Happy Homemaer 2026-07-06

Goodmorning - was a too hot week.

Went back to work last Thursday after 1,5 week vacation - was glad to spend the day with a/c.

Grandkids came for supper Thursday with ds.  Friday they left for the weekend with friends - camping.  DH took the dog out for walks during the weekend.

Weekend was slow- some housechores, chatting with neighbors, relaxing, reading.  Sunday night at restaurant with sil, bil and bil's sister.

Let's join Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom 

Weather this week

Mon

28°

16°

Tue

30°

17°

Wed

29°

19°

Thu

27°

18°

Fri

26°

15°

Another hot one in the works but at least the nights are cooler

Looking around the house

Picked up but needs more decluttering.

Thinking and pondering

Youngest sil (55) is waiting for more results next Friday but news were not quite as expected :(

TV this week

• Vivre en forêt
• Construire demain
• Christmas movies
• 2 Tapons au Japon
• 
  

Interesting blog I saw this week

Nothing

On my reading pile

Tarots and Tea Leaves Mysteries #2 Death in the Stairwell - Zia Bellamy

On my to-do list

Over the weekend

• Vaccum main floor
• Wash main bathroom
• Laundry
• Dust kitchen

Monday

• Post here - DONE
• Empty car glove compartment and console (hasn't been done in years!)
• Sweep patio
• Get ready for in-town work tomorrow

Decluttering

• 2 sets of doll clothings with 2 hats
• 1 underwear (children)
• 1 Cami
• 1 facecloth
• Youtube channel subscriptions
• 1 cd + case
• 1 mechanical pencil
• Napkins, ketchup packets and masks from car

Simple pleasure

Getting rid of stuff!  this week was just some youtube channel subscriptions, yay!

Upcoming this week

Tuesday - work in-town

From the camera

Nothing

Web picture of the week

Christmas in July!  For those interested have short blog posts everyday from July 1st to July 25th.

 

Christmas in July 2026 - Day 6

 

WEEK 2 — Kitchen & Planning Ahead

Christmas in July day 6 — Starting a Christmas Recipe List

Today could be a good day to start writing down recipes you want to make later in the year.

Some might be family traditions and some might be new things you want to try.

Having a list early means you’re not scrambling in December trying to remember everything.

Christmas in July 2026 - Day 5

 

Christmas in July day 5 — Thinking About What Matters Most

Before getting too deep into planning, it helps to pause and think about what parts of Christmas actually matter most to you.

It might be family dinners, baking, decorating, quiet mornings, movies, traditions, or something very simple.

Knowing that early makes it easier to let go of the things that don’t matter as much.

Christmas in July 2026 - Day 4

 

Christmas in July day 4 — Choosing Your Christmas Colors

If you like decorating for Christmas, choosing colors early can make things much easier later on.

You don’t need to fully plan anything, but having a general idea helps everything feel more cohesive.

It could be traditional colors with softer tones:

• deep red

• forest green

• cream

• warm gold

Classic colors always feel timeless.

Christmas in July 2026 - Day 3

 

Christmas in July day 3 — Movie Night #1

Christmas in Connecticut - 1945

There’s something nice about taking a break from planning and just enjoying a quiet evening.

This movie has a cozy vintage feel and doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s about a writer who pretends to have the perfect Christmas life and then has to actually create it.

It’s light, simple, and feels like a good way to ease into the season.

Appetizer idea: you could make a quick crostini with cream cheese, a bit of lemon, and some herbs if you have them. It’s easy but still feels a little special.

Mocktail idea: a cranberry spritz works well. Just cranberry juice with sparkling water, and if you have it, an orange slice or a bit of rosemary.

Christmas in July 2026 - Day 2

 

Christmas in July day 2 — Creating a Christmas Planning Notebook

Today could be a good day to start a simple Christmas notebook.

It doesn’t need to be fancy. A notebook, binder, or even a few pages together is enough.

You can use it later for recipes, gift ideas, shopping lists, decorating notes, or anything else that comes to mind over the next few months.

Having everything in one place makes December feel much less overwhelming.

Christmas in July 2026 - Day 1

WEEK 1 — Creating the Atmosphere

Christmas in July day 1 — Starting Early Without Pressure

One of the nicest things about starting Christmas preparation in July is that nothing has to feel rushed.

There’s no pressure to finish anything today. This is really just about beginning slowly and giving yourself more time later on.

You could spend a few minutes thinking about what you want Christmas to feel like this year. Not what you think you should do, but what actually matters to you.

Maybe you want quieter mornings, simpler decorating, more homemade food, or less last-minute shopping.

Starting early gives you space to make those choices calmly.

Christmas in July 2026 - Welcome

JUNE 30 – Welcome to Christmas in July 2026

This year's theme will be A Gentle Christmas in July - Preparing Slowly for Christmas in December

Every year, I tell myself I want Christmas to feel calmer.

I want more time to enjoy it, less rushing, and fewer last-minute decisions. But somehow December always arrives faster than expected, and all the things I hoped to do end up feeling squeezed into a few short weeks.

So this year, I decided to start earlier.

Not to celebrate Christmas in July, but to prepare for it slowly and intentionally while there’s still time.

From July 1st to July 25th, I’ll be sharing a series of daily blog posts focused on gentle Christmas preparation. Nothing overwhelming or unrealistic, just small ideas that can help make the holiday season feel a little calmer later on.

Each week will focus on a different theme.

The first week will be about creating a calm atmosphere and easing into the season slowly.

The second week will focus on kitchen planning, simple recipes, and preparing ahead where possible.

The third week will be centered around handmade projects, gift ideas, wrapping, and practical preparation.

And the final week will focus on traditions, quiet routines, meaningful moments, and simplifying Christmas in a way that feels realistic.

There will also be simple Friday movie nights along the way because preparing for Christmas should still feel enjoyable.

The goal isn’t to create a perfect holiday season. It’s just to start earlier, move slower, and hopefully enjoy December a little more when it arrives.

I’m really glad you’re here.