FAMILY GIFT IDEAS
Note: Many of these ideas were generated through Alum Online Discussion Groups.

Family Recipe Book: I inherited my mother-in-law's recipe card box and I'm so glad that I kept them all. Not too long ago my son's girlfriend asked me for some of my recipes. I looked into the recipe box and found a gold mine! Every recipe was in her handwriting or handwritten by a friend. I asked my mom and an aunt or two, and gathered other recipes that were written by hand. I found a recipe that my grandmother wrote on old bank stationery with a personal note to me. I copied some of my favorite recipes by hand. I xeroxed the best ones and put them by category in a photo album with the transparent page cover that sticks to the page (thus accomodating different sizes of paper). I have given these books to my own grown kids, their girlfriends, as well as my niece. I hope I'm able to give them to grandchildren! My next goal is to scan old pictures and include a "picture directory of chefs" with information about each person. This is an inexpensive present that grows each year, and helps preserve familyl history, as well as shared experiences in the kitchen. Janet Jendron, South Carolina USA

Baby Photos with Memories: On special occasions I’ve gone through my numerous photo albums and finally parted with most of the baby photos of several of my children putting them into those little 5 x 7 albums and opposite each photo writing a detailed description of where he/she was, age, memory about the clothing or event. This is very time consuming, but highly appreciated! Those are my favorite types of gifts and I hope to be inspired me to think along those lines for this holiday season. Cecily Harkins, Oregon USA

Tree Ornaments: When children were younger, until the youngest was about 18, I made homemade holiday tree ornaments for them each year. Now, my sentimental adult "children" love to remember as they hang their "old" ornaments. Cecily Harkins, Oregon USA

Memory Book: To help my mother-in-law with Alzheimer's, the family made her a memory book. Using a simple photo album and scanning old pictures, we printed a picture of her with each one of us (grandchildren, children, etc) at the top of the page. We made sure to choose pictures of us at times that she best remembers us (not current pictures). Each of us wrote a particular memory that we did with her as a "love letter" on our individual page. One grandchild wrote about making french toast with her in the kitchen. Another wrote of memories at the lake. We make sure to keep this book out in her room so she can pick it up from time to time and know that we love her. This was an easy, inexpensive project and has been worth every minute we spent on it. Janet Jendron, South Carolina USA

Photo Calendars: We scan old and new pictures to make calendars featuring family members in months of their births or anniversaries, graduations, family vacations, or other events (such as the start of school). We put dates on the calendar itself so everyone can keep track of these important family dates. This is the gift that "keeps giving" throughout the year. Cecily Harkins, Oregon USA and Janet Jendron, South Carolina USA

Family Trivia Game: This is an idea I'd LIKE to do, but haven't done yet! I need to start early and work all year on it. I'd like to (via email) ask family members questions about favorite things, opinions, and other details of their lives. Then I want to put them all into a "Family Trivia Game" with a board, color coding, and a set up like the commercial trivia games. Ideally I'd like to see us do this together, so the work wouldn't be left to one person. Janet Jendron, South Carolina USA

Gift ideas for nursing mothers, LLL Leaders, and other breastfeeding supporters, from LLL of MD-DE-DC:

Go to http://www.lllofmd-de-dc.org/sales.shtml to order Tie-dyed nursing shirts, Tie-dyed baby bodysuits, and Nursing nightshirts

Also available at http://www.lllofmd-de-dc.org/sales.shtml
Leader Resources CD (Mac and PC compatible), featuring over 100 ready-to-print LLL meeting ideas, forms, handouts, articles, ice-breaker questions, and more!

And, the most unique stocking-stuffer of the season ...
Breastfeeding Makes a Difference wristbands!
Just $2 each, available in glow-in-the-dark, two sizes, and two color options at www.wristspirit.com under fundraiser code LLL