
10 minute read
EPIC PICNICS
Daynelle Sousa and Mindy Pereira of Dixie Rae Events love setting up the ultimate in outdoor meals.
BY MELISSA SLAVEN WARREN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMANDA BACON
BBack in the day, picnics were unassuming affairs, often an impromptu inspiration on a gorgeous day. All of your essentials fit in a single basket: blanket, simple sandwiches, beverages of choice and maybe some cookies for dessert. It took less than five minutes to set up and even less to pack it.




Of course, you can still go that route, but if you are looking to up your game and create a truly epic picnic experience, let Danyelle Sousa and Mindy Pereira of Dixie Rae Events take care of the details.
Dixie Rae Events is a pop-up picnic planning service in Leland that will dream up the picnic of, well, your dreams. They design and supply everything you need for a memorable proposal, rehearsal dinner, baby shower, girls’ night out, children’s birthday party, corporate gathering or any other occasion — special or not. The best part is, they do all the setup and pack up!
The idea for the business venture was born from Sousa’s desire to do something special for her mom’s birthday last year.
“She already has everything she wants or needs, so Mindy, my sister-in-law and I were trying to do something unique for her,” Sousa says. “I thought about a picnic on the beach, and I looked at other businesses that specialize in luxury




picnics, but they were far away. So, we started looking through pictures of similar events and thought it might be fun to do this on our own.”
Sousa’s mom was blown away, and the pair enjoyed the experience so much, they decided to take a shot at starting a business. Dixie Rae Events was born in October of 2021. The name comes from Sousa’s maternal grandmother, Dixie, and her mom’s middle name, Rae.
Dixie Rae Events is a full-service operation. They go to the outdoor location designated by the client, set up everything well ahead of arrival, then come back after the event to pack everything up and take it away. They can bring the picnic to your own backyard if you’re looking for a more private or intimate event, or they’re happy to host it at a public space like the beach or a park. “We even had a request to set one up in the woods,” Sousa says.
Sousa and Pereira started the business from the ground up with no experience but a lot of motivation. Sousa, who is a stay-at-home mom, has thought about opening her own business ever since her husband started his own tile installation venture six years ago.
“I love seeing him do something he is so passionate about,” Sousa says. “I see him work all day on a job and then come home at night, get on the computer and bid on jobs and go over blueprints,” she says. “He never complains though. So, it’s safe to say I’m well versed in knowing the commitment it takes to run a business and do it right.”
Pereira is glad about this.
“Danyelle is definitely better at the day-to-day business side of things than I am,” Pereira says. “I’m good with helping set up, decorating and shopping for the items we need.”
Though Dixie Rae Events provides inspiration photos to give clients ideas for their own events,
Dixie Rae Events designs and supplies everything you need for a memorable proposal, baby shower, girls’ night out, children’s birthday party or any other occasion.



they also work to accommodate specific requests to create a truly customized experience. They even deliver a personalized playlist for each event based on the mood the client is looking for — from romance to dance party — which the client can play through their smartphone using the Bluetooth speaker Dixie Rae Events provides.
Some themes clients can choose from include beachy, boho or luxury events featuring velvet draping, place settings, huge tablescapes, throw pillows, ottomans, flower arrangements and end-tables to name a few. Picnics include food packages from charcuterie platters to food trays and decadent sugary delights. But they also offer classic picnics with just “a blanket, cute food and some candles,” Pereira says. There is a price-point for every budget.
Every picnic design is purposefully planned before it ever makes it to the client’s site of choice.
“We do a practice run and stage it before the event to make sure everything flows,” Sousa says.
For clients who are looking to create Instagram-worthy memories of their pop-up picnics, Dixie Rae Events also partners with Leland photography studio Bits O Bacon, who will come out and photograph the experience.
As for events the pair would like to do more of, kids' parties are at the top of their list.
“We’ve been doing fun, elaborate parties for our own kids and to see them walk in the room when it’s all set up, that’s my favorite part,” Sousa says.
With social distancing concerns still lingering, outdoor picnics are even more attractive, especially as we look toward spring. And who wouldn’t want to spend time in a natural environment with great friends and family?
Want to set up a picnic?
Dixie Rae Events
Instagram: dixieraeevents Email: dixieraeevents@gmail.com



Thrifty Couture
The Boot Camp Babes of Compass Pointe don outrageous fashions in The Cheesy Thrift Shop Runway Fashion Luncheon Extravaganza.
BY BETH A. KLAHRE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL RITENOUR

TThey strutted down the makeshift runway in front of an excited crowd just like experienced models at New York Fashion Week. But the Boot Camp Babes of Compass Pointe donned outrageous fashions created from thrift store shopping excursions, proving that fashion is fun at any price point, just about anything can be transformed into something magnificent and the power of friendship is a transcending amazing bond.
It all began in a neighborhood parking lot.
The Boot Camp Babes, a group of 30 ambitious ladies who live in Compass Pointe in Leland, get together three times every week to exercise in a neighborhood parking lot. Retired physical education teacher Jane Donahue leads the workout, and the participants range in age from 54 to 73.
Claire Renaud was one of the first 10 women to join the Babes after moving from New Hampshire a year ago. “This group makes exercise fun,” Renaud says. “We are always laughing. Our cheek muscles are the strongest because we work those more than anything else!”
There is much more to these Babes than exercising together. While they train seriously to be healthy and strong, sporting matching inspirational T-shirts that read “Stronger


Cindy Guardalabene Jayne Donohue Artie Kuhn and Denise Sheehan


Genny Sarratt Julie Thomas


Together,” Renaud says, “Our goal is to do outrageous things.”
So, the group embarks on monthly adventures. They’ve been to wineries and festivals and kayaking excursions. Becoming bolder with every escapade, the Babes celebrated National Flamingo Day and National Pink Flamingo Day by going out to dinner wearing giant-sized flamingo wings and pink headbands with 8-inch-long beaks. The costumes were pieces from Renaud’s theatrical costume business, which she sold in April 2021 to a South Carolina theater company. On October 28, the Babes hosted their most outrageous event yet — The Cheesy Thrift Shop Runway Fashion Luncheon Extravaganza — for a sold-out crowd at Local's Tavern in Leland.
Renaud recalls, “The fashion show idea happened out of nowhere. Growing up as the youngest of 16 siblings, I bought most everything I owned from thrift shops. I still do today. On a recent trip to a local Leland thrift shop with Babes Janet Blair and Cindy Guardalabene, I shared that my sisters and I would often pick out something crazy at our thrift shop for each other to wear.” And the idea for fashion show was born.
The Babes were paired through a drawing from a hat, one taking on the role of model and the other fashion designer. They trolled thrift shops to purchase outfits with a few simple rules: Spend $20 or less. Buy the most outrageous, over-the-top things you can find. Don’t worry about sizes. And don’t reveal for whom you are choosing clothing.
With shopping complete, each model received a fitting by Renaud in her home, where she still has a work room she used for her business. Each model was blindfolded while her designer looked on as Renaud used her 37 years of costume

Jenny Strahan Clair Renaud

Rosemary Gasparrinni

design experience to add a piece of fabric here and make a tuck there. Renaud also crafted accessories, transforming old shoes into gloves, a metal food trivet into a matching necklace and bracelet, and reworking the top of a cat food can into a sculptured ring.
Master of Ceremonies for the fashion show was Artie Kuhn, the daring husband of Babe Donna Kuhn. Wearing a Renaudredesigned double-breasted suit with tails that trailed like a bridal train, Kuhn read a script prepared by the verbally eloquent Babe Denise Sheehan. The 23 outfits were described as “aggressively fashionable, couture of all couture and vixen vintage.”
Every detail was acknowledged as the fanatical array of clothing, embellishments and accessories walked the restaurant. It was a stream of trendy animal prints, flirtatious feathers and fur, gold epaulets and chains, a feathered fedora, a cerulean blue sequined sash, wide-leg trousers with floral beaded appliqués, a flamboyant red and black turban and more. Every model in the show wore blue eyeshadow extravagantly painted from lashes to brows. It was as exciting for the models seeing themselves in their fashions for the first time as it was for the audience who watched.
Awards were chosen by the wait staff at Local's. Top models were Patty Schmitt and Barb Matthews. Top designers were Barb Matthews and Cindy Guardalabene. Rosemary Gasparrini received the award for the thriftiest outfit, spending a mere 99 cents for a new-with-tags motherof-the-bride gown. Renaud transformed it into a pantsuit with sleeves like wings worn by Janet Blair. An audience member won an auction to have the privilege of modeling a mermaid costume from Renaud’s collection, which was voted best design. Best runway walker went to Jenny Strahan. The wait staff was surprised at the end of the evening with an additional $400 tip, proceeds from a basket raffle and the auction.
Renaud concludes, “We look for any occasion to have fun. We are motivated by our love of our friendships and our desire to live our best lives by being healthy and active.”
The Boot Camp Babes plan to step up their game next year. Is that even possible? They will donate fashion show proceeds to the beneficiaries of the thrift shops where they will purchase their outfits.

Patty Schmitt Barb Matthews
It was a stream of trendy animal prints, flirtatious feathers and fur, gold epaulets and chains, a feathered fedora... Every model in the show wore blue eyeshadow extravagantly painted from lashes to brows.