yearbook | Jenna Urban

This Year’s Gift: The Memory-Packed Year Book

I’m so excited to continue my Christmas gift-idea series. Never miss a deal or idea by signing up for our weekly newsletter. If you caught last week’s post on the “Open When” letters (you can check it out here if you missed it), you know how much I love meaningful, heartfelt presents. Now I’m introducing something I’m calling the Year Book — a gift that captures so much of our year together, perfect for family, kids, grandparents… anyone you want to show “we made this year count.”

What is the Year Book?

In the video I recently shared, I talked about how every year feels like a chapter — games played, milestones reached, small everyday moments that matter. The Year Book is essentially a photo-book that tells the story of the past year: big events, silly snapshots, everyday routines (yes, even making the bed Mollie!) and those little golden moments that might otherwise slip by.
Imagine handing your child, spouse, parent – or even gifting to yourself – a beautiful book in December that says: we did this. we lived this. we loved this. And then next year, you start a new one. A collection of story-years.

Why I love the Year Book as a Christmas gift

It’s personal. You’re not just buying something off a shelf — you’re curating the story of your year.
It lasts. Unlike something trendy that might fade, a photo book sits on the shelf and becomes a time capsule.
It’s inclusive. Whether for your teenager (hi Lucas and Mollie), your sporty son (Jaxon) or your parents/in-laws, this gift works.
It connects the season of giving with the end-of-year reflection. In our world of busy schedules, holiday hustle, back-to-back sports meets and practices — this helps you pause and remember.

How to make it happen

Pick your timeline. I favor Jan–Dec of the current year, but you could do school-year (Sep–Aug) or even “season” (Fall–next Summer) depending on your family calendar.
Collect the photos. Include big events (like sports meets, holidays, even the ice cream stand launch), everyday routines (like Mollie’s bed-making ritual), and candid shots.
Choose a photo-book platform. I’ll list some favorites below.
Design it with intention. Add small captions (e.g., “Jaxon’s 8-point buck,” “Lucas at piano in Carnegie Hall rehearsal”), maybe a favorite quote from the year or a “top 5” memories list, and leave one blank page at end for next year’s start.
Order with time to spare. Print shops get busy in the holiday rush, so aim to finalize early December to ensure delivery before gifting.
Wrap it beautifully. A ribbon, a small handwritten note tucked inside the front cover, maybe tied with a sprig of pine. The reveal becomes part of the magic.

Five photo-book sites + holiday coupon ideas

Here are five trusted sites to create photo books — I checked for current promotions and coupon-code ideas that can make your Year Book even more gift-friendly:

Shutterfly — They regularly have “50 % off photo books” or “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” deals. Around holiday season there’s often a code like “HOLIDAYBOOK50” (check promotions at checkout).
Mixbook — Known for stylish templates and high-quality paper. They often advertise “Up to 60 % off everything” with codes like “MIXHOLIDAY”.
Snapfish — A great value choice. Right now you might catch codes such as “BOOK25” for $25 off a certain size, or “30 % off” seasonal promos.
Walgreens – Click on “deals” and keep an eye on it. I love using Walgreens because they offer a quick turn around, so there are times that I am running late to get this organized. Right now they have 40% off photo books using code GIVING40.
Costco Photo (open to non-members via guest check-in options) — They offer seasonal markdowns and “Free shipping” for holiday books. A code like “SHIPFREE” might apply.

A few final tips to maximize value

Combine a coupon code with shipping/delivery estimates to ensure on-time arrival.
Choose a page count that is generous but not overwhelming: 40-60 pages often hits that sweet spot.
Format your photos ahead of time (cropping, resolution) so the book looks polished.
Preview the book carefully — some platforms have “auto layout” but I always tweak it to avoid odd image cuts.
Consider ordering a second copy (especially for grandparents) if code allows Buy-1-Get-1.

Wrap-up

This holiday, instead of scrambling for something “nice enough,” let’s gift something with heart: the Year Book. It’s a celebration of this moment in time—the wins, the routines, the in-between. And when you hand it over, you’re saying: “We mattered. You mattered. This year mattered.”

So grab that photo folder, pick your platform, apply the coupon, and let’s get one of these made for someone you love. Next week I’ll share another gift idea — maybe something for the busy mom in your life (yes, I’m looking at you!). Until then, happy memory-making, happy gifting, and happy early December.

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