The holidays are fast approaching and I couldn't be more excited. It is the perfect time to spend with family and friends. It's a time to laugh, a time to cuddle, a time to make memories. We have already taken the kids to see Santa and have their picture taken, which turned out great, might I add. But when I look back at photos from Christmases passed, a part of me feels a hint of sadness knowing that my kids will never be this small again. Their tiny hands have become more dexterous and their feet are growing at an alarming rate. Oh, how I miss holding my son when he was a wee lad sucking on his two fingers. Or cradling my first-born as I sang her a lullaby before bedtime. As I wipe away a tear or two, I can't help but feel a sense of regret that I never took the time to make a nice little imprint of my children's hands and feet. I look at how big they are now and find it very difficult to recall how small they once were. This is why I am eager to share with you all of the wonderful ways you can preserve these memories through Memories Made. 

Memories Made is owned and operated by my friend Lisa Freer, wife of hockey coach Glenn Freer . Launched in 2008, her company grew via word of mouth, online advertising and her website MemoriesMade.ca. She later attended trade shows and was able to connect with many new and expectant moms who were eager to give lifecasting a try. Through the years, she has created various casts from newborn bottoms to kids holding hockey pucks or baseballs. Today, she can easily customize to your needs and offers mounted lifecastings, memory boxes, ornaments and more at various price points starting as low as $25.

This past summer, Memories Made moved into a new studio in the Don Woods Plaza located on Underhill Drive, just minutes from Lawrence and the DVP. In addition to lifecasting creations, Memories Made now offers unique and personalized gifts as well as other fabulous gift items including Warm Buddies product line and my favourite, gourmet chocolate. It really is a joy to pop in the store to see what neat products have landed on the shelves.

Memories Made now offers laser engraving on items such as dog tags, name plates, frames and a myriad of other items. I totally love the idea of personalized Christmas ornaments. There are so many to choose from!

Currently, Memories Made is running a daily contest to win 15% off of your purchase and a free $25 ornament. To enter their contest, simpy send an email to memoriesmade@rogers.com with Contest in the subject line. Winners will be contacted by email. 

But before you go, allow me a minute to announce another exciting giveaway to Toronto Teacher Mom readers. For those who live in the GTA and would like to preserve memories of your newborn or baby-to-be, you could win a Triple Window Memorybox Large Three 5×7 Openings which includes four castings (ie. two hands and two feet) and room for a picture. This prize is valued at $250 but the memories you will preserve are truly priceless. Simply enter using the new Giveaway Tools form below.

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