Swiss Days 2008

Thank you, thank you, thank you for making the harried days and sleepless nights so very, very worth it! Swiss Days was UNBELIEVEABLE!

We couldn't have done it without all of you!

Thanks to everyone who visited our booth and offered such warm words of encouragement.

Thanks to an amazing group of friends who gave up personal time with family to sweat alongside us. You know who you are guys... we're forever in your debt!

And a special thanks must once again go out to our families. Not only did they support our being gone for three straight days, but they gave up plenty of home-cooked meals, time away from their own activities and a life of normality as we prepared for the event. If you can imagine, Suni's husband Mike not only tended his own family during our absence, but took in two of my boys... they had such a blast, they didn't want to come home!

Check back in the next few days. We have a lot of orders to fill, but can't wait to show you how we made the fun family frame.

Oh, did we remember to thank Marilyn at Constant Growing Amazment? Gotta' check out who she claimed as a favorite vendor at Swiss Days. Now... who could it be?

Plate Licking Good!

So that last blog might have been a little less than cheerful. What can I say? 6:00 a.m. comes earlier than I remembered. Well, the saying goes "If life gives you lemons, MAKE LEMONADE!" I say... "Make Stuffed French Toast!" We have usually reserved this delicious treat for holiday breakfasts. (You know, the ones where you can lounge around in your p.j.'s after gorging yourself?) Kids made a special request to start their school year in style and I couldn't deny them. Got this recipe from my hair dresser, who got it from a client, who got it from... who knows the circuit it has traveled. I am sure it'll find its way on to your family's best recipe list and perhaps become the catalyst for many meaningful family meal stories!

Enjoy!

Stuffed French Toast
10 slices french bread or
bakery bread (thicker cut)
2 8-oz cream cheese (sounds like a lot. Guess what? It is! And worth EVERY pound!)
1 doz eggs
1 C milk
1/3 C
maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
cinnamon

Remove crusts from bread. Cube and place 1/2 of the bread in a buttered 9x13 casserole pan. Cube the cream cheese and place over bread. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Add remaining bread. Combine eggs, milk, syrup and vanilla. Pour over bread. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Next day, bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. Serve with buttermilk syrup.

Buttermilk Syrup
1 cube butter (here's another diet buster)
1/2 C buttermilk (or 1 C milk with 1 T vinegar)
3/4 C sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda

Combine butter, buttermilk and sugar. Melt over medium heat. When it comes to a boil, remove from heat. Add vanilla and baking soda. Stir (it will foam up for a moment).

Happy Days!

I LOVE summer! I love sleeping in. I love relaxed schedules. I love having my kids around. Well, I'd have to say I love the first 4 weeks of having my kids around. The second month of summer is spent tolerating each other. By August, we're ready to do bodily harm. I know... what a lovely thing to say. Try living with two surly teens and one woulda', coulda', shoulda' be a teen by now.
I will start the mom party shortly after posting this blog. It would be nice to think that I'm blasting MY music of choice, or maybe, instead, curled up on the couch with a favorite book basking in the total silence. But no. I will use my first hours of freedom to try to salvage the house.

Happy Days!

What's going on?

If you're wondering why our blog has been so quiet lately, it's only because we're working at a feverish pitch to get ready for Swiss Days. There's not a flat surface that isn't covered with something Stories by Me. What isn't covered with SbM 'stuff,' is coated in the aftermath of some creation. Seriously. You can't walk across the floor without sticking or crunching.

No worries here though. We'll be polished and spiffed up by next Friday! We can't wait to share our newest products and hope that you'll come and make a point of stopping by our booth (B50) to tell us what you think.

Preserving Pictures 101

I have a confession. I am not a scrapbooker. Oh, I love the beautiful memory books that my friends and family members have put together, but I actually feel a bit of anxiety whenever I go into a scrapbook store and see the mountain of available options.

It wasn't that long ago that I would have been hard pressed to get my hands on a baby picture of one of my children. It wasn't that we didn't have a million cute photos of the kids in every possible baby phase. I just hadn't gotten around to organizing the boxes and boxes that grew from my feeble attempts to stay on top of the pile.

I didn't feel in control of our photo madness until I started digitizing our pictures. What a difference it has made. I am now prepared for any family reunion, heritage project or school report that comes up; even those eleventh hour panic requests.

Here's some simple steps to preparing your pictures so that future generations can enjoy them. Everyone is at different stages. If you've already done step one, move to the next step. Remember to take baby steps! Some of these tasks will seem daunting, but it will also be an enjoyable trip down memory lane and your efforts will be appreciated for years to come.

Step One: Organize your pictures. Get a photo box (or a shoe box works) and organize your pictures in a way that makes the most sense to you. You might want to chronologically organize your pictures by date or event. I made a separate box for each member of the family. When I filled a box, I simply created a new box. The photo boxes usually come with simple dividers, or you can make some using 3"x5" cards. A box holds a LOT of photos! Breaking them into smaller, manageable sections using the dividers will make it easier to find a photograph when you need it.

Pictures already organized? Lucky you! Have you checked with your parents or grandparents to see what treasures they might have that need preserving?

Step Two: Document your pictures. I can't tell you how many family pictures I have inherited that we haven't a clue who's in them. It doesn't take long for the memory to blur. I didn't think I would ever forget the precious baby moments of each of our boys and yet, pile on a decade of additional memories and those sweet little faces start to look alike. What I wouldn't give to have some sort of clue to help me put names to the unknown family faces on the pictures I inherited. Use an archival pen to document your pictures and you'll guarantee that future generations will have no problem knowing their heritage. To avoid guesswork, include the day, month and year of each picture (if you can). Give the full name of individuals featured in the picture. Try to document the location of the photograph.

Step 3: Digitize your collection. I can't tell you what a great investment a personal scanner is. Prices have dropped immensely, and you can pick up a solid unit for about $100. Of course, you'll need a personal computer with sufficient storage for high-quality digital files. A CD burner will let you create a backup disk, as well as easily save copies for family members. External hard drives are another great way to back up your picture collection. I actually have two external hard drives. I pack one up and send it to a neighbors when we go on vacation just as an added measure to protect these valuable images.

Once all of the photographs have been scanned and saved, organize them into appropriately labeled folders on your computer. Our system is based on surnames and dates. Set up something that works for you. Consider uploading some of your family favorites to a photo hosting website such as Flickr, Photobucket, Image Shack so they can easily be shared with friends and family members.

Important Note: Digitized images are not considered a replacement for originals! Data (i.e. your image files) can be lost when the storage media deteriorates. Who hasn't had their hard drive crash? Software and hardware technology is constantly changing. Remember floppy disks? I have no way of reading them now. PROTECT YOUR ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS! Store them in an acid-free environment,

Still going strong? Don't forget important documents and material possesions. Look for postcards and letters. Include programs, diplomas and certificates. Now is a great time to round up each family members' birth certificate, christening or baptismal records, marriage certificates, etc. for permanent protection. Grab your camera and snap pictures of Grandpa's coalminers lantern or Grandma's hat pins. While only one person can enjoy the original item, everyone can appreciate the memory.

Should I remove my photographs from old albums?

How to protect your original family photographs

Protecting family documents

Coming to a store near YOU!

Still coming down from an exciting first convention. You've asked where you can find our merchandise and we're excited to expand the list! We're still closing the loop on a few stores, so check back for a more complete list as we get closer to the holidays...

Local favorites:
The Church History Museum Store - SLC
Mormon Handicraft -Midvale, Orem and St. George, Utah
Fotoworx - Kanab
Country Crossing - Oak City

California:
Ensign Books -Upland
Book Castle - Newhall
Zions Books - Visalia

Washington:
Far West Books and Gifts - Kennewick
Beehive Books and More - Edgewood

Idaho:
Bell's Family Books - Twin Falls

Arizona:
Latter Day Cottage - Tucson

Illinois:
Allyn House - Nauvoo

We will be oh, so grateful if you will patronize these stores and, of course, see what you think of our products. We're confident that you will LOVE how easy we've made it to remember!

Thank you Irena Sendler!

Here's a touching story about a woman by the name of Irena Sendler. She was born in 1910, just outside of Warsaw, Poland. In the 1940's she was an administrator for Warsaw's welfare department. This position allowed her to travel unrestricted throughout the country just as Hitler was occupying Poland. It was also instrumental in allowing her to save the lives of 2500 Jewish children. Her story is one that needs to be heard and remembered! Watch Glen Beck's tribute to her life.

Irena Sendler

1910 - 2008

Getting Kids excited about Genealogy!

When the kids were little, I was great at creating fun summer activities. As they have gotten older, I have lost my creative touch and have left them to their own ingenuity. Translation: it's boring around here! We only have a few weeks until we're back at the daily grind of school. Why not fill these last few weeks with some fun activities that not only gets them brushing up on school skills, but also helps them get to know family members better.

Turn your kids into cub-reporters. Deck 'em out with a mini-tape recorder (if you have one) or a pen and note paper always work. Have some fun with it. Help them come up with a pseudonym. Make official credentials. Throw on a hat, vest or tie and your child is ready to hit the streets! Be sure to have a mini lesson on the 5 'W's of good investigative reporting. Prepare some basic questions such as a favorite movie, best subject in school or first paying job. Have them start by interviewing someone that is already familiar. Maybe this will be a sibling or parent. As they become comfortable with the process, have them branch out to more distant relatives. Pictures add a lot to any story. Let them use an older digital camera to snap a picture. If that's not possible, include a picture from your files, or have your child add a drawing to their report.

Not only is this a great way to become more familiar with family members, but your children will start to recognize how things like fads and technology change over time. They might also notice that some things --such as peer pressure and sibling rivalry, never change.

Easy Family Coloring Pages

Check out how easy it is to convert your family pictures to coloring pages. All you do is select a photograph, press a button, and voila, instant fun!

Ready to Rock and Roll!

We've hauled in the goods, fluffed and stuffed, and now stand back to take a deep breath. We're ready. Well, we think we're ready. This is all new to us, but we're excited to meet the buyers and hope they are equally excited to meet us!

We hope we're wildly busy this week, but not so busy that we don't have time to do a short walk-about. There's some cool stuff out there that needs a closer inspection.

Special thanks goes to Suni for helping me keep my cool through late night set-ups, broken printers, and the million things that needed to be done after a long vacation. Everyone needs some Suni in their lives!

Think HAPPY thoughts!

Just so you know... we will be attending a booksellers convention for the rest of the week. Please send POSITIVE energy our way so that our little booth is busy, busy, busy! We'll let you know which stores pick up the line so you can shop locally! Not only will this benefit your local economy, but it will save you a few bucks on shipping, and trust us, shipping costs are going crazy right now!

Memory Monday

Hubby sent me an email today. It's a serious LOL! Doesn't have much to do with family history, but having just returned from the land of my childhood and feeling very much like I am sixteen again, there was a bit of irony to the story... ENJOY!

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN GUILTY OF LOOKING AT OTHERS YOUR OWN AGE AND THINKING, SURELY I CAN'T LOOK THAT OLD. WELL, YOU'LL LOVE THIS TALE OF WOE.

MY NAME IS ALICE SMITH AND I WAS SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR MY FIRST APPOINTMENT WITH A NEW DENTIST. I NOTICED HIS DDS DIPLOMA, WHICH BORE HIS FULL NAME. SUDDENLY, I REMEMBERED A TALL, HANDSOME, DARK-HAIRED BOY WITH THE SAME NAME HAD BEEN IN MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS SOME 30-ODD YEARS AGO. COULD HE BE THE SAME GUY THAT I HAD A SECRET CRUSH ON, WAY BACK THEN?

UPON SEEING HIM, HOWEVER, I QUICKLY DISCARDED ANY SUCH THOUGHT. THIS BALDING, GRAY-HAIRED MAN WITH THE DEEPLY LINED FACE WAS WAY TOO OLD TO HAVE BEEN MY CLASSMATE. AFTER HE EXAMINED MY TEETH, I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD ATTENDED MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL.

"YES. YES, I DID. I'M A MUSTANG," HE GLEAMED WITH PRIDE.

"WHEN DID YOU GRADUATE?" I ASKED.

HE ANSWERED, "IN 1975. WHY DO YOU ASK?"

"YOU WERE IN MY CLASS!" I EXCLAIMED.

HE LOOKED AT ME CLOSELY AND THEN, THAT UGLY, OLD, BALD, WRINKLED, FAT-ASS, GRAY-HAIRED, DECREPIT OLD MAN ASKED, "REALLY? WHAT DID YOU TEACH?"

Road Trip --The Best Day Ever!

I married a good man. Let me restate that. I married a GREAT man! I just needed to share this fact. Maybe it'll serve as a reminder when I'm feeling less magnanimous towards him. Today he gave me one of the best gifts of my life. The gift was a trip down memory lane. It's been a long time since I've been down this specific path. The day after my sixteenth birthday, my father came home from work with the announcement that we were moving over two thousand miles. We packed up and were gone thirty days later. Somehow, thirty years had passed and I have never been back. Part of this road trip was to introduce my kids to my childhood memories. I was a little nervous. Would the memories of a picturesque childhood be shattered by a harsh reality? Turns out that my memory had served me well.

The house of my youth was right where I left it. It had weathered time beautifully, and by the looks of the toys scattered throughout the yard, seemed to be raising another happy generation. The path through the woods was still there. I took that path, rain or shine, to school for many years. The grade school and middle school were right where I remembered them. The high school was there too. It was in the middle of a major face lift, but a million memories of its former glory were easily discernible from the construction changes. It was all there before my eyes. The streets were familiar and comfortable. Even Main Street was just like I remembered it. No, it was better than I remembered. The Boy Blue Ice Cream Parlor was no longer there, but since it had been replaced with a nostalgic Malt Shoppe, I couldn't complain.

It is obvious that Greendale is well-loved. Through the generous efforts of the community, time has been very kind to the little town. I give a big shout out to those individuals responsible for preserving my memories so perfectly. Thanks goes out to my kids who gave up an entire day of vacation for my trip down memory lane. Not only did they graciously allow me to become sixteen-years-old again, but they even pretended to listen to my reminiscent ramblings as the memories came tumbling back. Of course, the biggest kudos goes to my hubby. He's the one who orchestrated the event. Getting our little band on the wagon is no easy feat. Time has a way of marching forward and it's sometimes hard to slow down enough to look back. Somehow, he not only slowed us down for a glimpse into the past, but he found a way to turn back the hands of time for a brief moment. It really was a gift of a life time, and I'll remember it for the next 30 years!