Tag Archives: Christmas Love Box

What’s the 1st word that pops into your head about the holiday season?

For many years mine was, overwhelmed. Followed closely by over burdened and let’s not forget overweight. You get the picture, I was in way OVER my head. Then I hit the “That’s it! button and decided, “This holiday’s going to be different.”

It was time to change and to enlist help. My hubby and I looked around and realized we had a whole team of helpers at our disposal, they were just disguised as family members. So, we decided to organize and mobilize ourself and the troops.

Give the gift of love

1. Have a Plan.  Make a plan for your time, your health and your Spiritual growth.

Use the Holiday Help! checklist and stay organized.  The Holiday Help! checklist includes all the activities that make the holidays complete and you can tweak it for your family. You post it on the fridge and let each family member or holiday guest “sign up” to help. Then, assign a completion date for every activity on your calendar and who is responsible for its’ completion. The checklist keeps you organized and holds everyone accountable.

If no one signs up for an activity, it doesn’t get done. Oh what fun, it is to get the whole family helping along, Hey!  When you’re organized and everyone’s working together cheerfully, everything is better.

If you want the checklist, just e-mail me: info@christinemartinello.com

2. Be still. Pray, meditate and open your heart to the Spirit. Focus on the true reason for the season. Read the Bible, devotional or other spiritual books to slow you down and grow in faith.

3. Simplify the Season.  Ask; Why are we doing what you’re doing? Ask your family, “What are the most meaningful traditions? Do those & ditch the rest.

4. Control gift giving. Ask the kids TODAY: “What gifts do you remember from last year?” Then brace yourself. If your loved ones can’t remember, simplify to just 3 gifts.  After all, 3 gifts were good enough for Jesus.

5. Focus on Relationships. Focus on growing in love instead of more stuff. Simplify and include others in the Season. Let go of wanting things to be perfect. Life is not a Hallmark show. They’re not going to be. Strive for ‘good enough’ instead. You really do NOT have to do it all alone. When we let others help we teach our kids and hubby how to love by serving.

6. Be grateful and Focus on the Moments – See all the joy in faces of the people you love and the moments.

7. Give the gift of Love. Grow closer together with family and friends as you share your love with the The Christmas Love Box tradition. If you’re not Christian, you can do the Original Love Box tradition. Giving the gift of love is the greatest gift you can give your family and the world.

You can get yours online at: www.originallovebox.com

Wishing you and your heart joyful moments amidst controlled chaos. Keep the faith and by all means, just keep breathing – deeply.

Breathe in: I am at peace.
Breathe out: I share love.

Merry Christmas friend!

Love Notes for Military

Original Love Box notes for Military  

Here are 10 Tips to write great Love Notes to Soldiers:

  1. Write from the heart.
  2. Share things about yourself.
  3. Thank them.
  4. Share your why.
  5. Mention military connections.
  6. Tell them what’s going on at home.
  7. No politics please.
  8. You support & respect them.
  9. Write  like you speak.
  10. Include encouraging quotes.

How To Write a Cherished Love Note


Do you want to express your love in writing but not really sure how? Don’t you worry. We’re here to help you get those loving words flowing.

This excerpt from The Christmas Love Box book highlights how to create a cherished love note.

1. Quiet down and listen to your heart.
2. Think about the other person. Let all the love, fondness and appreciation that your feel for them flow out of you.
3. Start writing and don’t stop until you’re happy with the note.

To get you going, here are some love note starters:

1. What I love (or like) about you is . . . .
2. You are a precious gift to me (or others) because . . .
3. You are special and unique because . . .

You can keep these one-of-a-kind notes in the keepsake Christmas Love Box. They will be read over and over again. It’s the gift that keeps giving all year long.

To get the Christmas Love Box in time for Christmas, purchase before Dec. 17th.

The CLB Challenge

What is the CLB Challenge?


The CLB challenge is that you will share the gift of love, by writing love notes to your family and friends this holiday season. You’re committed to building a foundation of love in your family with the Christmas Love Box tradition.

We are committed to creating a new world of love.

A long, long time ago people thought the the more presents you gave at Christmas showed others how much you loved them. The holidays got over commercialized and ‘sucked the life force’ out of many people.

NOT ANYMORE

We are inspired.

The Spirit of Love is Powerful.

We will give the gift of love,
One note at a time.

May the ‘Love Force’ be with you.

Will you join the CLB challenge?

Why Celebrate Christmas in July?

So, why are we celebrating ‘Christmas in July’? Are we crazy? Well, maybe a little, but there’s also a much deeper reason.

We celebrate the Spirit of Christmas in July because it reminds us of the love of Christ and gives us time to reconnect with family. We can start the ‘Christmas Love Box’ tradition when our lives are a little less hectic. It’s fun and brings everyone closer together!

Here’s what the Blake family has to say about the Christmas Love Box tradition. I hope you find it inspiring. We sure do.

Christmas Love Box Team

Christmas Love Box Team

Love of Family, Not of Gifts.
By: Mrs. Blake

For the Blake family, Christmas was both a treat and an extra special blessing of love and commitment with our first ‘Christmas Love Box’. While I must say we were a bit skeptical of the perceived power and blessings in store for us, each of us was definitely impacted and thrilled by the end of the day.

When we received the ‘Christmas Love Box’ package, each member of our family was asked to participate by presenting kind thoughts to everyone else. I was amazed by their willingness to engage in the process (must be trust of their Nana)! With lots of love, humor, respect and heart felt love; everyone wrote individual love notes to other family members and were (amazingly so) willing to read them aloud.

The tears, love and gift of the real purpose of Christmas took front stage . . . how can we forget the birth of Christ and His saving grace!!!

The best of the best was from my husband. . . who is not a gift/materialistic kind of guy who said: ‘WOW, finally, we remember Christmas for what it’s all about . . . LOVE of Family and not of gifts.”

So our question to you is, “Why not celebrate Christmas in July?”

Let’s share more love – all year long.