A Genealogy Christmas Wish List: 5 Items You Can't Live Without

Believe it or not, Christmas is only 25 days away! That's right. It's time to not only start buying that perfect gift for loved ones but also make your own wish list of genealogy items you'd like to have. Olive Tree Genealogy has created a nice start to a list of 5 items you know you can't live without. 

1. DNA KITS - what's not to love about being able to find cousin connections and learn about your far-back ancestry?

IN AMERICA
30% off AncestryDNA in America AncestryDNA is on sale in the USA at the lowest price of the year, for $69 - a 30% discount! The offer will be live from November 26 9pm PST to November 30 9pm PST.

IN CANADA
Canadians must purchase their kits from Ancestry.ca. $30 OFF AncestryDNA in Canada
AncestryDNA in Canada is on sale at the lowest price of the year. Normally $149 the sale is for $119 - a $30 discount! The offer will be live from November 26 9pm PST to November 30 9pm PST.

IN UNITED KINGDOM
Buy your AncestryDNA kit at the lowest price of the year in the UK: £69 with a 30% discount! The offer will be live from 27 November 12:01am GMT to 30 November 11:59pm GMT.30% off AncestryDNA in the UK

2. PORTABLE SCANNER

Personally I love my Flip-Pal Scanner.  But there are other options!

* TaoTronics® Handheld Mobile Portable Document scanner
* Avision IS15+ Portable Scanner for Photos & Cards 

3. DOCUMENT FEEDER SCANNER 

Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 Scanner for PC and Mac   my personal favorite! I use mine daily. It makes life so much easier - it's fast and reliable and scans to email, Dropbox, Evernote, your computer.... whatever you choose. You can scan in jpg or pdf. 

4. GENEALOGY BOOKS. We all love genealogy books so why not put a few on your Christmas list? I recommend you pop over to Amazon and check out the books by the following authors:
* Books by Lorine McGinnis Schulze


* Books by Thomas MacEntee

5. SUBSCRIPTION TO GENEALOGY WEBSITE

There are many great genealogy sites you can subscribe to. My favorite is Ancestry.com as it has allowed me to dig back many generations on my ancestors in America, Canada and England.

Flip-Pal After Christmas Sale

Didn’t get a Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner for Christmas? Now’s your chance—until Jan. 2!


Free Shipping on orders of $145 or more in the USA and Canada!
(Applies to standard USPS service only. Does not apply to USPS Express service.)

Save $20 on the Flip-Pal mobile scanner and Deluxe Carry Case Bundle!
(Regular price $179.98, Sale price $159.98)  Purchase Item

Save $25 on the Flip-Pal mobile scanner Rechargeable Bundle!
(Regular price $209.97, Sale price $184.97) Make sure you always have freshly charged batteries! This bundle includes the Flip-Pal mobile scanner, a Deluxe Flip-Pal mobile scanner Carry Case and an Eneloop Battery Charger with four AA Rechargeable Batteries.
Purchase Item

Save $35 on the Flip-Pal mobile scanner Wi-Fi Travel Bundle!
(Regular price $264.96, Sale price $229.96) Wirelessly transfer scans to your smartphone or tablet—plus have freshly charged batteries! This bundle includes a Flip-Pal mobile scanner, a Deluxe Carry Case, an Eneloop Battery Charger with four AA Rechargeable Batteries and an Eye-Fi Mobi 8GB Wi-Fi SDHC Card.
Purchase Item

Save $45 on the Flip-Pal mobile scanner Really Big Bundle!
(Regular price $288.93, Sale price $243.93) Do you want it all? This bundle includes a Flip-Pal mobile scanner, a Deluxe Carry Case, a Sketch Kit, a Picture Keeper PK 8, an Eneloop Battery Charger with four AA Rechargeable Batteries, a Cleaning Cloth and a Window Protector Sheets 3-pack. Purchase Item

A Genealogy Baker's Dozen Gift Ideas

Every year I publish a Christmas Wish List for Genealogists. Here are a few of my items from last year plus a few more. Start your Genealogy Christmas shopping now and surprise your loved ones (or yourself!) with a creative Genealogy gift.

1. Ancestry.com World Subscription (or any other genealogy subscription-based site you like)

2. Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner to take to Archives, Libraries and on field trips. Read my first review from November 2010 at Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner, Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

3. RootsTech Registration. Ask your loved one to register you for RootsTech 2014 coming up February 6 - 8, 2014

4. Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 Scanner for PC and Mac (PA03656-B005)  I recently bought one of these and I am loving it! It's a wireless document feeder scanner. I can scan up to 25 items at once and they appear automatically on my computer in one file (or in Evernote or Dropbox or many other choices!)

5. Evernote Moleskine notebook. I don't have one and am pretty anxious to try it out! Apparently you write in the notebook and with a click of your smartphone camera, can transfer your notes to Evernote. See The New Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine

6. DNA Test Kit from Family Tree DNA (or any other DNA Testing company you prefer)
 
7.  Livescribe 8 GB Echo Smartpen for recording Family Stories and Memories. I love my SmartPen. I use it to record my 89 year old auntie's stories of her childhood, then I plug it into my laptop and the digital record transfers. Using the pen while auntie speaks, I make jot notes in the special notebooks. Then I can play the recorded stories by touching any word in the notebook. Very cool!

8. Don't miss out on this great opportunity. Byron Rempel of IDrawZombies.com can turn a photograph of you (or anyone else) into a zombie portrait. Rempel has been featured in Undead and Loving It in The National Post for his Art project 1000 Zombies. You can also obtain his Zombie Colouring Book to release your inner artist. The cost for the colouring book "Scrapbook of the Dead" is whatever you decide to pay - how cool is that?

9.  A subscription to the Genealogy Magazine of your choice. I'd like Family Tree Magazine, but the one you drool over could be very different

10. Jawbone JAMBOX This tiny powerful speaker allows you to connect via bluetooth to any other bluetooth enabled device (laptop, computer, iPhone, iPad etc) and play your favourite podcasts or listen to any audio with much better quality sound. I have one and I love it.

11. A beautiful journal for writing your own memoirs. I love Iona Handcrafted Books and have asked my hubby to buy me another one this Christmas as I'm on my last one. Tip: If the checkout won't accept a non-USA order, just email or phone as they do accept international orders.

12.  A Shutterfly gift certificate  I love Shutterfly for creating family photo books or calendars. It's also great for simply getting copies of your family photos so you can share them with family members

13. And in blatant self-promotion, how about asking for one of the genealogy and history books I have written and published?

Credits: "Santa Pushing Gift Bag" by digitalart on FreeDigitalPhotos.net

More Cyber Monday Online Sales

Yesterday I told my readers about the Cyber Monday sales on Ancestry.com. You can get some great deals on DNA kits and subscriptions. Here's the list below in case you missed that blog post (But don't miss these Cyber Monday sales on the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner below the Ancestry.com list):

* 40% Off Family Tree Maker for Upgraders at Ancestry.com!


* 30% Off Family Tree Maker at Ancestry.com!


* Gift Sub: Give the Gift of an Ancestry membership for $99 only!


* DNA: Get AncestryDNA today only for $79 plus Free Shipping with code FREESHIPDNA


Flip Pal Mobile Scanner Specials

Free Shipping on orders of $145 or more in the USA and Canada!
(Applies to standard USPS service only. Does not apply to USPS Express service.)

Save $20 on the Flip-Pal mobile scanner and Deluxe Carry Case Bundle!
(Regular price $179.98, Sale price $159.98) Purchase this special on the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner

Save $25 on the Flip-Pal mobile scanner Rechargeable Bundle!
(Regular price $209.97, Sale price $184.97) Make sure you always have freshly charged batteries! This bundle includes the Flip-Pal mobile scanner, a Deluxe Flip-Pal mobile scanner Carry Case and an Eneloop Battery Charger with four AA Rechargeable Batteries. Purchase this special on the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner

Save $30 on the Flip-Pal mobile scanner Picture Keeper Bundle!
(Regular price $229.97, Sale price $199.97) Here’s your scan and backup solution! This bundle includes a Flip-Pal mobile scanner, a Deluxe Flip-Pal mobile scanner Carry Case and a Picture Keeper PK 8. Purchase this special on the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner 

Save $35 on the Flip-Pal mobile scanner Wi-Fi Travel Bundle!
(Regular price $264.96, Sale price $229.96) Wirelessly transfer scans to your smartphone or tablet—plus have freshly charged batteries! This bundle includes a Flip-Pal mobile scanner, a Deluxe Carry Case, an Eneloop Battery Charger with four AA Rechargeable Batteries and an Eye-Fi Mobi 8GB Wi-Fi SDHC Card. Purchase this special on the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner

Save $45 on the Flip-Pal mobile scanner Really Big Bundle!
(Regular price $288.93, Sale price $243.93) Do you want it all? This bundle includes a Flip-Pal mobile scanner, a Deluxe Carry Case, a Sketch Kit, a Picture Keeper PK 8, an Eneloop Battery Charger with four AA Rechargeable Batteries, a Cleaning Cloth and a Window Protector Sheets 3-pack. Purchase this special on the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner

Specials on Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner

I love a good deal! And Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner has a nice one. 

You all know how much I love and use my Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner.


 f you want to read about some of the projects I've completed using it, just click on the links below for a few of my projects or click on Flip-Pal Projects to see all of them:

Instant Photo Border

1. Created instant photo borders and mat

Creating a Family Recipe Booklet

2. Scanned family recipes in a loved one's handwriting and created a treasured family recipe booklet

Scanning with 87 year old Auntie
3. Visited an older relative to scan their photos

Take Flip-Pal to a Museum

4. Taken Flip-Pal to a Museum and scanned documents

5. Been a Flip-Pal Couch Potato and scanned family photos while watching TV.

Documenting Civil War Photos

6. Documented a Civil War era photo collection

 7. Archived a collection of WW1 Photo Albums

 Use the coupon code: ten78 to take 10% off your entire order of $170 or more on Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner! This coupon expires on 11/15/2013, and can't be used in conjunction with ANY other offer (including sale items).

Getting Motivated to Scan Old Family Photos

Auntie and I using Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner on the couch

Recently on Facebook, an impromptu bit of fun began among the genealogy bloggers and enthusiasts. One well-known genealogist Elizabeth Shown Mills started it by posting a high school graduation photo of herself. 

It was great to see what she looked like as a teen (gorgeous!). Then the rest of us followed suit. It was so much fun to see the hair styles from the 80s, the 70s and yes, the 60s! 

Everyone looked so pretty and full of enthusiasm. Some of the male bloggers followed suit and they were equally adorable. They ranged from cute geeky nerdy to sweet young boys. 

Lorine with "the flip" hair

I don't have grad photos but I did share one of me from first year University. I like how it shows my hair in the style of "the Flip"! You'll see why I like that a bit further down in this blog post. I had to scotch tape my wet bangs to my forehead to try to make them dry straight. Lucky me, my hair naturally flipped up.

There were many of my friends and colleagues who couldn't find an early photo of themselves or who knew where one was, but didn't have it scanned. 

And that leads me to my plea to you. It's time to scan your family photos!
 Don't leave it for some fay in the future. It's easy to put off something like organizing and scanning your own photos. It can be boring. There are other more important things you want or need to do.  But I strongly urge everyone to start the project now. 

And a good way to get organized and motivated is to take your Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner and your box of old photos, turn on your favourite tv program, get settled on the couch and start scanning while you watch tv. 

If you don't have a  Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner, now's a good time to buy one. Buy it for yourself as an early Christmas present. Right now there's a coupon so you're in luck. he coupon code is: Fall22 and it is good for $25 off the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner with Digital Creativity Suite and a Deluxe Carrying Case!

There is also SundayScanDay group on Facebook. They meet "virturally" every Sunday at 3pm CT [4pm ET / 2pm MT / 1PM PT] for one hour in order to scan photos, documents, etc. It's much more fun to scan when you have company.

There is another virtual group called ScanFest run by Miriam Robbins but I have not been able to find a location to give you. Perhaps one of my readers knows where and when this is held. 

Labor Day Sale on Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner

If you've been considering buying the amazing Flip-Pal mobile scanner but haven't done so yet, now's the time!  Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner! Labor Day Sale is on!  

The following specials are valid until 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time, Wednesday, September 4, 2013 or while supplies last.

Save $20 on the Flip-Pal mobile scanner and Deluxe Carry Case Bundle!
(Regular Price: $179.98, Sale Price: $159.98) Place your order

Save $25 on the Flip-Pal mobile scanner Rechargeable Bundle!
This bundle includes the Flip-Pal mobile scanner, a Deluxe Flip-Pal mobile scanner Carry Case and an Eneloop AC Battery Charger with a 4-Pack of AA Rechargeable Batteries. (Regular Price: $209.97, Sale Price: $184.97) Place your order

Save $40 on the Really Big Bundle!
Do you want it all? This bundle includes a Flip-Pal mobile scanner, a Deluxe Flip-Pal mobile scanner Carry Case, a Flip-Pal mobile scanner Sketch Kit, a Picture Keeper PK 8, an Eneloop AC Battery Charger with a 4-Pack of AA Rechargeable Batteries, a Flip-Pal mobile scanner Cleaning Cloth and a Flip-Pal Window Protector Sheets 3-pack.
(Regular Price: $288.93, Sale Price: $248.93) Place your order

Questions? Please contact  customer support staff at 1-855-477-3547 or at support@flip-pal.com

Read my reviews and about the wonderful projects I've completed using the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner. Create books, tea-towels, wall hangings, Christmas gifts and more.