Christmas cards and Christmas parties in July?
The first snowfall is months away, but you can still have Christmas in July. Not literally, of course, but the quirky tradition of having a holiday-themed party in the heat of July is a fun one that's easy to put together. And, even if you're not throwing a party, there are actually some things you can do now to start preparing for the real Christmas six months down the road.
If you're planning a Christmas in July party, the key is to keep it fun and playful. It's the perfect time for an elaborate round of White Elephant gift giving, goofy Christmas apparel and caroling. Here are some ideas to get your X-mas party going:
* Get the word out by sending Christmas cards. Stage a Christmas photograph, then integrate it into a design online at sites like Shutterfly, which will print the cards and send them to directly to you. It's a very low-cost option and a fun way to let people know about your party.
* Decorate your house and yard to set the scene. Put up some Christmas lights on your house and string them around your patio - you can even put them in regular trees, instead of having a Christmas tree. If you have an artificial Christmas tree, by all means, pull out the ornaments and have your guests decorate it at the party.
If a party's not in the works for you, then use the theme for some planning ahead. It's little coincidence that the holiday rush in November and December leaves people (and their bank accounts) drained. That's why it's a good idea to start thinking about Christmas in July. Here are some ideas for ways that you can start preparing, so that the real Christmas season won't be such a crush:
* Start mining your family pictures from this year for the perfect shot to go on your personalized photo Christmas cards. Whether it's from a graduation party or a summer vacation, start thinking about the great options you have to say hello to friends and family at Christmas time. This can also be a great time to narrow down photo choices for other greetings or announcements, like thinking of you cards or save-the-dates for upcoming events. Christmas designs are available all year round, along with other photo card designs for every occasion at Shutterfly and other vendors.
* Gifts are available year round - you can shop sales throughout the summer and beat the 5 a.m. Black Friday stampedes and crowded malls of fall and winter. Whether or not you start buying, you can begin keeping lists of things you hear your loved ones mention that they'd like to have. That way, you'll cut down on the indecision you'll face when doing your gift shopping.
* Start saving for gifts now, rather than draining your finances all at once. If you start saving a little bit now, putting smaller amounts away month by month, you'll have a great Christmas shopping nest egg, if you want to wait to shop closer to the holiday. That way, you'll be able to give great gifts without taking as painful a financial hit.
Courtesy of ARAcontent