Hope for a Single Mom

October is Cancer Awareness Month yet it does not just rear its ugly head in October.  This devastating disease is with us every day and everywhere we look.  It empties bank accounts and takes lives and shows absolutely no remorse.  It has no real rhyme or reason and strikes at its own will.  It leaves a trail of despair and for those who are fighting the battle is in a fight for their lives.  When you have a strong support group it helps with the beating that Cancer delivers but if you are a single mom with a smaller support group, limited funds, and children you want to see grow into beautiful adults it can feel like you stand alone in the world fighting the battle against this inexorable monster.  But there is hope for a single mom. They do not have to stand alone.

Hope for a Single Mom is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping single working mothers in their battle against breast cancer.  Hope for a Single Mom was founded by Donna Sullivan, a Florida Brevard County resident.  Back in August 2010, Denise Moore, a single mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a bi-lateral mastectomy with reconstructive surgery on August 23rd.  She had to miss several months of work.  She received no income during that period and began to fall behind in her bills.  Thanks to Hope for a Single Mom she was able to keep her mortgage and car payment up to date and pay off some of her medical bills. 

Donna, the sister of Denise Moore, the first recipient of assistance from Hope For a Single Mom, was astounded when she saw firsthand how fast and messed up a person’s finances can be destroyed by a Cancer diagnosis. In hopes to help her sister and nephew during their trying times, Donna teamed up with the women of her Mary Kay unit selling lots of lipsticks and donating part of the profits to help Denise keep her home and her car.  Much like the Pay It Forward movement, Brevard County citizens caught wind of this and joined in to help Denise.  Banning together as a community, over $5000 was raised and given to Denise.  Denise said it was the most unbelievable feeling to know others cared so much to help her stay in her home.  She vowed to her sister to beat her cancer and pay it forward to another local single mom.

Every year since 2010, a single mother is selected with care by Donna, Denise and their friends at Breast Friends of Florida and shown the same supportive assistance as Denise did back in 2010. Breast Friends, a non-profit organization, is located in Brevard County and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for women with breast cancer and other woman related cancers.  Hope for a Single Mom has partnered with Breast Friends and keeps their focus on giving HOPE to our Single Moms here in Brevard.

To learn more about Hope for a Single Mom and to get involved, please visit: http://www.hopeforasinglemom.com

Tickled Pink! Fabulous, Fun, and Flirty!

Old custom states pink is for girls and blue is for boys and although there have been boring studies done, theories developed, and folklore telling us why women prefer pink over any other color and boys desire blue – the bottom line is, who really cares?  If you love yourself some pink – who cares why, right?!  Pink is FABULOUS and that is a good enough reason for me!

Pink is sweet, nice, romantic, playful, delicate, and associated with love and romance!  It is calming and soft!  Pink is sensual and sexy!  Pink is womanly as much as it can be girly!  But most of all, it is really hard not to smile at a person who wears pink.  A woman in pink emits an overall sweetness and kindness and did you know men are more likely to approach a woman in pink than any other color?  Why, because it gives off a caring sweet fun nature. 

So tell me, what is your favorite color and why?  How does it make you feel?  And if you love pink, please share me why!  I would love to know! 

Pictured above is Jessica who is passionate about PINK!  So for a fun way to surprise her, she received a PINK Corky Kouture with a PINK bottle of Sparkling Pink Moscato and $100 in the gift holder. She looks tickled "pink" …. Who else adores the color pink?  

  

Here are a few quotes from people I am sure you will know that also love the color pink along with some perfectly pink pictures just for fun!! 

“I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and... I believe in miracles.” ~ Audrey Hepburn

“Pink isn't just a color, it's an attitude!” ~ Miley Cyrus

“I love pink, it's so girly!” ~ Ashley Tisdale

“I love pink - pink's my favorite. I hardly ever - weirdly - wear it, but I love the color pink.” ~ Ellie Goulding

“I can't see myself without pink lipstick. I can go without it for a couple days, but if there was no more pink lipstick in the world, I'd be useless. Seriously.” ~ Nicki Minaj

“I love to see other women in pink. It's good for every shade of skin and hair.” ~ Elizabeth Hurley

“I think I do my own thing. I start my own trends. I see a lot of girls doing what I've been doing. Pink. Nobody wore pink, and now everybody wears it. It's flattering.” ~ Paula Creamer

“I don't think I will ever get tired of wearing pink.” ~ Emma Bunton

“I grew up with all boys in my family, where there was no place for girlie stuff. But it's amazing to walk into my house now. Everything is pink!” ~ Jerry O'Connell

“I have as much pink as you can have. I love to see other women in pink. It's good for every shade of skin and hair.” ~ Evelyn Lauder

“I love the color pink. It makes a bold statement.” ~ Samuel Larsen

Okay to the rest of you fabulous ladies who also love pink – share your pinkness with us!  

Giving Back Through Team PINK

I am super excited to share with everyone a great non-profit charity called Team PINK.  Team PINK was born from two young ladies’ passion and desire to give back to the community as a whole.  Their goal is a simple one - to inspire individuals of all ages and all athletic abilities to have fun and kick butt while training and racing for a cause.   Jessica Crate and Emily Nelson are the founders of Team Pink.  I will share more about each of these fabulous women in a minute, but first, more about their amazing charity work.

Team PINK is a grassroots athletic philanthropy with the love for the color PINK. They are your typical girly girls but yet are not afraid of hard work, dedication, and come with huge athletic goals.   Jessica and Emily are on a mission – to get people up and moving – any and all ages and at any of athletic fitness. They know you do not need to be a super star athletic to make a difference when it comes to giving of oneself.   With hearts bigger than the U.S., Jessica and Emily don’t want anyone to ever give up on their dreams and want to help where they can to make some dreams a reality.  

Jessica shares, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you put your mind to it and just push yourself one step further. I like to tell people that I wasn't born fast or talented, I just absolutely refuse to quit which is also behind the motto of TEAM PINK - No matter what age, gender or talent level, you too can accomplish your goals!”

 

Anyone who knows me knows that I am all about giving and helping when I can.  Part of the reason I created and started the Corky Kouture® brand was to see people smile and feel special and I use it in many charitable manners.  I am passionate about lifting people up – not bringing them down or knocking them further down when they are already out.  Because of this I love to surround myself with likeminded individuals and Jessica and Emily are both champions not only in their athletic fields but also in my book.

We are runners, we are swimmers,
we are cyclists, we are professionals,
we are visionaries, we are leaders,
we are best friends, we are women
and we are ‪#‎teamPINK‬.
Together we INSPIRE,
GIVE BACK & Raise Awareness!
 — with Jessica Crate and Emily Nelson.

Jessica Crate, Elite Athlete, USAT Coach is known for being 9th Overall Female and Boston Marathon Qualifier at the 2009 Las Vegas Rock-N-Roll Marathon, Qualified and raced at ITU World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand and Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas in 2012.  

Jessica shares, “I am also committed to running all of my races to benefit a charity in 2013. I love giving back, coaching and encouraging others. A non-profit that I co-founded with a personal friend of mine is entitled Giving Athletics, Inc. Our goal is “inspiring social change through athletic participation.” A goal that also resonates with what TEAM PINK is all about and one that we look forward to instilling in other women, men, children and young adults across the country and around the world.”

Emily Nelson, Athlete, is known for her Surf Coast Trifecta Age Group Series Championship win 2011, 2nd Overall Female Cocoa Beach Triathlon 2012, 9th Place Age Group Ironman St. Croix 70.3 2012, 3rd Overall Female Jacksonville Tri Series #1 2013. 

Emily shares, “We have all dealt with our own obstacles but we can never let them knock us down. Jessica and I, coming together as Team PINK, we’re strong than ever. We hope to serve as role models in the community & be an inspiration to others. I want people to see us and think if they can do it, I can too!”

Let’s all help support these two amazing young ladies in their efforts to inspire and encourage others through athletic participation, give back to the community, and to promote and raise awareness for local charities. 

You can connect with Team Pink on Facebook here:  Team PINK

And visit their website here to see what these fabulous ladies are up to next!  Team PINK Website

Why the Feather Boa Remains A Fashion Mainstay

Feather boas are fun, flirty, and feel good accessories no one should be without. I’ve seen everyone from celebrities to friends wearing them over the years and they have not waned in popularity. This accessory takes fashion to a whole new level, adding character to any look. They are available in an array of colors which makes them and their wearer even more alluring.

I've often associated feather boas with various periods, but they’re still very much alive and well among many wearers of today. Whether you’re going to a party, out on the town, or just want an accessory to express your individuality, a feather boa is the perfect choice for any occasion and one of the main reasons I incorporated them into the Corky Kouture™ Bottled Gift bag collection.

Feather boas are documented as being worn since at least 1820, but are thought to go back even farther. While feather boas are often considered elegant, they are also quite sexy both in the way they look and make one feel.

Feather boas have lasted through many eras to include the Victorian and Edwardian. They were also quite popular accessories during the Roaring ‘20's, and made a comeback in the 1970's with the advent of glam rock and disco. The late 1990's and early 2000's saw a resurgence of the feather boa and it continues to be a chosen accessory item today.

Over the years, a number of entertainers have incorporated the use of feather boas into their acts. Some notable names you may remember include: dancer Isadora Duncan, singer Diana Ross, singer Marc Bolan from the glam rock band T.Rex, singers Cher and Elton John, and wrestler Hulk Hogan. Numerous other cabaret and opera singers have also adorned themselves with these fun fashion pieces. So what has made the feather boa such a popular accessory through the generations?  Most likely, because they make a statement – a bold entrance and get one noticed.

I have found the feather boas to be the perfect glam accent to our fabulous Corky Kouture™ bottled gift bags.  They add to the statement that the gift bags stand for - individual, unique, fashionable, playful, glamorous, and simply fabulous!  They’re the perfect glam gift for any occasion, whether you’re giving it to a friend or yourself, for weddings, birthdays, engagements, house warming’s, dinner parties – the gifting options are unlimited! They’ll add the flare that will be sure to get everyone talking just like a gorgeous feather boa.