10.14.2008

On Eradicating Breast Cancer

Maybe you know the statistics and maybe you don’t…

Did you know that Breast Cancer is one of the top killers of women? “An estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2008. An estimated 40,480 women will die from breast cancer.”* It is important to know that “the older a woman, the more likely she is to get breast cancer, white women are more likely to get breast cancer than women of any other racial or ethnic group, [but] African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. However, the 5-year survival rate for all women diagnosed with breast cancer is 89%. … In fact, when breast cancer is found early and confined to the breast, the 5-year survival rate is 98%.”**

And did you know that it can also occur in men? “It is estimated that 1,990 men will be diagnosed and 450 men will die of breast cancer during 2008.”* It is possible for men to get breast cancer, though “less than 1 of every 100 cases of breast cancer in the US occurs in men.”**

With statistics like these, it shows you how important it is to get your mammogram when your doctor tells you to.

But if you don’t have breast cancer, it doesn’t mean that it can’t affect you. Supporting the awareness, education and prevention are just as important. So, join the Army! Serve your country! I did, and I’m proud of it.

No, not that army. It’s the Army of Women. It’s a movement… “One million women, one goal, one revolutionary opportunity.” The Love/Avon Army of Women offers an opportunity for YOU to partner with research scientists to move us beyond a cure, to prevention. By recruiting one million healthy women of all ages and ethnicity, including breast cancer survivors and women identified as high risk, they hope to learn more about breast cancer and hopefully eradiate it. Sign up and learn more by going to www.armyofwomen.org.

I consider myself lucky that I don’t know anyone with breast cancer. Never have, and hopefully, never will. But the odds of that being true are, sad to say, pretty slim. Still, I feel somewhat removed from the disease and it’s impact. Maybe you do, too. That’s why Breast Cancer Awareness month is a good reminder that we’re all potentially one friend, one daughter, sister or mother away from feeling the emotional and physical pain, fear, apprehension and life changing effects of cancer. There are many ways to support breast cancer research. Join the Army of Women, for one. Participate in a run; make a donation. Purchase an item that donates a portion of the proceeds to research. Some of our favorites are shown below:

Gianna Rose Pink Ribbon Soaps $29. Scented with fresh linen, this box of 4 french-milled soaps are embossed with a pink ribbon, and come nestled in a beautiful gift box.

15% of proceeds from the sale of this product will be donated by Gianna Rose to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation.

Shown above: Pinwheel Pink Vera Bradley File Folders $16.50, Notecubes $16, Paperweights $29, Stick-to-It Sticky Notes Flags $13, Notecards $14.50, Stationery $29 and pens $20. Also available is a ribbon board $51.

Vera Bradley donates 3% of the net proceeds from sales of the products in the Pinwheel Pink pattern. Pearl white correspondence cards with a pink ribbon icon at the top. Coordinating pink mist envelopes. Boxes are wrapped with a pink ribbon for gift presentation $29.

A stationery ensemble that shows where your heart is. Your purchase directly benefits breast cancer awareness and screening programs. $2 per box will be donated directly to a breat cancer organization.

Shown above: Hope Abloom T-Shirt $38. Black stretch tee beset with pink and clear crystal blossoms featuring an hourglass waist and cap sleeves; Blanc Give Hope Jean $68. Universal fit, eased through the hip and thigh, sits just below the waist. Embellished with pink and clear crystals at pocket corners and rhinestone-studded back pockets. Embroidered Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon patch. Pink and tan stitching throughout. "Give Hope" embroidered on inside of waistband. Pockets are lined with a script-printed fabric. 33" inseam. Front zip with shank closure.

Net proceeds from the Give Hope Collection up to $200,00 and will be donated to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a national non-profit organization dedicated to empowering all women affected by breast cancer.

*Susan G. Komen Foundation (http://cms.komen.org/komen/AboutBreastCancer/BreastFacts/Statistics/index.htm), **Susan G. Komen Foundation: Breast Cancer Facts (http://cms.komen.org/komen/AboutBreastCancer/BreastFacts/FastFactsbyTopic/index.htm)

10.12.2008

On Voting

On the night of the first presidential debates, Renee and I were in the grocery store and found cookies – one with Obama and one with McCain faces screen printed on! We joked that in Madison, they’re probably selling 2 to 1 (for those unfamiliar with Madison, that’s in favor of Obama). But whatever your bent, I’m thankful that we have the opportunity to live in a free country that allows us to vote for the candidate of our choice. And perfect for your “get out the vote” party, Nam’s Bits makes the BEST chocolate chip cookies with a fun label! Great for any party favor or house warming gift! A warning, though, these yummy bites are very addicting!! You can find them available for sale on our website, www.sarahbstationery.com

Update on wedding invitations – I’m told the colors are in the family of blues. Kiss off the pinks. Forget the peonies. I’m still holding out for letterpress, though!

On Travel


Whenever we travel, I love to stop in as many local stationery stores as possible and see what they do differently from us, what companies they carry, how they display their items, etc. My parents hosted a family reunion in Sun Valley, Idaho this year. Gorgeous scenery, wonderful weather and lots of outdoor activities for the whole gang – horse back riding, golf, swimming, hiking, mountain biking - it was great! Renee and I went into Ketchum, the little town next to Sun Valley one day to explore. Sure enough, even that small of a town had a neat little stationery store, RSVP. Not that it was all that small, either. We were amazed by the number of personalized albums they carried and enjoyed seeing the different look of their store from ours. They carried a lot of retro designs; we carry much more modern designs. Stop in the next time you’re in Ketchum! And by the way, Idaho was a great place to vacation!



On Wedding Invitations

So, being the owner of a stationery store, I’ve long dreamed of the invitations that would invite friends and family to my kids’ weddings. So many options: engraved, letterpress, colorful, classic. But it just has to be letterpress. My ultimate favorite.

My son and his fiancĂ©e live in Oregon. They love all things outdoors: camping, snowboarding, hiking, biking. I’d personally selected a beautiful invitation from Oblation, an Oregon company, how perfect. Hand-made recycled cotton paper, ivory with a brown pine bough. I figured they’d be married in the fall, with brisk mountain air and the smell of pine. I’ve had this one in mind for a few months now, ever since my son hinted of an upcoming engagement.


So when they announced a May or June wedding I was a bit taken aback. May? June? Somehow that doesn’t fit what I’d envisioned! May and June are bright and colorful, not ivories and browns. Hmmm.... Back to the drawing board.

One night I woke in the middle of the night – yes, that’s it! The beautiful magenta ink from Julie Holcomb! Perfect match for peonies – my favorite flower! And peonies are perfectly timed for mid-June, what now appears to be the date. Finally it all came together in my head! But when the cobwebs cleared, it hit me - pink wording? What was I thinking? (or dreaming) A pink design, maybe, but not words – this is the wedding, afterall, not a shower, and my son would never tolerate that. Guess I’d better sleep on it some more…

On Being Mother of the Groom

Well, I’ve finally joined the ranks of women who’s son is getting married. That group who want to be friends with their daughter-in-law-to-be and simultaneously not be downgraded in importance to their son. That woman, who wants to be involved in planning the wedding, but really isn’t supposed to. The one who could easily take over, but strives to keep her mouth shut. Yep, that’s me.

Yes, I’m also the one who has joined the ranks of parents helping to pay for the wedding. I’ve never been a spendthrift – I think (hope) even my husband would agree to that statement. But I don’t mind spending a few dollars in the name of beauty and elegance, of making a special day even more so. But all of a sudden, I wake up wondering how many out of town guests will arrive and what will that add to the cost of the rehearsal dinner, let alone the wedding! Mind you, the wedding is not until next summer.

Suddenly I understand all the parents I’ve seen in my store, who scrutinized every purchase, questioned its necessity and took a deep breath as they handed over their credit card. “Hey, at least you’ll get some miles with that” I would joke with them. Eek! Not so funny anymore. And yes, we’re desperate for the miles – with 6 other kids, s/o’s and grandkids to fly out to the west coast, that credit card should soon be smokin’!