No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. It is only July, but I am already thinking of Christmas. As I explained in last year’s introduction to Christmas in July, I am not attempting to minimize the celebrations that occur between now and Christmas, nor am I promoting “Christmas creep” (the phenomenon of retailers exploiting the … [Read more...] about Christmas in July 2014
holidays
The Birth of Hope
Are you in a situation where you need hope? I won’t even speculate if your answer is affirmative because we’re all facing situations where we need it. Take heart! We’re about to celebrate the birth of hope personified. Hope is defined as “someone or something that may be able to provide help.” Early in Jesus’ ministry, long before his … [Read more...] about The Birth of Hope
Frugal, Practical Stocking Stuffers for Kids
Last week we looked at ideas for low-cost, useful stocking stuffers for adults. Now let’s look at some for the kiddos on our lists! Though I have identified a couple of toy items, I tried to minimize my focus on these because most little ones already have plenty. Stocking stuffer ideas for kids Snack containers. I initially saw these … [Read more...] about Frugal, Practical Stocking Stuffers for Kids
Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping
I absolutely love wrapping gifts! There’s something about lovely wrapping paper and shiny bows that sparks creativity in me. I’ve become increasingly aware that wrapping gifts in traditional gift wrap and using disposable bows isn’t particularly beneficial to the environment. Fortunately, I’ve discovered several creative, eco-friendly … [Read more...] about Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping
Frugal, Practical Stocking Stuffers for Adults
Stocking stuffers are one of life’s little pleasures. There is something delightful about pulling gifts from a bulging stocking, especially when you discover that the meaningfulness of a gift is masked by its small size. As I’ve noted before, I want to give my loved ones meaningful gifts, not “junk” that I resort to because I don’t know … [Read more...] about Frugal, Practical Stocking Stuffers for Adults
Christmas in July: Ways to Save Money on Christmas Travel
Welcome to the final installment of Christmas in July 2013. You can read about the purpose of Christmas in July here. Links to the previous posts in the series are located at the bottom of this post. My husband and I spent some time this last weekend trying to iron out our travel plans for the Christmas holiday. Travel can be so … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Ways to Save Money on Christmas Travel
Christmas in July: Alternative Gift Exchange Ideas
Welcome to the fourth installment of Christmas in July 2013. You can read about the purpose of Christmas in July here. Links to the previous posts in the series are located at the bottom of this post. Have you ever experienced frustration, embarrassment, or other unpleasant emotions because your family didn’t discuss or didn’t agree … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Alternative Gift Exchange Ideas
Christmas in July: Gift Giving Guidelines
Welcome to the third installment of Christmas in July 2013. If you missed the first two posts in this series, including the explanation of the purpose of Christmas in July, you can see them here and here. Have you ever received an awful gift? Maybe a tube of anti-aging cream or a parenting book? How about a meat sampler (though it’s … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Gift Giving Guidelines
