Board and Brush Portsmouth NH

Board & Brush

Portsmouth, NH

Situated in the heart of this historic New England town, Board & Brush offers a unique escape for both locals and visitors alike. Step into this inviting studio space and unleash your inner artist as you craft one-of-a-kind wooden signs under the guidance of expert instructors. Whether you’re a seasoned DIY enthusiast or a complete beginner, Board & Brush provides the perfect opportunity to unwind, get creative, and leave with a personalized masterpiece that captures the essence of your time in picturesque Portsmouth.

What did I create?

I created a 20×24 Vintage Family Frame

Take a peek at how I created my board

We started off our project by getting 2 minutes to distress our boards. It was so fun using hammers and mallets to bang up our boards to give it a more rustic look.

Next, we sanded the edges so we didn’t have any sharp spots.

After that we were able to choose from a variety of different stains.

I love that we were able to see several completed projects that used each stain. It was hard to choose because I liked several, but in the end, I chose dark walnut.

Staining changes the whole look of the wood. My dark stain really brought out the grain and knots in the wood.

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April 22, 2024 mytravelingkids.com

Sea Love Candle Bar

Sea Love

Portsmouth, NH

Looking for a fun, unique experience while visiting the picturesque coastal town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire? Sea Love Candle Bar has the perfect solution. Nestled within the heart of Portsmouth’s vibrant downtown district, Sea Love Candle Bar offers a creative and immersive experience where guests can craft their own custom-scented candles while soaking in the the seaside. With its welcoming ambiance, personalized approach, and an array of enticing fragrance options, Sea Love Candle Bar is not only a destination for candle enthusiasts but also a haven for those seeking a moment of relaxation and creativity by the sea.

Take a peek at my experience!

First step is figuring out what types of scents you like. They provide over 100 scents that you can smell and while doing so you can start thinking of which will go well together.

You can blend up to 3 scents.

There are so many scents to choose from.

Need inspiration? They give you a great list of scent blend suggestions.

Grab your bottles of oil and get ready to blend.

The scents I chose were

Cheesecake

Blueberry Muffin

Graham Crackers

Combine the oils and decide which one you want to stand out and which will be in the background. As you create your oil, take time to stop and smell it to make sure it is coming along the way you want.

Once you have your oil ready it is time to start assembling everything.

Before you start, it’s time to create your own label. (Or leave your bottle plain if you’d like.)

I named my candle Blueberry Cheesecake.

Ok…time to add the wax

And give it a good stir for about 2 minutes.

Using some chopsticks, center your wick and you are done creating your custom candle!

How long is the experience?

Your custom candle experience takes about 30-45 minutes.

Candles take 2 – 2.5 hours to cool before they are ready to take home or can be shipped for $12/ea. If you wish to pour a candle and pick it up the same day, be sure to reserve a time at least 3 hours before close to ensure your candle has time to cool.

When can you visit?

Monday 12-6

Tues & Wed Closed

Thursday 12-7

Fri & Sat 11-7

Sunday 11-5

How much does it cost?

Your custom candle can cost between $38- $52 depending on the vessel you choose.

When can you get your finished candle?

Candles take about 3 hours to cool before they are ready to take home. If you are unable to pick up your candles the same day, you are welcome to pick them up anytime in the two weeks following your visit. If you can’t pick it up within that time frame, they can be shipped for $12 each.

Ready to see my candle?

Look how pretty it turned out! I wish you could smell the amazing aroma this candle lets off when it’s lit. It fills up the room with the delicious scent of blueberry cheesecake. I’m so happy with it and I can’t wait to get a bunch of friends together to make more.

Leave some time to shop.

Sea Love has so many adorable coastal gifts around the store. Many are from local, women-owned businesses.

They also have their own signature reeds and candles.

I love this one that’s called Portsmouth. It transports you right to the seacoast.

There are so many great coastal gifts for everyone on your list.

Tips for a Great Day

Reservations? You do not need to make a reservation, but there may be a wait. It is strongly recommended to make a reservation.

New Location! Sea Love is getting a new home. They will be opening in a new location on April 25. I can’t wait to check out their new spot!

Give them a follow

Click HERE to get to their website.

Instagram

Facebook

Sea Love

33 Deer Street

Portsmouth, NH

603-427-8040

A warm thank you to Sea Love for having me as your guest. It was a fun way to spend the morning in Portsmouth. It was a unique and creative experience. I can’t wait to return with friends. As always, all opinions are 100% of MyTravelingKids.com.

April 16, 2024 mytravelingkids.com

Creating Our Own Candle at Sky Candle Co

Creating Our Own Candle at Sky Candles Company

Boston, MA

At Sky Candle Co custom candle bar, you are able to create one of a kind candles and diffusers from over 50 fragrance choices! It is such a fun, unique experience that would be perfect for date night, a girls’ night, solo day, and more. Since there was no school that day, we turned it into a mother/daughter day in Boston. Creating our own candle at Sky Candle Co was a great experience to do with a teenager!

Let me show you how much fun we had!

First step was to smell all the scents they have on display and choose a few that you love. The choices were endless!

You can decide which scents (up to 3) you would like to have blended. After your scent is created, they give you a sample. If you think it’s perfect then you can move on but if it’s not quite right you can play around with it some more. The staff is super helpful at giving suggestions and helping you find an amazing blend. We ended up choosing Frosé, Currant, and Grapefruit Zest.

You can then create a label for your candle. My youngest daughter chose our name…lol.

Next, you get to choose your jar.

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February 14, 2024 mytravelingkids.com

Hopkinton Center for the Arts

Our last stop on our Central MA Press Trip was Hopkinton Center for the Arts, in Hopkinton, MA. As I read more about the center, I was thrilled to see that it is a place the entire community can use. Every town should have a place like this where people can develop and nurture an appreciation for the arts.

What makes this place so special?

They believe the Arts are for individuals of all ages, cultures, and artistic abilities. They develop artistic skills, offer outstanding performances and art exhibitions, and enable visitors to experience art in all forms.

What classes do they offer?

They offer over 200 classes for youth, teens, and adults in the visual and performing arts. They have classes in fine arts, dance, music, theater, film-making, photography, acting, and ceramics. In addition, students can take private music and art lessons with qualified instructors.

What workshop did we take?

We had SO MUCH FUN doing a ceramics class! The class was about 2-hours long and in the end, we had all created fabulous mugs. (Ok…fabulous may be a stretch when you’re talking about MY mug, but you’ll see what I mean…lol)

The Studio

Walking in to the studio will immediately spark your creativity and ideas will start popping.

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November 18, 2023 mytravelingkids.com

2023 Arts & Crafts Holiday Gift Guide

Embrace the enchanting allure of the holiday season with our Christmas Arts & Craft Kit Gift Guide, where creativity meets festive cheer! The joy of giving takes center stage as we dive into a curated selection of craft kits that promise to turn this Christmas into a celebration of handmade wonders. Whether you’re an arts and crafts enthusiast or a novice looking to infuse a personalized touch into your gift-giving, these kits are your ticket to creating cherished memories and spreading holiday happiness. Enjoy our 2023 Arts & Crafts Holiday Gift Guide!

The Crafter’s Box

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS COMPANY

The Crafter’s Box wishes to deliver a joyful crafting experience by providing all the tools, materials, and expert instruction you need to create artisan-level projects that inspire and fulfill the creative spirit. They source the best artist instructors, high-quality tools, and materials so that you can count on the products you receive from them to build something beautiful. The process of making creates deep connections, helps us enhance our problem-solving skills, and find joy by taking time to slow down for meaningful and fulfilling activities. They are a small business supporting other small businesses, artists, and craftspersons. With every workshop they create, they make an honest effort to source project assets from local and small businesses with quality, uniqueness, and sustainability in mind

WHAT WORKSHOPS DO WE LOVE?

Acrylic Gouache Painting on S’well Water Bottles Workshop

In this workshop, watercolor instructor Cara Rosalie Olsen discusses color theory, technique, and composition before guiding you in painting delicate florals on a stainless steel S’well water bottle. As you paint, Cara encourages you to do so with a ‘gestural approach’ to capture the essence of a flower without getting too caught up in the details.

DIFFICULTY: Intermediate

MAKE TIME: A Weekend

What was included in the kit?

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December 12, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

Books to Help With Your New Years Resolutions

Every December, I start to look at my life and evaluate what I could do to make it even better for the upcoming year. I think of things I like to do that brings me joy. For example, this year I want to entertain more. I love to cook and try new cocktails, so cookbooks are definitely on my Christmas list. I love unique cookbooks…check out a few amazing ones I’ve found. It is also a time to make some new habits like journaling, traveling, and becoming the best you possible. Here are a few books to help with your new years resolutions!

The Unofficial Witcher Cookbook

By: Nevyana Dimitrova & Trey Guillory

The Unofficial Witcher Cookbook: Andrzej Sapkowski’s epic fantasy saga of the witcher Geralt has captivated pop culture for nearly 30 years. Through books, graphic novels, TV shows, and video games, the witcher’s adventures have brought audiences face-to-face with monsters, sorceresses, kings, and destiny. Now, you can have your very own taste of the legendary adventures of a witcher.

The Unofficial Witcher Cookbook is filled with 50 recipes ranging from humble meals and tavern stews to bountiful feasts fit for a king, including:

Prized Potato Soup

Blacksmith Dumplings

Feast of Ham and Nightshade

House Specialty Soup

Honey Cakes for a Coin

And more!

This cookbook is perfect for die-hard fans of The Witcher, as well as those who just can’t get enough epic fantasy in their life.

The Van Life Cookbook

By: Susan Marque

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May 30, 2022 mytravelingkids.com

10 Tips for Taking Kids to a Broadway Show

There’s no better place to watch theater than Broadway! Some people think it is an activity that’s only for adults, but I couldn’t disagree more! There are so many great family shows and kids will never forget their first one. However, family + Broadway = $$$ so you might want to plan ahead! Here are 10 tips for taking your kids to a Broadway show:

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March 18, 2021 mytravelingkids.com

Puzzle Culture Review

My family has never been into puzzles until the pandemic hit. All of the sudden our friends started posting completed puzzles on Facebook and raving about how fun they are. We had to see what all the fuss was about and I’m glad we did because it really is a fun way to pass the time together. It’s neat to see we all have different methods of completing our sections. I love finding things that both adults and teenagers can get excited about. We were thrilled when the subscription box, Puzzle Culture, sent us one of their amazing boxes. It is such a unique box that helps families slow down and create memories together.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM

Puzzle Culture is such a great concept because the box revolves around a specific artist each month. Everything in that box connects to the theme in the painting. It makes you feel like you’ve walked into a museum. (Boy, I can’t wait to do that again!) I also love that the box is gender-neutral, so my husband doesn’t feel left out. (Which can happen in a house with 3 females!)

WHAT COMES IN EVERY BOX?

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November 6, 2020 mytravelingkids.com

Review of Cooper and Kid…a Dad and Kid Craft Box

I love watching my husband making things with our daughters. It is such a special time and they have so much fun making memories with him. It’s a great time to teach them life skills while bonding with them. Since we have been practicing social isolation for the past few months, there has been plenty of daddy-daughter time. We were so grateful that Cooper and Kid sent us two amazing kits to try out! And it’s not just made for dads…I plan on getting in on some of the fun as well because these kits can be used by any adult and kid.

What do I love about Cooper and Kid?

Cooper and Kid is a monthly subscription box, but since most of the world is in social isolation, they have decided to do Coronavirus School Closing Relief Packages. This special limited-time offer features discounted kits that are available immediately. They arrive at your door about 3 days later and there is no further obligation to buy anything else. I love that these kits help build creativity, character development, and promote problem solving. However, mostly I love that it builds relationships and creates lasting memories.

GET YOUR KIDDOS OFF THOSE ELECTRONICS, GET SOME FAMILY-TIME IN, AND HAVE A BLAST!

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September 17, 2020 mytravelingkids.com

Smile Create Repeat Review

Smile Create Repeat

What do I love about this box?

I love that you don’t need to be an artist to use Smile Create Repeat. I am not a good artist, but I love that I can pour myself a glass of wine, play some relaxing music, and have some Me Time as I do a little drawing. I also love that people who are artistic…like my daughter…can appreciate good art supplies, watch the tutorials, and then add the supplies to their collection.