Hey there!  You may or may not know (I don’t talk about this a whole lot), I love to scrapbook…

…when I have the time.

7 years ago, I started this fun hobby.  My daughter was born 8 years ago and I’ve been meaning to finish her baby book.

Just hadn’t gotten around to it.

So…maybe you can imagine my delight at the chance to try out digital scrapbooking software that’s rated #1 by Amazon and Top Ten Reviews.  The opportunity came at a sweet time!  Our family had just purchased a MacBook, my hubby had just imported our kids’ early year videos in there, so we were set to experiment!

In this review of My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software, you’ll get an idea of:

1. How easy it is to use within the first 2 hours “playing with it”
2. Beautiful pre-designed layouts and different project ideas from the video
3. How to use more of the functions to create more cool designs in their Tutorials videos
4. A 4-page sampling of what you can put together when you’re short on time
5. An opportunity to purchase the software at a special friend’s discount
6. A chance to win your own copy for free ($39.97 value)!

1.  It was very easy to download and use My Memories Suite.  I started using it and had lots of fun!  All opinions are from my own experience with using it for a mere 2 hours.  I’m not super technologically savvy and I could figure out how to use it without watching any tutorials.  That means they designed it to be extremely intuitive. Take a look at the video below to see what I mean…

2.

3.  Watch the Tutorials here to learn how to use more of the functions and create more cool designs.

In 1.5 hours, I was able to create 8 scrapbook pages of my daughter’s birth and first birthday!  I did not get too fancy and did not try to create a page from scratch yet.  After all, I hadn’t scrapbooked in ages and felt rather rusty…so I used a couple of their pre-designed templates and dropped in the photos – it was a lot of fun to watch those pictures be quickly framed by some nice designs.  There are a LOT more beautiful templates to choose from and I can’t wait to do more with this software.

4.  Here’s a 4-page sampling of Sweetie’s birth and 1st birthday…

Journaling your thoughts is quick and easy – just a matter of entering text in a box.  You also have the option of purchasing more design kits or elements if you wish and there’s a lot of gorgeous designs by some well-known names in the scrapbooking world.

If you’ve been wanting to get your kids’ albums done but haven’t had the time…or maybe you have paper scrapbooking supplies but don’t feel like taking out all that stuff after a long day with the kids, My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software is a great way to get some pages done in a short amount of time, and have lots of fun doing it.  I encourage you to give it a try!

5.  If you want your own copy of this cutting edge software, and you know you want it right away, you can go here to purchase it now.  As a bonus for being a reader and friend, you can get $10 off using this coupon code:  STMMMS14206

6.  My Memories has also authorized me to give away a copy of My Memories Suite ($39.97 value) for f.ree!

Enter the My Memories Suite Giveaway Here

Required Entry: Visit www.MyMemories.com and choose your favorite digital scrapbooking kit, then leave a comment here sharing which one you chose.

Optional extra entries: (Once you’ve done the required entry, you may do as many of these extra entry options as you’d like!)  Leave a separate comment for each entry.

1.  Follow My Memories Blog – 1 entry (leave me a comment saying you now follow)

2.  Like My Memories Facebook page – 1 entry (leave me a comment saying you now follow)

3.  Follow My Memories on Twitter – 1 entry (leave me a comment saying you now follow)

4.  Follow me publicly on Google Friend Connect – 1 entry (leave me a comment saying you now follow or already do)

5.  Follow my blog on Networked Blogs – 1 entry (leave me a comment saying you now follow or already do)

6.  Like my Facebook fan page – 1 entry

7.  Follow me on Twitter @jinnialow – 1 entry (leave username)

Giveaway Ends on Valentine’s Day 2/14/12

Winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on Wednesday, 2/15/12.  Be sure to leave me your email so I can contact you if you win!  You’ll have 48 hours to claim your prize after I email you or another random winner will be chosen using the same method.  Have fun!

Do you think it matters that you be yourself?

I think so.  You matter.  You’re the only one just like you in this world, even if you have a twin (or more).  It took me a long time to wade through the junk in my system, in my thinking – really – to allow myself the fun and freedom of being myself.

Believe me, it’s a lot more fun to not wonder so much, what will this or that person think of me?  Sometimes those thoughts come; and now they go away faster for me.  You’ll find as you spend more and more time nurturing who you are, you’ll naturally stop beating yourself up for thinking you don’t measure up.  You will not need to prove yourself to anybody.

This is incredibly freeing and I want to share this with the world – how is it that we can be who we are?  And who are we anyway?

How do you define who you are?

Ever received a gift and set it aside?

I invite you to think about that gift…what was it, who was it from, and did you think you needed it?

Here are some reasons why we might set aside a gift:

• It wasn’t what we wanted.
• It wasn’t what we needed.
• It reminded us of a person and brought up hurtful feelings.

Perhaps more reasons are floating around in our heart that we’re not aware of.  One deeper reason can be we feel we didn’t deserve it.

A gift is an interesting object to hold.  When you think about it, the person who gave that gift is expressing some level of care or love.  At the same time, that expression may or may not be readily received by the recipient.

What kind of gifts do you gladly receive?  A gift can be a tangible product, an act of service, even a word of encouragement.

“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can’t ride you unless your back is bent.”  ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr was a true leader.  He lived and breathed strong, powerful convictions.  His “I Have A Dream” speech continues to live today, it is being heard and read all over the country as we remember him today.

Change can appear intimidating.  It will come to those who want it bad enough.

“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”  ~Martin Luther King Jr.

I have a dream that our nation will dream again.  Remaining embers of dreams buried alive will return and become fuel for future expression, to benefit all of humanity.

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”  ~Martin Luther King Jr.

About a week into the New Year 2012 – how are you?

On the outside, I’ve been “in hibernation” since December while internally “hustling-bustling”.  I’m learning so much, I can’t wait to share with you sincerely from the heart.  I can’t wait until I overcome some of the final blocks and open it up to you!

I’ll share more soon…for now, for this post, I wanted to pop in, say hello and Happy New Year!

Here we are:  a week before Christmas Day.

There is such an anticipation bustling in the hearts of each city.  I think though, there is even more anticipation resting in the hearts of each and every person.

This anticipation may dance out of some or stay dormant but this I know, it’s there.

Deep down inside we know this is a super special time of year.

I cannot begin to tell you of the treasures I’ve been uncovering throughout this month of December.

I’ve been shopping not at malls, stores or even online (not much anyway).  I’ve been shopping my heart.

Delving deep, deep, deep to connect with myself further than I can imagine.

I’ve been missing an important piece of the puzzle to what I want to bring to you.  There’s been places unexplored, dreams untapped – that I intend to unravel in 2012.  Stay tuned for changes coming.  Change can be scary but change is good.  It keeps us growing and expectant of life.

What about you?  What changes are you anticipating for 2012?

Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.  ~Christiane Northrup

We celebrated a festive Thanksgiving over the weekend with our extended family.  Fun, food, and a time of reminiscing our college years!

It reminded me of something I think everybody wants.

More love.  More peace.  More joy.

May I share something I love with you?  It’s music for the heart and soul.

I encourage you and me to spend a few minutes each day thinking in our mind:
Who and what do we already love?
Let’s watch what happens when we be thankful for these things often

Have you ever gotten so busy you forgot to eat?

Think of the different times during the day where you are busiest with things that need getting done.

In the morning:  Getting up, personal grooming.  Getting your kids up, breakfast, and off to school.

If you work outside the home:  Getting to your office, getting to work.

If you work at home:  Getting to work.

You get the picture…

During the course of a day there are so many “little things” that need getting done, you can easily forget yourself in the process!

This week I’m busy with running my household and business on my own.  My husband is not physically available to help so I’m preparing to be extra alert.  Sometimes this is easier said than done.

Today I’m boosting my activities with some physical help like shakes and an energy drink that won’t cause me to crash and burn.

In the past, health is the first thing that slips my notice and as a result over the years, there have been many times I suffered from a weak immune system.

This time, I am determined to think better about my body and health during busy times – so I can take better care of this life I’m given.

What about you?  How do you think about your body and health when you’re busy?

A week ago I posted this question on my Facebook wall:

Does having a posittive attitude come easily to you, or do you have to work at it?

I received 3 different answers that I think are fascinating and would like to share them with you.

1.  WORK at it!

2.  I guess it really depends on the day.  I would say I’m most of the time postitive but there are those moments or times.

3.  Typically, easy. If under fire, work at it!

I then asked the third person:  Has it always been typically easy for you?  Did you work at it in the past to get to that point?

He replied, “I’ve been very blessed in a lot of ways so I would have to say it’s generally been easy for me. In tough times, it is difficult to stay positive especially if I forget or don’t reflect on what I’ve been blessed with, but I usually bounce back when I realize how much I have to be thankful for.”

What about you?  Does a positive attitude come easy or do you work at it?

“It doesn’t matter how much money you make, it’s how much you keep.”  ~Dani Johnson

They are WORSHIPPED by many. Our kids ASPIRE to be just like them. They live a DREAM life. They have tons of MONEY, the nicest CARS, and the biggest HOUSES. That is the life of many NFL players. However, there is a surprising truth that many of those “successful” people end up LOSING it ALL.

This was posted on Dani Johnson’s Facebook fan page for her radio show on Heartbeat Radio 103.5 fm, Wednesdays 9:15 am – 10:15 am PT.  Here’s what I learned listening to it today…

Ken Rutgers, a former NFL Green Bay Packer who helps athletes transition to life after football, reports that 2 years after their last game, 78% of NFL players who have made millions of dollars, within 2 years are bankrupt, divorced or unemployed.  Hard times often come when the cheering from fans die down.  They have grown their athletic skills but have neglected the most important things.

They’ve been coached on many things, but not on their relationships with their wives or how to be an excellent father, or how to communicate with their children.

NFL quarterback Mark Brunell made $50 million and lost it all, now he’s bankrupt.  If he’d been coached on the most important things, he’d be equipped to keep not only what he’s earned, he would have grown his wealth.

What money investing skills do you have?  You’re smart enough to learn how to keep money.  For example, how to use up the food in your pantry before spending more money at the grocery store.  One gal used to spend over $120 every week for food and after learning these skills, is now spending less than $80 on groceries.

What skills are you developing in the financial arena?  It’s not just about making money but keeping it.