• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Its a Hero

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Sponsor and Advertising
  • Categories
    • recipes
    • brews + food
    • wellness
    • events
    • dairy-free
    • money saving tips
    • Explore Ohio
    • Family Travel
    • tips + tricks
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • giveaway
    • printables

family

How To Save Money on Everyday Essentials

May 6, 2020 by Rachel 23 Comments

This post is sponsored by Optum Perks but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

It’s hard to believe that I have been “laid off” from my job for going on 7 weeks now. The job that, over the years, became my happy place — has been missing from my life for nearly two months. As things have changed rather dramatically for all of us, I’m finding new and inventive ways to pinch pennies.

Saving Money on Essentials Can Be Easy

I made a lot of changes in these last 7 weeks. Surprisingly, most of them were incredibly easy! Here’s what my family is doing to cut down on our every day expenses.

Shop at discount grocery retailers.

Going to the grocery store is unavoidable. For my family, we are making far fewer trips than before — but we’ve also made the decision to use grocers that offer off-brand or discounted groceries like ALDI and Save-a-Lot. We still are getting the same quality fresh foods, produce, and non-perishables, but we’re doing so at a much lower cost.

Cancelling Unnecessary Subscriptions.

There was a time when we had a cable TV subscription, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Honestly, we’ve never had that much time to watch TV. So we have trimmed up our TV subscription services by cancelling our live-television services and picking one of the online streaming services.

This can go for many types of subscriptions like a grocery delivery service, music streaming service, and even beauty boxes.

woman with laptop gif

Using Optum Perks to Save on Prescription Refills.

Prescriptions are another ‘unavoidable’ cost, but there are brilliant ways of saving cash when it comes time to fill or refill! Savings reach up to 80% with no membership and no fees!+

Prescriptions saving is easy. You just search, find, and save without ever having to enter personal information or data in. Optum Perks can be used at over 64,000 pharmacies nationwide, including Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS. Once you find the prescription and pricing, you can decide if you’d like the free coupon to be delivered by text, email, or by printing it out.

These prescription coupons can be presented to your pharmacist whichever way is convenient for you. So whether you’re using the drive-thru or picking it up in-store, your pharmacy coupon will be honored. Truly. That’s it.

I’ve been really open about my struggles with mental health, particularly since having children. As many know, I’ve relied mostly on my Lexapro prescription for the last 5 years. Usually my refills cost upwards of $20. By using Optum Perks I’ve been able to fill it at the rate of $9.00! That’s an eleven dollar savings! While it may not seem like a lot, with a family of 5, every bit helps.

You can see for yourself by heading to Optum Perks today and finding out just how much you can be saving on the prescriptions you need for the whole family.

Putting Memberships on Hold.

If you look at the number of items that are auto-deducted from your account each month, what would you see? For me, it’s our family gym membership, zoo membership, and my auto-renew of my coffee card. While these memberships are handy and even affordable in times of employment, they can be detrimental to savings when going through financial hardship.

Most memberships will allow a ‘hold’ or ‘break’ for anywhere from one to 6-months. And it’s usually as simple as giving them a call or shooting their customer service team an email.

These Adjustments Do Not Have To Be Permanent

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned in these last couple of months it’s that I am capable of much more than I previously thought I was. I’m the same girl who would grab coffee from Starbucks before work almost every day. But I don’t have to be. In fact, I’m amazed at how these small changes I’ve made in our spending have had such a tremendous impact on not only our pocketbooks, but our overall psychological well-being.

But knowing that at least some of what I’m doing right now is just temporary certainly helps. I may not stay away from my beloved coffee forever, but I can tell you that I will never go back to paying full-price for my prescriptions.

+Prices are subject to change over time

Tell me — what will you do with all of the money you save using Optum Perks?

Filed Under: #MomLife, busy mom, children, family, health, life, money saving tips, parenthood, tips + tricks Tagged With: #MomLife, busy mom, children, family, health, health and beauty, money saving tips, parenthood, tips + tricks

Freshful Tips for Mom Life!

February 13, 2020 by Rachel 26 Comments

This post is sponsored by Gerber. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I found out I was pregnant with my first child nearly 8 years ago to this day. In that moment, I had a crystal clear version of the type of parent I would be.

My husband and I knew how we would parent. I was sure of how I would ‘make’ my children behave and I certainly knew what kind of disciplinary style I would use. I was dead set on breastfeeding and then making my own baby food with my top-of-the-market blender.

But then real-life happened. Parenting wasn’t as easy as it appeared to be. By some sort of miracle, I quickly understood that we are all just doing our best.

Making your life easier as a busy mom is crucial.

Accepting that certain concessions need to be made, as a mother, for the sake of you and your children, is crucial.

Real-Life Tips to Help You With Your Baby

I’m sharing some of my go-to tips and tricks for both new and seasoned moms.

Fed is Best

You’ve heard it over and over again — “Breast is best.” Heck, I heard it nonstop from doctors, nurses, and strangers, throughout each of my three pregnancies.

Gerber-dontstressmama

But the truth is, so much more than breastfeeding goes into breastfeeding. And it may just be that breastfeeding is testing your sanity. So don’t stress about something so trivial. Whether your child is breastfed, bottle-fed, or formula-fed, says nothing about you as a parent.

Babies Need Very Little

Based on ads and marketing, you would think you’re going to need to double the size of your house when welcoming in a new baby. That narrative is completely false.

Babies need so little. Know what they need? They need food (see above), love, diapers, and a safe space. Everything else is unnecessary.

Sure, other items can be helpful, but they really just take up space. I can count on two hands the amount of ‘bonus items’ that I used over and over again (even my first didn’t make it into his own crib or room for nearly a year).

Don’t stress if you don’t ‘have it all.’ Your baby will get everything they truly need.

Gerber baby Freshful

Give yourself a break

This is something a new mom hears time and time again. And it’s easier said than done. But there are things that you can control and give yourself a little break.

First and foremost, you’re doing a good job. Sleep is minimal and the crying just won’t stop, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t doing a good job. Just survive this stage and know you’re a great parent.

Second, recognize now that everyone has been in this exact same position. Every one of us has felt like they are struggling to get by. Remember that every day for the rest of your parenting ‘career.’

Third, remove all expectations of what you expected to be like as a parent. Things are different now.

Perfect Moms Are Fake

Louder for the people in the back — Perfect moms are not real!

Sure, it would be awesome to have all of this time to make Pinterest-worthy pretty bento box lunches for our school-aged children and to puree our own baby food, but that’s just not realistic.

Gerber-freshful

The reality is that our lives are much more chaotic. Stop focusing on the things you can do ‘from scratch,’ be it cookies for the preschool party, Valentine’s Day cards, and even baby food. These entrees are SO from Gerber are so convenient. 

Look for trusted products like Gerber® Freshful Start™ to reduce the stress of mealtime

Mealtime equals chaos in my life. The school-aged kids are picky and the baby demands food now. Instead of making my own baby food, I looked to Gerber® Freshful Start™.

Gerber - Freshful food

Gerber® Freshful Start™ offers high-quality, fresh tasting, cooked with love foods that are free of preservatives and GMOs! These always-organic baby and toddler foods are so fresh tasting they need to remain refrigerated.

This product line ranges from Homestyle Purees for the Sitter Stage to Veggie Entrees for toddlers. Both are prepared in minutes and make it easy for me when I’m dealing with the chaos of feeding a family of 5.

Gerber-Mila

You can pick up the Gerber® Freshful Start™ line at your local Meijer store in the refrigerated section of the baby food aisle!

Gerber-Mila8

Because being the perfect mom is totally overrated. Be the mom that has happy, healthy, and well-fed children. Most of all remember this: We’re all just doing our best.

Freshful Tips for Feeding Your Baby

Filed Under: #MomLife, babies, brews + food, busy mom, children, family, favorites, life with a toddler, mommyhood, Oh baby!, parenthood, tips + tricks Tagged With: #MomLife, brews + food, busy mom, children, family, life with a toddler, mommyhood, motherhood, oh baby, parenthood, shop my favorites

Looking Back + Moving Forward: 2020

January 8, 2020 by Rachel 19 Comments

What. a. year! I keep seeing posts from friends regarding how 2019 was awful. I have to say, while we had some rough times, the good far outweighed the bad times.

Professional Life

2019 Summed Up

My professional life blossomed this year. It took a lot of hard work, including long hours and late nights. But I set big goals and surpassed my own expectations!

View this post on Instagram

Just over here cracking jokes with @clevelandbrowns alumni, Frank Stams! ? • This weekends Field Day event at Stow @gianteagle was SO much fun! We met Chomps, got a couple of autographs from Frank, and played Browns trivia for a chance to win tickets to a game. • Tell me — what has been your favorite Summer to Savor event at Giant Eagle this year?! . . . . . . #ad #Instafood #foodie #delicious #tasty #ohiofindithere #neofoodies #midwestbloggers #clevelandblogger #clevelandbloggers #ohiobloggers #cbusfoodscene #ohiofood #614eats #akroneats #akronblogger #gsmbsquad #rootandrise #614food #clevelandbrowns #clevelandbrownsnews

A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Sep 22, 2019 at 3:55pm PDT

2020 Goals

I’m going to push it even harder this upcoming year. I’m going to work smarter and harder. I may even hire some help (whether it be a VA or someone to help watch the kids one day a week while I work), which is huge for me!

I’m really excited to continue several partnerships and to take on a major undertaking with a local brand! It’s going to push me beyond my comfort zone, but I’m ready for it. Speaking of comfort zones, I really stayed out of photos this year. I featured mostly food, spaces, and my kids. But in 2020 I vow to be IN my content more! Stay tuned!

Personal Life

2019 Summed Up

Old House Stress

This year was a really stressful year for our little family. Chad spent most of his ‘spare’ time at our old house, getting it ready to be put on the market. This largely meant that we rarely saw him. The kids craved his attention in the moments where he was home and, well, he was just plain ol’ exhausted.

View this post on Instagram

Tomorrow! Tomorrow is THE day! . To be honest, I never imagined I would be part of the home-buying process. My husband purchased our current home long before we began dating, and I just assumed we would always make-do with our tiny, but cozy, home. . And then this all happened so suddenly. I fell in love with a century home just a block from our current home. And tomorrow we get the keys (even though I DID already sneak over and put this doormat out — in my defense the house is currently empty so I wasn’t creepin’ on anyone’s space). . Now let me go to sleep so tomorrow can come! ? . #imsobloggingthis #midwestbloggers #clevelandblogger #clevelandbloggers

A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Dec 3, 2018 at 3:28pm PST

Travel Time

The good news is that when he was around, we made the most of our time together. We took trips to Great Wolf Lodge, went camping at Jellystone Park in Pennsylvania, and even snuck in a trip to Kalahari!

We also (somehow) made it to Columbus several times as well as a trip to Kentucky! It was a crazy travel year, for sure.

View this post on Instagram

“I think I’m gonna kick it with my mom today.” ❤️ (Shirt courtesy of our favorite local shop, @reverie.gifts.xo) • In the last 24-hours that her two older siblings have been gone, she’s cut another tooth AND taken her first unassisted step! ? So yeah… I think she’s enjoying being the only little at home right now! ? • How’s your Monday going?! . . #reveriegifts #ohioblogger #clevelandblogger #clevelandbloggers #midwestbloggers #shoplocal #ohioexplored #exploreohio #cuyahogafalls #justakidfromakron #letthembelittle #letthembekids #rootandrise #cbusfoodscene #ohiofood

A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Jul 22, 2019 at 3:43pm PDT

Celebrations

We celebrated our final babies first birthday by throwing a big birthday bash at our forever home — our first real time hosting! It was a lot of work, but we were finally able to show our family and friends this incredible space.

The kids had so much fun playing in the yard and jumping on the trampoline.

2020 Goals

This year offers a fairly blank slate. I’d like to do some local travel ahead of our big trip to Hilton Head Island late this Summer. But other than that, we have no official plans.

I’ll be taking my kids on new adventures here in Ohio and exploring new neighborhoods in an effort to connect more with my community and to help nurture their curiosity.

Health

2019 Summed Up

Guys, I mildly failed at all things ‘health’ related this year. The stress of life and a serious time-management issue on my part resulted in very poor year of health and fitness for me. The one and only thing I did that is deserving of any credit is running the Pittsburgh Half Marathon.

View this post on Instagram

Wanna know a secret? You can be a social media influencer. YES YOU CAN use your influence to get discounts! With as little as 100 followers you can use your influence to get offers on LOTS of website offers. Go to the website in my bio to start getting awesome discounts from @localfluence. https://localfluence.com/offers-web?onboardSource=weboffers.itsahero.nov . . . . #ad #Local #BuyLocal #Instafood #foodie #delicious #tasty #craftbeer #craftbeerblogger #gsmbsquad #ohiofindithere #neofoodies #midwestbloggers #clevelandblogger #clevelandbloggers #ohiobloggers #cbusfoodscene #ohiofood #614eats #akroneats #akronblogger #akroneats #akrowdy #614 #clevelandfood #clefood #clefoodies #akronohio #rootandrise

A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Nov 8, 2019 at 4:22pm PST

2020 Goals

Things are changing. In fact, I’ve already started making changes. I’m being MUCH more conscious of my food choices and making MY health a top priority this year.

As cliché as it sounds, I am going to get back to my regular weight this year. For those of you who haven’t been following along since before this year, you’ll know that I used to be workout fanatic. I’ve lost some of my mojo thanks to pregnancy and kids, but I think I’ve figured out what I need to get my excitement back.

View this post on Instagram

Don’t let the fear of not being “good enough” hold you back from achieving your goals! . Today I finished my first postpartum race after having Mila and my second half marathon, the @pghmarathon . I was underprepared. Crazy, crazy underprepared. The days and hours where I should have been running were spent tending to sick children. . But I still got out there today. I still showed up. I realized in the wee hours of this morning that I CAN DO VERY HARD THINGS. HECK, I birthed three babies on very little sleep (and one without an epidural). So I knew my body was (and is) capable for more than I think. . So if you think “I could never do ___,” take a step back and give yourself some darn credit! YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS! . Thank you to @brooksrunning for helping me remember how strong my body truly is. . . #sponsored #runhappy #brooksrunning #2run6 #clevelandblogger #clevelandbloggers #midwestbloggers #MOVEpittsburgh #pittsburghhalfmarathon #pittsburghmarathon #ohioblogger #womensrunningcommunity #instarunners #runnersofinstagram #runningmom #runtoinspire #sweatpink #this_is_postpartum

A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on May 5, 2019 at 5:27pm PDT

Try new things

As a previous obsessive yogi, it has been years since I was ‘active’ in the community. I’ve tried the at-home practice, but it just wasn’t my thing. A new studio opened in my town and I’m going to try their hot power classes!

I’m also signed up for an OrangeTheory Fitness class trial. Now, if only I could get my hands on a Peleton 😛

Get back on track

Having babies and adjusting to being a work-from-home mom four years ago really did a number on my nutrition. I was no longer tied to a desk. You would think working from home would offer more balance, right? For me it did not. I have struggled with the freedom and my diet has suffered.

Now that we are officially finished with having babies (and now that we’re through the newborn phase entirely), I’m able to get a bit of my life back. And, for me, that means getting back in control.

For me, it’s less about weight than it is about comfort. And I just haven’t felt comfortable in my own skin for the last few years. I do have a goal-weight, but it is not unrealistic. I’ve set an attainable goal for myself as a ‘big picture’ thought.

View this post on Instagram

These kids had a BLAST at @discover_pinecrest and @neohioparent Family Fun Day this week. They played HARD and I got a reprieve from the grind of parenting! ? • I’m so excited that Pinecrest is offering so many family-friendly events this Summer, including two more family fun days! Head on over to my blog post to read more about the fun events happening this summer! [link in profile] . . . #ad #clevelandohio #clevelandfood #clevelandblogger #clevelandbloggers #ohioblogger #midwestbloggers #cbus #216 #akrowdy #justakidfromakron #targetdollarspot #targetdoesitagain

A post shared by Rachel L (@itsahero) on Jun 13, 2019 at 5:47pm PDT

Writing it all out feels surreal. I cannot believe what this last year has brought our family (and I can’t believe we made it through). But I’m infinitely excited for what’s to come.

What goals do you have for 2020?

woman with wine glass in hotel

Filed Under: #GetFit, #MomLife, cleveland, family, fitness, goals, health, mommyhood, parenthood, postpartum, wellness Tagged With: #MomLife, family, fitness, goals, health and beauty, motherhood, parenthood, postpartum, wellness

Tips to Tackle Sick Days with Johnson & Johnson

December 29, 2019 by Rachel 20 Comments

This post has been sponsored by Johnson & Johnson®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

go away sickness

The holiday season can be stressful. Between school, work, holiday parties, and the normal winter “sickies,” the whole family is bound to come down with something. To keep the aches and pains away, our family uses Johnson & Johnson products like Children’s Motrin®, Benadryl®, and TYLENOL® when we aren’t feeling our best.

With three kids and two adults in the house, it’s hard to say that there’s ever a time when everyone feels “great.” It just doesn’t happen. But, I have a mission for the upcoming year—and that is to stay ahead of the sickness by keeping my family as healthy as possible.

cold medicine
Use products as directed.

Tips + Tricks to combat the ‘icky’ days.

Wash your hands

This should go without saying, I’m sure, but I’m obsessive about making sure my children wash their hands. Even if someone in your house feels ill, the best way to stop it from spreading is by frequent hand-washing.

Get adequate sleep

Another thing I’m obsessive about is sticking to my children’s regular bedtime. It’s easy to get swept away by a cozy late-night movie, but it does us zero favors when our children wake up cranky and more prone to illness.

Set a bedtime and stick to it. And if you can’t stick to a “hard” time, set a general “within this 90-minute window” timeframe.

USE JOHNSON & JOHNSON PRODUCTS TO HELP KEEP THE ACHES AWAY

My children and I all get “aches” when we are feeling even the slightest bit under the weather. In those moments, it’s important that we slow down and listen to our bodies. I trust Johnson & Johnson products to help make my family more comfortable in these tough moments. A little rest and a little Children’s Motrin® will help their little bodies feel better in no time.

I, on the other hand, prefer Extra Strength TYLENOL®Rapid Release Gels. I don’t have a lot of time to be “down,” especially while taking care of three icky-feeling kids. I also keep Benadryl® on hand to help with congestion and allergy symptoms.

Watch your food and drink

Coming out of the holiday season can be rough for all of us. It’s not unlikely that we all get sucked into patterns of eating that are abnormal for us. Take this time to make you’re on a regular meal schedule and you’re drinking plenty of fluids.

Our family drinks a lot of water, but maintaining a meal schedule has always been more difficult. I keep soup and crackers on hand just in case one of them is feeling under the weather. If I can’t get them to drink water, at least I know they can sip some bone broth or noodle soup to maintain hydration.

medicines
Use products as directed.

Don’t get in a bind

Keeping the “ickys” away can sometimes feel like a full-time job. Instead of running out to grab more Children’s Motrin® or Benadryl® in the middle of a crisis, stock up ahead of time on all of your go-to Johnson & Johnson products AND save money in the process.

From now until February 1st, 2020, get a $10 Reward with your next $30 purchase of participating Johnson & Johnson products. Keep your receipt and upload it online here to qualify.

Johnson & Johnson cold medicines
Use products as directed.

Tell me, which Johnson & Johnson products will you stock up on to receive that $10 reward?

Tips To Stay Healthy This Winter with Johnson and Johnson

Filed Under: #MomLife, children, family, health, life with a toddler, mommyhood, money saving tips, parenthood, tips + tricks, wellness Tagged With: #MomLife, children, family, health and beauty, money saving tips, parenthood, tips + tricks, wellness

Amwell Urgent Care Services: Get Back to Your Routine Faster

December 4, 2019 by Rachel 36 Comments

Compensation was provided by Amwell via Momtrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Amwell or Momtrends.

Tis the season! Not just for the holidays, but for sickness, too! Between the inclement weather, work and life commitments, and just general busy-ness of the season, there is basically zero time to get to the doctor for an office visit.

Kids eating on the floor

Thanks to technology, we don’t have to worry about leaving the house for Urgent Care visits. Amwell offers online and mobile urgent care visits. They make it easy to be seen by doctors in just minutes to help combat illnesses like pink eye or the stomach flu.

I’ve been using mobile doctors for the last couple of years. Sure, we see our primary care doctor and pediatrician regularly. However, sometimes it just isn’t possible. Last week I was suffering from a headache that I just couldn’t get rid of. At first I thought it was just a headache, but when the pain moved to my jaw, I knew I needed to act.

Amwell App

I took a break while I was at work and I downloaded the Amwell app on my phone. Within minutes, I was connected with a board certified physician. She helped determine that, yes, it was likely an infection. An antibiotic prescription was called into my pharmacy and I was good to go.

woman with smartphone

That was it.

Why use Amwell for Urgent Care Services?

An urgent care visit can be expensive. And, unfortunately, most Urgent Care clinics are not open 24/7. Amwell is available day or night, at home or on the go.

What can I be seen for?

You can be seen for things like Fevers, Colds & Flu, Allergies, Sinus Infections, Stomach Bugs, UTIs, Rashes, Pink Eye, and more. They will not see you for an emergent situation (seizures, chest pain, broken bones, etc).

What can I expect during an Amwell telehealth visit?

You’ll need to create an account and enter in some of your personal information like insurance and health history. You can do this on either your phone or computer.

Then you can browse available doctors, review their credentials, and choose your preferred pharmacy.

Next, your video visit will start. The doctor will review your symptoms and assess your condition and set into motion next steps.

Complimentary Care

It’s still important to establish care with a regularly visited physician. Amwell is great for Urgent Care situations, but they are not a replacement for in-person care nor are they emergency care doctors.

Save on Urgent Care

The cost of an Amwell visit is $69, but if you click here and use the code itsahero you’ll receive 50% off!

Girl with pizza wings

Getting sick care shouldn’t be stressful. Don’t let it slow you down. Use Amwell to get your health back on track while you stay focused on everything else.

phone with app

Filed Under: #MomLife, busy mom, children, doctor, family, health, money saving tips, parenthood, tips + tricks, wellness Tagged With: #MomLife, busy mom, children, doctor, family, health, money saving tips, parenthood, tips + tricks, wellness

Experience Holiday Family Fun at Pinecrest

November 25, 2019 by Rachel 34 Comments

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.

tapestry on the wall

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!

Kids painting pottery with adult

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.

boy painting pottery

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.

Mother and son painting pottery

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.

kids smiling

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).

kids making candles

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!

candle making and a beer

I, on the other hand, mixed my own candle with a variation of hops and pine scent. Basically, it smells like Christmas beer.

kids making candles

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.

Gifts Under Christmas Tree

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.

Filed Under: Akron, children, Christmas, cleveland, Columbus, crafty, Cuyahoga Falls, date night, explore locally, Explore Ohio, family, Family Travel, gift ideas, gifts for kids, holiday gift guide, NEO, Ohio, parenthood, shop local, shop my favorites Tagged With: akron, children, Christmas, Christmas shopping, cleveland, columbus, crafty, Cuyahoga Falls, date night ideas, explore locally, explore Ohio, family, family friendly, gifts, holiday gift guide, ohio, parenthood, shop local

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 48
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Blog Archives

Grab the Button

It's a Hero

Recent Posts

  • Instant Pot Philly Cheesesteak Sliders Recipe
  • How To Make TikTok Pasta – Viral Recipe
  • Air Fryer Fried Oreos Recipe — Super Easy!
  • Air Fryer Hush Puppies Recipe
  • First Alert Home Safety Priority Checklist
  • Air Fryer Copycat Krispy Kreme Donuts
  • Maternal Mental Health Matters: Quit telling moms they’re overreacting
  • Heart Shaped Peanut Butter Cups Recipe
  • Must Try Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink Recipe
  • Must Try Air Fryer Copycat Cinnabon Rolls Recipe
Collaborate with Rachel Loza on influencer marketing
dealspotr.com
Follow