Wednesday, November 18, 2009

A Recipe for Christmas Joy Giveaway!

*give-away winner: coursengroup@.... Thanks for participating!

A few years ago when I first started reading blogs, I found Marybeth Whalen’s (Cheaper By the Half Dozen) and checked in just about everyday. When she announced her ebook, A Recipe for Christmas Joy, I knew I needed a copy! Knowing how much I love having a book in my hand, my husband even printed it out and spiral-bound it for me. I thoroughly enjoyed (and continue to enjoy) my Recipe for Christmas Joy. From decorations to desserts, it really helped me remember to keep the focus on Christ throughout this season bustling with activity.


One of the best take-away ideas in the book was the three present rule, based on the three gifts presented to Jesus by the wise men.


Marybeth writes,
“We started this years ago, and I love it! I tell my kids, ‘If it was good enough for Jesus, it is good enough for you!’ Who can argue with that? A good rule of thumb for this is based on the three gifts that Jesus received: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold is the frivolous or fun gift—the big ticket item they have their heart set on. Frankincense symbolized worship, so this is the spiritual growth gift—a Bible, a book on being a godly kid, a Christian video, or something of the sort. And finally, myrrh is the gift that symbolized death—what Jesus was sent to do. This gift is a practical gift around what the child’s bents or talents are. It could be special supplies for an artist or a microphone for a singer, etc. This could also be something practical like an item of clothing. Three items, plus gifts from family members, plus trinkets in their stockings is still far more than what many children in this world will see in their lifetime!
• Instead of more junky toys, suggest what I call ‘experience gifts’ from the grandparents. Experience gifts are great because they afford your kids an experience they will never forget-and most times the memories last much longer than the plastic toys that break or get lost.
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Isn't that a great idea? The three-present rule provided a good rule of thumb for our family, and I hope you’ll be inspired to adopt (or adapt) it for your family too. As I wrote yesterday, fewer gifts means we’ll most likely cherish what we are given more than if we received multiple gifts.


The three-present rule was just one of the goldmines I found in A Recipe for Christmas Joy!


Although I grew up in the Midwest, I’m a Southern cook at heart :). Marybeth has included pages of delicious holiday and anytime recipes: Tarheel pie, pumpkin bread (that makes three loaves at once), pumpkin crisp, cornbread dressing, corn pudding, slow cooker apple butter, our favorite pork roast recipe, even how to cook a turkey in the Crock-pot! Plus there’s a whole list of easy meal ideas for busy nights.


  • There’s also a comprehensive list of great Christmas books to read to our children (I have placed a hold and checked many of these out from our library)
  • Advent ideas and crafts
  • decorating ideas and reminders that the celebration centers on Christ, not Santa. “If Jesus were to walk into your house at Christmastime, would He know that the celebration was all about Him?”
  • Homemade frugal gift ideas: no sew fleece projects, gifts in a jar, homemade mixes
  • Organizing the lead-up to Christmas (what to do week by week)
  • Ideas for hosting holiday teas
  • And much more!
Marybeth generously agreed to bless one lucky reader with a copy of A Recipe for Christmas Joy! To be entered to win, please leave a comment at this post, and I’ll draw a winner on Monday!

Visit Frugal Friday for more money-saving ideas!





32 comments:

  1. Ohmigoodness! I love those ideas! I love bringing Christmas back to simplicity and Christ. Oh how we got so caught up in the latest electronic for our children, when really all the need is love, laughter and security in knowing Christ has come! He has come to Save! Please put me in this drawing that would be great..always the greatest ideas Cheryl! I love reading your blog!!

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  2. Love the three present rule! Sounds like a great book.

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  3. I could really use this in my life right now. We are trying to simplify our life and making our kids do the same. This would give us some great ideas for famliy time I am sure.

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  4. Thanks for posting this, what a wonderful and simple concept. I plan on implementing your thoughts on Christmas for our family this year.

    Blessings, Tanya
    johnsonfamilyo6@gmail.com

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  5. Right now I have a one present from one person rule for each child, but they are only 1 and 2. I imagine in later years the three gift rule will come in handy. The book sounds really interesting, thanks for posting about it.
    I found your website through Jennifer from Conversion Diary, and I'll be back to read more!

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  6. I have to say it drives me NUTS when parents tell other people what to boy for their children. I understand the point of simplicity, but it is once a year and I don't think I need to dictate to my parents, etc. what to buy with THEIR money for my children. If they want to buy one gift, great. If they want to buy none, great. If they want to buy 5, that is fine too. I think it is extremely rude to others to dictate what they should do with their money.

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  7. I would love to have this book as a reminder and helper to push my small family into living our holidays more simply. I could really use this in my life right now Thank you for letting me know about this.

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  8. Anonymous, I think you misunderstood this post. I was sharing an idea that Marybeth has adopted for her own family (she has six kids, she and her husband buy them three presents each). Plus the kids get gifts from other family members and grandparents (however many and whatever kind they want to buy). No one is telling anyone what they can and cannot buy. Just offering ideas suggestions.

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  9. I would love to be entered into the drawing for this book. It sounds wonderful!!

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  10. I would love to be entered into the drawing for this book. It sounds wonderful!! I posted the one right above this one. I don't have a blog though - tammy :) babytreehuggers @yahoo.com - no spaces
    thanks!!

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  11. Sounds like a great book!

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  12. I have heard of this before, and even tried it once and for me it was a failure (I cheated and put extra stuff in the boxes, also they got 3 from mom and dad and 3 from Santa) my kids don't receive "other gifts". My parents and my mother-in-law don't give gifts and neither do the aunts and uncles so I always feel guilty. I guess that is just my justification for excess lol! I do, as they get older move closer to this ideal - it is ideal in my mind. Thanks!

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  13. Hi Christy,
    Thanks for sharing. Nothing wrong with your approach! With Marybeth's rule of three, she is able to do that because she admits her kids get many other gifts from other people. If your family didn't do that, I, too, would probably want to "load them up" :) I like her idea though of making sure there's a spiritual gift, a practical gift for what talent they are expressing (painting, music, etc), and at least one splurge gift (clothing/toy/etc.)

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  14. Sounds like a great book, enter me in the drawing! We have always set a certain number of gifts for each child as they tend to get lots of extras from grandparents. Another thing we have done in the past is to give a "birthday" present to Jesus. This year we did Operation Christmas Child, other years we have collected our change over the course of a year and donated to a charity. This reinforces the giving to others when it seems the focus can be so much on the getting.
    coursengroup@yahoo.com

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  15. I just found your blog this morning and have much the same feeling as your regarding cell phones, etc. Also, I think they make our children more dependent on us to be able to get help with every little thing rather than figure things out for themselves. It's so easy not to think for oneself if mom is just a text away. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks.

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  16. We've done the 3 gifts thing for a few years, but not with that intentional symbolism. I'm definitely going to have to work that in this year and I'd definitely love to read more of this book!

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  17. Oh I'd love to win this, pick me! pick me!!

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  18. Thanks guys for your nice comments! I appreciate those of you who got the 3 present rule and I will say my kids do get gifts from other people. If not I probably would be more likely to give them more!

    Congrats to whoever wins and thanks Cheryl for reviewing the book!

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  19. I really want this book! It sounds like it is packed full of usefullness!

    Rebecca
    tiggerdaisy@gmail.com

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  20. I love the three present rule and the definitions...great one!
    Sign me up for the drawing!

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  21. I just recently found Marybeth's blog myself. I would love to have this e-book for our Christmas preparations this year!!!

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  22. I have been looking at purchasing this book also. Thanks for the encouraging words about the book. I would love to receive one. Have a blessed week and a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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  23. That sounds fantastic! Simplifying Christmas takes effort for me, but it is *so* important!

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  24. Jen MatthewsNovember 23, 2009

    I read Mary Beth's blog daily and I'm glad she introduced me to yours!

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  25. We have tried the 3 present idea- but I have never seen it explained that way - I think that is a marvelous way to chose the kind of gifts.
    ml4estsmom@yahoo.com

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  26. I have been thinking about getting this ebook... I think it might be something I need!

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  27. I try to read Mary Beth's blog everyday-I love her insight and encouragement. I think this ebook sounds wonderful and I would love to win it! I'm glad that I got to experience your blog as well. Happy Thanksgiving.
    erinborden@gmail.com

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  28. I love Mary Beth's blog, too. I'm wondering what do you do if you've overdone the "present thing" and you know you need to scale back. Maybe it's really a matter of scaling back in some places while putting more emphasis on the right places. Thanks! Love the book and the review!

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  29. LOVE Mary Beth's blog and her seasonal ideas. I am all about making the holidays about Jesus-most they are intended to be about anyway.

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  30. I would love this book--I am a reader of Mary Beth's blog as well--
    karhostetter@verizon.net

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  31. My daughter (who is a single Mom and very much focused on her 2 children) suggested that I look at this site and I am very much in favor of the concept. Hoping to win the book and I would certainly pass it on to her.

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