I discovered Animoto a few months ago when working on a website for a client- she had made a video using it and wanted me to embed it on the site. I realize this seems silly since I am technologically inclined enough to do things like build websites for people but I can NOT make a good video on my computer. I didn’t even do one for Scarlette’s first birthday because I got so annoyed at the video-making program.
I wanted to do one for World Prematurity Day + her second birthday and remembered the animoto video my client had used. So I signed up and it was SO EASY. You literally just drag and drop your video clips and photos. And maybe add some text. And choose the music you want to use. Scarlette could probably do it, it’s so easy. Except that she’s not allowed to use the wireless mouse because she thinks it’s a fun game to hide it in various places around the office. That’s her new thing, like how just a second ago I opened my desk door to get out some printer paper and found an empty apple juice box and a handful of raisins.
About two weeks later Animoto asked if I’d like to give a code for a free video to my readers and I was all “I totally would.” And also a little bit like “DANG IT, ANIMOTO! I COULD HAVE USED A FREE CODE TWO WEEKS AGO!” except that I really love the way Scarlette’s birthday video turned out so I’ll have to concede that it was money well spent.
You though, can make a video for free with the code BUSYPARENTS
And then you can send that video to your family.
Animoto wanted me to write a little bit about family togetherness at the holidays. And so I looked back through some photos and decided to make a video of us with Scarlette during each of the Christmases we’ve had with her. This year will be her first year joining us for family Christmas.
She was one month old and in the hospital for her first Christmas. It snowed, a rarity here in the south, and Jeff and I hung a stocking that was much, much bigger than she was on her isolette in the NICU.
Last year we had a small Christmas here at home because we were under a strict quarantine that kept us away from family gatherings. We sat under the twinkling lights of our tree and just reveled in the fact that she was home for Christmas.
This year she will accompany us to the big family gathering (hopefully, as long as everyone is healthy) and I am so looking forward to seeing her experience the joy of sharing the holidays with the people she loves and who love her. It brought us so much joy to see her trailing after her cousins this year as she attended her first family Thanksgiving, making memories and being in the midst of it all.
Anyhow, I hope you enjoy using the code to make a video of your own family gatherings this holiday season! I shared it with a group of my preemie mom friends and it’s been so fun to see the different videos everyone has made for the babies birthdays.
(Animoto has graciously offered the code busyparents to my readers, which is good for a free video download. And that’s not all! When you use that code to download a video between now and December 15, you’ll automatically be entered to win a copy of “Capturing Life Through Better Photography” (MSRP $70) by Tamara Lackey, the woman featured in this episode of “Busy Parent’s Guide: Photo & Video Tips for Parents for the Holidays.” Additionally, you can use the code clever until December 15 to receive 20% off a year of Animoto service. All rules and requirements regarding this sweepstakes can be found here. )
I was selected for participation in this campaign as a member of Clever Girls Collective.
