A Gift That Told Her Story: How Sarah Celebrated Her Sister’s Legacy in a Mixbook

When Sarah Nasim set out to celebrate her sister Uzma’s 40th birthday, she wasn’t looking for just any gift. She wanted something meaningful—something that could reflect not just the milestone, but the decades of impact, joy, and generosity that led there.

“Uzma is the kind of person who shows up for everyone in her life… family, friends, colleagues, and strangers,” Sarah said. “For someone who gives so much of herself to others, Uzma rarely stops to receive.”

Uzma Rawn Dowler—who had just been promoted to Chief Marketing Officer of Major League Baseball in January 2025—had reached a significant personal and professional high point. And Sarah wanted to mark it in a way that would reflect the magnitude of that moment. The result? A custom Mixbook photo book designed to capture Uzma’s legacy—one page, one memory, one loving tribute at a time.

“A Tribute to Her Legacy, Stitched Together by the People Whose Lives She’s Touched.”

Rather than give something material, Sarah created something emotional and lasting. “I wanted to create something that would remind her just how loved, admired, and celebrated she truly is,” she said, “something permanent, personal, and full of love.”

She envisioned the book as a tribute, told through stories, photos, and reflections from Uzma’s closest family, friends, and colleagues. “The idea was to capture the fullness of her life… the relationships she’s built, the moments she’s made unforgettable, the quiet ways she’s impacted people.”

Designing a Personal Narrative

Every design decision in the book had meaning. “Each chapter had a title inspired by baseball (a nod to her new role as MLB’s CMO) and was introduced with a quote tied to that theme,” Sarah explained. She organized it into chapters—childhood, college, career, family—and added layouts for personal messages and inside jokes. One standout page was a “Family Feud-style” spread using the most frequently shared words people used to describe Uzma: fierce, generous, loyal, sunshine.

“My goal was for every turn of the page to feel like a love letter wrapped in memories,” she said.

“The process was seamless,” she said. “What truly stood out, though, was Mixbook’s customer service; they were incredibly responsive, going above and beyond to make sure the book arrived on time and looked exactly how I envisioned it.”

A Moment to Remember

At the party, Uzma’s reaction said everything.

“There were tears. And laughs. And a collective sense of ‘Wow!’” Sarah said. “Uzma was speechless at first (a rare thing for her!), then completely overwhelmed in the best way. She didn’t want to put it down… we literally had to take it out of her hands so she could mingle with the guests!”

The book became the centerpiece of the celebration—passed from guest to guest, with photos snapped and pages lingered over. “It became the heart of the celebration… a physical reminder of how loved she is, not just for what she’s accomplished, but for who she is.”

A Page That Will Stay With Her Forever

One spread in the book stood out for Sarah above the rest. It told the story of a shared family milestone: Uzma giving the commencement speech at her nephew’s graduation in 2024—a speech she had asked to delay for four years so she could deliver it when he was walking the stage.

“Watching her up there, addressing the class of 2024, while my son sat among the graduates was a double proud moment for me,” Sarah recalled. “Her speaking. Him graduating. My heart was full.”

That page included screenshots, photos, and one of Sarah’s favorite notes ever: a message from her husband to Uzma that read, “The things you do in your professional life, the way you carry yourself in your personal life, and the little things you do for our kids—it’s all part of the gravity that induces that tide that lifts our boats.”

The book arrived just in time for Uzma’s birthday thanks to Mixbook’s support—something Sarah says tied it all together perfectly. “It’s not just a birthday book… it’s a time capsule, a tribute, and a story of love all rolled into one.”