As much as I've resisted the 21st century and all this technology, I'm beginning to embrace its simplicity and my ability to declutter into a file the size of my thumb. Amazing! Here's what I'm doing to declutter 50 years of photos and create good feng shui for my children.
1. Digital photo books. I know, I know! Just a few years ago it was scrapbooking albums (I have half a dozen of those). But...they are so big and heavy. Time marches on and technology advances. WooHoo! Now I'm learning how to create photo albums, books really, with text and captions and fun ways to include written as well as photographic memories that take up a tenth of the space. I'm using HeritageMakers. My daughter uses Shutterfly and there are dozens of others: iPhoto, digital.CreativeMemories, Snapfish, Smilebooks, Picaboo, and options at Walgreens, WalMart, and Amazon. Pick one and begin uploading photos to create books that preserve all your paper photos in a simple, interesting and informative way.
2. One book at a time. For some reason I'm finding it easier to organize and categorize my photos as books rather than picture albums. Because I can write a story with photos, it's been fun (and more logical it seems) to create Our Cabin, Anniversaries Around the Globe, Princess Gillian (granddaughter), and Christmas Through the Years. This way I've been able to include a variety of photos, dates and locations. Even if you aren't in the digital book stage yet, consider organizing photos by telling a story and give the project or group of photos a title rather than organizing them by date.
3. Let it go. I understand the desire to keep historical and antique photos (tin types, sepia tone) but I'm ready to get rid of thousands of printed photos I've had developed over the years. When I met Philip Halls at Scangaroo I struck gold! His mobile van is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to digitize all your photos, slides, albums and documents right outside your front door. Your photos never leave your premises. And when he's done he hands you a thumb drive that fits into the palm of your hand filled with hundreds of your photos sorted into files for easy access. OMG!! It is amazing and the quality is unbelievable. I just replaced boxes and boxes of photos with this tiny gadget that will protect my photos from fading, fire, and flood (on-line storage also available). 
Join me in stepping into the age of technology with photo books that preserve your stories and purge your closets and drawers. This week check out Scangaroo and some digital book programs online. And if you'd like more information about Heritage Makers, just let me know.
Until next week
Wishing you Simplified Interiors,
Kathie Seedroff
