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Do you remember last year when The Husband and I needed to buy our Christmas presents early? I suggested that Amazon gets together with Hallmark … to start the holiday season early. Well, it turns out that I was wrong. (I know that’s hard to believe, but it does occasionally happen.*)
* The Husband says it happens all the time, but he’d be wrong.
It seems that Amazon does, in fact, start Christmas shopping in July. This event is called Amazon Prime Day, which this year happens to land on July 11 and 12.
Why July 11 and 12, you ask? Well, according to Amazon, it turned like 20 years old on July 15, 2015.
Still, why July 11 and 12, you ask? Well, I have a really good inkling about that.
My guess is that they had a vision of the future, read my post, and decided that it was a smashing idea. You’re welcome, Jeff Bezos.
Just kidding. It was more likely that the halfway point from Christmas, commonly known as “Leon Day,” is celebrated on July 25. If you were guessing that Hallmark runs a huge marathon of Christmas movies on July 25, you would have guessed correctly.
Why July 25, when the halfway point is actually July 13? I’m assuming July 25 is because Christmas is on December 25. Or (more likely) someone at Hallmark couldn’t count correctly because he or she was taught “new math.” Both explanations are equally logical.
What does this have to do with July 11 and 12, you ask? Well, did you know that it’s common to give presents on Leon Day (Christmas in July)? Yes, that’s true. Also, I saw this Google ad when I did a search for “Christmas in July presents”:
See! It’s proof! Amazon had Prime Day on July 11 and 12 to get Christmas in July presents to you on time. (If you have to ask why it’s 12-13 days before the “holiday,” you haven’t ordered from Amazon Prime lately, have you?)
As for us, The Husband and I thought about ordering some Christmas gifts for the kids. By the time we got around to doing it, Prime Day was over.
The Promos
Into the Dark by AJ Faris is free when you sign up to the mailing list. From the book description:
After arriving in the swampy and woody town of Selas Harbor situated by a lake, the web of lies that had served as a façade for the dark happenings in this nebulous town begins to unravel. Our protagonist comes across interesting and unique characters, each with their own goals, and soon, she uncovers that the truth about her brother and this town might be more than she can handle, both physically and mentally.
Did I mention that it was free? If you’d like something a little spooky …
We also have Dark Secret Crimes by Penelope McGrath, which is $1.99 on the Kindle right now or free with the Kindle Unlimited. From the book description:
Consumed by rage and grief, Semjah descends into a spiral of addiction and vengeance. Now he faces a hard decision; can he stop himself and choose right over wrong, or succumb to the very darkness he seeks to overcome?
Happenings
I’m still doing a little bit of catch-up, but I did write my review of Patriot’s Act by Kenneth Eade this past week. Here’s the book review. Next week, I will have a special newsletter for ya, which will include this book review. You can let me know if you enjoy it.
I’ll be doing some cleanup of my Mailerlite list … this is the list that people go to when they sign up on my website because Substack has simply awful connectivity. Honestly, if they changed just that one thing, I think they’d be the perfect newsletter service.
At any rate, I’m moving peeps over from Mailerlite to Substack to take advantage of the new Substack referral system. That’s where cool peeps like my readers can recommend my newsletter to other people and get free stuff.
I’m rolling out some changes by the end of the summer, which will include bi-weekly, ongoing fictional adventures of a girl named Meanie. I envision her to look like this:
Totally cute, right? Meanie is an attorney, who just got served divorce papers.
The first 10 episodes will be free for my mailing list subscribers, and readers will be able to recommend my newsletter to get more.
Christmas in July Gift Exchanges Are the Perfect Way to Beat the Summer Heat
Gift Ideas for a Christmas in July Exchange
When it comes to choosing gifts for a Christmas in July exchange, the options are endless. While traditional holiday gifts such as ornaments or stockings are always a good choice, why not mix things up and think outside the box? Here are a few fun and festive gift ideas to get you started:
- A set of holiday-themed cocktail glasses and a bottle of festive spirits
- A cozy holiday-themed throw blanket or pillow
- A set of Christmas-themed cookie cutters and a recipe book
- A board game or puzzle with a holiday theme
- A subscription to a holiday-themed monthly box service
Remember, the key is to have fun and be creative with your gift choices. Whether you opt for something traditional or something a little more unique, the goal is to spread some holiday cheer and bring a smile to your gift recipient’s face.
Games and Activities for a Christmas in July Party
No Christmas in July party is complete without some fun and festive games and activities. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- A holiday-themed scavenger hunt, with clues hidden throughout the party venue
- A Christmas cookie decorating contest, complete with plenty of frosting and sprinkles
- A holiday movie trivia contest, with questions based on classic Christmas movies
- A game of holiday-themed bingo, with prizes for the winners
- A Secret Santa gift exchange, where guests draw names and exchange gifts
Whatever games and activities you choose, be sure to incorporate plenty of holiday cheer and festive decorations to create a truly memorable event.