Words for your walls...what a GREAT idea!!

Hey All!!

I have something for you to consider in the new year...after all your holiday decorations come down!

I have become an Independent Demonstrator for Uppercase Living...they sell the wonderful words you can apply to your wall!! They have loads of stock sayings and ideas...but you can also do a custom saying via their website!! I have attached some pictures from the store so you can see what I'm all excited about!! And the nice thing is, when you are ready for a change, they just peel off the wall!

They can be ordered directly through me or they are sold through home parties, which we thought we would offer the option of having your party at the store also. I am still in the learning stages of this new venture...but there are tons of perks if you host a party!!

The pictures we carry with the heartfelt sayings are so popular that I was so excited when I found these!!! Only with these the possibilities are endless!!! You can say anything you want and put it wherever you want it!!

Feel free to call or email me if you are interested in finding out more about this. You can also go to their website and check it out and play around with your own custom saying! Here's the info you need to check it out: http://www.uppercaseliving.com/ , click on the 'Customer Corner Login' and enter the following information to get registered: Demonstrator's ID: 630269, Registration Token: home.

Enjoy these pictures of the sayings we've currently put up at the store...trust me, there will be many more to come! Let me know what you think!

Stacy

After Christmas Sale!!

We hope you have a wonderful holiday! Just a reminder -- we will be open at 10:00 a.m. on December 26th for our 'After Christmas Sale'. All holiday merchandise will be 40% OFF!

Enjoy all your holiday festivities, it over way too soon! We'll see you at the store on the 26th!
Stacy

The Season of Giving...

We had our Christmas Party this past weekend, unfortunately not everyone could attend but for those that could...what fun we had as we wrapped all the presents for the two families we sponsored this year...with the help of many of you!! Again, we want to thank those of you that donated money to our 'Ornament Campaign'...considering we got a late start we are very pleased with the response we got...it truly is a 'Season of Giving!'



This is a tradition we started last year, we pool the money we normally spent on an exchange gift and sponsored a family. This year because of your help we were able to sponsor two families! The first is a single mother with two girls ages 4 & 7 and the second is a family with two kids ages 8 & 21 months. There are so many families struggling and it is a wonderful feeling knowing you are helping out someone less fortunate. We'll deliver the gifts and food to the families this week...this is the best part!!



We feel blessed to have made it through another year, in spite of a struggling economy...it hasn't been easy but thanks to a wonderful staff AND all of you -- we made it! THANK YOU!



We wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas!
Stacy

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's about that time of the weekend that you are sitting back with your feet up...the Thanksgiving leftovers are OVER and your feet are recovering from all the ground you've covered these last few days. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving...and shopped off all those extra calories from the Pumpkin Pie you couldn't resist!

Now it's time to get serious about getting the house decorated for Christmas and getting your recipes together for baking...I LOVE baking!! Does anyone have a great cookie or appetizer recipe that is a must have during the holidays? If so, email it to me, I am always looking for new recipes...and it just might make it into our newsletter!

For those of you who work outside the home...it's time to get some rest -- by going back to work. And those who stay at home...time to send everyone off so you can get your well deserved rest also!!

Well...I'm off to start carting up some boxes of decorations....but REMEMBER, SEND ME YOUR HOLIDAY RECIPES!!
Toodles,
Stacy

Deer Widows Weekend!!!

Hey All You Widows...and even those who have to pretend!!

Stop by this weekend and get in the holiday spirit with us! We're still brimming with lots of wonderful decorations and unique gifts you'll not find any place else! We just received another order of our soft greens...so get 'em while their hot...once these are gone, I'm afraid that's it for the season...and you know we ALWAYS sell out of those buggers!

You know we are the best place in town to get into the spirit of the holidays!! Come on in and make some memories with us!! And we hope you help out with our 'Ornament campaign!'

Don't forget the Junior League's Festival of Trees is going on at Apple Mountain this weekend also!

Here's to hoping all you galz 'bag your buck' this weekend!!!!!!!!!
Toodles,
Stacy

P.S. I have something new coming down the pike...so stay tuned!!! :-)

Helping Out Those Less Fortunate This Holiday Season

Hey All!

My employees and I last year started a tradition of donating the money we would spend on an exchange gift at our Christmas Party to buy dinner and gifts for a family, less fortunate. We chose a family from the United Way's Wish Book and spent our Christmas Party wrapping the presents for 2 unsuspecting girls and their grandmother. We all decided it was the best Christmas Party we've ever had!!

So I had this brilliant idea!! I would spend my evenings making these paper ornaments and we would have an 'Ornament Campaign' and offer them to our customers for a donation of $2.00 (or more if you are feeling particularly generous!) Your name will go on the ornament and they will hang in the store. We are hoping through your generosity and our own donations we'll be able to sponsor more than one family this year.

So help us out if you can...buy an ornament and help us bring some holiday cheer to as many people as we can!! It's just our little way of giving back to our community!

Have a wonderful weekend!
Stacy

November Has Snuck Up On Us!

The weather has been so wonderful it's hard to believe it's November!

Along with the Johnston Benchworks Upholstered Furniture line we have always carried, I have just picked up a VERY reasonably priced line of upholstered furniture that is a more transitional style that will fit in with our new style -- we are hoping it will be here before year's end! I've attached some pictures of a couple of the pieces...enjoy!

What is transitional style you say? Here's a great description I found on the internet; the best of traditional and contemporary looks, blended into something classy and comfortable, yet hip and stylish. Yes, I think in addition to our primitive look...our new look is hip and stylish!!

We're busy decorating a tree for the Festival of Trees that's being held at Apple Mountain November 16-18th. If you get a chance you should try and stop out to this event...it is one of the best in the area to get you into the holiday spirit. It's my understanding there will be approximately 45 trees and wreaths that will be raffled off!

Don't forget the personalized plates and ornaments -- they make thoughtful presents! Order early for best selection!! And don't forget our Old Fashioned Filled Candy Canes and 'Christmas Crunch' -- they're going fast! Can you say...Yum-O!!

Have a great week!

Stacy

2007 Christmas Open House is History!

Hey All!

Thanks to all of you that turned out and made our 'Snowflake Fantasy' such a success!

I also want to thank my whole crew for their tireless dedication to transforming the store so beautifully!! An event like this could never come about without the dedication of these wonderful employees and friends! Thanks Katie, Vickie, Ronni, Kathy, Jackie, Tracey & Charlotte! I am so indebted to you...you all worked tirelessly to transform the store and it shows!!! Now get some rest!

We are checking on the possibility of getting another order of the battery operated pillars that were so popular and a few other items that seemed to fly off the shelves...and we are still bringing out merchandise that didn't make it out for the Open House...so stay in touch!

I too will be in touch!

Take care!

Stacy

Open House is Here...and almost over!

Helloooo!!

Where does the time go? I had every intention of posting leading up to the Open House...showing you all the boxes and mess that we make preparing for our big event. You would NOT believe the mess we can make! Then all the sudden we are two days into the Open House and it's my first chance to get back to the Blog!

As usual, we were working until 3 & 4 in the morning...I'm thinking I am getting way too old for this...and then all you lovely people arrive and make it all soooo worthwhile! The weariness fades with each and every oohhhh and aahhhh...thanks for all the wonderful comments too! You validate what I do by not holding back...and I THANK YOU!! Our four walls were bursting with all the people that have turned out for the first two days...it was so much fun to see all of you...and the fairy dust was a flying!! (Those of you that were there know exactly what I am talking about).

And yes, 'Real Men Do Come Inside' -- (thank you for that, Mr. Tom Smith!) And even some men (1) did partake in the fairy dust that was flying! They obviously throw caution to the wind and go with the flow up there in Ontario!! ;-)) I thank him for that!!

I thought I would share a few photos of what some of the displays looked like before the onslaught of people arrived!! Enjoy...and if you're out and about tomorrow...stop on by...the fairy dust will STILL be flying!! And the delicious dessert bars will make a return visit...that in itself is reason to stop in...if not for the good company!!!!!!!!

Congrats to the winners of our door prizes so far...Cheryl, Liz, Pam & Kathy!!!

And thank you for allowing me the ability to live my dream, and the chance to serve all of you!!!

Happy Holidays!

Stacy

Big Weekend Ahead!

I believe this is the weekend for the SVSU Craft Show! Have a great time and stop by to see us while you're out! We're very busy preparing for our Open House the following weekend!! Yippie!!! Like I've said before...I AM SO EXCITED!!! The newsletter, both electronic and paper should be going out in the next day or two...so watch for it!

Take care & see you soon!
Stacy

Hey All You Prim Galz!!!

Wait until you see the great prim stuff we checked in today for the Christmas Open House!! There are some really fantastic items! I ordered so much of this stuff at the beginning of the year, it's almost like seeing it for the first time! It's amazing how you forget what is coming in!

I truly believe we are going to have our most wonderful Open House yet!! We've got it all going on...Prim & Sparkle...at little something for everyone! And back by popular demand are the wonderful old fashioned filled candy canes...and this year we also will have a candy cane that tastes like Apple Pie...and it truly does! Ask me how I know!

So get yourselves psyched...our Christmas Open House is 2 weeks from tonight! Where has the year gone?

Have a great weekend!
Stacy

P.S. Our Fall Merchandise is 20% OFF...and there's still some great stuff left! So hurry in soon!

It's October and I'm all about Christmas!

We are checking in Christmas merchandise like crazy...and running out of room to put it to boot!!

Our fabulous soft greens that we hang over our doorways are expected in the coming week, then we'll start hanging those to get a head start. Although they'll not be decorated until later...because we want to surprise you!!

We're very excited about the Christmas holiday this year!! It is going to be FAN-TABULOUS!

Have a wonderful weekend! Stacy

Has Summer Returned?

Hello All!
I just wanted to catch up with you...I came down with that nasty cold that is going around...but I'm finally feeling better!

We are just about together in our new 'girl's room. We are waiting on our shelves for the wall and some furniture pieces...but all the great goodies are out. We are loaded with lots of great little things that little girls love!

We are busy trying to get organized so we can jump into preparations for our Christmas Open House the end of the month...Yikes! Thanks to all of you who have stopped in and offered your encouragement! It is so appreciated!
Have a great night!
Stacy

WOnDeRFuL Fall Day In Michigan!

Slowly but surely we are pulling the new rooms together. There's a minor hold up in the new girls room -- called furniture -- but we've been promised it's on it's way soon...possibly we'll be getting some pieces tomorrow!!

I'm posting a picture of one of the walls in the new room, just after we finished painting. Pictures don't do it justice...but I just thought we'd give you a tiny look see!

Have a great rest of the weekend!

Stacy

Where does the time go?

Hello All!

I can't believe our Christmas Open House is less than a month away!! YIKES!

We have a lot of stuff to do before then!! Merchandise is coming in daily...fun, fun, fun! But man...there will be some sleepless nights! ;-)

Here's a couple pictures of some stuff that came in today...Enjoy!!

Nite, Stacy

Bunnies By The Bay -- Baby Line!!

Oh Boy...I think I have caught one of those nasty between season's colds...do I feel punky.

I wanted to post some more pictures...so here goes!

Here are a couple of our favorite pieces, everything in this line is SO SOFT!! You won't be able to quit touching them!

Currently we have a collection that is mostly for girls', they backordered the wonderful Pea Coat with Pea Pods where the buttons would be -- that would be more suitable for boys...but we will be expanding into more stuff for the little guys too!!

We also have some great hooded towels for the little ones...I'll post about that later. Have a wonderful day...enjoy this great weather we are having!

Stacy

L@@k at the Solmate Socks!!

Well...what a wonderful day we had -- the sun was shining, temperature was lovely...lots of people seemed to be out enjoying the day! We need to enjoy them while we can...the leaves will be falling soon!

These are the newly arrived Solmate Socks! They come in numerous color combos and feel wonderful!
HOW FUN ARE THEY!!!

I'll try and post more pictures of new stuff soon!!
Have a wonderful night!
Stacy

Redo Update...

Well...I think we are finished painting the new 'girl's room'! I'll know better when I check it out in the daylight!! Now it's just a process of pulling it all together. This is the fun part!!

We are waiting on the new furniture pieces...but I think we'll be able to start moving the stuff from the old room!! This has been my most favorite redo so far!! Wait until you see it all pulled together...it's a young girls dream!

Stay tuned in!!
Stacy

Solmate Socks Are Here!!

All you gals who love living on the edge...you already know, life is too short for matching socks!!

If you aren't familiar with these colorful, cotton socks..you don't know what you're missing! I discovered them on a recent trip and then low and behold...they were just on The View --Whoopie loves the mismatched socks from Solmate!

They are available in adult sizes, a 'pair with a spare' for kids, and also 'two pair with a spare' for babies!! The gift possibilities are endless...and what great stocking stuffers they will be!!

Bye for now!
Stacy

What Lovely Weather!

Hey There!
I hope you are all enjoying the wonderful weather of recent days. This is why we live in Michigan!!

All I am going to say is...Orange Swirls....yup, that's just what I said...and I'm hoping at this moment Chris, our wood guy is busy in his workshop!!

I can hardly contain myself!! I might explode if we don't get this room done soon...so we can show it to all of you!! Get your daughters, granddaughters, nieces, neighborhood girls -- old and young alike -- ready!! No one is going to want to miss this unveiling!!!

Nite!
Stacy

Redecorating Continues...

I was back at work today...I don't know if I mentioned the upstairs hallway is finished and put back together. We painted over the stenciling...giving it a fresh, updated look! I brought back a wonderful old wooden file cabinet from the show I went to...it looked great in our newly redecorated hallway! Well, I guess it looked TOO GOOD...it sold! (It's in layaway, so you can still see it...if you want to torture yourself!)

New Girl's Room Update:
Chris brought in the headboard!! It looks SO GREAT! Now, can you say polka dots? Yup...they are done...but we have a privacy curtain up...we want to be further along in our progress of our new room before we let you see it...so no peeking when you see the drape! I hope to continue with stenciling tomorrow!

Baby Room Update:
It should be pulled together shortly...lots of stuff has arrived, I just have to pull it all together! This is so much fun!

Gotta go rest up so I have super sized strength tomorrow...I have a big day ahead of me!
Nite!
Stacy

Beautifully Crisp, Sunny Saturday...

What a beautiful day...the sun was shining and so were all the sunny faces coming through the door today!

We received an order of Willow Creek Candles today. Candle burning season is in full force -- there must be a lot of wonderfully smelling houses this evening...mine included since I had to turn my heat on for the FIRST time since Summer. Wait...technically, it's still Summer!! But it's going to be 36 degrees tonight! Brrr! I think it's time to break out the flannels!!

It's the weekend, so I just enjoyed working in the store today. No painting, no checking in orders...I just had a great time -- sun is good!

Stay warm & snuggly tonight,
Stacy

Email Request...Thanks..

Hello!
Gosh-
I want to thank all the gals who have emailed me already about being on the Electronic Newsletter list! I just have a favor to ask...if you could type your email address in the body of the email, some of the emails come in with just your name, so I can't see your email address. I think I am good with them so far, but this request would be especially helpful for those that I don't currently have their email address on file.

Also, the reason I am asking everyone to email if they want to remain on the list, even if they received the email newsletter is I want to make sure my list is current.

Have a wonderful day!
Stacy

P.S. Thanks also for all your encouraging words...they keep me pushing on!

Thursday ~ A Fabulous Fall Day!

Oh My Gosh!! Some orders came in today for our NEW, Girl's Room!! All I can say is...where was this stuff when I was a kid!! I am reliving my childhood...this is sooo much fun!!

Now...we just have to lock our wood guy, Chris in his workshop so he can get all the great furniture pieces done...so we have someplace to put this stuff!!

Did I hear some of you saying...what kind of great furniture pieces? Let me just leave you with a few tidbits...a new headboard, how about a bookshelf...a hamper...a bench...a vanity...shadow boxes...shelves...mirrors...I could go on and on...but Chris is only one person!

Nite!
Stacy

P.S. This is the beginning of a new and exciting time for us...our electronic newsletter took
it's maiden voyage this evening...enjoy!

Hi There!
Another Fall-like day! Someone flipped the switch from Summer to Fall! It is so refreshing!

The newsletter went in the mail tonight and I have spent the evening entering in the email addresses those of you have given me so I can get the electronic newsletter out too. I hope those of you who are signed on for the email version enjoy it!

Off to bed I go...I'm at the store tomorrow!
Nite, Stacy

White Chicken Chili Recipe

Hello!
Fall is definitely in the air!! We worked some more on the upstairs redo...it's coming along nicely.

But boy, was it a good day for White Chicken Chili! This recipe has been in my newsletter, but there are so many new customers, that do not know about it -- how easy and yummy it is... so I just have to repeat it here...it's just too good to keep to ourselves!! I always keep the ingredients on hand for just such a day!! Enjoy!

White Chicken Chili
1-48 oz. Jar Great Northern Beans, do not drain
1 jar Picante Salsa
1-2 c. Diced Chicken Breasts, cooked
2 t. Cumin
1 can Chicken Broth, fat free
2 c. Shredded Cheese of your choice
Heat up the first 5 ingredients, then throw in the cheese and simmer, stirring until the cheese is incorporated into the soup. This recipe can be made with Healthy Choice Cheese, low fat or ANY cheese of your choice. It's hard to believe this recipe is low fat...it just tastes too good!
(Note: I have also made it with 4 standard cans of Northern Beans, they are cheaper and you get more beans, it works great!) As Rachel Ray would say...Yum-O!

Hope you're all cozy in your house this evening!
Stacy

Great New Finds

Hello!

Well Monday is almost behind us...and it was a wonderful Fall-like day -- for the most part anyways!


I just have to tell you...I just love my job! I love being able to find wonderful goodies and bringing them to Saginaw and you, through my store! I want to be your source for great finds for your home and personal use...that you just can't find outside of the big cities!


So today, let me fill you in on the fabulous line of purses and watches from TOKYObay in San Francisco! There are so many great watches and we have just scratched the surface! The Tram Watch, which happens to be one of my personal favs, made the 'O List'!


The purses are from their Red Tango Collection...they are so much fun! Our darling Katie, picked out her fav and it sold the very next day...before she could get her hot little hands on it! Sorry Katie, we do have more coming!! Me, being a registered purse freak, am wrestling with color...lime or turquoise!!


I went to Market a few weeks ago and was totally blown away by a wonderful baby line called, Bunnies By The Bay! I am so in love with it...I threw aside all the other projects we had going and we redecorated the upstairs bathroom into a baby room. We will have some great ideas for baby gifts arriving in the next couple of weeks, to fill up our newly redecorated room!!


I know, I know...seems I am doing everything but home decor. But, I am dedicated to bringing you a unique shopping experience for both your home and your life.


And last, but certainly not least...we are getting very close to completing the redecorating on our new, larger 'Girl's Room'!! We have to fine tune a couple of things and do some fun, faux touches...can you say, polka dots & swirls?!! Tons of great stuff should be arriving very shortly! Mom's, your girls will think they have died and gone to heaven!! Stay tuned.....!


Bye for now!
Stacy

Welcome

Hello All:
I am hoping to use this forum to keep you updated often on what is happening around the store. We'll be posting when great new things come in, when sales and specials are coming up...and just general information about what is happening around the store...so check in often.

We have had so much going on lately that I could probably go on for hours...but I will try and contain myself.

First and foremost, we are going to be offering an electronic version of our newsletter. The paper newsletter is becoming so time consuming and costly that I am hoping that anyone with an email address will sign up for it. I understand there are people who do not have access to the internet and we will still continue to offer the newsletter the 'old fashioned way' to those who do not. However, as an incentive to go electronic, we will be offering coupons in the electronic version that will not be available in the paper version. We will be giving you information in our very next newsletter, and those of you who have given us your email address already, you will receive both the paper and electronic version this next time.

That is all I will post for this evening...the next post will be about the great new items that have arrived and are already flying off the shelves. Then we'll update you with our redecorating progress...we think the young girls are going to love what we have in store for them. That's all I have to say for now. Nite.
Stacy