Running Tina’s Tiny Things is truly a labor of love—between making baby clothes, crafting artisan soaps, experimenting with new scrubs, fulfilling orders, and preparing for vendor events, our days stay pretty full. But tonight, we decided to do something rare and so needed: we took the night off. No sewing, no shifting inventory, no label designing—just pure family time. ❤️
And in true holiday spirit, we knew exactly what we wanted to do… jump in the car and explore Christmas lights all over Redlands, CA.
But first—because what is a holiday adventure without a warm drink?—we made a quick stop at our local Starbucks. Everyone in the car picked out their favorite hot chocolate flavor, and once those cozy cups were in our hands, the night officially began. ☕🎄✨
With hot chocolates warming our fingers and the Christmas playlist turned all the way up, we set out on our festive hunt for the brightest, sparkliest, most magical decorations we could find.
And Redlands did not disappoint.
The moment we entered our first decorated neighborhood, the kids lit up just as much as the houses. Lights wrapped around every window, glowing snowmen waving from front yards, reindeer standing proudly in twinkling grass—it was like driving through a real-life holiday storybook. One of the first houses we found had so many wooden dog characters wearing Santa hats that the entire yard felt alive with cheerful puppies ready for Christmas morning.
Another street took our breath away with its rainbow of lights covering the bushes, trees, and entire front of the house. There were inflatables everywhere—giant characters, a Christmas train, glowing reindeer, and one enormous inflatable horse that looked like it was watching over the whole scene. The creativity was incredible.
Of course, what makes Christmas-light cruising fun is that it’s never predictable. Some streets were dazzling from end to end, while others were completely dark, which turned our little family outing into a festive treasure hunt. The kids would shout from the backseat, “TURN RIGHT—there’s something glowing over there!” And just like that, we’d chase the next hint of color in the distance.
One of the prettiest homes we came across had classic multicolored lights outlining the roof, trees wrapped perfectly in synchronized patterns, and adorable Christmas characters greeting visitors. The way the lights bounced off the deep red brick made the whole display feel like something straight out of a cozy Christmas movie. We slowed down just to admire it.
As we drove, we couldn’t help but appreciate the love and effort people put into their decorations. Some houses were cute and simple, others were full-blown winter wonderlands with every inch of yardspace covered in lights or décor. It reminded us so much of our own passion for creativity—how we pour that same love into our products, from our holiday scrubs to our Tiny Tales by Gino soaps and our sparkly Tiny Sparks by Gia candles. Creativity really is a gift that brings joy to everyone who sees it.
The night ended with sleepy kids, empty hot chocolate cups, and a camera roll filled with glowing homes, inflatable characters, and those magical Redlands holiday streets. It was the perfect reminder that sometimes, taking a break to simply enjoy the beauty around you is exactly what the heart needs.
So if you’re in Redlands this season, grab a warm drink, turn up the Christmas music, load up the car, and go explore. You never know which house will be the next one to make you say, “Wow… that’s pure Christmas magic.” 🌟🎄✨
