Marigold Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Marigold!

The BroadMinded...Broads on a Mission

Real Women, Real Issues, Real Plans….One Mission

BroadMinded is a group of Broads with a clear mission; to raise awareness of the needs of cancer patients and their families through inspiration, collaboration, education and fundraising.

What started as several different women, who in one capacity or another where touched by cancer, has grown into one dynamic group of Broads, with a like Mind.

Stay tuned to hear the rest of our story...

thinking PINK!

In honor of breast cancer awareness month...Marigold is thinking PINK! For every on-line purchase of Hope , Forget-Me-Not or Rosemary, Marigold will donate an additional $5 to The Peoria Cancer Center Foundation. Marigold is committed to supporting women in their fight against cancer. We honor you...Gina, Pam and Sally!

Check Me Out...

Check me Out (pictured) is one of the many fresh looks for the season from our "Believe" Marigold Fall/Winter collection. We hope you take some time to "check out" the newly inspired designs. For easy viewing, a Gallery has been added to showcase the caps. On-line shopping is also now available. Marigold Believes in women and supporting the cause...come check us out!

"Believe" 2009- Marigold Caps

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“Run your fingers through my soul. For once,

just once,

feel exactly what I feel,

believe what I believe,

perceive as I perceive,

look, experience, examine, and for once;

just once, understand.”

- anonymous

Fall Marigold Caps are on the way!

"Believe" 2009 - in the beauty of who we are as women!!!

Going...Going...GONE!

It's hard for me to believe I have to say good-bye to summer...it seems too soon! I have been fighting like crazy to hold on to the carefree fun that comes with Summer. A few times, I've even tried to convince my children to stay home from school...of course they refuse! Last weekend, we spent a beautiful summer evening at a friends house where the children played and we sat in the backyard and visited with one another longer than we should have. My son fought like crazy not to let the night end, however, tired eyes and body finally gave way. His shirt says it best - going...going...GONE.... I guess the saying is true that all good things must come to an end...So I say goodbye to a summer filled with memories I treasure and look forward to the Fall and the festivities that come with this season.

"I will be with you."

This week my daughter came home with school work containing the words I needed so desperately to read and to feel!

The title of her paper was

"I Discover God's Message to Moses"

At the bottom it read

"I will be with you."

These words so simple, spoke volumes to me. I needed to know God was near and that just as he was with Moses, he is with me...close to wrap his loving arms around me. As usual, I am easy to weep and weep is what I did...
"I will be with you...was such a comfort to me.

He is with us...

as we face our fears,

and deal with daily life.

when we face heartache,

or struggle with life choices.

when we are in pain,

as we try to raise our children,

or care for those who are sick.

in the quiet,
in the noise.

in the peace,
and in the storm.

in the joy,

and in the tears.

"I will be with you."

A label...

A new order of Marigold labels arrived in the mail this week. Lisa with clothinglabels4u.com does a great job.

I was happy to have the new order of labels as I have spent many hours sewing labels on caps in preparation for store orders, trunk shows and internet orders.

I have come to love more each day what the Marigold label represents - the brightness and versatility of all women.

Everyday, I have the wonderful priviledge of experiencing and witnessing these qualities first hand when I visit with store owners, friends and mothers giving themselves everyday for their families, and in cancer survivors and those battling...

I see their brightness... as I visit my photographer Nellie as she holds and talks about her beautiful new baby girl...or when I see Lori shine as she uses her creative talent with her Pink Couch for the Cause. I see a treasured friend, a breast cancer survivor, shine brightly as a mother, sister, wife and friend. I see mothers and friends teach our children and coach our teams.

I witness their versatility and strength when I see a friend battle terminal cancer by volunteering her time and giving back to others with her words of encouragement. I see a friend, mother and grandmother pour her passion and life's work into raising money for cancer research and education. I see their strength as the they run companies, paint a beautiful sunset, give birth to new life, capture a moment on film and embrace a hurting child.

Through these women I want to live more brightly. Marigold is forever influenced and changed by each story and encounter. We believe in you.

I have tried to sit down to write a new post for a week now. I have a million things to write...to tell you...to report...new pictures to show you...it's such a beautiful day I am going to the pool with my two youngest boys...I will try again tomorrow...I know you understand.

Awestruck...

You know those people that have that gift. The gift of touching you with their life and words...

that would be my sis!

I am in awe of you!!!

Check out her blog!

Autumn Surprises

"Everything that is new or uncommon raises a pleasure in the imagination, because it fills the soul with an agreeable surprise, gratifies its curiosity, and gives it an idea of which it has not before possessed." - Joseph Addison

This summer has been a fun preparation for new fall designs..."a pleasure to my imagination." This week as I was packing up a big box of caps for a boutique order, I found my self enjoying the caps because they are new and fresh for fall. New pictures are coming. Nellie and I are very excited to take new photos and can't wait for you to see them. But, the photo shoot must wait for a short time because there are more important surprises awaiting my amazing photographer who is preparing for her precious new surprise due Aug 26th. This baby is a long awaited gift and we can't wait to meet him or her.

Until then, I thought it would be fun to "gratify your curiosity" with some photos from this box.






There's more to come....

A Son Is....

It's 4 am and I just finished baking a birthday cake. I love this quiet time to catch up, to reflect, to pray.

Tonight, I am catching up and preparing for my oldest son's birthday celebration. It will be a busy day of celebrating with our family...celebrate his life we will. I can remember his birth like it was yesterday. Sweet Michael, we love you and are so proud of you. Watching you grow, and moments spent with you are pure joy. I love watching you build legos, shoot hoops, draw a picture, play soccer, love your brothers and sister, read a book and explore the world around you. I appreciate and applaud your organization because you certainly didn't get that from me. My heart is filled to the top with love for you! For you I wish this...

A son is...
a baby who is wished wondrous love;
a child who is wished endless joy;
a boy who is wished understanding and ever-widening circles of knowledge and friendship.

a teenager who is wished strength in any surroundings, courage in every circumstance, and a recognition of the wonders that await his tomorrows.

and a man, with paths to walk, with bridges to cross, with mountains to climb.

A son is an amazing combination of all of these things, and he's quietly thanked everyday of his life, for the priceless joy he brings. - Douglas Pagels

We love you son! Happy 8th Birthday!!!!

Pictures are once again taken by wonderful Nellie...see www.nellie-photography.com

Lucky

Jason Mraz in the song "Lucky" says it best,

"I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend."

My husband and I celebrated our 12th anniversary yesterday.

I'M LUCKY!

A Whole Hand

Today, my precious curly headed, sweet heart turns 5...a whole hand!!!

He has the whole day planned starting at 6 a.m. with donuts, followed by opening presents immediately after.

For lunch, we will dine on Buffalo Wild Wings and celebrate his birth with Culver's ice cream cake and singing. We have to play a pokemon game and wack the ever anticipated pinata.

Following all of the excitement, our birthday boy then wants to go to the pool and enjoy pool time with our family.

When we get home he wants Daddy to cook yummy Barbeque ribs while he and his siblings take in all the new birthday "loot."

I celebrate my precious son, his tender heart, his all boy approach to life, his talents, his sweet curly hair, tender hugs, gruff voice, endearing giggle, and hugs that feel like he will never let go....

Let go, I never totally will, and have tried my best to take snapshots of these precious first five years. I pray for his life, for his future that he will live life to the fullest, be spared deep heart ache, and know true love and what it feels like to have a son as special as he is to our family. I pray that he will seek God for all things and fulfill his Destiny...We love you son!

The Race

Love being a part of such a cause!

Faith

Faith is making yesterday a stepping stone, today a new beginning, tomorrow a limitless possibility...

I am very thankful for and humbled by the people who have expressed their faith and support of Marigold!!!
It is exciting to watch the new beginnings and limitless possibilities unfold.

This week the Marigold story aired on our local news.. I was nervous and excited and humbled all at the same time. The story could not have been told without my two warrior girlfriends being present to help tell the story.

Thank you Gina and Pam and Jen and Lisa for your expressions of faith. Blessings to you ladies!

New photos...

Last week, I had such fun with Nellie -photographer extraordinaire- and lots of beautiful women of all ages! I appreciate all the work and effort by all to make this latest photo shoot so special. Stay tuned for great new photos to be featured on the website. Mini marigolds are also in bloom and will be available for the first time....little ladies no longer have to raid their mom's Marigold closet.

Stay tuned for more of Marigold!!!

Love this LIfe...

A friend sent me these inspiring words in the mail last week. I couldn't help sharing...

Love this Life...
is about celebrating the moment
and we're not guaranteed
or owed another day
and how cool it is that what we hide
can actually be the fuel towards our glory
and that it's not so bad being proven wrong

Love this Life...
is about welcoming the blind turn
and the possibility that
there's no such thing as coincidence
and that empathy is incredibly sexy
and that it's never too late
to pick up a guitar or paintbrush
or to make an amend or to make a new friend

Love this Life....
could be about rekindling a past flame or igniting a new one
or shape shifting the caress of a love long gone

Love this Life...
means whatever it is you want it to mean
because

Love this Life...
is a celebration of you and your path

Love this Life...
cuz it could go at any second

by David Culiner

Thanks for sharing Jen!!!

A Marigold Moment...

One of things I cherish most about Marigold is the women I meet. I get so excited when I see women wearing their Marigold caps and I love to hear their stories.

Marigold caps are about celebrating...celebrating who we are as women.

One Marigold beauty was gracious to share a little about herself:

Hmm, fun facts about me - that's tough! I live on the coast in Massachusetts and I'm a busy working mom to three amazing daughters - 11, 8 and 5 years old. My mom is a 7+ year breast cancer survivor so I'm thrilled to contribute to your company. I love to take photographs and to shop (for anything and everything!)...I can't really think of anything else! Oh I'm fluent in Dutch because my husband is Dutch and we lived in Holland for several years - the only reason I learned to speak Dutch is so my in-laws couldn't talk about me in front of me anymore!

Thanks beautiful Massachusetts friend for giving us a glimpse of you!

The Joy of a Car Wash!

Today, after much pleading from my two younger boys, we visited the car wash.

The car wash as always was exciting each turn of the brushes. I am always amazed at how children see the world and my boys didn't let me down on this trip. As the car was nearing the end of the wash, my son looking at the moving rags said,"Look mom they're dancing."

Oh the joy of a car wash inside and out!