Welcome Spring!

I love spring. It's almost like emerging from hibernation. I am referring to the hibernation of winter, staying in, not wanting to get out too much because of the cold etc. The only drawback to spring in NC is that my kids have horrible pollen allergies and it is wreaking havoc on them. However, the leaves begin to change colors, we get more daylight and the sun shine is beautiful, making for great photo opportunities. On top of that...business expansion!

I am really excited about the opportunities that become available for my Heritage Makers business in the spring. There are some great events scheduled for this spring and summer and I have the opportunity to meet some really amazing people. I do hope that you will keep up with the event schedule. There's a crop for the cure coming up at the end of this month. Keep your eyes open for those details!

So what's been going on? I know you think I gave up on the early riser thing. I didn't. I have kept it up, most days in fact, but it has had it's challenges. Mostly because I have had to get up to go to work and not for the reasons I originally set out to accomplish by the challenge. Nonetheless, I am getting up earlier.


I am also excited to say, that I am officially a chamber member!! This has been something I have considered for a while. If you live in an area where you have an active chamber, it can be a great thing for your business. However, if you join the chamber expecting that your business will grow because you are in the directory, and you don't attend any events or get involved, you will be disappointed. That was the biggest obstacle for me was making sure I could find the time to attend events. Juggling a full time J-O-B, a family, kid's events etc. Let's just say you don't want to add too much to your plate. At any rate, I am excited and look forward to meeting more fabulous people in my community!

Great news! The Waiting Child Project is moving forward! I am not sure if I have mentioned it here or not, but this is project that has been a passion of mine for a while now. Basically, it involves helping to put one of our Heritage Makers books into hand and heart of a children in foster care. I heard recently that when you put a child's face (picture) on something in your home, it increases their confidence. Wow...our books can make a difference.

Arise!! Day 2

I thought that at the end of the day yesterday I would be completely wiped out. I wasn't any more tired than a normal day. We went through our normal routine and I was in bed by 10. I don't think I fell asleep before 11, also a no-no. If this new habit is going to stick, there can be no late nights. Eleven was my normal bed time so I am shooting for 10-10:30. I REALLY want this to stick.

So how did it go this morning? I hit the snooze button...but I didn't get back into bed. I went on to the bathroom and then I knelt down to pray. Soon the alarm went off again and I walked over and turned it off. I sorted some laundry, did my crunches and hopped into the shower. I was able to get a load in the washer before I left for work. This is also a new routine I am implementing, so the trick will be to remember to rotate it to the dryer when I get home and then fold them and put them away after dinner. Yeah...wish me luck.

Anyway, I remember walking to the car, not dragging wishing I could get another 30 minutes of rest, but feeling ready to take on the day~the power of prayer!

Becoming a Morning Person DAY 1

I recently came to the conclusion that I must begin my day earlier if I am going to accomplish the things I would like to accomplish each day. It's just so much harder trying to get things done after work. I am consumed with dinner, homework, bath time, story time~mom's you know the drill. Anyway, if I am fortunate enough to get the kids in bed on time, I sit down to catch my breath and gather my thoughts and that's a wrap! So, I came across a blog post recently (unfortunately as I write this I can't think of the name of the blog) and got inspired.

Yesterday, I moved the alarm clock across the room. When it went off this morning, I got up walked over and hit the snooze button (a no-no)! I knew it was wrong, and I guess that is why when I laid back down I just laid there. I didn't drift back to sleep. I was up 5 minutes later and began my morning routine baby steps. I did some calisthenics, jumped in the shower and got ready for work. I had 20 minutes of quiet time and enjoyed some praise and worship this morning.  I feel great!

Missed Opportunities

I can't believe it. I am always ready to talk about Heritage Makers but this time I had an opportunity and I missed it. I am still kicking myself for it and this was Monday! On one hand, every time I go to this place there is hardly anyone else waiting and the few who are, are glued to their computers or books. They look as though they really don't want to engage. So when I jumped out the car with my son and without my bag, I decided that I wouldn't go back for it because there wouldn't be anyone to share HM with anyway.

Low and behold...I walked in and soon there were 3 women there and then there were 4 women!! They were in two separate groups, chit-chatting amongst themselves, engaged and appearing to enjoy one another's company. If I had a catalog, business cards, or sample, this would have been a great opportunity to share my business and invite them to a class. But I didn't have anything. I was unprepared.

Lesson learned. How many of us run out the door to dash into the grocery store in sweats, a pony tail and no make up and realize we could have had an opportunity to talk with someone but didn't approach them because we looked like we just stepped off the treadmill? Maybe they would have been interested, maybe not~but Wayne Gretsky said, "you'll miss 100% of the shots that you never take." Always, always, be prepared to share what you do.

Accept the Things We Cannot Change

I had an epiphany. I have been trying to force a square peg into a round hole. When you keep trying to fight a battle, uphill, that you know you really can't win, I think it's called insanity. I've been trying to arrange my life around my business instead of fitting my business into my lifestyle, which is not the reason I was drawn to this industry!

I think many of us stuggle with this same thing. We decide we want to work our business "this much" because we want to achieve "this title, rank, income or whatever" and then when it gets tough, we throw in the towel because we just "don't have time." Well we all have the same amount of hours each day and while we all have different responsibilities and/or obligations, most of us do have them. My kids have activities, we have our family time and events; I work a full time job and my husband works a completely different schedule AND I'm building business. I spend more time coordinating babysitting, pick ups and drop offs and trying to fit in the income producing activities than I do actually working my business. Many times after dinner, homework, and the bedtime routine, I am wiped out myself. Then I feel defeated because I didn't have time to make all my calls before it got to late. Well...this just isn't working for me, but I refuse to give up on my dreams.

Then I was reminded of the Serenity Prayer. " God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference." I can't change the way things are right now. I know it won't always be this way. I know that there are sacrifices that need to be made during this stage of business building. I don't have a problem making sacrifices when necessary, that isn't my issue. The lesson I am learning right now is that I have to fit my business activity into my current lifestyle AND not feel bad about it. I may not advance as quickly as others, but the growth and success of my business isn't measured on someone else's yard stick. You can't compare yourself to someone else.



This is a race everyone can win. It's not about being the first to cross the finish line. It's just important to cross it.

Top 10 Reasons to Join Club HM

If you haven't heard by now, there's a new club in town. It's Club HM; the absolute best thing that Heritage Makers has done for it's storybookers! It's such an exciting change for clients and consultants that I had to blog about it. If you aren't yet a member of club, let me tell you why you need to join:

10.  FREE PREMIER! 

  9.  With free premier, you get unlimited photo storage for all your high resolution photos.

  8.  With free premier, you can upload and store both jpeg and png files.

  7.  With free premier, you have access to over 4500 professionally designed, customizable templates to create beautiful gifts and keepsakes of your favorite photos.

  6.  With free premier, you have your very own digital art premium outlet. That's over 50,000 pieces of art!

  5.  You have the option to purchase 100 points at 50% off when you sign up for Club HM.

  4.  Receive publishing discounts every month.

  3.  Enjoy a massive discount...up to 35% off your point purchases each month!

  2.  Community fun! Get deas and tips from our national Facebook HM Club Community.

AND ...

While there are many great reasons to join club. The most aggressive change that HM has made for our clients, is the ability to play while you play! Your club membership allows you to purchase a small amount of points each month (that you can bank for up to 2 years) while you work on your projects with full access to all templates and artwork. Then when you are ready to publish, you simply use the points in your account.

Still want more? Enjoy your local club community laptop/digi crops. These crops are a great way to spend time with friends, make new ones and get projects completed. There are door prizes, refreshments, and fun games for everyone. So...talk to your consultant and get signed up for club! Don't miss out...membership really does have it's benefits!

  

I'm Back!

Photo Courtesy of Belle-Luce Photography

 I know, I know...it's been quite some time since my last post, but I have good reasons. Here's the reader's digest version:  Within two weeks of my last post, prince charming proposed. We got married in October. Shortly thereafter, I found out I had gall stones and had surgery to have them removed. Of course, at that point we were right in the middle of the holiday selling season for Heritage Makers. Then Christmas. So all of that is wrapped up and I am getting back to business as usual, slowly but surely. Heritage Makers has some great things rolling out to kick off the new year. More on those things later. Now for the good stuff!

We were married at All Saint's Chapel on October 17th. Since I had been married before and we were blending our families we wanted to make are ceremony really special. So for starters, we didn't have a bridal or wedding party in the traditional sense. My father was my Man of Honor. My daughter and my step daughter were junior brides and my 4 year old son walked my down the aisle and gave me away. I walked down the aisle to Have You Ever Been in Love by Celine Dion. He was so handsome and it was absolutely adorable when the minister asked "who gives this woman to be married to this man?" and he responded "I do." Talk about melting one's heart. I can't be sure, but I think I heard some awes from the guests.

To further personalize the ceremony, we incorporated the Infinity Hand Blessing Ceremony, wrote our own vows to each other and the children, tied God's Knot instead a unity candle and we closed the wedding ceremony with a Bouquet of Love and Support. So, many people write their own vows these days so that's nothing new, but we wrote our vows based on the biblical principles of marriage and the roles and responsibilities of husbands and wives that we have learned from our Marriage and Family Bible Study that we have been attending for the last two and half years. We were getting down to the nitty gritty of the covenant and it was emotional. We also made vows to each other's biological child(ren) and exchanged family medallions with them. It was important to us that they really felt part of the ceremony and the union. The girls received actual rings from us and Zach received a lapel pin symbolizing the establishment of our new family. The music was carefully selected although not necessarily the typical wedding music. As I said, I walked down the aisle to Have You Ever Been In Love. The Prayer by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion was played during the knot tying ceremony and the recessional music was Lucy and Linus-Peanuts theme song. It was great!

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Record Your Stories

Inside us, we all have a story to share, a story of triumph, a story of healing, a story of blessing or a dear memory that we don't want forgotten.  The most ordinary of lives can yield the most extraordinary of stories.  No one wants to read your stories, you say? Don't believe that hype! I read a book put together by a woman I've never met, about her grandparents, whom I've also never met and was moved to tears! She put together one of the most beautiful books of her grandparent's love story and it was entitled The Dress.  It wasn't fancy or heavily embellished but it's my most favorite Heritage Makers book to date.

My children read look at their books over and over again. I've found it to be a great way to encourage reading when my daughter was first learning to read. We would read about Grandpa and Gigi and her birth story. What child doesn't want to read a book that features them (or some one they know) as the main character? And even better...what better way to share the stories of our family heritage and keep the loved one that they don't see often visible in our daily lives? Yes, the photos and the stories behind them are an important part of who we are and yes, they need to be written down. So here are the top 10 reasons you should record your stories:

10.  The world will be a richer place for your having written your stories.

  9.   In telling how you survived painful times in your past, you teach useful coping skills to your descendants and come to a greater understanding and peace.
  8.  The things you did when you were young are as remote from children today as the Earth is from Mars.
  7.  You are part of the history of your city, state and country.
  6.  There are many pieces of information nobody else knows about you.
  5.  The stories you heard from your grandparents will die without you.
  4.  Let your descendants know that you were a real person and not just a name on a tree.
  3.  You owe it to yourself and to your family.
  2.  No one else knows the stories of your life quite like you do.

AND...the #1 reason you should record your stories is...
  1. No one has a better perspective of you than YOU!

It's Christmas in July!!

We have an amazing deal going on now through the end of this month that I just had to share! I know for many out there, Christmas has the tendency to sneak up on you. Then you find yourself scrambling for the perfect gift.  For the past several years, I have had my Christmas shopping done, gifts wrapped and under the tree by Thanksgiving! It's such a great feeling too. Then I don't get caught in the holiday rush and the long lines and the perfect item being out of stock. I remember one year calling every Toys R Us in the state looking for a particular doll house that was...you guessed it, on back order! Often times, I am just as surprised as the recipient when they open the gift because it's been wrapped and waiting for so long. At any rate, if you want to give something really special this season or have some other gift giving to do over the next few months, you will definitely want to take advantage of this special. Cards, invitations and all canvas sizes are at the lowest price of the season! And stay tuned for more exciting deals as the gift giving season draws near and new products are launched in the fall. This year give memories instead of gifts.

Creative Break Through

First let me say that there is nothing like operating under a deadline to get your juices flowing. HM is discontinuing the publishing of 12x18 posters. A few months ago I had come up with the idea of putting my daughter on the cover of 3 magazines and making them into posters to decorate her room. I did the first one and never completed the other 2. This past weekend, not only did I complete the other two, but I did two additional posters, a deck of cards and completed a first grade yearbook! Only 2 weeks left to get these published. For clients that still have 12x18 credits however, these will be transferred to the 18x24 poster size.

I love when I catch her in motion. Obviously she loves to dance. The lead photo used here was her doing the macarena in the rain. I don’t ever remember my parents letting us dance in the rain. Once in a while you just have to throw caution to the wind and live a little. It was actually kind of fun and your children think that you are the coolest ever! Anyone else ever danced in the rain?

Top 10 Signs of a Storybooking Addiction

10.  You're in a fender bender and your first thought is, "I wonder if there is an HM template for this event?"
9.  Your three year old wants to know if her coloring book is "archival quality."
8.  You decide to give your child piano lessons so you'll be able to use the musical instrument embellishments that are in the art gallery.
7.  You redecorate your family room to coordinate with your storybook covers.
6.  Your child is the only one in agriculture class who thinks "crop" is to cut your photos.
5.  You buy a new pink swimsuit because it coordinates with the new Cocoa Couture art collection.
4.  You try to claim your premier membership as a medical expense because storybooking is such good therapy.
3.  A regular sandwich is no longer acceptable--it must be cropped or cut with decorative edges.
2.  You are more likely to have a camera on your shoulder than your purse.
1.  You're the only one at a social gathering yelling, "Just one more photo; I don't have enough for a two page spread!

Hello everyone! My name is Yolanda and I'm a Storybooking Addict!

The Generation That Lost Their History

Almost everyone you meet these days owns a digital camera. It's always interesting to hear what people do with their photos after they take them. Some people storybook them, others scrapbook. Some people I meet actually keep their photos stored on their memory stick and just keep buying new ones. Others I meet, upload them to their computer and think that they are safe. I have run into so many people in my profession, who have lost precious photos because their computer crashed.

You should always have a back up of your irreplaceable files. Photos are the proof of our history, of the life and times and memories we've shared. If they are lost, no amount of insurance can replace them. Back your files up on CD or DVD and store them in a safe place, like a safety deposit box or in the home of another relative or friend. Even better, get online storage. Several companies, including Heritage Makers, offers online photo storage. Some are free for a limited amount of space and others are fee-based for an unlimited amount of space. Then if something happens to your computer, you can always download them back to your new computer or hard drive.

Don't be part of the generation that lost their history to a simple hard drive crash!

Sincerely,

Yolanda Ventura~The Memory Keeper's Coach

Attitude of Gratitude

This was an easy post for me today. I have had a rather productive week. So, I am thankful for:

1. The innocence of children. I am not perfect by any means but my children are still young enough to think I am the best thing since sliced bread. Yay! I may not always get it right but I try my best.

2. I am thankful for my accountability partners. When you are building a business or trying to get in shape or something like that, this is key. It's so easy not to "feel like" doing something and just not doing it, but when you know someone is waiting and expecting you to be there, you go. My partner has helped me to stay on task this week and last week and I am thankful for that, especially since we are gearing up for the holiday season.

3. Fall. It's finally here! At least I hope so. I know I said that last week but the last few days it has been hot! It hasn't felt like fall at all, but today that all changed. I had to turn the heat on in my car at one point.

4. I am thankful for the networking opportunities in my area. Most require a membership fee but some are free or very low cost. At any rate, I have been afforded the opportunity this week to showcase Heritage Makers and I have had received great feedback. All have been great opportunities to promote my business.

5. Finally, I am thankful that my kit with the new product samples and marketing materials has arrived! Yippee! I am so excited and can't wait to start showing people all the creative uses and keepsake gifts that can be created.

What are you thankful for this week?

Sincerely,

Yolanda Ventura~The Memory Keeper's Coach

Beyond Happy

It's beyond happy Wednesday and as I sat down to write down 5 things I am grateful for today, I struggled a little bit. Typically, you want to think of the really "big" things that have happened in the past few days but much like a lot of people these days, there have been quite a few struggles. When it's raining it's very easy to get caught up in the downpour which I have been guilty of, rather than making the best of it and moving on. So the first thing on my list, is mercy.

1. I am grateful for mercy. I heard someone's testimony on Sunday morning, a real Job story. I quite a few things were reinforced for me that morning but the one I am practicing on this week is being content in my circumstances. I am happy that when I do have a bad day that tomorrow is a new day and another chance to get it right.

2. I am grateful for motherhood. OMG, I have learned so much about myself since I became a mother. It's amazing how it changes your life, your priorities, your goals. Sure there are challenges, but there is great joy!

3. I am grateful for Heritage Makers. There are so many wonderful things about this company, I can't begin to name them all. This year I celebrated the 9th anniversary of my 29th birthday and I just figured out what I want to be when I grow up. Starting my business as a Heritage Maker has been the best experience, the most rewarding and I am thankful to be a part of it.

4. I am grateful for support. Not everyone has a good support system, so this is something to be thankful about. I am thankful for my friends and family who have been a great source of support and encouragement over the years. I am grateful for my "success line" (some companies use downline). Bringing new "blood" into your business is great for a power injection. They keep me motivated, challenged with new ideas and focused on my vision. I am also grateful for my "power line" or up line for the same reason. These are people who have achieved the goals I am working toward and serve as great models and mentors. And finally, my networking groups. Coffee and Contacts has been a great source of encouragement, support and business building.

5. Finally, I am grateful for fall. I love fall. It's my favorite season. The leaves are starting to change. The weather is cooling off. People are starting to think about the holidays, and I love the holiday season! Best of all, I live in a place where I can experience all of the seasons. Some parts of the country don't have that luxury. It's either sunny all the time or cold all the time, but here (although some seasons are shorter than others) I get a taste of all of them.

Don't always be caught up in only recording the memories of the big events in your life. Take time to "smell the roses." What are you grateful for? Record the everyday blessings in your life.

Sincerely,

Yolanda~The Memory Keeper's Coach

Bad Mommy...Good Mommy

I recently created a poster for my daughter. It's really cute; I put her on the cover of "Cosmo Girl" magazine. It came in from Heritage Makers this Saturday, so I framed it and put in her room to surprise her when she got home from school yesterday. The whole way home she was trying to guess what her surprise was, which was great for a laugh. She loved it! Which was great, how nice for me to see her eyes light up and the smile on her face right? Right. I brought my daughter joy and hopefully made an impact on her self-esteem. With all the heroes and "role models" kids hang up on their walls, why not post them up in a positive light?

Well, my 3 year old son comes wandering into my bedroom after seeing nothing in his room with this sad look on his face and speaking in an almost inaudible tone. He finally mumbled that he was "mad" because he didn't have a "prize." I felt so bad! He was almost in tears. I guess, I really should have known better. I told him that his was coming, it just wasn't in yet, but it will be here soon. I think I am going to put him on the cover of GQ Jr or maybe even Lil' Entrepreneur! He got over it pretty quickly once he realized that I hadn't forgotten about him. So all is well again.

Posters are a simple and inexpensive way to decorate a child's room and lift them up to the same level as the other people that they perceive as heroes. Look at the people that they put on their walls. Is it Michael Jordan or Hannah Montana or Spiderman? Sure, they have great qualities that we want to encourage and foster in our children but don't forget to validate that they already have some pretty amazing qualities of their own and in time can be all and everything that they want to be. Look at Melissa Gilbert, she married the guy in the pinup she had in hanging her school locker! The sky's the limit!

Sincerely,

Yolanda~The Memory Keeper's Coach

Join the Cause!

I recently started promoting my cause on Facebook and found that people I know are dealing with Alzheimer's in their own families. It makes you stop and think. When we think about serious illness or winning the lottery or something; we never think that it will happen to us or even someone that we know. It kind of hits home when it does hit that close to your circle.

5.3 million Americans are suffering from this disease! It's much more than memory loss but an attack on the brain effecting memory, motor skills, even mood. Every 70 seconds someone will be diagnosed with this form of dementia. What can I do? Well, for starters, I want to help spread the word and raise awareness, so join the cause. Secondly, I want to work with families through my business to help them preserve as much as possible. And lastly, look for ways to contribute financially through fundraising.

What can you do? Go to my facebook page and JOIN THE CAUSE!

Sincerely,

Yolanda~The Memory Keeper's Coach

Twitter: @TheMemoryKeeperCoach

The Memory Keeper Coach Builds Community

What started out as a hobby 7 years ago has blossomed into a wonderful business. They say when you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. I started "memory keeping" or "storybooking" out of a need to preserve my family's history for my children. I became so passionate about what I was doing that I felt the need to share my hobby with everyone and convert them into scrapbookers! Little did I know that I would be able to do exactly that same thing and get paid for it. I started my Heritage Makers business so that I could work my job around my family and not the other way around.

As a service to my clients, I started a book club called Memory Keepers because what I do primarily is coach and assist others in becoming the Memory Keeper for their family's stories. That's how I got my name "The Memory Keeper Coach." We get together to work on our projects, find inspiration and develop friendships. What started out as a monthly laptop crop has turned into Memory Keepers Book Club meetings spread throughout the city, throughout the month! And it's free!

New digi-scrappers and veterans can join us on www.meetup.com/Memory-Keepers and come to any of our crops and learn from scratch or just to work on their projects. Through the book club we are building friendships that will last a lifetime and what a joy it is to be a part of something that can have such an impact on one individual, a family and a community! That's what I love about what I do! That's why this is hobby, now business and hobby, has become such a huge part of who I am.

Sincerely,

Yolanda Ventura~The Memory Keeper's Coach