On a mission August 2, 2008

I am on a new mission to design (in advance) several storybook/poster/card (templates) in anticipation for the Christmas holiday rush.  This is really less daunting than it sounds.  It just takes some planning and preparation.  Not to mention, I am excited that the new studio enhancements will help me save time.  Case in point, I managed to start/finish (3) storybook projects for the month of July from pre-designed templates. You can too..just ask me how and we’ll have a brainstorming session together.

Anyway, upon reviewing some of my completed storybook projects for some designing inspiration (do’s and don’ts), I noticed that some of my “pages” were not displayed correctly as thumbnails.  Apparently, this is because I needed to clear out my Flash Temp Files.  If you are experience this same problem, go to the following link and follow the steps.
http://support. heritagemakers. com/questions. php?questionid= 172

Storybooking Tips August 2, 2008

This month, I encourage each of you to publish at least one storybook so that you can experience the first “magic moment” of discovering special memories through your photos and stories.  The next “magic moment” you will experience will be when you receive your storybook and that feeling when you hold it in your hands and look at each of the pages (over and over again).  Storybooking is truly a heartwarming celebration of you and your family. 

STORYBOOKING TIPS 1.  Know your audience.  Begin by writing a “letter” to that person. Keep it short and sweet.      2.  Narrow your vision.  How do you eat a pizza pie?  Think “bite size” and one bite at a time.  Keep in mind that you can always write several books for different periods of one’s life.    3.  Start talking about your ideas.  Highlight what appeals to you.  By sharing your story ideas, you are commited.    4.  Sprinkle with humor and conversation.  It’s not always easy to remember specific names, dates and places (past or present).  The big picture is the STORY.  Describe the fun things.  We all love to hear what he or she said.   5.  Close with a favorite quote.  A quote, poem or your own words of love all make great endings.

 

 

I have been told June 19, 2008

 

 

I have been told:

 

that my first word is “da-da”; 

 

that when I was a baby/toddler, I knew the sound of my dad’s car when he would return home from work and that I would crawl down the stairs (backwards) calling out loud, ”da-da” and meeting him at the door;

 

and that I used to wear my dad’s shirt as a child while he was away over-seas (in the Navy) just so that I can have his “scent” near me.

 

I guess you can say that I have always been “daddy’s little girl”.  My love for my dad is a reflection of the love and affection that he has given to me through the years. 

 

Yes, we had our difficult times and our share of misunderstandings, but we still love each other very much.

 

I love the fact that his face lights up with the thought of his children and grandchildren 

visiting and/or calling him.

 

My dad continues to show his love each time he visits my girl’s grave site and gives them flesh flowers weekly. I know that he would have loved and adored my children as much as me, maybe more. 

 

I will always be grateful to my dad, for his time and unconditional love.

 

 

This posting is a continuation of the previous post and was originally published and sent by email on June 13, 2008.

Honoring Dads June 19, 2008

Last week, I sent out a Father’s Day email and received an overwhelming positive response to my tribute to my dad and my husband.  Since some of you did not receive this email message, I am posting a copy of it on my blog (as requested by many). 

So here is it:

I wish to say Happy Father’s Day to all dads, papas, padres, appas and like-dads (in all languages) who find ways to bond with a child.  From changing diapers, bathing, and dressing to cuddling, playing games and participating in daily routines like reading bed time stories.  I appreciate my dad for everything that he has sacrificed and done for both me and my younger brother.  I am grateful that he is healthy and well so that we can still have our bonding time. 

 

I would also like to honor my husband, Paul.  Although our children are not here with us, I know deep in my heart that he would have been a great daddy to Alyssa, Kaitlyn and Shaun.  I say this not because I think he is a great man and a beautiful person, but because he has shown great love during the little time we had with them.  I shall share just one example: Kaitlyn’s first bath.

 

We were in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) when Kaitlyn received her first bath.  It was shortly after her heart had stopped beating and the nurse turned off all her monitors.  Our baby girl had spent 23 days in the NICU and did not get to go home with us. I cried not because of grief to have lost another child, but rather, for joy to watch my husband remove the lines, tapes and tubings out from our daughter and started giving her a ”bath” with a tiny cloth.  He was talking gently to her at the same time. I do not remember what he said exactly, but I will always vividly remember how peaceful they both looked. 

 

From that moment on, I am forever and deeply moved when I see a father bond with a child (no matter how small the act).  ”In this life, we cannot always do great things.  But we can do small things with great love.” -Mother Teresa (1910-1997).  Here’s to all dads and like-dads (near and far) who do small things with great love! 

 

 

Voyage to the Interior June 13, 2008

Sitting down to write your own story can be a daunting task. That’s why Heritage Makers has created our new Voyages to the Interior template collection. This set of templates was inspired by the words of author and essayist Christina Baldwin: “Journal writing is a voyage to the interior.”These templates come with writing instructions, suggestions and tips to help you generate ideas, organize your thoughts, and get them down on paper.

 

• “The Live I’ve Lived” (life story)
• “The Love I’ve Known” (love story)
• “A New Story Begins” (expecting a baby)
• “Our Family’s Roots” (past generations)
• “What It means to Be a [Jones]” (family book)
• “Before I Was Your Mother” (girl’s coming of age story)

 

 

Convert those boxes of pictures June 12, 2008

ScanParty Flyer

We all have them.  Those boxes of old photos buried in our closets, under the bed and/or in the garage. I know that you want to preserve those special memories.  Why else did you take and keep the pictures after all these years?  Heritage Makers is the solution.  

Heritage Makers has partnered with Kodak to bring you an all-new, cutting-edge scanning service.  Imagine scanning 500 printed pictures in approximately 30 minutes.  I didn’t believe it until until I tried it out for myself.  Wow…talk about saving time and taking away the daunting task of scanning old photos. 

I have scanned about 800 of my own personal pictures and love the fact that I now have them saved in a flash drive, where they will not fade or get lost.  I am now in the process of gathering more pictures, specially all my non-digital wedding photos so that I can create a wedding legacy book.  It will be a present to my husband and our parents for our 10 year anniversary.

Come join me in the excitment! Email me at arlyn@atributetoyou.com and schedule an in-home photo scanning session.  Presort your pictures into groups and don’t forget to bring an external USB flash drive.  Here are the prices (if you cannot view the attached ScanParty flyer): 

0-99 scans at $0.39/each

100-499 scans at $0.29/each

500+ scans at $0.19/each 

Feel free to share this information with your family and friends who might be interested in this service.

See What’s New! May 24, 2008

12×12 Scrapbook pages

Affordably print your digital scrapbook pages to create a cherished keepsake the entire family can enjoy. Easily print digital scrapbook pages and place them in the scrapbook of your choice.

• Velvet, acid-free, lignin-free paper
• Outstanding and professional print quality
• High-quality prints at an affordable price
• Single-sided 12 x 12 scrap page

**********************************************************************************************************************

HM Game Cards

Enjoy card games of all varieties with all of your family and friends. Game cards are customizable to fit any occasion or any game.

• Customize front side of card with your family photos and stats
• Keep your friends and family entertained for hours
• Glossed cards with rounded corners
• Shipped in a durable, plastic case

Reflection May 14, 2008

It has been two weeks now since my major abdominal surgery and I am grateful that I am recovering slowly and healing quite well.  I am also so grateful that the cyst and mass found were both benign and that I do not have cancer.  Although, I am still in a lot of pain and discomfort, I have found refuge in prayer and social therapy with Heritage Makers. 

I am not only taking lots of naps to allow my body and mind to heal, I am also catching up of my email messages and working on some of my pending storybook projects.  In fact, I just published a “Love is…” book for my sister-in-law as well as for my good friend and her daughter.  It is not always easy for me to answer your phone calls at this time, but I will return your call (if you leave a message) as soon as I am able. 

Many thanks to those who had visited me at the hospital and at home.  I love the flowers and the get-well cards!  While I am thankful that I am overall healthy in spite of my many surgeries, I am saddened to hear the news that our Heritage Makers President, Doug Cloward is recently diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.   He is truly a faith-filled and inspiring man!  Even while at the hospital, he called in to be our surprise guest speaker at our California Regional Conference and gave the entire audience his typical motivational message (via Chris Lee, our CEO’s cell/speaker phone).  My heart and prayers to Doug and the entire Cloward family during this difficult time of diagnosis and treatment. 

I will end this post with a reflection and quote from Doug’s blog:  “If all of this resolves itself and I find myself with more time, I will be a better friend, a more compassionate father and husband, and more committed servant. And I may feel a little foolish for what might otherwise appear to be my own epitaph, but I find the need for expression and healing purposeful. I hope my words ring true and remind you that you are remembered and loved.” – Doug Cloward

March For Babies April 30, 2008

Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death and many life long disabilities. It has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, endangering the lives of more than a million babies every year. And it is growing at an alarming rate. As a mother of 3 angels, I know first-hand the emotional and economic impact associated with prematurity. I can only dream of a future with healthy babies and children.

As a genetic counselor, I was already dedicated to the mission of the March of Dimes and as a grieving parent, I wanted to do something MORE with purpose and meaning. So in 2006, I registered to participate in WalkAmerica, March of Dimes’ largest fundraising event under the walking name: Team Aly-Kate, in loving memory of my girls, Alyssa and Kaitlyn. I am blessed to have had my good friend Joy walk with me at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, CA for my first experience and together we walked 5.5 miles in an hour and 45 minutes.

Last year, my husband Paul, cousin Rosanne and friends Jeff and Maricel joined Team Aly-Kate. And together we proudly walked at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, CA. We liked it so much at this location that I decided that I would sign up for all future walks at this same site. This year, WalkAmerica has been appropriately renamed March for Babies. The new name makes a clear connection to what the March of Dimes is all about.

Team Aly-Kate 2008 included myself, Joy, Paul, Rosanne, Jeff and Maricel as well as first-time walkers: Jeni, Rochelle and Margy. We all survived the record-breaking heat of 95 degrees on April 27, 2008. Even my little niece Mikayla (7mo), with the help of her mommy of course, “walked” for Team Aly-Kate in Jacksonville, FL. The outpouring of support for Team Aly-kate is heartwarming and deeply appreciated!

I will continue to be dedicated to help raise funds and awareness about the problem of premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality. I sincerely appreciate the generous support from all my sponsors. Bless them all for their compassion and generosity! I look forward to others joining me at Fashion Island, Newport Beach, CA next year!

Current Specials March 9, 2008

Take advantage the following current promotions:  

Family Album Special
Preserve your 2007 family memories while they are still fresh! Family albums are a fun way to put keep your story with your photos. Both family packages include credits for a book, poster, family fold and a month of Premier membership. Each package also includes a beautiful exclusive family-themed template for each credit.  Limited time offer – expires March 15, 2008.  Family Album Flyer

Storybooking Starter Special
Heritage Makers is where your stories LIVE! Give your stories a beautiful, quality home in a storybook, poster or card.  This special ends  May 31, 2008.  Storybooking Starter Flyer

5+ Project Special
You’ve made a book for you, but now your parents, grandparents, and the neighbor down the street want a copy. Save on five or more with these great deals.  This special ends May 31, 2008.  Buy More and Save 

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Packages Also Available!

Mother’s Day Flyer                                      Father’s Day Flyer

In addition, hosts of Heritage Celebrations can earn free publishing credits with our awesome Host Rewards Program.  Please contact me at arlyn@atributetoyou.com to schedule and receive a special THANK YOU gift.