One of our family Christmas Traditions is to go and choose our Christmas Tree together, with the car … and some rope. It’s a big deal for us, and we really love the whole family experience. Despite all the many positives of a synthetic tree, we love the whole freezing outside while we choose thing, and the smell of the fresh pine needles too much.
This year, Pines and Needles invited us to try one of their trees from one of their Pop-up stores. I’ve always been impressed with their trees, so off we went! Now it’s worth saying at this point, Pines and Needles DELIVER TO YOUR HOUSE! How amazing is that? So for families who can’t bring their own tree home, or want to go on to do something else after choosing their tree, it couldn’t be easier!
The other brilliant thing is, you don’t need to cut the bottom off your tree before you put it in its stand. This is a BIG plus in my book. The frustration and mess it causes doing it at home is best avoided for that fully festive experience.
So we arrived at the Pines and Needles pop-up at Kenwood House in London, to find a cute German-Market style set up, with beautiful fairy lights strung in the trees around.
We parked right next to it, (most of their pop-ups have a car-park next to them), and there were rows of strong healthy looking trees according to size, and NOT IN NETS!
So the first thing the kids did, was play hide & seek …
The kids loved mooching about, looking at all the different sized trees and calculating how many trees we actually need (according to them).
Tom & Lucas, our Christmas Tree Elves were so friendly and helpful, and were refreshingly brilliant with the kids. They asked the little one if he’d like to help them net the tree up, which of course he was delighted with.
They gave us a mini tree for the kids to decorate at home, and we stocked up on some gorgeous bunches of holly, and mistletoe … much to our 9 year old boy’s disgust! He held on very firmly to that mistletoe, so no-one could catch him out.
We also came away with a much needed very sturdy stand. I personally prefer the wooden ones, but the plastic fantastic is the way to go if you get your tree early like we do. You can keep your tree watered, and hopefully it’s sturdy enough to keep keep your tree upright if you have cats!
So all safely strapped on to the top of the car … for now. Tradition has it that by the time we get home, it’s swaying dangerously at passers by.
We felt like we’d had a really lovely afternoon out as a family by the end of it.
Then we went home to decorate the tree and other bits of the house … mulled wine, hot chocolate, nibbles, Christmas music and then AGES going through the decorations the kids made when they were younger. They’re a little older now, but I do remember a good stretch when the older two were around 4 years old, and the tree was full of all sorts of recycling homemade goodies!
We always let the kids at it and help them if they ask for it. And then we all admire the result! The lights are usually all over the place, areas where there aren’t any decorations at all, and usually a child or two underneath the tree for some period of time.
You’re never too old to be lifted up to put the star on the top of the Christmas Tree …
And all Christmas Trees develop their true sparkly magic once the lights are down …
One thing I didn’t know, is Pines and Needles also have a gift service – where you can buy a Christmas Tree as a surprise for a friend! Imagine opening the door to find one of those on your doorstep.
Something else I love. Every year Pines and Needles support and help raise funds for Action For Children ( last year they raised £10,980) The money raised is used towards vital services, supporting the most disadvantaged children, young people and families across the UK.
You can find out more about Pines and Needles on their website: https://www.pinesandneedles.co
You might also like:
How to Pet Proof Your Christmas Tree
Why Playing Games Over Christmas Is A Good Thing
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“The best Christmas idea ever.” – Charlie Condou (Actor)
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“These were the best things I have ever (and I mean ever) ordered!!
I’ve never seen the magic or happiness last so long x”
– Jolene (August 2017)
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If your child believes in Father Christmas and you want to keep the magic for as long as possible, There are DIFFERENT and NEW! Christmas Letters each year! You can preorder these for Christmas 2017 for dispatch from September.
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Fairy & Tooth Fairy Letters
Fairy letters from a world of dragons (who set fire to your lunch by mistake), Mystery Gardens (with changing adventures inside), Magical Potion Fairies, Secret Underground Passageways, Magical Tree Bark, Time Travel … and more.
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Emily x
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