It isn’t only that I’m a nature lover and romantic at heart. My serious commitment to picnicking is also simply because I’m a practical mom of littles and frugality obsessionist. Before having kids Josh and I spent a decade traveling. The intentional choice to shop at local markets and sprawl in parks to dine not only enriched our cultural experiences, but also saved an untold amount of money. It was one of many simple choices in saving, which helped us to continue our travels.

Later as a mom I quickly discovered the difficulty of eating out with littles, returning immediately to the joy of a vintage floral sheet stashed in my trunk for dining…