Christmas in July 2015 - Day Eighteen

In the list of 25 Christmas Traditions found here, reading a Scripture by candlelight sounds like a lovely way to end your day

Christmas in July 2015 - Day Seventeen

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can take only moments to make a difference in someone's life.  One Random Act of Kindness a day shares and spreads the joy of the season.

25 Random Acts of Kindness

Christmas in July 2015 - Day Sixteen

Some book-reading and movie-watching countdowns for you and your youngsters to enjoy today.

25 Days of Christmas Countdown -  Each day we will read a Christmas book, watch a Christmas movie, make a fun craft or do a fun Christmas activity, and eat a yummy treat.

25 Christmas Books for Kids

The Best Christmas Films for Kids

Christmas in July 2015 - Day Fifteen

It's D-I-Y Countdown time - a few ideas to inspire you if you're the D-I-Y type.

Christmas Countdown Chalkboard Charger

10 Beautiful DIY Advent Calendars

Christmas Countdown Blocks

Rogue Engineer via Good Housekeeping (you have to scroll through the gallery)

1 of 12 Ways to Repurpose an Old Soda Crate

Creative Holiday Crafts for Kids (scroll through, it's 14 of 28, don't hit View All or you'll have to subscribe)

Best Homemade Advent Calendars - I've always thought this would be a great one for gift cards - college students would love discovering gift cards each day - Starbucks, local eateries, grocery store, movie theater

Fab n' Free via Double the Batch

Christmas in July 2015 - Day Fourteen

A slightly different twist on Christmas Countdowns today - fun for the older folks (teens, young adults, couples, etc...)

The Best Beauty Advent Calendars (of 2014) - this is amazing - and the Benefit version is available in the US here

This is the coolest thing ever - it takes Ipsy bags and Beauty Boxes to a whole new level - a little piece of new goodness every day for 24 days! In October, you will find me scouring the beauty sites for Advent calendars like these - what great gifts for daughters, BFFs, Secret Pals, anyone who loves a bit of glam! I am so excited, I can hardly contain the exclamation marks!!!!

Spouse Christmas Countdown

For $5.97, this download is a bargain - the artwork is beautiful and yes, you do have to cut out the cards and envelopes, but it is well worth it. Have fun!

Christmas Countdown Advent Flip Frame

This idea appealed to me for a couple of reasons (and doesn't it just take us back to Vintage week with the beautiful papers that have been used in the design?). You can definitely make this as an Advent calendar, customizing the design for whatever group it is intended - littles, teens, spouses - it would be a great tool for 24 days worth of activities but my thinking was that it would also make a great build-your-own Christmas photo memory keeper. You could take a photo each day of your little one enjoying some Christmas fun, or of your older children and their Christmas activities, or (and this was really my thinking along with today's second idea), you can take a photo of you and your spouse enjoying a holiday outing or event. You can also use it to document the whole family's adventures if you have a family activities countdown calendar.

Tie the three together - glam up from your beauty calendar, pick the couple's activity of the day, and snap a photo of the fun!

Christmas in July 2015 - Day Thirteen

Today's focus is on Countdowns for the littles in your household. Sophia always had a fabric Countdown Calendar - a snowman or Santa with 24 little pockets on the front, just large enough for a Hershey's kiss or tiny toy. We've come a long way since then!

Most of the links below include the Countdown Calendar pictured as well as other ideas.

Treat Rolls

Santa Advent Calendar

Shoe Organizer Pocket Countdown

Paper Chain Snowman

Christmas Tree Advent Calendar Countdown (digital pattern)

Peg Advent Countdown - the link is broken so I can't tell if there is something written on the back of each number disc

Christmas in July 2015 - Day Twelve

Almost halfway through Christmas in July with Week Three - Magical Christmas Countdowns...Advent Calendars, 12 Days of Christmas, 24 Days of Christmas, Elves Countdown...how to you remember the days of December?

I love the activity calendar ideas that seem to be everywhere these days. You can tailor them for small children, for older teens, for couples, for the entire family. You can use one of the pre-designed lists or make your own, keep it the same every year, or change it up. The possibilities are endless. Here are just a few examples.

kiki & company

create CRAFT love

While He Was Napping via The Jenny Evolution

Kid Space Stuff