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A friend of mine told me that for her birthday she asked her husband for four hours alone to “shutterfly.” I knew exactly what she meant. Like a lot of us she spends weekdays managing her family life and weekends are even busier with trips and events and birthday parties and what have you. Projects fall by the wayside. So for her birthday she asked her husband to occupy her kids elsewhere for the morning so she could enjoy a cup of coffee and finish her family photo book for 2007.
Not exactly a spa day, I know. But if you think about it, how lovely to give yourself some hassle-free, uninterrupted, leisure time to review your pictures and your year – all the holidays and travels, new babies, growing babies, milestones, family gatherings and everyday moments captured. And then, methodically drag-and-drop over-and-over, like a yogic mantra (say it with me now, drag-and-drop, drag-and-drop, drag-and-drop) until you’re finished. Voila. And you’ve not only had a wonderfully relaxing afternoon of reminiscing, but you can finally check off “make family photo book for 2007” and concentrate on capturing memories for 2008.
And if deciding on the photo book design is your biggest hurdle, just find something you like in the Shutterfly gallery and make it your own. dhpixler created 2007 - A year in pictures based on a digitally scrapped book by another Shutterfly community member. By using Shutterfly’s templates in a simple month-by-month layout she was able to recreate the concept easily and with great results.
July 9th, 2008 at 4:31 am
Oh boy… my birthday is next week and now I know what to ask for! However, I need more than four hours! ;o) Cute story and very book! I like NED Design too! I’ll have to check that out in more detail!
Brayden’s Mom :o)
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
July 9th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Wow, I can totally relate to this. I actually have a project in the works right now, and it would be nice to have some extra time to devote to it. Real life keeps getting in the way though!
I think the real key in many cases like this is to not wait until the last minute. If you are going to create a book to give as a birthday or holiday gift, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to work on it, so you are not pulling an all-nighter trying to finish the darn thing in time. Much less stressful that way, but harder to execute. 
Greg Z
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
July 9th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Oh! I can so relate. I would have so loved to have had a day like this when the chidren were a bit younger. It seems now that they are older, I can more easily find the time to play with my photos and Shutterfly on a whim. I am teaching a friend how to use a photo editing program so that she can create her very first photo book. She is so excited. She looks at my books often when she vists and is dying to create her own. I will have to share this tid-bit with her when we talk tomorrow.
Cheryl Whitesel
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
July 14th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Wow..what a great gift. Lucky I sneak in a little shutterfly everyday. I just have too. I go by the motto…you must work on your art alittle everyday. Either taking pictures, trying to understand digtial scrapbooking better, or scanning photos for my next project. It is almost the time of year when I start my annual Christmas calander presents for the family. Luckly my husband is a singer and he is always working on a role. So he doesnt really mind my obession. I will be looking for you books.
July 15th, 2008 at 8:05 am
I need to fully agree! I can relate on all levels! I try to sneak some Shutterfly-time in whenever the babies are asleep… but then there’s always so much else that needs to be done. Shutterfly is entirely too addictive.
The best times are in the evenings, when everyone’s snug in bed and my husband and I are watching a movie… then I’ll sit with my laptop on my lap and do some Shutterflying on the side… always multi-tasking! I think I’ll take your advice and get some ‘time’ as a birthday present too! But is once a year enough?!
Thanks for the great idea.
Claire
Shutterfly Gallery Guru