Cha-Ching on a Shoestring™

Living Large on a Limited Budget

Beautiful Christmas Series: Share Your Christmas Ideas!

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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

“And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!”
~A Christmas Carol

I hope you have enjoyed our Beautiful Christmas on a Budget series this week.  I know I’m thankful for the new ideas that I’ve gleaned from my fellow friends and bloggers this week on everything from Holiday Entertaining to Handmade Gifts and more.

If you missed the series or would like a re-cap, be sure to check out all of our Beautiful Christmas posts here.

And now it’s your turn!

Have you written a post about Christmas that you’d like to share?  We want to see it!  It can be about any aspect of Christmas–favorite recipes, decorating tips, family traditions and so on.  Just leave a link below that takes us right to your post.  If you don’t have a blog, feel free to leave a comment in the comments section sharing your idea.

And of course, I leave you with a heartfelt “Merry Christmas!!”  May yours be a Beautiful One.

The season of Christmas holds such deep meaning for me.  I just really want to celebrate it well.

Don’t you?

That’s why for I’ve teamed up again with three other bloggers to share tips on how to have a Beautiful Christmas without breaking the bank.  We are going to share practical, simple advice to help you enjoy this season to the fullest and save money at the same time.

To get us started, Sharon at Good, True, and Beautiful will be sharing some simple tips on how to make gorgeous Christmas decorations for free.  Grab a cup of coffee, set your Pandora station to something Christmas-y, sit back and enjoy her wonderful post.

Here are a few teasers for the rest of the week:

Tuesday: Katie at Frugal Femina will be busy in the kitchen cooking up some festive goodies.

Wednesday: Come back on over here where I’ll be sharing ideas on celebrating the season with fun and meaningful traditions.

Thursday: Traci at Beneath My Heart will give us the scoop on how to make beautiful gifts on a dime.

Friday: Head back on over here where I’ll have a place for bloggers to link up their Christmas ideas.  This will be the place to be for everything Christmas.

Get ready to sit back and enjoy.  And have yourself a Beautiful Christmas!

Beautiful Christmas Series: Simple Handmade Gifts

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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

“And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!”
~A Christmas Carol

It’s Day 6 of the Beautiful Christmas on a Budget series and Meg at Frugal Fun and Fortune is showcasing some creative and thrifty homemade gift ideas here.   Her ideas are simple, yet such a thoughtful way to make someone feel special at Christmas.

I totally LOVE the Hot Chocolate stirrers, don’t you?

Be sure to come back tomorrow for our Christmas Link-Up party.  This will be the place to be for all things Christmas!

In case you missed it, here’s what went on the rest of the week:

Sunday: Karen at Saving the Family Money shared some simple tips on how to make gorgeous Christmas decorations with recycled items.

Monday: Shelly at Coupon Teacher gave us ideas for baking up some festive goodies.

Tuesday: I shared my thoughts on celebrating an imperfect Christmas with Simple Pleasures.

Wednesday: Kelly at Kansas City Mamas shared her 25 tops tips for Stress FREE Holiday Entertaining.

Thursday: Sarah at Give Me Neither will share about generosity on a budget.

Friday: Meagan at Frugal Fun and Fortune will showcase some creative and thrifty homemade gift ideas.

The season of Christmas holds such deep meaning for me.  I just really want to celebrate it well.

Don’t you?

That’s why for I’ve teamed up again with three other bloggers to share tips on how to have a Beautiful Christmas without breaking the bank.  We are going to share practical, simple advice to help you enjoy this season to the fullest and save money at the same time.

To get us started, Sharon at Good, True, and Beautiful will be sharing some simple tips on how to make gorgeous Christmas decorations for free.  Grab a cup of coffee, set your Pandora station to something Christmas-y, sit back and enjoy her wonderful post.

Here are a few teasers for the rest of the week:

Tuesday: Katie at Frugal Femina will be busy in the kitchen cooking up some festive goodies.

Wednesday: Come back on over here where I’ll be sharing ideas on celebrating the season with fun and meaningful traditions.

Thursday: Traci at Beneath My Heart will give us the scoop on how to make beautiful gifts on a dime.

Friday: Head back on over here where I’ll have a place for bloggers to link up their Christmas ideas.  This will be the place to be for everything Christmas.

Get ready to sit back and enjoy.  And have yourself a Beautiful Christmas!

Beautiful Christmas Series: The JOY of Giving

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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

“And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!”
~A Christmas Carol

It’s Day 5 of the Beautiful Christmas on a Budget series and Sarah at Give Me Neither has an inspiring post filled with simple ways to experience the joy of giving  here.

All I know is that these peanut butter balls would be one simple way to bring me JOY.  Yum.

Here’s what’s going on the rest of the week:

Sunday: Karen at Saving the Family Money shared some simple tips on how to make gorgeous Christmas decorations with recycled items.

Monday: Shelly at Coupon Teacher gave us ideas for baking up some festive goodies.

Tuesday: I shared my thoughts on celebrating an imperfect Christmas with Simple Pleasures.

Wednesday: Kelly at Kansas City Mamas shared her 25 tops tips for Stress FREE Holiday Entertaining.

Friday: Meagan at Frugal Fun and Fortune will showcase some creative and thrifty homemade gift ideas.

Saturday: Head back on over here where I’ll have a place for bloggers to link up their Christmas ideas.  This will be the place to be for everything Christmas.

The season of Christmas holds such deep meaning for me.  I just really want to celebrate it well.

Don’t you?

That’s why for I’ve teamed up again with three other bloggers to share tips on how to have a Beautiful Christmas without breaking the bank.  We are going to share practical, simple advice to help you enjoy this season to the fullest and save money at the same time.

To get us started, Sharon at Good, True, and Beautiful will be sharing some simple tips on how to make gorgeous Christmas decorations for free.  Grab a cup of coffee, set your Pandora station to something Christmas-y, sit back and enjoy her wonderful post.

Here are a few teasers for the rest of the week:

Tuesday: Katie at Frugal Femina will be busy in the kitchen cooking up some festive goodies.

Wednesday: Come back on over here where I’ll be sharing ideas on celebrating the season with fun and meaningful traditions.

Thursday: Traci at Beneath My Heart will give us the scoop on how to make beautiful gifts on a dime.

Friday: Head back on over here where I’ll have a place for bloggers to link up their Christmas ideas.  This will be the place to be for everything Christmas.

Get ready to sit back and enjoy.  And have yourself a Beautiful Christmas!

Beautiful Christmas Series: Stress-Free Holiday Entertaining

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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

“And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!”
~A Christmas Carol

It’s Day 4 of the Beautiful Christmas on a Budget series and Kelly at Kansas City Mamas has a fantastic post with 25 tips for Stress FREE Entertaining here.  I think you will love her approach to holiday entertaining for Real People.

I totally want to go to a Holiday gathering at Kelly’s house, don’t you?

Here’s what’s going on the rest of the week:

Sunday: Karen at Saving the Family Money shared some simple tips on how to make gorgeous Christmas decorations with recycled items.

Monday: Shelly at Coupon Teacher gave us ideas for baking up some festive goodies.

Tuesday: I shared my thoughts on celebrating an imperfect Christmas with Simple Pleasures.

Thursday: Sarah at Give Me Neither will share about generosity on a budget.

Friday: Meagan at Frugal Fun and Fortune will showcase some creative and thrifty homemade gift ideas.

Saturday: Head back on over here where I’ll have a place for bloggers to link up their Christmas ideas.  This will be the place to be for everything Christmas.

The season of Christmas holds such deep meaning for me.  I just really want to celebrate it well.

Don’t you?

That’s why for I’ve teamed up again with three other bloggers to share tips on how to have a Beautiful Christmas without breaking the bank.  We are going to share practical, simple advice to help you enjoy this season to the fullest and save money at the same time.

To get us started, Sharon at Good, True, and Beautiful will be sharing some simple tips on how to make gorgeous Christmas decorations for free.  Grab a cup of coffee, set your Pandora station to something Christmas-y, sit back and enjoy her wonderful post.

Here are a few teasers for the rest of the week:

Tuesday: Katie at Frugal Femina will be busy in the kitchen cooking up some festive goodies.

Wednesday: Come back on over here where I’ll be sharing ideas on celebrating the season with fun and meaningful traditions.

Thursday: Traci at Beneath My Heart will give us the scoop on how to make beautiful gifts on a dime.

Friday: Head back on over here where I’ll have a place for bloggers to link up their Christmas ideas.  This will be the place to be for everything Christmas.

Get ready to sit back and enjoy.  And have yourself a Beautiful Christmas!

Why I’ll take Ugly Christmas Sweaters over Pottery Barn Any Day.

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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! We are working together to make Christmas simpler, organized and more meaningful. Come join us!

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things – not the great occasions – give off the greatest glow of happiness.

~Bob Hope

Image Credit

There is something about Christmas that brings out the longing for perfection.  If you are anything like me, you have visions of reading Christmas stories by the firelight while peace and good will abound inside the cozy four walls of your Pottery Barn home.

I don’t think that longing will ever go away for me.

But what if your Christmas {and mine} turns out to be more Christmas Story than White Christmas? What if perfection remains as un-reachable as it always has been?

What if your family is less like this:

Screen Shot 2014-12-16 at 9.30.29 PMImage Credit

And more like this?

Let’s face it.  Perfection is but a distant dream.

I was reminded of this reality recently.

We’ve been enjoying our Advent Box again this year and my boys love opening each door to find out which Christmas activity we will complete each day.

One of our first activities included setting up our Nativity Scene with our beloved figurines that my husband brought home from a missions trip to Africa:


Yesterday, this is how I found Joseph, Mary, the Baby Jesus and their friends:

Either there was a sudden earthquake in Bethlehem, or I know a certain 3 year old who thought Mary and Joseph needed a little change of scenery.

Apparently he didn’t get the memo about Christmas perfection.

As a Mom of two busy boys (and one on the way–surprise!), this longing for perfection is a lot like that whole analogy with Jello and nails and a wall.  It ain’t gonna happen. (NOTE: This was written a few years ago. The “one on the way” is now a very active, very fun three year old!)

SO what is the answer then?  How can we enjoy this season and celebrate it well – imperfection and all?

For me, it’s two words:

Simple Pleasures.

Things like:

  • Taking a car ride looking at Christmas lights.
  • Making cookies with my kids–even if they are the Pillsbury kind.
  • Making time to read Christmas books.  Lots of them.
  • Using our Nativity figurines to act out the Christmas story on Christmas morning.  (If they make it until Christmas morning, that is.)

And when one those moments of perfection pop up–as they occasionally do–I soak them up.

Just ignore the peanut butter smeared all over his face, will you?

Oh–and one more thing?  That family pictured above…they’re mine.  That was the year that my Mom bought us all ugly Christmas sweaters–just for fun.

Like I said–Simple Pleasures.

Want to transform your Christmas with us? My Book The Merry Little Christmas Project – Five Words that will Transform your Christmas has helped thousands of women do just that. If you have ever wished that Christmas didn’t have to be so stressful, I wrote this book for you. Click here to learn more and begin simplifying and organizing your Christmas with me! 

Merry-Little-Christmas-Project-335x500 6

Beautiful Christmas Series: Holiday Baking

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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

“And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!”
~A Christmas Carol

Welcome to Day 2 of our Beautiful Christmas on a Budget series.  I’ve teamed up with five other bloggers to share tips on how to have a Beautiful Christmas without breaking the bank.

Today, Shelly from Coupon Teacher is sharing tips for baking up some festive holiday goodies and sharing with friends!  {I love her Cookie Baking Party idea, don’t you?}

Head on over and enjoy her post.  Then be sure to stop back here tomorrow night when I’ll be sharing my thoughts on meaningful Christmas traditions.

The season of Christmas holds such deep meaning for me.  I just really want to celebrate it well.

Don’t you?

That’s why for I’ve teamed up again with three other bloggers to share tips on how to have a Beautiful Christmas without breaking the bank.  We are going to share practical, simple advice to help you enjoy this season to the fullest and save money at the same time.

To get us started, Sharon at Good, True, and Beautiful will be sharing some simple tips on how to make gorgeous Christmas decorations for free.  Grab a cup of coffee, set your Pandora station to something Christmas-y, sit back and enjoy her wonderful post.

Here are a few teasers for the rest of the week:

Tuesday: Katie at Frugal Femina will be busy in the kitchen cooking up some festive goodies.

Wednesday: Come back on over here where I’ll be sharing ideas on celebrating the season with fun and meaningful traditions.

Thursday: Traci at Beneath My Heart will give us the scoop on how to make beautiful gifts on a dime.

Friday: Head back on over here where I’ll have a place for bloggers to link up their Christmas ideas.  This will be the place to be for everything Christmas.

Get ready to sit back and enjoy.  And have yourself a Beautiful Christmas!

Welcome to the Beautiful Christmas Series 2011!

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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

“And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!”
~A Christmas Carol

I’m so  happy to share that this week I’m bringing back the Beautiful Christmas on a Budget series.  I’ve teamed up with five other bloggers to share tips on how to have a Beautiful Christmas without breaking the bank.  We are going to share practical, simple advice to help you enjoy this season to the fullest and save money at the same time.

To get us started, Karen at Saving the Family Money will be sharing some simple tips on how to make gorgeous Christmas decorations with recycled items.  Grab a cup of Hot Cocoa, set your Pandora station to something Christmas-y, sit back and enjoy her wonderful post.


Here are a few teasers for the rest of the week:

Monday: Shelly at Coupon Teacher will share some ideas for baking up some festive goodies.

Tuesday: Join me right here as I share my thoughts on celebrating the season with fun and meaningful traditions.

Wednesday: Kelly at Kansas City Mamas will inspire us with her tips to make holiday entertaining more fun.

Thursday: Sarah at Give Me Neither will share tips from her kitchen on how to create Delicious Holiday Dishes on a budget.

Friday: Meagan at Frugal Fun and Fortune will showcase some creative and thrifty homemade gift ideas.

Saturday: Head back on over here where I’ll have a place for bloggers to link up their Christmas ideas.  This will be the place to be for everything Christmas.

Get ready to sit back and enjoy.  And have yourself a Beautiful Christmas!

The season of Christmas holds such deep meaning for me.  I just really want to celebrate it well.

Don’t you?

That’s why for I’ve teamed up again with three other bloggers to share tips on how to have a Beautiful Christmas without breaking the bank.  We are going to share practical, simple advice to help you enjoy this season to the fullest and save money at the same time.

To get us started, Sharon at Good, True, and Beautiful will be sharing some simple tips on how to make gorgeous Christmas decorations for free.  Grab a cup of coffee, set your Pandora station to something Christmas-y, sit back and enjoy her wonderful post.

Here are a few teasers for the rest of the week:

Tuesday: Katie at Frugal Femina will be busy in the kitchen cooking up some festive goodies.

Wednesday: Come back on over here where I’ll be sharing ideas on celebrating the season with fun and meaningful traditions.

Thursday: Traci at Beneath My Heart will give us the scoop on how to make beautiful gifts on a dime.

Friday: Head back on over here where I’ll have a place for bloggers to link up their Christmas ideas.  This will be the place to be for everything Christmas.

Get ready to sit back and enjoy.  And have yourself a Beautiful Christmas!

Beautiful Christmas Day 5: Link Up Your Christmas Ideas!

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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

It’s been a blast sharing our Beautiful Christmas series with you this week.  In case you missed it, here’s what took place:

Monday: Sharon shared some ideas on how to decorate your home with nature’s offerings. {I just love looking at those pictures.}

Tuesday: Katie got her holiday groove on in the kitchen sharing ideas for a Holiday Coffee Buffet. {Does anyone else want to stop by Katie’s house for Christmas?}

Wednesday: I shared some ideas on how we can prepare HIM room with our traditions.

Thursday: Traci shared some very creative ways to give meaningful gifts for pennies!  {Don’t you wish you were getting a gift from her?}

And today…IT’S YOUR TURN!!

Have you written a post about Christmas that you’d like to share?  We want to see it!  It can be about any aspect of Christmas–favorite recipes, decorating tips, family traditions and so on.  Just leave a link below that takes us right to your post.  If you don’t have a blog, feel free to leave a comment in the comments section sharing your idea.

And may you all have a very Beautiful Christmas!