complete an album before Christmas

Who do you know who needs to know they are loved? 

Putting one of the new Ahni & Zoe albums together for a loved one

 can be done while you are catching up on tv.

It's that simple.

And there is not a better gift to repair relationships, express joy and produce tears 

than a completed album (except maybe diamonds...haha)!

So many of you that I have talked to this past week have told me, "I can do that! I'm so excited!"

You can view the current Fast2Fabulous Albums here: Fast2Fabulous

Just print approximately 70 photos and stick them on with Tape Runner

Add a few dates, names and family stories with a Photo-safe Pen

and Voila!

You're a holiday hero!

A&Z is open for business and we can start placing orders now which will ship before Christmas!  If you gather a few friends for a preview party, you can get an item for half-price as a thank you! If you are more than 4 hours away from me, then you may be interested in hosting a Catalog preview party or virtual Facebook party. It's super fun and easy and you'll get your stuff before Christmas! 

For those of you who have already checked out the Catalog

did you know?

There are 3 Exclusive Items available for a limited time that are not shown in the Catalog:

Here they are: (drum roll, please!)

My Kit arrives today...I can't wait to share it with you!! And I can't wait to see it all!!

If you want to be one of the first to complete a Fast2Fabulous or Slide-In Album, you can contact me here:

cmdonnalyn@frontier.com 

www.ahniandzoe.com/donna

Ahni & Zoe Catalog Preview Day

You may be hearing a buzz about Ahni and Zoe Preview Day and are wondering What is it?When is it? Where is it?

Basically Consultants who have been with Creative Memories have an opportunity to get a jump start on this new business while the website is "under construction." We get to work the bugs out of the system before it officially launches in January.

Now you have will have the opportunity to see the new Catalog and products through your Consultant. If you don't already have a Consultant, I would be happy to pop a Catalog in the mail to you - just send your request and contact information to cmdonnalyn@frontier.com  

If you are wanting to sign on as a Consultant and are looking for an additional stream of income and the tax benefits of having a home business, you will be able to reserve your Kit through your Consultant now and won't be billed until it ships in January. It will include product samples, Catalogs, order forms, and the basics to start this meaningful business! 

If you would like to earn free or half-price items from the get-go, you will definitely want to host an Ahni and Zoe party! Get in touch with your Consultant and be one of the first to introduce your friends to this exciting product line.  I'm traveling up to 4 hours to launch this business but if you are further away than that, we can do a Facebook event or Catalog party! 

 Most of us have friends who have said, "I don't have time to scrapbook" or "I'm not creative" or "I'm too busy."  Well, this is for them! It's getting photos off our devices and into our lives through album kits, pocket pages and display boards. It's brilliant!!

The new pre-decorated pages will fit into the old coversets and vice versa. The new Pocket Pages are a bit larger than the old coversets so I'm not sure if they will fit properly. I will keep you posted when I receive my Kit! The new tape runner refills will fit into our old dispensers and vice versa. My Kit is scheduled to arrive this week! 

Washi Tape dispenser, wrapping presents, and more!

Washi tape is showing up everywhere! Now they have these sweet Washi Tape dispensers available at Costco that feature multiple tape dispensers on a Lazy Susan. 

Use Washi tape just like regular Scotch tape...

I love using Washi in my Planner to cover up mistakes stuff.

My favorite use for Washi is wrapping presents:

Write directly on the Washi with a Sharpie....

Use a large piece of Washi to tape a stack of present together, then add some curling ribbon to the top like this:

Go crazy....Washi some candy on top! Have fun!! Washi on...

Ahni & Zoe New Company APPROVED!

"Creative Memories bankruptcy process concluding

Today, the Plan of Reorganization for the Creative Memories business to emerge bankruptcy as the new Ahni & Zoe by Creative Memories was brought before the judge for confirmation. There were no objections to the plan and the claims voting classes voted overwhelmingly to support the Plan. Subject to several documentation changes that were discussed and agreed to during the hearing, the judge indicated her intention to approve the Plan and enter the confirmation order within a few days.

In addition to entry of the confirmation order by the judge, there are a number of other things that need to be completed and finalized prior to the Plan going effective. It is the company's intention to ensure that all these are completed as soon as possible, and we hope to be able to fully emerge from bankruptcy by November 15.

Fresh start for Creative Memories

In conjunction with this announcement, we are pleased to unveil the next generation of our business, Ahni & Zoe by Creative Memories.

Ahni & Zoe, which means “beautiful life,” will incorporate the best of our history - 26 years helping people connect with each other through their photos – with a new business plan to meet the needs of today’s busy families. Chris Veit, CEO, notes: “Ahni & Zoe will offer direct sellers and their customers a unique, fun, and rewarding new business opportunity with the energy and simplicity of a start-up, supported by the quality and reputation of Creative Memories.”

Ahni & Zoe is wholly committed to Direct Sales and our Independent Consultants. Consultants will now have a simplified product offering that anyone can use, which includes the same quality and photo safety Creative Memories customers have long enjoyed. The product line’s foundation is predesigned, preassembled Fast2Fab Albums (winner of the Direct Selling Association’s 2012 Most Innovative Product of the Year) which will revolutionize the album-making industry. What’s completely unique is combining these products with a free proprietary app called inawink™. App users can take photos, flag their favorites and their prints will be automatically mailed to their homes, where they can easily be placed into a waiting album. No tools or embellishments required – and projects completed, lives impacted!

The simplification continues with a revised, competitive compensation plan and best-in-class web sites for customers and for Consultants to manage their businesses. The excitement for the new business has been considerable, with the first 3500 Consultant launch kits fully reserved in just 72 hours. Tracey Decker, a Senior Consultant from Colorado says “I’m excited about the simplicity! Everything from the product line to the career plan is now so much simpler to understand and explain, so we can easily reach so many more people.” Linda Wright, a Senior Consultant from New Jersey agrees. “I look forward to expanding my circle through my new Ahni & Zoe by CM business, as we reach even more people and their families with our mission and our incredible products.”

Ahni & Zoe’s Consultants will begin offering Preview Days of the new business in November and December. The company’s Grand Opening will be in January 2014. The company will remain headquartered in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where they’ll serve the North American and Japanese markets.

Ahni & Zoe’s Mission:

We exist to inspire people to pull photos off their devices and into their lives…with products that help connect families and friends to unforgettable moments, letting them know they’re loved. We take great joy in providing a fun and rewarding opportunity that encourages all to seize the moments that make up their beautiful lives."

Future self...what should I do?

I'm having an unexpected turn of events in my professional life.

The court decision on the approval of the future reinvention of Creative Memories is very soon.

As a creditor, I sent in my ballot. I was going to vote No, but I after seeing the business plan, I changed my vote to Yes.  I have been with Creative Memories for 20 years (!) and have been there in the good times and the not-so-good times. I have ridden the storms until I could no longer stay on board.

In 2011 I released my team of Consultants so that I could try something new.

I wanted to see what a more simplified business system would be like (CM's computer systems were antiquated and cumbersome, compounded by a string of other problems that constrained them). It took me 4 years to find another company to join and when I did, I went in full out!

It was interesting to find a different company and see how fun, fast and easy it could be.

I quickly built a team and enjoyed the camaraderie of this new business...

And yet...I hung on to a cord...

I held on to Creative Memories by continuing to service my loyal customers through my personal website.

Continuing to put my own photos into Creative Memories albums.

Staying informed on what was happening with the company.

What was so hard about letting go completely?

There was something that I was still holding out Hope for. 

I am very thankful for my time with my current business (Thirty-One Gifts).

I love my amazing team, the cute products, my wonderful Hostesses and customers.

That is something that I do not regret and I am still actively involved in. It filled the need for an additional stream of income while CM was reinventing themselves.

Up until last week I thought I had found my Plan B and was moving on...yet knew that I hadn't completely left CM. This week Creative Memories revealed their final plan to emerge from their bankruptcy and get out from under the confines of previous management. The Plan revealed their new, simplified product line, computer systems, career plan, Consultant website plan, even their new name...and I love it.  Everything is very close to what I was wishing, hoping, praying for ever since they fell into sophisticated confusion.

This is my heart singing!

This is my passion...photos, stories, simplicity,

complete albums, display boards, pens and tape.

This proposed plan that needs to jump the hurdle of Court Approval on November 7.

But this is something that I prayed for and now may be faced with the reality of...

but in the meantime, I have set lofty goals and am working another business!! oh my, oh my!!

What about my Plan B??

As a wise friend said, "You can't ride two horses with one hiney."  Or something like that...

What do you think?

Are any of you working two businesses and how is that working for you?

DSA has a rule where you can't be a Leader for 2 companies, but you can be a Leader in one and a seller in another.  I have been doing 2 businesses for 3 years now and would really prefer to concentrate on just one and do it with excellence.

Does this make me fickle? Or is this just the result of finding a Plan B and then your first love, your Plan A, says, Hey! I've been to rehab! Let's get back together! lol

20 years.

heart song.

photos

stories

mission

oh, and Made in the U.S.A.

future self...what should I do???

"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

1 Corinthians 13:12