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This post has been sponsored by Pinecrest. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Now that I’m a mom of three little kids, I’ve found that gift-giving to adults can be difficult, to say the least. We have two sets of grandparents to ‘buy’ for and, quite honestly, none of them need any more ‘stuff.’
But the act of gift-giving is still important. As is creating a magical holiday season for our children. So, as a family of 5, we are creating ways that our children can both have fun this season and make and create gifts that their relatives will enjoy for years to come.
Family-Friendly Events
There are so many opportunities for family fun at Pinecrest this holiday season.
Tomorrow, November 26th marks the beginning of Skate in Central Park and this event is open daily through January 5th, 2020! Bring your own skates, or rent at the rink!
If ice skating isn’t your thing, there are other events to check out. Mingle with Kringle while you’re out shopping, or check out the choreographed light show, Pinecrest Nights of Lights.
Check out the full holiday event schedule here.
Creative Gift-Giving
Gifts made with love are the best types of gifts, am I right? This year we decided to make all of our grandparents’ gifts at Pinecrest.
Color Me Mine
My kids ADORE painting. I, on the other hand, would prefer not to have them ruin my kitchen table. Color Me Mine brings both my desire for cleanliness and my children’s desire to paint together in perfect harmony!
Color Me Mine, a DIY paint-your-own pottery studio. Their options of pieces range from small to extra-large, and they offer over 60 colors.
My children took approximately five hundred minutes picking out their pieces to paint. But, where they lacked in decision making, they made up for in creativity.
I have to include major props to the employees of Pinecrest Color Me Mine. See, I had Mila with me and I was unable to be as hands-on with the big kids as I originally intended. But the employees helped my big littles bring their visions to fruition.
We picked up our finished pieces after the glazing process was complete (within just a few days). My kids are obsessed and they cannot wait to give them away as gifts to their grandparents.
The Candle Studio
Making candles is one of my favorite experiences. My kids have been dying to try their hand at it, so we decided to try The Candle Studio.
The employees at the Candle Studio were incredibly patient with my kids. They explained the steps from picking out their scents, to deciding on a container, and then mixing it all together. It was adorable to see them run back and forth to find scents they liked. It turns out they both like watermelon and bubble gum (shocker).
I sipped on a local craft beer as my kids decided the perfect watermelon to bubble gum ratio for each of their respective candles. Surprisingly, both of their candles smell different, despite both using the same two scents! Mixing is everything, friends!
I, on the other hand, mixed my own candle with a variation of hops and pine scent. Basically, it smells like Christmas beer.
I was surprised at how easy (and fun!) the Candle Studio was with young kids. I fully expected them to have zero interest and for me to be doing all of the work. But that wasn’t the case at all! They loved it. And just ninety-minutes later, we picked up our finished soy candles for the grandparents.
Making Memories Through Experiences
I know that these gifts aren’t extravagant, but they are perfect. Their grandparents will know full-well what kind of effort they put into these handcrafted presents. They will see the joy in the eyes of their grandchildren as they open up these gifts made by teeny hands.
The memories we’ve created will last a lifetime. Long after the soy candle has been burned down and well after the dust has settled on the unicorn tealight holder Remy made (sorry, Mimi — hope you like bright pink unicorn tealight holders! 😛 ).
Make your own memories this holiday season and discover all of the holiday magic at Pinecrest.
I love these gift ideas! And there is something to be said for non extravagant but meaningful gift giving!
The Candle Studio looks like so much fun!!! I would totally love to visit here some day.
This looks like an amazing place to be around the holidays. It’s awesome that you made so many memories
This looks like amazing place for fun and other activities. I will definitely going with my kids for sure. Thanks for suggesting idea about this place
It’s so cool that there are crafts for the kids to take part in. I love the sound of the candle studio! I have never heard of anything like it happening over here though. I’ll have to keep an eye out.
Pinecrest looks like a nice place to visit with the family this holiday season. There are so many activities to keep the kids busy. I am not a fan of ice skating, but I would definitely check out the choreographed light show, Pinecrest Nights of Lights.
This look like an amazing place for kids. A nice place for the kids to enjoy this holiday season. My niece would love this. xx
For children these are indelible experiences that increase their self-knowledge! Gorgeous!
This looks like a super fun place to visit. I still love crafting, but my boys are getting older and “too cool.” I’ll have to get one of my friends to do this kind of stuff with.
So many fun things to do! I’ve taken my kids to a paint your own pottery place but we haven’t done candles. I’ll have to try it!
So many fun things to do! I would love to partake in these activities, brings the holiday spirit alive.
I literally want to do everything you mentioned! All of it sounds like my perfect day. Ice skating, candle making, painting!
That candle studio looks like so much fun! I wish I could go.
What a fun experience!
I love their projects! We have a place similar near us. So fun to make for gifts.
This is such a perfect place during the holidays. I really enjoyed reading about it.
The candle studio looks like so much fun. Thanks for all these creative suggestions!
This is so sweet. I must ask my teen daughter if she would be interested in making a few candles for Xmas. She will be able to choose her own scents too.
Sounds like a great place for kids to enjoy.
What nice art projects. Indeed it’s a great bonding time with kids to work on something together. 🙂
I love the projects the kids have completed! I am ready to jump into the process and make something like that, too.
It such a fun activity. I would love to do this when I was a kid. Or even up to now. Haha. Surely kids will love this.
What a great way to get creative for the holidays with the kids!
Thanks for sharing this, Pinecrest sounds souch fun, I would definitely love The Candle Studio even as an adult, lol. I would to try making different scented candles if ever there is an option like that there.
I love a good diy gift, this candle studio sounds like a lot of fun!
So very timing as our community of moms will be having a pottery painting activity soon. I got more excited!
What a sweet idea for the kids to enjoy during the holiday break. We love getting the boys out and trying something new.
I have always loved to craft. my kids get that from me, I wanna go here!
A great way to make meaningful presents without trashing your own kitchen! Looks a great place.
Great idea for the holidays. My kids are so into craft. They would love this a lot.
what a fun experience! I LOVE doing crafts with my kids or even alone, it sparks my creativity and makes for great gifts ; )
Everything mentioned sounds fun! I’m always planning fun things to do with my nephews, so thank you for the ideas!
I agree with you – the gifts that are made with creativity and love are the best ones for relatives and friends. I think children especially love being part of crafts that celebrate gift-giving.
What a great way for the kids to have a piece of the gift giving and making! Giving the kids an experience will help to make the gift all the more memorable!