What better way to make the most of a June day than to start it in style with a breakfast picnic? I'm a fan of setting off on the right foot each morning and that always includes something to eat nice and early. I used to be a bore with eating the same thing every morning but these days I prefer to keep options open and eat whatever seems right - be it something with a short shelf life, a quick bit if I'm in a hurry or perhaps treating myself to a cooked brekkie if the mood is right. What has never crossed my mind before is to have a breakfast picnic but when Dorset Cereals put together this cute little hamper for me it just made sense. Summer is the perfect time to head outdoors at every opportunity! A lovely dose of fresh air and sunshine along with coffee and some tasty cereal sounds like an ideal way to make a morning more special.
There's a new muesli from premium brand Dorset Cereals: 'gently spiced carrot and apple'. We've bought other varieties before and always enjoyed the taste and quality, so I was excited to try this new creation. A sweet canister for milk and a retro bowl on my super soft picnic blanket - all bases covered.

You can see the mix of fruit, flakes and nuts. My tastebuds absolutely adore the gentle spices and fruit, with the rolled and toasted flakes making this feel a good balance of wholesome and yummy. The carrot blends in seamlessly, it's a sweet vegetable that lends itself well to fruity dishes, who can resist carrot cake? It surprised me to read that there is no added sugar, just the natural sweetness of the apple and dried fruits. It's a hit with me and I'll have to cunningly hide my box in the cupboard so that C doesn't eat the whole lot before I get a look in again.
Vegan food at it's best. I prefer cold milk at this time of year, though hot milk in winter would work a treat or with a dollop of thick yogurt as a snack. Apparently some people like muesli with fruit juice but that sounds a little too out there for me. How do you prefer yours?

A big thank you to Dorset Cereals for sending me this cute hamper and for encouraging me to take breakfast outside. I'm making it a regular thing!
Sophie

For us the weekends are time to get out of the house, take in some fresh air, scenery and clear our heads in the bounteous countryside that Norfolk has to offer. I diligently (some may say obsessively) record in photographs the sights and attempt to capture how it felt to be there at that very point in time.

These photographs come from one memorable day back in early summer when I planned out a little trip out to christen our picnic basket that Chris had bought me last year. After filling it to the brim full of food (and a visit to my Gran) we headed out for a favourite spot to sprawl on the picnic blankets and enjoy a long lunch in the sunshine. A meal that lasts over an hour is something quite special indeed by my reckoning.

Suitably full and relaxed, we packed up and took a stroll under the blue skies through the fields and down by the river. I wore a summer dress which used to be my favourite, a ditsy, frilly, floral mini with a floral crown and my Cath Kidston polka dot shoes.

It really was a fabulous afternoon, but life likes to keep you on your toes. My Grandma died that afternoon. I like to think that heaven (if there is one) is a wildflower pasture on a summer's day.

There is no such thing as perfect.

Sophie

A couple of weeks ago we journeyed to Castle Acre on a sunny afternoon to have a picnic on the grass by the castle ruins and a stroll around the village.

As it was an unplanned outing we stopped by Asda to gather some picnic fare. I do have a soft spot for these salad pots and my childhood favourite crisps have always been skips; they melt in the mouth! White chocolate cookies are a given as one step from heaven, the yogurt was reduced so I picked this up instead of the sausage roll that was available. Mountain Dew, mmmm. The apple doesn't even start to readdress the balance but I do like apples so it rounded things off nicely.

The sun played hard to get which didn't detract from the time out. It' such a luxury to leisurely wander around somewhere pretty.

I made a little video as well for you to watch, I think it's under a minute long.

 

 

The public footpath loops around Castle Acre Priory. We've never been in before, maybe one day but I'm disappointed they do not display entry charges clearly.

The Castle ruins are free to walk around, which we like to do. Sadly, some parents consider it entirely acceptable to allow or encourage children to play on the crumbling walls.

 

There is something of a backlog to catch up sharing, I've been out and about a lot recently as well as focussing on the changes to my health and fitness regime so a whole variety of posts will be coming soon!

Sophie