Pink It Forward - Friends - Fun and Funds

You’ve been invited to a friend’s house for a girl’s night-out party. She asked you to bring an appetizer to share and item that you once treasured but would like to see someone else enjoy it. 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?

Pink Parties are becoming the rage and it’s easy to see why. They combine treasured time with friends and raising funds for a great cause.That treasure that you were asked to bring will be recycled and raffled off at the party 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!

Pink it Forward Parties are the up and coming way to support a great cause. They are fun and easy to host. To get you started, here are party tips and party games for your Pink it Forward Party PinkItForward.com. Make your Pink it Forward Party even more special by using Celebrate In Pink partyware. Take advantage of an October only special of 50% off everything.

Who knew that one party would change someone’s life? Who knew that you and your friends would pay for chemo treatments and copays, utilities and food, wigs and other incidentals? Who knew that this would be the best party you ever had? Start planning your Pink it Forward Party now and see how many other Pink it Forward Parties you can spawn, let’s go viral with Pink and make a difference one party at time. Party. Fun. Feel Good :=)

Cancer - The Real Equalizer

Look around you, who do you see? Does she look like you? Is her lifestyle like yours? Does she drive a fancy car? Does she live in a McMansion? Is she famous? Does she have breast cancer?

Did that last question throw you off and feel like it doesn’t belong? Guess again. It’s THE question that connects all of us. Whether it’s breast cancer or any other disease, it is the only discriminator that brings equality to all of us. It matters not if you are rich or not so rich, pretty or not so pretty, young or not so young, we all get sick. The BIG thing that makes a difference for all of us is how we plan to pay for our medical bills when we do get a major disease. Many women do not have medical insurance to help cover expenses and even those who have medical insurance the out of pocket expenses can devastate a budget (my own expenses ran over $10,000).

Did you know that 50% of family bankruptcies are due to medical expenses?

Did you know that those who do not have medical insurance delay medical attention and are almost as twice as likely to die within 5 years as those with insurance?

Some sources estimate the total cost for breast cancer treatment somewhere between $75,000 to $200,000 depending on the type of treatment received.

Now you can see that many women and families just can’t afford to cover medical expenses for breast cancer. They not only have to fight for their lives but at the same time they have to worry about where the money will come from. And did I mention that most never saw it coming?

Thank goodness for organizations whose mission is to provide financial support to these sheroes. Their support only goes as far as their funds permit. One such organization who is making a difference for so many women is the The Pink Fund. It provides financial aid for medical and household expenses to get women through treatment and back to work. The Pink Fund was founded by Molly MacDonald, a five year breast cancer survivor who knows firsthand what it’s like to need financial assistance while undergoing breast cancer treatment. Watch for a post soon on Molly and The Pink Fund.

While I agree that money needs to be raised for research so that one day the word breast cancer won’t be part of our vocabulary, I absolutely know that there isn’t nearly a large enough voice for the many women who need financial assistance. If you want to support these sheroes, before you give to a breast cancer non-profit with this mission please be sure to ask how much of their revenue raised actually goes to these sheroes. Look for organizations whose mission is to put as much money raised in the hands of our sheroes….they need you. Please consider making a donation to The Pink Fund as they are one organization truly dedicated to sheroes...thank you!

Pink Parties Going Viral

You’ve been invited to a friend’s house for a girl’s night-out party. She asked you to bring an appetizer to share and item that you once treasured but would like to see someone else enjoy it. 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?

Pink Parties are becoming the rage and it’s easy to see why. They combine treasured time with friends and raising funds for a great cause. That treasure you were asked to bring will be recycled and raffled off at the party 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!

Pink Parties are the up and coming way to support a great cause. They are fun and easy to host. To get you started, here are party tips for your Pink Party CelebrateInPink.com/Pink_Parties. Raise even more money for your charity and make your Pink Party even more special by using Celebrate In Pink partyware. 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 chosen breast cancer charity.

Who knew that one party would change someone’s life? Who knew that you and your friends would pay for chemo treatments and copays, utilities and food, wigs and other incidentals? Who knew that this would be the best party you ever had? Start planning your Pink Party now and see how many other Pink Parties you can spawn, let’s go viral with Pink 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.

Women Over Winter

Looks like we are on the downside of winter, Yippee! With the holidays over we really need diversions to keep our sanity intact until Spring. Really, there isn’t much in the way of activity between January and March so we have to work at it. This time of the year can be harder for some especially if cold temps, snow storms and early sunsets get you down.

I decided to embrace the ugliness of winter and tackle it head on. I signed up for an exercise class that starts at 6pm, that way my endorphins are peaking and the early sunsets don’t really bother me. I also found that making it a point to schedule more dinners and outings with girlfriends has helped. Having friends over also does the trick, just being with friends makes everything better. It’s the one time of the year that we should force ourselves to get out and do more in spite of the weather. I like to think of it as women over winter with women winning. Perhaps a’ Women Over Winter’ rotating party every month is just what the doctor ordered.

I’m sure there are lots of fun and creative things to divert us from winter, would love to hear about some of the things you do that make winter more delightful. Just think, if we stick together and share ideas, maybe just maybe we’ll look forward to next winter – NOT :)

Feel Better With a' Feel Good' 2011 Resolution

January is almost over, have you made your resolutions for 2011 yet? Roughly 45% of us make New Year’s resolutions and the most popular ones have to do with losing weight, exercising more and stop smoking. While these are great resolutions and help our bodies in so many ways, I would like to suggest that adding a 'feel good’ resolution will make a difference in so many ways. These are resolutions that make us feel good spiritually or emotionally such as committing to working in a soup kitchen once a month. Think about how great you will feel knowing that you are helping so many people.

It’s not too late…add a ‘feel good’ resolution for 2011. Look for a cause that you are passionate about and find organizations that support it. Contact them and see which ones you are a good fit for and make a commitment to help them out. I’ll bet this is one of your resolutions that will beat the ‘ 50% of us abandon our resolutions by June’ statistic…this is one that provides rewards in so many different ways, it is sure to stick.

Not only will you meet new people and make a difference for so many, you will be surprised at how much better your 'feel good' resolution makes you feel. Where will you give your time this year?

"Save the Girls" Checklist

Since this is the time that most of us make resolutions of some sort, it’s the perfect time to create a check list that could “Save the Girls” (you know what I am talking about ;). By the time you finish showering, dressing and eating in the morning, BFF’s of 20 more women will hear the words “You have breast cancer”. Don’t be one of them! (Every three minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer).

Add these routine easy to do items to your checklist for 2011: 

• By exercising only 2 hours a week you not only burn fat that produces excess estrogen, a contributor to breast cancer but you will feel much better too.  
• Eat at least 5 fruits and veggies each day
• Limit fatty foods and alcohol consumption
• Take calcium and Vitamin D every day
• Perform monthly self-breast exams
• Begin yearly mammograms starting at age 40 

See how easy that is! Starting with 2011, make every year the year to “Save the Girls”.

 

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