Making Natural Cleaner from Christmas Tree Needles

I so wish this were my idea, but I found it on Instagram and then checked YouTube for another version of it. Who knew you could make pine cleaner out of your Christmas tree needles? Not me, obviously, but I am looking forward to trying this recipe that Ali from Little Hill Homestead put together. Check it out in the video below.

Three Things to Do in July to Prepare for Christmas

How are we already past the halfway point in the year? Christmas is in 165 days!

For the first time in a couple of years, I didn't buy a Christmas ornament when we visited The Christmas Shop and General Store in Manteo on vacation. Luckily, I can always purchase online if something inspires me. Buying myself a couple of early birthday gifts made me feel more thrifty. 

How are you doing with following our to-do list to prepare you for Christmas? 

Here are the recommended steps to take in July:

Take advantage of Christmas in July sales

Photo credit freepik

Once an odd gimmick, so many stores, online retailers, and even local artisans take advantage of Christmas in July these days. You can't forget Amazon Prime Days, which just happened last week. I bought myself an early birthday gift--a new Kindle Fire. Our town, like many others, has a local Farm and Artisan Market. We visited two while on vacation and picked up some nice handcrafted gifts. 

Buy any DIY project supplies

Photo credit freepik

On June's list, you decided on your DIY projects and handcrafted gifts for family and friends. Now, it's time to buy those supplies. If you haven't been crafting all year long, August is a great time to get started crafting. Take advantage of early sales to find what you need. 

Put together your Christmas Reading List with classics and 2025 new book releases

So many seasonal titles hit the shelves in the fall, and the best way to create a buzz for them is to make them available for pre-order, like I'll Be Home for Christmas by Jenny Bayliss. Some Christmas titles have already hit the market. I added some backlist titles to my Kindle recently. You can check them out here. What are some seasonal titles you're looking forward to this year?

Following these seven months of helpful tips, you can make the holidays less stressful. See you next month!

Three Things to do in May to Prepare for Next Christmas

I had hoped to share this post two weeks ago, but alas, my work schedule interrupted playtime, which includes blogging. Though it is late in coming to you, let's talk about three things you can do in May to prepare for next Christmas. 

Not sure what it is like for you this time of year, but it has been crazy as all get out over here. Getting the Wilmington house ready for the summer season, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, attending year-end activities for dance, and finalizing preparations for our daughter's June wedding. So, this month, instead of focusing on tasks, let's talk about three things to do to keep the Christmas spirit alive despite the crazy time of year it is for many of us.

Host a Christmas movie night

Photo credit: IMDB

Thank goodness for streaming services, because it is now easier than ever to get a healthy dose of Christmas movies. Get your friends or family together and binge some holiday movies to inspire decorating ideas, craft ideas, menu ideas, and more!

Take some fun family photos 

With so many people sending photo holiday cards these days, why not try an off-season family photoshoot? Using your favorite restaurant, outdoor space, or vacation spot as a backdrop, take out your camera and get some fun family photos. Adding a Santa hat or a scarf with mittens will make it feel Christmasy. But even if you take photos in your bathing suit at the beach, just think of all the wonderful memories you will make.

Plan a holiday game night

Photo credit: freepik

Remember when you came up with those new party game ideas last month? Check out the post here. Now is a great time to try them out with the family or a small friend group. What better way to capture that holiday spirit? 

Try these ideas and let us know how they turned out.