I just spent most of the day at the LDS Family History center in Oakland helping a friend track down her ancestors. She’s going on a trip next month to Germany and wanted to know more about her heritage before embarking on the journey.

Online tools

Although the real help we received came from the genealogist at the center who helped us crack the code, the tools we used are available to everyone online. Primarily, we used Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. Both have online tutorials to get you started.

Make History a Gift

I hadn’t thought about giving the gift of history as a bon voyage present until today. But watching my friend gather information that will ultimately shape her journey, help her decide where to visit, and move churches and gravesites to the top of a list previously filled only with tourist attractions inspired me. Now I think a kickstart into family history would be a wonderful gift for anyone taking a trip or starting an even bigger journey.

Consider a gift subscription to Ancestry.com for the following:

• Family Vacation – maybe they’ll find new places to visit.
• Newly Married – for the merging of family trees.
• New Baby – learn more about the gene pool you’re drawing from.
• Graduation – he passed world history, now it’s time for personal study.
• Significant birthday – find out who you really are.
• Anniversary – genealogy is more fun to do in pairs.
• Bereavement – maybe not immediately, but it can be therapeutic to find out more about the people waiting for us on the other side.

Make it Personal

While at the Family History center, the computers were abuzz with people searching, pondering, and digging for clues. And there was no shortage of personal stories either. Consider delivering a gift of history with a personal narrative of your own. Tell about the first time you met this person, character traits you admire about him, or your hope for the future in finding his past. Tie the gift card and your thoughts onto branches of a potted tree that can be planted to commemorate this occasion.

My sister sent me a link to this Date Night in a Bag gift idea and I love it. But not for the reason you might think. Date Night to Me My husband and I love going to the movies. But we found a bowl of popcorn and shows on the DVR to be much more practical after the brood started growing.

Source: thedatingdivas.com via Shelley on Pinterest

Think Baby

I love this idea for a baby shower because heaven knows when that newborn arrives, mom and dad won’t have a second to themselves for about 18 years. They will have to create date night in a bag, on the couch, with a fox, in a box, and whatever else ways they can figure.

I can honestly say that my husband and I probably wouldn’t swap this bag back and forth. But I do think it would make a fabulous gift. And the gals at The Dating Divas include several other date night suggestions. Each, would also make terrific baby shower or wedding day gifts. Thanks for sharing, ladies!

Another inspiration from Pinterest. I love the cooking theme. To turn this into a gift card holder, I would scale down the accessories inside the oven mitt and throw in a gift card to the cooking store, The Container Store, or Target Perfect and Practical You can save money on this idea if you buy discounted gift cards from Williams Sonoma at Plastic Jungle! This gift card holder is not only adorable, but also practical. It’s perfect for: Wedding: Help newlyweds set up. Graduation: Off to college. Birthday: For the cook. Thank you: “for the helping hand.” Father’s Day: With BBQ style. New House: Brighten the digs. Tailor your budget This gift can be tailored to your budget. Go high-end with a beautiful oven mitt and accessories from a top notch cooking store. Or save money, buying the oven mitt and goodies at the dollar store, saving the bulk of your money for the gift card.

Source: olderandwisor.blogspot.com via Shelley on Pinterest

Found this gift card recycling idea on Pinterest and loved it. Though you need a binding system (don’t have one…can’t imagine how much binding you do in order to buy one), I do love the idea of it. But I would make this idea with a NEW gift card instead. (Just don’t bind through the magstripe).

Source: thegreenbeanscrafterole.blogspot.com via Jocelyn on Pinterest

Two Gifts in One

Not only does the recipient get a gift card, but they get a little notebook to use as well. It’s two gifts in one. Plus, the gift card will not easily get lost or be forgotten about in the wallet. They’ll probably be carrying it in their purse anyway.

Take It A Step Further

If you’re going to make this idea, then I would take it a step further with the following suggestions:

• Make it reloadable. Use a reloadable gift card so the recipient can use the gift card more than once.
• Make it a photobook instead. Bind the gift card with wallet-size photos of the kids. Perfect for Grandma.
• Add store coupons. Get new mom a gift card to Babies R Us and fill the booklet with every diaper coupon you can find.
• Add coupons of your own. Give a gift card to the movies and include a babysitting coupon inside.
• Multiple coupons. As long as you’re binding things, why not put dinner, movie, and dessert all in one handy date night notebook?
• Group Gift. Have everyone contribute a gift card to the “book.” Imagine leaving a baby or wedding shower with a prized book of gift cards!

Great for Teachers, Coaches, Graduates…Anybody

This would make a great gift card for teachers or coaches. Deliver a gift card to the office supply store (teacher) or sporting goods store (coach). Bind with a note of thanks from each of the kids.

Send graduate to school with a book he’ll for sure want to crack open. Help new moms and newlyweds by stuffing their wallet with gifts cards in this highly manageable system.

Now, where can I get a binding thingamajig?

Quite possibly the cutest version of the Cookie Dough jar I’ve ever seen. It’s a seriously great gift on it’s own. But you know me…gotta think gift card. How to Add a Gift Card Let’s play on that “dough” theme. Add a gift card and write the words, “Thought you could use a little extra dough.” As is, the idea works for any gift card and for any occasion. But here are a few ocassions when money is particularly useful: Graduation. Visa or Mastercard gift card is perfect for grad. Wedding. Gift card to Bed, Bath & Beyond sounds about right. New Baby. Gift card to Target or Babies R Us. Moving. Gift card to Home Depot or other home-inspired store. Holidays. A gift card around the holidays would be welcome in my home! You can write, “Thought you could use a little extra dough on your wedding day” or more generic, “Everyone can use a little extra dough this time of year.” Either way, what a great message and fun way to deliver a little extra dough in a fun, personal, thoughtful way. Happy Gift Carding!

Source: flickr.com via Shauna on Pinterest Source: southernliving.com via Brennaon Pinterest

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I love the idea of giving an Ancestry.com Gift Membership this holiday season. I started doing genealogy about a year ago. And though I don’t have much time to devote to the activity, I feel compelled to nurture my family tree whenever I can.

Who would enjoy this gift?

Give an Ancestry.com Gift Membership to:

• An Individual. Great idea for someone interested in family, in need of a new hobby, or who likes to use the computer.
• A Teenager. Kids are better at computers than adults, and genealogy can be interesting and addictive. It’s better than video games! An activity like this could bring the whole family together.
• A Family. This would make a great family gift from you or from your entire family. (“From our extended family to yours”)
• Blended Family. All of our families are blended in one way or another. Start researching the family tree and see how alike we all are.
• Newlyweds. What a fun way for the new couple to merge tree branches and start a family tree of their own.
• New Parents. Researching our family tree took on new meaning when I put my children at the beginning. This would make a great baby shower gift.
• Someone in Mourning. Researching family lines might help him deal with the future by connecting to the past.

This gift would also be a wonderful sentiment on Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, or Grandparents Day.

Make the Gift Membership Fun

My ideas for making a genealogy gift membership more personal:

• Christmas Tree. Attach the gift membership to a mini-Christmas tree. Tie it on with a bow or make it into an ornament.
• Tree for the yard. Attach the gift membership to a tree that is ready to plant. They can grow both trees at the same time.
• Garden tools. They can use both tools for cultivating.
• Seed packet. Smaller than a tree, easier to mail. Deliver a gift membership for growing a family tree plus seeds to grow a real tree or plant.
• Family picture. Doing genealogy is about connecting families and finding out who you are. Deliver a gift membership with a picture of your family or their family. Or find a picture frame that says, “Family.” (I’ve seen several).
• Miracle Grow. Using Ancestry.com is like putting Miracle Grow in your garden. With the tools on this site, growing your family has never been faster, easier, or produced better results.
• Book on Genealogy. Deliver the membership with a book or a list of websites to help the recipient get started.
• Time. Volunteer to help with the effort. Doing genealogy together is like solving a mystery or putting together a puzzle. You’ll have fun as a team.

Through a series of events this past year, family has become increasingly important to me. And not just my own family. I’m compelled to bridge the gap with my in-laws, step relations, and distant relatives. We may not see each other daily. but we are all part of the same family tree. Ancestry.com is helping me see that–both literally and figuratively.