Pink Party Planning Idea - Arts & Crafts

Get the kids involved! Let's be honest, kids love getting dirty. Why not let them express themselves by setting up arts and crafts? Believe it or not, that was the basic concept of the very first PIAP Pink Party. Kim's kids invited some of their friends over. I picked up some snacks and we all sat around the dining room table doing arts and crafts.

You can do a lot with just a few supplies:

• Various color markers
• Foam Cutouts (available at Michael's or Hobby Lobby)
• Blank t-shirts
• Fabric Paint
• Breast Cancer Stickers (you can find those practically anywhere this month)
• Pink Pipe Cleaners
• Crayons or Colored Pencils
• Pink Cardstock Paper
• ...and most importantly, a plastic table cover

Have fun!

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P is for Personal

It's officially breast cancer awareness month and, as I'm sure you've already seen, PINK is making its annual appearance all over the country. On cereal boxes, NFL uniforms, TV ads and the list goes on and on. So here's a question: where is it making an appearance in your life?

This year, in an effort to personalize PINK, P.I.A.P. is bringing back the original style Pink Party...just a group of our closest friends sharing our personal experiences with breast cancer and our thoughts on what we can do to prevent it. This month, members of the P.I.A.P. family from all over the country will host their very own Pink Party. Some will be having the event in their home while others will have it at a local restaurant. While their parties will be different, all of us will share in the same goal of raising awareness to the young women of color affected by this disease.

And now, for the moment you've all been waiting for...How can you take part in the fun? You guessed it...

THROW A PARTY!

In the days ahead, please visit our upcoming events page for useful tips, flyers, decor ideas and other updates on how to host your very own Pink Party. (Trust us, it's easier than planning your child's birthday pizza party.). Best of all, when you're done, share your experience and pictures with the world! As an added incentive, we'll be giving out prizes for the most unique party ideas, no matter how big or small.

So, are you willing to take the P.I.A.P. pledge?

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Make it a spaghetti dinner night!

Good Afternoon All!

On this the birth day of our dear Kimmie, and especially in honor of her culinary prowess, we invite you to join us in cooking spaghetti for dinner tonight! It was both one of Kim's favorite dishes to make and serve - a family treat that we enjoy to this day. So dust off that huge-mongous (yes, hugemongous) saucepan, take a trip to the grocery store if need be, pull out that apron, and get to cookin'!

Spaghetti a-la-Kim

Serves 6-8 (w/leftovers for lunch)

Ingredients

2-3 large cans or bottles of peeled tomatoes (w/juice) (this depends on how soupy you like your sauce)
1 lb. spicy italian sausage (sub. turkey sausage if you don't eat red meat)
1 lb. ground turkey or chuck
1 pack of kielbasa (turkey or pork)
2 packages of regular, multi-grain, or whole wheat spaghetti
2-3 mixed peppers, for color and flavor (red, orange, yellow or green) - chopped
2 jalapenos - chopped
1 chile pepper (green) - chopped
2 yellow onions (sub. red or scallions if yellow are too strong) - chopped
2 cloves of garlic - chopped
2 tbsp. of evoo
1 tsp. butter
1 tsp. grape jelly (sub. sugar if you don't have)
3 tbsp. fresh basil - chopped
2 tbsp. sea or kosher salt
2 tbsp. red/pepper flakes (you can use some of the seeds from the peppers, adds lots of kick ;-)
2 tbsp. ground pepper
2 tbsp. hot pepper sauce (optional)
parmesan, pepperjack or extra sharp cheddar cheese (optional)

Directions

Follow directions on package to cook spaghetti. Strain and store (add splash of evoo to prevent pasta from sticking).

In a large saucepan, heat the butter and oil on high until hot. Add garlic and onions, and cook for about 4 minutes or until onions begin to become opaque (do not cook all the way through). Add about 3/4 of the chopped bell, jalapeno and chili peppers to pan - cook for about 3 more minutes while stirring consistently. (Save the remaining peppers for serving - adds flavor and color!).   

Turn down the heat to medium-high, and one at a time, add in meats, making sure that they are well mixed and browning. As soon as all of the meats are in the saucepan, add pepper, salt, pepper flakes, jelly and pepper sauce (if you'd like). Turn down the heat to medium. Add in peeled and chopped tomatoes (w/juice). Stirring consistently, combine and cook for about 20-30 minutes or until all ingredients (especially meat) are cooked through. Add in remaining peppers and basil and stir. Simmer for about 3-5 more minutes.

Serve over spaghetti with shaved or shredded cheese. Is the perfect comfort-food dinner with Texas toast (garlic was Kim's favorite) and corn on the cobb or green beans.

ENJOY!

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