As the first day of school slowly approaches, I am reminded of how much my children have grown. It is amazing the difference a year can make. And while I'm excited for another year of exploration, learning and growth, I kind of just want to press pause and enjoy my kids at this age, in this moment. I sometimes want to press mute but that's a whole other blog post.

One way to capture these fleeting years is, of course, through photography. Thanks to digital technology, however, I find I rarely make the time to print hard copies of all the wonderful snapshots I have taken over the years. Don’t even talk to me about scrapbooks. I won't even go there.

When I look around my house, it kind of saddens me that I don’t have very many recent photos on display. So I think it's time to sit down in front of my computer and start compiling a group of print-worthy pics. I could print out a bunch to toss in an album, create a digital book, or place them in a frame. And what better way to display framed pictures than with the beautiful Family Tree Frame Holder by Hallmark.

The Family Tree (ARV: $69.95)

For review, our family received the Family Tree photo display stand. I immediately fell in love with it as soon as I pulled it out of the box. I still need to buy some frames for it but I think it looks quite beautiful on it's own. I even have the perfect place for it; on top of our buffet on our main floor, which is where do most of our entertaining. I think it fits in nicely with the our current decor, too.



I think it would look fantastic with a bunch of mini frames hanging from this stand. My sister-in-law also had the idea for using it in the bedroom to hang jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets. That sounds like a neat idea to me. With a price tag of $69.99, it isn't cheap. But it would certainly make for a unique gift for a housewarming party or for any occasion, really. Just think how versatile it could be simply by hanging ornaments during the Christmas season. In any case, I really want to get my hands on some of the mini frames and start printing some recent pictures of the family.

Recordable Memory Album (ARV: $24.95)

If you're looking for a more practical and cost effective way to preserve memories, check out the selection of Recordable Memory Albums. We received a copy of the "Kids say the cutest things!" album which is ideal for recording birthday memories, school memories or a 'year in the life'. If you haven't seen the Recordable Conversation books I featured last May, these albums have a similar device that uses Voice Save technology which allows you to record your voice or your child's voice to help bring the story to life and by complimentary the visual storyboard you have created in pictures. It also comes with a few ideas and examples of questions you might ask. The sound quality is pretty good but I would recommend eliminating any white noise while recording. There are 10 pages made up of layers of sturdy card stock with pockets that can store a total of 10 4"x6" photos. Each two-page spread allows up to 60 seconds of audio recording which is kept safe when using the lock feature, regardless of battery life. The album also includes a dedication page as well. Other album themes include Baby, Family and Love, so Hallmark has got you covered for pretty much every occasion.


Disclosure: I was sent product from Hallmark Canada as part of their Press Pause Panel and to help facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.