My Storybook Life with Heritage Makers

WOW!!

2012-02-01T07:48:00.000-05:00

So I attended the DSWA Elite Express Weekend last weekend, and WOW... and I am not referring to within one week. It was really a great experience! I learned so much about myself, about this industry, self-imposed limitations, about myself in this industry~oh I said that already didn't I? Anyway, I have a renewed sense of direction and purpose and I am just so excited about moving forward armed with these new information and revelations. That's the important thing. This week, I am making it a point to look at my business through a different set of lenses.

In all, there were fourteen of us enjoying this experience...onene more thing I really enjoy about this industry...I get to meet and share space with some truly amazing women that I might not otherwise have had the chance to meet. It is amazing to me how quickly you can touch someone's heart or change their frame of mind (or them for you). Women in business+working together+in support of each other=Power House!

On another note, while I didn't falter on my early to rise project, I didn't follow through on my morning to-dos. I guess that is to be expected when traveling or away from home. It becomes a little more of challenge to stick to the morning routine. So thumbs up for getting up early but room for improvement on keeping the routine in order.

Arise!! Day 2

2012-01-24T07:14:00.000-05:00

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

2012-01-23T07:28:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-12T08:32:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-10T17:15:00.002-05:00

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

2011-02-13T15:35:00.000-05:00

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!

2011-01-16T21:31:00.001-05:00

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

2010-08-07T16:41:00.000-04:00

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!!

2010-07-20T12:40:00.000-04:00

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.

What is a Crop?

2010-05-18T18:22:00.001-04:00

A CROP is a planned quality time to work on your album or project without the interruptions of the phone ringing, the kids or husband calling, the housework or the other 19 other projects beckoning around the house! It is a time for exchanging ideas, learning new techniques and tricks, meeting new people who share your passion for preserving memories, laughter, stories and sometimes even tears! CROPS are a great deal of fun and wonderful for catching up on your pages and projects.

What do I bring?
All you really need to bring to a laptop crop is your laptop. However, if you have photos that you want to have digitized or traditional scrapbooks that you would like to have digitized, you may bring those to be scanned while you crop.

May I shop during the crop?
Absolutely! There are great specials available at crops, so by all means take advantage of the sales!

Can I bring a friend?
Absolutely! Seating is limited at crops, so make sure you call ahead to see if there is ample space.

Can I bring my children?
No. If for some reason your sitter falls through, we do ask that you reschedule. This is a time for you and the other ladies to get away from your children and responsibilities. However, storybookers in training that are over the age of 12 are welcome along and nursing moms may bring quiet infants.

Where can I find the crop schedule?
Join our fan page The Storybook Life to receive crop calendar notifications and view the schedule. If the crop schedule does not fit your needs, call or email us. We are happy to plan an unscheduled crop for you and 4 friends.

Creative Break Through

2010-05-17T15:46:00.001-04:00

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

2010-04-20T13:45:00.000-04:00

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!

How I Became "The Memory Keeper"

2010-04-19T14:05:00.000-04:00

Although the seed had been planted a few months before, it started in early 2002. I took a weekend trip to New York and decided that while I was there, I would visit Ground Zero. I'm not sure exactly why I wanted to go, but I felt it was something I needed to do while I was there. I came across a vendor selling brag books of photos from the attacks to the clean up as a fundraiser. He was uniformed, so I believed this to be true.

I had absolutely no idea what I would do with this photos. As I contemplated buying them, I thought, one day I will have a child that may be doing a report on this event in history. So, I purchased the photos and continued with my visit. I have to say when I approached the wall of messages and memorials, I had a very emotional experience. I don't know that I can really put that into words. I came on home with that experience weighing on my heart.

A few weeks later, I was cleaning up my spare bedroom and found (underneath an unfinished project) a laundry basket full of envelopes of photos. There must have 20 or so envelopes! Anyone else out there take photos, get them printed, look through them and then stash them some where? Here they were, precious memories that I had captured, so excited to have them developed, and then toss them aside. I recalled a conversation I had with my friend The Hair Whisperer about scrapbooking. I was adamantly against doing anything crafty because I was not a crafty person. But I thought, I can make a scrapbook to preserve these photos.

A few months later, I found out I was pregnant with my first child. I decided I would have to give scrapbooking a try so that I could make a baby book when my daughter was born. So I went on a mission to find out what I could about scrapbooking so that I would be a pro by the time my daughter arrived. Let me just remind you here, that at this point in the story, I still had not started the 9-11 book yet. I walked into Michael's for the FIRST TIME EVER! I was overwhelmed, but I picked up a few kits and decided to scrapbook my entire life up to this point. I became a fanatic! I soon discovered the local scrapbook store, Scrapbook Plaza, which is no more, but it became my second home. I took classes, made friends and developed my skill. I even earned my Bachelor's and Master's in Scrapbooking from Scrapbook Design University!

In 2004, I took my first scrapbooking weekend retreat and finally completed my 9-11 commemorative album. The photos that launched my VERY FIRST HOBBY, my passion, and my business was finally completed 2 years later.

Are there any other crafters out there? What's your craft and how did you get started?

Mari's Morning Room: The Best Time

2010-03-26T16:24:00.000-04:00

Mari's Morning Room: The *Best* Time

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-24T14:22:00.003-04:00

The Storybook

Bowling With My Boy

2010-03-20T20:31:00.005-04:00

So, Zachary turned 4 last week. I can't believe he's already 4! They grow up so fast. We started the day with him opening his gift. If we are friends on Facebook, you probably already know how much he loves the movie Cars. So he got a Cars bicycle. Since he wanted Handy Manny tools (and costume) for Christmas, we thought he might enjoy putting it together. So he got dressed up in his hard hat and tool belt and went to work. One word~ADORABLE!

Times have been tight financially, so we didn't have a party. In retrospect it would have cost me less, if not the same amount of money to have a party. When exactly did bowling stop being an affordable family outing?!?! I was shocked at how much it cost for shoes, the lane (per person/per game) plus food and drink.

Ok, the cost aside, my little man had a blast! We asked him what he wanted to do for his big day and gave him 3 choices. Hannah and Lauren wanted skating or Monkey Joes. When we weren't around, I am pretty sure they tried to convince him to go somewhere else. However, when we all got in the car, I asked him one more time and he said he wanted to go bowling. He was so funny! I wished I had taken video because the lighting was so bad my pictures didn't come out very well. But I will forever remember the happy dances and the jumping around in excitement whenever he knocked some pins down! It was so worth it! I don't really bowl but I think he did pretty good; he bowled a 68.

We finished off the afternoon with a stop at dairy queen for blizzards. I selected a few pictures for this month's photo spotlight.

What’s in a Name?

2010-03-15T17:09:00.002-04:00

I’m not certain, but I think my mother chose my name. She went high school in an area where there were a lot of Hispanics and liked the name Yolanda. While I have met several Hispanics named Yolanda, I wasn’t sure it was of Spanish origin. I recently did a little research. Most sites said it was of Greek origin or Greek and Spanish origin. They all agreed that the name meant violet flower. I also found out that it peaked in popularity in the early 1970s, which happens to be when I was born.

Growing up, I didn’t really like my name all that much. For one reason, most people butchered it, mispronouncing it all the time. Secondly, there were all these cool personalized items like key rings, zipper pulls, nameplates, stickers and the like, but there was never, ever a Yolanda. Lastly, I didn’t meet another Yolanda until I was in high school. The originality of my name in my circles may have been a good thing, but I didn’t recognize that until years later. I really, really wanted a “regular” name like Karen or Jennifer. I did try to have a little fun with it. At one point I would develop aliases and try them out, like when I met a guy I wasn’t really interested in-I’d give him a fake name.

There came a time when I was reading about how it was considered disrespectful to your parents to trash or change your given name. Apparently in some cultures and certainly in the Bible, the given name had significant meaning to the family or events in their life at that time. I have great parents, whom I love and honor, so I still have my name. However, my childhood isn’t without scarring.

For a nickname, I was called Gypsy. My great-grandmother called my Gypsy. She struggled with saying my given name and gave me this nickname. At the time, my parents lived out of state and traveled I-95 heavily. Great-grandma Ida likened us to gypsies and that’s how I got my nickname. As a child, it didn’t matter to me. I hadn’t known any different. As a teenager however, I would beg and plead to not be embarrassed in front of my friends by being called by “that” name.

I had long reconciled myself with my name when I began to meet other Yolanda’s. In fact, there were four Yolanda’s in my high school. Okay, this was confusing. You always had to ask “which Yolanda?” in conversations. With the embracing of my name came a little more research: what does it say about me? I found some interesting things for example; I am a person motivated by success. I am a joyful person. I have reasoning power and I am known for loyalty. I don’t like leaving things unfinished and I have inherent artistic qualities. I don’t even remember which site I found this stuff, and I don’t know how valid the information is, however, I did feel as though it was pretty factual about me. Perhaps, I just became inspired to be all those things.

The Generation That Lost Their History

2010-02-11T09:54:00.003-05:00

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

Scan Project HAITI

2010-01-23T13:52:00.003-05:00

In the wake of the devastation that the people of Haiti are dealing with, I am reminded of the importance of preservation. So many people lost their lives and so many will NEVER be identified. This country so rich with history; a legacy of pride, of hope, of resilience...needs our help.

Many of us (or someone we know) still have pre-digital photos that if lost or destroyed in an unexpected disaster couldn’t be replaced. Those memories could be lost to our families forever.

I am organizing a Scan-A-Thon February 6th from 10am-5pm at the New World Café located 4112 Pleasant Valley Road Raleigh, NC 27612-2634. Patrons can bring in their shoebox of photos and have them scanned at high resolution and archived on CD or thumb drive. Fifty percent of the proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross to aid in relief efforts for the people of Haiti.

You can help by letting your friends know about this event and/or bringing your own photos in to be scanned. The goal is to scan 10,000 photos. I intend to have 3 scanners on site so we can accommodate 1200-1500 photos per hour! I have also posted a video of the scanner in action, so you can see for yourself how this can be done so quickly.

Scan Pricing Details

1-99 photos 39 cents per scan

100-499 photos 29 cents per scan

500+ photos 19 cents per scan

Photos will be scanned to CD (Feel free to bring your own thumb drive)

**Scanner can accommodate up to 8" wide and 14" in length.

Help spread the word and Scan Your Memories for Haitian Relief!

Yolanda Ventura~The Memory Keeper's Coach

High-Speed photo scanning with Heritage Makers

2010-01-23T13:44:00.001-05:00

Scan Your Memories for Haitian Relief February 6th at the New World Cafe. We will be there from 10am-5pm.

6 Surefire Ways to Jumpstart 2010

2009-12-30T09:59:00.003-05:00

6 Surefire Ways to Jumpstart 2010

I believe one of the pieces to laying a solid foundation for success can be summed in one word – BALANCE! If you lean too much to just the money side of achieving your dreams or goals, you may find getting or arriving at the top of your field or businesslonely. If you place too much emphasis on getting ahead and working endless hours, you may wake up one day to the harsh reality that you have no meaningful friendships or significant person in your life to love.

The best way to guard against these possible scenarios or others like them is to devise goals that include key areas of your life that are based upon your core values. For example, as a Christian woman, my values are (1) God first (2) family second (3) ministry or business, etc is third on my hierarchy of priorities; it is different for everyone.

There are six areas I believe will set a strong foundation from which to build as you pursue your goals for 2010 and beyond. They are (1) Faith (2) Family (3) Fitness (4) Finances (5) Friends and (6) Fun.

1. Faith. It is important to build yourself up spiritually and stay connected to God through prayer, praise, and worship, reading the Bible, and study Scripture. Doing these things every day consistently will help you be in tune for divine guidance, instruction, and direction for your family, health, business, etc.

2. Family. Family is one of the most important relationships you can have in life! If your home is not in order or falling apart, it will have a negative impact on every thing you do including our business. You may have the most wonderful wife or husband and children in the world, but if they are not nurtured and made to feel important, you jeopardize losing them. Devise a family mission statement and stick with. This will help you see when you are getting of course or imbalanced.

3. Fitness. We live in such a fast-paced society that we often do not the care of our physical health. The fact is you cannot neglect your physical health and expect to accomplish your dream and goals. A sick or diseased body will limit how we pursue your dreams and goals – energetically or sluggishly; sharp thinker or dull thinker, etc. The best remedies for this is plan and execute a regular exercise regimen and eat more healthy foods. Being emotionally healthy is just as important as physical health. Exercise your brain by reading inspiring and encouraging books, listen to tapes. Develop a personal development regimen.

4. Finance. Become a good steward of the financial blessings that come into your life through running your own business or as an employee. No where your money is going. Set goals of how much income you want to generate, save, donate, and invest. Guard against greed! Develop a healthy attitude and relationship with money. It’s only a tool and when used properly can benefit and bless you, your family and those around you.

5. Friends. Next to having strong family connections friends are the second most important relationships in your life, and they need to be honored and nurtured as well. When others, including your family, fail to understand you sometimes, a close, trusting friend can really help keep you well grounded! You may only have one or two close friends, but that is more than most people have. So, hold onto them and do not work too much at pursuing your dreams and goals that you neglect your friends!

6. Fun. The old adage, “All work and no play makes a Jack a dull boy” still rings true today! It is so important to laugh and have fun, go places and do fun things! Have fun just for the sake of having fun!! It is a big stress reliever and is good for your overall health. It is not a healthy practice to work 18 hours or more 7 days a week! Take time to nurture yourself; it will rejuvenate you!

Doing these things will ensure a strong foundation of balance in your life so that you can build strong, healthy relationships while you pursue your dreams and goals. Happy New Year!

If you’d like to use this article on your website, in your newsletter or anywhere else, you may do so as long as the information below is included in its entirety.

Yvonne Carson is the CEO/founder of Woman-To-Woman Empowerment Academy and Women Breaking Free, a free membership community. Her mission is to help women to grow through spiritual development and personal development.http://womenbreakingfree.ning.com

Tags: bible, business, christian, faith, god, health, mission statement, personal development

Photos in a Shoebox...Why Digitize?

2009-11-24T19:09:00.007-05:00

Do you have shoeboxes of photographs? Have you inherited photos? Do you have family members with photos that you would like to have copies of? If you answered yes, this blog post is a must read!

It is said that there are over 3 trillion printed photographs in the US. Most of them are sitting in shoeboxes on a dusty shelf or dark closet, sitting and decaying. If you pull out some of those old pictures you will see that the ink is starting to fade. Over time, the ink or dye used to print pictures will start to decay until it is eventually washed completely out. If you have photos that are near and dear to you and your family, you will want to have those digitized (scanned)!

Having your photos scanned will help to overcome that decaying process. The photo will still continue to fade, but the digital image will capture the photo and preserve it in it's current state. Digitizing your photos will also allow you to share them with friends and family because you won't have to worry about only having 1 copy! You can send them electronically, post them on family websites or facebook, or create beautiful photo keepsakes with them. Creative end uses for your family photos are now only limited by your imagination!

We never want to think about unforeseen disasters such as a home fire or something. But many family photos are lost forever in these circumstances. So the most important reason to digitize your photos is so that you have a back up copy in the event something should happen to the original pictures. Protect and preserve by having your photos scanned.

I know, I know...it could take up to 30 hours to scan the 1300 photos found in a typical shoebox, but I can offer you a better solution! Photo scanning at 30 pictures per minute (up to 500 per hour), local and mobile! Don't chance your precious memories being lost forever!

Sincerely,

Yolanda Ventura~The Memory Keeper's Coach

What's a Memory Keeper's Coach?

2009-11-18T16:06:00.003-05:00

I been asked this question recently and actually I liked being asked this question because it became a conversation starter. As a direct marketer, I am always looking for conversation starters. In order to answer this question, we first define what a memory keeper is.

A memory keeper is a person to whom it is important to preserve their memories, either through journaling, scrapbooking, taking photos. A memory keeper's coach, is someone, like myself who helps a memory keeper with creative ways to preserve, document and/or display their most treasured memories.

I love what I do! Our treasured memories are invaluable, irreplaceable and typically our most prized possessions. It brings me great joy to sit with a client and their shoeboxes of photos and show them how they can share these gifts, gifts of time, gifts of ancestry, gifts of heritage, with family and friends. I recently helped an elderly woman publish the story of her ancestry, a pictorial history, not a family tree. She was so thrilled, so thankful, so gracious, when we finished that she wanted 11 more copies to give as gifts to her family this holiday season! Of course, I was happy for the orders, but I was able to share in a work of the heart with this client. I helped her record her family's history for future generations. When you are working with a project like this (family stories, history, treasured photographs), you want someone who is going to take the care and sensitivity as if it were their own.

That's what a memory keeper's coach does and that's what I am...

Yolanda Ventura~The Memory Keeper's Coach

Attitude of Gratitude

2009-10-14T15:11:00.003-04:00

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 Blessed Wednesday~ oops Friday!

2009-10-09T18:24:00.003-04:00

I have had such a busy week that I totally forgot to post on Wednesday! As I sit and look back on my week there are quite a few things that turned out to be blessings this week. A lot of times we things appear to go wrong, it sometimes turns out to be an opportunity for something more positive. I experienced this on Tuesday.

1. The first Tuesday of the month I host a crop for Memory Keepers and even though I had rsvps, no one showed up. What could have been a bust actually turned into an opportunity to speak with the manager of the establishment about collaborating on a promotion. So I am grateful for the gift of opportunity. There are opportunities everywhere, sometimes in the most unlikely of places.

2. Today I am really grateful for air conditioning! It's almost mid October and lately the temps have been fall-like. However, today it was quite hot.

3. Having just picked my kids up from school, on a Friday afternoon...I am reminded of how grateful I am for quiet time.

4. Vanilla Lattes. I was bummed to discover that my most favorite coffee house will be closing next week. The location is perfect. The atmosphere is perfect. The wifi is free and has no time limit and lastly they have the BEST lattes in town!

5. I am also grateful for family gatherings. We will be attending a family reunion this weekend. I am looking forward to seeing everyone that we haven't seen since the last reunion and the fun of playing games and let me not forget the food! Lots of photo opportunities this weekend.

What are you grateful for this week? Here's an idea: how about creating a layout around your 5 most favorite things.

Celebrating Harvest

2009-10-08T21:24:00.004-04:00

We usually don't celebrate Halloween, but we always celebrate harvest by going to a local farm. We always have a good time. We will still do that this year, but I also decided the Memory Keeper Coach could do a fun project with local kids this harvest season.

I will be hosting a Cutest Costume Contest at a local drop in child care facility in conjunction with their harvest party. Parents can bring their children in with their costumes and have a photo taken and the winner will receive a their picture on a poster made to look like a magazine cover to hang in their rooms. I also spoke with my son's preschool director and we are going to try to do something very similar there.

I am so excited! I think it will be a lot of fun and I'm sure the children will have a great time. How do you celebrate harvest? Do you go door to door trick or treating like the good old days? Do you carve pumpkins? or Do you turn off all the lights and pretend you're not home? What memories do you create this time of year with your family?

Sincerely,

Yolanda Ventura~The Memory Keeper's Coach

An Inspirational Video 1 - The Law Of Attraction

2009-10-01T12:28:00.001-04:00

I just watched this and had to share. You never know when someone might be in need of a little encouragement.

Beyond Happy

2009-09-30T13:58:00.011-04:00

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

2009-09-22T14:13:00.005-04:00

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

2009-09-16T21:55:00.001-04:00

follow my tweets: www.twitter.com/MsMemoryKeeper

Memories of the 80s

2009-09-15T18:30:00.005-04:00

I proudly admit that I am a child of the 80s. I loved the movies, the fashion, and the music. It was just a great decade. Some of my favorites were Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Better Off Dead, The Breakfast Club, The Lost Boys and of course, Dirty Dancing!

I am not sure if I knew who Patrick Swayze was before Dirty Dancing but I, like a lot of other fans, couldn't get enough of him afterwards! He will truly be missed! Dirty Dancing made me want to take dance lessons, as it did much of the country. But for me, it wasn't just dirty dancing. I wanted to learn the waltz, the rhumba, salsa, cha cha cha...and you know what? I did!

So what's your favorite decade and why? Were there heavy influences that helped to shape your personality? What are your most favorite memories from that time frame and what are some of your saddest? Tell a story about it? Create a layout around it? Dig out those dreaded photos and give the world a glimpse back in time, through your eyes.

Sincerely,

Yolanda~The Memory Keeper's Coach

What Doesn't Break Us

2009-09-10T11:37:00.003-04:00

Makes us stronger. At least that's how I think the old saying goes. Like many people, the last 12 months have been trying times and I believe that there is a lesson we are supposed to learn or personal or even spiritual growth to be attained out of each trial. I was reminded of that when I listened to this James Morrison song today. Now, I am sure I have heard it before, since it is on my ipod, but today I listened to it.

"...Oh we're a little closer to finding out what life's about; Yeah I know you just can't stand it when things don't go your way, but we've got no control over what happens anyway; If it's going to be a rainy day, there's nothing we can do to make it change; We can pray for sunny weather, but that won't stop the rain..."

I think I am going to have to add this to my soundtrack vol. 2 Check it out, he really has an amazing voice. http://ping.fm/3tSip

Sincerely,

Yolanda~The Memory Keeper's Coach

Twitter Correction

2009-09-07T10:29:00.002-04:00

Sorry guys, my twitter address is @MsMemoryKeeperCoach.

Join the Cause!

2009-09-07T10:08:00.004-04:00

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

Soundtrack of My Life

2009-09-05T11:45:00.005-04:00

Okay, so I left you all hanging in my last post regarding my soundtrack. I really love music. I don't play an instrument, but always wished I could play the piano and the saxophone. I just love the poetry in music. It doesn't matter the genre, if I feel it, I feel it.

So, I am always looking for a creative way to incorporate journaling into my scrapbook pages. So I ran across this challenge of creating a layout about some of my favorite songs. It was hard because I have so many "favorite songs." So when I celebrated the 6th anniversary of my 29th birthday, I created a playlist of the songs that resonated with me at that time in my life. I can't share the layout with you just yet, because I was still doing traditional pages then but it's time for an update, so when it's finished I will upload it to share.

Anyway, here is the playlist:

Pass Me Over by Anthony Hamilton

I Belong to Me by Jessica Simpson

Fallen by Sarah McLachlan

Good Times by Edie Brickell

Have a Little Faith In Me by Chaka Khan

If I Could by Regina Belle

Little Wonders by Rob Thomas

Sunny Skies by Teena Marie

Drops of Jupiter by Train

Jesus Take the Wheel by Carrie Underwood

To Love Again by Gordon Chambers

Feeling Good by Nina Simone

You Found Me by The Fray

So, here's my challenge to you...create your own playlist, whether you do a layout with it or not. Think about music that has spoken to you, defined a moment in your life or maybe even got you through something. Your playlist should almost describe the essence of you, what's important to you or lessons you have gleaned. When writing/journaling is hard for you, lyrics to some favorites may just be all that you need to say what you want to say.

Sincerely,

Yolanda~The Memory Keeper's Coach

Memory Keeper's Coach Takes A Stand

2009-09-03T17:31:00.004-04:00

One of the best things about what I do is being able to help other people preserve their heritage. I reached out to the Alzheimer's Association and got an appointment to speak to them about how I can contribute my services. While I have never had anyone close to me suffer from this, I did watch the Notebook. It's my favorite movie. If you haven't seen it you should rent it. It gives you a glimpse into how loved ones are affected when a family member has Alzheimers (just a glimpse). Since then it's been heavy on my heart. Then yesterday I read a book entitle, My Last Conversation With Mom. It was about a woman's journey in being the primary caregiver of her mother, who was suffering from Alzheimers.

Needless to say, I was moved and I was confirmed. I called the Alzheimers Association and I am meeting with them next week. There are so many reasons as to why you need to preserve your family stories. Everyone should be doing this! Is there someone in your family who's story needs to be told?

Sincerely,

Yolanda~The Memory Keeper's Coach

The Memory Keeper's Coach~Unknown or Known?

2009-09-02T12:14:00.005-04:00

"I don't want to be unknown
The little things that make me who I am
I need to share
I need to know that someone cares

That I write down my dreams
That I love when it rains
I burn candles when I'm alone
More then anything
I don't want to be unknown
More then anything
No one wants to be unknown"

This is an excerpt from one of the songs on my personal soundtrack, yes I have a personal soundtrack-more on that another time. The song is "Unknown" by Chely Wright. No one wants to be unknown. The passion of memory keeping is so that it doesn't happen to you or the heroes of your family. If you take pictures, you are probably doing so, to capture a memory of a particular moment. The concept of taking pictures is to preserve that moment so you can reflect on it at another time. But a picture only tells half the story. This song inspired me to start a scrapbook about me and the things that me who I am; the things I enjoy, my friends and activities, my thoughts, dreams and aspirations. I want my children to know the woman I was before I had brought them into the world. If you don't tell your story, who will? Who knows you better than you do? Have someone take your picture, if you don't have a recent one, look at it and then get a pen and paper and tell the future about the person in that photo.

Thank you for stopping by, please come back again soon.

Sincerely,

Yolanda Ventura~The Memory Keeper's Coach

The Memory Keeper Coach Builds Community

2009-09-01T15:07:00.006-04:00

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