Merry Little Christmas Archives - Cha-Ching on a Shoestring™

Take the 3 Days to an Organized Christmas Challenge (Sign Up Today!)

October 13th, 2016 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Did you sign up yet?

Do you wish you had more time to savor the holidays instead of getting caught up in the last minute stress? Want to beat the Christmas rush this year? Sign up now for my FREE 3 Days to an Organized Christmas Challenge over at The Merry Little Christmas Project.

Together, we will head into the Christmas season with our heads held high, a plan in place and a renewed focus on what matters most to us at Christmastime. I will walk you through the steps you can take right now to start the season with a purpose, some simple preparation and a PLAN that will work for you.

Plus did I mention FREE printables?! Each day of the challenge, I will send you a lovely free planning printable or resource that will help you begin your prep now like a Christmas planning BOSS!

Click here to sign up now.

Two Big Reasons to Buy My Christmas Planning Books Today!

October 10th, 2016 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

In case you missed the big news, TODAY is Book Launch Day. It’s been an exciting one so far!

As of right now, we are currently #2 in the Best Sellers in Christmas category on Amazon. Whaaaa???

I shared a Facebook Live video this afternoon sharing some of my excitement and a few other important details. Please forgive my technical difficulties – it was my very first Facebook Live experience, in case you can’t tell. 🙂

Then be sure to head over here to find out two BIG reasons to buy your very own book and planner today!

Happy Christmas planning, friends!

Would You Like to Be On My Book Launch Team? (And More!)

October 7th, 2016 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Did you hear? I announced yesterday that The Merry Little Christmas Project book and planner will be available on MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2016. Mark it on your calendar. Add it to your date book. Circle it in red. Set a reminder on your phone. (Or you can just wait for me to remind you on Monday. That works too.) On Monday morning we are going LIVE and you won’t want to miss my announcement – I have some good news for my readers!

In the meantime, I have two fun little proposals for you.

Proposal #1: Would you like to be part of The Merry Little Christmas Project book launch team?? I am opening up an application for a very limited time for those who would LOVE to apply to receive a FREE book and planner in exchange for sharing about them on social media. I will be selecting a small group of us to be part of this team no later than this Sunday, October 10. Click here to apply now. The application will close on Saturday night, October 8, so don’t wait!

Proposal #2: Would you be willing to share a one-time social media status update about The Merry Little Christmas Project book launch this upcoming Monday? If so, click through this link to sign up for my Thunderclap campaign. If I am able to get 100 people to support me with a Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr update by Monday, then the campaign will go live on Monday at noon and your status will be posted. If not, it won’t. But let’s just say I have total confidence that we are going to reach 100. As of this writing, we are already over halfway there! Click here to help make this happen!

IMPORTANT: If you haven’t yet, click here to sign up for my 3 Days to an Organized Christmas Challenge. It will help you to head into the Christmas season with your head held high, a plan in place and a renewed focus on what matters most to you at Christmastime. I will walk you through the steps you can take right now to start the season with a purpose, some simple preparation and a PLAN that will work for you.

And may I just add how grateful I am for your support, friends? These books would NEVER have been written if it weren’t for this amazing community of readers and followers. I am SO excited – and maybe just a tad nervous – about offering these books to you. If you have ever thought, “Christmas shouldn’t be this way”, I can’t wait to help you change that.

Click here to learn more about The Merry Little Christmas Project – and stay tuned for the BIG announcement on Monday!

Don’t Miss Exciting Updates from The Merry Little Christmas Project! (Plus a Free Planner)

January 28th, 2016 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

The Year of 2015 was a big one for me. Not only did I turn the big 4-0, but I also released my first eBook The Merry Little Christmas Project – 5 Words that will Transform your Christmas.

I am so very grateful for the way that this community has embraced my book. When I set out to write it, I wasn’t sure if ONE person would read it, other than my Mom. So each time someone told me that they did, my response was “Really??” And then lots of someones told me that they read it and some of them even really liked it and I was blown away. Thank you.

As pleased as I am about the book, I’m so much prouder of the community that has formed as a result of The Merry Little Christmas Project.

What People are Saying:

Here are some of the comments I am hearing from members of the community:

I just felt it was such a blessing to me this year. I look forward to being a part of the community next year!!!!! -Sharon

Christmas is always a tough time of year for me, I found the Facebook posts to be a bright spot in my day. Inspiring me to create meaningful gifts and family experiences this year. I must say I had the best Christmas yet. Thank you! -Nancy

What a great reminder about what Christmas is about! Great tips to keep sane during the Holiday season. I loved this Planner!! -Susan (Amazon review)

I loved it!!! It’s so wonderful to share Christmas prep, ideas, and encouragement with others throughout the season! -Telena

Survey Results:

I recently invited our community to take part in a survey about their experience with The Merry Little Christmas Project this year. The response was so helpful and encouraging. Thank you to all who participated and as a special thanks, I’ve randomly selected one survey respondent as the winner of a $25 Amazon Gift Card. The winner is:

Joy: cranberrycove06@
(I’ve sent you an email with details on how to claim your prize, Joy!)

Exciting Things Ahead!

I’ve begun to do some dreaming and planning about the future of The Merry Little Christmas Project due to your overwhelming support and encouragement. I can’t wait to share the ideas that our community has helped inspire for our next Christmas together.

DON’T MISS AN UPDATE!
I’ve made the decision to open up my Merry Little Christmas Project newsletter to everyone in our community, not just those who have purchased the eBook.
Click HERE to sign up for the newsletter and receive my printable Merry Little Christmas Project Planner for FREE when you click through the activation link. Then stay tuned for exciting updates throughout the year!

Also, be sure to LIKE The Merry Little Christmas Project on Facebook.

Tandy Kake Cake Bites Recipe (Melt in your Mouth Delicious!)

December 16th, 2015 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Tandy Kake Cake Bites Recipe

It was love at first bite.

I’ve always known that chocolate and peanut butter are a match made in heaven. So when I was introduced to homemade Tandy Kake a few years ago, it was indeed heavenly.

You see, I discovered when I moved to the Philadelphia area that the people here are quite proud of their homemade Tandy Kakes – since they originate from the Philadelphia-based Tastykake company’s version, now known as Kandy Kakes.

History lesson out of the way, here’s the story that really matters.

Last week, I was at a Holiday Open House at our boys’ school. They had some desserts on sale to support the school, so I bought some, seeing as it was my citizenly duty and all.

By some Christmas miracle, I was able to get my hands on the yummy-looking Cake Pop thing before any of my children did.

One bite and I heard the heavenly angels sing.

It was like all that is good and lovely about Tandy Kake in one little perfect bite.

I knew I must have the recipe for these bites of perfection, so I went hunting down the Baker and ~~begged her~~ asked her nicely for the recipe – wondering if she would even give up what was likely a longheld family secret?

“It’s easy,” said the Baker. “It’s a box of yellow cake mix, some peanut butter, and dipping chocolate.”

Delicious and easy?? I could not believe my ears.

In spite of my cynicism, I decided to test out the recipe the following week.

Dear readers, I don’t believe that I am spreading lies when I say that this recipe will change your life. At least, it has mine.

You see, when I was growing up, my Mom made Peanut Butter Balls (or Buckeyes – whatever you prefer to call them) every year. I loved that tradition, but the last time I tried to make the recipe for my own children, it was a big fat FAIL for some unknown reason. So, I haven’t made them since.

Now, I feel like I now have my own similar tradition to pass on to my kids. Just like my mom, I now get to teach my children the skills necessary to cover them with just the right amount of chocolate causing only a slight overflow onto the wax paper – which is truly an art form, as we all know.

And to be honest, I am on the fence over which recipe is more delicious – I might even be slightly leaning toward the Tandy Kake side. (Sorry, Mom.)

If you prefer, you could go an extra step and turn these into Cake Pops. I, however, am a simple girl, so one less step is good with me! They will taste the same whether you eat them with your fingers or on a stick – and that’s what counts.

Here is the easy peasy melt-in-your-mouth recipe:

Ingredients:

(1) Box Yellow Cake Mix + ingredients listed on box
1/2 – 1 c. peanut butter
(1) Bag of Melting Chocolate
wax paper

Recipe:

Make cake according to directions listed on the box.
Once the cake has baked, give it about 10 minutes to cool, then remove to cool completely on a baking rack.
Once cake has cooled completely, use a knife to shave off any crusty edges, then crumble into a bowl and add a 1/2 cup of peanut butter and mix well. (At this point, I checked to see if the batter was moist enough to make into balls and then added a bit more peanut butter.)
Place batter in refrigerator for at least 2 hours to chill.
After the batter has chilled, roll into into balls. Then, dip into melting chocolate and place on wax paper to dry.

That’s it!

Life-changing, people.

Announcing Random Acts of Christmas Kindness Week 2015 #RACKWEEK (Plus 50 R.A.C.K. Ideas)

December 1st, 2015 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Want to Do Christmas Well with me? LIKE The Merry Little Christmas Project on Facebook and be a part of our community of people working together to make Christmas simpler, more organized and more meaningful!

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Acts 20:35

In our family, giving to others is a principle that we try to instill in our children throughout the year.

But when it comes to Christmas, I find myself desiring to emphasize the beauty of giving even more. I want my children to grow up remembering the joy of GIVING at Christmastime – that it truly is better to give than to receive. I also want to remind myself of this truth.

I have a feeling others feel just the same as I do.

Announcing #RACKWEEK (Dec. 6 – 12, 2015)

During the week of December 6-12, I am inviting you to join me in Random Acts of Christmas Kindness (R.A.C.K.).

If you have been around here for a while, you may recall last year’s RACKWEEK. It was amazing. What I remember most is the sense of awe I felt hearing the stories from members of our Merry Little Christmas Project community who blessed unsuspecting people in need of some encouragement and hope during Christmastime. The ideas were so creative and beautiful.

Robin shared a picture of Random Act of Christmas Kindness in various hospital waiting rooms last year.

The Random Acts of Christmas Kindness ranged from giving candy cane fudge to those who were having a hard time last year to paying for the family’s meal in the drive-through behind them to paying for a lonely woman’s meal while out to eat and much more.

This was one of my family’s RACKs from last year. It was so. much. fun.

That’s why I’d like to invite you to join me for a Random Acts of Christmas Kindness Week during the week of December 6– 12, 2015. Giving is always fun – but even more fun is knowing that we are a part of community of people focused on giving, isn’t it?

Joining is easy. At some point during the week, find a way to be kind to someone who doesn’t expect it. We’ll be sharing our R.A.C.K.’s (Random Acts of Christmas Kindness) over on The Merry Little Christmas Project Facebook page. You can just leave a comment on the wall sharing how you found joy in giving this week or wait until Saturday when we’ll do one big Facebook comment thread celebrating our GIVING this week.

You can find free printables for your R.A.C.K. attack here.

Even better, post a picture of your R.A.C.K. along with the hashtag #RACKWEEK on Facebook or Instagram! (Follow me on Instagram here.)

No matter what, let’s just pass on some kindness to those who need, shall we? Leave a comment if you are up for the challenge!

Need some inspiration? Here are 50 Random Acts of Christmas Kindness ideas for you:

Make a Card for a Soldier (contact your local Red Cross)
Write a Thank You Note to someone who might not expect one
Do Yard Work for a Neighbor
Pick up litter in your neighborhood – or someone else’s
Make Bird Seed ornaments to give to your neighbors
Pay for the car behind you at the drive-through
Leave coins and/or laundry detergent with a note at the Laundromat
Leave a dollar and a note in the Kids’ section of the Dollar Store
Leave the correct amount of change in a baggie taped to a Redbox
Write cards to any shut-ins that you know
Donate needed items to a local food pantry or homeless shelter
Donate your time to a local food pantry or homeless shelter
Pay a past due fine for someone at the library
Donate a special talent of yours to someone in need (crafting, technology, cooking, etc.)
Smile at everyone you see
Visit someone in a nursing home
Adopt a soldier and send a care package
Donate toys or groceries to a Ronald McDonald House
Bring a cup of coffee to a friend or someone who is having a rough day
Leave treats or a gift card for your mail carrier
Do something special for someone in your family
Donate to a local animal shelter
Leave coupons near products in a store
Tip a server more than you normally would
Put a quarter in a meter that’s about to expire
Buy stamps for the person behind you at the Post Office
Donate blood
Make a date night kit for a couple who needs a break (Redbox code, popcorn, candy, hot chocolate)
Call someone you haven’t in a while and let them know you are thinking of them
Have a nice camera? Offer to take family pictures for a family in need
Make personal care kits for abuse or homeless shelters
Send a thank you note to your child’s teacher
Donate a gift to Toys for Tots
Adopt a child from Angel Tree.
Offer to babysit a busy Mom’s kids for the afternoon
Go Christmas caroling in a Nursing Home
Bring misplaced shopping carts back
Take a homeless person some food or drink
Offer to walk someone’s dog
Go spend some time with a shut-in
Leave a quarter in a gumball machine
Bring donuts to your local police or fire department
Organize a neighborhood play date at your house
Order a pizza to be delivered to a busy Mom
Write “Have a Great Day” in chalk on your neighbors’ driveways
Find a parking attendant in a cold garage and bring him/her a hot chooclate
Surprise the cashier when you are shopping and buy him or her a gift card as part of your order
Print a photo of your family and write THANK YOU on it and pass it out to those who need to be thanked
Donate diapers to a crisis pregnancy center
Buy a gift card for a gas station worker

Have any other ideas to add to the list?

5 Super-Fun Christmas Doodles Gift-Wrap Ideas

November 27th, 2015 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Idea #1 Joy to the World

In a recent Christmas post, I explained that I had been motivated by The Merry Little Christmas Project to simplify Christmas 2015.

For me, Christmas offers a season of creative outlet, so I knew I would have to simplify my December-long crafting mania. So instead of–per usual–attempting to make each wrapped gift a work of art, I decided to wrap all my gifts in kraft paper or brown paper bags. But here comes the fun part: even though I don’t have a speck of artistic ability, I would decorate them with quick and easy Christmas doodles.

And what fun I’ve had.

Idea #2 Merry Christmas colored-pencil sketch on a lunch bag

My daughter, son-in-law, and their six oh-how-I-miss-them children live in Kansas–many hundreds of miles away from our New York home. Each year my daughter shops for me on Amazon; I then place the order (using my Prime free shipping) and have the gifts sent directly to their Kansas address. A great idea, but I have always felt a bit sad that I don’t get to wrap the gifts.

This year I decided to create the wrapping paper at home using paper bags so Desiree could just slip the gifts into the bags along with some tissue paper, attach the decorative sketch, and there it is–a personal touch from Grandma.

Since the bags are flat it is easy to send them via USPS.

Idea #3 For this sketch I used colored pencils and drew right on the bag.

Idea #4 I sketched these stars onto a grocery bag.

Idea #5 I love the simplicity of this nativity; I made a tag to adorn the simple Dollar Store kraft-paper wrapping.

And the quiet simplicity of this sketch is almost breath-taking.

I also sketched it directly on a grocery bag. No artistic skill required, just lots of love.

Bit by bit I have made an assortment of doodled paper bags to have ready to grab for last-minute gifts. [Flat bags take up so little space.]

So there you have it: five super-fun Christmas Doodles gift-wrap ideas!

And in the words of beloved Tiny Tim: May God bless us one and all!

***

Want to join us on our mission to choose the LESS instead of the STRESS this Christmas season? You can grab your own copy of The Merry Little Christmas Project here.

***

For those of you who haven’t met her, the Dollar Store Diva happens to be my Mom who has a special power. She can transform Dollar Store and other inexpensive finds into super fun gifts and crafts that would brighten anyone’s day!

Why I Love my Christmas Planner

November 24th, 2015 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

For years, I’ve tried to figure out the best method for organizing my Christmas. I have tried a variety of planners and printables and have even purchased planners.

This year, I decided to take matters into my own hands and create my own planner (which is my gift to you with the purchase of my new eBook The Merry Little Christmas Project – Five Words that will Transform your Christmas.)

And this year, I have finally decided that I really love my Christmas planner. Here’s why:

My Binder: I found a binder that I was no longer using and placed all of my planner printables in it. Plus I added some extra lined papers for those lists like “Ideas for DIY neighbor gifts” and “Christmas Cookies I Want to Bake”. (These might need to be additions to the planner for next year!) I love that putting together my own binder gives me the flexibility to make it what I want.
Out of the Ordinary: I also love that my printable planner offers space for items that might not make it in your typical Christmas Planner – like your To Don’t list. Might be the most important list you write this season!
One Stop Resource:
I also just love that my planner works as Grand Central Station for all things related to Christmas – whether it be receipts my Christmas cookie recipes or the World Vision Christmas Gift Catalog. I’ve finally found a home for my Christmas brain – which tends to be quite scattered otherwise.

I’ll be honest. Last night, my brain began to head into overdrive with all the upcoming happenings of the holiday season. I began to feel overwhelmed.

So, I sat down with my husband and pulled out my planner to go over some of the things that were weighing me down. We discussed some ideas and I jotted them down. And I started to take deep breaths and realize it’s not as overwhelming as I was making it to be. Simply seeing things in black and white in front of me helped me to realize that our plan is coming together.

And whatever doesn’t, is simply going to end up on that Christmas To Don’t list above. 🙂

And this is why I love my Christmas planner.

If you’d like your own copy of my Christmas planner, simply click here to purchase your copy of The Merry Little Christmas Project now – and start to transform your Christmas with me.