Christmas in July: Day 31

Here we are. The last day of Christmas in July. I've enjoyed this month, especially reading the posts from all of you. I've gotten some great ideas, tips, and creative inspiration from you. As we wrap up this month we turn our thoughts to the end of summer, beginning of the school year, fall holidays, and, of course, Christmas.

The celebration of Christmas is all about the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Last year I shared the classic scene from A Charlie Brown Christmas with Linus explaining the true meaning of Christmas. This year I'm sharing a classic from 1741, Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus".

Enjoy! And see you soon...

Christmas in July: Day 30

As we wind down the last days of Christmas in July I hope you're excited and inspired for Christmas 2015!

I've set my budget, started shopping, begun crafting for handmade gifts, bought stocking stuffers, determined the date for our family Christmas, made plans for Dan and I for Christmas Day, and planned our annual family Christmas party. Whew! I feel good about my chances for having a stress-free holiday season from Thanksgiving Day through New Year's Day.

Since I will have time for the "fun stuff", I thought I'd share some Christmas Bucket List ideas today.

You can find all of these lists and more on Pinterest.

Christmas in July: Day 29

I was born in Springfield, Missouri. My most vivid Christmas memories from that very young age are the Santa at the Heer's Department store, the Christmas parade, and the puppy we got for Christmas one year.

Christmas Parade around the Square in Springfield, Missouri

(courtesy News-Leader.com)

When I was four years old we moved to Roeland Park, Kansas. In the successive years we lived in the suburbs of Lenexa, Shawnee, and Overland Park. No matter where we lived, we would regularly drive down to the Country Club Plaza to see the Plaza lights. It was a magical experience. 

For most of my adult life I've lived in the Phoenix, Arizona area. As you can imagine Christmas out here is very different meteorologically. But from a decor standpoint, it's just like anywhere else. You see snowmen (some are made out of tumbleweeds painted white), Rudolph, Santa, Cartoon Characters, Nativities, and Lights. Lots of lights. Each town/city has a Christmas tree by the City Hall or at the City Park. There are huge residential light displays all over the valley. The map is printed in the paper and we always drive around at least once to ooh and aah over the creativity and brightness of the displays.

Here in Surprise we have an annual Surprise Christmas Party. It is a Friday night/Saturday extravaganza with the lighting of the town tree, carnival rides and games, photos with Santa, Hot Air Balloon Glow, firework display, and more. I love going to it. It feels so small town even though we're part of a large metropolitan area.

City of Surprise Christmas Tree at the Surprise Sports and Recreation Complex

Everywhere I've lived there has always been something special about Christmas beyond our family celebrations. When Christmas decorations start appearing on homes in late November, I feel both an anticipation for the coming season and a sense of community with the people of my town. 

What are your memories and experiences of community Christmas celebrations and traditions?

Christmas in July: Day 28

Today I'm featuring Santa Claus. Specifically Santa as he appears around the world. As I was looking for images, I ran across these Jim Shore figures on Pinterest. What a great combination: Santa, Around the World, and the creativity of Jim Shore. Sounds like a good CIJ post to me! Maybe I should start a Santa collection...

British Santa

Italian Santa

Irish Santa

Mexican Santa

Dutch Santa

Christmas in July: Day 27

Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite vintage images from my Pinterest board. I guess by now you've probably figured out that I really like vintage graphics!

Christmas in July: Day 26

Just think, five months from today Christmas 2015 will be over. We will have spent time with our friends and families, decorated our homes inside and outside, attended Holiday Concerts for our kids, our grandkids, and at our churches. We will have exchanged Christmas cards (or not), exchanged gifts (or not), baked, bought, and eaten loads of delicious holiday goodies. We will have listened to Christmas music, watched Christmas movies, and read Christmas stories. We will have happy memories of Christmas 2015 and (yikes!) be looking forward to Christmas 2016.

We put so much time planning and preparing for the holidays during the fall months; but when it's over we're generally too worn out to put much thought into taking the holiday items down and putting them away.

Today I'm going to share my after holiday organizing tips with you.

Tip #1: On December 26th, grab some paper and a pen, sit in front of your beautiful tree and think about the holiday season you've just experienced. Make two lists; one of what worked and one of what didn't work. You can also add a third list of what you'd like to add for next year. Place your list where you will find it first thing next fall. I have a Christmas notebook that I keep all of my organizing papers in.

Tip #2: Think about how you want to store your Christmas ornaments, decor, lights before you start packing. I store all of my items in clear tubs. I also mark each tub with a label or content list. I've tried several methods of packing away my ornaments and decor, but last year I tried one that I think will work for me for a long time. I packed according to room and tree. The office tree ornaments in one tub, the bedroom in another, the playroom... you get the idea. I also pack my decor by room or theme. Yes, I used lots of tubs, but most of them are small and easy for me to get down next year without Dan's help.

Tip #3: As you're sitting there, go through the Christmas cards you've received this year. You may want to use some of them for gift tags for next year. If you keep a card record like I do, you can check off who you received cards from. While you're looking a t your list, this is a good time to note new addresses or to make additions/deletions to your list. Pull out the letters that you want to respond to and try to accomplish that before New Year's Day.

Tip #4: Deliberately schedule your clean up. There's nothing so overwhelming as looking at Christmas decor in the middle of January. Whether you clean up on 12/26, 1/2, or at Epiphany, get on the calendar and do it!

Tip #5: Pat yourself on the back. You have once again provided a joyous time of celebration for your family!

Christmas in July: Day 25

Several years ago I began collecting Nativity sets. I have dozens of them in all different sizes and styles. I usually purchase one or two sets each year. Last year I didn't find any that caught my fancy, but this year I've already bought two new sets.

I found the carved piece at Goodwill. I love the uniqueness of it. The three figure piece is from Hobby Lobby.

Some years I leave some of my Nativities out for the entire year from Christmas to Christmas. Some of them are just so pretty! I will share my entire collection in December or you can check out some of my past posts here and here.

Christmas in July: Day 24

I love candles. My problem is that I love to own candles, I'm just bad about burning them. I don't burn them because then they'd be gone! I know, doesn't make sense.

Here are some candles I've found on Pinterest. These are definitely too cute to burn!

Christmas in July: Day 23

Today I'm sharing a video I came across a few years ago. It's a little long, but it's worth hanging in until the end. I hope you enjoy it!

Christmas in July: Day 22

I have posted several times about the Christmas stockings I've stitched for my family. Most of you have heard this story before, but for those of you who are new to this blog I'll repeat it. When I was a kid one of my favorite movies was "Yours, Mine, and Ours" with Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball. My favorite scene in the movie was Christmas morning when they all ran downstairs to find 20 stockings hanging on the fireplace. That was my ideal Christmas!

As Dan and I started our family, I stitched Christmas stockings for our kids. Dan's mom stitched "Baby's first Christmas" stockings for them, and she also made stockings for Dan and me. As the kids started to leave home, I stitched them another stocking to take with them for their own home. Soon, the grandkids started arriving and I stitched a stocking for their house and a stocking for my house for each new arrival. My "ideal" is becoming a reality!

This year I'm still working on a stocking for my youngest grandchild for his house. And I just found out that I'm going to have another new grandbaby sometime early 2016. So next year, I'll be making two stockings for him/her.

I love to stitch, it's a form of therapy for me. Plus, when I'm stitching a gift for someone each stitch is accompanied by a thought, a memory, or a prayer for the recipient. I just hope my eyesight holds out for all of the patterns I want to stitch!

Stitched in 2014 

Stitched in 2014

I even stitch stockings for grand-pets!

Last year's stocking line up at my house.

Christmas in July: Day 21

Today I want to share with you some of the most beautiful Christmas Cards I've seen. What makes them even more special is that all of them are handmade. Of course my source is Pinterest; primarily the boards of my DIL and her mother. They both make cards and their work is awesome!

Christmas in July: Day 20

I sat down this morning to create today's post and as I was researching a website for my subject, my computer starting screeching and I got a screen message supposedly from a well-known anti-virus company telling me I was critically infected with a virus.

Well, I was.

But the message was really the beginning of the virus which was hoping I would do something stupid so the entire virus would be launched on my system.

Several hours and $99 later, we're back up and running. Thank you, Cox Communications CTS!

So, I'm just going to leave you with a (safe, I hope) image and call it a day...

Family Christmas 2014

It's impossible to get them all to smile at the camera at the same time!

Christmas in July: Day 19

Five months from today I expect to be hosting our family Annual Christmas Party. It is so much fun! We bring appetizers or desserts, play games (with prizes), sing carols, and have a White Elephant gift exchange

Since our last party I've been searching for games to play and for good white elephant gift ideas. My nephew Matt, and his wife, Shelby set the bar high last year by bringing a goldfish (yes, a live one!) and a can of Pringles for Fish and Chips! I think this year will be game on...

In this post I thought I'd share some of the games I'm thinking of playing and maybe a White Elephant gift idea or two. Of course I reserve the right to change my mind, so you'll have to check back in on December 20th to see what really transpired!

This would make a great White Elephant gift.

I'd like to play this one - it's so easy,

but obviously the little kids could not participate.

This would be fun in teams of two - one kid/one adult

Christmas Bingo is always fun. I also have a set of Thanksgiving and Easter Bingo that I bought from Current, Inc. a few years ago.

This would be fun for looking at Christmas Light displays.

Christmas in July: Day 18

Need a laugh? Me too.

Christmas in July: Day 17

Here we are, more than half way through Christmas in July. I don't know about you, but I'm really in holiday mode. Every time I go to Target, I head for the dollar spot to look for stocking stuffers for my grandkids. I've found some cute items there already. Stocking stuffers is one of the elements of Christmas that I struggle with.

Don't get me wrong, I love to stuff their stockings! But it is dang hard to come up with ideas for some of them. Take the guys. They are hard to buy for. Once I get past their favorite gum, candy bar, or playing cards I'm at a loss.

The girls are much easier for me. I've given them cool kitchen gadgets, nail polish, cute emery boards, jewelry, items for their pig/snowman/cow collections, stitching accessories... I could go on and on.

The grandkids are a little bit of a challenge although it's gotten easier to give to the older ones. I have found some good stocking stuffer suggestions on Pinterest. I have listed a few below and you can find more sources on my Stocking Stuffer Pinterest board.