BACK TO SCHOOL PICNIC IN CENTRAL PARK #BTSPicnic

Friday, August 23, 2013 was the day I planned to have a Back to School Picnic for the kids. It was held in Central Park and I wanted our kids to enjoy the last few weeks together before school starts. This picnic was to promote healthy foods and snacks for our kids lunch boxes and after school snacks. Some of the kids already started school, but they showed up after school and enjoyed the picnic. The day before the picnic it rained and I was hoping the grass wasn’t too wet but once that sun came out it pretty much dried up. The day turned out beautiful. The kids were able to enjoy the playground, sprinklers, and a recreation center with basketball. My kids came prepared with their scooters, football, basketball, jump rope, and hula hoop. They also bought along their UNO cards to play a game. A few of the other kids bought their footballs, scooters, etc as well. I also had bubbles, crayons, and coloring books for the kids to enjoy.

To all the families that came out I just want to say thank you for spending a fun filled day in beautiful Central Park. It was great seeing everyone and enjoying our kids smiling, happy faces. My daughter asked were we seeing the kids again. She likes playing with all her friends. Just being able to run free on the grass in all that open space for a kid is a great feeling.

I’d like to give a enormous thank you shout out to all the BRANDS who donated to the #BTSPicnic. Without you I don’t know what I would have done. Everything was greatly appreciated. To the BRANDS that didn’t get to deliver on time when the products come I will give to everyone that attended.

Go Go SqueeZ
Pirate’s Booty
Just Salad
Off the Wall Yogurt
Land O’ Lakes
Funny Face Cranberries
Pepperidge Farm
Golden Krust Bakery
Hickies who offered a 30% off discount code good till the end of August (HICKIESbloggerparty)

Funny Face Cranberries has the best dried cranberries for kids. I love the funny flavors like, Rootin Tootin Raspberry, Choo Choo Cherry, Goofy Grape, and Freckle Face Strawberry. Theses are a great low-sugar snack for kids.
Find out more on their Twitter page @FunnyFaceCran.

Go Go SqueeZ is another great snack for kids and adults on the go! 100% applesauce in a pouch, super healthy!! You can also recycle their pouches with @TerraCycle Their Twitter handle is GoGosqueeZ

Just Salad has more than salad but I love their salads and their cute BPA free, environmentally safe bowls. When you visit their locations you can purchase a bowl which is reusable and every time you come back with your bowl you get TWO FREE essential toppings or ONE FREE cheese. Everything in Just Salad is healthy and fresh and I am glad to have one in my neighborhood. I will be using my bowl frequently.it is also a great bowl for the kids to take fruit or salad to school as well. So, get your salad on and visit Just Salad. Find them on Twitter @justsalad

Land O’Lakes provided the parents with free Deli Cheese coupons which will definitely come in handy for back to school. Who doesn’t love cheese? Come on. Cheese makes so many meals taste great and I personally love snacking on cheese. My kids are grilled cheese fanatics so I appreciate these coupons very much! I also can’t get enough macaroni and cheese. Visit them on Twitter @LandOLakesKtchn

Pepperidge Farms sent over their amazing Goldfish Puffs which are addictive especially with the THREE flavors that they have which are: Mega Cheese, Buffalo Wing, and Cheddar Bacon. I’ve given the kids goldfish crackers but when they sent these over we didn’t know what to do. We were loving all of them. They are puffed up crackers and a burst of flavor in your mouth which is very good. They are also gluten-free.i hope to find these in my local supermarkets or Target. @PepperidgeFarm on Twitter

Pirate’s Booty rice and corn puffs are another snack that is great to have. I like the fact that their free from fryers and ingredients you can’t pronounce. There’s nothing like standing in the supermarket trying to read ingredients that I don’t know the meaning of, let alone can’t pronounce. These are also gluten-free, all natural, and trans fat free. They have 4 different varieties but we are in love with Aged White Cheddar.The others are Veggie, Sour Cream and Onion, and Barrrrrbeque. Give them a try. @piratesbooty on Twitter

Off the Wall Yogurt sells frozen yogurt with 16 flavors, and 40 rotating toppings. Even though we didn’t have frozen yogurt at the picnic because it definitely would have melted I was given gift cards to give out. There was just a grand opening of their Times Square location and I love this yogurt. Yogurt is great anytime of the year. Check them out on Twitter @OTWyogurt

Golden Krust provided the beef and chicken patties. These were very good. Everyone enjoyed snacking on these Jamaican meat patties. It was great having a little bit of Caribbean flavor at the picnic.These snack size patties were just right for adults hands and little ones and not messy at all. For a picnic these were perfect. Their Twitter handle is @GoldenKrustBkry

Hickies is an elastic lace that replaces boring shoelaces. I hate tying my shoelaces. With Hickies you don’t ever have to tie or untie your shoe again. I love all the colors and you can mix and match if you want. My daughter loves wearing her and Hickies is offering a 30%off discount code that I mentioned above so go on their site and see what fun style Hickies will bring to your wardrobe.@hickies check them out.

I also purchased pizza pies for the kids as a little extra treat.
Everyone enjoyed the picnic and I can’t wait to have another one!!
Enjoy the pictures.