open feel to the room or area, but I find the bar chairs with backs to be most comfortable for me. Some bar chairs have arms; others do not. I can go either way on arms.

I’ve also noticed that bar chairs come in all sorts of materials, a few of which are teak, wicker, and resin. Each material offers different characteristics than the next in terms of looks, care, durability, heaviness, and so on. It’s really impossible to pick a favorite.

Another variation that sometimes appears in bar chairs is that some swivel. The swivel feature can be fun, but I’d say if my kids were really rambunctious, I would probably pass on this feature.

Yet another consideration is the cushioning. I’ve discovered that some have built-in cushions; others have cushions for an additional price, and some have no coordinating cushions. I think your desire for cushions depends both on your personal preference and on the material of the chair. For wood bar chairs, I would want cushions. Some bar chairs, such as resin wicker, might naturally offer a little give, and cushions wouldn’t be necessary for my comfort.

Food Ideas for Your Picnic Table Set

I have recently seen several specimens of a nice picnic table set. Beautiful wood, smooth edges and grain, rich colors. For me, there’s something especially inviting about a picnic table set—perhaps nostalgia from childhood holidays in the park or family outings in the summers. So here’s to your memories around your own picnic table set.

When I plan a picnic, my first concern is the food. Of course, when you hold the party at the picnic table set in your back yard, you have fewer restrictions on food. Your feast doesn’t have to be quite so portable. Try some of these ideas for food and snacks.

1. Seafood Theme




• Cold shrimp tray and cocktail sauce


• Grilled fish sandwiches


• Sugar cookies in sea cutouts—fish, shells, seahorses, etc.


2. Fruit theme




• Sliced fresh pineapple


• Fruit pizza—crust is sugar cookie, sauce is cream cheese icing, toppings are mixed fruits


• Peanut butter and banana sandwiches


3. Dog theme




• Hot dogs


• Puppy chow—a dessert made from cold cereal, peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar


• Dog-shaped grilled cheese—use a dog-shaped cookie cutter to cut the bread and cheese

Of course, I wouldn’t put this much thought and effort into every meal I served up to a picnic table set. But for special occasions, everyone loves something fun. So once, again, here’s to fun around your own picnic table set. Summer is, after all, the time for fun.

A New Kind of Wicker Patio Set

When I first learned about a resin wicker patio set, I was shocked. I’d always thought of wicker as a purely wood product. Wicker has a certain airiness and charm to it that other furniture doesn’t. However, a traditional wicker patio set can’t last very long in the outdoors. The sunlight and elements tend to break them down.

Resin presents a modern alternative. You get the looks of wicker with the durability of plastic. That’s what resin is, by the way. It’s a material manufactured from recycled plastics, so water and sun don’t pose a problem to the furniture’s durability. I have seen a huge variety of styles when it comes to the resin wicker patio set—from deep seating and lounge chairs to traditional patio sets and bistro sets.

When you shop for a wicker patio set, the best things you can do to assure yourself of quality is to inspect the pieces carefully. Pieces should fit together tightly. All screws and hardware should be included. The wicker should feel smooth under your fingertips, with no roughness, unusual bumps, or fragmented strands.

After finding a wicker patio set, cleaning is easy. Just wipe the set down with a damp cloth, just as you would any other plastic items. If necessary, use soap and rinse clean with a hose.

Patio Set Centerpieces

Outdoor parties can be a lot of fun. But they require planning just like any other parties. Centerpieces can add a very attractive touch to your patio set, regardless of how formal or informal your party will be.

The nice thing about centerpieces is that you can go fancy, informal, or in-between. You can spend a lot of money or very little. You can contact a florist for help in making your centerpieces. You can also check stores for ready-made decorations that require little or no assembly. Finally, you can dream up your own centerpieces and make them yourself. Homemade centerpieces can be elaborate or extremely simple.

Here are just a few ideas for easy homemade centerpieces for your patio set:

• Cut flowers from your own garden or buy a few inexpensive mixed bouquets from the grocery store. Fill canning jars or plain vases with water and arrange the cut flowers inside. Tie a length of raffia or ribbon around the neck of each jar or vase.
• Select colored glass bowls and fill them with water. Place floating candles inside and light them just before your guests arrive.
• Fill clear glass containers with colored stones or marbles. Place small mirrors at intervals across the patio set. Set a container atop each mirror.
• Fill decorative dishes with candy and sprinkle confetti on the patio set around each dish.

Checklist for Decorating Your Patio Set for a Party

When you decorate your patio set for a party or special occasion, you’ll want to consider several factors. So make your checklist before you get started. The basic elements include linens, dishes, centerpieces, and lighting. Extra things you may wish to place on your checklist include chair decorations or cushions, favors, mosquito control, and additional patio decorations.

Linens for your patio set could include:

• Table cloth
• Napkins
• Placemats
• Coasters

Dishes you might wish for your patio set:

• Dinner plates
• Salad or dessert plates
• Bowls
• Cutlery
• Serving dishes
• Pitchers
• Salt and pepper shakers

Centerpieces you might consider:

• Candles
• Flowers
• Edible arrangements
• Foliage

Patio lighting could include:

• Candles
• Christmas lights
• Fire pits
• Lanterns
• Track lights
• Lamps