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!