Thursday, August 29, 2013

Christmas Card Exchange 2013


My Christmas in July blogging just fell apart the closer we came to Sophia leaving for Oregon.  There were too many things going on!  Now that she's settled, it's time to get back to thinking about the holidays.

I love Christmas cards.  I love to send cards and I especially love to receive them.  I have saved every Christmas card we have received since Sophia's first Christmas in 1994.  I am sad to see that not as many people are sending cards these days.  Yes, it can be costly - the cards themselves, plus family photos and newsletters if you're so inclined, plus postage, it all adds up.  If you could see, however, how much a card brightens someone's day, you'd make sure to send them.  Christmas is the only time that we really communicate with all the family and friends that we have spread all over the world.  Although many of them are on Facebook, and see our status updates on family life, Christmas is the time to produce the family newsletter and bring everyone up to date with what we've been doing all year. 

This year, I'm adding a new group of people to my Christmas Card List - my fellow Christmas lovers over at the Forums of Magical Holiday Home.  If you love Christmas, and if you'd like to spread the cheer with cards, please join us.  You can find us here and scroll down to Magical Holiday Home Swaps at the very bottom of the page.  Click on Swap Rules, Swap Proposals, Current Swaps and look for the thread titled Christmas Card Exchange 2013.  Send in your details as instructed and prepare for an overflowing mailbox this holiday season.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Christmas in July 2013 - Day Nineteen


A final Sweet Christmas post - love this cookie idea:


I picked up another ornament yesterday - I received a $5.00 off coupon when I bought the Our Grad 2013 ornament online so I used it for a special ornament for Vic this year:

 As a former electrician, I thought he would like it!

See you on Monday with one of my favorite themes - Christmas Traditions.   Where do I start?

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Score!

I don't remember how I stumbled across this ornament on hallmark.com but I was thrilled to find it.  It must have come out around graduation time and it didn't dawn on me to check my local Hallmark store.

I think I must have been looking for pictures of the current Keepsake Ornament line and this came up in the Sale section.  Not sure how many are left, but if you are interested, here is the link.  Several years ago, I was really frustrated by Hallmark's failure to have a nice School Memories ornament.  After buying a school ornament for every year from Sophia's first year of preschool (1996) up until 2005, there was nothing remotely connected to school in either 2006 or 2007.  I had to improvise with a plain round photo holder from Michael's that had a little year tag on it.  I am so happy to have found this for Sophia's graduation photo!

Christmas in July 2013 - Day Eighteen


Time for an international twist on the It's a Sweet Christmas theme - does anyone celebrate with Les Treize Desserts de Noël?

How about with an old-fashioned Christmas Pudding, this one above courtesy of one of my favorite chefs, Nigella Lawson?

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Christmas in July 2013 - Day Seventeen


There are some amazing Christmas treats in this post - Sweet Christmas Goodies - along with directions.  One of our favorites is the Holiday Pretzel Treats (we call them Reindeer Noses) made with waffle pretzels, Hershey's Kisses and M&Ms.  Super easy, and very yummy!

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

2013 Christmas Music Inventory

Continuing on with the Christmas organizing...

  • 'Tis the Season - Celtic Christmas
  • Noel - Josh Groban
  • The Music of Christmas - Steven Curtis Chapman
  • Santa Claus Lane - Hilary Duff
  • Hallmark 'Tis the Season with Vince Gill and Olivia Newton-John
  • Worship the King - A Christmas Collection
  • Listen! It's Christmas - Johnny Mathis
  • Songs 4 Worship Christmas
  • Handel's Messiah - The London Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir

Christmas in July 2013 - Day Sixteen


Courtesy of http://princessandthefrogblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/favorite-things-3.html

I always thought that this would make a nice and easy decoration - ribbon candy in a glass jar.  Michael's has all sorts of these glass containers - all shapes and sizes - and they are a great deal when you have one of their 40% off coupons.