Latest news with #ChristmasinJuly
![Festive cheer makes its way to Toti early [Pics]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.citizen.co.za%2Fsouth-coast-sun%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F39%2F2025%2F07%2Fxmas-1.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![Festive cheer makes its way to Toti early [Pics]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.citizen.co.za%2Fassets%2Fimg%2Fcitizen-icon.png&w=48&q=75){kind=icon}
The Citizen
04-08-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Festive cheer makes its way to Toti early [Pics]
THE HALLS were decked with boughs of holly, railings with reindeers, walls with wreaths, garlands and ornaments, all for the Christmas in July fête at the Amanzimtoti Methodist Church on July 26. Also read: Amanzimtoti CPF empowers community Christmas cheer made its way to Amanzimtoti, with stalls spreading pre-emptive festive cheer, snowmen welcomed visitors who supported local artisans and their creative crafts, NPOs and more. For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
New York Post
25-07-2025
- New York Post
NYC Corrections, cops help give away hundreds of bikes to needy kids: ‘It keeps the positivity going'
They're braking cycles! Hundreds of needy Big Apple kids got free bikes at an event hosted by city Corrections officers and the NYPD on Friday — as parents from hardscrabble areas gushed that the giveaway helped youngsters feel less fearful of figures in uniform. Roughly 400 kids and teens got brand-new bicycles, donated by Department of Corrections workers, at the event dubbed 'Christmas in July' at JHS 231 in Springfield Gardens, Queens. 3 Around 400 children living across the Big Apple received free bikes at an event hosted by the NYPD, along with the Department of Corrections, on Friday. James Messerschmidt NYPD workers provided the venue — the department's summer youth police academy — and helped teach bike safety. 'It keeps the positivity going in the neighborhood, you know, it's a good thing to see NYPD, Corrections [doing this],' said Michelle Pemberton, a 55-year-old DMV worker, whose grandsons got bikes at the event. 'Children grow up and usually look at these kind of figures and think of fear, and [authorities are] opening the door up to brightness for them and showing them that there's positive, like models from these agencies,' she said. 'It's a good thing.' Keyarah Robinson, 17, scored a turquoise mountain bike at the giveaway. 'I like it, I like it for my age,' she told The Post. 'It's very good for my height. I don't have to sit here and feel uncomfortable on my bike.' 3 The event, dubbed 'Christmas in July,' took place at JHS 231 in Springfield Gardens, Queens. James Messerschmidt Tazion Authers, 7, landed a blue bike. 'I like this bike because it has blue stuff,' the boy said. The children's mom, Patrice Tucker, 41, a daycare worker who was at the event with her four kids, all of whom got bikes, said, 'It's really nice. 'Merry Christmas,' she said. Detective Tanya Duhaney of the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau said many of the children at the event live at nearby shelters. 3 The majority of the children at the event live in nearby shelters, as Detective Tanya Duhaney of the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau said, 'It is important to let our kids know that we do care about them.' James Messerschmidt 'It is important to let our kids know that we do care about them. It's summertime, and we want to just engage them and also teach them to give back,' she said. 'We're here to do our jobs and at that is to protect and serve. And this is the service part of us giving back and showing these kids that we're not robots. We're human just like them.' Christmas in July, which began in 2018, raked in a total of roughly 700 bikes for kids, the rest of which will be given away at a later date, Duhaney said. The bikes were bought as part of a competition between the city's jails, organizers said. 'It is extremely special for us because one of our most fundamental values is an agency is care, and it's care not only for our staff and people in custody but also for the communities that we serve,' said DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie. 'Each facility, they challenged each other and made it a real competition, and they were really excited to be able to do that so we could give back to the community,' the commish said. 'One of the things I would just want to point out is, children in our communities, regardless of social status, they should have access to bikes and books and resources that are critical to make sure that they thrive. And as a mom, that's really important. I'm really proud of my bonus family.'
USA Today
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
🎁 Christmas in July? Martha Stewart already dropped an exclusive QVC holiday line
Shop the holiday hosting queen's newest launches at QVC. I know what you're thinking—Christmas shopping in... July? Yes, but with good reason. When Martha Stewart releases a new holiday home decor collection, it is almost like a Bat-Signal for the unofficial start of the holiday season. Her latest drop is here to inspire you to pack up your summer wardrobe, break out the garland decorations and start feverishly writing up your gifting wishlist. After all, she is the holiday hosting queen! And while the outside temperatures might not exactly scream "cozy season" quite yet, with Stewart's new QVC-exclusive holiday decor collection, you can at least make sure your space feels like a winter wonderland. Plus, with QVC's ongoing Christmas in July sale, shoppers can score deals of up to 70% off on select holiday products—including chic home finds that are Martha Stewart-approved. From a faux Blue Spruce Christmas tree to a plaid stoneware serving bowl, browse our top finds from Martha Stewart's QVC holiday home decor collection—available now and on sale for a limited time: Shop Martha Stewart's QVC holiday collection Shop Martha Stewart's QVC-exclusive holiday collection More deals at QVC's Christmas in July sale This year marks QVC's 30th annual Christmas in July sale, a savings event which runs through July 31 and boasts deals of up to 70% off on holiday products sitewide—from cozy home decor essentials to festive serving staples and more. More: Have you seen the TikTok-famous Tarte beauty book? QVC has it for 31% off In celebration of QVC's Christmas in July sale, Martha Stewart—a longtime collaborator of QVC—launched an exclusive holiday home decor collection with the retailer, which features hundreds of new holiday products like Christmas decorations, Christmas trees, hosting must-haves and more.
Business Insider
25-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Business Insider
My son and I celebrate Christmas in July. We exchange gifts, make Christmas cookies, and watch holiday movies.
Five years ago, I decided to celebrate Christmas in July for my son. It brightened our spirits, and we've done it every year since. In many ways, it's more relaxing than the real holiday. To cheer my son up at the onset of the pandemic, I decided to celebrate Christmas in July. I had always thought of doing this, but this was the first time it seemed like something my son and I truly needed. So, that July, I chose a random day and began planning. I told my son the plan, and that pretending it's Christmas during the summer is just a fun thing to do when you can't wait a whole year for the holidays. This explained why he wouldn't be seeing Santa, and why we'd be the only ones he knew celebrating it — it was something special, just for us. I planned for a miniature version of the real holiday Together, we put out a quarter of our usual decorations, including a small tree and stockings. I ordered a couple of small gifts and wrapped them up when they arrived. When I told a friend of mine what we were doing, she said, "Oh, so you're really doing Christmas." That's how I wanted it to feel — like a taste of the real thing. On the day before, we acted like it was Christmas Eve. While listening to Christmas carols, we made the same holiday-shaped cutout cookies we normally make in December for Santa. But instead of leaving them by the stockings, we ate Santa's cookies on the couch with milk before reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. After I tucked him in and stuffed his stocking, I watched a corny holiday romcom to get in the spirit. I was surprised by how much I was buying into the whole Christmas in July idea and realized just how much it was brightening my spirits as well. We formed a new tradition rooted in togetherness The next morning, my son had to wait for me to make coffee before he could open his presents. Seeing how excited he was when he opened his gifts made the whole idea of celebrating Christmas in July worth it. Next, we made our Christmas pancakes for breakfast and spent the rest of the day watching our favorite holiday movies. We left our decorations out for about a week, to enjoy the Christmas mood for a while. It was so successful that the next summer my son asked if we could do it again, and I thought, "Why not?" By then, I was engaged, and my fiancé was thankfully willing to be a part of the tradition. It's stuck around, and every year, we choose a day in July to celebrate. It doesn't have to be the 25th, just any day we can totally block off for our festivities, which include making cookies, exchanging one or two small gifts, making pancakes for breakfast, and having a Christmas movie marathon. Our July Christmas is so much more relaxing than the real thing My son gets so excited about our mini Christmas that when it's coming up, he tells whoever he sees about our plans. The reactions range from mild confusion to thinking it sounds sweet. In many ways, I've come to prefer our summer Christmas over the true holiday. Our tradition is less about the gifts and more about enjoying the time together. We also don't have to worry about the social obligations and packed schedule that often come with the holiday season. It's relaxing to just be lazy and enjoy a snapshot of Christmas halfway through the year. There's no pressure from the outside world to show up anywhere. It's just us in our little bubble, experiencing something simple yet no less magical. Our Christmas in July tradition helps us slow down and reconnect before it's time for back-to-school and the truly fast-paced holiday season that follows.
CNN
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Bonne Maman's limited-edition 2025 Advent calendar just dropped. Get it before it sells out
Though we're sweating away in record-breaking temperatures right now, the CNN Underscored team is already thinking about holiday gifting. And we're not the only ones with Christmas in July on the brain. Bonne Maman just dropped its 2025 Advent calendar, which you can buy now. Don't wait to add it to your cart, though; this adorable box of jams always sells out fast! Bonne Maman 2025 Limited-Edition Advent Calendar Back for its ninth year, this year's Advent calendar features a gorgeous redesign and 24 delicious Bonne Maman jam flavors to help you count down the days until Christmas. Each jam comes packaged in individual mini boxes, so you don't even have to worry about the gift wrap. While the holidays are still months away and we're not quite ready to put out the Christmas tree, it's never too early to get a head start on your gift shopping so you can save stress down the line (and actually enjoy the holiday season). Whether you're looking for a gift for the men in your life or a present for the women closest to you, this is a universal gift anyone will love — including yourself! This year's assortment includes some new flavors that already have my tastebuds watering. Some standout flavors include: Caramel Spread with Coffee, Mango and Ginger Spread, Pear and Mandarin with Cinnamon Spread and Strawberry with Passion Fruit Spread. And that's just a sampling of what you or your giftee has to look forward to, so we can tell it's sure to be a winning present. Once you've eaten up all the jams, you can repurpose the mini boxes into decor, place settings or use them to wrap up stocking stuffers. There's nothing better than a gift that keeps on giving! I've been covering Bonne Maman's cult-favorite Advent calendar drops for the last few years and can confirm it sells out in the blink of an eye. So, do yourself a favor and grab a few now so you'll be prepared for when the holidays roll around. Pro tip: It doesn't hurt to have a couple extra on hand for last-minute gifting needs! CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. Senior lifestyle editor Tamara Kraus has nearly a decade of experience writing gift guides and has tracked Bonne Maman's Advent calendar launches for about five years.
