Crossing the Chicago River

Completing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is a lot like childbirth: Painful but rewarding. Walking 39.3 miles in two days is, simply, hard. No matter how much you have trained, you can’t totally prepare for your feet repetitively pounding on pavement and Mother Nature dishing up some wet and windy surprises. Bones hurt, blisters pop, chafing appears in (ahem) private places, humidity induces unusual rashes. By the end of Day One, you’re not sure you really want to (or can) get up and walk on Day Two. And yet, the main takeaway from the weekend is a feeling of triumph. In fact, many find this feeling so addictive they choose to do the walk year after year (perhaps, in a phenomenon similar to that of childbirth, selective amnesia sets in).

I spent the Avon Walk weekend with eight other women brought together by our personal trainer, Tracy, a Walk veteran. Training for the walk was a classic example of our philosophy at GirlfriendCelebrations – doing something meaningful together builds friendships! Establishing a walking routine is a great girlfriend-bonding activity. During our training walks, my teammates Liz, Cathy, Robin and I had nothing to do but talk. We’re definitely closer as a result. And during the Walk weekend, I was privileged to get to know my other teammates Teresa, Bonnie, Linsday, and Sherry better as we walked and talked.

Even though our group sentiment was “never again,” after walking 26 miles (a marathon!) the first day of the event, my memory of it now is fond and framed in pink. I’m proud of our accomplishment. We did it, girls! What kept us going? The things that unite women during any bonding experience, whether it’s college rush, child rearing, or working in adjacent cubicles:

Common purpose – We were there for a reason, after all. Every single walker was mindful that we were there to end breast cancer. When we tired, all we needed to do was look around, or read the personalized shirt on the walker in front of us: “I’m walking for my mom. Miss you.” Surrounded by more than 3,000 girlfriends united by a common purpose (and yes, there were some brave men among them), we found it easier to keep walking.  More than 300 breast cancer survivors participated in the walk as well, and if they could do it, then we could, too.

Community support - In every neighborhood we walked, residents made signs, cheered, brought out their children, dressed up their dogs, and offered candy, water, and encouragement. “Great job, ladies! You can do it!” I can’t overstate how much this helped, especially when there were only a few painful miles to go.

Each other – Whenever I had doubts about my ability to finish the walk, I remembered my teammates and I knew, from training with them, that they would keep me going. I would not be going it alone. We would have each other, and that would be enough. Literally, just knowing that I was entering this event with a team made it easier to feel I would finish. Isn’t that the way in life? How many events, big and small, have your girlfriends carried you through?

Making it fun – At each city intersection, we were greeted by colorful crossing guards who decorated their motorcycles – and themselves -  as outlandishly as possible. I’ve never seen so many men in brassieres. Women piled on pink bracelets, beads, hats, feather boas, and costumes to celebrate the event. Punny team names dominated the day (my favorite team  – the Incredi-Boobs – was complete with superhero capes). What a great lesson in finding the humor in a great challenge.

Sheer perseverence. Putting one foot in front of the other. At the end of each day, that’s all we were doing – putting one foot in front of the other. Determined to finish, because we could, and others could not. Because blisters beat chemo any day. Because we wanted to feel a sense of accomplishment in doing what we promised to do. And, because we were together. We crossed the finish line arm in arm, some of us in tears, proud of ourselves and each other.

In Chicago, the 2010 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer raised more than $7.7 million to advance access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer. The Avon Walk Chicago, the fourth of nine Avon Walks this year, attracted more than 3,400 participants from 45 states, Washington, D.C., and Denmark, including 307 breast cancer survivors, who joined together to raise lifesaving funds and awareness for breast cancer. Carol Kurzig, president of the Avon Foundation for Women, announced during the Closing Ceremony a total of more than $2.35 million in grants to eight local organizations, ensuring the funds raised immediately benefit the community. More grants are slated to be awarded throughout the year to breast cancer programs nationwide. For more information, visit www.avonwalk.org

As busy women with hectic calendars, we are always looking for ways to make more time for play in our days. With this in mind, Peapod, the online grocery shopping and delivery service, invited the Girlfriends-In-Chief and some fellow bloggers on a warehouse tour to show us how they could make our lives easier with the click of a mouse. As busy wives and moms, we were all quick to see how Peapod could help de-stress our domestic lives.

Perky Produce

Look Who Greeted Us!

It’s Cold in There

Our tour guide, Tony Stallone, Peapod’s Produce Guru, helped to put all our apprehensions about grocery stores of the 21st century to rest. Being skeptical yet savvy consumers, we initially thought that one would have to physically go to a store to get the freshest produce. But Tony was convincingly quick to point out that in order for Peapod’s service to succeed, the produce has to be better than the produce you would pick for yourself.  Simply put, if you were to pick bad cherries, you would only have yourself to blame. If Peapod were to send you bad cherries, it would not only be the pits for you but for them as well because as a consumer, you’re going to complain. Peapod’s produce goes through a careful inspection process. The fruits and vegetables are not only hand-selected but they are also tasted to ensure a positive experience for the customer. After touring the many different temperature zones in the warehouse (which, it seemed to us, were cool, chilly, cold, colder and freezing—because Peapod takes pride in never breaking the chain of coldness the entire time the food is in their warehouse) and walking among the peppers and apples (each have their own temperature-and humidity-controlled zone, by the way), we were sold on the quality of Peapod’s produce. The fruit in their warehouse looks much better than the room-temperature fruit selection we see at our local Jewel or Ultra. We won’t think twice when it comes to ordering a fruit tray or appetizers from Peapod for our next girls night.

Just a side note, the Produce Guru has his own blog about *drumroll please* produce which you can find here. He is very knowledgeable when it comes to selecting and storing produce: even grandma would be impressed. Here are a few of the tips he shared with us en toure.

• Strawberries – Inspect the entire box of strawberries, don’t be afraid to turn the box over. The strawberries on the bottom and sides of the box will go bad first. Look especially at the shoulders of the strawberries, that’s where bruising occurs first.  Strawberries will last longer if kept at a colder temperature.
• Apples – Refrigerate them. Keep them cold or they will go mealy.
• Avocado – If the button pops off the end easily Makes, it is ripe.
• Guacomole Dip – To store dip overnight without it turning black, place a plain piece of saran wrap over the dip and gently press down until all of the air is out of dip. Keeping the air from coming in contact with the dip will ensure it stays green.

Entertaining Essentials

Order Picks

If you’d like to read some of our blogger girlfriends’ take on the tour and see some more pictures, you can check them out here:

West of the Loop – Emily

Peanut Butter In My Hair – Melissa

Disclosure:  We were invited to tour the Peapod warehouse and given a goodie bag which included a tee shirt, thermal mug, gift card, and produce. We were not asked to write this post, nor were we compensated for doing so. As always, the opinions expressed are strictly our own. GirlfriendCelebrations belongs to the Peapod affiliate program, which means if you click a Peapod ad on our site and make a purchase, we may be compensated.

Often on GirlfriendCelebrations, we bring you ideas for combining girls night and charity. So we were delighted when Kimberly Wilson offered to share her very own “recipe” for a Charitea Soiree. Kimberly is a teacher, writer, do-gooder, entrepreneur, and eco-fashion designer. She is the creative director and founder of Tranquil Space, named among the top 25 yoga studios in the world by Travel + Leisure, author of Hip Tranquil Chick: A Guide to Life On and Off the Yoga Mat and Tranquilista: Mastering the Art of Enlightened Work and Mindful Play, and holds a Masters in Womens Studies. When not bookstore browsing, she can be found sipping tea, crafting new designs for TranquiliT, or leading retreats. Her work has been featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio as well as in Daily Candy, Fit Yoga, U.S. News and various books. With a passion for do-gooding, Kimberly launched Tranquil Space Foundation to bring yoga, creativity, and leadership to women and girls and is currently pursuing a Masters in Social Work.

by Kimberly Wilson

One way to raise awareness (and funds or goods) for your favorite cause is by throwing a flair-filled fete. Who doesn’t love parties? In my first book I touched on this concept and even created a downloadable tool kit to assist readers in bringing this idea to reality. Many good things start small and gain momentum through grassroots efforts. Good old-fashioned tea parties combined with activism can be a powerful and fun tool for change. A ChariTea soiree helps build community and is a great networking experience. Invite five to fifteen people and ask each to bring like-minded friends: Perfect for getting your name out there as the do-gooding “hostess with the mostess.”

Here’s the skinny: Hosting the soiree in your home allows you to create the complete vibe. If that isn’t possible, look around for a cozy local café that has the same ambience you want to create. Following is the time line for pulling this off seamlessly and tranquilly.

Timeline

Four Weeks Before
-Determine charity to highlight, and request promotional materials.
-Send invites to your fave gal pals and encourage them to bring two to three friends.
-Invite a guest speaker from the charity.

One Week Before
-Send reminder and directions.
-Buy dry goods: drinks, treats, and candles, plus assorted teacups, saucers, and cloth cocktail napkins from your local thrift store.
-Purchase goodie bags and their contents: a box of organic fair trade tea, organic fair trade chocolate, scented tea lights, bath treats, promotional materials from charity, tissue paper.

One or Two Days Before
-Buy fresh food.
-Create a playlist to set the mood (suggested: Madeleine Peyroux or John Coltrane).
-Buy flowers.
-Put together goodie bags.

Day of Event
-Tidy your surroundings.
-Prepare food.
-Set mood: light candles, arrange flowers, play the perfect music for your vibe.
-Set up a treat and libation station.
-Indulge in a restorative yoga pose prior to guests’ arrival.
-Don your most fabulous and comfy ensemble.

At Soiree
-Be the hostess with the mostess: Greet and introduce guests warmly, keep drinks and laughter flowing.
-Introduce speaker from charity.

Day After Event
Send thank-you notes to guests, speakers, and helpers via snail mail.

Tea and Tasty Treats

Here’s my suggested menu:

-Cucumber-mint and goat cheese-watercress tea sandwiches
-Lemon cream scones
-Cookies (butter and/or ginger are lovely tea accents)
-Fresh fruit selection (assorted berries, green apples, pears)
-Tea selection

About tea brewing: An intoxicating brew of tea is essential. Begin with fresh, cold water, and heat it in a kettle on the stove. Prewarm the teapot by rinsing with hot water; a ceramic teapot provides the best heat and flavor. Measure one heaping teaspoon of loose-leaf tea per cup and add to the teapot. If using tea bags, count on one bag for each teacup. Remove the kettle from the heat when it has reached the just-boiling point, and pour immediately into the teapot. Cover the pot with a lid, and brew the tea for three to five minutes before pouring. The larger the tea leaves, the longer the brewing time. Remove the leaves or bags from the brewed tea to prevent bitterness. Serve with raw sugar, honey, or agave nectar. Serve a variety of fair trade and organic green, white, and herbal teas, from chamomile to jasmine to chai. The Republic of Tea, Tulsi Tea, and Gypsy Tea have a plethora of tasty organic options.
—
Kimberly lives in a petite pink palace in Washington, D.C. with two fancy felines named after French impressionists, a supportive beau, and a sassy black pug. Indulge in musings on tranquilology through her blog and podcast, Tranquility du Jour. Learn more at kimberlywilson.com. For more ideas on divine do-gooding and entertaining with style, pick up a copy of Kimberly Wilson’s book, Tranquilista.

We had the opportunity to guest blog about entertaining shortcuts on the beautiful entertaining blog Second City Soiree last week and we wanted to give you a peek, girlfriends! Our girlfriend Jen does such a great job bringing you easy, chic entertaining tips as well as gorgeous photography. We were so flattered to be asked to be part of her guest blogger project!

“Are you known as a hostess with the mostess, or do you cringe at the thought of company? Some of us are more gifted than others in the entertaining department—but don’t let that stop you from having the girls over. At GirlfriendCelebrations, we think it’s better to have an imperfect party than not have one at all. We‘ve perfected the art of “shortcut” entertaining. So stop procrastinating and start planning your next girls night with these tips.”

Read the rest, including how to cheat on cleaning, and how to give a potluck pizzazz, on Second City Soiree.

How do you live a long, healthy, happy, adventure-filled life? More to the point, how do you stay young when your years say you are old?  ”Learn your life-lessons along the way so they don’t need to keep being repeated, ” says Valerie Ramsey, author of Gracefully : Looking and Being Your Best at Any Age (2008, McGraw Hill). It was no surprise to us that “Get Girlfriends for Life” is one of those very important lessons, but we thought you’d enjoy hearing the rest of what Valerie, a mother, grandmother, executive and runway and print model, has to say. We truly enjoyed the positivity of her book, which reveals her secrets for how to nurture your health, stay positive, and look and feel your best, at any age. She encourages her readers to look forward to all the years that lay ahead, and gives particularly helpful advice on transitioning through life’s stages. It definitely is apropos for a Mother’s Day read – or a great gift for your mom! Valerie was kind enough to share her “Wisdom for the ages” with GirlfriendCelebrations. Read on to find out the best time to make girlfriends, according to her:

Women’s Life-Lessons from 30 to 70 with Author Valerie Ramsey

The 30’s: Underschedule Yourself: “The Thirties are the decade where you can do it all, look your best, excel at a career, marry the man of your dreams, have children, etc…and consequently, women in their 30s are usually exhausted trying to do it all. When activities are lined up endlessly, we must race through them like an athlete running the hurdles in a track-and-field competition. Jump, sprint, jump, sprint, jump..in contrast, having time and space-even the smallest amount, as long as it is allotted consciously-around activities invites us to savor, absorb, and actually experience them. Pauses allow your spirit to catch up with your body. While there are a few women who seem to thrive in overdrive, the majority of us run the risk of depleting our immune systems, draining our emotional reserves, and fraying our nerves if we run too fast too long. When my 6 children were all very young when I was in my thirties, I had two rituals that saved my sanity and were my downtime: During nap time, or when the children were in school, I would avoid the temptation to fold laundry or do any sort of housework and instead would just take a time out for me – take a nap, read a magazine, write in my journal, chat on the phone with a friend – whatever I felt like doing. It was my ‘mental health’ time! In the evenings after the children were in bed, I loved having knitting or needlepoint projects to work on.”

The 40’s: Get Girlfriends For Life: “By the time you reach 40, women we chose to hang around with in our twenties and even thirties have often fallen by the wayside through different life paths and/or outgrowing each other. The great news is that at age 40 you really know what you want in a female friend and what you don’t. During my 40’s, it was an ideal time to form these strong and lasting friendships. By then my children were older, the demands on my time were relaxing somewhat, and I had the time and the freedom to pursue my own friendships. Often, too, my husband and I would get together with other couples and their families and go off on weekends or vacations together. Whether you’re wrapped up in a career, or still raising a family, when you’re in your 40’s you realize and appreciate the value of girlfriends who will be with you for the rest of your life (and probably will outlive your mate too!). Do everything you can to enhance those bonds during this decade.”

The 50’s: Find and Own Your Voice. “I chose this life-lesson for the Fifties because it was the decade that I finally stopped doing for everyone else and listened to what I needed and then acted upon that. When I reached my 50’s, the children were grown and my husband and I had moved from the east coast out to California. I had always known that eventually I wanted to have a career doing something that would be exciting, challenging and fulfilling in a beautiful place where I would meet lots of interesting people. By looking back over my life and reflecting on what I had been attracted to and enjoyed, I had a good idea in general of what that might be. I started working at the famed Pebble Beach Resort in Carmel, California in the Golf Shop and I slowly but diligently worked my way up to be their Director of Public Relations!”

THE 60’s: Create A New Look: Going Grey Doesn’t Mean Acting Grey!!
“Let’s face it, the look you had going in your forties may have been stretched through your fifties but once you are sixty, you do really need a senior makeover for yourself-or you may come off looking like one of those women who just try too hard and can’t pull it off. Forever 21 may be a store but it’s not a prescription for looking your best! For years, I had had blonde streaks put in my light brown hair, but by the age of 60, the highlights didn’t last and this new silvery color started taking over. I decided to go with it, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The transition was quite easy, and now, funny as it seems, my hair has become a signature for me. People stop me all the time to comment on it – something that never happened when I was spending all that time and money to color it! I love the ease and convenience- not having to rely on a colorist to keep me looking well. The key to letting your hair go gray is good conditioning and styling so that your silver hair is always shiny and healthy looking. And to having the confidence to love yourself – silver hair and all.”

The 70’s: Expect the Best of What’s Next “On my 70th birthday I woke up not with a feeling of dread, but with one of tremendous excitement. I just knew that 70 wasn’t the end – that it was merely the start of a whole, quite fabulous new decade and that there were lots of unimagined adventures still lying ahead. Even when I suddenly became terribly ill and was knocked out of commission for about two months, that didn’t deter me or my enthusiasm for the coming decade at all. I am fully recovered now and thrilled by the path that lies ahead. A few months after I turned 70, my booker at Silver Models called to find out if by any chance I was in New York at the time, but unfortunately I wasn’t. I was still at home recovering from being ill for so long. Time Magazine had requested me for a cover shot and wanted to meet me the next day and shoot it the day after that! To say I hated to miss that opportunity is the understatement of all time.”

For more information on Valerie Ramsey, go to valerieramsey.com

In honor of Mother’s Day, our May Girltalk topic is  Moms & Daughters & More: Strengthening the Bonds, Breaking the Chain. To download this month’s PDF Discussion Guide, click here. For more information on Girltalk, click here.

A personal note from Christine Arylo, founder of Girltalk

Whether you are adopted, from a family of seven, an only child, whether your mother is like your sister or you never talk to your mother, whether your mother is alive or passed on… the truth is that we were all born, we all came from a mother, and we are all women. What’s not so black-and-white is how these relationships with our mothers and mom-like influences impact who we are today… consciously and subconsciously. And since they are some of the most influential relationships in our lives, I say let’s put on our wetsuits this month, dive into the water and do some exploring of what may be lurking underneath in our subconscious sea!

No matter how ‘close’ you are with your mother or daughters, all mother/daughter relationships are complicated, intertwined and full of many levels. It’s just part of the deal. Just as we might receive a set of good china, we are “handed down” behaviors, patterns and beliefs from our mothers that affect our lives on many levels. Some are strengths that help us have great lives, and create lives that are even better than the women who came before us. These are bonds to be strengthened, celebrated and appreciated.

But we also get unstylish and dysfunctional china sets… generation after generation of woman passing down liabilities, limitations and self-sabotaging habits and beliefs. These chains are the most harmful because 1. They keep us from our best life, 2. We pass them down to our children, usually without knowing it. And then they keep the patterns going, generation after generation, and 3. They are the hardest to break, because often times breaking these chains can feel like losing connection to our families.

But as women of the 21^st century, we owe it to ourselves, to future generations, and also to the women who have come before us to stand with strong hearts to break the chains that do not serve us… and to strengthen the bonds we have with the women in our lives – sisters, mothers, daughters, grandmothers. mom-like figures – both from our birth families and our “soul families”(the families we have created).

We’ll do this in true Girltalk fashion, asking you to open up conversation with the women in your life  – daughters, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, godmothers, aunts – and get to know them as women first, not as their role to you. They have fears, dreams, ideals, hurts, victories, just like you. Get to know who they are, and what you can learn from each other. Then you can decide what you want to strengthen and what you want to break. And in the process get to know yourself even better.

The Girltalk… Taking it Deeper May Adventure:

“Go Beyond the Role… Girltalk with Your Mom, Daughter & More”

Before you get together with your Girltalk… Taking it Deeper group, your challenge, should you choose to take it, and we really hope you do, is to be real and vulnerable with your mother, mom-like person, or daughter and ask her these questions about HER. Get to know her, as a woman or girl. Invite her to do the same with you.  Why? Because when you meet each other woman to woman, the complications and the expectations of the relationship move aside so you can see each other as the human women you are.  You will learn a lot about her, and you will learn even more about yourself…even if you think you know the answers.

If this challenge feels a little uncomfortable, great! It means that you are making positive shift in your life. If this doesn’t feel challenging, ask yourself why? And either change your perspective, find questions that do push your edge or choose a different woman. These adventures are about challenging yourself to move outside your comfort zone… because that is where transformation happens.

And, if needed, you may also make some alterations to this adventure. If a face-to-face, heart to heart talk isn’t feasible, then call, or even an email will pass. If you can’t do this with your mother, but you have a grandmother, sister, godmother, aunt, step mom, etc. that you can talk with, do that. The point is that you are reaching out to and connecting with an influential woman in your life and getting to know her better.

Starter Questions

1. What were your dreams as a little girl? As a woman?
2. What is your biggest regret? Success?
3. What was your first heartbreak? What has been one of your biggest lessons about love?
4. Was religion or spirituality a part of your upbringing? How did you feel about this?
5. What was your relationship with your mom? What do you wish had been different?
6. What women were big influences in your life? How did they influence you?

Go Bold Bonus Question

1. At what age did you first have sex, with whom, how did it make you feel? What was your ‘sex’ and ‘period’ talk like with your parents?

Go Deep Bonus Question

1. What do you wish was different about your relationship with me?

Alternate Questions For Mothers

• What would you change about how you raised me?
• Did you actually like being a mom and all the responsibility?
• Did you face any special challenges or pressures raising me?
• Did you have other significant relationships before my father, your current partner?  What were these relationships like and how did they help you/hurt your growth?
  

May Topic: “Moms & Daughters & More”

Be Real. There is a lot of Hallmark hype out there about what a mother/daughter/sister/ relationship should be… although most of us don’t have that Hallmark version. We have the human version. There is a lot of power in this human version, when you share the realities with other women.

• Describe your relationship with the women in your birth family.
• What are your expectations them? How do they meet them, how don’t they?
• What do you wish you could tell or ask your mother that you never have?
• Do you have women outside of your birth family that feel like your real family, and if so describe that relationship.
• What do wish your mom had told you about life, so you didn’t need to figure it out on your own?
• What is the most personal thing you’ve ever told your mom?
• How are you most like your mom? How are you least like her? How do you feel about both of those?
• What other women have been big influences in your life?

Be Wise. Time to change the china patterns! What wisdom is there for you to share about your relationships, patterns, beliefs with your female family? And how can you take that wisdom to create a better life for yourself and the women in your life today?

• What does it really mean to have a ‘close’ relationship to you? And what is a healthy relationship look like?
• How do you act out of obligation and guilt in your relationships to your mother, daughter, sisters, etc. vs. a place of love and choice? What keeps you acting from obligation. And what would it take to change that?
• What did you learn from the May Girtalk Adventure of having a conversation with your mother, daughter, mom-like figure?
• What female familial pattern have you broken and what was the impact?

Be You. Strengthening the bonds and breaking patterns is part of you discovering and being who you are. Make a conscious choice to do both this month.

• What one pattern or belief from your female birth family do you choose to give back and transform?
• What one pattern or belief do you choose to keep and strengthen?
• State both of these aloud, even write them down.

With big heart,
Christine Arylo, Chief Girltalker

Finding a cure for breast cancer in our lifetimes is a cause that GirlfriendCelebrations is proud to support. So, we are thrilled to tell you about The Pampered Chef’s efforts to raise funds for breast cancer education and early detection programs through its “Help Whip Cancer” campaign. There’s no better feeling than gathering your girlfriends for a girls night that contributes to a great cause. Our girlfriends at the Pampered Chef have given us a delicious *pink* recipe you can use at your next girls night in, plus a martini glass giveaway you’re going to love!

Since introducing the Help Whip Cancer campaign in 2000, The Pampered Chef has raised more than $7.9 million to support breast cancer programs through the American Cancer Society.  Last year, the campaign raised more than $875,000 from Help Whip Cancer Fundraiser Shows and special pink-themed product sales.

“Almost everyone knows someone, whether it be a mother, sister or friend who has been affected by breast cancer,” says Marla Gottschalk, chief executive officer of The Pampered Chef. “The goal of this campaign is not only to raise awareness and education for breast cancer, it’s also about supporting women who have been affected by this disease.” There are two ways YOU can help:

1. Raise Funds with a Cooking Show Fundraiser

This May, in honor of Mother’s Day, The Pampered Chef invites people to celebrate the women in their lives by hosting a Help Whip Cancer Fundraiser Cooking Show. Up to 25 percent of total Help Whip Cancer Fundraiser Show sales will be contributed to the American Cancer Society for breast cancer awareness and early detection programs. If you don’t already have a Pampered Chef Consultant, find one HERE.

2. Buy Special Pink-themed Products

A contribution of $1 will go to the American Cancer Society for every pink-themed product purchased from The Pampered Chef between May 1-31, 2010. The following special Help Whip Cancer products apply: Pink & White Dots Martini Glasses  (shown below); Pink Color-Coated Tomato Knife; Pink & White Twixit! Clip Combo Pack; Sweet Honey Vanilla Sprinkle; Help Whip Cancer Reusable Shopping Bags. Guests who spend $60 or more in May get Help Whip Cancer® Reusable Shopping Bags (a set of two) for free, and they are also available for purchase. See all the Whip Cancer products HERE. We are so ready to buy that pink tomato knife! These products are available for purchase online as well as at cooking shows.

“Through Pampered Chef Fundraisers and pink product purchases, people can help the American Cancer Society save lives by raising funds and awareness for breast cancer this May,” says Scott Bennett, national vice president of marketing for the American Cancer Society.  “With the continued efforts of The Pampered Chef, we are getting closer to a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays.”

Heavenly Lemon Angel Cake

The lovely pink cake pictured above would make a great addition to your next girlfriend gathering or Little Pink Party to honor a friend with breast cancer. Here’s how to make it:

5 drops red food coloring

1 pkg (16 oz or 430 g) angel food cake mix

3 lemons

2 cups (500 mL) powdered sugar

2 cups (500 mL) thawed frozen fat-free whipped topping

1 pkg (10 oz) frozen raspberries in syrup, thawed

1 Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). For cake, add food coloring to amount of water specified on package. Prepare cake according to package directions. Pour batter into Rectangular Baker. Bake on center rack 35-40 minutes or until top is golden brown, cracked

and center is slightly sunken. (Do not under bake.) Remove baker from oven; invert onto Stackable Cooling Rack. Without removing baker, let stand until completely cool (about 1½ hours).

2 Poke holes in cake about 1½ in. (4 cm) deep and ½ in. (1 cm) apart with large fork. Zest lemons using Zester/Scorer to measure 1 tbsp (15 mL) zest. Juice lemons using Juicer to measure 1∕3 cup (75 mL) juice. In Small Batter Bowl, combine sugar, juice and zest; whisk until smooth. Pour glaze over cake, spreading evenly. Let stand 30 minutes or until glaze is set.

3 Attach open star tip to Easy Accent® Decorator; fill with whipped topping. Garnish each serving with whipped topping; top with raspberries.

Yield: 15 servings

U.S. Nutrients per serving: Calories 220, Total Fat 0 g, Saturated Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Carbohydrate 52 g, Protein 3 g, Sodium 300 mg, Fiber 1 g U.S. Diabetic exchanges per serving: 2½ fruit, 1 starch (3½ carb)

Now for the Giveaway

OK, girlfriends, here’s how to enter to win those gorgeous pink dot martini glasses. These fun, polka-dotted glasses are perfect for get-togethers with girlfriends, a romantic dinner, baby showers or bridal showers. Use them to serve everything from drinks to desserts! Wouldn’t they look great at your next girls night? Here’s what to do:

1.Head on over to the Pampered Chef website and check out the Whip Cancer products.

2. Come back here and leave a comment stating which Whip Cancer product is your favorite and why.

3. For extra entries, tweet about this contest using the following:

I want to win some Pampered Chef pink dot martini glasses! http://bit.ly/pcgcga #whipcancer #girlfriendcelebrations

Please note: You must use the #girlfriendcelebrations hashtag AND the link for your tweet to count as an entry.

One extra entry per day is allowed. U.S. shipping address only, please. We’ll keep the contest open until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12. Winner will be drawn at random from all qualifying entries. Good luck, girlfriends!

Glorious Spring is here—the perfect opportunity to get the girls out into the garden! Gardening offers the opportunity to relieve stress and connect to nature while growing healthy food or nurturing beautiful blooms. Green thumb or not, here are some quick ideas for gardening-themed girlfriend get-togethers and activities.

Plant a group garden. Many towns have community garden plots that can be rented. Why not rent one with your girlfriends and meet weekly to garden together? It’s a built-in weekly date and everyone can share in the harvest. Or, if one girlfriend has the space for a large garden but doesn’t want to do all the work herself, she can offer the space for the group plot.

Have a “planting bee.” Many hands make light work, so bring your hands and your garden gloves to your girlfriend’s house and help get her spring planting done. Then, load up the wheelbarrow and move on to the next girlfriend’s house, and so on until everyone’s got some spring color in her yard. Be sure to have pitchers of lemonade, iced tea, and water on hand.

Learn a little. Ask a local garden club or landscaping professional to speak at your next girls night about the best new plants for your area, how to use a rain barrel, or another topic that interests you.

Share the bounty. Donate some or all of the harvest from your group garden (above) to a food pantry or to local churches who have needy families. See Plant a Row for the Hungry for tips on how to make this happen successfully.

Seed small spaces. Apartment dwellers, don’t despair! You can still enjoy all the benefits of gardening get-togethers through container gardens or square-foot gardening. Invite the girls over to lend their labor and design skills to help fill your containers (just be sure to tempt them with tasty nibbles and libations!) If you’re a gardening novice, try P. Allen Smith’s Container Gardens: 60 Container Recipes to Accent Your Garden for “plant recipes” that tell you exactly how to create beautiful container gardens.

What about party favors? Try gifting your girlfriends with seed packets, hot pink garden gloves (every time she wears them, she’ll think of you), small annuals or perennials to pot, or miniature rosebushes (yellow roses signify friendship). All are inexpensive choices that will remind your girlfriends, all summer long, that your friendship blooms brightly!

Have any great gardening resources we should know about? Share them in the comments!

While book clubs seem all the rage these days, gathering with the girls to discuss books leaves little room for a girl to express her creative side. Why not change up your next girls night in with a hip and soulful poetry party? With inspiration from National Poetry Month, Girlfriend Celebrations has created a party plan for girlfriends like you looking for a fresh, expressive outlet. A poetry jam for women who want a creative slice of life or an alternative to the humdrum girls night. Yes, you can create this party with poetic ease, even if you’re feeling at a loss for words.  So go ahead, get your guest list together and plan away with us.

Invitations

A pretty paper invitation makes a beautiful statement, especially if the verse is handwritten. Any personalized invitation with the host’s own penned rhyme always make the request seem a little more special. However, in this digital age, not all girlfriends like to take time to send the written word. So if that’s the case or you are short on time, try using MyPunchbowl. For invitation wording, we’ve provided an example below:

Join me for some

poetry and  rhyme

a charming girls night out

without spending a dime,

Sharing reverie in lines

is sure to be an awesome time

even if your tongue is tied

never fear, my dear

catty words are not spoken here.

April 27, 2010

7 pm

Be there or be square!

Setting and Setup

Give your guests the intimate coffee house feel with plenty of seats and a staging area. If you have enough room, set up little tables with chairs or stools. An ottoman and scattered floor cushions can create a cozy touch. Set aside an area for reading your pieces. This can easily be done by draping a sheet or curtains on the wall as a backdrop. You can even create a stage with shipping pallets covered in fabric.

With guests coming to share a poetic piece, decide ahead of time if you want guests to write their own or if it’s okay to simply bring one to read. If you’re looking for a little more structure, ask each guest to create their poem around a set theme. The theme can be spunky, funny, playful, serious or whatever the girls in your crowd can relate to. Some ideas might include:  dating, dislikes, mom, first loves, exes, vacation, lipstick, sex or lack of, best friend, family and friendship.  Whatever decisions you make, be sure to include it in your invitation. Letting your guests know what to expect, will dash uncertainty and the embarrassed feeling of not being prepared. The ultimate goal for you and your guests is to share in the moment with no pressure but with the willingness to open up. And just in case a guest still shows up empty-handed, make sure you have a few published poems on hand, just in case. Poets.org is a online resource to check.

Food and Drink

Serve coffee shop confections, such as cranberry scones, oatmeal raisin cookies, and chocolate mini muffins. Set out a bevy of toppings, mini chocolate chips, fresh fruit, granola, and nuts for a yogurt parfait bar. Be sure to have a garnished pitcher of lemonade and bottles of sparkling water on hand for thirsty guests. To get things rocking, deliver a round of Starbucks Lattetini’s to your guests.

Connecting Activities

Create a group poem. Write the first line of a poem, then pass it around to each of the guests to add a line.  As the poem is being passed, fold the paper so that only the last line is visible to the next person. It will be amusing to see what the group comes up with.  For a twist, start the same line on different sides of the room and ask the guests to pass it to someone they choose.  It will be interesting to see how two different poems with the same beginning ended.

Create a group challenge. Separate the group into two teams.  Each team will have five minutes to create a poem with a pre-selected theme. With a set number of rounds, mix up the challenge to have a funny theme followed by a serious one.  Working together as a team is  a fabulous way for your girlfriends to get to know one another.

Create word verses. Cut out words from magazines, newspapers, fliers, etc.  Ask each guest to select ten of the words. After the word selection give each guest a pretty piece of stationery and a stick of glue to create their own word poem. Set a rule that they may add five written words to their poem. This is a great activity to spark imagination since you can only use the words that have been given to you.

Party Favors

If you are creating a monthly poetry club in lieu of a book club, don’t bother with favors.  However, if it’s just another eclectic girls night out, here are a few options:

For the do-it-yourself creative-types, buy blank mini notebooks and pens.  Embellish them with stamps, ribbon, unique artwork or even words. A personalized favor is a fabulous way for your guests to feel appreciated.

A mini journal for your guests to write in is a thoughtful gift and has a myriad of uses (even if you don’t write poems).  Tell your friends how much they mean to you with a “Girlfriends make life better” journal. Look at sites like Etsy or wedding favor websites for other great girlfriend party favors. If you take the time to look, there is something for everyone’s budget.

We’d love to hear how you’ve made your girls night out noteworthy. Drop us a line, even a comment or two, because the girlfriends always love to hear from you. And, be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter filled with the latest girlfriend goings-on.