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Making Your Own Family Yearbook
May 5th, 2010More than just a fun project, a family yearbook is a keepsake that both current and future generation will enjoy. Here are some tips to get you started.
Prepare
If you are planning on creating a family yearbook, you will have to start the year with that in mind. Begin to plan out your yearbook as early as possible and make sure to take plenty of photographs throughout the year. Also you may want to consider who your audience is going to be. Are you going to send the book out as a gift to friends and family? Are you just going to create something to keep in your home forever and pass down through the generations? In any event, you will want the photographs that you use to be of the best quality possible, so if you do not have a high-resolution printer, you may want to take them to an outside source like a drug store, or have them printed online (from one of the many websites that offer that service) and sent to you.
Organize
This part of the process allows for a little bit of creativity on your part. Will you simply create a book that conveys your family’s year in photos in chronological order? Will each member of your family have his or her own section that includes photos of friends and important events that didn’t happen to include the whole family, such as sporting events, school trips, proms, etc? Does the family dog get a section too? Feel free to let your imagination run wild in this part, and you can even get creative with some of the photo editing before you send your prints off.
Assemble
There are lots of different ways to do this. You can go purchase a photo album or scrapbook and simply fill the pages, or you can arrange, scan and print complete pages as you go along. There is some room for creativity here as well, so you shouldn’t feel as if you have to pigeonhole your project into either the photo book or the scrapbook category. However you decide to arrange the photographs, and whatever captions, musing anecdotes, or supplemental artwork you choose to include, make sure that the paper you assemble it all on is acid free, and that your paste or rubber cement is as well. This will help keep your photos preserved for a long time to come.
Binding
There are a plethora of options here as well. There are some online services that allow you to send PDF versions of your pages to them, and they will send you a complete hardcover book in return. These services vary in price based on the number of pages you want to include, and the number of copies you want to receive. Another option is for you to bind the book yourself. You may be surprised at how inexpensive and dead simple it is to create your own hardcover books. There are thermal binding machines out there that cost less than $100 that produce books that are as good as what you might find at the bookstore. If you are going to be making a few photo books in the coming years, doing it yourself gives you more flexibility and saves you a lot of money – and it’s more fun, to boot.
If you are interested in more information about how the right Binding Machine, can help you create a great photo book you might want to visit MyBinding.com. They offer a great price and Free Shipping on orders over $75.00. Plus, they carry a full line of Binding Accessories.
Making a Memorial Book
May 5th, 2010Creating memorial books to honor someone who has recently passed can be a very rewarding project. Here are a few tips for putting together a great one.
Gathering Your Material
This is an important step, because the more material you gather the more conclusive your memory book will be. Though it is very difficult to sum up someone’s life to everyone’s satisfaction, you give yourself a better chance if you compile as much material as possible. The sorts of items you will want to get together are, of course, photographs, letters, notes, paper scraps, and any newspaper clippings that you can find. If you are doing this at the behest of relatives or friends, you’ll need to get as much help from them as you possible can and give yourself time enough to do the work. If you, for instance operate a funeral home and have recently added memorial books to your list of services, you may want to consider hiring someone full time to do this work, or finding an independent contractor that you can depend on. These books are meant to be permanent bookshelf additions, and lots of people will see them, so it will pay in the long run to put out the best and most complete finished product that you can.
Organization
Especially if you are working with one of a kind objects that you have borrowed from friends and family, be careful to index the items in a spreadsheet. Whatever items you can copy and scan, do so and place the original items somewhere safe. Now is when you can start to look for overall themes in the person’s life, and start to create a sort of chronology. If, for instance your subject was a doting and beloved grandmother, get some reminisces from her grandchildren and get as many photos as you can for her to be remembered by. You can start anywhere in a persons live. For instance, for the aforementioned doting grandmother, you can start with her grandchildren and work backward through her life to whatever is known about her own grandmother.
You will make your task easier if you divide the book into chapters or sections and place all the material you have gathered on a long tabletop and start to organize it into these sections or chapters.
Writing
Depending on the scope of your project and the time you have, you can conduct interviews of people to whom your subject was important. Compiling this sort of oral history is a great way to sort of let the book write itself in the words of the people who knew your subject best.
There is always the chance that you will come across a person or two who has a negative opinion about your subject. Unless the situation can be dealt with and conveyed in good humor, it is probably best to avoid the any negativity for the purposes of this project.
Binding
Again, if you are in the funeral/memorial business, you may be looking to add memorial books to your list of services. If this is the case (and even if you are just a hobbyist), you should be aware of your binding options. Creating a hardcover book is remarkably easy and inexpensive and you can do it yourself right in your own offices.
If you are interested in more information about how the right Thermal Binding Machine can help you create a great memorial book, you might want to visit MyBinding.com. They offer a great price and Free Shipping on orders over $75.00. Plus, they carry a full line of Binding Accessories.
Making a Family Reunion Cookbook
May 4th, 2010Putting together a family cookbook for your next reunion might make a fun and rewarding project. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Gathering Recipes
This will take a fair amount of planning, preparation, and cooperation. Start as soon as you know when your family reunion is taking place, and contact all of the members of your family, letting them know what your project is and that you would like them each (each family, not each member of each family) to contribute at least 3-5 of their favorite recipes. A mass email is probably the best and easiest way to let everyone know, and that way family members can discuss among themselves what kinds of recipes they will be contributing, and help to make sure there is not too much repetition.
Have the families email their recipes to you along with any photographs or other informational blurbs they want to include, such as “this is my take on Grandma Ethel’s apple strudel.” If they agree to participate and you don’t hear from them for awhile, don’t be shy about sending a friendly reminder every now and then. The sooner you gather all the recipes, the sooner you can begin. Let your family know that the goal is to present them with a copy of the cookbook at the reunion.
Organizing The Recipes
Once you have gotten all the recipes you are going to get, you can start to put your cookbook together. If you have a layout program such as InDesign or QuarkXpress, and you have an idea how to use them, great. If not MS Word should suffice in putting your pages together. First you will want to organize your recipes somehow. There are, of course a number of ways to do this, including by family or by type of cuisine. There is a good case to be made for either method, so you will just have to go by whichever feels and looks the best to you. If you choose to organize your cookbook by food categories )appetizers, main dishes, etc.), you can also include a separate section wherein each family gets a short bio, so everyone knows who contributed what.
Depending on what you want your final product to look like, you may want to get as many high-quality photographs as possible, both of the finished dishes and of the families who are participating. This will help to add some flair to your cookbook as well as giving everyone something they will want to use and hold onto for a long time to come.
Editing And Proofreading
Spend some time making sure that the recipes are clear and easy to follow as soon as you begin to receive them. If you have questions about anything, make sure that you have time to clear them up with the contributor before you start printing.
Printing and Binding
Use laser printing to print your pages, digital if there are color photos. When it comes to binding, there are a few different options, including plastic comb, color coil, and the old standby 3-ring binder. All of these forms are hands-free functional which is a big plus in the kitchen. For those who like to do things themselves, binding machines are inexpensive and easy to use. Take a look online or at your local print shop to see what will work best for you.
If you are interested in more information about how the right Binding Machine can help you create a great family cookbook, you might want to visit MyBinding.com. They offer a great price and Free Shipping on orders over $75.00. Plus, they carry a full line of Binding Accessories.
How to Create a Family Cookbook
May 2nd, 2010Putting together a family cookbook is a fun and rewarding project. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Gather The Recipes
This sounds like a bit of a no brainer, but might be a little more difficult than it sounds, depending on the size of your family and the number of recipes you want to include. There are other factors to consider as well, as there may be some family favorite recipes that were never written down and that different families have prepared in slightly different ways. What you have to do then is simply to gather as much material as possible and pick and choose from there what versions you would like to include. You may also have different versions of the same dish in the book, with explanations such as “Grandma used four cloves of garlic, but Mabel likes to use five” or something of the sort. The key is to be as inclusive as possible, and to have a lot of fun in the process.
Organize the Material
Again, depending on the scope of your project, you can choose many different ways to organize your cookbook. You can go by dish type (appetizer, main course, dessert), by region/style of cuisine, or by the person contributing. If you find that there are a few different versions of the same dish, it would be a good idea to place them together so those who are using the book can make their choices easily.
If you want, you can also include family anecdotes or memories that go along with all or select dishes. When you are gathering your material, ask your cooks when they first remember having the dish or dishes that they are contributing, when they first attempted to make it themselves, photos of the completed dish or while in process, or anything else that they would like to contribute.
You may also want to create and attractive cover for your cookbook, or if you lack those sorts of skills, enlist another member of the family or find a nice template to work from.
Bind It
There are a number of different options to consider when you are binding your cookbook. The first is, of course, usability and functionality. You will want to make sure that you choose a binding style that allows the book to lie flat, so you cooks can use it in a hands free fashion. There are a couple of relatively inexpensive binding options that allow for this sort function: plastic comb and spiral coil. In this case, spiral coil might be the way to go because with this binding style you can also wrap the pages completely around so the book takes up less room on the countertop. Take a look online, or down at your local print shop to see what your options are. A simple three ring binder might do the trick as well, but unless you laminate or use sheet protectors to otherwise reinforce the pages, you will find that this method produces a book that may not be as durable as the other two, and with even normal handling, you might find that pages tear out a little too easily. Machines that do the aforementioned types of bindings are relatively inexpensive, and for frequent or ongoing projects, you might find that doing your binding yourself is a nice option.
Just keep in mind that the stronger you bind you cookbook, the longer it will be around for other generations to enjoy.
If you are interested in more information about how the right Binding Machine can help you create a great family cookbook, you might want to visit Mybinding.com. They offer a great price on binding equipment and they even offer Free Shipping on orders over $75.00. Plus, they carry a full line of Binding Accessories.
Your Sofas and Your Families
February 26th, 2010Undeniably, sofas are a big part of our daily lives. We see them at home; in the living room, the music room and sometimes in the bedroom. If you are early for a meeting, the first thing you do is look around for a comfortable sofa. Even hotel washrooms have two-seaters.
As the number of styles and designs grow bigger by the day, choosing the best one for your home or office can be difficult. However, it can also be as easy and fast as a snap of a finger. At times, the beauty and elegance of the furniture will make you do everything just so you can buy it. Alternatively, if luck is on your side, you simply stumble into one that will fit perfectly into your home.
Different factors affect the choice of a sofa. Where do you need it? What is it for? Is it for your living room? Is it for your office, or the receiving area? Depending on the needs and wants, one can choose from the basic two or three-seat type of sofas to the more luxurious recliners and convertibles.
Now in sofa designs, partners can now enjoy recliners as they do love seats. Watching television together will never be the same. Sectional sofas, which may also have compartments underneath the seats, can prove to be stylish and functional at the same time. If you are such a great host that visitors find your home as cozy as theirs, a getting a corner group will be a great way to decorate the room.
Style, functionality and convenience combined, the sofa bed era simply revolutionized the industry. Because of these cozy seats that turn into comfortable beds, slumber parties will never be the same. The living room can instantly be turned into an extra room for sleepovers. If you want more walking space in your condominium, get one that turns into a queen size bed. You may want one for the office too.
Depending on what look you want, you can choose between fabric or leather sofas; or perhaps an unconventional mix of both. Because there are more colors texture available for fabrics, they can be more expressive for people who love color. Nevertheless, for those who want the classic classy look, it is definitely the leathers. A little adventure into designing can get one to opt for the fabric leather mix.
Of course, nobody wants the extra costs of having to reupholster just because the covers are already dirty. The advantage of leathers is that it is easy to maintain. No washing is needed. But if you really prefer fabric, you can buy those with loose covers, or simply buy extra covers. There are even those that fit all sizes.
Just like the covers, sofas can be made to order. Some companies will allow you to select from a variety of designs; and then choose your own fabric and type of filler or cushion. Whether it is for business or pleasure, need or want, shopping for a sofa can truly be fun and exciting.
Annie is an expert furniture and interior design writer. Her current area of specialism is kitchen tables, furniture sale and office furniture sale
Planning Thanksgiving Dinner – Tips To Make Your Holiday Easy
December 30th, 2009Preparing your Thanksgiving dinner takes a lot of planning. It can be stressful, to say the least! How can you make your dinner successful, especially when you have a large group? By laying out a planning strategy that works, of course. Let’s look at some ideas and tips for planning your holiday meal:
10 Days Before Thanksgiving:
About 10 days prior to Thanksgiving, or at least one week, get your list together of folks who are invited and contact anyone you haven’t spoken to as yet. This will give you plenty of time to prepare for the amount of food and seating. Be sure to jot down next to your guest list names any special food needs or dishes that anyone is bringing to the meal.
Now that you have your guest list you can figure out the size of the turkey. You’ll want about one to one and a half pounds of turkey for each person; more if you want leftover turkey. You may want to buy a fresh turkey, so check with your market now for availability. Or, you may want a frozen turkey, a smoked turkey, or even a deep fried turkey. Now is the time to make that decision.
Deciding upon your final menu should be completed at least a week before the big day. Consider the number of people you will be entertaining and if you have children on your guest list, try to plan a couple of special dishes or treats especially for them.
Week of Thanksgiving:
The week of Thanksgiving is the time to stock up on necessary items from the grocery store. You can make certain items in advance such as bread or rolls, and freeze them until Thanksgiving morning. Also make sure you have supplies such a napkins, cups, etc.
The Countdown To Thanksgiving Day:
Two or three days before Thanksgiving is the time to get some items prepared so they are ready and waiting for you on Thanksgiving day.
Foods that can be prepared in advance are things like cranberry relish. You can also clean and dice the vegetables you need for your stuffing, like onions and celery. If you are preparing a vegetable tray for an appetizer, wash and trim those vegetables as well. Store everything in tightly sealed plastic zip lock bags or containers. Some side dishes may be prepared the night before Thanksgiving. Some folks prepare their stuffing and store it overnight so it is ready to go in the morning. It’s also time to make your pies and cakes. If you have frozen rolls or side dishes that need to thaw, get them out the night before.
Make sure you have everything on your shopping list in your kitchen at least 2-3 days before Thanksgiving morning.
Get out your games, decorations, and special serving pieces for Thanksgiving. If you have kids, be sure to involve them in the game planning at the very least. If they are old enough, be sure they are included in decorating the house and table. Now is the time to get out your special table linens and wash and iron them if necessary.
Thawing your frozen turkey correctly is very important. Three days before Thanksgiving morning should be sufficient when you thaw your turkey in the refrigerator. Be sure to following the thawing instructions on the bird itself.
Thanksgiving Morning Is Here:
Thanksgiving morning is here. You have prepared as many dishes as you could ahead of time. Start arranging the cooking time for those dishes, beginning with the turkey. Stuff your bird, place it in your roasting pan, and figure out the timing using a cooking table found on the packaging. Prepare the side dishes and desserts that you were not able to prepare ahead of time – peel potatoes, cut sweet potatoes, etc.
Now, set the table, sit back, and relax for a few minutes before the guests arrive. Congratulations! You have successfully planned and carried out your Thanksgiving dinner! Less stress and more time to enjoy your Thanksgiving celebration.
Are you a mom who likes to play rather than cook? If so, you won’t want to miss FreeQuickRecipes.com. And, if frugal cooking is your thing, then check out frugal cooking for moms.
Are You a Collector Collecting Collectibles?
December 1st, 2009Anything that exists is fair game for collectors. It seems everyone collects something. For some of us that is debt. The best known items for collecting are stamps and coins. Both are interesting and readily available to all, but the really great stuff is too expensive for us worker bees.
Collecting is at least as old as mankind and probably predates us. Among collectors there is a distinction between collecting the really old (antiques) and the not so old (collectibles). While it seems to me that anything one collects would be a “collectible”, those who collect antiques feel the need to be separated from the great unwashed. That’s OK by me though I do wash regularly.
Anything that attracts your interest is a good candidate for collecting. Porcelain figurines are a very popular area of interest. Most people get very specific with their figurines. They choose all angels, or dragons, or fairies, or whatever. Unlike stamps and coins, the best collectible figurines are not confined to the most expensive. Sometimes a majority of a collection may be porcelain, but enhanced by other things. I once knew a lady who collected owls. Many of the owls were porcelain, but many others were of other materials such as wood, fabric, different metals, and some pictures. It just had to be an owl to qualify.
I have over the years collected some things other than dust and debt such as glass insulators, chess sets, and for a while, rocks. Not gemstones mind you. Rocks. These were all brief interests. I’m like an old hound. My attention is focused until the next rabbit runs.
Collectibles generally need to be either pretty, unusual, or have some historical significance. Pretty usually attracts the female collectors, historical to the males, and unusual grabs everyone, with overlaps in all categories. There of course, are other reasons for collecting and in some cases, no apparent reason at all. If asked, you may not be able to answer why you collect whatever it is that you collect. At any rate, the only criticism you have to listen to is your own.
Most people are collectors without being aware of it. If you should take note and realize that you have a lot of snuff boxes laying around that just seemed to accumulate, then you are in fact a snuff box collector whether you ever dipped snuff or not. Now you need to organize. Catalog each item and document every single fact you have, no matter how insignificant it seems. You may or may not be interested in the value of your collection, but over time, if you have really good documentation, your progeny may actually do something with your “stuff” other than dumping it.
Some people plan their collections in that they research the item before deciding to collect or not. These people are concerned with the collection as an investment. This is a risky business as collections of anything are only worth what someone is willing to pay. Beware of publications listing prices of collections. They can be disastrously misleading. Once you find yourself collecting something though, cataloging and researching each item will enhance not only the value of the collection but your pleasure as well.
Collections are not limited to tangible, inanimate objects. Many people collect fish, birds, dogs, cats, and other living things. Others collect intangibles such as travels, memories, sightings, and such. The intangibles would be hard pressed to be collections without documentation. While these collections have no monetary value, their worth cannot be measured by those doing the collecting.
There is a wealth of information on collecting on the internet. Much of it is general in nature, but with diligent searching, one can find information on collecting the specific of their choice. A starting point for your search is http://www.uniquegiftsandfigurines.com/
I am James Mizzell, owner ofUnique Gifts and Figurines