Wrap-Up

I really enjoyed my first Christmas in July over at the Magical Holiday Home forums.  I found some great new blogs and met an amazing group of women who love Christmas just as much as I do.  I was pretty ambitious when I made my schedule for the month and unfortunately, the hot weather derailed some of my planned baking, but I did manage to complete the following:

1.  I watched a Christmas movie every day (or two to make up for having to miss a day when my friends from Italy were here) - I found a couple of new Christmas movies and watched a lot of old favorites.

2.  I read the Christmas in July book selection, The Snowglobe by Sheila Roberts, and facilitated the book chat with the help of a great discussion guide I found online here.  I also found a new author, Debbie Macomber, who writes wonderful stories about Christmas.  If she writes a new one this holiday season, you can bet it will find its way into my stocking.

3.  I started and am still working on a Christmas scarf with some fun fuzzy yarn that's a burst of white, red and green.

4.  I updated my blog almost every day (had to catch up on one or two I missed).

5.  I mixed up a great holiday cocktail to kick off the whole celebration - the Poinsettia Beverage.

6.  I baked up a whole lot of goodies, testing out some recipes I'd had my eye on:  Pecan Tassies, Sausage and Potato Squares, Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Rolls, Chocolate Cherry Truffle Cake, Cherry Cheese Coffee Cake, and Berry Brunch Pizza.

7.  I tested out a holiday treat recipe for Peppermint Bark.

8.  I whipped up some new ornaments - Felt Mistletoe, Snowman Face Disc, Quilted Ball, Music Star and Christmas Bauble.

9.  I made some Wine Charms.

It was a busy month, and I enjoyed every second.  If you love Christmas, you'll love Christmas in July, and over at the forums, it's a place to chat and share ideas, test recipes and craft ideas, and showcase decorating tips outside of the hustle and bustle that is December.