Christmas in July Deals on Etsy

Avon Reindeer Ornament use CIJ20 Coupon Code

Beginning today through the end of July, Etsy shops are discounting vintage, crafts, and supplies for the annual Christmas in July Sales Event.  The best way to discover these deals is to use the Etsy.com Search box and enter the acronym CIJ along with the keywords that describe the item you are looking for.

Not only can you find great holiday decor items during Christmas in July but also shops have discounted non-holiday themed items as well so it's a BIG annual sale.  Thus far over 115,000 items are being advertised on Etsy as on sale during this event!

If that seems overwhelming, then have select items served up to you through the CIJ Twitter Feed, Facebook Page or check out the CIJ Pinterest Board.

Snowman Candle Holder use CIJ20 Coupon Code

Forsythia Hill Vintage has knocked off 20% on several non-holiday items and is offering a 20% Off Coupon Code to be used at checkout for holiday themed items.

Some shops have discounted items already for you and others require a coupon code - check the shop announcement to determine exact requirements for you to get your item discounted.

Haeger Art Pottery Bowl already discounted in my shop

Don't dally - I know that many vintage items are one of a kind so what's here at the beginning of the sale may be gone before the end of the month!

Happy shopping.

-Rebecca

New York Manhattan Gardens

View atop the Metropolitan Museum of Art

A recent trip to Manhattan in New York City gave me the opportunity to see so many wonderful gardens.  My last trip to the city was in the 1980s and Manhattan seems to be cleaner, warmer, and a little greener.

Riverside Park volunteers keep the flower beds beautiful.

I stayed a few blocks from Riverside Park with a longtime friend that I'm selling items for in my Etsy shop.  We took a quick stroll my first night in the city to this lovely waterfront park.  It has a historic feel to it as many monuments and older apartment buildings dot one side of the park.  The other side is on the Hudson River which divides Manhattan and New Jersey.   Several large flower beds containing an array of colorful and often unusual species are maintained solely by local residents.

I had read online about the transformation of an elevated rail bed into glorious gardens. I couldn't wait to go check out the High Line.

It was wonderful.  We walked for probably 2 hours on a Saturday and it became more and more crowded as we strolled. This project, which was probably once looked upon as a little crazy, has shot life back into the historic Meat Packing district. There are housing and retail projects popping up all around this popular walking trail.

Battery Park Flowerbeds

Another green area that is in the process of being transformed is down on the southern most end of Manhattan.  Battery Park is experiencing a lot of construction but the parts that were open were beautifully landscaped and the park also offers a side view of Lady Liberty. I could have stayed in this park all day, sitting among the gardens with a view of the water.

Unitarian Church sweet Statue.

As we explored Manhattan, I found myself trying to discover little secret gardens.  There was a welcoming respite from the city traffic at the 1819 historic Unitarian Church of All Souls. I also enjoyed spotting the balcony gardens that I so wished I could see closeup. Beautiful entryways are often landscaped as were the small beds around trees on sidewalks.

Of course there is "the park" of Manhattan and that would be Central Park. I only had time to explore the section around the lake near Columbus Circle.  I encountered, of all things, a Heron!  I never expected to see that in Manhattan.  The Elderberry, wild Raspberry, Daylily, and Bottle Brush Buckeye were in full bloom.

I was so impressed with the few gardens I visited over 4 days.  I know there are many more.

I LOVE NY - the city of GREEN.

-Rebecca