Take the Challenge

It's a new year & don't let the little things be forgotten in 2010! Take the 365 photo challenge! Take a photo every day for all of 2010. You might be surprised of what you capture throughout the year!

Need a place to put them at the end of the year? Check out the template at www.story2remember.com http://www.heritagemakers.com/projectBrowserStandAlone.cfm?projectID=1050389&productId=11 where you can make your own 12x12 storybook of the year!!

A New Year & A New Start!

What a year 2009 was! My family went through a lot of transition as my husband got out of the Navy and embarked on pursuing his Master's Degree. With that came a move for our family, and I retunred to work during the initial transition time. Thankfully just before Christmas, I was able to return to being a full-time Heritage Maker & full-time mom!! Though I am thankful that I could help out the family during the initial transition, I am so excited that with this new year I am able to return to doing what I love!! It is my goal to post a blog at least 3 times a week versus my 4 times last year!! Enough of me being a slacker blogger & now time to get serious :D

Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and New Year celebrating with those you love! Here's to an amazing 2010 and the blessings that may come your way.

The story behind the story...

So just the other day, our son Josiah and I went to the local craft store to take advantage of a frame sale they were having. I made a poster of Josiah and my husband in their Navy uniforms to be hung in his room. We had the poster in hand so he could help me pick out the frame he wanted. We ended up needing to get a total of 3 poster sized frames for various projects we have. We checked out the items, and Josiah was being a big helper by carrying 1 frame to the car while I got the other 2. We arrived at the car, and I was trying to get the back hatch of the car open. One of the frames slipped, and landed on my 2nd toe - of course on the first day of the year that I pull out the open shoes! It cut my toe and hurt really bad, but I thought I'd be OK. However, in the time that I was reacting to the frame hitting my foot, the 2nd frame I had slipped and fell on the side of my foot. I was trying so hard to just get the frames in the back of the car and Josiah in the car as well - I was thankful I only had Josiah with me so that I didn't have to deal with a 2 year old! I managed to limp my way into the car and after giving in to the idea of not driving myself home, I called my husband. He returned to where we were at, and we ventured to the ER for the afternoon. Yes indeed, I broke my toe with a poster frame! Oh what luck! It's a bit of a hassle not being able to walk every where I want and it takes a lot longer right now, but the posters that will be hung in Josiah's room (once I'm brave enough to carry the frames again), will have even more meaning and even more of a story behind them than they already do. Despite the pain, we can look back and laugh at the experience. Besides, since I'm in pain, the kids have been SUPER helpful & I'm loving it!

My boy understands the importance of Heritage!!

I am amazed at the insight a 6 year old can have! Just the other day, Josiah and I were talking about the items he has hanging on his wall. He has several posters from his favorite movies, an 11x8 1/2 page of him I made for Christmas this year, and his dad's bootcamp graduation picture (that has become a staple on the wall since we lived in San Diego and Derek was gone a lot - Josiah would blow his papa kisses every time before he went to bed).

We were talking about the fun we had in Atlanta, and Josiah said "Momma, I want posters of our trip and other fun things we do as a family on our wall instead". He was done with the movie posters!! Yes, he enjoyed watching the movies & we've watched them as a family. However, that doesn't help identify him! I'm so proud of him! I recently made him a poster of him and Derek in their Navy uniforms, and just finished one of our Atlanta trip to be hung on the wall. I'm excited to see the transformation of his room as we change out these posters!

Craziness with 3 little ones!

So life can get pretty crazy with 3 little ones! I have always tried to keep my focus on the kids and not get too wrapped up in a spotless house; however the house still needs to be cleaned! We had been struggling with a system that worked well for our all our kids. Chore charts worked well for 1 but not the others, sticker rewards worked for 1 but not the others....I needed something more personalized! So, I created a chore deck of cards. There are 3 different styles of cards - 1 for each child. Josiah's are super hero related & the girls are different colors and princess related. I have the usual daily chores on the cards (make beds, feed the dog, pick up toys, etc). I also have a few cards that have "special assignments" on them so I can adjust and adapt the system. In the morning, they are given their chore cards and are to complete them throughout the day. Once they get the chores done, they get a "star card" that has their name and the day of the week on it - after a week, they are able to cash in their star card for a reward card. And the reward cards vary from a new toy to a bear hug to deciding what's for dinner to staying up late, etc. The kids LOVE them! They are so excited to see what their chores for the day are & they are always excited for their reward. The first week, Lydia (the 2 year old) go the new toy card & we were concerned the other 2 would be frustrated. However, Eliana got a special treat (I was able to take her alone to get some Italian Ice), and Josiah got a Mario Kart tournament that he was so excited about!

The start of a new year!

Don't let last year's memories be forgotten!
Document those stories now before they slip your memory

The hustle and bustle of the Christmas season have come to an end. New
memories were made, relationships were strengthened (and maybe a few were
strained), New Year's resolutions have been made, and it's time to embark
on 2009.But, what is it about 2008 that you want to remember? Or, are you
looking forward to a special occasion in 2009? Get started on those
Heritage Makers projects today!During the month of January, you can get 12
months of premier for less than $9/month (paid by 1 time year subscription
price)!! Over the year, that's a savings of as much as $132! Call me
today at (910)467-1490 to get your premier!

Also, only until the 27th of January, the following specials are
available:

7164 Two 5x5's $49.95

7165 Two 8x8's $79.95

7166 Two Decks of Cards $29.95

7167 Two 11.5x8.5's $111.95

7168 Two 7.5x10 $95.95

7169 Two 7x5's $63.95

7174 Two 16x20 Poster $159.95

7175 Two 12x12's $119.95


Studio Tip
What to do when you can't quite find the perfect background

Are you struggling to find the perfect background for your project?When
you have an open project, on the lower left side, you can search for a
theme or color.

Also, in your toolbox, you can try different transparency levels to get
the desired color. Or try adding a drop shadow of a different color and
see how the colors mix.

Another option is to put one of your photos in the background. You can
either change it to black and white, or you can increase the transparency
to make it a bit more subtle, or you can put a slightly transparent
background over your photo.


Book your 2009 workshop today!
Get ready to earn free credits at your Heritage Makers workshop. Just
invite a few friends over, open your home, and relax! Book at the
beginning of the month & we can focus on Valentine's Day projects! Call me
at (910)467-1490 or email me at amy@story2remember.com to book your
workshop!

Don't let the economy get you down
Start your own Heritage Makers business

Take your future into your own hands and start your own business with
Heritage Makers!Join the New Consultant Club!
http://support.heritagemakers.com/comm/incentive/2009/01/NewConsClubFlyer.pdf
Get started at www.story2remember.com

Sincerely,

Amy L. Arnold

Heritage Makers Personal Publishing Consultant

www.story2remember.com

amy@story2remember.com

(910)467-1490

Oprah's ALL-TIME favorite items!!

What an amazing time it is for Heritage Makers!! The December issue of the O Magazine made it to subscribers on Monday, and check out page 93! Heritage Makers is listed as one of Oprah's all time favorite items!

So, is a Heritage Makers book one of your favorite items as it is for Oprah?

Are you going to make Heritage Makers a favorite item for your loved ones this holiday season? Get started today at www.story2remember.com! What better gift is there than one from the heart? Why not write a book to your spouse about why you love him/her? Or write a book telling your child why they mean the world to you! It's a gift that can be read, loved, and cherished over and over again! It's a book that won't just sit on the book shelf waiting to go to the next garage sale! It will be held near and dear to your loved ones, read over and over again, and a true gift from the heart!

This year it has gotten easier to create those personalized storybooks! The template gallery (filled with over 550 FREE templates) continues to grow each day! You can select the template you want to use, drag your pictures into it, write your text, and have a beautiful storybook in less time than you'd spend waiting in long check-out lines in the stores! So, not only will you be giving a gift from the heart, but you'll be able to enjoy more of the holiday season at home with your loved ones!

Strengthen your family one stroy at a time!