Hosting and the Holidays

I love to be a hostess. I’m not very good at it, but I just blame that on inexperience. I’ve never had a place finished enough for me to want to invite folks in but I figure that place will never truly exist so I’m not going to wait anymore. And maybe if I start hosting enough events, it’ll light a fire under the husbands booty to finish up the trim work (I love you, honey!)

I love hosting and meeting new folks so much that I joined the Uppercase Living family as a Demonstrator (as you know by now) so I’m forced to constantly meet new folks. And hosting parties for other folks is the best way to learn how to be a great hostess – getting to see what they do for their guests and how they serve (and what they serve) is priceless education. I’ve picked up countless tips and ideas over just the last few weeks alone and I’ve racked up quite the number of events to practice with!

This week I’m hosting my very first Pampered Chef party. I’m SO excited – I’ve known about the company for almost 15 years now but only started looking at the actual product over the last couple weeks. I’m looking at an older catalog and have just about every other page dog-eared for items that are on my wish/gift list. So that’s my first official hosting gig and then I figure how much practice do you need to host Thanksgiving?? That’s right. I said it.

Granted, I’m a grown-up and I have a family and cooking for a group shouldn’t be that scary by now. But let’s face it . . . unless it involves a box of cereal and a gallon of milk, it’s probably not in my recipe bank. So we’re hosting Thanksgiving at our place for the first time. EVER. And I honestly couldn’t be more excited. Although I’m able to enjoy the excitement because I married smartly. The brother-in-law is a KILLER chef and the sister-in-law is in the works of starting her own dessert/baking company. So really all I have to do is cut up some veggies and find a place for everyone to sit.

One of the tips that I picked up from my most successful hostess yet (Connie, this would be you!) is this. Tell me this isn’t awesome !?! Connie’s was a little different, but I love this one – fits our style of contemporary clean lines so well. I just don’t know what I’ll put in it yet . . . tea or homemade sangria? Feel free to make a suggestion!

 

Is it Love, Paranoia or a Product of our Generation?

You can’t deny how technically savvy our generation is. Or how inventive we are. We’re constantly developing newer and better . . . well . . . everything! Think back to our earlier school days – we didn’t have cell phones or satelite radios or e-classes. Even personal computers were still a relatively new thing . . . and we all sure didn’t have our own laptops.

For as advanced as we are, apparently I can still be suprised by what we develop. This morning, on the way into work (while listening to my satellite radio, of course) I heard two commercials that shocked me. Or maybe they were a reality check? regardless . . . these were the general messages for each of the ads:

First Commercial: starts with a phone ringing and music in the background. A young man answers the phone and the conversation goes like this:

Boy: “Hello?”

Mom: “Mark, why are you in such-and-such area? I thought you were going to John’s house?”

Boy: “I am, I just took a wrong turn. I’m back on the right road now.”

Mom: “Oh, okay, great. Don’t forget to get gas up there at the corner. And Mark? Please slow down.”

Boy: “(laughing) Okay, Mom. I’ll be more careful.”

In case you didn’t catch the premise from my abbreviated version of the commercial -  a mom was calling her son’s cell phone after checking the computer to see where he was. It’s a program that tracks the location of the cell phone in real time – she could see what road he was on and even how fast he was driving! How crazy is that? Still not suprised? How about this next one:

Second Commercial:

Dad reading text message 1 from daughter: “Hi Dad, just calling to let you know that we’re going to the mall.”

Dad reading text message 2 from daughter: “Hi Dad, just checking in to let you know that we got here okay and we’re going to shop around a bit. Don’t worry, I don’t need any money, I have my debit card and know my balance.”

Dad reading text message from Bank: “Card ending 9999 was just used at ‘Store X’ for a purchase of $20″

Dad: Calling Daughter: “Hi Sarah, what kind of store is ‘Store X’ and what did you just spend $20 on?”

Sarah: “Oh, it’s a clothing store that I really like. I bought a t-shirt but I just saw 3 other girls in the food court wearing the same one so I’m actually returning it right now. I can’t wear something that everyone else already has!”

Seriously? Am I the only one that is shocked that we can now spy on our children to this detail? I can’t decide how I feel about it. I wasn’t able to be tracked like this when I was younger – although perhaps if I was I would’ve been a more well-behaved child. Or maybe I would’ve rebelled even harder than I did and gotten into a lot of trouble? Who knows. But the reality is that it’s available now and I’m curious how many of you actually watch your own children like this? What’s next? An insertable ‘lo-jack’ for your kid that can be removed at 18? I’m sure that’s already in the works actually. And you know what? Sign me up. God forbid something should ever happen to my Moose, I’d want to know exactly where he was so I could get to him as fast as possible. I just don’t know if I could trust myself to use this stuff for emergency purposes only. Part of me wonders if it would strip the independance from my son that he should experience as a normal part of growing up.

 

Favorite Color? (I hope it’s blue)!

After a smooth transition to the big boy bed, the next step in our little boy growing up was giving him a TRUE boy’s room. I’ll admit my hesitation at the change for a couple reasons:

• We just rebuilt that room from scratch and I didn’t feel like doing it all over again (even though Bill does 90% of the work)
• I didn’t want to incur any expense since we had an initial plan: we bought convertible furniture to last him through many years

but during a walk through Ikea one day, we saw a model boy’s room that looked like it belonged in the land of who-ville and Moose didn’t want to leave. So I struck a deal with the hubby – if we could sell Moose’s furniture for the same amount that we needed to buy the new stuff then I’d cave. So I listed the furniture on Craigslist and it was sold and picked up within 2 hours!

Bill re-painted the room and it scared the crap out of me when I first saw it. It was much darker than anything I would’ve ever picked out. Have you seen Disney’s ‘Cars’ Movie? You know the race car “Mr. The King” who races for Dinoco? That’s the room color. Dinoco blue.

So we bought the furniture, I made curtains and Bill made the Moose a desk/play area that came out awesome (which is more than I can say for my curtains). So now the room is much more functional, much more little-boy-with-energy-loves-to-play oriented and a much better use of space for all those toys.

We still have a couple things in the works – some vinyl expressions from UL and a HUGE fathead of McQueen. But until those arrive, here it is . . . the electric shock that is now Moose’s room:

 

Photo Prints – Larger than Life!

Uppercase Living officially launched the Photo Prints addition to the MyDesign Suite today. Can you imagine your favorite picture, stuck to your wall . . . in life-size? How about even bigger than life-size?!

With our new, simple-to-create UL Photo Prints, you can:

• Showcase a child’s favorite sport or hobby
• Celebrate a wedding, anniversary, birthday or graduation
• Relive a vacation
• Add your logo to your walls
• and so much more!

Every Uppercase Living Photo Print is printed on high-quality vinyl and can be applied on almost any surface – then removed and used again and again!

Photo Prints are available in two different styles:

• Contour Cut – where the main image in the photo is cut out and applied on its own. This option is great for pictures of people, animals, flowers, etc.
• Full Photo – this is where the full photo that you upload is printed on vinyl and no cuts are made. This option would be great for landscape shots.

Either style is available in a variety of sizes from 2′x2′ all the way up to 8′x4′! When you purchase a contour-cut Photo Print in size 4′x4′ or larger, you can upgrade your order with a Value Pack for only $14.95. This value pack includes 2 8″ silhouettes (in black only), one 10″ color graphic, and one 18″ color graphic! You can share these extra graphics with grandparents, teachers, and friends and hang them on any surface – lockers, refrigerators, mirrors, binders, laptops and more!

Is your mind racing with ideas on where to use this yet? If you need a little inspiration, check out the flyer that’s posted on  my Uppercase Living site . . . it’s filled with all the same information but has quite a few GREAT photos that should get your mind racing. Still have more questions? Email me - I’d love to hear from you!

 

Customer Appreciation (come and get it!)

I mentioned in my last newsletter that I would be writing up some information on how you can earn stamps for your Uppercase Living Customer cards and I’m finally getting it posted. So read on and come and get your stamps!

• Be a Hostess: Host your own Uppercase Living party and earn 2 stamps! This is in addition to earning FREE product, half-priced product, and double up rewards – what other incentive do you need to gather some friends for a good time?
• Refer a Friend: Do you know someone that would love the Uppercase Living Product as much as you and I do? Share your catalog with them or send me their address and I’ll send them their own copy. When they make a purchase, you’ll earn 1 stamp.
• Make a Purchase: The easiest ways to earn stamps are with the purchases you’re already making! You’ll earn 1 stamp for every $10 of product on your order. The best part about this? It’s retroactive to January of 2009. So for those of you that have made a purchase this year – you’ve already got stamps that you might not know about!
• Monthly Incentive: In addition to the 3 ways I listed above for earning your stamps, within each newsletter will be a suprise earning potential. This won’t be posted anywhere else, so you’ll have to sign up for the newsletter to find out about it.

Now that you know all the ways that you can earn stamps, I’m sure you’re curious what you get for collecting them all, right? After you collect 12 (which is one full card) you have options! You can choose any of the following: Free Shipping, $15 in Free Product  (limited to my inventory at the time of redemption) or $10 off your next order.

Now what are you waiting for?? Start telling your friends, buying the items off your wishlist, and signing up for the newsletter if you’re not already on it (see link to the right of the page or email me).

 

Forget the time? Check your VINYL clock!

Uppercase Living is always introducing something new and exciting. One of the reasons I love being a demonstrator is that I get to see the new stuff before anyone else. So of course, there was tons of excitement around the new catalog release a few weeks ago and UL really stepped up to the challenge.  I just had to share what my favorite new items is with you – I’m trying to find where I can hang this in my own house as we speak (so far, I need 3 of them!).

Have you ever walked around the house and wondered what time it was? Only to realize there’s not a clock near by or even a surface to put one on? Now there is – just look up! Offered in two different styles and in any color vinyl you choose, we now have fully functioning clocks!

So where will you put yours?

 

Dinner and a Premier

I love to be around people and I love to be a hostess (for short events) so I thought the best way to introduce the new Uppercase Living catalog would be to host a dinner party. I’ll be making some lasagna and some other goodies for the non-lasagna eaters, I’ll have drinks, and I hope to have some specialty treats courtesy of Chatfield Cakes. Interested in joining me? Check out the invite here - I’d love to hear from you!

 

New Customer Incentives

In addition to all the great new products that Uppercase Living has introduced, there are new customer incentives, too! Here are some of the great items that I’m now able to offer you:

• New Vinyl mini-packs known simply as “Incentive Sets.” These sheets are a great way to introduce yourself to the Uppercase Living product and are small enough to embellish items from your laptop to your car! These theme packs will feature fresh designs each quarter to reflect the season.
• The Small Incentive Set is available in Fresh Linen, Green Tea and Soft Copper. These items are the perfect size for notebooks, cell phones, ipods, etc. 
  

  Small Incentive Sheet

• The Large Incentive Set is available in Bright White, Robin’s Egg and Soft Silver. These items are the perfect size for laptops, mailboxes, lockers, mirrors, etc.
  

  Large Incentive Sheet

•   Customer Appreciation Cards are pocket-size punch cards that you may know as “frequent buyer cards.” I’ll introduce the “official” program details soon but a few ways you’ll be able to earn stamps are with purchases of product, by hosting an Open House, and by attending Project Nights. I’m sure the next question you have is “what do I get once I’ve filled up my card?” and to be honest – I haven’t decided. What would you value most as a reward for being a dedicated customer? Leave your response via a comment to this post for a chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate!

 

More Exciting News is Coming . . .

Along with the new catalog, I hinted at some of the other new and exciting things that were on their way. Trying to catch up from being on vacation has kept me incredibly busy but I had to at least give you a little more information. So here are some more things that I’ll be introducing in the coming weeks. Remember, to get first notice of upcoming specials and mailings, make sure you join my mailing list.

 ·         Holiday Catalog

The new 2009 Idea Catalog: Holiday Edition, which will launch September 15, is a 20-page mini catalog designed for the upcoming holiday season. The catalog features a colorful layout, convenient gift kits, and brand new exclusive expressions that you won’t be able to resist. I don’t know about you but I’m excited for the project kits with the upcoming gift-giving season right around the corner. Who doesn’t love something unique and hand-made?

 ·         UL Photo Prints

Inside the Holiday Catalog, we are also introducing for the first time, Photo Prints—a new application that allows you to transform any high-quality photo into a larger-than-life, dynamic décor element. Photo Prints are printed on high-quality vinyl that can be easily placed on any surface—and best of all, they can be removed and reused to your heart’s content! There’s not a better, more unique way to turn traditional pictures and bare walls into eye-catching works of art. This product will be available on September 15, and will be a permanent part of our product offering.

 ·         Specialty Shimmer Vinyl

As part of our Holiday Catalog, we will also be offering specialty Shimmer Vinyl for a limited time. This vinyl has a glittery surface and is available for an upgrade fee in four great holiday-themed colors: Shimmer Gold, Shimmer Silver, Shimmer Cranberry, and Shimmer Evergreen.

 

New Catalog and MyDesign Improvements

It’s been an exciting past couple of days for Uppercase Living with the winding up of the annual convention and introduction of all kinds of new and exciting things! See the highlights below for details on the new catalog and MyDesign Improvements:

2009 Fall/Winter Idea Catalog

This beautiful new catalog includes an amazing assortment of improvements and design ideas. Some of the features that you can look forward to are below. Nothing is like seeing it in person though! Email me to find out how to get your free copy.

14 New Accessories including:

• Mini Punched Metal Tile
• Clear Acrylic Block
• Glass Charger with Easel
• Pre-drilled MDF Board with Metal Hooks, Vintage Knobs, and Bulldog Clips
• Glass Coasters (set of four)
• Vinyl Effects: a clear liquid that gives a raised, glossy appearance to any vinyl
• A new line of craft paint in 12 colors that coordinates perfectly with our vinyl

6 New Colors

• Lemon Chiffon, Fairytale Pink, Varsity Blue, Robin’s Egg, Herb Garden, Hot Cocoa

Chalk Wall

First previewed in April, we have now added three theme packs and a blank rectangle to our product line of kits bringing the total to 7 different options!

• Theme Packs: Flower Confetti, Tags & Tidbits, Stars & Dots
• Kits: Doodle Board, Weekly Calendar, Home Organization

Other Features:

• 15 new fonts
• A fresh new layout that is more intuitive and easier to scan
• A prominent back-cover ad about the Demonstrator opportunity
• Details on MyDesign Suite

MyDesign Suite

Now you can take your custom expression to a whole new level with our enhanced MyDesign Suite™! This new and improved online application gives you limitless options, enabling you to:

• Design your expression on a virtual UL accessory or blank surface
• Add existing UL Exclusive Expressions and embellishments to custom text
• Customize the font, size, color, alignment, and path of each expression element
• Easily reposition your elements individually or collectively

There are more upgrades and details that I’m so excited to share with you, but I don’t want to overwhelm in one post! Keep an eye out for future posts coming soon including detail for my Catalog Release Dinner Party scheduled for August 29th!