Christmas Gift Idea: Upgrade Your Memories

Here's a priceless holiday gift idea!

Have your precious memories recorded on older and out-dated media transferred to DVD or Blue-Ray.

A long time ago in a land far, far away...okay, so it was only a little over twenty years ago when the majority of home photos and videos were recorded on film.  It does, however, seem like film's wide popularity thrived over an eon ago.  Film, remember that thin strip of plastic, has a limited shelf life of only 10-20 years before it fades and eventually breaks down into worthless attic clutter.  It wasn't until I stumbled upon Walmart's Transfer to DVD service that I realized my childhood memories were degrading as I type.  
Ten years ago my parents purchased a top-notch computer that showcased its ability to retrieve VHS footage and burn it to a DVD.  The technology was impressive and we quickly began discussing our plans to transfer our VHS collections, including the professionally filmed video of my wedding, to DVD.  As of today, we have never created a single DVD from a VHS (including the deteriorating video of my wedding).  Transferring film to a digital format is tedious and time consuming, and folks just don't have the time to do it.   
Walmart's Transfer to DVD service is not a new technology or anything we can't do ourselves, but it is a convenient service at a fair price averaging $19.00 for each type of digital format.  So if you're stumped on a gift idea (jinx the family member who seems to have everything) here you go!  For $20 bucks you can preserve memories in a digital format forever, or at least until the next media innovation anyway.  

Order Deadline is Dec. 3rd to receive your DVD by Christmas

References:
Brooke, Bob.  "A Brief History of Digital Photography" Bob Brooke.  Bob Brookes Digital Studio, n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2012.

DIY Subway's Birthday Party Cookie

Picture from brandeating.com

I fell in love with Subway's Birthday Party Cookie.  No, it doesn't taste like birthday cake.  It's a special berries & white chocolate cookie they whipped up to celebrate their 47th birthday.  I set out to make them myself and I succeeded in my opinion.  Try the recipe yourself under "Sweets".

A New Christmas Tradition in 2012

This Christmas I am compelled to add the trendy tradition of "The Elf on the Shelf," and I am really excited to see just how creative and mischievousness Buddy will be in our home.  Being the overachiever I am, I created a list of 54 unique ways "The Elf on the Shelf" has been spotted in homes across the globe.  I will add my own photos of Buddy once the little guy appears in the Martin home.

54 Unique Ideas / Poses of "The Elf on Shelf"

1. Playing a winning poker game with another toy.
2. Resting over the childrens' underwear he had used as a Christmas garland.
3. Hanging in between rows of toilet paper rolled around the entire Christmas tree.
4. Spelling out "Be Good" with colored candy (background was color & the letters were another).
5. Roasting mini marshmallows over a candle.
6. Zip lining across a room from a candy cane hooked over a string.
7. Listening to a mp3 device using ear buds.
8. Resting on top of the bathroom toliet paper wrapped in some of the paper to keep warm.
9. Slurping pancake syrup out of the bottle from a straw.  He was even spotted slurping syrup with Barbie using two straws.
10. Tucked into a Kleenex box with his head on several tissues rolled up into a pillow.
11. Making a snow angel in sugar or flour poured onto the kitchen counter.
12. Lifting weights he made with marshmallows on each end of a tooth pick.
13. Teaching other toys that "Elves are your friends" (toys were lined up classroom style in front of him and we wrote the message on a little chalk board).
14. Bathing in a sink of big and mini marshmallows.
15. Fishing for Gold Fish.
16. Sitting in the middle of photo frames where he had replaced family photos with photos of himself.
17. Taking a joy ride with Barbie in the Barbie Car.
18. Sitting in the midst of a ridiculous lunch he packed for the kids.
19. Typing an email to Santa saying he lost track of time so he didn't make it back to the North Pole that night but be there tomorrow night.
20. Parked the Barbie car in front of the tv taking Barbie on a date to the "Drive-In Theater."  Where is Ken?
21. Spending the night in the freezer with a scarf around his neck because he was home-sick.
22. In mom's make-up drawer with cat whiskers painted on his face.
23. Eating donuts (Cheerios with icing on top).
24. Pressed against the outside glass of the doors because he was locked out.
25. Operating a Tonka Loader to bring the puppy dog food he had scooped up
26. Winning a race against other dolls in toy cars.  He had almost reached the Finish Line he made with tooth picks anchored into marshmallows.
27. Tied up and held hostage by other toys.
28. Sitting in a throne he made with legos sipping on holiday punch.
29. Hanging from ceiling fan blades holding onto the remote for the fan.  Hope he didn't get so dizzy he lost his sprinkled donuts.
30. Hanging on one of many strands of Christmas lights he strung throughout the living room like a laser security system.
31. Wearing Dad's reading glasses to send a text.  I wonder if the text was to Barbie or Santa.
32. Decorating the Christmas tree with children's underwear.
33. Cutting the "DO NOT REMOVE" tag off of a mattress.
34. Stuck upside down in a bag of Lindor Chocolate.
35. Tied to the railroad tracks of a toy train set by other toys.
36. Hovering over a chair he put a whoopy cushion in.
37. Laying in the mouth of a larger toy dinosaur.
38. Holding the tape and scissors he used to gift wrap the opening to the childrens' bedroom door.
39. Sitting by a letter that said "Rudolph came to visit.  We had a lot of fun. Go look in the mirror."  The two  painted the childrens' noses with red lipstick.
40. Laying in an extra long hammock from wide Christmas ribbon strung on a book case.
41. Holding one of many Polaroid pictures of himself.
42. Typing a letter to fellow elves that said his family had been rough on him this year because the girls wouldn't stop dancing or singing, he was home-sick and upset because there was no snow at his family's house.
43. Sitting on a copy machine where he just made a copy of his bum.  This one is hilarious.
44. Holding a washable marker after drawing funny faces on pictures of the children.
45. Playing "Spin the Bottle" with other toys.
46. Holding clippers after shaving a stripe through a sleeping Dad's head.  I bet Buddy was sent back to the North Pole by express.
47. Stamping a sleeping child's forehead.
48. Peeping out of an igloo out of sugar cubes.
49. Holding a can of snow can spray paint where the bathroom mirror.
50. Sitting in the paper clippings left behind from the paper snowflakes he cut out and decorated the house with.
51. Having a popcorn fight with other toys.  They were making a popcorn string for the Christmas tree but they got distracted.
52. Sitting in the driver seat of the family car covering his mouth with his hand because he took it for a drive and knocked over the garbage can when he parked.  He might have focused better if Christmas music wasn't blaring.
53. Admiring the new screen saver he made of himself on the family computer.  
54. Baked a "Happy Birthday Jesus" cake.