My first born

I was coming home from my friend’s camp; it was 5:30 in morning. I stepped out of my dad’s small black Plymouth car, its side orange with rust. The air was almost wet and gray clouds were forming above. As I started my way up the cement steps. I saw a large cardboard sign colored pink with the additions of pink ribbons scattered all over the sign, across it read welcome home!!! I rushed the next three steps and burst through the door, I kicked off my shoes and ran to the family room, and there she was sitting upright in a tall chair, her short frame seemed to fill it up. Her iPad resting on her lap, slowly I picked my head up and looked into her eyes; they hadn’t changed. And then a smile crept across her face, I wanted to run into her arms but knew I couldn’t. “Hi” I said, she replied “hey”. She followed my gaze to the basket next to her; it was over flowing with flowers, cards, stickers, and other breast cancer stuff like key chains and t- shirts. She was hooked up to four drains on her sides flowing with red liquid; I looked away. For the next few minutes we exchange words and she pulled up some pictures of her in the hospital. These pictures reassured me and scared me at the same time. About two minutes later, the thought came to my head: my mom was a survivor.

Ben

Posted on September 20, 2012 by AnnMarie Giannino.

Oh yes it's Ladies Night....

Like I said, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. So what a better way to celebrate that then pizza, cocktails, shopping and breast health! Join me at Trapper's II in Minoa for a Ladies Night out. I will have tickets on sale for the Pascale's event, breast education info, and of course Cure or Bust team sign up info! This will be a fantastic way to kick off the month. So stop by for a drink and shop a little. Do not forget your ticket!!! Info below and Facebook link, too, so like their page and join us. Save a boob or two!!

Get your girls together and join us for a night of
Shopping, Drinks & fun at Trapper's II Pizza & Pub!

FREE door prize raffle with great prizes from our vendors!

***Drink and Food Specials throughout the night***
Details to come on promotions

Vendors:
Tastefully Simple
Scentsy Candles
Stella & Dot
Chris's Crafts
Thirty-One
Party Lite
Dazzle

....And MORE to Come!!

https://www.facebook.com/stupiddumbbreastcancer?ref=tn_tnmn#!/events/409504885773118/

Posted on September 19, 2012 by AnnMarie Giannino.

PINKTOBER

October is breast cancer awareness month so get ready to be inundated with PINK. There is so much controversy regarding the pink crap (yes some of it is) that I have to discuss this. While I think it is ironically stupid to have a flat iron with pink ribbons, I mean come on if we are losing our hair to chemo who is this being geared towards???? So, I understand when people go off about this. I totally understand that perspective. But you know I am going to have a take on this. When my kids see a pink ribbon on someone they have always said "mommy look they support breast cancer". Now it is "mommy say hi to them they support breast cancer", which I do with a smile. I love my pink shit, all of it, especially my boa and tiara (ok the tiara isn't pink but I look so cute in it). I love it because I am proud to be a survivor now and show my support. It also gives me a chance to talk about breast cancer and early detection. I am actually doing something to help stop stupid dumb breast cancer. I will buy the chips because it makes my kids think for a second about how hard it has been, they will never forget. By them remembering, they may save their own life or remind a friend to get checked! My Zoe will wear her "fight like a girl" t shirt not just cause its cool, but in support of me and her future. I want my people to think about breast cancer so they can be proactive in stopping it. All this stuff keeps it in people's head- maybe that jar of pickels with a Race for the Cure ribbon will remind someone to make their mammo appoitment. Doesn't that make it worth it even a little???

My pink shit and I LOVE it

So, now my bitch part. The ones who wear the pink ribbon just to wear it. Do you think that using Gulf gas because it had a pink ribbon on it is the only way to help stop breast cancer? Some people think this is the only way they can help. I can literally give you a list of ways that will be more beneficial than buying those pink frigging golf balls (do not buy me those, I do not golf, lots of pink shoes out there!). There are so many really great organizations out there to support, so stop just buy shit and show your support with ACTIONS!!! Wear the pink ribbon because you are doing something to fight.
Which brings me to my last pink ribbon comment. October 1st I will be registering my team CURE OR BUST for CNY Race for the Cure. I will be doing it, no one else try because I will hurt you. Once it is up and running (at 12:07am) feel free to join, invite and get ready to celebrate. This team has always been friends and family getting together to celebrate life- the lives fighting, surviving and lost. Our celebration will be over the top and our team will be HHHHUUUUGGGGEEEEE. We will raise the most money. We will do this with all sorts of fund raising parties (yes people there will be jello shots, right Elana and Stephanie?)! You will all be there to see your leader who took 2 frigging boobs for the team, stand on that stage and cross as a survivor. But most of all..... we will wear PINK:)

Part of 2012 team

Posted on September 17, 2012 by AnnMarie Giannino.

Support the fight agaisnt Stupid dumb breast cancer

Please join Genevieve Fridley Photography and me on October 21st from 4pm until 7pm as we display the real, uncensored version of stupid dumb breast cancer. The cost will be $10 advance sale tickets and $15 at the door. The show will be at Pascale's Restaurant in Fayetteville. Ticket sales will begin September 1st. Please contact me at amandtom@msn.com for ticket purchases. Tickets and donations can be paid via PayPal as well. The part of the proceeds will benefit the team CURE OR BUST at the 2013 Race for the Cure on May 18th. The other will go to Stand up to Cancer. https://www.standup2cancer.org/ I am so excited that we are using the money for research and education. Both of organizations are fabulous. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated. If we have donations for food we will have more money for these important organizations! Contact me if you would like to donate.
There will be a cash bar and light appetizers, so drink heavily and eat minimal. We are looking for any donations for food and print costs. Genevieve is donating some prints. These print will be used at various events. If you are willing to help with keeping costs down PLEASE contact me. Thanks so much to The Art Supply Store for donating some framed pictures for the event, so generous. http://www.commercialartsupply.com/ Plus, please check the coupon on the blog as well! They are donating 10% of your purchase to Cure or Bust, get your framing done and support the team.
Please mark your calendars and tell your friends. What better way to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month than showcasing a life SAVED from early detection. These pictures have been so incredibly therapeutic for me, amazing how Genevieve captures the emotion. They have also inspired other women going through stupid dumb breast cancer now (and friends of these women who need to see the harsh reality of it). I really hope to see you all there. Stupid dumb breast cancer lit a fire inside me. Join me as we find a way to stop it! I wonder what shoes to wear??!!

For Tickets Via PayPal. PLEASE tell how many tickets and if they are for survivors!

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HSCXDSM8FDDJJ

Posted on September 16, 2012 by AnnMarie Giannino.

I will remember

I will remember because these shoes are CUTE!

I will remember because she is smiling under that mask!

A while ago a girlfriend who is a survivor said "one day you will be able to forget this" she said that as the years go it becomes more distant. I NEVER want that to happen. This has been difficult, stressful and exhausting. But it has evolved me. Not just how it changed my body, we have all seen that! It has changed my outlook. I want to think of life every day and how I am actually breathing. When people ask me lately "How are you?" I say "I am breathing and that's half the battle". I am lucky enough to take in air and exhale, as I do that I feel life. I can not stop thinking about those fighting the last round of the cancer battle as they take their last breath and the life leaves them. How they have family next to them suffering because of cancer even though they do not directly have it. They should have peace and calm when they leave, not pain and suffering.If only it was easy for their family to remember the life they had and how great it was (even the hard shitty times was life). Peace comes from within and digging deep for this is a challenge. Yet once you do, you find the calm. I know some of you are ready this thinking WTF did she smoke, but it is me evolving!
I never really had a filter system but believe me, if you heard the thoughts in my head you would commit me, so I have do a small one. Now I have nothing so if you do not want to know what an ass you are being do not ask, or better yet just stay away. I actually called myself a big ass yesterday because I was being one, looking at myself has been hard during this, but eye opening. I also have been on a mission to tell people how fantastic they are, it makes them smile and that directly makes me feel great. I am selfish like that.
I will not forget because I am on a serious mission to help those suffering from stupid dumb breast cancer. MC and I are starting a support group (with the help of Nikki) to help women, young women, cope with the before, during and after. Exercise the body and release the mind are both the basic part to healthy living.
Cure or Bust will be up and running soon (I will let you know when I start the team, please do not do anything until I do). I will be there to remember how this year challenged me and how I was powerful!! I will be there to give hope to those fighting. I will be celebrating SURVIVORS myself included. But mostly I will be honoring those taken.
The taken are what will keep me remembering. Keep me fighting for the cure of ALL cancers. So, get ready people, get mad with me and help me eradicate cancer. Don't worry we will have a celebration of life, those fighting, those surviving and those lost. They all deserve it!

Posted on September 15, 2012 by AnnMarie Giannino.

Check out my interview

http://www.9wsyr.com/content/bridge_street/default.aspx

Thanks to everyone at WSYR!!!

And Happy 15 years of marriage to my hubby, it has been a lumpy ass year but we took it in stride! I love you professor, xo

Posted on September 13, 2012 by AnnMarie Giannino.

And now a word from our sponsor.....

Anyone that knows me knows how hard I fought for breast education and health before I was diagnosed. I was a manic leader for our CNY Komen team Cure or Bust. That changed on May 5th when I found the lump and had the lumpectomy in June. It increased my drive even more, like off the charts. Yes, I maybe over board and in your face about it but early detection saved my life from stupid dumb breast cancer. The key to prevention is early detection people. Every time I get an email, Face book, text or blog post telling someone got their mammo today because of me or that they sat by their friend as she cried over her double mastectomy. Every time a blogger friend looks to me for support or shoes (Jackie is going to rock her chemo heels and Ashley better not wear those flip flops to treatment again!!). Every time a friend goes for 6 of 6 rounds of chemo and texts me (Rene you better). It solidifies my drive. So, I do not care how many strangers I tell about my journey, how many times I drive my BFF's nuts about being on top of their boobs or how much I promote my chest (its not porn people). I am the poster princess for early detection!!!
Well, I am off to Bridge Street today to spread the early detection word and about the event on October 21st. I do not know if I will be on for 4 minutes or 4 second (they have no idea how much and how fast I can talk). If even just one person gets the picture I am proud, if one person comes to support me at the show it's a success (well not at all, you people better show!!), if just one women fighting says "shit if that crazy lady did it. so can I" then my mission is working. If just someone, one person says "damn stupid dumb breast cancer looks good on her" then my hair, outfit and shoes were right on target!!! Here is the link, no clue if they put a clip up, but I hope they do or I will have to play the cancer card:)
http://www.9wsyr.com/content/bridge_street/default.aspx

I am NOT cancer I never was!

Posted on September 13, 2012 by AnnMarie Giannino.

Thursday on Bridge Street....

Make sure you tune in to Bridge Street this Thursday as Kaylea and Chris have stupid dumb breast cancer as a guest! How cool is that? What an amazing way to be able to get the word about early detection out. I'm so happy to be able to go on and chat it up, I hope I let them get a word in edge wise. Tom is worried that it's live and they won't have a chance to bleep out all my swearing, kidding people! I don't swear in front of the kids so I will pretend they are there. Honestly, this is what I want to do, just get the word out. The more early detection and mammograms and breast cancer info is heard, the more people are inclined to get off their asses and get checked! So, please tune in to channel 9 at 10am and send me some non- swearing, shirt wearing vibes! Now, what shoes should I wear??

Posted on September 11, 2012 by AnnMarie Giannino.

Stupid Dumb Breast Cancer: Tickets are on sale

Stupid Dumb Breast Cancer: Tickets are on sale: Please join Genevieve Fridley Photography and me on October 21st from 4pm until 7pm as we display the real, uncensored version of stupid dum...

Posted on September 11, 2012 by AnnMarie Giannino.