I change lives for a living, or How to Find Memory-Keeping Solutions

This post was updated in 2021.

This is what I love about what I do.  So many people have a batrillion digital photos and

1. don't have a good system for actually doing something with them
2. are overwhelmed at the amount of photos they have
3. don't think they have the time to do anything with their photos

Photos need to be held, loved, seen, looked at, and interacted with.  They need to be enjoyed.

And the truth is, we need our photos.  

Life at its best is a little rough, don't you think?  But photos preserved are roses in December.  Photos and memories have the power to lift us, to change us.

I love inspiring people to do something with their photos, but mostly I love giving them SOLUTIONS.  Talking about it is great, but unless there's something to SOLVE the issue, what's the point?

I promise you right now that there's no time like the present.  I know that it's tempting to think things like "after the summer is over," or "once I get the yard done" or "after this big thing I have going on at work" or "when my kids get older" or ...   

But the truth is that as soon as that one thing happens or gets done, another one will take its place.  I heard someone once say that we have too much to do so that we will learn what's really important.  So please don't get tricked into thinking that some day in the future you will have more opportunities to do something with your photos.  

The time is right now.

THE SOLUTION:  A PRACTICAL PROCESS TO DOING SOMETHING WITH YOUR PHOTOS

1.  Choose a memory-keeping solution that works for you.  

Let's be honest: if a memory-keeping method isn't a good fit for you, you're just not going to do it.  (I know that's true for me!)  Find something that fits.

My best recommendations for {heirloom-quality products with guaranteed photo privacy are right here at this link}, so look around there and see what looks great to you.  Do you want full creativity and flexibility in a digital scrapbooking software program, or do you want get-'er-done-quick simplicity with pre-designed templates?  There are some videos at the link to give you peeks into each option, too.

2.  Make time.  

Contrary to popular belief, we never actually "find" time for anything--we MAKE it.  Can you cut out 2 hours of Facebook/TV/etc. time each week?  Can you enlist the help of your kids so it's a project you're doing together?  Can you reserve the same time of the day each week--Sunday mornings or Friday nights--as YOUR memory-keeping time?  My suggestion is to actually put it on your calendar--truly MAKE TIME for your memory-keeping.  Then honor your appointment with yourself.

I have a whole collection of {resources of tips on time here.}  See what you find most helpful.

And if you're not 100% sure about making time for memory-keeping, the first thing you should know is that {kids benefit enormously} from having their stories (photos+memories) preserved, and the second thing you should know is that {memory-keeping actually has good-for-you wellness effects}.  It's {self-care}!  

3.  Get some help.  

Is {Photo Overwhelm} keeping you from even starting?  Is time an issue?  Is {money} an issue?  Would {working with someone else} help you DO your good intentions?   (All these links can help!)

I've been coaching people on memory-keeping for over 11 years now, and I've listed several tips in the {"tips"} tab here at the blog.  See if there's a suggestion for overcoming your particular struggle.  

Remember, too, that I'm a Photo & Story Treasures CONSULTANT--and that means I consult.  So don't hesitate to {contact me} for suggestions, ideas, pointers, or help getting started.  I've been doing this for a long time, and I have come up with a big handful of solutions.  Here's an example of a great solution:

And definitely don't miss the {"Our Community and Events"} tab because it is always updated with the latest online events and classes (among other things) that I hold.  Most of them are free.

 

Let me help you navigate the world of too many photos and too little time.  #dontletyourbabiesgrowuptobejpegs

These are your photos on a flash drive. Any questions?

Who remembers this?

Well, photos aren't so different.

These are your photos.

 

These are your photos on a flash drive.

 

Any questions?

It seems like so many people these days are so concerned with saving their photos digitally.  They want to make sure they have digital backups in case of a computer crash or hard drive failure.  And this is good!  

But scroll back up and take a long look at that flash drive.  What does that do for you?  Does it bring a smile to your face when you remember that special trip or that wedding?  Are you remembering what it felt like to watch that baby take his first step?  

Nope.  

It's a piece of hardware.  The pictures are hidden, and they don't have any details with them to help you remember.  So a flash drive does nothing for you.

So here's what we're gonna do.  

We're going to preserve the photos digitally but we're also going to PRESERVE THEM IN PRINT.  That's the only MEANINGFUL way there is to preserve photos!  They need to be seen and interacted with, not just stored.

So let's solve this!

Let get your pictures to look like this!

How about two added bonuses?  

1- no hassle 

2- heirloom-quality books (and guaranteed photo privacy, which is more unusual than you'd think)

Here's all the information you'll need:

{Just click here to get started!} 

If you need a little help getting caught up, you can find some {tips} here, and you can {join any of my online events to work with our fun little memory-keeping community}. 

And as a consultant (...you'll never guess...)  I consult!  So I'm always here to answer questions, bounce ideas off of, and give pointers as needed.  You can {contact me here}.

You're starting something amazing!  Getting your photos off your flash drive and into hands so they can be loved is an absolute gift.

don't worry about making a sale

I love my job as a Photo & Story Treasures Consultant.  I'm a little different, I think, as a team leader than most.  I'm not really about the numbers--I'm about people.  So if you are thinking about joining my team, this is what it's like:

I believe the best goals are the ones YOU make, not the ones that are made for you.  I want to be supportive to my team, and I want to help in any way I can, but I'm not all about the numbers (or the sales)--I'm about listening as you make your business work for YOU.  If you want to replace your current income, I'll support you in that.  If you want a fun hobby, I'll support you in that.

When you have a business, you do want sales--you want to be paid for the work you do.  I know that's true for me!  Since this business is a work of HEART, it's very satisfying and meaningful as well.  Helping someone on the road to solving their problem of having too many photos and too little time is so rewarding, and so is sharing inspiration about the many benefits of memory-keeping (increased happiness, increased self-esteem, a sense of belonging, therapeutic effects, etc.).

There are some great options and approaches for making memory-keeping your business, too!  You can make it fit your style and personality.  

If this sounds like a good fit for you, I would love to mentor you as a memory-keeping consultant.  {You can find more consultant information right here.}

make your own board book for kids!

Hey, remember a couple of months ago when I told you about Heritage Makers' newest product, the Board Book?  And I gave you some info and showed you a bunch of pictures?

Well, I'm very happy to say that I now have photos of my own board book.  This one is actually very special to me and very meaningful.

My mom passed away last year.  My brother's daughter was almost 2.  He and his wife have been concerned about her not really remembering my mom, and not having a chance to get to know her.  We talked about making a Heritage Makers book for her.  I am already making a book of my mom's life for all of us, but I couldn't really figure out how to summarize everything my mom was into something a toddler would understand and appreciate.

And then the board books came out.  And I decided that the main message we want my niece to know is that her grandma loves her.

Throughout the book, my niece can read about all the things that her grandma loved.

 

And it concludes with how Grandma loved her grandchildren the very most.

 

 

This is going to be an invaluable gift to my niece.

I was really impressed by the binding.  I mean, a board book that's intended to be used by kids has to be sturdy.  The pages are nice and thick, and the binding is a black material that looks like a backpack strap.  (I'm at a loss for what that material is--nylon maybe?)  Anyway, it's sturdy stuff. 

It's really AMAZING to be able to make your own board book!  

I designed my board book myself, but you can use a template if you prefer.  There are more and more templates for board books being added to our fabulous Template Gallery all the time.  Here's "I Love You Because You Are You."  

 

And this cute little Book Of Family Faces! 

 

This one is "What I Love About You From A to Z".  I love this one, too.

A book is an incredible gift for a child anyway, but THIS kind of book is just so meaningful and can make SUCH an impact!!

2023 UPDATE:  Heritage Makers and Snap2Finish became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there, and they also no longer have capability to print previously-created projects like these from the old system. YPhoto is not a photo storage site like Heritage Makers was. 

Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever.  See examples of kids books using Forever's easy templates:

• Simply Fresh (This lay-flat book is similar in thickness and binding to the "board book" ones pictured here.  Because of the extra-thick pages, they cost more than the standard ones listed below, but they're nice for little kids.  The 8x8 is a great size for kids.  Be sure you get them on sale!)
• Everyday Shabby Chic lay-flat book
• Very Vellum lay-flat book
• the Little One book (standard book)
• ABC Playful standard book 
• the Always book (standard)
• ABC pink or ABC blue (standard)
• There are lots more free templates to choose from, so feel free to explore here!

If you prefer designing your own book for a more personalized look and message, both the lay-flat book and the standard book can be created using Artisan digital scrapbooking software.  Learn more about Artisan here.

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ENJOY your photos

Do you enjoy your photos?  I hope so!

In my work, I speak with many people about their photos.  Most of the time, people talk about their photos with a sense of guilt.  Some of them--without realizing it, I think--even hang their heads a little.

I hear things like

• "I don't know how to get my photos off my phone."
• "I have years worth of pictures I really need to do something with."
• "I don't do anything with my pictures."
• "I need to do something with my photos."

It makes me a little sad when I hear this, and when I see guilt on people's faces.  Photos should bring you JOY!  You should love them.  They should not be eating away at you.  They are a powerful gift for recalling happy moments, seeing faces you haven't seen for a long time, even healing hearts.  Photos are a gift! 

So if you're one of those people who feels shame when you think about your photos, let's stop that right now.  Let's get a SOLUTION.

Photos left in digital form aren't the ones that get loved; published photos are.  Published photos can be held and loved and shared and remembered.  They're the ones your memories are attached to because when you publish them, you can preserve their stories (memories) and details right along with them. 

First, find out what's stopping you--what's in your way of publishing your photos.  

Is it time?  Money?  Not knowing where to start?  Read through these tips and find something that will help your particular roadblock, and some ideas for getting past it.

Second, find a high-quality memory-keeping option that works for you.  

Something that's just the right fit will make it much more doable than trying to use something you don't love.  These three options are heirloom quality, and they range from easy-button style to quick pre-designed templates to full creative flexibility.  Which one fits your needs best?

And, as always, don't hesitate to contact me.  I'm here to help and support and get you on your way to a SOLUTION--something that works for YOU as your cherished memory-keeping tool so you don't hang your head ever again!

Get started right here, and you're on your way to enjoying your photos!

my memory-keeping consultant story

I dedicate a lot of time and energy to inspiring people to tell their stories, and giving them an avenue with which to do it.  That's because I believe in it so much.

And that is true. 

I was challenged recently to share MY story here--my Heritage Makers story.  I've told my personal story in many ways, in several hardbound Heritage Makers books (including my personal history) and scrap pages that are scattered throughout my home, but here I'll share my Heritage Makers story.  

I would say my Heritage Makers story starts pretty much at birth.  I was born with a desire to connect and remember.  I have always loved journaling, writing,  reminiscing, photos, personal histories, and family stories.  I find those connections strengthening; they increase both peace and happiness to me personally.  

My sister recently read an old letter I wrote when my brother and my mom were visiting my grandparents a few states away.  I think I couldn't have been older than about 13 or 14 at the time.  In the letter, I spent an entire paragraph (of a fairly short letter) admonishing them to TAKE PICTURES of everything they did.  I told them if they didn't take pictures, it's like it never happened.

I have always kept scrapbooks.  And by that I mean:  For my entire life, I have kept scrapbooks.  I've always seen their value and purpose. 

When I was introduced to Heritage Makers in 2005, I was a busy mom of three.  If you promise not to tell them I posted this (because they're sensitive, private teenagers now), you can be privy to this sweetness:

These were my littles when Heritage Makers came my way.  I was already a memory-keeper.  I wasn't about to let my babies grow up to be jpegs.  

I scrapbooked because I wanted them to know that their lives matter to me.  I wanted for them the self-esteem and the sense of belonging that comes from memory-keeping and making family connections.  I wanted them to feel secure in who they are, where they fit in our family, the talents I see in them, and their importance in many lives.  I wanted them to have something to look back at to remember good times when life's tough moments show up.

In 2005, I worked full time for these three, and I wasn't looking for anything else to put on my plate, let alone a job.  One of my friends who introduced me to Heritage Makers said, "It's like a company made for YOU!"  And I knew she was right.  

I kept thinking about the possibilities Heritage Makers would provide for families.  I knew that I wasn't the only one who wanted to gift self-esteem and a sense of belonging to my children--or my parents and siblings, for that matter.  

I also knew that not everybody loves to scrapbook.  But Heritage Makers was digital, and it went beyond scrapbooking.  It was memory-keeping, yes, but it was the ability to tell a life story or to make a little "10 things I love about you" book.  

I realized that the ability to record a family photo history or a life story or a love story went far beyond what we knew as "scrapbooking."  I knew that it could be a powerful tool for many people, including the many people who aren't "scrapbookers."  

Despite some real introvert tendencies, I knew this was something I could step out of my comfort zone for, something I would be excited to get out and tell people about.

And I was right.  I've never looked back.  There's nothing better than spending my time changing lives through the power of story and the power of the connections that come from it.

2023 UPDATE:  18 years after I started, I still love sharing the power of photos and stories.  This year, Heritage Makers and Snap2Finish became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there, and they also no longer have capability to print previously-created projects like these from the old system. YPhoto is not a photo storage site like Heritage Makers was. 

Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever for:  

·        creative digital scrapbooking applicable in a variety of photo products using Artisan software

·        easy photo-memory books using free AutoPrint and Design & Print software programs

·        private, permanent, secure, and guaranteed photo and video cloud storage (triple-backed-up and bank encrypted)

·        white glove digitizing services for old memories like VHS tapes, slides, old scrapbooks (scanning), 8mm film, audio tapes, and much more

Learn more here to  find similar products at top-quality with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  Start bringing the power of photos, stories, and connections into your life!

don't lose your history

Have you had one of those life experiences that teaches you that life is short?

If you haven't yet, you will.  Trust me.  

Don't lose your history.  Make the memories and record them.  Get in the photos even if you are getting a double chin.  Be present.  And then give a gift to your loved ones.  Calendar some time each week and tell YOUR story.  Record it.  It's an irreplaceable gift. 

If your story isn't told, it's lost to your family forever.  Only YOU are what you are to your family.  Our stories make us who we are.  Our lives and our stories connect people together.  

Here are some great resources to help you tell your story.

Be sure you tell and preserve your story in high-quality products that will protect the time you've invested in it!  

For a straightforward, simple way to preserve your history--your life story--try using this template:

 

Remember:  our stories bind us and make us who we are.  The time to record your story is now! 

get caught up on your photos

Thanks for visiting.  2023 UPDATE:  Heritage Makers and Snap2Finish became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there, and they also no longer have capability to print previously-created projects like these from the old system. YPhoto is not a photo storage site like Heritage Makers was. 

Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever for:  

·        creative digital scrapbooking applicable in a variety of photo products using Artisan software

·        easy photo-memory books using free AutoPrint and Design & Print software programs

·        private, permanent, secure, and guaranteed photo and video cloud storage (triple-backed-up and bank encrypted)

·        white glove digitizing services for old memories like VHS tapes, slides, old scrapbooks (scanning), 8mm film, audio tapes, and much more

Learn more here to  find similar products at top-quality with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

________________________________________________

I will admit that I am never more than about 2-3 months behind on preserving my photos in Heritage Makers digital scrap pages.  (Other people use the hardbound books.  I love that there are OPTIONS!  UPDATE 2021--check that link for additional memory-keeping options, too!)  

Photos and memory-keeping aren't a burden to me.  If you asked me why and how I keep up on my photos so well, this is what I would tell you:

• It's easy because it's digital.  It's really no effort because there are no "supplies"--it's as easy as checking e-mail.  I can do memory keeping for an hour or for 15 minutes here and there, which adds up!  
• Templates are free and make things go quickly.  If I want to take creative time to design something myself, I can, but if the goal is to just GET IT DONE, templates are a huge time-saver.
• I enjoy it.  It's quiet time.  Creating something meaningful is peaceful to me.  
• I set aside the time.  You never "find" time.  You make it.  I set aside personal time, but I also host online events for my clients from all over the country where we "meet" at a specified time to work on our individual computers and share what we're working on.
• I get the best prices by being a Club member! (It's free!) 
• I don't use every photo I ever take.  If you take a lot of photos, I highly recommend just choosing your favorites.  It is okay to not use a photo you've taken.  You can't be so knee-deep in photos that it precludes you from enjoying ANY of them!  

If you need some tips for getting caught up, click this link.

Join me and get caught up on your photos!   Get started right here!  

Let's rock this.

Who lives in your memory? And have you built a bridge?

There are people who live in your memory who don't live in the memories of younger generations.  A grandfather, a special aunt, a parent.  What do you know about those people that you want to make sure lives on and isn't forgotten?  How can you make sure the people below you in the family tree know about the people above you?

All my grandparents are gone.  My mom's mom was a genealogist.  She was hilarious, resourceful, and a hard worker.  She knew every plant native to Oregon and would point them out on our drives to the coast.  My mom's dad reminds me of my youngest son.  He was quiet but hilarious and had the best laugh.  He was stalwart and someone I always looked up to. 

My dad's mom had a beautiful singing voice and played the piano and the violin.  She was quick to serve.  She was a widow for 31 years, and I think one of the grandest unspoken things that I knew about her was how very much she loved my grandpa.  My dad's dad died two days after my 6th birthday.  He was only 65.  I always wish I'd had more time with him to know him better, but he was with me when I caught my first (and only) fish, and he loved sports and would play with me.

These are the people who live in my memory.  They don't live in my children's memories.  That makes me {the bridge}.

I am pleased to share a beautiful poem today (with permission) by Colleen G. Brown Pasquale over at Leaves & Branches called "Suppose You Were the Only One" that will inspire you to do something with what you know.  It's here:  http://leavesnbranches.blogspot.com/2016/03/suppose-you-were-only-one.html?m=1

I'm all about solutions!  No use feeling inspired without something to DO about it.

The people in your memory can be shared when you put them in a storybook!  

Here's one possibility:

 

And here's another:

 

There's no time like RIGHT NOW to preserve your what you know and remember!  Be that bridge.  It makes a difference.  

In fact, {studies show} that the single biggest predictor of a child's well-being is their knowledge of their family stories.  It creates a sense of belonging and even makes kids more resilient.

Here's a simple and straightforward method for making an heirloom-quality legacy storybook from a pre-designed template:

If this method for publishing a legacy story looks good to you, simply {follow the directions here to make your own}!

So don't let who you remember and what you know only live in your head.  Make a record of it!  It will be priceless to you and to generations.