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Record the voice of cherished person reading a storybook

Still wondering what gift to give for Christmas?  I gotta great idea!

Hallmark has Recordable Storybooks…
“…record each page of a book and have it played back over and over as the recipient turns the pages.  The recording will not be lost, even when the batteries need to be replaced…”

Titles include:
The Night Before Christmas
All the Ways I Love You
Bright & Beautiful
Hey Diddle Diddle!
I Love You Grandma
My Grandpa and Me
My Little Princess
Thank You God For Everything
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
and We’re Not Scared of Anything.

“…Hallmark expects to have about 15 Recordable Storybook titles available.  The original books were designed for an adult to read to a child. Subsequent titles also are perfect for adults and children to record together or for children to record for a grandparent.”

Consumers have found many creative ways to use Recordable Storybooks, including:
Parents stationed overseas in the military have recorded books for their children waiting for them at home.
Grandparents and other family members who live far away have recorded the books for the children they love as a way to be with them even when they can’t be physically present.
Family members took turns recording each page of a book for a loved one in a nursing home.
Adoptive parents have recorded a storybook for the child they were waiting to adopt in another country so the child would recognize their voices.
An entire family recorded a storybook for an adult child who lived overseas and couldn’t be with them for the holidays.

I received a copy of The Night Before Christmas.

When I had completed recording the story, I needed to use a small Phillips screwdriver to remove a cover to access a switch, and move it from the “UNLOCK” position to “LOCK”.  This is the same location that houses the three replaceable AAA size batteries.

When my daughters were young, I found birthday cards that allowed me to record my voice on them.  In their late teen years, they reminded me about them, and stated that they had liked them.

The Hallmark Recordable Storybook reminded me that, when I was a child, I had been given a small portable reel-to-reel recorder, had recorded the voice of my great-grandmother, and for many years had listened to it for comfort.  The recorder and recordings have been lost for many decades…but I can remember what she said, and how she said it.
Rayven2 CommentsTTR Website, ,

Practically Free Things To Do

Like many of you, I get tired and irritable and just need something to do that is not one of my daily tasks or work related in any way. I usually will break out into an “I’m So Borrrred!” or something like that. Also like many of you I do not have a ton of cash for that dream vacation to the Bahamas or that short jaunt to Greece for my olive oil facial and dreamy Greek masseuse to give it. OK, dreaming aside; Heck! I don’t even have enough time or money to afford to go to El Cheap-O Spa with costs of living rising and my paycheck dwindling.

I have come up with a solution! And it doesn’t involve a ton of cash or anything too fancy at all. Something that will get our minds away from thinking about work or the inescapable tasks and duties of everyday life. DO FREE STUFF! Sound simple? It is.

What can you do when you don’t want to really do anything? Here are 10 things that don’t require you to be a Trump nor travel great distances to have a spectacular time:

1) Go on a picnic. We all have parks, neighborhoods, or yards and we all have to eat. Why not pack up the kids and significant other and go on a picnic? Remember, like the “old” days? Make a basket lunch and spend some time playing at the park or relaxing in the grass. It will not only relax you but will get you out and about in the open air.

2) Catch up on some DVR or Movies. If you’re like me, you haven’t been watching TV a lot lately. Catch up on the latest and greatest. I would highly recommend Big Bang Theory, Outsourced, and Mythbusters but that’s because I am a total geek! The last movie I saw? RED. It was very well put together and I think will hold me over until TRON arrives in December, maybe.

3) Look up some historical sites in your city. Every city has a history, why not check it out? You may be surprised! My city is full of wineries and several historical buildings along with Route 66!

4) Learn something new. The internet is full of vast knowledge and if you are glued to it, like some of us, you can “Google it” or go to the library to find some How-To books. Learn to do Origami, Crochet, Change Your Oil, Whatever you are interested in.

5) Rearrange your house. Move furniture or other things around and see how different you can make it feel. It’s amazing how much this helps. I did this about 3 months ago and my apartment feels much more spacious.

6) Read. Ok, so you are like me and don’t like to read, “War and Peace.” News Flash: You can read whatever you like. That’s the joy of reading. Magazines count too!

7) Research your Family History. Ok most of us run to the internet for this too. Why not talk to relatives and interview them? Take some time to ask about what their life was like and document or record it somehow. Put it together in a family album. My sister and I have decided its that time in our lives to start asking the grandparents about life and are working on putting together a virtual family history book.

8 ) Write. About anything. Go somewhere you are comfortable and write about anything you want. Journals, blog, draws, create poetry, whatever. Writing is not only a good therapy, it’s also neat to go back and see what your life was like on that day and time in the future.

9) Take your pet for a walk. Take a stroll outside in the open air. They will enjoy it and you can get a break from the mundane tasks. I am lucky enough to live close to a dog beach so that is one way we have fun. Dog parks are relaxing for you and you can meet new people from your area. Singles, this is a great way to meet new potential dates!

10) Exercise! Yeah I hate that word too. But really, it’s what we all need more of. Nowadays, we can play video games or just simply go for gander around the neighborhood. If you like sports, play a game or two with some friends or family.

Well, these are 10 relatively easy, mindless, and fun things to do if you need some time to get away or just can’t think of anything new to do. Let us know if you decide to try ‘em out!