Pink Giveaway #1

Did you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month?

Yes, I know I asked that last week, but I'm gonna keep asking!

Today is the first pink giveaway for the month here, and the others will be on the last Friday of the month. Yep-otherS. There will be more than one giveaway on the 30th! And next week is killer too, even if it's not pink. : )

Anyway-most of us know as least one someone who has had breast cancer , or has been directly affected by someone with breast cancer. My mom's sister has been fighting the fight for the past few years now, and continues to fight on.

My first exposure to Breast Cancer came through Carolyn M. Carolyn was the mother of my best childhood friend Megan.

Though the M family moved away to another state when Megan and I were just 8 years old, there were a number of moms in our neighborhood that were good friends, so there were visits to their family out of state, and they came back here to Utah to visit as well. Thankfully we all still keep in touch and see each other occasionally!

Carolyn was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. Her daughter Megan, who was my age, was only 13 years old at the time. Living a few states away, I don't think I comprehended just how this effected their family. I knew that Carolyn was sick, and was going through treatment, I knew that chemo had caused her to lose her hair, but I didn't realize how sick she really was until we visited their family a year or two later. I remember standing in their kitchen watching Carolyn "walk" her hands up the door frame, moving her fingers and lifting her arms, then coming back down again. This was a big accomplishment at the time. It was then that I finally begin to grasp how life altering this was for the whole family. I was taken aback by what it must mean for my friend, in her early teen years, to have a mom who struggled through each day.

In 1996 Carolyn was told that she had just 18 months to live. I remember when my mom passed that news on. It was very humbling to think that my friend was losing her mom, as I couldn't imagine life without mine at that time (or now really)!

Carolyn continued to prove to her doctors that she was stronger than they anticipated, and fought on for a few more years until she finally lost her battle with breast cancer on May 7th of 2000 at only 57 years old. She was an amazing woman and an incredible example. There is a great article on her HERE if you'd like to read more about Carolyn.

There are so many incredibly strong women fighting this fight every day. And there are so many ways to contribute. Look for the pink ribbon next time you're out. Save your Yoplait lids and send them in. Check out one of the many online shops that support breast cancer research and awareness.

On the last Friday this month the giveaways will feature a number of products that support breast cancer research.

In anticipation of the big October Pink Finale, today is a Pink Giveaway as well.

(I have to apologize for the lack of pictures, as my camera battery is dying.)

First up is the Pink half apron:

You know I'm obsessed with aprons, and now's the time to go pink! This is a half apron with ruffle trim and rick rack accent. Single pocket on the right (with a bow of course!), long ties so it fits everyone, or if you're a tie wrapper like I'm am you can tie it up front. (same style as that damask one from way back when)

You see that pocket on the apron? It will be full of goodies too. Pink suckers, gum, and since I'm a big list person, a notebook too-all supporting breast cancer awareness. (I'll post a picture of all the goodies and some better pictures of the apron once my camera battery is recharged!)

All you have to do to enter today is comment. No going anywhere, or picking a favorite, just comment! Feel free to share how breast cancer has touched your life, or what you are doing to go pink this October.

Additional entries:

*Share the love! Blog, Tweet, or FB this giveaway (please leave a separate comment for each!)

*Become a follower, or let me know if you already are

*DO something! Everyone loves to go shopping, so go get yourself something pink, or something with that unmistakeable pink ribbon logo on it. Come back here and let everyone know what it was!

Giveaway ends Thursday Oct 22nd at midnight mountain time. Winner chosen using random.org and announced Friday Oct 23rd.