As some of you many know, I’ve been blogging about breast cancer for two years now, though I’ve only been here at the Pink Ribbon Review since last April. I’ve loved empowering women with information about breast cancer — and informing them about products and services that raise breast cancer awareness.

As a freelance writer, I’ve been able to manage my time so that I had room for blogging. Sometimes I was good at it, sometimes I wasn’t, but in the end, I struck a pretty good balance. For two years, blogging about breast cancer was critically important to me and my freelance lifestyle allowed me to immerse myself in all things pink.

But now, new contracts have come out for everyone on the b5media network and they take effect on November 1st. In the last few weeks I had to come to a decision (during October of all months!) as to whether I’d be able to commit to this blog under new contractual terms.

My decision was ultimately no, I could not, primarily because at the same time the new contracts came out, there were other opportunities for me as a freelancer that would take the back seat if I were to continue to spend my writing time blogging for this network.

As survivors need to make deliberate choices about how we spend our time, don’t we? That is what this is … a deliberate choice to move on due to circumstances that unfolded before me that I needed to respond to at the same time other opportunities were presenting themselves to me.

I wanted to wait until the BCAM giveaway was over to finish what I’d started for BCAM. I had to post tonight, however, because after midnight, I don’t have a contract and won’t have permission to log in to my administrative panel!

I have promised to work closely with whoever takes over the writing here. If all goes well, I’ll even write a guest post or two for her in the upcoming weeks, when the need arises and the muse strikes.

Meanwhile, you can always visit my website, www.karenmlynch.com, to read what I’m up to. There’s a link on that site for you to send me an email if you’d like to stay in touch; I’d love to hear from you.

But until then … take care and God bless.

Post from: Blisstree

It’s Time to Move Forward

Earlier this month, on Day Seven of the Pink Ribbon Review BCAM Giveaway to be specific, a Pink Ribbon Reader told me I was the Santa of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

To this day, that comment brings such a smile to my face (thank you, Leslie). Because when I think about how much of my time, money, heart and soul I put into this blog over the past month (31 giveaways, 38 winners!) I also think about the reward of giving and how much I got back in return. You’ve all give me such great feedback and I thank you for spurring me on that way!

I think the real Santa was onto something. It was an honor to don a pink hat and follow his lead.

Thank you, Pink Ribbon Readers, for an amazing month. Thank you for helping to spread awareness about early detection, supporting companies that make products that benefit our cause, and showing the world that the pink ribbon makes a difference in the lives of survivors.

Let’s try to keep the true spirit of Breast Cancer Awareness Month alive all year long, shall we?

(Image: Courtesy of Ana on flickr — I love this shot!)

Post from: Blisstree

On Being The Santa Of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’m giving away a pink ribbon product every single day during the month of October.

Today, October 31, is day THIRTY ONE, THE LAST DAY of the Pink Ribbon Review Breast Cancer Awareness Month Giveaway.

Today, I’m giving away this beautiful necklace, inscribed with the words Hope, Spirit, Courage, Strength on one side, and The Norma F. Pfriem Cancer Institute, Bridgeport Hospital on the other.

Now, please note that the rules are different today. I’m going to wrap this up by the end of the end of my children’s school day, just in time to go out trick-or-treating with them and fully enjoy Halloween. So please leave an appropriate comment on this post before 2:00 EST to qualify to win.

Good luck!

(Images: Karen Lynch)

Post from: Blisstree

Pink Ribbon Review BCAM Giveaway: Day Thirty One

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’m giving away a pink ribbon product every single day during the month of October.

Today, October 30, is day THIRTY of the Pink Ribbon Review Breast Cancer Awareness Month Giveaway and I’m giving away a 3-in-1 tote of nail care products, the 2008 We Care Collection by nubar.

This collection of three nubar nail products are soft, elegant and long lasting. The We Care Collection 3-in-1 tote contains one Baby Pink nail polish, Foundation Base Coat and a Diamont Seal & Shine. 10% of the retail price of the We Care Collection will go towards St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Cancer Treatment Research Foundation and the City of Hope.

FYI, nubar products are free of harmful ingredients, such as Toluene, Formaldehyde or DBP (Phthalate).

The retail value of this collection is $14.99; the complete product line is available online at www.bynubar.com.

Follow the Pink Ribbon Review BCAM giveaway rules and leave an appropriate comment on this post before midnight EST to qualify to win.

Good luck!

(Images: XX)

Post from: Blisstree

Pink Ribbon Review BCAM Giveaway: Day Thirty

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’m giving away a pink ribbon product every single day during the month of October.

Today, October 29, is day TWENTY NINE of the Pink Ribbon Review Breast Cancer Awareness Month Giveaway and I’m giving away a Young Survival Coalition DVD called “The Beautiful Eight: Learning to Live with Advanced Breast Cancer.”

This educational DVD presents an intimate discussion among eight young women diagnosed with breast cancer. It’s a journey filled with hope, fear, laughter, anxiety and determination to live life to the fullest.

By now you know what to do: follow the Pink Ribbon Review BCAM giveaway rules and leave an appropriate comment on this post before midnight EST to qualify to win.

Good luck!

(Image: YSC)

Post from: Blisstree

Pink Ribbon Review BCAM Giveaway: Day Twenty Nine

In the spirit of Breast Cancer Awareness …

b5media is going to donate $1 for every post about breast cancer across the network — and $1 for every 100 comments that are solicited through these breast cancer awareness posts — to the International Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

So guys, let’s get that donation as high as we can. Visit and comment on any of the b5media blog posts listed on the page dedicated to the 2008 b5media Breast Cancer Blitz. You have until the 31st of October to make a difference!

Post from: Blisstree

The 2008 b5media Breat Cancer Blitz Pays Off

Teresa … you have won the Pink Ribbon Petito!

Send me your address when you have a minute and I’ll get a shipment out to you as soon as possible.

To read a little about the ATP 1GB Pink Ribbon USB Drive, check out yesterday’s post.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment on the post.

It’s hard to believe this week is ticking away and the month is almost over. Don’t forget to check each day through Friday for all the Pink Ribbon Review BCAM giveaways!

Post from: Blisstree

Pink Ribbon Review BCAM Giveaway: Winner #34

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’m giving away a pink ribbon product every single day during the month of October.

Today, October 28, is day TWENTY EIGHT of the Pink Ribbon Review Breast Cancer Awareness Month Giveaway and I’m giving away a copy of the book by Nancy Manahan and Becky Bohan, “Living Consciously, Dying Gracefully.”

From the website:

This inspiring story of Diane Manahan, R.N., M.A., shows how to be in the driver’s seat for your final journey, from diagnosis, to death, and beyond. People who seek a holistic approach to living can learn from this extraordinary nurse’s wisdom. Those who fear illness or death can gain strength and confidence by having tools to help others—or themselves—meaningfully complete their lives.

If you visit the website, you can read FAQ, link to interviews with the authors, get questions for a book club … it’s quite a resource.

You can also learn the top ten overall lessons of the book. I won’t share all ten lessons here, but I will give you the first three:

• Lesson One: Take the wheel—it’s your journey!
• Lesson Two: A deliberate pace can be better than a rushed decision when choosing a path for medical treatment.
• Lesson Three: To thine own values be true, even in illness.

If you like the concept of this book … check out the authors’ blog: Full Life, Good Death.

Meanwhile, follow the Pink Ribbon Review BCAM giveaway rules and leave an appropriate comment on this post before midnight EST to qualify to win a copy.

Good luck!

(Images: www.nanbec.com)

Post from: Blisstree

Pink Ribbon Review BCAM Giveaway: Day Twenty Eight

Holly … you have won the Replens Vaginal Moisturizer!

Send me your address when you have a minute and I’ll get a shipment out to you as soon as possible.

To read a little about Replens, check out yesterday’s post.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment on the post.

Yes, it’s the last week of October. We still have six days left of the month, including today, so that means FIVE MORE CHANCES TO WIN. Remember to keep checking back.

Post from: Blisstree

Pink Ribbon Review BCAM Giveaway: Winner #33

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’m giving away a pink ribbon product every single day during the month of October.

Today, October 27, is day TWENTY SEVEN of the Pink Ribbon Review Breast Cancer Awareness Month Giveaway.

Today I’m giving away an ATP 1GB Pink Ribbon USB drive called the Pink Ribbon Petito.

The USB drive is the perfect item to store precious photos, videos, or any other important files.

• It comes with a silver necklace so you can wear it or put it on your keychain.
• It’s waterproof, temperature resistant, dust proof, shock resistant.
• It’s compact, portable … and secure.

And, ATP partners with Susan G. Komen for the Cure and donates 10% of sales of Pink Ribbon USB drives to the foundation.

ATP is sharing survivors’ stories on their website … yes, one of mine is on there, check it out.

Now it’s your turn. Follow the Pink Ribbon Review BCAM giveaway rules and leave an appropriate comment on this post before midnight EST to qualify to win.

Good luck!

(Image: Replens)

Post from: Blisstree

Pink Ribbon Review BCAM Giveaway: Day Twenty Seven