Sponsored by Legacybox
Every year around this time I start thinking about creative gifts I’d like to give family. If I’m organized (which doesn’t happen as often as I’d like) I begin planning early. When I’m really on top of things, I don’t just think of ideas — I act on them in advance.
If you, like me, want to give meaningful, memorable gifts but don’t always get it together in time, here’s what we’re giving this year (P.S. Mom, look away). It’s something you can arrange well before the holidays, and it may be the best gift you’ve ever given.
Last year we sent a box of old videotapes to Legacybox and had dozens of family moments transferred to DVDs. Watching those videos together last Christmas was one of the most special things we did. We had been holding on to camcorder tapes and VHS tapes we couldn’t even play anymore. I felt guilty about it, but I kept postponing the job because it felt overwhelming and I didn’t know where to start.
Getting those moments preserved was not only a gift for our family — it was a gift to myself. Seeing my three kids laugh and play again gave me enormous joy.
This summer, while my daughter and I were organizing shelves, we discovered another box of tapes that needed saving. This time we knew exactly what to do. Sending off a second batch reminded us how easy it is to organize and preserve memories in time for the holidays.
Here’s what we plan to give our family this year:
Give everyone the gift of a lifetime of memories.
What could be better than that?
Below are some ideas for gifting memories that might inspire your own plans.
- Order a Legacybox and have it delivered to grandparents, parents, siblings, or close friends so they can preserve tapes and reels for the future. It’s an easy, thoughtful gift people will appreciate for years.
- Create a short slideshow or video to share with friends and family. You can make slideshows with iPhoto on a Mac or use an online tool. These often bring tears and laughter and become treasured keepsakes.
- Send a video greeting of memories as an alternative to traditional holiday cards.
- Host a family movie night with popcorn and watch old home videos together. Give each person a copy of a special family memory DVD to take home.
Life is fragile and special, and family memories deserve more than to sit forgotten in boxes. When videos are preserved on DVD and an optional thumb drive, you can easily load them onto a computer, share them, and keep them safe for future generations.
Here’s a preview of some of the precious moments we found on tapes this summer — prepare to laugh at my 1990s hair.
I was overjoyed to have those memories rescued from dusty boxes and transferred to DVDs. It feels so good to know they are preserved and easy to enjoy. These videos will make Christmas especially meaningful this year.
How Legacybox works and how to get started:
Choose a package that fits your needs and sign up with Legacybox. Consider adding the optional thumb drive to make sharing and loading video files easier.
Legacybox ships a kit with a sturdy return box and preprinted labels for each tape and reel.
Label each item as instructed, pack everything in the provided box, and send it back. Your original tapes are returned along with the new DVDs and digital files.
Drop the postage-paid package at your local FedEx and you’ll receive email updates during processing so you can track progress and feel confident your items are being handled with care.
Soon the box will arrive back at your door carrying your original tapes and your new DVDs — one of the happiest deliveries you’ll get all year.
Deal alert: The first people who sign up and use the code ROOM at checkout will receive a discount. Check your preferred provider for current offers and deadlines.