She is one of those special family friends who has been there through thick and thin. She has been a motivator to the family. She has been an inspiring ball of energy, who has shopped with your through the years. She is the one person who has seemed like a sister to you.

She is now pregnant and about to start a new journey in her own life. What do you give someone so special to you, as a best friend? What do you give back to someone who has meant so much to you? You do not want to just give her the normal baby shower gifts. You want to give her something more unique.

Unique Gifts for a Newborn Baby

There are many different baby shower ideas out there. These are just a few of our favorite ideas for the mommy and newborn baby.

1. Wine Purchased from Baby’s Year of Birth

Now this is a creative idea from http://dailymom.com/expect/5-unique-baby-shower-gifts/. Purchase a bottle of wine from the year the baby was born. Make sure to pick a bottle that ages well or preserves. Then put this bottle in a decorative Baby Time Capsule from www.timecapsule.com and a special letter or fill out a “Message to the Future” note about predictions where you see your child in several years. Then, have the child open the time capsule and wine on his or her 21^st birthday. We just love this idea. How about you?

2. A Personalized ABC Book

What a creative idea to get your guests involved in at your baby shower. Make this sentimental DIY baby gift. It is your child’s first ABC book. Nothing says I love you, like unique personalized baby gifts. You can read the instructions of how to make this at http://www.littlemissmomma.com/2013/09/awesome-sentimental-baby-shower-gift.html. Basically, have guests draw a letter from the alphabet along with a photo that starts with that letter. Have each page laminated, and then create a book out of the pages, to treasure for years into the future for your child. You could have each guest even leave a little love note for the baby, on each page.

3. Baby Shower Poem

This is a unique baby shower gift that is similar to a new mommy’s survival kit, only in a poem. Check out this gift from the heart at http://mummydeals.org/how-to-make-a-baby-shower-poem-gift/. You could even have all the guests at the baby shower sign the poem, so you have a guest list in a creative way, to preserve forever. This idea is perfect, for the person who does not know what to get and it is still unique and thoughtful.

4. Personalized DIY Write or Draw On Baby Quilt

Here is a fun activity for your baby shower, and a unique baby shower gift. Have the guests write on or draw pictures on this quilt. Make sure to sign your names, so the baby knows in the future, who all was at his or her baby shower. What a great, memorable gift to save in the Baby Time Capsule from www.timecapsule.com. Check out this creative idea at http://www.taylorjoelleblog.com/2012/07/top-5-unique-baby-shower-ideas.html.

5. Decorative Baby Time Capsule

Our final unique baby shower gift is a decorative baby time capsule meant to be displayed in the nursery, or a special shelf in your home. This is a gift that will surely be a discussion starter. Parents fill Baby’s Time Capsule with memorabilia from the day and year of their child’s birth. This timeless keepsake is then sealed until a designated day–years in the future–when the baby is grown. Have guests at the baby shower fill out the “Message to the Future” letters with messages of hope, inspiration, and predictions for where they see the child in the future. What a memorable, and sentimental day it will be when the child gets to open this, like when he or she graduates high school. Save baby’s first shoes, pacifier, or the “mommy to be” banner you wore at your baby shower, in the time capsule. Help your child relive what life was like the first year he or she was born, and what it was like at your baby shower.

This heartwarming 22-piece gift set comes with everything needed to create an absolutely unforgettable treasure. You can get your Baby Time Capsule at http://www.timecapsule.com/product/milestone-collection-baby-time-capsule-keepsake-gift/.

What is the most unique baby shower gift you have ever seen? Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie

www.timecapsule.com

The post Top 5 Unique Baby Shower Gifts appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

This is a continuation of our blog posts discussing, who all can use a time capsule. Time capsules are not just for the receiver, but for the giver who created it too. Grandparents are special people in this world, filled with treasured stories to tell us all. They are filled with so much wisdom.

When you make a time capsule about your life, your grandchildren gain understanding and insight as to why you are filled with your wisdom. It will be pure joy to save special paperwork or projects your grandchildren made on their own, for you. Time capsules help bring together many families and close the generational differences and/or geographic distance.

One special day, my cousins, aunts, uncles, and my parents decided to make the most special gift we have ever given my grandmother. She is one of the funniest, sweetest, and wisest woman you will ever meet. She has a lot of stories herself about life during the ‘good old days.’ We wanted to give back to her in a creative way, and make it something that would be remembered for years to come in the future. This is the point of our time capsules, to give back all these stories for generations to come.

How to Make a Grandparent’s Memory Book or Scrapbook

Luckily, we have a few creative people in our family, and we all communicate well. So, each family member was mailed decorative card stock paper in different sizes, like index cards. We were each assigned to think of sentimental stories, funny sayings, or fun memories we all remember Grandma saying or doing with us in years past.

The family profile really started to fill in quick, as we started to hear past stories about what my father did with his mother and brother when he was younger. This was such a great bonding moment for us all. This is also a great way to make sure your family heritage is passed on, and never forgotten. You can write about family accomplishments, milestones you have overcome together, projects made, and overall how things used to be (in the world without the internet or cell phones).

• Pictures of your grandparent’s wedding

• Pictures of what work in the fields looked like in the past

• Pictures of what family time consisted of in the past

• Pictures of family Christmas get-togethers

• Pictures of old vehicles driven or old tv shows of your grandparent’s time

• Pictures of making your favorite recipe with your grandmother

Do not forget to put in the Grandparent scrapbook, great photos to make her laugh, cry, and reminisce. Showcase her personality. Again, similar to our time capsules we sell, you can also include newspaper clippings about your grandparent, the bandana he or she always used, the candy wrapper showing her favorite sweet, her grandchildren’s artistic drawings, or anything else meaningful to describe her. Make sure to include a journal time line in the scrapbook answering the who, what, when, where, and why the moment was significant, for each photo or note card story you fill out.

After gathering your photos, stories on the colorful note cards, and memorabilia then you can put together your scrapbook pages, along with the additional scrapbook stickers, art, or stamped images to add more character and make the scrapbook a finished product to be proud of.

Presenting the Grandparent Memory Book or Scrapbook

It’s a party. It’s a celebration of life. Make sure you wrap the Grandparent scrapbook, and give it as a gift when you are all gathered around as a family. Also make sure someone video records this milestone moment. You do not know what you have until it is gone. You can even save your scrapbook in a Baby Time Capsule, to give to the next grandchild who is about to be born. What a legacy gift that will be. Get your artistic Baby Time Capsule from http://www.timecapsule.com/product/babystimecapsule/.

Start today and document your family’s history and create a lasting gift for future generations. This is a heritage scrapbook project that keeps on giving.

What is your favorite memory about your grandmother? Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie
www.timecapsule.com

Note: Grandparent photo with baby taken from http://www.grandparents.com/family-and-relationships/grandparent-names/choose-your-grandparent-name

The post How to Make a Memory Book for Grandparents appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

“Oh Look, It’s Me!” Now, this is a statement you want to hear your child say as he or she opens their alternative baby book. Their alternative is a decorative baby time capsule.

So many people have their own websites, or use the internet today and see other people’s websites. A baby time capsule is like your child’s “About me” page if their life was a website.

Of course you want to include all the memorabilia, nostalgic items (like baby’s first pacifier, or favorite toy) in the baby time capsule, but what else makes up who he or she is? As life gets busier, it is hard to have time to make a special scrapbook or keep track of all the details of your newborn child. Many people can barely keep up with the baby book of their first child, let alone their fourth or fifth. Comment below if you can relate.

Each child is special, and you do not want one child to feel more loves or special compared to the other, years later when one child has more photos or information kept, compared to their sister or brother. There is a lot of guilt and shame that can come with keeping up with your baby’s milestones, so that is why we do what we do and sell an alternative – introducing the baby time capsule.

The baby time capsule will leave you with no guilt and it is a special keepsake that will last and treasure memories forever.

Just toss your baby’s favorite and sentimental items in the decorative tin, and fill out sample questions like the following in your baby’s profile book included.

Live a live without Regrets – Take time to jot down a few sentences at the end of each day about your baby. Don’t wait until your child is now 20 and comes to ask you what he or she was like as a baby. Preserve these precious moments and little tidbits of the first year of their life, in a baby time capsule.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

www.timecapsule.com

The post A Cool Baby Book Alternative – Baby Time Capsule appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

Memories are some of the most special moments we want to treasure forever. That is more difficult for us all, as we get older.

“She just does not seem to be all there anymore. She is forgetting more. She is having a hard time recognizing me as her daughter. She is forgetting my name.” – my Aunt complained to my mother over the phone. My aunt was living in Texas with my grandmother, and my mom (her sister) lives in Indiana. It was heart retching knowing there was very little my mother could do, to help my Aunt and Grandmother, in Indiana.

What To Do To Help the Older Generation

Despite our distance, my grandmother and I were close. She prayed for my future husband for years, wherever he was in life, to be ready for me mentally, emotionally, and physically. Her prayers worked as I found “the one.” How could I ever give back to my grandmother who was an Alzheimer patient. I do not wish this problem, or any other memory disorder, on anyone. It is hard to deal with, as family members let alone being the actual person trying to live through this struggle.

How a Memory Box or Time Capsule Helps

Even though my family lived far away from my grandmother, that does not mean we could not help. We helped my Aunt recall memories, wrote down stories we remembered, recorded our voices, and of course as grandchildren created homemade cards for grandma.

A memory box or time capsule can do a similar function to help. What would you put in a memory box to stir up a loved one’s memory, emotions, and thoughts?

Image taken from http://sheffieldtimewalk.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/manor-memories/

A Memory Box or Time Capsule helps us all Recall the Past

Include things like:

• Newspaper clipping of special events, or marriage announcement

• Postcards of places visited

• Favorite recipes (maybe even take the time then to make the recipe together)

• A letter from each of you as family members thanking your loved one for all he or she has done for you.

• Family photos

• Special necklace or watch your loved one constantly used to wear

• Video of your loved one growing up. Go through the video slowly pausing to say each person’s name (especially if they are family members) to help your loved one recall names with faces.

• Hobbies your loved one usually does (for example: a sample of his or her quilt or a golf ball)

• Include items which an Alzheimer’s patient loves or boosts their self-esteem. Things that give your loved one their identity back.

• A memory box or time capsule can help an Alzheimer’s patient on all sensory levels. Include things that relate to all their senses. For example, maybe include their favorite perfume or cologne in a small bottle.

This is a fun activity to do for the family, as much as it is for your loved one to open the memory box or time capsule. You all get to share sentimental moments with each other, bonding closer and inspiring conversation about the nostalgic items. Whatever you include in your memory box or time capsule, make sure it reflects the senior’s loves, interests, and significant or milestone moments in the history of their lives, and has strong meaning to him or her. You may want to include an inventory checklist of each item you include with a tag on each item with the story associated with each nostalgic memento. This will help your loved one be able to read and review things on their own time too.

If everything goes well, memory boxes are a great means to help an alzheimer’s patient, because when a senior sees one memory trigger, it may help them recall another memory to talk about. You may even find out something new about them, that you had no idea about. To read more about this topic, check out http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-10/09/music-memory-box

What would you put in a memory box or time capsule for your older loved one, to help them remember better? Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

www.timecapsule.com

Credits:

Main Family Quote is available as wall art from http://www.wisedecor.com/decor/wall-art/theloveinour.html

The post Top 10 Reasons to Make a Time Capsule for an Alzheimer Patient appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

Ask yourself, what’s most important to pass on to the next generation? Teach values to your children.

– Life lessons
– Teaching to help others
– Strong communication skills
– How to be emotionally strong
– Financial security
– Education
– Values
– Etc.

After being with my niece for a week, I realized she is in the independent stage, as she demands, “I can do it.” It is enlightening seeing a child without any fear. She is a real go-getter, a dare devil, and an observant learning sponge soaking up anything new around her. I realized while playing with my niece, how important it is to subtly drop hints to teach about values, and act as a consistent role model as she wanted to imitate many things I did last week. For example, when the dog got wet she shook, just like the dog. It was funny, but then I realized how much more important it is for my niece to imitate other important values, like family bonding.

My mom, niece (Skylar), and my brother.

Instill a Sense of Family History

Do not get so caught up in instilling values that you forget to enjoy the milestone moments, or memories. Share your family stories. These are what by nature, will share your values as a family too. A great way to do share your stories is by creating a time capsule together as a family. Save mementos and heirlooms in the time capsule. Save memories forever with a time capsule to pass on to future generations.

One Man’s Trash, is Another Man’s Treasure

I grew up learning the value of a dollar. My family shopped at stores like “Goodwill” in order to make ends meet. I am sure some of you can relate. Goodwill is a time capsule store in of itself. You never know what you will find there. To some, an old coffee cup may only be worth $1.00, but to others, it is may be sentimental and priceless, therefore it is treasured for years. My family had a dinner plate which said “You are Special Today.” It was great. My parents brought out the plate when we as kids accomplished something, received good grades, or helped someone else out. We valued this plate and how it made us feel. My parents valued what the plate taught us. It is a plate that will forever be treasured and passed on to our next generation of grand children, through a time capsule.

Passing on values to your children is so important. What do you value? Treasure these values in a time capsule, and make sure they get passed on to future generations. Pass on what makes your family unique. Embrace what life is teaching you now, and pass that on to your future children. Pass on your values you want to teach your own children, in a decorative Baby Time Capsule from http://www.timecapsule.com/product/babystimecapsule/.

What value or treasure would you like to put in a Baby Time Capsule to pass on to your future child? Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie

www.timecapsule.com

Credits: Main photo taken from http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259590365996455168/

The post Teach Values: What you Value, you Treasure appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

Question: for all you mower lovers out there.

Why is it you love to mow?

We have about .75 acres to mow at our home. I just push mowed about .25 and am tired already. Why is it is easier to let go of things, when it is a burden. What I mean is, I am so ready to put up a pole barn, large pond, lots of flowers, etc, to have less yard to mow.

Why is it easier to let go of things, when it is a burden, but harder to let go of things when not a burden. For example, why do we cling to our favorite shirt, or item in the home, that just sits in our closet or on a shelf collecting dust for years. We even forget about it. The favorite shirt does not even fit anymore, but we have to hang on to it for what….sentimental reason, we may lose weight, etc.

Or…does the shirt or item in the house actually cause a burden in reality. My opinion is yes. It does cause a burden, in that it holds us back. It makes us cling to the past. In the past, we have done a blog about us as a company encouraging you to keep things, or be hoarders. Read that blog at http://www.timecapsule.com/wedding-memories-stories-and-decorating-ideas/19-items-to-save-from-your-wedding-day-hording-is-encouraged/. In reality, perspective seems to change as you get older.



What are you missing out on life by not letting go and starting over? Besides, for us women, it can be another excuse to go shopping, by letting go of that favorite shirt or item in your closet or on your shelf.

A time capsule, is actually an item that forces you to think of the main things you want to preserve. It forces you to choose those important sentimental items to save and pass on to future generations. Get your decorative and unique time capsule at www.timecapsule.com. It is important to look at the priorities in your life, and get rid of things that hold you stagnant. To help you filter through what to keep and what to give away or throw away, check out this article at http://www.wikihow.com/Let-Go-of-Sentimental-Clutter about how to let go of sentimental clutter. So, just like that popular song says in the movie, Frozen, “Let it Go.” Sorry, for those of you who will be singing that the rest of your day now. It gets stuck in your head, believe me I know.



All in all, I hope it does not rain much this week, to make the grass grow. I am not looking forward to push mowing anytime soon again. Man, we have go to fix that riding mower honey.

If you need a daily reminder of how important this concept of letting go is, check out the vinyl wall quote at http://vinylcraze.com/living-room/653-remember-the-moments-past-future-present.html

What item do you need to “let go” of in your home? Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

www.timecapsule.com

The post Let Go of Your Past – It is Never Too Late to Start Over appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

]]> https://timecapsule.com/where-to-preserve-memories-besides-a-scrapbook/ Mon, 03 Feb 2014 16:29:04 +0000 http://www.timecapsule.com/?p=2684 Where to Preserve Memories, besides a Scrapbook? Please do not use an ugly and boring cardboard box. That is not special. Use a Time Capsule. No we are not talking about the Apple Time Machine. According to Merriam-webster.com, a Time Capsule is : “ a container holding historical records or objects representative of current culture [...]

The post Where to Preserve Memories, besides a Scrapbook? appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

]]> Where to Preserve Memories, besides a Scrapbook?

Please do not use an ugly and boring cardboard box. That is not special.

Use a Time Capsule. No we are not talking about the Apple Time Machine. According to Merriam-webster.com, a Time Capsule is : “ a container holding historical records or objects representative of current culture that is deposited (as in a cornerstone) for preservation until discovery by some future age.”

Many people already have a time capsule, but just do not realize it. You email account saves all your treasured, sentimental emails from friends and family. You can save your photos online somewhere or in a scrapbook, or your time capsule may be that ugly cardboard box in your closet filled with “stuff.”

We here at The Original Time Capsule company want you to treasure your loved and memorable items in a more decorative and special way, with our time capsules. We currently have our Baby and Wedding Time Capsule. More time capsules coming soon “in the future.”

Our time capsules are not meant to be buried. They are meant to be displayed for about 10 to 20 years (or whatever timeframe you choose), on your fireplace mantle, shelf, table, etc. These unique gifts can hold your 3D objects, like Baby’s first rattle or favorite toy, the bride and groom’s wedding wine glass or honeymoon souvenir. Things you would also put in a shadow box, but you want to be kept a secret (if you are making the time capsule for someone else, not yourself). What a memorable day that will be for the child or couple years later, when they open their time capsule and relive the first year they were born or married. I can just hear some of the laughs and see the tears flowing now, from all the memories discussed and experienced again.

So, where do you preserve memories, besides a scrapbook? Here is a helpful article on how to organize your precious child’s artwork and schoolwork at http://www.makelifelovely.com/2013/05/how-to-organize-your-childrens-art-and.html

For the special photos that do go into a scrapbook, learn how to do this by watching this video at https://www.paperwishes.com/scrapbooking101/articles/building-a-page.html

We hope this article was helpful for you. Always remember, have fun!

Making Milestone Moments Count,

Mark & Marcie Norton
The Original Time Capsule Co.

Get your Baby or Wedding Time Capsule now at www.timecapsule.com

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