Oso (pronounced Oh-So...it's Spanish for Bear) MacKearney - The most important family member of us all. Don't let his fluff fool you. He's a real DIVA in disguise.Photos by Paige Roberts Schicker of True Era Photography in Jacksonville, Florida. — Oso (pronounced Oh-So...it's Spanish for Bear) MacKearney - The most important family member of us all. Don't let his fluff fool you. He's a real DIVA in disguise.
Photos by Paige Roberts Schicker of True Era Photography in Jacksonville, Florida.

Christmas in July: Hallmark Movie Channel Christmas Keepsake Holiday Preview Week is Here

If you aren't singing Santa's My Boyfriend in your head out of excitement when you saw that headline, then what are you even doing right now?...AND if you even dare say you don't know that song...

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WELL THEN STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND CLICK THIS LINK (but then come back) This song will change your life...in a weird, twisted I Love Santa (& Amy, Kristin & Maya) sorta way.

Are you back?

Good, because now it's time to PARTAAAAAY! (Read that in your best Kristin Wiig from Bridesmaids voice!) Christmas in July style...with the Hallmark Channel. Is this sponsored, no? Should it be? Probably? Do I need to get a life? Definitely! Will I get one this weekend? Heck No. I'll be running through my DVR pretending it's December while housing cookies and wine like Mrs. Claus without a cause.

Time to Jingle like Kris Kringle

Starting today(July 14th) through July 23rd you can watch all of your favorite cheesy Hallmark Holiday movies and even catch some new ones, which I'm especially psyched out of my mind about. If by chance, you've lived a Hallmark deprived life and you've never watched any Hallmark Holiday movies during the holidays because you are super busy with family, parties, and prep then this is the week for you.

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I'll Let the SNL GIFS go...for now, anyway!

I know some of you won't be into this crazy "made up by Hallmark" holiday celebration in July, but I've always enjoyed it! We also celebrated half birthdays growing up, so yeah, I am that person. I utilize this Christmas in July week as my chance to spend a few days listening to Christmas music, planning my upcoming holiday cards and yes, watching Hallmark. In July. In oppressive Florida heat. Mostly alone. (Does my dog count?) *Side Note - My husband doesn't enjoy these shenanigans but he knows my love of decor and holidays knows no bounds so he allows it.

If you want to be slightly more serious about it, I use fun days and events like this as an excuse to get together with family and friends, so guilt them into joining. Nothing says "Christmas" like a good, old fashioned guilt trip from a relative.

Smiling's My Favorite

If you want to join in, it's easy, but you're on the internet reading this, so you obviously know how the technology works! Check here for all your #ChristmasKeepsake movie options on Hallmark this week. If you only have time to pick 1 or 2 movies to watch, here are my votes for you:

1) 12 Gifts of Christmas - You should have known this would be my first choice. It's a cheesy love story about a personal shopper. Duh. Cute guy. Cute girl. Bonus points because they love cupcakes. #Basic

2) My Christmas Love - Oddly enough, the same guy is in this movie. (He got that Hallmark money, Y'all.) The story revolves around the "12 Days of Christmas". It's cheesy and cute and also totally unbelievable, which makes it super stellar.

Bonus: Christmas Under Wraps or anything with someone from Full House which makes up about 60% of the other movies on rotation.

The Kearney Family Christmas photo, 2015. Image from True Era Photography.

Stay Social with Santa

If you get super into it, you can follow them on Instagram here where they are hosting Instagram live events and special segments with some of your favorite Hallmark movie stars. (If anyone knows any of these Hallmark movie stars, let me know. I'm trying to figure out how to get into the Hallmark inside circle.) I love the cards. I love the movies. I love it all. And I want to get what I call "that Hallmark contract"...these people make their entire living being cast in rom coms and holiday movies. I could successfully play a series of roles as a florist/pop star/former Olympian/crazed Mom of 7/dog trainer/lawyer in back to back to back to back movies. I really could. Where do I sign up for that?

There is a Method to the Mid Year Madness!

It might sound crazy but I do use this week to be semi productive. It's always tough to plan that far ahead because #NavyLife BUT I work on my gift lists, gift ideas, kick around menu changes, test run some recipes, craft my yearly card designs and plan the OSO (get it? :-) ) important outfits for holiday photos. Heads Up: If you want to go the basic Borrowed Babe route, start looking now and book your holiday rentals sooner rather than later...more options better pricing.

The same principle can be said for anything in your holiday repertoire. You may also find some coupons and deals if you pull the trigger now. (i.e. this week alone I've shopped Amazon Prime Day and the #NSale for items. You can too! Shopping is easy. Just put items in your online cart and click. :-)

Cards are Serious Business in the MacKearney Family

The MacKearney Family | Top US life and style blog, The Borrowed Babes, features Hallmark's Christmas in July

These are some of our previous holiday cards...I have a fabulous contact on Etsy that helps me come up with fun ideas. It's a super economical way to do something personalized and creative every year. We've already connected to brainstorm for this year and hopefully it will be GLORIOUS. Side Note: After I work with her I use Zazzle for everything else...including custom stamps, lables, stickers, and envelopes to match. BUT if you want to get on that coordination train you MUST order early. Zazzle turns everything around quickly...except envelopes. It's like they have to use a process that is the equivalent of growing a human being to produce custom envelopes. If you want them at your house to mail in November you better be ordering in September. NO JOKE. They are worth the wait, but take it from my failures. Order early. It leaves more time for getting 'nogged up and going tree tipping with your cats that way. (What? Like you've never done it.)

Christmas in July Holiday Outfit Inspiration

Like a solid basic B*$#h I enjoy including a quality photo on the card. I don't know why we haven't moved away from this trend? Honestly, I fully believe we used to do this because social media wasn't around. People legit went all year without seeing your face and wanted to see how much weight you'd gained, I mean see how pretty you look. Why not get all gussied up and force your third cousin on your Mom's side twice removed to plaster your face on their mantle above her hampster's stocking? (SUCK ON THAT CHARLENE...WE AREN'T FAT NOW THAT WE ARE MARRIED!) Merry Christmas and Peace be with You, though.

Thanks to social media, everyone knows what the frig we look like every single day of our lives, but I'm still DOING it. You can't stop me. I digress...These fabulous photos are from our 2015 holiday photo shoot with Paige Roberts Schicker of True Era Photography in Jacksonville, Florida. Sean was prepping for deployment this past year and we just never had a chance to update photos so we broke the long standings one-year tradition...hence why Oso was the star of the 2016 card. :-) 2017, we're coming for you and I have a theme.

Deb, you look so pretty you should be on a Christmas Card

Obviously, because I am biased and write about fashion, I focus on what we are going to wear. But you do you boo. Focus on what makes your card unique to you. It can be religious, a newsletter, a really intense, but highly impressive full page, single spaced in sync, rhymed poem, or just an e-card where you Elf Yourself, just use the time to connect with friends and family in your own way. If you so choose, you can research and read all the information about what to wear in photos, how to stand and what to do with your hands Ricky Bobby, but my the best advice is to work with a photographer you trust and be yourself. (Which is why Sean is in jeans and I am in sequins!) Don't try too hard or look on Pinterest too much. You'll go off into a holiday hell hole and you'll never emerge.

And if for some reason, my Mom has forced you to read this Christmas in July post and told you to order the same outfit for your daughter to wear in her cards this year, your information is below. If you want to look the exact opposite of me, the retailers linked below sell other super stylish holiday options so give them a click regardless.

The #OOTD Details:

Christmas Photo Shoot 2015 with True Era Photography in San Marco Square, Jacksonville, Florida

Top: T & J Designs - Seasonal, so not available at the moment but they typically design new ones every year so follow them on Insta or Shop Current Options | Here

Skirt: Red Sequin Pencil Skirt by Parker NY from Rent the Runway - Unavailble Now but Similar option from Rent the Runway | Here

Shoes: Stecy Heels by Steve Madden from Nordstrom | Here

Necklace: Showgirl Fringe Strand from Baublebar | Here

Are you going to be watching Hallmark this Christmas in July? If so, let me know in the comments below. Happy Holidays!

XOXO,

Stephanie

Post Updated: July 21, 2017 - The Babes are thrilled to announce we were included in IFB's Links á la Mode, July 20th. Be sure to give us some love and read all the other fabulous posts from fellow bloggers this week!

Links à la Mode, July 20th