Real Party: Pink Party for a Cure

I love a good party... anyone whose read my blog would know that.  But I love parties even more when they're for a good cause, like today's feature.  I came across this party on Catch My Party and knew I had to share it.  Catch My Party is one of my must-read party sites for inspiration because so may talented and creative ladies post their parties there!

As some followers may know, my grandma was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma last winter and it's my dream to be able to host an awesome fundraising party like this in her honor in the future (I actually wanted to do it this year, but life just got in the way - I hate when that happens!).  I adore fundraising events like these because it allows the opportunity for those people (including those who are diagnosed with the disease or illness) who aren't able to participate in another event other than a run/walk that many organizations tend to put on to support a disease .  Plus - who doesn't love a good get together with great friends, great food and desserts and of course drinks and socializing!?

So - on to the details of this party.  The hostesses, Jennifer and her friend Jenn, threw together this Pink Party as a way to raise funds to support their team in the breast cancer 3-day walk.  They had items from local businesses donated for raffle baskets as well as a silent auction.  Each guest was asked to donate money as part of their entry to the party - it was $10 per adult and $5 per child, which included 2 raffle tickets for adults and 1 for each child... additional raffle tickets were available for purchase at $5 a piece or 5 tickets for $20.  Their guest list for this party was approximately 30 people and they were able to raise more than $10,000 to support their team (although, I'm not sure that was all for this fundraiser).

Check out the party's awesome set up in the photos below:

Sign explaining entry cost

The duos story as to why they were joining in the 3-day Walk to Cure Breast Cancer

Some of the raffle baskets

A close up of some of the baskets

Some simple decor

The favor table

Cookie raffle basket (how cute are those cookies... seriously!)

Ribbon cookies for favors

pink candle favors

Pink chocolate cookie lolli's (those look awesome!)

Part of the dessert table set up

more desserts

I LOVE the idea of having a pink chocolate fountain - how fun is that... and such a great focal point!

Drink station.  I just loved the encouraging signs posted throughout the party

Live auction item (I'd love one of those mixers in pink... I especially wouldn't mind buying it know the money is going to a good cause!)

I hope you enjoyed taking a peek at this awesome fundraiser party for breast cancer!  It's such great inspiration for future fundraisers I'd like to host.  It's also a very welcoming site seeing parties for a cause.  To view some more photos, head over to Catch My Party!

Real Party: Breast Cancer Fundraiser

First off, Happy Halloween everyone!  It's hard to believe that another Halloween has come and gone and that another October is in the books.  Did your house see a lot of trick or treaters tonight?  We had about 10-12 kids stop by... which was pretty good I thought, being that we're new to the neighborhood.  My favorite was a little girl who was dressed as an adorable witch telling me that Reese's were her favorite candy!  Ah, too cute!


I've been super busy getting stuff ready and brainstorming more ideas for the baby showers I'm hosting in the next couple of weeks - one for my sister on the 13th and one for a good friend from college on the 20th!  Geesh, before you know it, it's going to be Thanksgiving... then Christmas and the New Year!  Where did 2010 go (although, I'm really excited for this year to be over - it's been way too crazy for me!  I'm hoping 2011 comes with a better forecast!)... With the update on the showers, I wanted to apologize for my lack of postings lately - I promise to a better blogger!

Anyway, I wanted close out October with something that wasn't Halloween related, but still appropriate for the time.  I came across this adorable and super cute idea for a Breast Cancer Fundraiser and thought since October's ending, so is breast cancer awareness month - but that doesn't mean we should be supporting the cause and forget about the disease.  I had to share this because the details were just too great - and it was such a sassy party for a fundraiser!

I came across the fundraiser on Catch My Party.  The party was hosted by Aileen's friend Denise, who was raising money for the 3-day Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk.  Aileen is the creative mastermind behind Lil' Buckaroo Designs and designed the printables for the event {including the cute little bra art}.

How cute is this hot pink and black invite!  Such a great idea to spend time with your friends while still raising money for a great cause!

Didn't I tell you that bra art was too cute?!?!

Always nice to have some prizes on-hand to let your guests know you appreciate their donation and support!

A great color scheme carried throughout the party - beautiful!

These lovely letters were created by the hostess' twin sister.  If you're interested in purchasing some custom letters, head over to her Etsy shop, Twin Pop Designs, here.

Love how this looks kind of like a fishnet stocking - very sexy! :)

cute toppers!

more of those custom letters - great decor!

A silent auction - very nice touch!

Now, wasn't that a great fundraiser??  Makes me want to host one!  I seriously can't get over that adorable bra art - so cute!  Hot pink and black are one of my favorite color combos!  Great job ladies on the fundraiser - I hope you were able to raise all the funds you needed and more!

To see more details and pics of this party, check out Aileen's Catch My Party post here, or check out her blog post here.

Pink Ribbon Dessert Table

As some of you may know, I'm running a 5K the end of September to benefit the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (my grandmother was diagnosed in January with Multiple Myeloma).  As soon as I found out I wanted to do something to show my support - initially I wanted to put on a benefit for her, but soon realized that was something I should wait to do until she was in remission. Then I came across the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundations Race for Research and decided that was the perfect fit for the time being.

I'm happy to state that my grandmother is in partial remission and doing great!  The doctor gave her the go-ahead to spend the winter in Arizona - which is great since Arizona is so much nicer than Minnesota to live in during the chilly winter months.  With that said, I've thought about hosting a benefit, or a "YAY! You're in remission party" for her when she returns.  I'd like to a host silent auction or raffle with all proceeds going to benefit the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (Multiple Myeloma is a form of bone cancer that is treatable, but not curable.).  I'd love for this event to turn into a yearly event, gradually growing each year - Minnesota doesn't have an event like this for this type of cancer, and I think an event like that would really expose what Multiple Myeloma is to the state, and even surrounding states.

OK, so with all that said, I came across this pink ribbon dessert table on the Hostess with the Mostess blog quite a while back and thought how awesome it would be to have something like this at the potential event I want to host for Multiple Myeloma, although the color associated with that type of cancer is Maroon... but we can mix and match!



















I just love the simplicity of this table... but it looks so great.  I also love that it's all easy DIY projects to obtain this look - lots of ribbon, paper, embellishments, and easy but pretty dessert selections!  For more information on the DIY projects and to learn how this fabulous dessert table was put together, head over to the Hostess blog here.

What fun and easy DIY tips do you have for a dessert table?  Any fabulous but relatively easy recipes?  I love dessert buffets, I think they add an extra special element to every event!

Cookies for a Cure

I know these photos I'm about to show you were made for breast cancer awareness, but really, they could be baked and sold for any type of cancer (ahem... like Multiple Myeloma... see my previous post). I just love the cookies and cupcakes!

Love, LOVE these cookies! The cancer ribbon design with "hope" and "cure" written on them. Too cute.

You can buy these little cute cookie cutters online and make some of your own (I definitely will be purchasing one!)

How cute are these little cupcakes?!

These cookies were made for an event called "Cut for a Cure". You can find more bakery goodies (for all kinds of events) made by Tesoro Cookies on Flickr by clicking here.

Maybe that's what I need to have... a bake sale? Or I could sell those cute little cancer ribbon cookies to raise money. Oh the possibilities.... and the decisions!

Team Barbie

As some of you readers may already know, my grandmother was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, which is a form of bone cancer, this past January. Since then she's had many doctor appointments, many tests and many treatments. Because her body's been taking these treatments so well, she hasn't even had to do any chemo! What a blessing!

I did some research and found that there is a "Race for Research" 5K run/walk event being put on by the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), a non-profit organization that helps raise money to fund Multiple Myeloma research. Because my grandma has been so incredibly brave with attempting to overcome this disease, I've decided that I'm going to toughen up and run this race! I've never ran a 5K before - and to be completely honest, I'm not a very good runner. But if she can brave through cancer treatment, I think I can brave through a 3.1 mile race!

With that said - I've registered to be a participant for the event... which means I've got to get myself in the gym and training!!! I'm trying to put together a team to represent my grandma, Barb... our team name? Well "Team Barbie" of course! So far our team includes myself, the boy, my sister and my brother-in-law.

I plan to make t-shirts for each group member of Team Barbie. To help raise additional money for MMRF I'm hoping host a small fundraiser and to sell some logo space on the t-shirts. I've never hosted a fundraiser before... so if you have any suggestions - PLEASE let me hear 'em!

If you're interested in placing your logo on a shirt, please contact me! Or if you're interested in sponsoring "Team Barbie" in the MMRF Race for Research, click the link here. For t-shirt sponsorship information, please email me at simplystunningideas@gmail.com.