Christmas... in the News: Netflix Christmas Movies, Tree Themes for 2025 Stroll at Disney Springs & Christmas at Wooddale

 

Welcome to this edition of Christmas... in the news. This is a review of Christmas articles and news over the last week.

Isn't it great to be back on Sunday again? That means there are only 67 days until Christmas!!! So many fun things are going on this time of year.

For those of us who can't get enough Christmas movies, NJ.com released a list of all the Netflix Christmas movies premiering this season. How fun! Check out the list here.

WDW News Today reported that Disney Springs has planned a Christmas Tree Stroll. The article reveals the tree themes for 2025. You can read more here. 

EPLN has reported that the holiday tradition known as Christmas at Wooddale returns December 13 and 14. Broadway and screen star Corey Cott will join the Wooddale Choir and Orchestra to provide what sounds like an amazing performance. For more details and a link to order tickets, you can visit here.

That's it for this week's edition. Check back for more Christmas... in the news next Sunday. 

Three Things to Do in October to Prepare for Christmas

Can you believe we are already through 19 days of October? Christmas is a little over two months away. Yikes! How has this fall been for you? It's been busy around here.

If you've been following along with our monthly to-do lists, you should be less stressed about Christmas preparations. If you haven't had the chance to keep up, or if you are just discovering this blog, check out the monthly lists and see what you can manage:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

Here are three things you can do in October to prepare for Christmas.

Order Christmas Cards

Photo credit: alicia_mb on Freepik

Back in May, you took some fun family photos. Now, pick one of your favorites and order your Christmas cards. I rarely ever sent photo Christmas cards to family and friends, but as I go through our yearly keepsakes, it's neat to see people change through the years. Hallmark often sends coupons if you have ordered cards from them in the past.

Plan Your Outside Decorations

Photo credit: Freepik

Now is the time to figure out how you want to decorate the outside of your home. While we often reuse the same lights and decorations each year, the last couple of seasons, I've switched how the lights were hung, changed the groupings of items, or added a live plant or two. Check Pinterest for inspiration. 

Plan Your Holiday Meal

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it's good to plan your meal ahead. Magazines have tons of new recipes for main dishes and sides, so there might be something new you want to try. Here are three places to look for recipes:

Town and Country

Delish

Good Housekeeping

Enjoy getting ready for the holidays!

Hallmark Channel's "Countdown to Christmas" Starts Friday

The time of year we've all been waiting for is coming up soon. Hallmark Channel's "Countdown to Christmas" starts this Friday! What are you looking forward to watching? 

You can also sign up to play games, watch videos, and more! Click here.

Christmas... in the News: Old-Fashioned Christmas in the Woods Returns, Best New Christmas Decor at Walmart & Christmas Music on The Wave

 

Welcome to this edition of Christmas... in the news. This is a review of Christmas articles and news over the last week.

Every week, we love bringing you Christmas news from around the nation and around the world. And guess what? There are only 74 days left until Christmas!!! It's a good thing my yard is finally decorated for fall. Before we know it, we will be stringing Christmas lights. 

Today, we start our news journey in Ohio. WKBN First News 27 reported on this weekend's return of the Old-fashioned Christmas in the Woods annual holiday craft fair. With live entertainment, food, and over 200 vendors, it sounds like a great time. Looks like it will also be running next weekend. Check out the article here.

Leah Barrett at BestLife.com is sharing some of the best new Christmas decor items at Walmart for 2025. I love the wreath. Check out Barrett's list here. Do you agree with her picks?

If you are ready for Christmas music, Salt Lake City's 103.1 The Wave started playing Christmas tunes this past Tuesday. Sounds like they are eager to spread some early holiday cheer. Check out the article here.

That's it for this week's Christmas... in the news. Look for our October task list to prepare for the holidays coming soon. 

Coming October 7: Christian Historical Romance from Roseanna M. White - The Christmas Book Flood

 

In this charming World War II historical romance novella inspired by Jolabokaflod, Iceland’s Christmas Book Flood, an author falls in love with a man who doesn’t know he is her editor. 

Iceland. December 1944. Tatiana Eliasdottir is looking forward to welcoming her niece Elea for Christmas. She’s determined to give the little girl a joyful holiday and take her mind off troubles at home. Soon, however, the publishing house where Tatiana works is flooded with orders thanks to the first issue of a seasonal book catalog. With the war causing so many shortages, Icelanders are eager to give their loved ones something that isn’t rationed, and books are the perfect solution to their dilemma.

Anders Johannsson is an editor who shares Tatiana’s love for stories. While he wishes to know her better, he’s never dared pursue more than friendship. They are first and foremost colleagues. But when Tatiana’s attempts to cheer Elea fail, Tatiana recruits him to help, a plea he can’t refuse. He is, after all, not only an editor but a beloved children’s book author and devoted uncle to his adoring nieces and nephews.

As the two creatively bring Icelandic Christmas traditions to life for Elea and frantically work to meet the demands of the publisher’s holiday rush, Tatiana finds herself increasingly drawn to kind, thoughtful Anders. But if a love is to grow between them, she will need to reveal her closely held secret: she is the mysterious author of a popular new novel . . . and Anders is her editor.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FDJM4K83
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tyndale Fiction
• Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 7, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 5.0 MB
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled 
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled 
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 175 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8400501883

Pre-order here!

Christmas... in the News: Rhode Island Sea Glass Tree, Salvation Army Expecting Greater Need for Christmas Assistance & Mesquite Toes Dance Troupe Annual Show

 

Welcome to this edition of Christmas... in the news. This is a review of Christmas articles and news over the last week.

Happy Sunday! Here we are on the first Sunday of October, and there are only 81 days left before Christmas. How did we get here so quickly? Once we are no longer in triple digits, it seems we speed faster than NASA's Parker Solar Probe into the holiday season. 

Today's news starts in Westport, Massachusetts, with NBC affiliate 10 WJAR reporting on a Tiverton, Rhode Island, man who has created an outdoor Christmas tree made with thousands of pieces of sea glass. John Viverios considers himself a Christmas guy. There are photos of this tree lit up, which looks amazing. Check out the article here. 

15 WANE out of Fort Wayne, Indiana, features an article from the Allen County Salvation Army, where Corps Officer Dena Smith says they are expecting to help between 100 and 200 more families than they did in 2024. According to the article, applications open on October 6 and run through October 10. Read the report here.

Mesquite Local News reports that the Mesquite Toes Dance Troupe’s Annual Christmas Show is returning. “There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays” takes place on December 5 and 6. For more details and box office hours, please visit here.

That wraps up another great week of Christmas news. Enjoy your week!

Christmas Romance Book Spotlight: Love Across Time by Helena Smrcek

 

A Dual-Timeline Christian Romance Rooted in Faith, Hope, and Lasting Love byHelena Smrcek

A bundle of WWII love letters. A modern-day discovery. Two hearts connected across generations.

When practical real estate investor Nick Mass inherits his grandparents’ home, he stumbles upon a collection of heartfelt letters written during the Second World War. Each page reveals a powerful love story between a young woman waiting at home and the soldier who risked everything for her. Determined to uncover the truth, Nick enlists the help of Joy Christenson, a spirited local historian with a deep love for stories of the past.

As the two work together to trace the legacy hidden in the letters, their journey weaves between past and present—between war-torn love and modern longing. What begins as a historical inquiry soon becomes personal, challenging Nick and Joy to open their hearts to second chances, divine timing, and the possibility that love truly never dies.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FKMSR1TC
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 5, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 184 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8283276557

Purchase here!