I received a response from Ginger and she said she'd love to have us organize Christmas in July 2017. There are some great ideas on here already. I'm going to recap the themes from the last few years and then add in the suggestions so far but just because we did something a year or two ago doesn't mean we can't do it again if that's the consensus. How about May 1st to make a final decision on this year's themes?
2013:
Week 1: I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas (white color schemes, snow themes, snowmen décor, “snowy” recipes, etc.)
Week 2: Silver and Gold (color schemes, wrapping, ornaments, centerpieces, etc.)
Week 3: It’s a Sweet Christmas (candy tablescapes, recipes, décor, ornaments, and other sweet items for celebrating the holidays)
Week 4: Christmas Traditions (personal traditions, ideas from around the world, fun things to make holiday memories)
Week 5: Planning 2013 (share personal goals, plans and ideas for 2013)
2014: (Overall theme: Magical Christmas)
Week 1: Trees, Treasures, and Traditions
Week 2: Magical Recipes
Week 3: Magic Elves 2014
Week 4: A Pinterest Christmas Party
Week 5: Wrap It Up
2015:
Week 1: Color Themes (A sharing of color schemes for Christmas , traditional, and otherwise)
Week 2: Vintage/Shabby Chic: (Everything from a dinner party to the tree to the mantle display....let's talk vintage or shabby chic)
Week 3: Magical Christmas Countdowns...this is the week to talk advent calendars, Twelve days of Christmas or the 24 Days of Christmas or even the Elves Countdown....how do you remember the days of December?
Week 4: Woodland Inspiration/Rustic/Cabin themes (Everything from a party theme to a tree to a mantle display.....let's talk rustic...
Week 5: Christmas in the Kitchen....every thing from menu plans to tablescapes, recipes and how to ....will all be shared this week!
2016:
Week 1: AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TABLE/IN YOUR CHRISTMAS KITCHEN - holiday foods, traditional foods in your family/from your culture or country of origin, gingerbread, cookies, menus, fancy drink recipes, table décor and kitchen decorating...anything and everything to do with food and how to prepare it and serve it.
Week 2: ALL WRAPPED UP - gifts (homemade, age appropriate), gift lists, gift exchanges, stocking stuffers, wrapping styles, gifts from the heart (charitable giving, blessing bags/kits, Angel Trees, Operation Shoebox).
Week 3: DECKING THE HALLS - trees, lighting, indoor/outdoor ideas, nativities, personal style, ornaments (homemade, purchased, hand-me-downs, vintage finds, collectibles), Winter Wonderland, Snowmen, Christmas cottages/villages/trains, penguins.
Week 4: HOLIDAY FUN/ENTERTAINMENT – Christmas movies, music, theater, books, church and school events, special activities and events in your area, games, holiday books, Christmas travel, Christmas markets, parties and party themes, Advent calendars, Elf on the Shelf, Christmas countdowns.
2017 Suggestions:
Week 1 (July 1-July 8): Christmas Characters (Santa, Snowman, Gingerbread People, Rudolph, Elves, Penguin) - how you decorate with them (inside and out), visits to any of the characters, other ideas
Week 2 (July 9-15): Wrapping (paper, boxes, tags, bows, unique ideas, how your organize your supplies) **We had ALL WRAPPED UP last year but there are always new ideas - family members change and children grow up so there are always plenty of new things to share
Week 3 (July 16-July 22): Nature/Rustic/Country (decorations, visits, etc.)
Week 4 (July 23-July 29): Wreaths and other Greenery
Week 5 (July 30-July 31): This can be a wrap-up week or we can incorporate these two days into Week 4
Looking forward to hearing your ideas.