Christmas in July 2026 Day 5

sweetpumkinpye · Jul 4, 2026

This week for CIJ it's all about sharing. There will be a different topic every day and we would love to hear your ideas and your stories relating to that topic. By each sharing we may all learn something new about our MHH members and to make this and future Christmas events even more memorable.

CIJ Day 5: Share your favourite blog, youtube channel or website.

There are many lovely informative blogs and channels out there full of wonderful recipes and decorating ideas. I can quite easily go down the rabbit hole and while away a few hours. I have listed some of my favourites below, please share your favourites.

I know that we have some talented bloggers here who put a lot of effort into their blogs.
Please tell us about your own blog if you have one and don't forget to share the link so we can all share in the joy!

www.allthingschristmas.com

www.thesunnysideupblog.com

Youtube channel

The Good stuff with Mary Berg

http://www.youtube.com/@thegoodstuffctv

She’s in her apron

http://www.youtube.com/@shesinherapron

Lori K · Jul 5, 2026

I love this! I used to follow many different blog -- some for professional reasons, others for personal. But I DO have a question for all of you, as you prepare your responses. What feed reader do you use to follow your blogs? Every time I find one that works for me, support ends and it gets pulled. I started with Bloglines, and then switched to one that had a Google extension. Once support ends, if I update my browser, the RSS reader disappears -- along with the list of blogs I follow. And following them on Facebook means I get "fed" what the FB algorithm thinks I need and not every post.

Two of the blogs I followed for years were A Working Pantry, mrs. patsi @ A Working Pantry, and The Pioneer Woman,
The Pioneer Woman – Recipes, Country Life and Style, Entertainment, back before her empire got so big. Although I live in a metropolitan area, I grew up rural and try to live a more simple life and keep the skills I learned at my grandparents' knees alive, which is how I found A Working Pantry, and several others that have since ceased operating (Granny Miller and Down to Earth). I found The Pioneer Woman site because she reviewed one of our products and, recommended it for homeschooling, back when her kids were little -- like 7 and under. She was just getting started blogging and had not yet started her publishing, television, or commercial products ventures. I also liked both sites because they had good Christmas coverage.

Thanks to my DSis#3, I was turned on to an interesting, and definitely non-Christmas, podcast site, CounterClock, https://counterclockpodcast.com/. It's a true crime investigative podcast and Season 8 covers an unsolved mass murder that took place one suburb over, in an area where I, to this day, regularly shop. And I knew one of the women who was murdered. She attended the school where I taught for the first 5 years of my career in education. Her mother volunteered in the office and her younger brother was in my class. I've listened to the entire series once and need to go back and re-listen to it. Since the crime occurred, I've always had my own theory, and this podcast includes additional information that lets me know that I might have some valid clues to share with the investigative team.

Looking forward to seeing all your recommendations and learning about the blogs some of you publish.

Kate1964 · Jul 5, 2026

I don't follow any blogs except maybe Side Hustle School. I used to like a YouTube channel by a woman who sewed her own clothes, but I've lost track of it. I'm not a FB fan.

jampss · Jul 5, 2026

Myron's Mom · Jul 5, 2026

Out of touch with the world again, Lori, I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, lol. Maybe because I pretty much use my I phone for everything? I only use my laptop for downloading patterns to a flash drive.
I don’t follow any blogs, no Facebook, instagram, etc. You tube is pretty much based on what I want to learn. I have a few people I’ll check out because their sew alongs are easy to follow.
OklaRoots
Fiercekittenz
Lauren Mormino

Lori K · Jul 5, 2026

Myron's Mom said:
Lori, I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, lol.

A feed reader is an app or web-based tool that automatically monitors the sites you regularly follow or subscribe to. Rather than having your in-box inundated with messages about new content being posted, your feed reader aggregates the new posts from sites you want to follow into one place. You can categorize those sites by subject matter, so all your recipe pages are together and separate from hometown news sites or craft posts. You can also set it up to search for subject specific content. I used to have one set up to search for our product reviews, or for use of our trademarks (to monitor for unauthorized use). And then I had folders set up for other work-related topics, as well as for my personal subscriptions and sites I regularly followed. If you follow a lot of web sites, it's easier than having 20 tabs open at once or having to go thru your list of bookmarks to check to see if anything new has been posted.

luludou · Jul 5, 2026

Lori didn't know about all that.

I follow a few
Diary of a Stay at Home Mom - every Monday for the past few years have linked with her.
Used to follow Down to Earth too.

And on youtube (going through the list made me unsubscribe from quite a few!)
Decuttering and everyday living
I do look at Minimal Mom and Clutterbug too once inawhile and Diane in Denmark - YouTube
Benita Larsson - YouTube - I like her youtube videos about minimalism, decluttering, everyday life
해그린달 haegreendal - YouTube Following a Japanese women in everyday life
Fairyland Cottage - YouTube
All kinds of me

For exercise I like
Mady Morrison - YouTube
Brain Education TV - YouTube
Denis Fortier - YouTube
Improved Health - YouTube
Bob & Brad - YouTube

Health
Doc Talks Detox - YouTube
FODMAP Everyday - YouTube
The Gut Show - YouTube

Recipes
Downshiftology - YouTube
The Cross Legacy - YouTube

Art
Jesse Robertson - YouTube
MarenaART - YouTube
Diane Antone Studio - YouTube
erinbunpaints - YouTube
madolaine - YouTube (crocheting in French)
Magical Watercolor - YouTube
Sketchbook Skool - YouTube
Painting with Jesse - YouTube
Artist's Palette Durham - YouTube
Let's Make Art - YouTube

Animal cams
Raccoon Saloon - YouTube
Wildlife of Maine - YouTube
Brownville's Food Pantry For Deer - YouTube
Brown Bear Salmon Cam Brooks Falls | Brown Bears | Live Cams | Explore.org

Christmas
Christmas Coaching with Krisann - YouTube
Mrs.T's Christmas Kitchen
Christmas Tree Lane
Decluttering Holiday Decor! (Mega Motivation Collaboration!) - YouTube

and lots more but I don't visit them all that often

Myron's Mom · Jul 5, 2026

Lori K said:
A feed reader is an app or web-based tool that automatically monitors the sites you regularly follow or subscribe to. Rather than having your in-box inundated with messages about new content being posted, your feed reader aggregates the new posts from sites you want to follow into one place. You can categorize those sites by subject matter, so all your recipe pages are together and separate from hometown news sites or craft posts. You can also set it up to search for subject specific content. I used to have one set up to search for our product reviews, or for use of our trademarks (to monitor for unauthorized use). And then I had folders set up for other work-related topics, as well as for my personal subscriptions and sites I regularly followed. If you follow a lot of web sites, it's easier than having 20 tabs open at once or having to go thru your list of bookmarks to check to see if anything new has been posted.

Wow! Like I said not a clue. It makes sense. Thank you for the information!

halimer · Jul 5, 2026

Miriam ezagui - YouTube - a modern orthodox Jewish woman, nurse and mother living in NYC
applesauce and adhd - YouTube - large lady with a brash attitude that I like. Lots of recipes
sivas kitchen - YouTube - another Jewish lady who cooks
the gooch - YouTube - the gooch used to be a clown - now he is a DIY crafter
windy city crafts - YouTube - lots of creative ideas
Amanda Panda projects - YouTube - talented lady who turned her interest in crafting into a home based business
BrooklynB - YouTube - recipes and DIY

sweetpumkinpye · Jul 5, 2026

I see some familiar ones here and some that I am going to have to sit down and watch. They certainly look interesting.

Ahorsesoul · Jul 5, 2026

Seems I’m going to have to check out Feedly with all these new suggestions

jampss · Jul 6, 2026

Oh wow! So much fun to check out here! @Lori K that was interesting! Thanks. Who knew ... not me! LOL

Animal cams, Jewish cooking (I grew up in a Jewish neighborhood in Bexley, OH), brain education, and exercise!!! Woot!

Holiday_Mom · Jul 6, 2026

I had no idea there were so many Christmas blogs and You Tube videos out there.

I use Feedly as my "websites of interest" updater. It has my local government website, a few genealogy websites and one family friendly TV movie website that also has Christmas movie updates.

In 2023, I was blocked by You Tube for using an Ad Blocker. I violated their terms of service.

I don't use it unless I need it.

sweetpumkinpye · Jul 6, 2026

@luludou has an amazing blog that is filled with so many interesting posts. With her permission I am posting the details here. Pop on over for a look and let her know that you visited.

http://luludou.blogspot.com/

jampss · Jul 7, 2026

Yes, I love her BLOG!

GrammaDeb · Thursday at 3:54 AM

I don’t follow any blogs, but I do look forward to checking out these that have been shared here.

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Christmas in July 2026 Day 5

sweetpumkinpye

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