Brand New Ideas For Father's Day

With Easter and Mother's Day behind us, it's time to think about different ways to honor Dad on Father's Day. Of course, Uppercase Living has some great ideas for unique, personal gifts. You'll love how easy and affordable these are!

The first idea is great for dads of younger kids. The "Best Dad Ever" expression is placed on our pre-painted square MDF board.  The fun comes when you paint the kids' little hands and apply a hand print to the center. If the hands are small enough, you can do both hands, or more than one child's. I've also done 3 hands on one board by layering the smaller hand prints over the larger. Just use different colors of paint, letting each dry completely before you apply the next. The darkest paint goes on first.

We've also just released 3 new expressions that are perfect for a simple Father's Day project that will become a treasured keepsake. The instructions are the same regardless of which expression you choose. You'll need:

• 8x10 frame
• 1 sheet of scrapbook paper, cut to size. (Choose a light color with a small pattern)
• Your Uppercase Living expression
• Mistick wet application spray (or water) optional

Clean the glass in the frame completely with a lint-free cloth. Apply the UL expression, using Mistick, if you prefer to do a wet application (I always do a wet application on glass), to the glass in the spot of your choice.

Have the kids, grandkids and other family members write messages on the scrapbook paper, being careful to avoid the part that will be covered by the expression. You can also add photos to the scrapbook paper to make it even more unique. Put it in the frame and wrap the whole thing up for Dad!

What I really like about the "I Love You Because" expression is that it's not limited for just Father's Day. In fact, I think I'm going to add it to some Chalkboard or Dry Erase Vinyl and find a home for it in my house. We can all use a little extra love in our day. 

Guest Blogger: Getting and STAYING Organized in the New Year

I am so excited to feature my first ever guest blogger, Stacy Thomes of Strive to Organize. Stacy is a professional organizer and Super Mom with lots of great ideas to help keep our homes and lives more organized. I'm thrilled she's written this post exclusively for Please Use Your Words.

As we approach 2012 (yes, 2012) we likely have New Year’s resolutions on our mind. We all have behaviors we would like to change and traditionally the New Year is the time to make the declaration “out loud” and commit to making those changes. But, how do we really make them stick? Whether it’s cooking more, eating less, spending more time with family, helping others in need or never being late again, staying organized is the core factor behind all of these behavioral changes.

But how, you ask, do I stay organized? To tell you the truth, it’s a mindset. You have to make the decision to simply stay on top of things, plan ahead and believe that you can do it. And you can. Really.

If you really want to make a change, you have to do some research, on yourself. Take a few moments to ask yourself why you are disorganized, let’s take a look and analyze our behaviors step by step. Try this exercise;

• Write down the main obstacles you come across on a daily basis on piece of paper. Be totally honest with yourself. Too much clutter in your home? Can’t keep up with the kid’s obligations? Always late? Constantly feeling stressed and rushed?
• Now, dissect those behaviors by writing down the reasons you think that is your reality. Why are you always late? Why is there too much clutter? Be totally honest with yourself-no one has to see this. Just do it for you.
• Now write down HOW you can change it. Do you need to hire a professional organizer to come and help do a clean sweep in your home? Do you need to work on your time management and start keeping lists? Do you need to stop over committing to too many events, volunteering and work?  Asking for help and saying NO are often very difficult, but sometimes we just need to. Respect yourself and know your boundaries and ONLY do things you really want to.

Are you done? Great job! This exercise should be enlightening and reveal patterns in your behavior that can easily be tweaked to help you be more productive and less stressed. Just believe you can do ANYTHING you want BUT it is up to YOU to make those changes. Anyone can do this, but like I said, it is all in your mindset. Empower yourself. Make a decision to make those changes, even in tiny baby steps, one thing at a time, and you will achieve your ultimate goal.

Once you’ve gone through this process and highlighted the areas you want to work on, then look for the specific tools that will make this easier. Uppercase Living has a variety of products that work well in an organized home. Their line of Erasable Vinyl (chalk or dry erase) can go anywhere from the garage to the kitchen to the kids’ rooms. You can cut a plain piece to any shape, or use the predesigned items that fit your needs, such as a chore chart to help keep the kids on track, a weekly menu (planning meals ahead means no more last minute pizza delivery), or a family calendar.

With Uppercase Living custom lettering, you can add your kids’ names to bins or tubs so they have one place for their things to go. For a child who is too young to read, a little face is also available. There are also images such as trains, cars, planes, etc. that can help you label boxes or tubs for specific toys. Again, no reading required!

We often spend so much time helping others that we tend to put ourselves last. When we have families that depend on us, taking care of ourselves is of number one importance because if we don’t, our whole family can crumble (and we can succumb to the desire of wine, pills and overall exhaustion!). This year, make a resolution to be kind to yourself. Consider adding an uplifting UL expression somewhere where it will be a daily reminder to go easy on you! If your child were suffering from chronic disorganization how would you help him or her? Treat yourself, you really do deserve it. Cheers to a New Year and a new and improved you.

For all of your organizing needs, contact Stacy Thomes, owner and operator of Strive to Organize located in Woodland Hills, California - http://strivetoorganize.com

For daily organizing tips, visit her on Facebook.

Our Brand New Catalog Has Arrived!!!!

Last week, at our annual convention at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, Uppercase Living finally revealed the brand new vinyl catalog that we've all been waiting impatiently for. It is now available for you to page through on my website. All the new expressions are also there for you to browse or search. There is just too much good stuff for me to detail individually here. But here are some of the highlights to whet your appetite. Hostesses always get free catalogs, so contact me to schedule your party and I'll get one out to you ASAP. And now, here's the scoop:

Brand new color: This year's new color is Mustard Seed. It's a deep yellow that is not only decor-friendly, but the perfect shade for softballs and water polo balls for all those sports teams. I think it will look particularly beautiful on darker walls and/or paired with Navy, Slate Gray (a very on-trend combination right now) or Vintage Bordeaux. 

Tons of new expressions: I love our new expressions. So many beautiful sentiments with more contemporary fonts and styling; sweet, fun, romantic, serious and playful; always with the most important undertone being home, family and the activities that bond us together. There are so many inspirational words for your walls. Here's one of my favorites:

Big Changes on Accessories: You'll notice that our Accessories section has been streamlined. The MDF Foundations boards all now come painted white!! There's a gorgeous new Vintage Embossed Metal Board in Berry, which previously had just been a seasonal item. Best news of all: lower prices on all Frameworks!!

New Grande Format Designs: These versatile designs continue to be popular.  Among the botanicals and other designs are my favorite: headboards! Over the years I've designed many headboard replacements for customers who just couldn't have the real thing. Now I can add two actual headboard designs to the options. Here is the wrought iron look:

12 New Fonts: The choices in creating your own vinyl lettering designs are greater than ever with the introduction of 12 new fun, contemporary, classy, versatile and gorgeous fonts. Which do you like best?

A Brand New Hostess Rewards Plan: Our new, simplified hostess rewards plan gives you more FREE and half price products than ever before when you host a fun Uppercase Living party. Every hostess with a qualifying party gets at least 2 half price items in addition to her FREE products. Plus, you'll earn FREE products based on every single dollar your guests spend at your party. More goodies for you! As my calendar fills with hostesses wanting to share the new catalog with their friends, party dates will be more difficult to fine. I'd love to schedule yours!

Fun New Additions to Erasables: We love our Chalk Walls because they come in handy in so many ways. Plus they are just so much fun! The new Value Pack is perfect for organizing any space, from a pantry to a craft room to a garage...and more! Our Chalk Markers are now available in red and blue. And guess what else:

I can't wait to share more ideas for this fun and versatile product with you. Look for my "Back to School With Chalk Wall" post soon.

Returning Favorites: To celebrate Uppercase Living's 5th anniversary, some customer favorites have been brought out of retirement and back to our new catalog. You'll be able to find them all with the special logo throughout the catalog. Here's one I love that is not only cute for a bathroom but perfect for a dental office:

Those are just some of the highlights of this fantastic new catalog. Others include leopard print, the Serenity Prayer, owls, lots of great clocks and so much more. Once again, the possibilities for lettering and design are virtually unlimited. I would love the opportunity to help you create a uniquely personalized space with our products. Design and consultation services are always FREE and you can even earn your products FREE when you host a party. Just let me know how I can help you. And if you love working with me, I would appreciate your referrals. I consider them the highest form of praise. I look forward to working with all of you and sharing the great new products in this catalog, and many many more new things with you.

Tackling Kids' Chores With Chalk Wall

  

When is a kitchen cabinet more than just a kitchen cabinet? When it does double duty to help a family stay on top of homework, chores and kids' behavior. 

Let me back up a little. At the beginning of the summer I happened a upon a scheme to reward my kids with stars for playing nicely, doing their chores, making good choices, and all those things I was constantly nagging them to do. Each morning, I posted a handwritten list of tasks on the refrigerator and they crossed each task off as it was completed. For this they received a star or two on my scribbled "star chart," also stuck to the fridge. 

All of a sudden, my nagging stopped. If they wanted to do something and their chores weren't finished, I pointed to the "Jobs List" with a sad look. They knew what they needed to do. And if they decided to misbehave, or fight or hit, or do one of the other things that erodes my patience, they might find their hard-earned stars disappearing with a flick of my eraser. The kids know that when they fill up their stars, they'll get a new toy or a special outing, and they can also use stars to "buy" certain privileges. Things like a special treat, extra screen time and sleep overs with each other can all be purchased with stars. Of course, if they wait too long to start their homework, they might also have to purchase a "Finish Homework After Dinner" pass.

Over the next few months, the star chart became a regular part of our days. I made sure not to overwhelm them with too many tasks or ones that were too difficult or time-consuming, keeping in mind each one's age, ability and attention span. They enjoyed crossing things off their list and watching the stars accumulate, and I realized that I had stumbled into a good tool. So I decided to make the "Star Chart" and the "Job List" a more prominent fixture in the kitchen, and get the scribbled lists off my refrigerator at the same time.

I turned, of course, to Uppercase Living Chalk Walls. Because my kitchen doesn't have a lot of wall space, I decided to use the unused space inside a cabinet door. This particular cabinet is large, and low enough to be accessible to my kids. I used one of our plain Chalk Wall Rectangles (a fantastic value at just $14.95, it's also available in Dry Erase) and cut it in half to get two narrow rectangles. Then I took on the fun task of jazzing up the plain chalkboard with fun lettering and embellishments. Using our MyDesign Suite, I chose a playful font and bright colors for the kids' names and the words "Do this....Now Go Play!" With our Chalk Pens, I can keep track of each child's stars (and easily erase them when unfortunate choices are made) and change out my list of tasks as often as I like. The ugly list is off my refrigerator and has been replaced by a fun and attractive addition to our kitchen (that hides as soon as I close the cabinet). Best of all, I've been able to significantly decrease the amount of nagging I had to do to get my kids to help out with chores. They've realized how quickly these tasks get done and love the feeling of accomplishment that comes from a fully crossed-off list. Of course, they're kids and no system can change that. All of us have good days and bad days. But I'm happy to report that the good seem to outnumber the bad in this instance. Chalk one up for Mom!

Late December Newsletter

Happy Holidays!

I hope all of you are enjoying the holiday season, despite the awful weather that most of us seem to be having. With just a few days to go until Christmas, I want to take this opportunity to wish you all the happiest of holidays, thank you for your support this past year, and tell you about some great deals, special offers and changes coming in the new year.
FREE SHIPPING and CLEARANCE SPECIALSFrom now through Dec. 31, get FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $50! Whether you've had your eye on some pieces for your home, have some gifts to get for January birthdays or want to get a head start on Valentine's day, save on shipping when your total order, before sales tax, reaches $50. Getting to $50 will be easy when you check out the great clearance deals in the Special Offers section of my website. You will find a variety of items with deep discounts, including a pre-painted photo board set. Our popular card sets are marked down to $3.95 a pack! There's a lot more that you'll have to check out for yourself, but don't wait because all clearance items are in limited quantity. FREE Shipping and Clearance Discounts are a double deal that you won't want to miss.
LAST CHANCE To Purchase Items from Holiday Mini CatalogDecember 31 is also your last opportunity to order from our popular Holiday Mini Catalog. The exclusive items in this catalog may or may not return in the future, so if you've had an item in mind, don't let it slip away. Among our most popular holiday items have been the Halloween Countdown Set, Mr. Bones, Pumpkinhead Activity Set, Gratitude Tree with dry erase leaves, Holiday Decor Sets, Build-A-Snowman Activity Set and the fantastic Christmas Countdown Kit. But don't forget that so many of the items in this catalog are designed with an everyday option as well as a holiday one. Certainly the Gratitude Tree is lovely year-round. Other great choices are the Double Frameworks Kit, Sentiments Photo Frame Kit, Welcome Kit with Red Vintage Embossed Metal Board, Chalk Wall Placemats and of course, the iron-on vinyl sets. There are also everyday options with the coaster kits and gift tin kits. It's worth taking a final look through this catalog before the 31st to make sure you won't miss anything you've been wanting to get.
Buy Two, Get One Free Special Makes January Parties Even More FunThink about January: the holiday decorations are down and your home looks a little more bare than you remember. Plus with all the holiday activity, including family events, you're kind of ready to get the kids back to school, catch up with friends and resume your daily routine. A really great way to get back into the swing of things in January is to host your own Uppercase Living party. Get some great new decorating ideas (and fill up those bare spots you're starting to notice in your home) and get your friends together to catch up on the holiday news. Put out some light refreshments (no cookies or eggnog!) and I'll bring a fun craft so you and your friends can ease into the new year at a casual get together.

The only way to add to the fun is a great offer from Uppercase Living, so here it is: Buy Two, Get One Free!!! From January 4 to 31, you can choose one item FREE for every two you buy. This promotion applies to all of our catalog items, Photo Prints and even Custom Designs! There are no limits to the savings, so start planning your shopping list. Of course, you don't have to attend or host a party to take advantage of this special. Just place your order with me or online starting January 4. However, a party is always more fun!

I'm now scheduling parties in January and February, when our Inspirations Incentive will be offering more great benefits for customers and hostesses alike. And since it's the season of giving, I'll have a bonus gift for each person who contacts me to schedule a party and mentions this newsletter. The two incentives will definitely make me very busy in January and February, so don't hesitate to contact me to get your preferred party date.
FREE INSTALLATION Special Coming in January!I'm so excited to offer my first ever FREE INSTALLATION special throughout January. If you are one of those people who have purchased some expressions and left them in a back corner of a closet, waiting for the day you get around to putting them up, this special is for YOU!  All through January, I'll be making house calls to get those expressions out of the closet and on to the walls! While this offer is limited to those in my immediate area, please let me know if you're a little further out and would like some installation help. I'll do my best to accommodate everyone. Appointments are first come, first served, so contact me now to reserve yours.
Birthday Greetings!Happy Birthday to the following ladies who celebrated their big day in November and December: Irina M, Mary T, Mimi C, Robyn P, Melinda M, Stephanie V, Caroline B, Kristy L, Nancy S, Kristy F, Marcy L, Vicki S, Maria A, Bonnie C, Charissa B, Heather K, Susan F, Gina H, Gina H,Jane M, Pam S, Sharon B, Patti M, Jean B, Holly F, Laurie G, Jessica D, Lauri M, and my sweet friends Amanda, Liz and Jennie. My gift to each of you is 10% off any item of your choice.
Looking Ahead 
Hopefully, the next edition of Torreh's Uppercase Living News! will come to you with a brand new look. I'm working on moving my newsletter to a new provider and plan to have it ready for you by the next issue. Please bear with me if there are any hiccups during this transition.

Other things to look forward to include the Uppercase Living Inspirations Incentive, and hopefully a large scale fundraiser to be announced in January. Of course, I never know just what's around the corner, so stay tuned to this newsletter, my blog and Facebook for all the latest information.

Your Double Up Rewards Are In the Bank!

If you've purchased anything from me in the last 6 months, your purchase amount has been doubled and is waiting to be applied to the next Uppercase Living party you host! For many of you, this can increase your FREE hostess rewards by one or even two levels. During the last several months, my hostesses saved an average of $150 to $200 just by hosting a casual Uppercase Living party! To check your Double Up Reward amount, just reply to this email or give me a call and see just how much you have already earned!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
I'd like to extend a special "Thank You" to all of you customers, hostesses, friends and cheer leaders who have supported me and my business this last year. I appreciate each of you and don't take for granted that you allow me into your homes and your lives, tell me your family stories, and use the products I provide to enhance the spaces you live, play and work in. The best part about my job is working with so many wonderful people and watching them enjoy their homes even more when their expressions are applied (I even got a hug from a customer when I helped transform her kitchen this month!). I look forward to working with you all in 2011 and well beyond.
May you all spend the holiday season surrounded by those you love and have a happy, healthy New Year filled with special moments.

All the best,

Torreh

50 and Counting!

 

Thanks to one of my lovely friends on Facebook, I know that there are now 50 days left until Christmas. For us adults, that translates to "Holy cow, only 50 days? How will I ever get everything done?" But if you're a kid, those 50 days may as well be 500. My kids have been asking how many days since the end of summer! 

Our adorable Christmas Countdown Kit answers the question in very cute style! Available for a limited time, the kit includes our 12x12 punched metal tile in Berry Red (for those of you who haven't seen it, it's such a pretty shade of red), a two party expression in your choice of colors, the Chalk Wall piece for the countdown, and the exclusive Black Easel that's only available in this kit. With all those pieces included, it's a fabulous value at just $32.95.  

The fun thing about the kit is that you can start counting down anytime. I know there are those of you who just might start counting the days until next Christmas right around New Year's!

Countdown Tip: If you look closely in the photo, the expression has been placed slightly off center. The expression is designed this way for added interest. If you prefer to have yours perfectly centered, position the present first, then cut the 2nd part in two pieces, placing the bow and the words separately.

Bonus Tip: Order a coordinating Valentine's Day expression to go on the back of your Red Tile and let it do double duty! You'll be ready for Valentine's Day as soon as your Christmas Decorations are put away!

Nate Berkus and Gossip Girl Michelle Trachtenberg Love Vinyl Wall Art!

On today's show, celebrity designer Nate Berkus and Gossip Girl actress Michelle Trachtenberg discuss the versatility of vinyl wall art, especially for apartments! I love the designs she shows, and she also talks about how great vinyl is for families with small children. Chalk Wall, anyone?

Going Back to School With Chalk Wall

Kids look forward to going back to school for lots of reasons, but doing homework is definitely not one of them.  What better way to get them motivated to hit the books than by creating a fun homework station? Paired with Erasable Chalk Wall or dry erase tiles, our new Decorative Print tiles are the perfect decor for a homework nook. The Decorative Prints add the fun and the Erasables provide space to list assignments, figure out some pesky word problems or for Mom or Dad to leave an encouraging note.

The smart Dad that designed this space added an extra Chalk While tile to the top of the study table so his girls (how cute are they? They just ooze sweetness and sass, No wonder they've got Dad wrapped around their little fingers!) can doodle or practice their handwriting.

The Decorative Prints used here are the Groovy Retro Tiles. For a boys' space you can use the Classic Sports Retro Tiles. You can even create a memo center in your kitchen using the Fruit Label Retro Tiles. I'd love to see how you use our great new Erasables to create a cool study space for your little students.

As Seen On Today's Jen's List

One of our brand new items, this adorable chore chart was featured today on Jen's List. Yes that's DRY ERASE vinyl, right on the wall, with no nails, pins, or damage to the surface underneath. You can choose the color of the lettering to match your decor and customize it in so many ways to fit your family's needs. For example, you can remove the days of the week and make it a daily chore chart. You could also remove the word "Chores" to make it a reward chart. Or remove all the lettering and use it for potty training! The chore chart, like all of our Erasables products, comes in a chalkboard finish as well as dry erase. How will you use it in your home?

Some Quick Updates: Summer Savings For You and a Summer Getaway for Me!

This is my favorite kind of update to share with you: UL IS ON SALE!! Starting today, you will save 15% on all orders of $40 or more. This applies to everything in our gorgeous new catalog, from the smallest embellishment to the largest Grande Format expression. Choose anything from the very first accessory we ever introduced to the brand new ones just released last month. Stock up on every color paint, get some Mistick, Chalk Wall pens in every color. Whatever you choose, your $40 order will be 15% off. 
You can order online on my website or contact me to place your orders. Better yet, collect some orders from friends or organize a live or online party and save even more by earning FREE hostess benefits! This is a limited time offer so don't wait to take advantage of the great savings.

Many thanks to Bruce Tuten for this gorgeous photo of an Oahu sunset.

While you're browsing my website and making your choices, I'll be taking a long awaited trip to Honolulu for a family visit, lots of fun and hopefully some relaxation. My plan is to fill my schedule with long stretches of beach time, only to be interrupted for a lovely umbrella drink and the occasional nap. However, I may be able to tear myself away from this gruelling routine to talk to any new Hawaiian friends about Uppercase Living. Uppercase Living is also great for all those wonderful military families stationed in Hawaii. You can finally decorate your walls without painting or damage, and yes, we do ship to APO/FPO addresses, even overseas. If you would like to discuss joining UL or would like to organize a very casual party, please let me know as soon as possible. Not only do I need to make sure to get you on my calendar, I'd also like to pack any supplies I might need. I would LOVE to add some new Hawaiian members to my team...so I can schedule some future business trips, of course.

Enjoy the sale and Aloha! 

For You Lovers of Pottery Barn: Everything Is Coming Up Roosters!

Earlier this year, when Uppercase Living introduced our brand new Decorative Prints, I kind of scratched my head and wondered about them including a rooster set among the first few designs. Of all the possible choices, I thought, why start with something as random as roosters? Imagine my surprise when I opened my latest Pottery Barn catalog and saw a number of different items using, you guessed it, roosters! Once again, it seems that the UL designers were ahead of a trend by including those and all the other roosters in our catalog.

As it turns out, roosters are a symbol of luck and good fortune, and who doesn't want some of that good fortune represented in their home decor? Tuscan legend has it that one rooster's crow once saved an entire village from danger.

The tremendous variety in Pottery Barn's roosters lends them to lots of different decorating uses. From bright and whimsical, to understated folk art; from small details to large pieces, there's a way for everyone to include this cheerful trend in their decorating.

Whether you're ahead of the trends, have always loved roosters, or you'd like to add a little French Country flair to your home for the first time, Uppercase Living also has a choice for everyone.  Of course, the most vivid are those original Rooster Decorative Prints. The artwork on these is beautiful and the feathers are so lifelike. The touches of red would tie in beautifully with any other red items in a room. You can use these guys as a set or scatter them throughout your kitchen, living room or entry. I think they would look really cute on a back splash or just hanging out right above the baseboard. They come in 3 sizes to give you lots of options.

The rooster motif is also available in our matte vinyl. This choice gives you almost unlimited versatility for not only are these two rooster styles available in all of our 40+ colors, but they also come in sizes ranging from 3 to 18 inches. The smaller sizes can be applied to individual tiles in a back splash, used to create a border or applied to our coasters to create a decorative accessory or gift for a rooster lover. 

The larger size can be applied alone or in a grouping right to the wall.  It can also go on a tile or board to create a decorative accent. Here, a rooster in Whipped Creme is shown on our new Punched Metal Tile in Berry. You can continue the French Country theme by looping a ribbon through the holes and hanging it from our new Fleur de Lis medallion.

A more subtle effect is achieved by applying the rooster embellishments in Etched Glass on a glass kitchen door or cabinet front. Another idea is to use the Welcome Rooster in the black square Frameworks, as shown here. This is another idea of a great piece for your own home or for a sweet gift. The red vinyl picks up the tones in the cabinetry without being a perfect match.

For something completely different, try our brand new Barnyard pack, part of the Erasables line. Also available in dry erase vinyl, this set lends true country charm and whimsy to a kitchen. But it's just as cute in a child's farm themed bedroom, playroom, or even a classroom.

I have to admit that even I've been surprised at the versatility of roosters in decorating. With a few accessories and a vinyl piece or two you can play with this fun trend without making any permanent changes or major investments. Sure, you could buy a $400 ceramic rooster, but you can spend much less on Uppercase Living roosters and have a lot left over to decorate the rest of your home too!

Late July Newsletter - All Kinds Of Updates!

I know you've all been waiting for all the latest updates from Uppercase Living. Our convention was earlier this month in St. Louis and it was an extravaganza with one exciting announcement after another! The new catalog has been live for about a week and everyone who has seen it has one thing to say: WOW!!! The new Hostess Center on my website is an invaluable tool for hostesses to send invitations, track RSVPs and watch their rewards add up. I have so much great news to share with you all so I'll jump right in!
New Catalog, New Products, New Accessories, New Colors and MORE!
There is so much to love about this great new catalog! If you haven't had a chance to see it yet, you can flip through it right on my website. Of course, there are plenty of new expressions for a variety of spaces and tons of new designs. If you know someone who loves Peace Signs (my daughter is currently obsessed) you will love all the different options incorporating them. There are also new products that you will love:

• Not only are the very popular Chalk Walls back with lots of new designs, but they have a new name: Erasables. That's because now they're available in your choice of chalkboard or dry erase vinyl!!! Both dry erase and chalkboard pens are available to complete the package.
• A gorgeous new Double Frameworks is just one of the great new additions to our Foundations accessories. Frameworks now comes in chocolate brown and our Punched Metal and Vintage Metal Embossed Boards come in gorgeous new colors. We have a beautiful new Frameworks Photo Frame with plenty of room for you to embellish it with UL expressions. For those of you who love to hang our Foundations boards, frames and tiles on the wall, we have two new medallions, including a beautiful Fleur de Lis.  Finally, our brand new Shimmer Effects lets you add a little glimmer to any off the wall project quickly and easily.
• New Grande Format and Decorative Print designs give you more decorative options than ever before. I love the 2-part choices and chandeliers in Grande Format and my favorite Decorative Prints are all the interactive choices for children's decor (check out  Transportation Central, available in 3 colorways!).
• New clocks! Our clocks have been so popular that we've added 3 new designs. I'm having a hard time deciding which to get for my family room!
• New colors! Our brand new colors are very decorator friendly. You purple people are going to love Concord Grape. I personally think Wild Raspberry and Stone Cottage are both beautiful. And if you've been looking for a true blue, I think our Royal Blue will work nicely for you. We also have more Shimmer colors than ever before. I can't wait to use some of that Shimmer Orange for Halloween!

Of course, you can always view the catalog on my website. But you can get your own FREE copy in your hostess kit simply by contacting me to schedule your own party date. You'll be among the first to see all of the great new stuff and your friends will love having a girls' night out to see what's new and socialize while you earn FREE and HALF PRICE products.

Online Hostess Center Makes Hosting Parties Easier and More Rewarding Than Ever
You asked for it and now it's here: the new Hostess Center on my website gives hostesses a portal to invite their guests, track RSVPs and send reminders, and watch as online orders earn them more hostess rewards than ever before! The most exciting part is that your guests no longer need to live nearby to have their orders count toward your party total. Using the Hostess Center you can now invite guests to your party from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. They can associate their orders to your party right on my website and have their products shipped directly to them. Meanwhile, you get credit for their orders just as if they were at your home party! There is no longer any sort of geographic limit on who you can invite to your Uppercase Living party. With so much to choose from in our new catalog, your guests are sure to find something that they'll love and you'll love checking off your Wish List as you earn FREE and HALF PRICE items.

I'm currently forming a Focus Group of hostesses who would like to have a party in July or August and use my Hostess Center. I'd love to get your opinions on how you enjoyed using the Hostess Center. If you would like to take part in this Focus Group and earn some bonus products for participating, please contact me to reserve a party date asap.

New Facebook Page
In order to reach more people and serve everyone better, I've created a new Facebook page. Come join me at http://www.facebook.com/ultorreh for ideas, updates, photos and more. Among other things, I've posted the hostess and customer FREE monthly rewards for July, August and September. If you're planning on hosting a party, take a look and see which month's freebies you like best. It might just help you pick a date!

Complimentary Design Consultations
With an eye toward improving my service to my wonderful customers, I am now providing complimentary design consultations. You can make an appointment to have me come to your home to provide ideas and guidance for some unique ways to decorate using our products. You can also just send me a photo of your space and let me suggest some ways to transform it with Uppercase Living. Simply call or email me to find out more.
Aloha!!!!!!I will be spending some time in Honolulu in August and will have limited time to talk to people about joining my team or placing orders. If you'd like to get together while I'm there, please contact me ASAP so I can fit you into my calendar.

Looking Ahead
Not surprisingly, there will be lots of great ideas and products still to come from UL as we get closer to the fall and (gulp) winter holidays. I'm not going to give away all my secrets, but I promise that you will LOVE them. I will be holding my annual Open House at my home in September and its not too early to start planning your fall parties. If this year is anything like last year, my calendar will start filling up early and I would hate to see anyone miss out on sharing our great products with their family and friends and earning tons for free. I've come back from Convention with tons of new ideas that I plan to put in place in the coming months. Look for more updates to come in the next few issues.

I hope you all enjoy browsing my new catalog either online or in person. I'd love to hear from you and find out your favorite new expressions, colors and products. Looking forward to hearing from you!

 

Comings and Goings...New Catalog Is Almost Here!

I'm just back from a wonderful and exciting Convention in St. Louis and, honestly, I'm having a hard time coming down from my excitement. Once again, I'm totally wowed by our designers and product developers. I can't wait to share all of our new expressions and accessories with my hostesses and their guests. There are gorgeous new colors and so much more. Here is a quick overview of products as well as the time lines for ordering from the old catalog along with the deadline for getting items from the current one:

• Our current catalog, mini Celebrations catalog and all the items on the current Retired List are available for purchase through tomorrow night until 11:oo P.M. Pacific time.
  
• You can begin ordering from our BRAND NEW catalog starting at 11:00 A.M. on July 20th!!
  
• We have new colors: Concord Grape, Wild Raspberry, Spring Hyacinth, Royal Blue, and Stone Cottage. You Purple People are going to love our new selection. Stone Cottage is a fantastic new neutral. Our selection of Shimmer Colors has been expanded with the return of some favorites from last year and the introduction of Shimmer Orange and Shimmer Charcoal...perfect for all you who love decorating for Halloween.
• A new product, Shimmer Effects, makes adding sparkle to your off the wall projects easier than ever.
  
• Our fantastic new accessory is a Double Frameworks frame which holds both a square and a rectangular insert. You will LOVE this. There's also a gorgeous frame with lots of room for customization with vinyl lettering and embellishments. Both are great for your own home and gifts. Plus, my favorite accessory, the punched metal tile is available in more colors than ever before. Wait until you see the new Berry tile. And black will be awesome for Halloween and so much more!
  
• Chalk Walls have become part of our new Erasable Vinyl line. Not only do we have more Chalk Wall selections than ever, but you can also choose each of the designs in our brand new DRY ERASE VINYL. Just wait until you see the kids' chore chart.
  
• Our clocks have been so popular that we now have 3 new completely different designs. From ornate to minimal, you will want several of these for yourself or as gifts.
  
• Those of you who love to turn our acrylic blocks into night lights will LOVE the new LED light insert. Designed to fit into the block's opening perfectly, it's battery operated and you'll never have to mess with cords again! Hooray.
• New Grande Format and Decorative Designs are absolutely fantastic. There are more Decorative Prints than ever before and they truly fit every type of decor. My favorites are the interactive designs for kids' spaces.
  

The biggest news of all is that my fantastic hostesses are no longer limited to inviting only guests who live locally. Now you can truly invite everyone you know to shop at your Uppercase Living party and help you earn free products, no matter where they live. You can also organize nationwide fundraisers. Online hostess tools make it easy to see RSVPs, orders, and track all of your hostess rewards.

I am so excited to share all of this with you and your friends. As always, schedule your own party ASAP to be among the first to see everything I've mentioned and more. I have dates available in July and August.

Believe me, this is just a quick preview of all that's still to come. Contact me to schedule a party or get help with an order. I can also add you to my mailing list so you can get up-to-the-minute information of all the ways you can use Uppercase Living in your life. I'd love to have you let me know if you'd like me to schedule a new catalog celebration party or some project nights. Don't forget to vote in my poll (to the right of your screen) and happy shopping!

Get Organized on the Cheap with Chalk Walls

So, it's mid-March, which means that you're probably beating yourself up about not keeping your New Year's resolutions. Or is that just me? If you're one of the gazillion people who has promised themselves that this is the year you will get organized once and for all, you are definitely not alone. I struggle with this, too, along with many of my friends. And judging by just how popular our Chalk Walls are, so do many of my customers. One of my most popular products, Chalk Walls are most commonly ordered for kids' rooms and kitchens. Not surprisingly, these are two of the rooms in the home that are most in need of organization.

Let's start with the kitchen. This is most families' gathering place and a prime location for an organizational tool to make everyone's lives a little easier. Whether it's a master calendar for the week's activities, a perpetual shopping list (like the one in the kitchen on the Brady Bunch!) or a central place to write down phone messages (no more lost Post-It notes!), a Chalk Walk in the kitchen just makes sense. Many kitchens simply do not have the wall space for artwork. But Chalk Walls come in a variety of sizes that are even narrow enough to go on a refrigerator. They can even be cut down to fit cabinet doors. A small piece on a dishwasher will eliminate the eternal question, "Are these dishes clean or dirty?" And a Chalk Wall on a lower cabinet gives a little one the perfect safe spot to be creative while Mommy is in the kitchen.


Chalk Walls are also the coolest way to keep kids organized and on track, while giving them a blank canvas to express their own creativity at the same time. Changing their minds is as easy as wiping a Chalk Wall clean and starting again. Create a Homework Command Center where your kids can keep track of assignments. Assign weekly chores with the Calendar Kit. Whether you're working on Potty Training, chores or remembering to brush teeth, a Chalk Wall makes a perfect reward chart. My favorite use for Chalk Walls is to surprise kids with funny and encouraging notes; anything that helps us communicate with our children gets an A+ from this mom!

Not only are Chalk Walls a smart organizational tool, you can be a smart shopper and save now using our Buy 2 Get 1 FREE promotion. A friend of mine purchased 3 Chalk Wall Rectangle Panels today: 2 are for her sons' rooms to help them stay organized and the third is for her kitchen. It will either hold her to-do list or her grocery list. The best part of her purchase is that she got the third one FREE! Knowing this particular friend, it won't be long before she orders a Chalk Wall for her daughter's room, another for the playroom and one more for her home office.

How are Chalk Walls helping you to stay organized? Send me a photo and you might just find your home featured right here!

Chalk Wall Tip #1: Use chalk markers, found in craft stores, for a fun addition of color on your Chalk Wall. Clean with a damp cloth or baby wipe.

Chalk Wall Tip #2: On my web site and in my catalog, chalkboard vinyl is designated with black and gray stripes.

Prepare to be Inspired: Spring/Summer 2010 Catalog and Inspirations Incentive are Here!!

After all the teases and sneak previews, you can start shopping from our brand new Spring/Summer catalog today! In a few hours, you'll be able to visit my website to view all of the great new products and ideas you've been waiting to see.

In addition to tons of new expressions and new colors, we have added a few foundations accessories: metal plaques and Frameworks in white! You won't believe the 2 part Chalk Walls. Plus the Grande Format designs and new Decorative Prints. In my opinion, those will be the show stopper in this selling period.

As if all that weren't enough, our annual Inspirations Incentive is back and better than ever. Whether you want to buy some items, host a party to earn free and half price products, or become an Uppercase Living demonstrator yourself, the Inspirations Incentive makes now a great time to get more, pay less, or both!

New Demonstrators
Have you been looking for a way to earn some extra money in the new year? Perhaps you need to pay off some holiday bills or want to save up for a summer vacation. Uppercase Living offers a great opportunity to set your own hours and make money sharing an exciting product that people love to hear about. The Inspiration Incentive gives you our Essentials Plus starter kit, usually priced at $199, for only $129. Not only do you save $70, but you also get a $100 product credit! You're basically getting everything you need to start your new business for only $29!!

Hostesses
You have a lot to gain when you host your own Uppercase Living party during the Inspirations Incentive. First, your Double Up rewards from previous purchases will become TRIPLE UP REWARDS. You'll add up to $375 to your guests' orders to determine your reward level. This is a great benefit and doesn't come around often. Also, if your January party reaches $400 in guest orders (before tax and shipping), you will receive one of our Spring Inspirations Kits absolutely FREE!

Customers
There's a treat in store for all of you who purchase our products during the Inspirations Incentive. Each order of $25 will allow you to purchase one of our pre-designed Inspirations Kits.

Each kit is individually priced and includes everything you need to create a fun, seasonal project. The kit components and vinyl colors have been selected by our designers. Each includes a Foundations piece as well as a 2-color vinyl expression. At first I was worried that it would be difficult to pick just one, but you get to choose one for each $25 increment of your order, so no worries there!

The hostess and customer Inspirations incentives are in addition to our regular monthly incentives which you will still receive with your order. The only thing you'll need to decide is whether you'll place your own order, host a party or a catalog party, or join my team and get started on a fun and profitable new venture. Whatever you choose, you'll have lots of help and support from me.

Great deals, free items and big savings. Plus a whole new catalog full of great ideas and inspiration. This is shaping up to be a happy new year indeed.

"Any Color But Black" Friday Sale

All around the nation this Friday morning, even late Thursday night, legions of Americans will be interrupting their weekend of food, family and gratitude to participate in a barbaric ritual perpetrated by retailers that has come to be called "Black Friday." These poor people will be waiting in lines, huddled against the cold, to be among the first to grab a coveted "door buster" and get a marginally good deal on a holiday item. Baited by the stores and malls, these valiant shoppers fight for parking, take their place in those early morning lines and hope it will all be worth it. Instead, they could be sleeping in their warm beds, enjoying an early morning walk, or having a slice of leftover pie with their families, all still in their cozy pajamas. Tsk, tsk. Is this what Thanksgiving weekend has come to? Black Friday, indeed.


I am here to show America a better way. Announcing Torreh's First Annual Any Color But Black Friday Uppercase Living Sale.

Now, instead of being on your feet in line, you can shop from your favorite seat at home, a cup of something warm by your side, all comfy and cozy in your leopard print Snuggie. If you don't feel like it, you don't even have to put on a bra.

Here are the rules:

1. There will be no discounts on products ordered before noon. So don't wake up at the crack of dawn thinking you're getting ahead of everyone.
2. Quantities are not limited. Get as much as you want, and then tell your friends and they can get as much as they want too.
3. Discounts and promotions are not valid on website orders. You must call or email me.
4. Only the promotion at the time of your call or email is valid at that time. However, you can plan ahead and order at more than one time.
5. Discounts do not apply to current party or Open House orders.
   
6. There will be no hitting, running, fighting, or grabbing items out of the hands of aggressive shoppers.

Now that we have that out of the way, here are the hourly deals:

Noon-2 P.M. 10% off all accessories

2 P.M.-4 P.M. Free chalk pen with all Chalk Wall purchases

4 P.M.-6 P.M. Get one free 3" embellishment with each set of coasters purchased

6 P.M.-8 P.M. 10% off all items in Shimmer Vinyl or Etched Glass - includes upgrade fee!

8 P.M.-10 P.M. FREE SHIPPING

But wait, there's still more! These additional promotions are in effect the entire day:

• All orders of $200 or more (before tax, S&H, and discounts) qualify for hostess benefits and additional free product
• Your pre-discounted order will be eligible to earn free monthly incentive expressions
• Refer a friend discount: if a friend who's not currently my client places an order and tells me she or he was referred by you, you both get an additional 5% discount off your order.
  
• Schedule a party discount: schedule a future Uppercase Living home party and receive 10% off your entire order placed Friday.
  
• Free Value Pack offer applies to all Photo Print orders of 4x4 or greater

(this is the part where you start humming The Battle Hymn of the Republic)

So now, America, the decision is yours. Will you crawl out of your warm bed on a cold morning to fight for a few good deals? Or will you shop smarter, not harder, do something fun, enjoy spending time with your family, and have a stuffing and mashed potato sandwich while you browse my catalog and website and save money from your favorite chair. I think the choice is obvious.