Remember Me Bingo

Wow. Where does the time go? I can't believe it's nearly been a month since our last posting. It's not that we have nothing to talk about. We're just running too fast to share what we've been working on.

Last week we attended the South Davis Family History Fair. We enjoyed sharing our ideas for telling family stories and LOVED hearing all of your great ideas. One idea that we've just gotta try is the family calendar challenge:
Every year there's a family out there that creates a new and unique family calendar. One year they challenged extended family members to submit pictures of where (or what) they want to be 10 years from that date. Kids shared photos of career dreams. Adult shared visions of exotic trips. The family patriarch wanted to share his picture pushing daisy at the local cemetery. His wife overturned that idea! What a great way to share family pictures and preserve history and capture future dreams!

We were excited to share our newest project. It was received with lots and LOTS of positive comments.

Remember Me Bingo

We partnered with Lasting Impressions to create another Quick Mix to be used with Memory Mixer.

For six big ones...yep, that's right (Six bucks will buy you the Quick Mix to make 1 or 100 of these bingo games. (Remember, you need the Memory Mixer software in addition to this Quick Mix.)

It's as easy as dragging pictures on to the page and typing up a short story for each picture.

If you set up your pictures ahead of time you won't need to make any alterations.

The Quick Mix will even add a name (just follow the instructions that are included).


The project comes with 4 different background designs. Make 4 boards or 40 boards. It's a perfect project for an upcoming family reunion, school party or special birthday party.

You'll make one call-out card for every featured picture. Here are a few of my stories:

Remember, you won't find the software on our website. You've gotta go to Memory Mixer to check it out. Just be sure to come back and tell us what you think!

For those of you who came to the Bountiful event: If you want the same professional print job as our sample set, send your final file to Tueller's Press. You know we can't say enough good things about Tueller's Press!

October is Family History Month

Did you know that October is officially designated as "Family History Month" in the United States? S.RES.175 passed back in July of 2003. This was a big deal to genealogists. It was also meaningful to the more than 80 million American's that are said to be actively searching for information about their ancestors. Even if you're not so interested in the distant past, someday, you'll be an ancestor to some future generation. Wouldn't it be nice to have your story told the way YOU WANT to be remembered?

If you are at all familiar with the mission of Stories by Me, you know our passion for preserving life's many stories. It didn't take us long to figure out that not all stories are preserved in book format. There are as many ways to preserve a memory as there are stories to tell.

Just like most of you, we're running hard to keep up. There is never enough time to get it all done. One thing that we've learned along life's journey, though, is that zero times any number will ALWAYS be zero. So, if I make zero effort to preserve my life stories for the next 12 months, I will have nothing to account for those 12 months. But, if I'm able to squeeze one meaningful task out a month, at the end of the year, I will have 12 beautifully preserved memories that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

The list of meaningful projects are ENDLESS!

We've decided to lump these projects into four different categories:

COLLECT / PROTECT
CREATE
DOCUMENT/ RESEARCH
CONNECT with FAMILY

For the next four weeks, Suni and I are committing to focus a personal effort in each category. At the beginning of the week, I'll share a list of possible projects and then during the week we will both report on our success (or failure) at our efforts. We will keep it real! Suni just had a baby and since my baby is nearly 14, I recently returned to the work force, so some days it's all we can do to keep our heads above water!

We would LOVE for you to take the Stories by Me challenge. Maybe all you can do is ONE Family History project during the month. Guess what? You've got ONE thing DONE! We'll even sweeten the deal by offering a giveaway each week to everyone who shares a story or comments!

We'd love to hear what you're doing. Send us your story at mythoughts@storiesbyme.com or add a comment with a link to your blog.

Judging a Book by its Cover

I love a good book. Who doesn't? I needed a book that would share our family stories in a manner that would appeal to my family members. I knew that the books had to be simple if I was going to get them done. They also had to be short and sweet if I wanted my kids to actually pick them up and read them.

What I came up with isn't a new idea, but maybe these versions will help you see how easily they can be reproduced. Hopefully they will inspire you with some additional ways of preserving your own stories.

Each book starts with the same basic supplies. I tried a couple of different methods for creating the pocket pages. First effort used envelopes covered with scrapbook paper. Cutting open one end of the sealed envelope created the pocket that I used to store little mini stories. It didn't take long to realize that this method was TOO MUCH WORK! Next, I tried coordinating scrapbook paper (look for the stiffer cardstock). After folding the paper to create a folder, I cut each page to the necessary size and then sealed the sides with a straight stitch using my sewing machine. BETTER. I decided that the third method was the easiest. I simply found a box of coordinating cards (already matching, already cut to the perfect size, AND already folded!). All that was left to do was stitch up the sides.
I used a heavier top-stitch thread for sewing the edges. Also make sure that you back-stitch at the beginning and end of each run, otherwise the stitching can unravel.

After I stitched all of the pages, I rounded the corners on the pocket side using a simple paper punch.

I like a vintage look, so I aged the pages with a quick rub of distress ink on the edges.

The cover is just book-board covered with scrapbook paper. Each cover is unique and matches the story on the inside pages. The binding is super simple too. The pages are held together with metal book rings.

Now comes the fun stuff.... what to put in your book!

One of my books documents all the houses that I've lived in throughout my life. It was an amazing journey to record (try to, anyways) all of the locations. It also makes a great time line for remembering the sequences of other life events. My sweet hubby sent me (and BGF) on a picture-taking vacation back to California to get images of houses that I had lived but never taken pictures of. Think about it. Do you have pictures of the outside of your house? I loved seeing pictures of my grandparents houses... I just never thought that maybe my future grandkids would like to see where I lived.

Here are portions of my Home Sweet Home book:Pockets contain brief memories of each location. SHORT and SWEET means it gets done...and gets read by anyone picking up the book!

I printed addresses and dates that I lived at each address (sometimes they are just guesses, taken from dates written on the back of the photograph and from my mother's written history.) This information was printed to clear stickers. I found that it made it easier to place and kept the pages clean looking.

This is my family history book. This one helps my kids understand who belongs to who and how we are all connected.
The next one is a slight variation that includes the immigration of our ancestors to the United States and ultimately to the Utah Valley. This books gets a lot of attention during our July 24th (Pioneer Day) celebrations.

The pockets hold cards that detail each family members personal journey. It records dates and company names. It also shares personal memories and hardships that our ancestors endured in their quest for a better life.

{I happen to LOVE playing with photographs so I took the time to Photoshop each family members face, removing any distracting backgrounds. This gave me a digital image that I could use on a multitude of projects. I faded the face and included it in the background of each fact card. As you can imagine, it was a bit of WORK!}

And this is our service book. I originally made a copy for our nephew who was going to serve a two-year mission for our Church in Mexico. I wanted him to know the legacy that he shares and the many family members who had gone before him setting the example of dedicated service.

As you can see, the possibilities are as endless as the stories that need to be told!

Make a Family Face Button Box

Here's a fun project that we liked to call our Button Box. We use it for all of our extra face buttons for the Family Tree and Memory Calendar. You can use it as a catchall for any number of small items. It would also make a fabulous recipe box for all of your favorite family recipes. Mother's Day isn't that far off. If you get crackin now, you could get this done and make it a Mother's Day to remember!


Step 1: Gather Materials
you will need:
a wooden box,
Mod Podge glue,
foam brush,
damp cloth,
dry cloth,
variety of family pictures printed on a laser printer,
razor blade or exacto knife,
sandpaper,
Krylon Acrylic Matte Finish spray and distressing supplies, if desired.

Step 2: Layout and Attach Pictures
Before you start gluing, it's a good idea to have all of your pictures trimmed. Get an idea of where to place each picture by laying them in position on the box. Once you have a plan, use the foam brush and apply a thin layer of glue on the wood box. Apply just enough glue to cover the space where the first picture will go. Use the dry cloth to rub the picture flat, making sure there aren't any air bubbles. For the next picture, again apply a thin layer of glue where that picture will be placed. Be sure to place glue over the first picture where the second one overlaps. Place the second picture and LIGHTLY wipe around it using your damp cloth to remove any excess glue. Then use the dry cloth to smooth the picture and remove any air bubbles. Rub gently. If you rub too hard you will rub the ink off the picture. Continue for all sides of the box until the box is covered with your pictures. It's a good idea to have a variety of picture sizes available to fill in spaces as you work through the project. We also like to print our pictures in a combination of black/white (gray scale) and sepia for visual interest.

Step 3: Trim Edges
Trim any overhanging paper edges using your razor blade or exacto knife. (Make sure that the glue has dried before you trim! Otherwise you will just tear the pictures.) If you have glued a picture that covers both the lid and the box, take your razor blade and cut along the seam to separate the picture.


Step 4: Sand and Distress
After all of your pictures are glued, trimmed and dry, sand the edges of your box using the piece of sandpaper. We like to soften the corners to help 'age' the box. Rubbing distress ink or chalk on the edges will also give the project an authentic 'old' look. Let the ink dry before giving it 2 or 3 coats of the Matte Finish Spray. This seals your project and protects the pictures.

Now you have your very own Button Box!

Connecting with some of our favorite linking parties!

The Creative Girl | Skip to My Lou | Twice Remembered | A Soft Place to Land| Reinvented | My Frugal Family | Blue Cricket Design | Life in the Pitts | My Backyard Eden | Some What Simple | Life as Lori | Fingerprints on the Fridge | Creative Jewish Mom

Is your handwriting worth preserving?

This isn't a rhetorical question. Yes or No... is your handwriting worth preserving? Years and years before I knew how much I loved preserving family stories, I sat at the feet of my grandfather mesmerized at the stories of his childhood. Even at the age of 14, I knew that my 93 year-old grandfather couldn't live forever and I wanted my future kids to know him like I knew him through his amazing stories. I asked that he write down one or two stories. He wrote me a book. Even as a self-absorbed teen, I understood the sacrifice Pops had made. His formal education ended in the sixth grade, the English language had never been easy for him to learn, and he was now completely blind in one eye. This book is one of my most prized possessions!

Seeing the words on the pages all these years later still conjures all sorts of memories. I can smell Pops cheap aftershave; mixed with the sweat of the day's physical labors. I feel his chin whiskers scratch against my cheek as I swoop in for a goodnight kiss. The jagged letters that form each word remind me of the crooked, bony elbow that he awkwardly carries at the side of his slight frame; the result of a youthful wrestling injury. The broken sentences on the page match the years of halting English.

More than three decades have gone by, but Pops is still here, right next to me. He lives through the precious gift that he left me.

So again, I ask the question. Is your handwriting worth preserving?

I came across the most unique concept today. Imagine Forever will take your handwriting... or your kids handwriting... or a parents... and turn it into a digital font that you can use over and over and over again. Having embraced the digital world years ago, I see real merit in the concept and wanted to share the link for anyone looking for a gift for that person who has everything. Really, there are ALL sorts of applications, from thank you notes in your own handwriting (without having to HAND WRITE a single word!), to preserving a child's precious first letters, or journal entries that look and feel like they were laboriously penned.

Whether or not you decide to digitize your handwriting, family members will cherish your memory through the written word...especially if it was written by YOU!

Thanks for the memories Pops! I love you. See another brief tribute to Pops here.

Personalized Food Plates

Kalleen's done it again, I've loved following her blog At Second Street. She's just posted an idea for making your own food faces. Seems like it's the perfect way to invite family members to the table AND encourage picky eaters to EAT! Check out her instructions for a complete rundown of the project, but here's the reader's digest version...

1. First you get a picture. Make it large enough to fit the plate.

2. Next you'll turn the picture into a line drawing that can be transferred to the plate.

3. A few bold lines, a couple of colored fill-in's and you're done! It's THAT simple! I do have a couple suggestions that I'd like to add to the process to simplify it EVEN more...

Check out Dumpr.net. I like their Photo Pencil Sketch option for turning photographs into coloring pages. You can also use Photoshop, if you have it, but I've found this option is SO easy to use, it's a NO brainer!

I now have a picture of my mother that I can transfer to the plate.

The other thing that is mulling around in my brain is to find a way to use this idea at a family gathering or reunion. Imagine planning a meal around a featured ancestor. Serve all of her favorite foods...maybe feature one of her secret recipes and then bring it to the table on plates FEATURING HER! I wonder how well the picture would hold up if we used paper plates?
Thinking out loud here!

How to eat an Elephant

Future guitar virtuoso here. I know, that's kind of a bold statement. I figured if I didn't put it out in front of the entire universe, it might slip off into nothingness... like the many New Year's resolutions that I have made over the years. I did an impulsive thing a few weeks ago. I signed up for guitar lessons. I've only had four lessons, but I was kind of hoping to be playing Stairway to Heaven by now. All I've mastered is the five note version of Beethoven's Song of Joy. I just started taking cooking classes too. The hope is that we start eating something a little more exciting than canned soup or cold cereal, but that's probably also a long way off.

The point is, we've all got to start somewhere. It's not like I've found a couple of extra hours a week to take on these new activities. I've just come to the realization that life isn't going to slow down. If I want to accomplish all of my dreams, I'm going to have to get moving.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. EVERYONE knows that! I'm now trying to apply that lesson to specific area's of my life.

Gratefully, I've seen small successes over the years as I reapply this principle. Several years ago I knew very little of my family history. I couldn't tell you much more than my grandparents' names or where they lived. I knew nothing of their parents or grandparents. My mom had done an amazing job of starting the process of unraveling our roots. I always planned to sit by her side and take her work to the next level. Her unexpected death was not part of the plan. Neither was having my father give away all of her research. (To this day, I can't figure that one out!)

Fast forward six years... In spite of the setbacks, I can gratefully say that I have become familiar with the generations that came before me. They are more than just a name or a date. I have been able to learn of the challenges and sacrifices that paved the way for my life of relative comfort.

The information didn't come easy. I spent long (LATE) nights doing research. I think that is why I cherish the stories all the more! I learned that my great-grandmother was a 21st century woman living in the Victorian era. She was a prominent opera singer when she became the mother of her best friend's three young children. Even though she married this friend's husband to honor a deathbed request, she caused quite the scandal because of her musical career. She changed the focus of her dreams to stand by a man that (from my research, at least) turned out to be a soft, pampered elitist. (Elitist sounds so much nicer than snob, don't you think?) I know that I'm supposed to respect my elders, but listen to the rest of the story before you judge me...

The kids were all shipped off to boarding school in England and my GGma sat home while GGpa lost the family farm. Records indicate that he owned a respectable department store in the Boston area that went into foreclosure. By now, several more children had entered the picture. A relative on the west coast offered a ranch to GGpa, but GGpa considered himself an expert on textiles, not cattle and turned the job down. Things must have become a bit of a struggle, because around 1913 GGma boarded a train for a five day trip to Spokane in search of work for her husband. She interviewed the manager of the Crescent Dept. Store and based on her recommendations procured a job for him. She then returned to Boston, packed everything up and moved the family to Washington state! During the 1920's, her efforts landed GGpa as the main distributor of Salada Tea for all of the Northwestern States and Alaska. Business flourished, but the marriage didn't and the Great Depression found Great-Grandma, along with my grandmother on the move again.

This story didn't come together in one night. It's taken time; a whole lot of time! A stolen minute here... sometimes an entire hour there, but bit by bit, I am piecing the history together and I now have a better understanding of who I am.

This genealogy research must be what it feels like to eat the proverbial elephant. I've gotta say, elephant is not bad tasting! I'm actually ready to dig in for a second and third serving while I give this guitar and cooking thing a try.

Halloween Decor

Came across this super cool way of inviting the deceased (and not so deceased) to a halloween bash. Check out the Paranormal Portraits at Country Living. The instructions seem easy enough. I think enlarging some of our high resolution family pictures to poster size would be awesome. I know my kids would think their ancestors are the coolest!

Trek Across the Plains, Aug 31, 1849

Sunday, August 12, 1849: The organization of our camps includes G.A. Smith's Welsh company with Captain Dan Jones; the other, E.T. Benson's Norwegian company. Both camps travel and encamp near together, but separated on account of pasture needs.

The statistics of the Benson camp are as follows: 120 wagons, 447 souls, 128 men, 23 horses , 2 mules, 2 ponies, 489 ovens, 220 cows, 70 loose cattle, 100 sheep, 12 pigs, 80 chickens, 17 cats, 27 dogs, 19 ducks, 4 turkeys, 2 dove, 151 guns, 37 pistols and 1 sword. Two marriages and three births have taken place.

Thursday, August 23, 1849: A little over eleven miles travel completed our day's journey. The weather was very hot and the roads heavy over the sandy bluffs. The cattle were much fatigued, some very near giving out. A wagon in the Welsh company was overturned crossing a creek. Another came very near being ran into the river by the cattle attached to it. A boy in the George A. Smith family got hurt by a yoke of cattle, a Welsh woman had her feet nearly mashed and another was bitten by a dog belonging to Brother Simmons. Accidents enough for one day.

Friday, August 31, 1849: Fourteen miles were computed for our travels today. It is quite a curiosity here to view the works of nature along the bluffs on the margin of the river, representing castles, towers, forts, chimney, cupolas, etc.

Trek Across the Plains, Aug 10, 1849

If you are just now tuning in to our Trek story, we have been sharing the experiences of the George A. Smith Company of Immigrants as they crossed the plains in 1849. Even if you don't have a personal connection to this hardy group of pioneers, the annotations are enthralling and the descriptions amazingly visual of an era long past.

Wednesday, August 8, 1849: Captain Patten with three or four others went out hunting for the camp and shot a fine buffalo bull and an antelope; also drove fine pony that he found on the planes into camp, caught him, and returned back for the buffalo, and found the hunters had all left. The buffalo was nicely cut up and covered over with a blanket. In returning he got lost fifteen miles from camp and tarried out all night without arms. The others tarried out also. The following morning a wagon was sent out for the buffalo, but did not find it. The wolves had been there and devoured it, but we had the pleasure of dining on an antelope.

Friday, August 10, 1849: A heavy shower coming on, we encamped early near low sand bluffs. From about five o'clock p.m. until midnight there was one constant and incessant torrent; the lightening flashed in vivid glare, the thunder rolled in rumbling terrific perils, the wind howled through our camp of canvass stretched to the enraged elements. Many were the mothers and infants that received the cold drops through their frail coverings and reposed in their saturated beds without murmuring, as it was Heaven's will. The cattle bent to the storm as they stood upon their feet and some time gently tried a chain or rope by which they were made fast. The guard, wet and dripping, paced the camp in their several rounds crying the hour, exposed to the furious and pitiless storm. In the the morning the camp arose to behold a beautiful clear sky, a shining scene; cattle all safe, and cheerful and smiling countenances in the camp, and plenty of water around the same.

Trek Across the Plains, Aug 3, 1849

Tuesday, July 31: A melee occurred in the morning in Captain Richard's camp. A driver or teamster of one Mr. Sayres got into dispute with Mrs. S (Mr. S being absent) in regard to driving the team. He called her by some base epithets, when she retaliated by using a whip on him. He then struck her and blackened one of her eyes. He was left to the care of the officers of the camp to deal with him for the same. Several hunters went out fro the camps to-day; saw several antelopes and killed one.

Wednesday, August 1: Elder Hyde's letter informed us of the increase of the cholera in the United States, wars in Europe, Santa Anna in Mexico again, etc.

Friday, August 3: At the same place was two graves, neatly sodded over and headboards with inscription on them, from which we learned with regret that one was Captain Samuel Gully, Captain of 100 in Brother Orson Spencer's company of Saints, Salt Lake bound, died July 5, 1849, of cholera; age 39 years. The other was Henry Vanderhoof, a gold digger, bound for California; died July 4th, 1849 of cholera also.

Trek Across the Plains, July 30, 1849

Saturday, July 28: In the evening we encamped near Capt. Richard's camp where they had a "trip on the light fantastic toe."

[Definition: Verb 1. trip the light fantastic toe - move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance. ]

Sunday, July 29: Had meeting at 11 a.m. The greater portion of the women were engaged in washing, baking and cooking.

Monday, July 30: It is quite gladdening to the eyes to view the beautiful flowers on these vast prairies with which nature's God had decked this lower world to beautify, gladden and cheer the hearts of men. Although these vast plains were seldom trodden by the foot of the white man, and his habitations are not seen up them, and but few Indians that roam over them, yet here, in solitary silence, blooms the sweet rose and other beautiful flowers of variegated hues and colors, causing their sweet fragrance and odors to the gentile breezes that are wafted over them; where the lark, the linnet and blackbird in merry gambols and gyrations inhale the odoriferous sweets, whose fragrance is mingled with the pure air of the plains, sure.