Two years ago, I ran across this idea on pinterest and decided to spruce it up a bit and turn it into a gift. For Christmas I gave a jar to each of my siblings, so they could use it throughout the upcoming year with their families.
The idea is that the family jots down memories on squares of paper and drops them in a jar all year long. Then they open it on New Year’s Day and reminisce over a year’s worth of memories.
When we look back over a year, it’s easy to remember the highlights (family vacations, job changes, moves), but this is such a fun and easy way to save and re-live the small moments, like the funny things your kids say and do.
This New Year’s Day will be my family’s second time opening our jar and reading it together. It was so much fun last year, and I can’t wait to do it again! Plus, at ages 4 and 6, our boys contributed quite a bit throughout the year to the memories that went into the jar. So it’s really a family bonding experience year-round.
To create as gifts, just buy some pretty jars (these were from Ikea), cut scrapbook paper into 3×3 pieces and stick the stack inside, include a pen, and throw in some Andes mints (or other goodie) for good measure. Add a label and some twine—and you’re good to go.
Happy holidays, sweet friends! I’ve been a bit quiet lately as I process some big changes in my family’s life. More on that soon!
I absolutely love this idea, Erica! Who will you be giving this as a gift to? What a great New Year’s tradition to start. We have so many Christmas traditions, but I’m always trying to figure something out for New Year’s. This is perfect!
What a wonderful idea Erica!
What a great idea for a thoughtful Christmas gift. I’m pinning this to my Christmas board.
Thanks, Paula! Have a lovely week!
What a sweet idea, Erica. Thank you for sharing!
This would be such a sweet and thoughtful gift. Wouldn’t it be fun to scrapbook all the entries after the year is over?
I love this idea Erica! Thank you for sharing your beautiful labels!
I love this idea so much! I’m going to make this for the new parents in my life – it’s so important to catch those little moments and savor them forever! The jar is beautiful. The pictures are beautiful!
What a great idea. It’s “pinned.”
I have seen them too – but never did anything about it! But you just inspired me – what a great idea to give them as gifts! I love that. I will do this with our family in 2015 – Thank you for sharing. I hope everything is OK – I have missed you!
Ooh, this would be perfect for you and those cute boys of yours! And thanks for your sweet words. Don’t worry – they’re good changes! Just kind of consuming for the month of December. 🙂
This is an awesome idea!! So excited to try it out! how big of a jar would you recommend?? and how often did you put in memories?
Hi! It doesn’t need to be huge – You can fit a surprising amount of paper in even a regular-sized mason jar. 🙂 And we probably jot down a handful of memories once a month-ish during a meal. Wish I could do it more, but that’s better than nothing! Hope you enjoy it!
That’s a great idea, and I especially love it as a gift! It actually reminds me of a gift I purchased for myself this year 🙂 Mom’s One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book. You’re supposed to jot down a quick memory everyday over the course of five years.
As much as I write for the blog, I don’t always think to get down the little things about our days or about the kids that I know I’ll want to remember. I’m hoping this will force me!
Oh I agree! Sometimes writing for the blog is almost a deterrent to preserving those precious little memories, because our minds are so busy thinking how to use our experiences for posts. Haha.
That journal sounds completely amazing!
My mom and I are getting together tomorrow to make ‘Christmas Comfort’ jars, mason jars filled with goodies, to be given out to our coworkers. Now I think I’ll make these memory jars to give to my mom and sister as a Christmas gift. Thanks!
I l.o.v.e. this!! I wanted to do this last year, and I think I will definitely do it this year. Oh, I think the girls would have so much fun! Great post!!