Summer is here....and whether that means road trips, beach days, picnics, family movie nights or simply sitting in the garden on a sunny evening, I think we can all agree on one thing:
Everything is better with a few sweet treats involved. 😄
For me, some of the best summer memories involve food. The snacks packed for a long car journey, the treats brought along to a picnic, the sweets shared after a day out or the little something you didn't really need but absolutely wanted.
So, if you're looking for a little inspiration for your own summer adventures, here are some of my favourite ways to make the most of the season - with a few sweet treats thrown in for good measure!
🚗 1. Pack the perfect road trip snacks
If you're travelling anywhere by car this summer, snacks are essential.
And if you're travelling with children, they're arguably even more important. 😂
Because "I'm not hungry" has a funny habit of turning into "Have you got anything to eat?" approximately 30 minutes into the journey.
One of my favourite ways to avoid the inevitable sweetie arguments is to let everyone choose their own favourites before you set off.
Our Custom Pick 'n' Mix Pouch for each passenger is perfect for this. You can choose up to 10 different sweets, so everyone can have exactly what they want.
Fizzy sweets? Absolutely.
Chocolate? Of course.
Fruity favourites? No problem.
A combination that makes absolutely no sense to anyone except you? That's encouraged too. 😄
🧺 2. Make your picnic a little sweeter
There is something lovely about a summer picnic.
A blanket, some sandwiches, a flask of coffee, plenty of sunshine and nowhere you particularly need to be.
And obviously.....snacks.
For picnics, I love sweets that are easy to pop into your bag and share. Pick 'n' Mix pouches are perfect for this because you can choose a few different favourites and let everyone help themselves.
You could even make up a little "picnic sweetie selection" before you leave - one fruity pouch, one fizzy option and perhaps something Scottish for good measure!
Because balance. 😉
🏖️ 3. Don't forget the beach-day treats
Living in Scotland means that a beach day isn't always guaranteed to involve sunshine....but when the weather does cooperate, there's nothing quite like it.
A day at the beach calls for very little planning:
Swimsuits? ✔️
Towels? ✔️
Sun cream? ✔️
Snacks? VERY important. ✔️
Pack a few sweet treats for the journey, enjoy them after you've exhausted yourself running in and out of the sea, or keep something in the car for the trip home.
And if the weather turns? Well, at least you've got the sweets. 😅
🎬 4. Have a family movie night
Not every summer evening needs to involve going somewhere.
Sometimes the best evenings are the ones where everyone gets into their pyjamas, chooses a film and settles down on the sofa.
And what's a movie night without snacks?
Our Movie Night Bundle was made for exactly this sort of occasion, bringing together a selection of sweet treats so you don't have to spend ages deciding what to buy.
Add a favourite film, some blankets and perhaps a takeaway, and you've got yourself a pretty good evening.
🍭 5. Create a summer sweetie stash
If you're navigating the school holidays, you'll probably become very familiar with the words:
"I'm bored."
And possibly:
"I'm hungry."
Repeated approximately 400 times a day. 😂
Having a little stash of summer treats at home can be a lifesaver.
It doesn't have to be anything complicated. Pick a few favourites, pop them into the cupboard and save them for those moments when you fancy a little treat.
You could even let the kids create their own Pick 'n' Mix selection at the beginning of the holidays and make it last throughout the summer.
Although I'm making no promises about how long that stash will actually survive...
🎁 6. Don't forget the summer birthdays
Summer means birthdays, celebrations, BBQs, family get-togethers and plenty of reasons to give someone a little gift.
If you're looking for something for a sweet lover, a Pick 'n' Mix Box makes a lovely alternative to the usual bottle of wine or box of chocolates.
You can choose one of our ready-made options, create a completely personalised Custom Pick 'n' Mix Box, or choose one of our Gift Hampers if you're looking for something a little more substantial.
And because sometimes the nicest gifts are the unexpected ones, you don't necessarily need a big occasion either.
A little "thinking of you", "thank you" or "just because" can go a long way.
💛 7. Taking something along when you're visiting someone
Heading to stay with family or friends this summer?
A little gift is always a lovely way to say thank you - particularly if someone's letting you invade their house for a few days!
A sweetie pouch, bundle or hamper is an easy option that doesn't require you to know someone's exact size, favourite colour or whether they already own three versions of whatever you're thinking about buying. 😄
And if you're not quite sure what sweets they like?
Well...
That's where ‘Let The Jar Decide’ comes in.
You hand over the decision-making to us and The Jar randomly chooses 10 sweets to create a completely unique Pick 'n' Mix Box.
No choosing. No second guessing. Just a little surprise.
🍑 8. Embrace the flavours of summer
Summer is the perfect excuse to reach for fruity and tropical flavours.
Think juicy peaches, tropical mango, pineapple, citrus flavours and bright, colourful sweets.
Our Summer Edit brings together some of our favourite summer-inspired treats, making it easy to create a little taste of summer whether you're treating yourself or putting together a gift for someone else.
🍬 9. When you simply can't decide...
Sometimes you know you want something sweet.
You just have absolutely no idea what.
Chocolate?
Pick 'n' Mix?
Fudge?
Toffee?
Why choose?
Our Can't Decide Bundle was created for exactly these moments.
It brings together a mixture of chocolate, Pick 'n' Mix, fudge and traditional toffee, so you get a little bit of everything.
It's also a great option if you're buying for someone else and know they have a serious sweet tooth but aren't quite sure what their favourite is.
🌞 10. Make the treat part of the memory
I think this is probably my favourite thing about summer.
The sweets themselves are lovely, obviously. That's kind of my job. 😂
But sometimes they're really just a tiny part of something bigger.
They're the sweets your kids chose before a road trip.
The Pick 'n' Mix you shared on a picnic.
The treats you packed for a beach day.
The sweets you ate while watching a film after a long day.
The little gift you took to someone's house.
The unexpected box that arrived through the letterbox and made someone's day.
Those are the things that make summer memorable.
And that's really what I love about what we do here at The Sweetie Jar.
We're not just sending out boxes of sweets.
We're sending little treats to be enjoyed, shared, gifted and remembered.
So.....what does your summer look like?
Whether you're planning a big family holiday, exploring somewhere closer to home, heading off on a road trip, making the most of the Scottish sunshine or simply enjoying a few quiet evenings in the garden, I hope this gives you a little inspiration for making your summer that bit sweeter.
And remember...
You don't need a special occasion for a sweet treat. 💛
Happy summer!
Denise x
P.S. If you're looking for something sweet to take on your next adventure, you can browse the full range of summer treats, Pick 'n' Mix Boxes, bundles and gifts at The Sweetie Jar.
0 comments