Archive for December, 2009

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How To Scan My Photos: Head Out To See Neighborhood Christmas Lights

Monday, December 14th, 2009

 Gather The Family For A Fun Evening of Holiday Light Displays

Some Neighborhoods Are Fully Decked Out For Christmas

Neighborhood Christmas LightsWith so many presents to buy and relatives to visit, the holiday season can be an expensive time of year. But keeping you and your family entertained doesn’t have to cost a dime.

A crisp, December evening is the perfect time to walk or drive around the neighborhood to take in festive light displays. Start an annual tradition with the family by first gathering old pictures. Learn how to scan; my photos or yours, sharing past images is an excellent way to get children excited about family outings.

While many people simply hang a wreath on the front door and string a few lights, there are pockets of diehard Christmas fans all around the United States who live for this month, when they deck their house in thousands of lights. They’re ready to pay the massive energy bills in exchange for yuletide spirit. Larger-than-life Christmas displays often go way beyond regular string lights – you may find music synchronization, elaborate nativity scenes, a yard full of wire-framed reindeer and an inflatable Santa Claus high up on the roof, sled, gifts and all. In this photo of a Boston home, owner Dominic Luberto starts decorating his abode months before for December 25.

The best way to appreciate these joyful displays is to make a special outing of it. Prepare a home-cooked meal for the family to enjoy or visit a restaurant that serves your favorite wintertime comfort foods. Prior to the neighborhood tour, fill a Thermos with hot cocoa or wassail and pack up some homemade cookies. Your family will appreciate the goodies, especially if it’s a particularly chilly night.

In recent years, a number of specialty Web sites have surfaced, featuring maps that show neighborhoods with popular Christmas displays. The local paper also might offer an interactive map online, a handy tool to use if you’re new to town or have never gone sightseeing for Christmas lights.

Knowing how to scan my photos will allow you to build on old memories to make new ones, an important part of the holidays.

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Scan My Photos To Create A Christmas Tree Rich With Family Moments

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Hang Scanned Photos Of Milestones & Other Happy Memories From The Past

Display Them In Small Frames, Lockets Or Homemade Crafts

christmas_treeGlittery round ornaments and twinkling lights aren’t the only objects that can dress up a tree.

This Christmas, make your tree a memorable one by transforming it into a photographic tribute to the family. Reach far back into the past to find pictures of great-grandparents and other ancestors. Tell yourself: I need to scan my photos early enough to turn them into ornaments for this year’s tree.

Involve your relatives early and get them excited about the project. Ask them to search through boxes of old photos for ones worth displaying. Scan these images into digital format so you can resize, crop and retouch the images to work on the tree. (Avoid manipulating the original photos.)

Think, too, about how you want to show off these treasured pictures. Small vintage frames and lockets might be a nice way to honor your ancestors, especially since those images are probably in black and white. For more recent color photos, such as children’s school portraits, consider an afternoon of crafting. You can have the kids construct frames out of Popsicle sticks or teach them how to decoupage their images onto a flat, lightweight surface that can be hung from the tree branches. Miniature stockings can make a fun photo holder as well.

Crank up the holiday tunes and invite your relatives over for a tree-trimming party. First, decorate your tree with a few lights and colorful ornaments, such as the one in this picture. Next, rather than string popcorn, string together baby photos to hang. Make paper cubes plastered with funny pictures. Create small flip books filled with beaming faces. Decorate with photos that reflect milestones, from sports championships to graduations to weddings. Be as inclusive as possible.

And remind yourself: By taking the time to scan my photos, I’ll be able to turn an everyday Christmas tree into a truly one-of-a-kind family tree for everyone to enjoy.

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Clutter-Free Gift Giving by Kristin Lindstrom

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

digital photo frameI’d love to share another idea with you for clutter-free and meaningful gift giving. A digital photo frame is a wonderful gift for a grandparent, a sibling, or even as a holiday tradition in your home. While a scrapbook makes a lovely gift, I’ve found that the digital frame is appreciated because it is easily viewed and shared. I’ve used ScanDigital (http://www.scandigital.com/) as a resource for scanning in my old photographs, but there are certainly some budget-friendly solutions such as using your home scanner.

Here are some suggestions on themes for your digital photo frame:

• For a grandparent – the obvious choice would be photos of the grandkids. What about something unexpected? Create a storyline with your digital photo frame. Begin the story with photos of great or even great-great grandparents and work your way through the present. This would be a wonderful way for a grandparent to begin a history lesson with the grandkids.

• Do you have a cherished family recipe? What about a photo shoot of the family matriarch, patriarch or master chef preparing the food? You can send out the completed photo frame to family members along with written instructions.

• For a brother or sister who may live far away, you can create a photo gallery of special memories you’ve shared or past holidays together.

• For your own home, you can assemble a gallery of images from all your holiday moments. Include one or two photos from each year and you will have created a wonderful trip down memory lane for the entire family.

The possibilities are endless, creative, and inspiring. Whatever holiday you celebrate, it should be about family, tradition, and memories. A digital photo frame is a wonderful way to express the true meaning of the season.

 

kristin picBy Kristin Lindstrom, originally posted on The Imperfect Home

About Kristin

Kristin Lindstrom is a professional organizer who specializes in creative solutions for small spaces and offices. To contact Kristin, visit Savvy Spaces by Kristin. Her blog is The Imperfect Home and she can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

As a reminder, ScanDigital offers a pre-loaded Digital Photo Frame that makes for a super sentimental (and as Kristin proves, clutter-free) Holiday gift idea! If you have any questions, call ScanDigital’s customer service team at 888.333.2808 or email info@scandigital.com . Always happy to help!

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Sentimental Gift Idea: Holiday Slideshows!

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

SlideshowLooking to add a personal touch and bit of extra warmth to your holiday celebrations this year? Here’s an idea: share a Slideshow with memories of past family gatherings! Not only are Holiday Slideshows a great way to relive your favorite moments, but an easy (and affordable) gift idea too- just make everyone a copy and check them all off your list at once!

Surprise all of your extended family- gather them all into the family room, pop your Holiday Slideshow into the DVD player and press the ‘play’ button! Then (after you pass around the tissues to help dry your loved one’s eyes), give everyone a copy. It’s going to be a guaranteed hit gift that everyone will be talking about for a long time.

Check out the video below of Anderson explaining why this idea is a must-give this year:


 

There’s no better way to enjoy your time with loved ones than to relive past memories together with a customized Holiday Slideshow by ScanDigital. Just gather photos from past celebrations to enjoy as a family and customize with chapter titles and your favorite holiday jingles!

Deadlines are approaching- so don’t wait! If you want to include any old photos into your Slideshow and require ScanDigital’s Photo Scanning services, we must receive your material ASAP by DECEMBER 10TH. If you plan to use previously scanned images or already digital photos, then the deadline to place your order is DECEMBER 14TH!

To get started or learn more, visit these links. Remember, our customer service team is always here to help- just give us a ring at 888.333.2808 or email info@scandigital.com. As always, you can find us on Twitter at @ScanDigital (and me personally at @PamelaSD) and on Facebook.com/ScanDigital. Hope to hear from you soon!

So go on, give a sentimental gift this year.

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Photos To CD Highlight The Diversity Of Family Christmas Vacations

Monday, December 7th, 2009

Make Christmas Memories In Snow Or Sand

While Many People Stay Home, A Number Head For Tropical Getaways

memories snow or sandHot cocoa, a roaring fire and a wonderful-smelling tree at home – sounds like the perfect Christmas, right?

To many families across the country, it is. It’s how they grew up celebrating this merry season, filled with stuffed stockings and jolly jingles. Even if snowfall wasn’t likely in your hometown, virtually everyone exchanged presents.

This is a grand way to celebrate Christmas, but it’s not the only way. Take this romantic image of a snowy, deserted beach. Probably everyone has pictures of their unlikely getaways, and now they can transfer such photos to CD for safekeeping. 

Though Christmas time is most associated with snow flurries and sleds, the thought of hitting a tropical destination is a still popular one. Plenty of folks go on cruises or visit far-flung islands to warm their spirits, hearts and bodies, and they return with entertaining pictures to prove it. While many people do trek back to their hometowns to see family and friends, no doubt you know some who make it a tradition to catch a break from the extended clan.

Thanksgiving did just take place the month before, and maybe you’ve had your fill of all the aunts, uncles and cousins? With the kids off from school for a couple of weeks, the Christmas holiday is a chance to spend quality time with close loved ones. Where, exactly, depends on you. Residents of Chicago, for instance, probably long for a warmer climate, such as Cancun or the Caribbean, while southern Californians might go searching for the slopes.

These days, we can access wonderful holiday vacation memories with great ease simply by scanning photos to CD. This allows children to view how their parents enjoyed Christmas in their youth. Then, together as a family, everyone can embark on enjoying new traditions and adventures during the holidays.

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10 Space Saving Holiday Gift Ideas by Jodie Watson

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

jodie watson photo

As we enter this season of giving, it’s a good time to think about what type of gifts are really going to be meaningful and special and not just add more stuff to already overstuffed lives & homes. In a time where our economy is in distress and our budgets are tighter than usual, so many people have experienced having to cut back on luxuries and extras in the past year.  Instead of a typical exchange of gifts, why not consider giving the gift of services, experiences, time or charity to your loved ones that allow them to put some of these back into their lives.  

Maybe your sister wanted to take art classes, but couldn’t afford to.  Purchase a series of classes for her to take in 2010.  Or maybe a married couple you know weren’t able to splurge on a night out for themselves as other family needs took precedence.  You could get them tickets to a theatre show or concert and give a home-made gift certificate offering to babysit for them the night of the event. Have a friend who loves the movies? Buy them a subscription to Netflix or an AMC gift card and schedule a movie night that you can all enjoy together.  

Not only will these gifts bring joy but you are actively participating in helping people manage the overload of stuff that’s constantly coming into their lives.  In fact, there are probably people you know who wanted to get on top of their stuff this year but weren’t in a position to get the help they needed.  Why not buy them a Supreme Organization gift certificate to give them the start they need?  

Spending valuable time with friends and family is not only the best gift of all, but truly gives meaning to the word, ‘thankful’. 

 ~ Jodie ~   

10 Space Saving Holiday Gift Ideas:

Giving gifts that won’t add a ton more stuff to already overstuffed lives is a great way to go this nov giftsholiday season.  

  1. Netflix Subscription – Give this to your favorite movie fanatic! They will love browsing all the movies online, updating their queue and ordering movies they can keep as long as they like all year round.
  2. Tickets- Do some research. Where is your friend’s favorite place to go on the weekends? Whether a museum, sporting event or to the theater, you’ll be sure to please when you have their interests in mind.
  3. Gift Cards – Know your friend’s favorite place to eat, or favorite place to relax? Buy them a night out with their special someone at a romantic restaurant or help them de-stress by sending them to the spa!
  4. Music & Photos – Make your special someone a photo CD of some of your best times together or download music from iTunes and create a CD with songs you know they’ll enjoy.
  5. Day Trips – Purchase an outing that your friend or family member will love.  Visit wine country for some wine tasting or plan a helicopter or boat trip. A day to play is always a great gift for busy, overstressed people.
  6. Theme Parks – For little or big kids (that would be me!) give tickets for Disneyland, Universal Studios, the Zoo or LegoLand. These make great gifts and will have a much greater impact than a toy they’re already bored with by New Year anyway.
  7. Magazine Subscription – If you know your friend goes to Barnes & Noble every few weeks to pick up the latest Vogue Magazine, buy them a subscription! It’s the gift that keeps on giving all year long.  And for kids, consider subscriptions to Time for Kids, or Highlights Magazines.  They will love receiving them every month.
  8. Classes - Tennis lessons, swim classes, piano or guitar lessons, scrapbooking or art classes.  These are all great ideas that will enrich the life of the person you give them to.
  9. Flowers & Fruit – Fresh flowers always bring joy to the recipient and you can’t go wrong with a beautiful basket of fresh, seasonal fruits that are healthy and delicious.  Definitely a welcome treat after all the holiday candy!
  10. Baked Goods – Nothing’s better than a little love in the tummy! Bake your loved ones their favorite cookies or brownies and decorate them with holiday flare

Contact Jodie Watson:

If you have any questions, would like to schedule a free professional organizing telephone consultation, or would like Jodie Watson to speak at your next corporate function, group meeting, social event, or retreat, call at (818) 590-7800. You can also contact Jodie on Facebook and Twitter or visit her website at Supreme Organization.

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Scan Photo To Digital To Share Fun Tradition Like Letters To Santa

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

Generations Of Kids Have Been Sending Letters to Santa to North Pole, Alaska

Writing The Letters Is Fun Ritual For The Whole Family

letter to santaWhat child hasn’t penned a letter to Santa Claus? It’s a tradition that teachers and parents pass on annually. When children are too young to write, parents do it for them. When they’re old enough to form sentences on paper, teachers use the exercise to instill life lessons. (Ever wonder how many first-graders truly understand the meaning of world peace, much less long for it?)

Writing letters to St. Nick is an activity the whole family can enjoy, a wonderful way to reach into the past and share decades-old holiday pictures. Through ScanDigital, you can convert a photo to digital to show your children what it was like for you as a kid. Take this image from the early 1900s, in which a young girl gives her letter to the mailman. She appears hopefully and optimistic about what Christmas morning will bring.

Of course, if thoughtful elders have taught us anything, it’s to be generous to others in our letters. It’s always polite to ask for things for those less fortunate and give thanks for all of our good fortune before telling Santa about the latest, must-have toy. And it’s important not to burden him with a long list; prioritize.

Letters are often sent to the North Pole, where Santa resides. As far as the United States Postal Service is concerned, that’s North Pole, Alaska. Earlier this year, out of privacy/security concerns, the federal agency decided to end a program that allowed North Pole-based volunteers to answer letters addressed to Santa in the North Pole. Residents of the small Alaskan town, who take Christmas very seriously, were incensed. The agency recently reversed its decision, and also gave the letter-replying group a specific address to have Santa letters delivered to (1 Santa Claus Lane, North Pole, AK 99705).

Before you send off your son or daughter’s letter, snap a picture of it. They’ll appreciate the sweet souvenir as an adult. And if you still have a photographic record of your own letters, scan that photo to digital to save and compare. Has the wish list changed much in a generation?

Today, quick emails and texts may be the norm, yet when it comes to communicating with the jolly man himself, you can’t beat pen and paper. Well, a plate of chocolate chip cookies couldn’t hurt.

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90210 Films Outside ScanDigital Office: Behind the Scenes Photos!

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

IMG_3822

There’s so much commotion outside of ScanDigital’s office today! Why? Because the hit TV show 90210 is filming at the restaurant Second City Bistro, which will appear as an Indian restaurant on screen, right outside our offices. The whole street is shut off and jam packed with people, equipment and trucks. So our parking lot was overtaken with production gear, Craft Service food truck is parked right outside my window and if you open our front door, you can see the entire scene. And yes, I did get a glimpse of Lori Loughlin, a huge highlight for someone raised on Full House!

You never realize just how much goes into a show. There are tons of people, each with their own role. I’ve met the Craft Services guy who helps with the food truck, the truck driver/equipment loader, extras, the medic and even the stand-in painter.

IMG_3819Here’s a photo behind the scenes of the medic, known as the ‘Band-aid Man’ and the stand-in Painter, who’s responsible for transforming yellow fire hydrants to red and touching up any damage the equipment may cause. Oh and he uses special liquids to block the reflection on windows that may appear in the background. And that’s the official call-sheet that he’s holding.

Our entire parking lot is filled with huge equipment trucks. Check out this photo with Troy in IMG_3817the bottom left corner, a driver responsible for transporting and setting up all the equipment. Super cool guy, even shared some stories of when he work on the original Beverly Hills 90210. Guess Luke, better known as ‘Dylan’ from the original series used to get chased down the street by his crazy female fans. Shouldn’t be much of a surprise!

IMG_3829Everyone on set is super nice, especially the Location Manager who made sure our office was taken care of throughout all the chaos. He even told our entire office to help ourselves to the refreshments. See a picture of him the back of his head to the right while talking to securtity. Apparently he’s camera shy.

Shameless ScanDigital plug- Everyone on set loves ScanDigital and wanted brochures to convert their old photos, videos and reel-to-reel film to digital format. After being asked for more information, I happily grabbed a few- but had to go back in for a huge stack as everyone IMG_3825wanted one!

All this work for a 30 second clip. Yes, 30 SECONDS. Regardless of how short, I can’t wait to see it air on TV!

As always, you can find me on Twitter at @PamelaSD. Come say hi.

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Blow Mom Away This Holiday & Bring a Tear to Her Eye

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Hoping to blow Mom away this holiday season with a gift that’s so sentimental it’s sure to bring a tear to her eye? May sound like a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. Give Mom the gift of memories this year with ScanDigital’s Photo Scanning services!

Bring new life to Mom’s old memories and update your family’s photo archive. She’ll love reliving her favorite memories, knowing her history is preserved and protected for future generations and the ease of enjoying them whenever she pleases.

Check out this video to learn more about why Mom will love our photo scanning services:

 

Having your memories on CD, guarantees your memories are safe for future generations. So preserve her old photos, albums, slides, negatives and scrapbooks in digital format. She’ll be so happy you did!

She will love telling the stories of her past and visiting memory lane. Mom will love sharing her old memories with you. You may even learn a few things about your family’s past that you didn’t know.

When was the last time she dragged the old boxes out from the basement? Spare her the back ache and give her the ability to relive old memories at the click of her computer mouse. Organize her photo collection to easily accessible CDs.

Trust only the best with your memories- ScanDigital is committed to quality and the security of your memories. All photos are scanned and edited individually, by hand and reviewed by 3 separate technicians to ensure our strict quality assurance guidelines are met. Materials are also trackable from start to finish. Our UPS integration, proprietary EssentialTracker system and our commitment to maintaining US-based operations are just some of the ways we demonstrate our dedication to the safety of your photos. 

ACT NOW- The Photo Scanning Deadline is approaching fast! Materials must be received by Thursday, December 10th in order to assure your order is complete in time for the holidays! If you are in fear of missing the deadline, you’re eligible for our Rush option, but you must call to check with our customer service team.

If you have any questions about our services or holiday deadlines, please call us directly at 888.333.2808 or email info@scandigital.com. Always love connecting with our ScanDigi friends on Twitter (or my personal Twitter) and Facebook.

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