One of my absolute favorite things to do all warm weather season is take advantage of Atlanta’s gorgeous green, hilly parks and pack a picnic with friends.  I do it so often that in my humble opinion I’ve become somewhat a master of the picnic pack.  In fact, I’d say I’ve got it down to an art form at this point. 
 
First when packing a picnic, keep the menu light, seasonal and simple.  I opt for food that is easy to transport and can be eaten with minimal utensils, like a cheese platter and my fresh grilled corn salad (recipe coming Wednesday of this week).  And I love bringing melamine platters and trays such as these to serve drinks on because the ground tends to not be the most even of surfaces.  Don’t forget to factor in the the heat; whenever entertaining in the hot summer sun, I always use festive reusable ice cubes to keep drinks cool without watering them down.  And what’s a picnic without the necessities: soft, light blankets and a great picnic basket, of course.

Lastly, don’t forget to pack a little entertainment and outdoor games.  Paddleball, horseshoe and a classic kite will provide hours of play and are great for both kids and adults alike.  Turns out, I’m pretty skilled at the art of paddleball, kite flying not so much.  Tell me Loves, are you planning to pack a picnic this summer?  Truly, MKR  

When I first got wind of the Lilly for Target collection, I knew it would be good.  Pineapples-and-pompoms-and-pool-party-good.  And if you’ve seen our Instagram lately, you’ll know we’re a little pineapple and pompom obsessed. So when Target invited me to take a peek at the home collection and share some of my favorites before it hit stores April 19th, I couldn’t say yes fast enough.  I also knew that we HAD to create a juice cocktail stand that Lilly Pulitzer herself would be proud of.  Well spring showers and pollen season had their say, and we were forced to bring our little cocktail cove inside and out of the rain so just imagine sunny days and a glistening pool.

Full of bright, punchy patterns that we’ve come to expect and love from Lilly over the years, the Lilly for Target collection is sure to be a hit for Lilly collectors old and new.  Along with its beloved brights, the collection includes new and oh-so-chic white and gold items that will find themselves a part of long, sunny days and many, many parties poolside. Honestly, I won’t be surprised if this is Target’s fastest-selling collection ever, with it being chalked full of just so many fantastic, high-quality items that just make us beg for an endless summer.

While we want everything—and we mean everything— come April 19th, there are a handful of items that we’ll be racing our carts down the aisles to snatch up.  First, and a easy favorite: the white and gold pineapple dish, which will be such a fun serving dish all summer long (and probably year-round let’s be honest). Secondly, the colored champagne flutes lined in gold have WOM written all over them and will be definitely making an appearance at many a pool party. The umbrella is also an absolute must-have; it’s gigantic, retractable, has a carrying case and its punchy pattern is Lilly perfection. Lastly, I can’t live without all of the gold bar accessories, hand towels, plates and anything and everything with pompoms!

And believe me when I say that this is just a snippet of all of the goodness hitting stores April 19th —I repeat April 19th —so mark your calendars and get to Target, loves! Truly, MKR