The Gratitude Tree: A Beautiful Reminder for Thanksgiving and Year-Round

 By far my favorite item in our Holiday Mini Celebrations Catalog is our Gratitude Tree with dry-erase leaves. I do love everything in the catalog, and the holiday products in our main catalogs, but I find this one particularly meaningful, and so does my family.

The Gratitude Tree entered our home in late September when I got my first shipment from the Holiday Mini. My (thankfully tall) husband helped me put it up and my daughter started putting the dry erase pieces on the leaves. We decorated our tree exactly the way we wanted, with several leaves falling as if a strong wind had shaken them loose. I pulled out my set of dry-erase pens and immediately wrote all 3 kids' names on some leaves. Then I told my family it was their turn to start filling more leaves with things they're thankful for.

I was instantly touched and surprised at their responses. I expected answers like "M&Ms" and "ice cream." But I loved hearing them come up with "my family," "school," and even "God."

I loved the insights I got into my kids' minds, and knowing that they don't take for granted some of the things that are so important in our family. Even my husband, who's not always the biggest fan of "stickers on the wall," is really enjoying this special item.


One of the best things about Uppercase Living is the ability to completely personalize your home. The Gratitude Tree not only adds personalization to your home, I think it also adds meaning. I can definitely see this item being a year-round addition to a kitchen or family room. Of course, it's just the thing for the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. If you're hosting Thanksgiving this year, I suggest displaying this tree prominently either in your entry, kitchen or dining room and having the dry-erase pens handy for your guests to write down what they are thankful for. And if you're going to be a guest for Thanksgiving, consider taking this for your hostess. For the price of a nice bottle of wine, you can take a meaningful gift that will be a conversation starter this year and a reminder of your thoughtfulness for years to come. Don't wait to order this exceptional Uppercase Living product. It's only available for a limited time, and you'll want to start enjoying it as soon as possible.

Uppercase Living Tip: After you complete filling out your Gratitude Tree, take a photo. You'll love going back after a few years and watching how your family's thoughts and the things they are thankful for will change.

Summer Splash: 5 Hours To Go And One Last Photo

Here it is: the last Photo A Day (although it's been more like 2 a day) of Summer Splash. It's the final day of the big promotion and we demonstrators are madly trying to enter those last minute orders and help all of our new team members get signed in before tonight's deadline. Although it's available for just a few more day, you can still get this expression and Buy One, Get One FREE if you act within the next few hours.

I love thinking of the everyday miracles that we are surrounded by. Looking at my kids running around is enough to remind me each day. Sometimes the miracle is the traffic light that stays green when you're running late for preschool pickup, and sometimes it's the doctor that catches unseen problems and acts quickly to prevent their devastating consequences. I've been on the receiving end of both of those types of miracles and many more.

This sweet, soothing photo is a stark contrast to all of the activity going on in with UL right now. Not only are we ending Summer Splash, but tomorrow is our annual convention where our latest catalog and all of the new products it contains will be announced. In 13 hours, I'll be flying off to St. Louis to meet up with friends and pretty much marinate in all things UL for four days. I will definitely need a miracle or two to get myself and all my stuff on that plane before it takes off. Instead of thinking of the 3 to-do lists standing before me and Convention, I'll just think calming thoughts of miracles. I believe.

Photo A Day #10 - The Perfect Gift. and Getting Down To The Wire

Isn't it wonderful when you find the perfect gift? Something personal, reasonably priced and unique? And isn't it even more wonderful when you find a perfect gift that is perfect for so many people? I think this expression fits that description beautifully. Already inexpensive, it's even more so as part of our Buy One, Get One FREE Summer Splash promotion. It can be easily personalized for each recipient and is versatile enough for so many different people: from the newlyweds who are setting up their first home to the recent college graduate moving out for the first time to a couple celebrating an anniversary and more.

My suggestion is to buy several of these expressions in a few neutral colors: Chocolate Brown, Whipped Creme, Warm Stone, Matte Black, etc. Order in even numbers because they are Buy One, Get One FREE! Pick up some Foundations MDF Boards and Toolbox Paint or Punched Metal Tiles, because they are 20% OFF. In fact, get some coordinating Trimmings Ribbon, too. If you already know who you'd like to give them to, custom design the dates to add to each expression. But if you don't, just put them away and wait until you need a perfect gift. At that point, you can order the numbers to make your gift a one-of-a-kind keepsake that will be treasured.

The expression in this design isn't available on my website, so call or email me to order it. But don't wait too long because Buy One, Get One FREE ends tomorrow night and the expression itself will be retired July 19. You'll save so much money that you'll definitely want to pick one up for yourself too!

Photo A Day #9

Another day, another photo of one of our soon-to-be retired expressions. This one is lovely for an entry, family room, living room or anywhere your family gathers. It would also look terrific with a grouping of family photos spanning several generations. This classic expression will be retired very soon, but is available now as party of our Buy One, Get One FREE Summer Splash promotion. Don't forget, Summer Splash ends tomorrow night...don't wait to get your great deal on this and so many other expression.

Photo A Day - Day 2

Here's a no-brainer gift (my favorite kind) for a wedding shower or housewarming party. This is another expression you won't find on my website, so I need to hear from you directly if you'd like to order it. When you do, make sure you pick up a little something for yourself. Can't let Buy One, Get One FREE go to waste now, can we?

Take Your Expressions Up A Notch with MyDesign Suite

You’ve all seen the MyDesign Suite icon in the catalog, right? When it's next to an expression, it means that it has been created specifically for customization in the MyDesign Suite. But that doesn’t mean that expressions without this icon cannot be customized as well. We all love our UL Expressions. But we love them just a little bit more when we've had a hand in designing them and making them even more personal. Here are a few expressions that were not designed to be further customized but look so good with the addition of a MyDesign element.

This simple love expression is beautifully enhanced by adding the personalization. I would love to see this at a wedding reception or even on the dance floor!

Not only is this football expression great for a teenager's room, it would be fantastic in the locker room to personalize each player's locker. How's that for team spirit?

If you've been to my home lately, you've seen this ultra-popular Dandelion Dance expression. Here it is combined with a beautiful saying created in the MyDesign Suite. (Keep in mind that this is what this design would look like after you put it on the wall; not what it looks like in MyDesign Suite. Dandelion Dance is a theme pack, so you’ll place the seedlings in whatever pattern you want when you actually apply it).

My son has a friend who is crazy for pirates and this would be perfect for him. You can easily pull this expression into the MyDesign Suite, add a custom expression with your child’s name, match the colors of his room…and voila! So cute!

Finally, here is a little something for your own space, if your name is Karen. If it's something else than you'd probably not want this exact expression. I love the combination of colors and fonts in this design.

The sky is truly the limit with MyDesign Suite. Be as creative as you want to be, and don’t be afraid to try new and even weird or funky things. You'll have so many chances to change your design before you actually have to commit to one. Not only will you be surprised at what MyDesign Suite can help you create, but you'll love saving on truly custom expressions for your home with our Buy Two Get One FREE promotion going on now!!

A Little Holiday Treat: A Photo A Day

For today and the next 8 days, my treat for you will be a photo of a new SALE expression each today. Each of the expressions you'll see are included in the over 200 that are currently 40% off and qualify for FREE SHIPPING when your order reaches $50.

Today's' expression is done in two parts and looks lovely when you add your own family name to it. It would look great in a living room, study, entry or family room.

Check back tomorrow for a new photo...and more decorating ideas. After I've posted the last photo, you'll get an exclusive Sneak Peek of our next catalog!

For You Lovers of Restoration Hardware: Tami's Entryway

If you've ever stepped inside Restoration Hardware and felt the rich, inviting tones of their blue-gray and deep chocolate brown color palette, you can imagine the look of my friend Tami's entryway (I love this color combination so much I used it for my own bedroom). She's spent a lot of time and effort adding on to her home and it looks fabulous. Decorator touches don't overshadow the fact that this is a busy, loving family with four active boys.

Tami is relatively new to Uppercase Living, but she started off with a great choice. Yesterday, the two of us installed the expression you see above a table and a grouping of photos in her entryway. Blurry cell-phone photo aside, it was really the perfect expression, size and color for this spot. What a lovely way to be greeted each time you enter this home. I can't wait to see what Tami does next!

Send me your photos of UL expressions in your home and you just might see them featured here!

View this expression on my website here.