family picnics

Draper James Dress (Top version here. Also love this one and this one.) / Kiltie Slides / J.McLaughlin Straw Satchel c/o (Also love this one and this one) / Tuckernuck Hat c/o (It’s packable and back in stock!) / Crate & Barrel Striped Bowls / Kiel James Patrick Tote c/o / Kate Spade Bowl / Ray-Ban Sunglasses / Emma’s Dress (We also have this one, this one and this one!) / Mitch’s Button-Down Similar Here, Here (on sale!) and Here

Now that the weather has warmed up, we take every chance we get to picnic once Mitch gets home from work. It’s so much fun. Yes, it takes some work to get everyone out of the house with everything we could possibly need. (From blankets, toys, baby food and spare diapers to snacks, wine, corkscrews, plates, bowls and utensils… we need it all.) But it’s beyond worth it. We’re completely removed from the distractions of everyday life and we’re able to soak up the last couple of hours of daylight together. So special.

While we normally have a “No Phones or Cameras Policy,” I snapped a few pics during our last family picnic so I could share one of the best parts of our days. :) And I thought I’d break down what we eat, drink and do during our little outings:

What we eat

There’s a mom & pop grocery store near our house, so we usually stop there for snacks. It’s a little pricier than we’d like, but it’s nice to support local! We always grab a baguette because Emma is really into carbs these days, haha… and lately the fruit has been amazing. (Finally.) Last week, we actually hauled an entire watermelon on our picnic, and it was kind of a disaster. I wouldn’t recommend doing that. ;) But easy snacks are our jam.

I think I’ve spoken about this on the blog over the last couple of months, but Emma didn’t take to pureed baby food. We tried jars, squirt packs, and food-dispensing spoons, and she hated ALL of it. Our pediatrician said to skip it and move to solids. All food is fair game with the exception of honey because of botulism. (Though don’t worry: we don’t let Emma eat popcorn or whole strawberries, as they’re choking hazards. She’s just playing with them in these photos, and it didn’t concern us since we were right next to her and she’s yet to put food into her own mouth!) Experimenting has been fun, and we think Emma is finally starting to come around to the idea that there’s so much more out there besides bottles. ;)

What we drink

Not that long ago, my mother-in-law told me that the Spanish are well-known for drinking slowly to enjoy and savor their wine. In today’s society, I think that’s rare; so often, we place importance on quantity over quality. But I love the Spanish approach to drinking wine, and think it can also be applied to life in general. Slow down. Savor the moments. Enjoy your time with family and friends.

A while back, the Spanish wine region of Rueda sent us a few bottles of its Verdejo from Finca Montepedroso, and we’ve been bringing those along on our picnics. I think it’s relatively common knowledge that I love white wine. But until fairly recently, I drank (very honestly) garbage wines. And then all of a sudden, my body and mind were just kind of like, “We hate this!” and I realized I needed to step it up. Mitch, coincidentally, felt the same. Guess we’re just getting older and wiser. ;) The idea is that if you’re a fan of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio or even lightly oaked wines, you’ll like Verdejo. And I can personally attest to that!

We loved the Verdejo.

It’s so light and crisp, and it pairs extremely well with just about any food. It’s perfect for spring and summer festivities, and we actually had some shipped to Ocean City so we could enjoy some with the family over Memorial Day Weekend. (Photos to come!) Turns out, the reason the wine is so good is that it’s sourced from a higher altitude zone in Rueda, Spain, and there’s a lot of attention to detail because of that. At the same time, the Verdejo grape is prized by local growers on account of its ability to retain its acidity in a difficult growing environment. Verdejo from Rueda is the top-selling white wine from Spain!

The first time we tried Verdejo, we looked it up on wine.com to see how much it was going to set us back in the future since we loved it so much. But as it turns out, it’s completely reasonable! If you’d like to try it, you can use code “RUEDA” to take 10 percent off your next order on wine.com. And definitely look for the Rueda logo the next time you’re at your local wine store.

And in case you’re wondering, Emma prefers formula. ;)

What we do

Life is crazy busy these days, and sometimes we can go days without taking a real breather. Sure, there’s bath time, breakfast and dinner–but there’s always something else going on simultaneously. Mitch has lesson plans due; I have a project; there’s a contractor doing some electrical work. You know: Life. But at our picnics, we giggle, we discover, and we roll around in the grass, and there are no phones, no chores, and no deadlines. We simply enjoy our time together. And I have to be honest: these little picnics end up making us more productive! In the days that follow, we feel so reenergized and motivated. True breaks are definitely good for the body, mind and soul. :)

Stay tuned for another fun “picnicy” post soon! We had the best time in Ocean City, livin’ life like the Spaniards, slowing down and soaking up the moments. Can’t wait to share!

Family Picnics
Emma
Verdejo from Finca Montepedroso - Kelly in the City
Emma
White Wine
Family Picnics
Picnics
Draper James Dress
Strawberry
Verdejo from Finca Montepedroso,  - Kelly in the City
Emma
Verdejo from Finca Montepedroso,
Draper James Dress - Verdejo from Finca Montepedroso,
Family Picnics
Kelly and Emmy
Baby Emmy
Verdejo from Finca Montepedroso,

Shop the post:

Draper James Dress (Top version here. Also love this one and this one.) / Kiltie Slides / J.McLaughlin Straw Satchel c/o (Also love this one and this one) / Tuckernuck Hat c/o (It’s packable and back in stock!) / Crate & Barrel Striped Bowls / Kiel James Patrick Tote c/o / Kate Spade Bowl / Ray-Ban Sunglasses / Emma’s Dress (We also have this one, this one and this one!) / Mitch’s Button-Down Similar Here, Here (on sale!) and Here

In collaboration with Rueda Verdejo. As always, thank you so much for supporting the partnerships that keep Kelly in the City up and running!