3 Easy Stress Busting Tips

Thanksgiving is the official kickoff of the holiday season. It seems like we no sooner get dinner cleaned up when the Christmas shopping starts. For many of us, this is an extremely stressful time as we try to fit the holidays into an already tight schedule. So, let’s tackle this early so we can make the most of the holidays and really enjoy them. Here are 3 really easy stress relieving tips that can really make a difference:

Exercise
One of the simplest and easiest ways to blow off steam and gain a new perspective is to take a walk when you feel stressed. Being outside removes you from the stressful situation and allows an opportunity to reflect. It also releases endorphins which always makes us feel better.

Breathing
If you can’t leave the situation then use your breathe to help manage your stress. Getting more oxygen into your body and releasing physical tension are two ways that breathing exercises can benefit you. They are free, easy to do and can be done anywhere or anytime. Here is an easy breathing exercise that works wonders:

• Sit or stand in a relaxed position.

• Slowly inhale through your nose, counting to five in your head.

• Let the air out from your mouth, counting to eight in your head as it leaves your lungs. Repeat several times. That’s it! Do this a few times to release tension and you will feel good as new.

Mental Break
If you can steal away a few minutes of peace, visualizations are a wonderful way to restore peace of mind. They're easy to do, and can relax you physically as well as mentally. Think about that last great vacation at the beach or mountains, message, hot tub soak or whatever put you into a relaxing mood. Go there mentally again to relive that wonderful feeling.

So get ready for the holidays with these easy stress buster tips. Use all three as needed to make a difference in your outlook. How do you relive stress? Share your stress buster tips, the more the merrier!



Easy Way to Get Your Attitutde of Gratitude

November is such a great month for reflection. It’s an ideal time to start a gratitude practice or reinforce the one we already have. I started my gratitude practice after I was diagnosed with breast cancer and can’t begin to tell you what a difference it has made in my life. The good news is, you don’t have to face adversity to begin a practice of gratitude; you can start that today. I promise you, you will be amazed at the change your life will take.

If you get into a routine and follow it daily, you should see a change in your attitude and outlook between weeks 4 and 6. I was never one for a daily writing routine so it was difficult for me in the beginning but I stuck with it and to my surprise I actually look forward to writing in my gratitude journal. Here are some easy tips to get you started:

• Select a pretty notebook size spiral journal as your gratitude journal. Pick something that will make you feel good every time you open it. I find the spiral type works best for me.

• Write in it first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening. I find doing it at the end of the day is a nice way to reflect back on the day.
• Keep your entries short and sweet, 3 to 5 works well. Be sure to use your journal for gratitude entries only and nothing else. You will enjoy reading back on the entries at the end of the month.

Sometimes we don’t start journals because we don’t know what kind of entries to post. The very essence of a gratitude practice is finding everyday ‘small’ things to be grateful for. Let me get you started by sharing a sample post from my gratitude journal:

• Enjoyed a wonderful dinner with Shawn (my son) tonight, don’t get to see him much since he moved out. It’s always nice being together.
• I’m grateful for my automatic washer and dryer, it makes doing laundry a breeze. I remember hearing stories from my grandmother how she had to do laundry.
• Modern medicine is wonderful, that Tylenol I took for my headache really did the trick.

As you can see, it won’t be very difficult to find things in your day to fill your gratitude journal. When we become thankful for the very things we take for granted, things start to come into perspective. You may not be able to get together with your son, doing laundry could take a lot longer and be much more involved and you may have to live with that headache. How’s that for perspective?

Combine this practice with giving thanks before you get out of bed each day (something short and sweet that starts the day in the right way) and you are well on your way to a more fulfilled life.

These are the basic practices that transformed my life into an attitude of gratitude; I hope they help move you in that same direction. I would love to hear about your progress and from those with tips to share from their practice.

Gratefully Yours,

Pinky's Mammogram and Reminders



Hey there BFF’s…Every October I get my mammogram. I use the pink ribbon as my reminder just like using the month of October to remind us to change the batteries in our smoke detectors. It’s something easy that we can all do for ourselves and is a huge step towards early detection. Like you, I’m not crazy about having my small breasts squished in between those horrible paddles but I always know it only last a few minutes and it is way better than the alternative. On the bright side, being pink, it’s always fun to show up at the radiology center and meet new friends.


I have a staggering fact for you…did you know that 80% of breast cancers don’t run in families? That means that most of us are at risk for it even though no one in our family had it. So, what can we do to stay on top of early detection? With all of the controversy over when to start mammograms, the prevailing opinions are still recommending that screening mammograms begin at age 40 and continue each year thereafter. What has divided some on this issue is the fact that most women who get breast cancer are menopausal so the radiation exposure from mammograms beginning at age 40 versus the number of women diagnosed before the age of 50 may not be worth the risk. Everyone has to make the decision that is right for them. Regardless where you fall on this, just be sure to actually schedule your mammogram and not wait until you get around to it ;)

But did you know that there is another way to detect changes in your breast? I believe that breast self exams done properly can be effective. I know there is controversy over the effectiveness of these exams, but I’m here to tell you that my BFF, Kathy McEvoy, found her own tumor just three weeks after her mammogram came back negative. Her tumor was located at the sternum which could not be detected by a mammogram. Be sure to check the extreme perimeters of the breast when doing your breast self exams. Share this with your friends too, she was lucky and caught it because it would never be detected on a mammogram. So if you had any doubts about self exams, think if her.

So, as you can see, there are differing views on these simple preventative measures. The way I look at it, our breasts are one of the few organs we can actually examine ourselves and if we do it on a regular basis we become intimate with them and know when any changes occur. As we saw with my BFF, her tumor would never show up on a mammogram, which could be any of us. So let’s get intimate, know your girls!

I’m having lots of fun in October….how are you wearing your pink this month?

Pink Hugs,
Pinky

My 5 Year Milestone is Finally Here!

It is with heartfelt happiness and gratitude that I share with everyone today…IT IS MY 5 YEAR MILESTONE FOR BEING BREAST CANCE FREE!!! Hold on, let me say it one more time..today is my 5 year milestone for being breast cancer free!!! I can’t begin to tell you how it feels to finally get here. No, I am not letting my guard down in any way as I know it is possible for a recurrence at anytime but statistically speaking by virtue of making it to five years, my odds just got a whole lot better. I like the way that sounds :).

So, how do I plan to celebrate this very special day that I have been waiting so long for??? The truth is I will be celebrating tomorrow on October 14. I am hosting a Celebration of Life luncheon for my friends. I have asked them to wear pink, there will be pink everywhere, we’ll play silly games and learn about breast cancer. I have asked them to join me in supporting women who need financial assistance as they undergo breast cancer treatment by donating to The Tigerlily Foundation. It’s important to me to use the occasion not only to educate others but to help the sheroes who are fighting for their lives.


As many of you know, Celebrate In Pink partyware came about as a result of my breast cancer journey. I will be very proudly using the partyware at my celebration and honor the tremendous amount of dedication it has taken me to get it this far. It is this very type of celebration that inspired me to design a collection that women could use to show how they feel and the good that they innately want to be a part of.

So, this is MY day and it will be one of the most fabulous days of my life! It is the reason why so many of my days are filled with gratitude as I don’t take any of them for granted and try to make the most of each and every one….I hope that you do too…here’s to a day of celebrating and I wish us many many more!

My Personal Celebration...Won't You Join Me?

When Loss Brings Gain

Thank you to Vanessa Maddox, Founder of TheGirlfriendGroup for sharing how the loss of her beloved sister turned into something that she never imagined. The memory of her sister is still alive through the wonderful women in TheGirlFriendGroup, be sure to check in with them...here is her inspirational story....

On June 12, 2009 I experienced a tremendous loss.

My eldest sister Valerie passed away suddenly. I realize that people lose relatives everyday, but the difference here is that we didn’t know Val was sick. We later found out that she passed away from heart disease exacerbated by her asthma.

Val was a teacher of children. She taught for 33 years and loved every minute of it. She was also a single parent to a child with multiple learning disabilities. She raised her daughter, my niece to age 30. Her girlfriends were a huge part of that. They were her friends, her support system, her counselors and her confidantes.

Growing up with Val as an older sister was great. She taught me a lot. A lot about life, a lot about friends, a lot about being a thoughtful, caring person. She taught me a lot of the importance of Girlfriends in a woman’s life.

That brings us to the gain.

After my two-month depression, I called my cousin Naomi and told her I wanted to pay tribute to Val in some way. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, but God brought it to me on August 22, 2009. TheGirlfriendGroup.

TheGirlfriendGroup is a global, online community for women. Our focus is the total woman from all walks of life. We host events, we mentor young women, we hold networking opportunities and we will be launching The Girlfriend Education Series in Q1 of 2011. There are no barriers to entry. The only requirement is that you’re a woman that is willing to network with other women, share information and encourage one another. Network. Share. Encourage is our motto.

The group was started on my family room sectional for less than $100. Less than a year later we went from the original 15 members to over 235 members; all organic growth, no budget, no fancy social media strategy. Just inspiration and determination. If you look for the good in everything and are open to taking new paths that may appear, anything in life is possible.

The most wonderful part of TGG is that Val’s influence and spirit exists in every facet of the group. The TTG is very much dedicated to the many other strong women in my life such as my mom, sisters and Girlfriends. It is their love and support that continue to give me the inspiration and motivation that makes TGG so fabulous!

Where Did the Pink Ribbon Come From?

Breast cancer awareness month has just begun! Throughout the month I will share various information and tidbits about breast cancer. I was always curious as to how the pink ribbon became associated with breast cancer, are you? I thought that was a great place to start so here we go:


In the early 1990s, a 68 year old woman by the name of Charlotte Haley used the same concept when her daughter, grandma and sister were all diagnosed with breast cancer. To raise awareness, she began making ribbons in the color of peach and attaching them to cards. These cards contained information about the annual budget of the National Cancer Institute and how only a small portion of this budget was being spent on cancer research and prevention. The card urged people to contact their legislators to make a change in this and to wear the ribbons to raise awareness.

In 1991, Evelyn Lauder of the Estee' Lauder Corporation and Alexandra Penney of Self Magazine were putting together a special insert piece for the October edition of Self magazine to recognize breast cancer awareness month. They heard about the peach ribbons and contacted Haley to determine if they could use them. Haley declined claiming it would make the cause commercialized, and that it would lose its grassroots appeal. However, Lauder and Penney really wanted to use the ribbon concept, so they consulted with their legal departments to see what they could do. The legal departments finally agreed they could use the ribbons as long as they changed the color. They chose pink, and the breast cancer awareness pink ribbon concept has grown from there.

So it’s been around for about 20 years and it’s amazing how fast the icon took off and now appears everywhere. I love that the color pink was chosen as I feel it really captures the essence of women. I also love how we as a sisterhood have taken this ribbon to extraordinary lengths to bring about change for women everywhere. While we still have a long way to go to eradicate this disease we have certainly made great strides to save more lives…all thanks to the little pink ribbon….We couldn't help but add a heart to our Celebrate In Pink ribbon...from our heart to yours....



Have fun in October with "Who's Got the Plate"

As you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I hope many of you know that Celebrate In Pink provides financial support to women who are undergoing breast cancer treatment. We do this by donating between5 – 10% of our sales to organizations who directly give funds to those in need. Thanks to a friend, Katie, who gave me a great idea to promote our unique partyware along with me adding a fundraising slant to it, I am proud to introduce Celebrate In Pink’s “Who’s Got The Plate” Campaign! It’s a fun and exciting campaign that will run from October 1 to October 31. It will feature people from all walks of life; young and old, male and female and from all over the country. They will be sporting the beautiful Celebrate In Pink plate and will share something about themselves and why they Celebrate In Pink. The videos will be featured on YouTube.com/user/CelebrateInPink, Facebook.com/CelebrateInPink, Twitter.com/CelebrateInPink and CelebrateInPink.com.


Here’s the best part! To raise money, Celebrate In Pink will donate $50 each for the top three videos that has the most views on YouTube ending on October 31. The money will be donated to The Tigerlily Foundation in honor of the three winners. This is a fun and unique way to donate to TigerLily simply by winning a contest! We are relying on you to help the partiers get as many views as possible so please see “Who’s Got the Plate” each and every day on YouTube. Help us make the most of this campaign by spreading it virally to your contacts so they too can have fun with it.

If you would like to help raise even more money for Tigerlily, you can do so by sponsoring a top viewer’s choice with a $50 donation. We’ll send you a plate and using your video camera, tell us why you celebrate in pink, send us the clip and we’ll post it. You can enter as many partiers as you’d like. Email us at info@CelebrateInPink.com (subject: Plate Donation) or find us on Facebook.com/CelebrateInPink or YouTube.com/user/CelebrateInPink.

Let’s get this party started by getting to know the Celebrate In Pink partiers!

Take it From Pinky

It’s fall and walk season has picked up again. Participating in breast cancer walks is one of the most inspiring experiences I’ve ever had. I would highly recommend it and encourage everyone to find one in your area. Since I’m a pro, I thought I would share some of my top tips with you:


It’s a good idea to stretch before getting started. It does make a difference in how you feel the rest of the day and the day after. Like mom used to say, “if you don’t do it, you’ll be sorry”, so do this one for mom.

What you wear is important…for comfort and fashion. That said, we do have to keep in mind that a girl has to look good at all times and a girl has to do what a girl has to do to make this happen. Not sure I would recommend heels higher than 2” but your outfit will dictate the height of the heel. Use your fashion sense or ask a friend for hers.

Drink plenty of fluids. I drink lots of water before and during the walk, that way I can drink plenty of my favorite ‘pink drink’ at our celebration lunch after the walk.

Be sure to walk with friends, its way more fun this way. Make it a whole day of celebrating you will be amazed at how you feel (the pink drinks may have something to do with that too ;) Don’t forget the Celebrate In Pink party ware to make your walk day celebrations even more special.

That’s it from Pinky…now get out there and find a walk!

Is Pink the New White at Bridal Showers? We Hope So

This could've been my shower!

I am happy to report that Greg and I have been married for almost 31 years and it is amazing to me how fast the time has gone. As I look back and remember my bridal shower and the majority of showers at that time, they were held at places such as church halls, community, or someone’s home. It was rare to have a shower at a restaurant or destination. We didn’t have as many choices as the brides of today have. For the most part the showers of yesteryear were very plain and simple so the infamous shower games were the hit of the party. Over the years bridal showers have certainly changed but the purpose has remained the same, to celebrate a union and nurture it into infinity.


Over the years, I have noticed that brides have changed and in many instances, the changes are for the best. The brides of today are cause minded and want to use their wedding or life experiences as a way to help others or bring awareness to a cause they are passionate about. One of the unexpected uses of Celebrate In Pink’s collection of party ware has been the many brides who have used it at their showers to make a statement about a cause they are passionate about. They love the design because pink happens to be one of their favorite colors and at the same time, it subtly conveys a great message to everyone at the gathering.

Introducing a cause with a bridal shower is a great way to encourage others to follow in that example. Think about what may be important to the bride and groom and their families. Who has been affected by what is a great place to start or whose lives do they want to touch and improve? Find ways of getting your guests involved in that cause and encourage them to continue that support after they leave the shower.

Our brides have told us that they love turning their showers into a gathering that extends beyond themselves. Many of them have a mother, aunt, cousin, or friend who has been affected by breast cancer in some way and love using our party ware at heir special day to show that support.

We would love to hear from you…did you have a socially responsible bridal shower? What cause did you support and how did you incorporate it? Do you have ideas to share with us regarding cause related showers, let us know! Together, we can make a difference on shower at a time…  

Are You a Cookie Cutter? I'd Get a Second Opinion

You can’t turn on the news without hearing about yet another approach to treating breast cancer and that’s a GOOD thing! It’s great that more and more treatment choices are becoming available. It appears that the medical community is recognizing that we are all different and our breast cancers aren’t cookie cutter. There have been so many changes in approach and treatment since I was diagnosed five years ago that now more than ever a second opinion should be rendered.


Due to the many facets of the breast cancer treatment process, reasons to seek second opinions are vast. To name a few, get a second opinion on your initial biopsy since much for the information revealed about your cancer is the basis for the treatment plan. I had a second opinion from a separate lab on my initial pathology and it revealed a cancer cell not reported on the original report. It happened to be an aggressive type so it was an important oversight. Once you know the cancer types, a treatment plan can be developed.

Since there are different treatment options now available, be sure to seek a second opinion on this too. We are not cookie cutter and our treatments shouldn't be served up as such. This isn’t the time for you to be concerned about offending or hurting your doctor’s feelings. This is all about YOU and what is best for YOU. Since most treatment plans include several modalities (surgery and its many techniques, chemo and its many ways to administer it, radiation and its many ways to administer it not to mention other modalities) the possibilities are endless and you should be sure you have the right mix.

Bottom line, YOU are number one and the most important part of the breast cancer treatment. Become informed and use the professionals to your advantage by forming your team of experts through the power of second opinion.

Share your stories with us to help others get what they need…did you seek a second opinion? Was it worth it? How did you communicate that with your doctor? We want to hear from you…

Find Out How I Sparked & Hustled in Atlanta

I headed to Atlanta for Tory Johnson’s Spark and Hustle Conference last Thursday and returned on Sunday. I then had to fulfill my civic duty by sitting on a jury this week. After all of that, the case ended up being dismissed, what a disappointment. So I am finally getting the chance to let everyone know about how fabulous the conference was!


First and foremost I have to give a big shout out to Tory for being so accessible to all of us and being extremely genuine. She made each of us feel like we had a new sister who really cares about our business success. She shared her personal stories and real experiences along with success strategies that work for her. The lineup of speakers were fabulous and they all blew us away. Everything from sales and marketing, PR, how to make the most of networking events, pricing for profit, social media and how to use it for business, recognizing the importance of multiple revenue streams, showed us how businesses thrive through collaboration and then challenged us to create our own collaborations by lunch, just to name a few. Solid information that could be applied immediately upon returning home was the name of the game.

Shameeka Ayers, The Broke Socialite, shared that she starts her day with MJ Bleige’s Just Fine that rocks her world and sets the tone for the day. Since music is so powerful, she encouraged all of us to have our own theme song. I haven’t found mine yet but as soon as I do, everyone will know it. Elizabeth Chester of Maddy Moo Creations was extremely generous with her time as we brainstormed on how to bring the Celebrate In Pink collection to homes across America. Jennifer Abernethy of the The Sales Lounge  gave a great presentation on how to use social media to reach customers. These are just a few of many spectacular speakers and women who were a part of the conference.

Last and not least, the conference proved to be a wonderful venue to meet new friends. The ladies were very caring and sincerely interested in helping each other. As a side note, I met very friendly ladies from Asheville who helped planned my upcoming vacation to that area. We plan to get together when I get there, how great is that?
In closing, I am thrilled I was able to participate in Spark & Hustle 2010 and look forward to next years. Here are a few of the glimpses into the conference, enjoy the video . Hope to see you at Spark & Hustle 2011!

Yours In Pink,
Kathy

Great Summer 'Funraising' Tips

Fundraising is an important part of doing some of the larger breast cancer walks. It starts to take on its own life as teams compete to see who can raise the most money. The goal is to have as much fun doing the ‘funraising’ as it is anticipating how much fun walk day will be. Nothing beats the feeling of knowing you will be making a difference in someone’s BFF's life. So here are some fun ideas to spark your fundraising or to enhance what you’ve already done.


1. Calling all Cooks - Get Ready to Cook for the Cure

• Create a cookbook with your walk team’s favorite recipes to sell to neighbors, coworkers, or anyone that supports the cure. Bundle it with Celebrate In Pink partyware to make a great gift.
• Organize a neighborhood BBQ/potluck and ask for donations. Use Celebrate In Pink partyware to make the event even more special.
• Have a pink bake sale. Make all of the treats pink, how much fun is that?

Encourage the kids to get involved! They can be in charge of the lemonade stand at the cookbook release party, BBQ, or bake sale. What a fabulous way for them to help

2. Casual Summer Workdays to the Rescue

Are those suits and dress pants getting a bit heated? Ask your employer to allow a day for the workplace to go casual in support of helping women with breast cancer. Suggest a five dollar donation for dressing down in return for your employer’s logo on your team sign. Add some fun by suggesting that pink be worn.

3. Giveaways are a Favorite

This is a great fundraising event to tie into any of the others on this list. Ask local restaurants or spas to donate a gift card to your team, and then auction them off to the highest bidder! The auction could be silent in nature or have a competitive edge.

4. Kick Cancer Outta Here

Another great summer fundraising idea that is fun for everyone! Set up a kick-ball / soccer / softball     tournament in your neighborhood or in a nearby park. Signup as many teams as possible to make the most of your fundraiser. Don’t forget to bring gift cards to auction off, have a food available for sale and of course the lemonade stand to complete the event.

Hope these tips help get your team moving in the right direction, because October will be here before we know it! And as always, the Celebrate In Pink collection makes great funraisers, call to ask about our great pricing.

Happy funraising!

Pinky Heads to the Park - Come with Her!

Recently I took a trip to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna VA. It's a beautiful 95 acre park nestled in the hustle and bustle of Northern VA. The park boasts large ornamental display gardens, beautiful walking trails, lakes, cherry trees, irises, peonies, an extensive shade garden, fun topiaries, native wildflowers, gazebos, birds and butterflies. It’s an awesome place to hang out; I had lots of fun as you can see from my pictures.

I had the most fun playing on the topiaries and checking out how cool they are. The Canadian geese around the lake scared me at first but we kept our distance from each other and everything worked out. I enjoyed watching the kids in the park having fun and just hanging out.

Tea Anyone?

I immediately knew that I was going to like Meadowlark because one of the very first things I saw on the way in was a Cancer Treatment Garden. It was a nice area to reflect and the only one of its kind in the entire park. It was very thoughtful of them to include such an area in the park.

I had a fabulously pinky day at Meadowlark, so glad I went! Hope you enjoy the pictures; see you next time for another Pinky Adventure!

Always in Pink….Pinky!

Rocky Mountain High in Fabulous Colorado

I can’t believe our Colorado trip has been almost two weeks ago already! As you can imagine, I got caught up in work last week so this post is a bit delayed but I wanted to share with you our wonderful trip. In April, our son and his fiancé moved to Longmont, CO which is about 20 minutes north of Boulder. We really liked the charm of Longmont and its proximity to other beautiful places in Colorado. No matter where you go in Colorado you are sure to find two things…mountains and breweries so all of our outings included both of these.


One of our first outings was to Boulder. We walked Pearl Street, a pleasant pedestrian area filled with great shops (highly recommend Peppercorn) and street performers. We also had brunch at the Chautauqua Park Dining Hall and took in the beautiful mountains around us. You can't go to Boulder without walking through  the University of Colorado. The campus is beautiful and we enjoyed the museum in the Old Main Building. Another great find was the Celestial Seasonings tea plant. They offer a great free tours complete with tastings and a gift shop.

Estes Park is another fabulous town that we visited and really enjoyed. The town has lots of great shops and ambiance, not to mention the beautiful surrounding mountains and lake. It is also the home of the very beautiful Stanley Hotel where Stephen King drew his inspiration for the Shining. Many of the mountains still are snow capped and beautiful.

We went to Denver and toured the State Capitol, it is absolutely beautiful! I would highly recommend this tour and the surrounding park. We then hit the 16th Street Pedestrian Mall where we saw painted pianos throughout eagerly waiting for tunes to hit the keys as well as crazy painted steer. Tree lined streets with pretty flowers and lots of great restaurants abound at the mall. The guys went to a Rockies game while the gals went to a museum. All in all, a good time had by all in Denver.

We drove to Colorado Springs for the day and what a day it was! The Garden of the Gods was stupendous beyond words and we also went to the top of Pike’s Peak via the Cog Railway. I would highly recommend both, the Cog Railway is in a small town minutes away called Mantua Springs. The town is really cute with shops and restaurants, it was fun. The trip up to the summit is about an hour and half. It was a beautiful day until we got on the train. The clouds came in and played havoc with our trip to the summit. We went through lots of weather changes to the top but nothing prepared us for the snow and hail storm at the top. We did have winter jackets as we read that it can be 40 degrees colder at the summit but it was windy and freezing! Needless to say we didn’t get to see the five states we heard about but it was an experience nonetheless.

It’s been over fifteen years ago that I have been to Colorado. I used to travel to Denver and Colorado Springs frequently for work. Going back to where the offices were located was interesting as it brought back memories. I was very surprised at the expansive growth in the Castle Rock area, there wasn’t much there back in the day when I visited the outlet mall, the only reason to go there at the time.

We had a fabulous trip, enjoyed spending time with our family and look forward to going back again and exploring other parts of Colorado. For more great pictures of our trip, visit my Facebook page at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=70792&id=1486850256&l=c535cf648e

Meet the Networking Angels

So it was one week ago that five great women entrepreneurs who, in most cases were connected only in cyberspace, got the opportunity to finally meet in person. A trip to Longmont, CO (see July 6 post) to visit my son and the fact that my Networking Angels happen to live in close proximity, made it all possible! Remember, many of us haven’t ever met in person. It was amazing to actually be in one place with them, hug them, look into their faces to see the spark that we all share and spend time with them.


We covered everything from writing books, selling products on QVC and HSN, profit margins, sales channels, best social media and PR strategies along with a smattering of personal chatter. At times there were multiple conversations going on; I was sitting in the middle so I got to check in on both ends, what a treat! Of course we all had paper and pens to jot down the various tips, contacts and resources we shared.

I have to also say that Martini’s in Longmont, CO was fabulous! Thank you to the Networking Angels for choosing it. The food was great and their martini’s were voted the best in Denver and they certainly lived up to that!

Thanks to Dixie for the delicious Tickled Pink pink toffee for dessert and to Liz for the handy Fobbie Holiday Gift Pack (watch for it on QVC in October). So, without further ado, here are the soon to be infamous Networking Angels:

Front row is Liz Mrofka inventor of the Fobbie, an innovative gift tag that replaces a gift bow, Dixie Daly of TickledPinkBoutique.com featuring great pink delights such as pink chocolates, candles, soaps and pet shampoos, and Barbara Kantor, inventor of Vendante's reflective pop bands that keep humans and pets safe at night.
Back row is Kerrie Weitzel, print specialist and author; and of course, me, Kathy McEvoy, inventor of pink ribbon party ware found at CelebrateInPink.com.

Not only did we make lots of networking magic but we are expecting to be included in the August issue of the Northern Colorado Business Report! Now, how’s that for magic! There's lots of way to create your own Networking Magic, let me know about your Angels :)

Five Women Master the Art of Networking

This is truly an amazing testament of virtual networking and how one woman from Virginia and four women from Colorado are about to meet for their very first face to face meeting.


In May 2008 I met Liz and Dixie at a tradeshow in NYC. During this same time, I was feverishly looking for a printer for the Celebrate In Pink paper products. I had hoped to find one at the adjoining Supplier to the Trade show but no such luck. Turns out that Liz also had a unique print requirement for her Fobbie (great bow replacement for gift packages) and shared with me the name of her print consultant who helped find her needle in a haystack printer. I couldn’t wait to get home to contact Kerrie (aka my Print Angel) to see what she could do for me. Kerrie and I became fast friends and she amazingly delivered two printers to me; without her our beautiful collection wouldn’t be available today. Dixie is the ultimate networker and entrepreneur with great pink products at the Tickled Pink Boutique. She and Liz have been a wonderful source of support over the last two years sharing their time and expertise with me. They were further ahead in their businesses and still to this day are very generous with their ideas and time.

Last fall, I wanted to sell our products on Amazon. Liz knew Barbara of Vedante (reflective pop bands for clothing) who is a very successful Amazon seller and introduced us via email. Barbara has been very kind to share information and strategies that she uses in her business; another very giving lady sincerely wanting to help.

So, you get the picture. I met Liz and Dixie who lead me to Kerrie and Barbara which makes five of us. We all do not know each other but this week I am visiting my son in Longmont CO and couldn’t leave the state without meeting my Print Angel Kerrie, Barbara and of course seeing Liz and Dixie again. SO….all five of us are having dinner Thursday night at Martini’s in Longmont and I cannot wait to see them! All five of us are just as excited since some will meet for the first time and others of us will finally meet in person. I am sure there will lots of great energy and conversation with five entrepreneurs getting together for dinner. If you are in the area on Thursday, stop by and say hi to us, we’ll be the table of ladies gabbing away and sharing business tips, hope to see you there :)

What's Pinky Doing for National Pink Day?

I’m not sure how National Pink Day got me, I have to admit that I just found out about it from a Google Alert. According to my research, there isn’t any official recording of the day but is one that is quickly catching on. So, what is one suppose to do on National Pink Day? Do everything PINK! Wear pink clothes, make and eat pink food such as pink lemonade and cupcakes, use anything pink and of course, put on your pink attitude today. It doesn’t get any better than this…an entire day of pink, how lucky are we???


National Pink Day even caught Pinky off guard. I would’ve thought we could’ve relied on her to give us a heads up on the day. So, I asked her what she will be doing today and here is what she said: “Doing what I do every day…promoting the color pink and what it means too many of us and those we love, reminding us how we can live a more ‘pink’ life by taking time for ourselves so we don’t get lost in the hustle and bustle of the day and of course spending time with our girl friends, the gifts we give ourselves”.

Wow, thanks for that insight Pinky, giving us yet another way to spend PINK Day. While there may not be any official past time for National Pink Day, Pinky and I will be wearing our pink today, eating pink foods (of course on Celebrate In Pink plates), looking for all that is pink and remembering to make time for ourselves and those we love.

How will you PINK today? Please share your ‘PINK’ with us, yet another way to celebrate the day...

Kathy & Pinky

How One Breast Cancer Survivor Found Strength in Journaling

While Kathy and I have not met in person, I suspect that we are kindred spirits. We are both breast cancer survivors who love parties! I thrive on having a house filled with friends and family, and I usually don’t let party preparations stress me out. Honestly, entertaining is just something that gets easier with practice. If you keep the basics on hand at all times, then you will be able to get ready for company in a snap.


When I was going through treatment in 2006, I launched a major backyard renovation. During chemo and while recovering from a bilateral mastectomy I managed a big, messy construction project. At the time, I liked the idea that I was investing in something that would be wonderful for years to come—it was like making a statement that “Yes, I really do believe that I will be around for many more years.”

One of the best things that came out of my breast cancer experience was that I strengthened my journaling habit. I had been keeping a journal on and off for many years, but I brought everything to my journal after my diagnosis. I went deep. The journal became a safe place for me to process fear, but it was also a way for me to contain that fear. It kept my days from being all-about-cancer-all-day-long. Now, I facilitate journaling workshops for cancer patients and caregivers. I have a group that meets monthly. We write together, we read our writing aloud, and we learn from each other. It often feels like there is a bit of magic in the room.

A great way to combine entertaining and journaling is to keep a notebook about the events you have hosted. What was on the menu? Who were the guests? What worked well and what didn’t work so well? Just imagine a notebook filled with the details of your gatherings and celebrations—it would become a treasure.

Thank you Jayne for your great journaling insights and tips; they will surely give my journal a whole new life. Jayne England Byrne and I met on Twitter and connected immediately. Jayne has used her breast cancer journey to help others through journaling and has a great blog to get you started with your journaling. Get your pens ready and head over to http://journalingwithjayne.com/ for great journaling tips. Visit http://jaynesbreastcancerblog.com/ to read about Jayne’s breast cancer journey and beyond.

Best wishes to Jayne and thank you for celebrating with us!

Kathy

Resurgence of the Tea Party

Not the political Tea Party (let’s not ruin our ambiance with politics here;) but the Afternoon Tea ritual that began during the Victoria Era in England and is quietly sweeping America. Emily, of EmilysTeas.com sheds a bit of history on how the Tea Party came about…It seems that Anna, the seventh duchess of Bedford and a Lady in Waiting to Queen Victoria, experienced a “sinking feeling” in the late afternoon and took to the habit of ordering small cakes, biscuits, cookies and of course tea to tide her over until the evening meal. Once the Queen adopted the habit, it wasn’t long before all of England was taking Afternoon Tea. (Thank goodness for Lady Anna, I would be lost without my tea ritual).


Emily also found that it was fashionable to have “Pink Teas” in Victorian England. The tea table was decorated with all things pink: baskets, flowers, dishes, cups, candles even pink fairy lamps. Even today this tradition lives on. When we discovered this, we both thought about how great it would be to have a “Celebrate In Pink” tea party as a fundraiser for women battling breast cancer. It combines the two things that matter most to women…getting together to gab and at the same time, raising money to help a great cause that affects all of us in some way.

EmilysTeas.com is the perfect place to order your fine teas and gift sets. You will find gourmet blends that she has designed, such as Island Vanilla (one of my favorites), Tropical Green, Emily’s Specialty Blend (another of my favs), Chocolate Lover’s and many more great blends. And of course, don’t forget your plates and napkins at CeleberateInPink.com to make your tea party that much more memorable.

Emily is based in the Washington DC area. She is not only certified by the Specialty Tea Institute but is also certified by the International School of Protocol (aka etiquette) combining tea with manners, how perfect is that? Want to host a tea party, she can help with that. Don’t know how to and want advice, she can help with that too. Need a speaker for your group on proper etiquette? She can help with that too! If you are looking for that something ‘different’ for your daughter’s birthday party, ladies night out, Book Club, Networking Group, you just found it! Emily’s tea parties are a unique and memorable experience they will never forget. You can contact Emily Murphy at Emily’s Teas www.emilysteas.com or 703 424 3795.

A great BIG thank you to Emily for educating us on Afternoon Tea and why we like it so much! Please share your “Celebrate In Pink” tea party pictures with us, we would love to share it with our ‘girl friends’.

Here's to great tea, great friends and the power of pink..Kathy

5 Tips for 'posh in a pinch' Summer Entertaining

Have you ever been to a party where the food was delicious, the décor was fabulous and the hostess was having as much fun as her guests? Believe it or not, you too can enjoy throwing a party like this.


These parties are called posh parties. Ashleigh Dorfman, special event professional and owner of posh parties, LLC, produces posh parties … and you can too! Today, she is sharing 5 ‘posh in a pinch’ tips for Summer Entertaining.

• Got gift wrap, tissue paper and scrapbook paper? Then, you have a 'tablecloth', 'table runner' and 'placemat' for your tablescape or food buffet. The design possibilities are endless - and affordable!

• Lounge in comfort with beach towel "pillows". Roll towel and wrap with a lei.

• Repurpose an old photo frame as a menu display. Incorporate scrapbook paper and chipboard letters for stylish fun.

• Garnish your margarita with a lime "marker"! Carve your initial into the lime wedge.

• My Favorite! Create a stylish centerpiece with white daisies submerged in Jell-O! It’s inexpensive to make and Jell-O comes in a wide variety of cheerful colors!

Thank you Ashleigh for sharing your great posh party tips with us, can't wait for the next party! For more party tips, sign up for posh parties Party Possibilities newsletter at www.poshpartiesllc.com/newsletter.htm. To celebrate it forward, don’t forget to include Celebrate In Pink’s socially responsible party ware for all of your entertaining needs. Let's Party!

Fourty Five Thousand Walking Angels Hit the Streets of DC

TEAM FIVE & WON

On Saturday, we completed our fourth Komen Race for the Cure in Washington DC, it was awesome! We had a few new members on our team who were first timers , they couldn’t believe the enormous sea of dedicated and passionate walkers. The energy of the crowd is contagious and inescapable; the color of the day is definitely pink and the creativity in expressing feelings for the cause and loved ones is endless. The most moving part of the walk is seeing how loved ones honor those who lost their battle with breast cancer. There are hundreds of posters and signs bearing photos and names, placards pinned to shirts with names of those to remember, t-shirts honoring great heroes as well as the many conversations heard about these great women. We carry a team sign that honors those loved ones of ours who have either survived or lost their battle with breast cancer.


The mood is celebratory and filled with hope that one day there will be a cure. Even though there are 45+ thousand walkers you become part of a community for 3.2 miles. You meet new friends and know that you have many things in common; it is the quickest bond you will ever experience.

Checking out all of the great t-shirts is a sport in and of itself, something I look forward to every year. We saw some great ones including a truly unique one that said “Stop the War in MyRaq”, another fun one "Check Your Bumps for Lumps" while yet another sported “These are Fake, My Real Ones Tried to Kill Me”.

This was Pinky’s first walk and she had a ball. She was in awe at all of the people, the many great friends she made during the walk and loved all of the pictures that were taken of her. She can’t wait to do it again, she’s all about having fun for a cause and celebrating.

All in all, in spite of the very hot and humid weather, we are so very grateful and thankful that we got to participate in another extraordinary walk. Yes, we did as always, headed home and had a great party with great food, family and friends…of course on Celebrate In Pink party ware ;)

To look at all of the great walk day pictures, go to www.Facebook.com/CelebrateInPink, fan us while you are there :)

The Celebrate In Pink Story - The Beginnings

We are coming up on the 3rd anniversary of the Celebrate In Pink ah ha moment. This weekend, with family and friends, we will participate in our fourth National Komen Race for the Cure in Washington DC. It was this very walk in 2007 that led to the beautiful Celebrate In Pink collection of unique party ware that now exist. Since this was my first walk post treatment, I wanted to make it special. I planned a post walk luncheon celebration and wanted the party ware to resonate the spirit of the day. I thought I could find pink ribbon theme paper plates and napkins at my local party or gift shops and couldn’t. I then searched the internet and couldn’t find it there either. It was this very moment that I had my ah ha moment! I felt that women deserved a beautiful and meaning way to celebrate any occasion and at the same time help our BFFs.


Flash back to my treatment days. I saw firsthand that every one didn't have the same level of insurance that I did. Even with 'good insurance', cancer treatment takes a toll on a budget. Many women are either under or uninsured and this creates added stress to their lives at a time they couldn’t and shouldn’t have any, they have enough already to deal with. I knew I wanted to somehow help them but wasn’t sure how. Fast forward to my ah ha moment and I immediately knew that this was how I was suppose to help these heroes.

I took that as a calling and immediately started to pursue bringing the only pink ribbon party ware to women everywhere. That was June 2007; the Celebrate in Pink collection debuted in June 2009. It was a journey of love and challenge to bring them to you but one I would do again without hesitation. I strongly believe in the power of women helping women, especially through celebrating. We donate a portion of our sales to organizations who directly support women needing financial help while undergoing breast cancer treatment and we depend on angels such as yourselves to help us spread the Celebrate in Pink mission.

This weekend as we gather for our walk once again, not only is it an opportunity to Celebrate in Pink but happens to be the fifth anniversary of my diagnosis and I am feeling fabulous! Life is good and it always gets better when we can celebrate with family and friends so start celebrating today!

Feeling Fab!
Kathy

Walk Day Tips From Pinky

Hello from Pinky! I’m getting ready to walk in the Komen Global Race for the Cure on June 5 in Washington DC and hope to see many of you there. This will be my fourth year doing this particular walk and I have tried and true walk day tips that I want to share with you. These tips can be used for any organized walk so be sure to share them with your friends. Here ya go, Pinky’s tried and trues:

• It’s a good idea to stretch before getting started. It does make a difference in how you feel the rest of the day and the day after. Like mom used to say, “if you don’t do it, you’ll be sorry”, so do this one for mom.
• Wear the right clothes and shoes. That said, do keep in mind the single most important thing - a girl has to look good at all times and a girl has to do what a girl has to do to make this happen. Not sure I would recommend heels higher than 2” but your outfit will dictate the height of the heel. Use your fashion sense or ask a friend for hers.
• Drink plenty of fluids. I drink lots of water before and during the walk, that way I can drink plenty of my favorite ‘pink drink’ at our celebration lunch after the walk.
• Be sure to walk with friends, its way more fun this way. Make it a whole day of celebrating you will be amazed at how you feel (the pink drinks may have something to do with that too ;)

Yours Truely,
Pinky

Tips For an Easy Walk Day Celebration

June 5th will be my fourth Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure in Washington DC. I am accompanied by family and friends and we turn it into a wonderful day of celebration and fellowship. The walk starts at 8:30am and usually has over 50,000 participants. It is the most energizing event we have ever participated in, it’s absolutely fabulous, I highly recommend it to everyone.


When the walk is over, we head back to my house for a celebration luncheon. Last year was the first year we celebrated with Celebrate In Pink partyware and it was one of the most happiest days of my life. To make your walk day celebrations memorable, easy and fun for everyone, here are a few of my tips:

• Keep the menu simple. Since the walk starts early, everyone is starving when we get back to the house. Plan on items that can be put out and served immediately or items that can be set to low in a crock pot right before leaving the house.

• Some of the menus that I have found to be a hit and easy to do are picnic salads such as potato and pasta, fruit salad, served with subs or a sandwich platter. If you prefer a hot lunch, make either sloppy joes or pork barbeque the day before. Put it in a crock pot before leaving for the walk, set it to low and it will be ready when you get home. Serve this with salads and you are good to go!

• I always get a cake for dessert and mention our team. The cake is done in pink and white, has the pink ribbon on it and says something like “Way to go Team 4 2 go”. Our team name has changed each year because we have been counting down to my 5 year milestone. This year we are 5 & Done, We Won!

• I can’t tell you how special the Celebrate In Pink partyware made the event last year. It really reinforced the sentiment of the day and reason for the celebration. I highly recommend the partyware (wink wink) A pink plastic tablecloth and plastic ware completes the table and sets the spirit for the occasion.

I look forward to this celebration every year, it has become a tradition for us and I hope it becomes one of yours. Please share your walk day pictures with us so we can show others how much fun, meaning and importance these walks are to us. To all of our walk angels….here’s to a great walk!

Meet Pinky!

I’m happy to introduce the newest team member at Celebrate In Pink, her name is Pinky! Even in this very tough job market, she had lots of offers and I’m thrilled she chose us. She will be our roving at-large contributor bringing her view to different topics, covering events for us and sharing whatever she feels like (sort of ;).

Pinky’s getting ready for the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure on June 5 in Washington DC so she has her walking shoes on, she’s ready to hit the trail and start her training. Pinky isn’t concerned about how long it takes her to walk, she wants to enjoy her walks throughout the neighborhood. She loves walking with Zeppelin, her dog (yes, she has a dog), and talking with neighbors along the way. Today she walked a mile and had a great time.

Pinky wants everyone to find a walk in your city and participate in it; the energy you will experience will be amazing. It will benefit you and a great cause all at the same time. Stay tuned for updates on Pinky’s training program and please feel free to leave her tips and share your experiences with her…she would love that!

Look for more Pinky adventures in the next several weeks, Pinky, we’re happy to have you!

To Do List - Throw a Party

Until this week I never really thought about how lucky we are when we get to throw parties, especially when they are for others. Given this new outlook of mine, I am one very lucky lady since I get to throw three parties in one month. I think this is a new personal record for me and I think the old me would’ve been perhaps complaining about the timing and the three party thing.


You see every time we have a party, we are bringing people together and celebrating something. At least that’s the way it usually goes. I think we need to have parties for absolutely no reason, just to get peeps together and have a good time. They should be thrown on a somewhat regular basis and should be a group effort, this way more parties will be given. Start the trend of asking your guests to bring something to share; whether its beverages, appetizers, or desserts and once they see how easy it is to have a party, there will be many more parties.

As for my three parties, this past Saturday we hosted a going away party for dear friends, this Saturday we are hosting a graduation party for our son’s college graduation and in three weeks we get to host the post walk luncheon for our Komen Walk for the Cure Team. Yes, I am so very lucky to be able to throw parties and have peeps we love around us celebrating.

So have your parties now while you can still enjoy them, don’t wait for when you have more time, the party may never come. There’s no time like the present to throw a party and be with your friends. And oh by the way, don’t forget your Celebrate In Pink partyware to make it even extra special (couldn't resist putting the plug in).

Party on!
Kathy

The Best Walk You Will Ever Take On Mother's Day

This Sunday, Mother’s Day, the Network of Strength will be holding their annual Mother’s Day Walk for Breast Cancer. The walk takes place across the country in most of the major cities and they always take place on Mother’s Day. For more information and to register go to http://www.networkofstrength.org/


As many of you know, I have always participated in the Komen Walk for the Cure and will do so again this year. This year’s Komen walk will be a milestone for me and my team as this is my five years from diagnosis and our team name has reflected a countdown each year. Our team name this year is “WE WON!” So, this will be a very special walk for us. I have also done other walks but have never participated in the Mother’s Day Walk and I think it is a great way to start any Mother’s Day. I plan to start this tradition next year due to the fact that my son is graduating from college that weekend and we will be in a town that won’t be holding the walk. I am looking forward to it next year though and can’t wait! If any of my readers have participated in this walk, please share your experience with us, we would love to hear all about it.

We are all affected by breast cancer in some way. Why not use Mother’s Day as day to honor the special women in our lives who have been touched by breast cancer. If there isn’t an organized walk near you, you can register for a virtual walk, why not start your Mother’s Day with a walk for our girl friends?

If a Mother's Day Walk isn't for you, I do encourage you to find a walk and participate in it, it is the greatest walk you will ever take...Kathy

What Color is Your Angel?

Since this is gratitude Wednesday, I would like to give thanks to angels who recently came into my life. Last night I had the pleasure of attending a Mary Kay unit meeting. As a guest, I was pampered with a spa treatment for my hands (highly recommend it) and given the opportunity to try out some of their new makeup products. I loved the highlighting cream; it is pure magic and is the secret to making all of us naturally look younger. I am digressing…but had a great time with these ladies. I was invited to attend to share my story and how the Celebrate In Pink line of products came about. After the meeting, so many women came over to hug me and wanted me to know that I touched their lives in a special way because of the survivor they had in their lives. Little did they know how much they gave to me with each and every hug. It didn’t stop here. Three very special pink angels, Peggy, Lea and Barbara started to brainstorm as to how they could spread the Celebrate In Pink message and products throughout Mary Kay, how awesome is that?

These are ladies who exemplify and believe that by helping others get what they need or want provides everything that you need or want. That is the way the universe works. When you get that, and join the giving circle, you get what you want. Start trying to practice it in a small way and see what happens. Looking beyond ourselves leads to a more fulfilling life filled with kindness and gratitude…start your circle today.

So on this gratitude Wednesday I would like to thank my Mary Kay Pink Angels, Peggy, Lea and Barbara for your support, kindness and help in spreading the Celebrate In Pink message, we rely on angels such as yourselves to help us with that mission…thank you!

Friends Helping Through Breast Cancer

Do you have a friend who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and don’t know how to help? Sometimes we feel awkward and helpless when one of our friends announces that she now belongs to a new club that none of the rest of her friends belongs to. Being a breast cancer survivor myself, I know how that feels. I was the first and thankfully, still only one of my friends to go through cancer. Being in the club, you speak a whole different lingo, go places you’ve never been before, meet all sorts of new people and endure things you never thought you would. All of which are off the radar with everyone else except your immediate family.

Even though your friends don’t belong to the club, they want to help I any way they can. Being the strong person that you are, you want to put on a happy face every day and be the friend that you were prior to joining the club. You don’t want this beast to be an inconvenience for anyone else except you (and maybe your hubby) so you turn down offers for help. Thankfully one of my dear friends who routinely asked to take me to treatment, I of course said I was fine, was strong enough to look me in the eye and let me know that I was denying her of quality time with me and of preventing her from doing something that she really wanted to do. I didn’t realize that by not allowing others to do for me when they so wanted to, I was being selfish and only thinking of me. Your friends who offer to help, they really do want to, they are not only doing it for you but for them too. So, let them! This was one of the most valuable life lessons I learned on my journey, graciously allow others to give of themselves, it makes them feel a part of it and gives them a feeling of joy.

Lesson for the day…when your friends offer help, please let them, you are denying them of their God given right to feel good about helping others and why not let the ‘others’ be you? Hope this helps make your journey better, it did mine…Kathy

Everday Tips to Honor Our Earth

Today we celebrate Earth Day, happy Earth Day to all! In full disclosure, I want you to know that admittedly I am not a consummate environmentalist but like many of you, I am very interested in doing my part in saving the planet. So what I hope to do in this post is share with you the easy everyday ways that we can make a difference on the environment. These changes are not drastic but if we all did them, they would have a drastic impact on the environment.


I may be showing my age but when I was growing up we were raised with frugality in mind which by default converted into conservation. The mantra at my house was “click click, do you think I own stock in the electric company”? OR “Turn the water off if something isn’t under it” OR you don’t need all of that for just that….sound familiar? If we all pretend that we have a finite amount of everything and that we have to save some so that there will be some for our children to use should be our guiding principal.

The things we have incorporated into our lives even with raising two boys are easy to do. It’s been 20 years now that we have been using cloth napkins for all of our meals. Each of us has our own design or color, the napkin is reused for the week and then is laundered. Our family loves using cloth napkins and they are much nicer than paper.

The other big change we made in our lives is drastically reducing the amount of bottled water we use. We now only use it in the rare instance where filling our stainless bottles is impossible. Think about these facts about bottled water…globally we generate over 1.5M tons of plastic water bottles and less than 5% of that is recycled. Over 38B bottles end up in US landfills every year. It takes 1.5M barrels of oil to produce the US’s bottled water and over 1B bottles are transported each week consuming oil and other resources just to deliver. Something else to consider when using bottled water is the harmful effects that plastic has on our health. Studies have proven that food items to include water that are stored in plastic, absorbs some of the plastic materials which are then consumed. These materials turn into bad estrogens in our bodies and when accumulated with the many other chemicals that also turn into estrogens in our bodies can cause cancer. There are many published studies on this that you can look up. My point with bottled water is that it’s bad for the environment and our bodies, why not start using a reusable stainless bottle now?

There are several other things we have done to reduce our carbon footprint but the ones mentioned above are very easy for anyone to start using immediately. Make it fun for your family; get the kids started off right by leading as their example. Remember, your conservation today will allow them to enjoy resources tomorrow.

Happy Earth Day, let’s make a difference! Kathy

The Healing Power of Pets

I can’t believe it took me this long to write about the love of my life, Zeppelin. He is a rescue dog and my healing buddy. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2005 I was dog-less for the first time in my life. There was one thing I knew for sure…I couldn’t go through treatment without having the love and support of a furry friend at my side.


The search began for the perfect rescue and he found us! We adopted him when he was 5 months old and it was almost as if he knew his purpose from day 1. He always has a smile on his face, gets us involved every opportunity he has, stays close to protect and to be petted, considers himself a full fledge family member and doesn’t like being ignored. I consider Zeppelin to be one of my angels on earth. He is exactly what the doctor ordered to get me through treatment and beyond.

Zeppelin brightens every one of my days and makes a huge difference on the way I look at life. There are many lessons I have learned from him, the biggest one being living in the present and enjoying the moment we are in because in an instant it is gone. I am so very grateful that we were brought together; his healing powers truly are amazing. If you are on the fence about bringing a dog into your life, I hope this story has made a difference.

Without further ado, here is my furry companion Zeppelin, friend and angel looking very daper and catching a few zzz's, it's tough being a healer :)

                   

Kathy

The Power of Pink

You’ve been invited to a girl friend’s house for a girl’s night-out party. It’s not your typical party but has a definite theme. She ask you to bring an appetizer to share and item that you once treasured but would like to see someone else enjoy. During the evening you have a chance to chat with friends, learn about breast health and raise money for a local organization that supports women undergoing breast cancer treatment….would you go?


Become part of the Celebrate In Pink Movement and partake in socially responsible partying. That treasure that you were asked to bring will be recycled and raffled off to raise money; the breast cancer information sitting on the sideboard may save your life one day; the fellowship with friends is just what your needed and the women being helped by your party is priceless! Think about how great you will feel at the end of the party tallying up the money raised knowing that the power of pink makes such a difference for others.

Join the Celebrate In Pink Movement and host a party with your friends. Of course using Celebrate In Pink partyware will make your party even more special and reinforce the theme. To help raise more money, we offer our products to the hostess at discounted pricing for resale at the party, so that any profits can be given to support your local cause. Who knew that one party would change someone’s life? Who knew that you and your friends would pay for transportation to and from treatment or chemo co-pays? Start planning your Celebrate In Pink party now and make a difference one party at time. Call us for more ways to raise money at your party or for help finding a local organization in your community.

Do not underestimate the power of pink!

Girl Friend Tuesdays

Starting today, we will double our charitable donation on any product purchased on Tuesday from CelebrateInPink.com. It's our hope that you will share Girl Friend Tuesdays with your girl friends and they with theirs. We call it Girl Friend Tuesdays since through your purchase you will be supporting someone's girl friend.

We provide financial assistance to women undergoing breast cancer treatment and help with expenses such as transportation for treatment, co-pays, utilities, wigs, etc. Each Tuesday we will endeavor to provide funds to assist a breast cancer survivor with a specific item. For example, today, we hope to raise enough money to provide four co-pays for chemotherapy.

Girl Friend Tuesdays is a way to ‘connect’ to the girl friends we haven’t yet met. Let Celebrate In Pink be your mutual friend. The best part about Girl Friend Tuesdays is the awesome pink ribbon partyware, stationery or chic t-shirt you get to sport while providing families with financial relief.

So, what will be your favorite item today??? The Full Monty gift set, beautiful note cards or a chic t-shirt that says it all with three little words “Save the Girls”. Did I mention that if you use the promo code SAVEME10 at checkout you get 10% off your entire order? What more can one ask for…great items on sale that directly support our girl friends…spread the word, its Girl Friend Tuesday!!!

Thanks for your support…Kathy

Cherry Blossoms - A Must on Anyone's Bucket List

One of the things I love most about living in the Washington DC area is looking forward to the spectacular show around the Tidal Basin each and every spring. I think I speak for all of us in the metro area…after the winter we just endured; we deserve this gorgeous weather and the splendor of the cherry blossoms. So, when a friend suggested a field trip I said let’s go!

Yes, there were crowds and bringing your patience was a must, but well worth it. There were thousands of people of all ages (code for lots of strollers and canes) trying to make their way around the basin. And did I mention they stopped every few feet to get the same picture yet at a different angle from the one taken just a few feet ago? And yes, they also needed a photographer to get the whole group in the photo to prove they really were at the cherry blossoms. All of this picture taking really slows down the pace and works up quite an appetite.

The weather couldn’t be better, and after making it around the basin we hit the streets looking for the perfect sidewalk café to have lunch. We weren’t the only ones with that idea (remember the thousands of people I mentioned earlier, they all must have had the same great idea) so we walked and walked before we settled on Elephant & Castle. They had a great menu with great food, would highly recommend it. We had a great lunch, great conversation and it wouldn't be a perfect day in Washington without seeing a motorcade. We got to see Joe, got his pic too but my camera speed didn't do him justice :).

Since I want to share my spectacular pictures with you, I have to admit that yes indeed, I did take a few pictures but swear I didn’t stop every few feet. If you didn’t make it to see the blossoms this year, here is what you missed, hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them (I swear there were thousands of people there, I am just a great photographer who made it look like I was the only one there). Add the cherry blossoms to your bucket list if it isn’t already there!                 Kathy

                                                                 Jefferson Memorial

                                                               Washington Monument

Got that perfect angle :)

This picture wasn't altered in any way!