Breast cancer gave me a gift today. It arrived in my mailbox, and I think it’s pretty cool. Yes, I’m silly like that, thinking gifts can flow from something very frightening and life-threatening. Some day, I’ll write all about the upside of cancer. For now, I just want to share my nifty keychain!
Gift by breast cancer
There are a few reasons this post might please you:
1. You are a die-hard scrapbooker, and getting your hands on Creative Memories products makes you silly happy.
2. You’re a weekend warrior, slapping pics in books when a free moment presents itself (that’s me!), and so you always need some gear on hand.
3. You have piles and piles of photos surrounding you, and you desperately need to stick those things in books.
4. You care not about photos and albums and supplies, but you need a crafty little gift for someone in need.
I like No. 4 the best, because folks are always asking me to suggest a gift for someone newly diagnosed with cancer, someone heading toward a scary surgery, someone about to face chemo. I always say a candle, a book, some comfy socks. But I’m thinking this is a pretty grand idea, too: How about a small scrapbook with blank pages inside? A pen, some stickers, inspiring embellishments, maybe? Perfect for journaling a cancer adventure — I promise the act of writing it all down can heal lots of wounds.
Another idea: You create a book for your special someone. Add a few photos, some favorite quotes, let your imagination run wild. Need ideas? Here are a few.
OK, time to head on over to the Creative Memories website and browse around. (Be sure to check out these two options, my favorites: Paper Album Kit and Faithbooking Bundle.)
Now, here’s the best part of this post: For every purchase made by a reader through my friend Mischelle (she’s a CM consultant), she will donate 20% of the order (before tax and shipping) to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. And for every $25 you spend, your name will be entered into a drawing for a fancy gift. So, get this: If you order $100 worth of product, your name will go in the hat four times.
And what could you win?
The prize package is worth $100 (before tax and shipping). If you order online with a credit card, please make sure your orders are made through this link, and click on the wording above each item that says: Credit this order to my Host. If you wish to order directly through Mischelle, you can pay with cash, check or M.O. — but not a credit card. Regardless of how you order, please leave a comment here to let us know you’ve made a purchase. Just say something like, “I ordered!” That’s how we’ll know you are part of the giveaway!
And please note these few rules:
Ready to shop? We’re giving you two weeks (time is up Sunday, May 2, 2010 at midnight) — then we’ll reveal the winner!
Note: Mischelle dedicates her participation in the project to two incredible ladies in her life: Carmen Morrison (her my mom #2) and her dear friend Chris Overstreet, both of whom are battling breast cancer.
Thanks, Mom!
I asked my mom for note paper this Christmas. Just something simple for jotting down all the stuff I’m always scribbling (lists are my life, they’re the only way I stay sane). And like always, my sweet momma delivered. She didn’t just grab a few boring pads of paper, though. Nope. She found the inspirational stuff that makes me motivated to live like it matters — you know, to be a good mom and wife, help others, run a half marathon, eat healthy (after the holidays, I promise!), take risks, kick cancer’s butt, that kind of stuff.
And here sits my stack of stationery, right next to me on my desk, reminding me to hope, dare and dream. Oh, and she threw in a cute pad with apples on it (another reminder I need to get a grip on my nutritious ways, maybe?), and two pretty personalized pads, too.
I got a lot of great gear for Christmas this year — a hot pink sports bra and running shorts for those 13.1 miles, yummy body lotions, delicious candles, a trendy little vest for chilly Florida days, a mom-made scarf and more. The paper: A definite favorite.
Thanks, mom, for everything — you know me so well.
www.outofthebluedelivered.com
OK, so it’s no secret that my favorite breast cancer gifts are books, socks and candles — they were my faves when people were gifting me almost five years ago, and they’re what I choose to give others embarking on the horrible and wonderful journey.
I told a friend this once, and she just happens to have this cute online gift shop, and I just realized she is now selling these three in a clever little package.
Best of all (for me, anyway) is the name she gave the gift:
Jacki’s Breast Cancer Patient iCarePkg.
Thanks, Dawn!
So, the appeal of Dawn’s store is that no matter what the occasion, she’s got something you can send (for him, for her, for teachers, for pet lovers — you can even warm up a house, a wedding or a shower). So, be sure to browse the aisles of Out of the Blue Delivered for all of your gift-giving needs. And stop by my namesake while you’re there.
Oh, and don’t forget to enter this giveaway — Dawn is giving away something breast cancer-ish for free!
www.robingunn.com
Best-selling author Robin Jones Gunn’s Sisterchick Series follows women, best-friend types, on adventures around the world, and her book “Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes” narrates the story of a woman facing breast cancer. In the book, the main character comes across an adaptation of Psalm 23, and readers have had such a strong and positive reaction to the passage that it’s been made into an inspiring placard. For just $6, this frameable card can be yours.
Or you can win one here — I have three, and I’ll gift them to the first three people who leave a comment on this post.
Ready. Set. Go.
Wait, one more thing: I’ve got a coupon code for you — use it when you shop at shop.robingunn.com, and you’ll save 20% on your total order. The code: CANCERSPOT.
For My Courageous Sisterchick®
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not freak out.
He makes me lie down under scanning machines,
He leads me to trustworthy doctors,
He restores my deductible.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
(And keep on walking and don’t get stuck
or sit down or have a hissy fit),
I will fear no evil,
For You are with me.
Your new creation health renewal plan
And perfect timing, they comfort me.
You prepare an organic diet before me
In the presence of my injections.
You anoint my baldhead with oil
When my bra cup no longer overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
And when You at last pull my chart and call my name,
I shall arise
And dwell with You in Your house,
Forever.
Adapted from the 23rd Psalm
Appears in “Sisterchicks® in Wooden Shoes!”
Copyright © 2009 by Robin’s Nest Productions Inc.
Enter below to win one cap and one Keep Cool bandanna.
I’m back with more about the Celebration 4 Life gear. You know, the shirts, caps and Keep Cool bandannas (aka cooling neck wraps) modeled by my boys in a previous post. Yea, those. But I’m not here to just chit-chat about these goodies. I’m here to give them away. Well, the Celebration 4 Life folks are giving them away. I’m just providing the avenue by which you can score some free stuff.
One cap and one cooling neck wrap can be all yours if you enter this giveaway. And if you win, you’ll get to choose the cap and wrap of your choice. Pretty generous, huh? It gets better.
Celebration 4 Life will award 12 winners. Yes, 12. So be sure to leave a comment (but only one) so you have a chance at getting these great goods.
Here’s exactly what you need to do:
Before you leave the Celebration 4 Life site, check out their free downloads, and use them if you can. OK, that’s all. Good Luck!
If you think this breast cancer bracelet would look great on your wrist, or you’d love to give it to someone as a gift, or you just like scoring things for free, then you’ve got to enter this giveaway.
My friend Dawn over at Out of the Blue Delivered is giving away this pretty piece, and all you need to do to enter this contest is leave a comment on this post — well, after you hop on over to Dawn’s online store and shop around a bit. Out of the Blue Delivered specializes in gifts for every occasion, and I want to know all about your favorite find. Here’s exactly what you need to do:
If you want to get something for someone with cancer and you have no idea how to show you care, Out of the Blue Delivered has you covered. They’ve got unique gifts made by artisans for every occasion and life event, and unfortunately, cancer has become quite a common life event. Shop on over here and check out all the nifty options — bracelets, earrings, Soup for the Soul, pillows and the cutest ever Hug Shrug. And see that “Heal” plaque pictured above? It’s my favorite.
Maybe cancer isn’t your occasion (and I hope it’s not). No problem, there are plenty of other gift themes available — Father’s Day is coming up, might want to shop for that. If you like all things green and recyced, this is your place. Need a teacher gift, a housewarming gift, a mommy gift? Yep, Out of the Blue Delivered has those too. Take a peek — I know you’ll find something to warm the hearts of the special folks in your life.
I love to give baskets full of goodies for gifts. I love a good theme too. So I’m recommending you get yourself a basket (or a mini storage bin, tote bag, anything that hold goods — just don’t make it a laundry basket, OK?). Then get yourself a theme, and put together a little something special for mom on Mother’s Day.
Pick a healthy eating theme, and fill your basket with an assortment of fruit. Choose a summer reading theme, and stock your basket with a few books (try this one), a bookmark, a pair of sunglasses and a sun hat. How about summer movies? Gather some movie tickets or a Blockbuster gift card, some microwave popcorn and some not-so-treacherous movie candy (Milk Duds are better than peanut M&Ms). And my favorite: The R&R basket, complete with candle, bubble bath, body lotions and gift certificate for a pedicure. Your basket can be a hodge-podge of all mom’s favorite things, too. You get to decide — just get out there and decide, because Mother’s Day is on Sunday, and it’s Friday, and, well, you’re running out of time.
Are these not the cutest flip flops ever? They’d make a pretty nifty Mother’s Day gift, wouldn’t they? I’m thinking so. In fact, I know how comfy these Havaianas Fit cuties are — my sister won a silver pair in a giveaway recently, and she passed them on to me (she’d just bought herself some silver sandals and was feeling generous) — and so I can promise mom will love them. Well, maybe not promise. But chances are, she’ll feel pretty sporty and summery in her very own pair. All you need to do is shell out $30 bucks (she’s worth it, right?) and order a pair for mommy dearest. Pick from pink, white, black, silver or gold. Hey, get a pair for yourself while you’re at it.
I know moms and flowers go together pretty well, and you might be thinking of sending your momma a perfectly pretty bouquet of arranged flowers for Mother’s Day this year. But flowers are expensive, and they don’t last very long, and that’s why I suggest you head over to your nearest garden shop and buy a few plants your mom can plop right in her own yard. Hand deliver your favorite picks, and help mom bury them in the dirt. If you don’t live nearby, bundle up a few packets of seeds and some other garden goodies and mail them off to your special girl. Whether you live near or far, mom will get to watch your love grow.
Times are tough, and money is tight. But even though you might not have much to spend on mom this year, doesn’t mean you can’t treat her right. In fact, if you’ve got a TCBY nearby, you can get your mom something — for nothing.
TCBY is handing out a free cup or cone to all moms who stop by one of their stores on Sunday, May 10. I, for one, have this marked on my calendar, because I love frozen yogurt (try the non-fat, no-sugar-added flavor — it’s always yummy), and I don’t want to forget to get myself there for my very own freebie. Oh, and TCBY will be dishing out the same deal for Father’s Day, so mark your calendars for that too. But for now, plan to take mom for a frozen treat on Sunday. She’ll love you forever. Well, she’ll probably love you forever anyway, but just to seal the deal, get her something smooth and creamy, and maybe even sinful.
Here’s what TCBY says about their great gift to moms: “For the second year in a row, TCBY will open its doors to celebrate moms on Mother’s Day with a sweet tribute to the women we all love. And there is arguably no better gift than one that’s both delicious and healthy. TCBY’s yogurt is low in fat and calories, when compared to ice cream, and is loaded with plenty of live, active cultures (probiotics) to improve overall health and digestion.”
Thanks, TCBY!
If you’re a mom, or you have a mom, or you love someone else’s mom, then you know how important Mother’s Day is. Sure, we should honor the moms in our lives every day, but I like that there’s one special day set aside for celebration. Kind of like a birthday, where balloons and candles and mounds of gifts are the norm, Mother’s Day should be treated like one big party.
Let’s talk gifts — do you know what you’re getting mom this year? Do you know what you want this year? Between now and the big day — Sunday, May 10, 2009 — I’ll be naming some ideas and sharing them here and over here, at the PlanetKid Child Care Blog.
Today, let’s start with something for the foodie mom, the mom who is interested in food but wants to be healthy and maintain her weight too. How about this nifty food scale, which comes in all sorts of colors and is perfect for measuring out that exact one-ounce serving of dark chocolate, which, you know, is actually a healthy daily indulgence — you did know that, right? Makes a good case for buying mom some of the dark stuff too.
A friend asked me the other day what I suggest she buy her neighbor who is in the midst of breast cancer treatment. I gave her three ideas. First, I suggested this inspirational book by Dr. Bernie Siegel. It’s all about exceptional patients, and it will convince you that the right attitude really does heal.
Then I recommended this book by Dr. Susan Love. I was once told it’s the bible on breast cancer, and now that I’ve consulted it for my every breast cancer question, worry and freak-out, I know that every breast cancer girl should have this book by her bedside. Dr. Love knows her stuff, and she explains it like she’s a trusted friend with all the answers.
And then there are socks — comfy, cozy, fuzzy socks. I got yellow ones in the mail (Thanks, Ginger!) when I was knee deep in chemotherapy, and they really saved the day. There’s nothing like feeling all warm and toasty when the world is crashing down around you.
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