Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Last Minute Gift Ideas

If you are down to the last minute on getting a gift, here are a few ideas. 

You can give money.  You don't have to run to a store, go online or make a gift.  If you have money, you just give the gift of the money. 

You can give a gift certificate or gift card.  You buy gift cards at most stores.  You can buy them online.  You can even buy email gift certificates that can be sent by email to the recipient as soon as you buy them.

You can make a gift.  You can bake bread, cookies, or make a special dish.  You can print out cards or calendars or other gifts from your computer.

You can give a gift of service such offering babysitting or shoveling snow or a back rub or making a special dinner.

You still can give great gifts even at the last minute.  More ideas for last minute gifts can be found here.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Last Minute Memorable Gifts

When I was young I remember being taken to the city fifteen miles from our home on the Saturday before Christmas.  We would divide up and go shopping for other members of the family.  Then we would trade off and go with someone different so we could get a gift for the other person we had been shopping with.  It was fun to shop like that.  I didn't worry so much about getting the perfect gift.  I just tried to find something nice and something I thought would be enjoyed.

Sometimes now it seems hard to get good gifts.  Sometimes you're not sure what a person would like.  Sometimes you don't have a lot of money to spend.  And sometimes you're down to the last minute.

I just discovered today that you can give a gift certificate for a personalized gift.  This last minute gift can be customized by the recipient with a design of their choice or with their own picture or text.  This gift certificate is sent by email so it can be sent to someone far away even on Christmas Day and still be received on time.  If you want to give a wrapped physical gift, you could write a note saying to check their email for their gift and wrap the note in wrapping paper or put it in a box or bag.

It's not too late to give a memorable gift if you go to this site.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Making Your Own Music

I've always enjoyed making my own music.  When I was young I loved to sing.  We didn't own a piano, but I wanted to learn to play the piano.  A friend taught me a little bit, but I didn't have a piano to practice on.  When I was twelve my parents bought me a used flute which allowed me to join the school band.  Recently I came across Sonic Producer.  This software fascinates me as it allows one to create music using several different instrumental sounds.  I have tried creating photo videos, but I have found it frustrating when trying to add music because of copyright issues.  With Sonic Producer I can create my own music which is a lot of fun, and then I can use it as I see fit.

You could buy the software and create gifts with it like MP3's that could be saved to a computer or a MP3 player or burned to a CD.  You could add music to a photo video.  Then, of course, you could give the software as a gift to someone you know who loves creating music.  Sonic  Producer could be a very memorable gift.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

A Family Tree Calendar Makes a Year Long Gift

Memorable gifts are gifts that keep on giving.  A calendar is a year-long gift.  Creating your own calendar to give as a gift is a very personalized gift.  To make an even more memorable gift add family photos to your calendar.  Adding a family tree and pictures of your ancestors can make an especially memorable gift as it would remind members of your family of their ancestors who came before them.  Whether our ancestors were good upstanding people or whether they did some things you aren't proud of, still knowing who they are helps you to understand who you are and why things are the way they are in your life.  That can be an empowering thing to give to your family.  If you would like to see an example of a family tree calendar click on the picture below.  There you can create your own custom family tree calendar.  Also you can find more information on creating your family tree calendar here:  

Create a Family Tree Calendar


Monday, December 6, 2010

Using Personal Historian to Create a Memorable Gift

Personal Historian is a software program that helps you write and record your life story. The life story of a family member would be a most memorable gift. You can just start writing your own story or a family member's story, but with software like Personal Historian you get a lot of help. Personal Historian provided a time line with history information that can prompt your memory of what happened in a certain year. You can import family history Gedcom files that you already have. You can import photos, and you can import stories that are already written. You may already have a lot of your story done. Once you've finished your story you can print it out yourself or you can save it as a word processor document or a pdf file which could be submitted to be printed out as a book.

With Personal Historian you can create a story as a gift or you may choose to give the software as the gift itself. Giving the gift of a life story will be a most memorable gift that may be cherished for generations.
Here's more about Personal Historian.
Software

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Memorable Gifts for Veterans

We are fortunate to live in our free country, but it is only free because of those who have been willing to fight for our freedom.  If you have a veteran on your Christmas gift list, perhaps acknowledging what they did in serving our country could be a memorable gift for them. You can learn more at this site about patriotism.  Pins, patches, magnets, bumper stickers, flags and many more items could be given as gifts to let the veteran in your life know how much their service means to you.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Remembering Wholeness-A Very Memorable Gift

Giving a gift that helps someone understand their life better is a great gift.  "Remembering Wholeness" is a book that helps us remember what life is about and why we are here and experiencing the things that are happening to us.  What really makes a difference in our lives is to change the way we think.  "Remembering Wholeness changes the way we think.  The book does teach some exercises both mental and physical that we can do to change our lives.   We give gifts to help improve someone's life.  When you give a gift that helps someone change their life, you have given a most memorable gift.  Remembering Wholeness by Carol Tuttle will give you more information if you think a gift of change would be a good gift for someone on your gift list.

Monday, November 22, 2010

My Memorable Gift

When I was a girl most of the girls had fashion dolls to play with.  My parents gave me a doll that could be made into a bed doll.  Most of the other girls had Barbie dolls.  The doll I had didn't have jointed legs.  The doll was made of hard plastic and was designed to be dressed once and placed on display, not to be dressed over and over again.

Then one Christmas I opened a gift to find a Tammy Doll.  Tammy dolls are more realistic and look more like the average girl than Barbie dolls.  My mother had made several pieces of clothing for the doll.  The Tammy Doll was a precious gift to me since I knew my parents were limited in the money available to purchase toys.  I knew my mother spent many hours making the clothes.  They wanted me to fit in with the other girls and to have a doll to play with like the other girls had.

I have wondered if Barbie dolls have not given an illusion of what the ideal woman should look like that is impossible for a healthy woman to look like.  Tammy dolls show a more healthy beauty.

If you are concerned for your daughter's self-image, perhaps a Tammy doll might be a better choice than a Barbie doll.  Tammy dolls are available in eBay auctions and could make a very memorable gift for someone you love.

Learn more about Tammy dolls here:  Tammy Dolls

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Big Foot Piano Mat Keyboard

In FAO Schwarz in New York City there is a big piano that is played with the feet. This piano was featured in the movie, "Big" back in the 80's. It is fun to watch the piano being played, but it is also fun to get to play a big piano. Six feet piano mats are available to purchase for your home. With a piano mat in your home you can create music and get your exercise at the same time. Children love being able to make music with their feet. For more information go to

Create Unique Photo Gifts

Zazzle is a very interesting website.  Unique stores feature artwork and photos on a wide variety of products.  You can purchase a design created by one of the Zazzle artists or you can add your own artwork, photos and sayings to create a personalized product of your own.  There are so many designs to choose from that your product will truly be unique.  A personalized gift makes a very memorable gift--one that will probably be hung onto for years.  Check out some Zazzle designs at Storykeeper's Zazzle Store.


Make personalized gifts at Zazzle.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Give a Gift of Musical Memories

Music brings back memories.  Sometimes you just want to hear the music the way it was when you were younger.  If, like me, you grew up listening to music on records, you might enjoy looking at the following link where you can find old record albums for sale.  Maybe you'll find something that brings back musical memories from your past.  http://www.squidoo.com/music-and-records

Give a Gift That Helps Keep the Memories of a Special Event

Looking at this lens http://www.squidoo.com/greatrenoballoonrace I started thinking about how giving something that reminds someone of a special event can make a very memorable gift.  A poster of hot air balloons or other products with pictures of hot air balloons will keep the memories alive and will be a reminder of a good time. See some gift ideas at
hot-air-balloon-gifts.



Give a Gift of a Well-Trained Dog

 Many people buy a Christmas present for their dogs.  When you have a dog, you want to make him or her happy.  A new toy or a treat for Christmas seems like a great gift, and indeed can be a good gift. A gift of training your dog is a gift not only to your dog, but also to every member of your family and your neighborhood.  Buying yourself a book or a video that helps you train your dog is a great gift for every one that comes in contact with your dog.  Check out http://www.squidoo.com/raisingdogs for ideas on training your dog and recommendations on books and videos that may help.  Give yourself a memorable gift that will last for years by giving yourself a well-trained dog.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

The Undaunted--A Memorable Gift

Books can be a very memorable gift.  Historical novels are especially memorable as they are able real historical events.  The Undaunted is a great gift idea.  The book takes you into the past to travel with the pioneers who settled in the San Juan area of Utah.  You learn of the great courage they had to undertake and complete this journey.

Seeing pictures of the Hole-in-the-Rock which they took their wagons through astounds the mind as one contemplates taking wagons through that area.  Even taking modern four wheel drive vehicles along their roads is very difficult and scary today.  Some of my friends went on a trip along the road.  One friend said, "I never would have made it as a pioneer.  It's a good thing that I was born today."

Reading a book is a safe way to go back into the past and vicariously live through others' experiences.  We can learn from their experiences, and we become better from reading about their experiences.  Give a gift of several hours of reading enjoyment and increased faith and courage by giving the book,
The Undaunted
 to some one you love this year.

How To Hear and Play Music

Music is connected to our memories.  When we hear a certain song we often have memories brought back from a time in the past when we had heard the song before.  Many couples have a song they call "our song" because of the memories it brings back of their courtship.

Christmas is very connected with music.  Christmas carols go back as far as the thirteenth century according to Wikipedia.  Gathering around the piano as a family to sing Christmas carols or going caroling is a fun tradition.  If you know how to play the piano or guitar, you can accompany the singers.  If you didn't learn to play the piano or guitar, you might want to learn how to play for this Christmas. 

Try out the free lessons and see.  This might make a great gift for someone on your list too.  More information is available at this site.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Fun Halloween or Thanksgiving Gift

Last night I got to make a pumpkin out of a roll of toilet paper, orange cloth, brown paper, a green pipe cleaner, and a foam leaf.  It was fun to make.  I started thinking a pumpkin like this could be a good Halloween or Thanksgiving gift.  If you've been invited to dinner and you'd like to take a gift here is an inexpensive idea for Halloween or Thanksgiving time.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Create A Memorable Gift With A Recordable Storybook



I came across recordable storybooks, and I thought what a wonderful idea for a unique, memorable gift. Reading stories to a child is one of the best things you can do for a child. Sometimes parents run out of time to read stories like they want to. Grandparents or other relatives who live a long ways away can't read bedtime stories. With recordable books one can record a story that a child can hear while they look at a storybook.


A couple of options are available for recording a storybook. You can buy a storybook that has a recorder built into the book. As you turn each page you can record yourself reading that page. After recording the whole book you can lock the recording so it can not be recorded over. The other option is software that allows you to record with your computer your reading of any book you choose. With this option you can add music or background noises.


If you give a recorded storybook, you will be giving a one-of-kind gift. Your gift will be filled with love as you put your time into making the recording. Your gift will be a memorable gift that can be kept for years.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Custom Photo Jewelry

A gift of photo jewelry can be a one-of-a-kind gift.  A necklace with a photo of your child, your husband, your dog or cat, or your flower garden is truly a truly unique gift.  It will be a gift that is treasured and used for years.  There are different kinds of jewelry available such as necklaces, rings, Italian charm bracelets, dangling charm bracelets, key chains, cuff links, and belt buckles.  You can make the jewelry yourself or you can pay for someone to make the custom jewelry for you.  The jewelry can be made from pewter, stainless steel, silver and other metals or from glass or wood or even from a bottle cap.   More information can be found on photo jewelry at http://www.squidoo.com/photojewelry.

Following is a video I made with some jewelry I made.  I purchased the bracelet links and pendants and the software to correctly size the photos.  I printed out the photos I wanted to use, cut them out and glued them to the base.  Then I coated them with a resin coating and let them dry.  The resin magnified the photos and made them easier to see.  This jewelry is very personal and keeps the things that are important to me close to me when I wear them.


Saturday, October 9, 2010

Making Memorable Gifts with My Memories Suite

As I've started thinking about memorable gift ideas I came across My Memories Suite.  Here is a product that could be the gift itself or that could create a gift.  If you purchase My Memories Suite on a CD, you could wrap and give it as the gift to someone who likes to create photo books or scrapbooks or photo videos.  It would be a gift that keeps on giving year round.  The recipient could create as many projects as he or she wanted to. 

You could purchase My Memories Suite for yourself and then you could create a photo book or a scrapbook or a video with photos you have yourself and give the project you created as your gift.  The photo book, scrapbook or video will be a unique, one-of-a-kind gift that will not be duplicated.  Several people could give photo books and each one would be different.  You could create a new book or video for any occasion.  Is there a graduation, a wedding, an anniversary, the birth of a new baby, a special trip or some other special event coming up?  Take lots of pictures and then create that special unique gift with those photos you took. 

My Memories Suite makes your projects easy to do with lots of options.  Many of the reviews on this product say it has more options available than other similar products.  This might be just the gift you have been looking for.


Here's more information on My Memories Suite

Memorable Gifts

Christmas is less than three months away.  Gift giving is an important part of observing Christmas.  I started thinking why not do a blog on memorable gifts.  I plan to do posts on gifts you can buy or make that will be remembered and appreciated.  All gifts are valuable and should be appreciated even if they aren't exactly what you wanted or may not even be useful such as the wrong size of clothing.  The fact someone wanted to give you a gift is the most important thing to remember.

When you look at what you will give to others, you hope to give them something that they will appreciate and remember--something that will be a blessing in their lives.  Some gifts will be pleasurable at the moment like chocolate, but won't last long.  Other gifts may be used or kept for years such as a scrapbook or photo album.  I hope to share some ideas for gifts that will help those you give to feel of your love for them.

The gift clip-art is in the public domain from 
http://www.pdclipart.org.