Holiday Photo Time

I know you are thinking it can not be that time of year again! Oh YES, get the reindeer sweater from Aunt Milly out of the closet....but don't use it in photos again this year. :)



Holiday Family Portraits can be a bit stressful for parents.
Here are a couple of invaluable tips to help ease you into a winning pose:
1. Be sure your kids are well fed and rested before the session with your photographer.
2. A treat in the purse works wonders! Even I resort to bribing my own little one at times.
3. Try not smiling for some photos.
4. Have fun and don't get stressed out! Your little ones pick up on that and work it.
5. Coordiante your family's look. Your photo will look well composed. You don't have to be matchy-matchy, but great solid shirts all in red or blue will create a striking photo to cherish for years.

6. Make your appointments NOW for family holiday portraits. :)

Have a wonderful holiday season!
Johnita Salerno
Salerno Expressions Photography

Digital Dilemma Solved

When was the last time you saw someone using a film camera? Can’t remember? That’s not
surprising. The age of digital camera’s and picture taking is truly here. The instant gratification of immediately viewing your pictures, the ability to delete those that didn’t come out quite right and just the convenience of it all has pretty much made traditional picture taking obsolete. The digital age is great, but, if you are like me, you now have a new challenge: How to organize and view pictures so that all can enjoy them, even those who don’t have computers or when you
can’t access a computer. Here’s a perfect example - I recently had dinner with a friend I hadn’t seen in over a year and wanted to bring current pictures of my son. However, I was short on time and they were “trapped” in my computer. One option to solve this digital dilemma is to utilize software to organize pictures and create digital albums or scrapbooks. Once you’ve
completed the album you can determine how many printed copies you want and purchase on-line. The benefits of organizing your pictures digitally are obvious. It saves time compared to printing out the picture and placing it in a traditional album, and makes it much more convenient to make multiples to share the special moments with others. Another big advantage over printing and placing in a traditional album is the ability to personalize-to tell your story.
Creative Memories, a well-known provider of scrap booking materials and training has introduced their solution for digital picture takers called StoryBook Albums. StoryBook Creator Software can be downloaded easily from their consultant’s websites and it’s free! You can choose from an array of custom templates and unique designs, drag and drop your photos where you want them, and tell your unique story. You do not pay anything until you decide to print the
album. An added bonus – assistance and training on the software is available through local
consultants. Printed StoryBook Album pages are high-quality; acid-free, lignin-free, buffered and stitched for durability. Best of all, they are a convenient and beautiful way to tell your story
and share your memories with others at any time.

For more information on StoryBook Albums and StoryBook Creator Software or to view a demo contact Senior Creative Memories Consultant Danielle Mohr at 214-705-1022 or go to
www.mycmsite.com/daniellemohr (CM ID number 67767333).

The Disapperance of Dinnertime

Many things have changed over the last thirty years including the fact that more women are part of the professional workforce. This means both parents are providing for the family unit. It also means due to time constraints, healthy traditions such as family mealtime are disappearing.
As a matter-of-fact, in 2004 Americans spent over ten times more eating out than in 1974. Out of that spending, over half is on fast food according to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
Convenience is the name of the game. And fast food is convenient. So the question remains, how can we change the current situation? The answer is quite simple: Meal Planning! Meal planning businesses are now a reality, providing families’ healthier food choices and complete meals.
You simply pick your date and time and go in to assemble a months worth of meals, or stop by to pick up a quick, yet nutritionally complete meal on your way home. Could you plan out your meals a month in advance and freeze them yourself? Absolutely, but these businesses offer the convenience of doing all the shopping and clean up. And with time at a minimum you can’t beat that! Another benefit of utilizing a meal planning service is the social aspect. Getting together and chatting with other women while assembling the meals makes the task much more fun, seeming a lot less like work. Homemade Gourmet is a family-friendly business with the goal of “Bringing Families Back to the Dinner Table.” Senior Distributor Kala Meyering has taken
the business one step further and created her own meal planning business out of her home using
Homemade Gourmet’s great tasting products.

For more information on Kala’s Monthly Meal Making Parties email her at kalameyering@tx.rr.com or call (972) 731-9446.

Support Women-Owned Business

When you support a NEW member business you are supporting a woman-owned business. Many NEW members worked several years in Corporate America before becoming entrepreneurs; many driven by the need for flexibility in raising their children. We appreciate your support and look forward to connecting with you!

Did you know there are 9.1 million women-owned businesses-more than 1/3 of all US companies.