Click below for photos from the event.

- Teacher Toolkit PDF
- Girl Guides PDF

Why a clean room matters

Your physical space affects your head space – and your mood. And while your life may feel a little out of control at times, keeping your environment in order can help keep you grounded and more relaxed. Not only will you be able to find that book you’ve been looking for, you’ll experience the serenity of having a place for everything and everything in its place.

Where to begin

If the thought of tidying up your whole room all at once is overwhelming, try tackling one small area at a time, then take a break. Before you know it, your floor and desk top will appear again, and so will your peace of mind. Here are some tips and tricks to get you started.

• Play DJ. Crank up the volume on your favourite tunes to get you motivated – and moving.
• Let the sun shine in. Open the curtains, blinds and windows to shed some light – and fresh air – on the situation.
• Divide and conquer. Split your room into four “corners” and tackle only one at a time. Put away obvious items first – clothes in cupboards, books on shelves. For the rest, set a file box, laundry basket and waste bin side by side and sort your belongings into three categories: Keep, toss and clean. Dust or wipe off all surfaces – desk, bureau, shelves – before putting away “keep” items.
• Clean sweep. Take a broom or vacuum to the floor and don’t forget to clear out under your bed. You never know what long-lost treasures you’ll find there.
• Reward yourself. If you find any spare change (and you always do), use it to treat yourself to your favourite snack, a walk in the park or long chat with a friend when you’re done.

Finding inspiration

Once you’ve cleared away the clutter, you may want to start redecorating. These popular style categories will give you some fun ideas on how to make your room your own.

• From A to Zen: If you feel most at home in a neutral spa-inspired room, a Zen theme could be right for you. Use colours inspired by nature – sky-blue, grass green, earth brown – and create a sense of calm with a collection of pretty sea shells or stones and scented candles.
• Get funky: If bold colours and patterns bring out your sunny side, surround yourself with flower-power fabrics, peace sign accessories and lava lamps. For an extra dose of drama, drape a long scarf or dollar-store boa across your curtain rod or stencil your favourite quote or song lyric over a door or headboard.
• Victoria’s secret. Antique lamps, lace curtains, needlepoint cushions and soft colours and fabrics help turn the clock back for a Victorian styled room. If you’re most content when surrounded by quaint knickknacks and garage-sale finds, this could be your style. To create a room Queen Victoria would love, raid your grandmother’s attic for china tea cups (which make great votive candle holders), trim lampshades in ribbon or lace, hang vintage hats on the wall and stack Jane Austen novels on your bookshelf.
• Mod squad. Chrome, glass, acrylic and plastic are the hallmarks of a modern décor. Think Ikea meets airport lounge. Keep colours solid with stark contrasts – such as black and white or pink and brown – and in bring in something shiny, like a mirror or chrome or plastic chair.

Your room is your turf, so it should reflect your personality and taste, and feel like a sanctuary where you can rest, relax and recharge. Take good care of it and it will take care of you.

16 years old, Vancouver, BC

“Live large. Take chances. Tell the truth. Get to know someone. Get to know yourself! Say I love you. Scream out loud if you need to. Laugh when it’d be easier to cry. Apologize. Tell someone how much they mean to you. Be yourself, because life is too short.”

The photos below show two of our Pink Tulip Gardens in Toronto and the girls who made them happen! Funding for this program is generated through private donations to the Pink Tulip Foundation and City of Toronto 2008 Neighbourhood Beautification Program.

Step 1

Visit the Canada Helps website at www.canadahelps.org and click on the “Giving Pages” link on the right side of the screen.

Step 2

You now have two options. If you have already raised money that you wish to donate online, please select “Give a Gift” and enter our full name, Pink Tulip Foundation, as the recipient charity. You will be guided through a series of easy steps.

Alternately, you can create a Giving Page of your own by selecting “Create a Giving Page.” When selecting the recipient charity, please enter our name as Pink Tulip Foundation. You will be guided through a series of easy steps.

Step 3

Want to raise funds for The Pink Tulip Foundation but aren’t sure how?

You might try…

• Asking family and friends to make donations in lieu of giving birthday gifts
• Organizing a workplace, school-wide or community event in support of The Pink Tulip Foundation, like:
  • a 5 or 10 km walk or race
  • Running laps around an indoor or outdoor track
  • Cycling a specific distance
  • swimming laps in your local pool
  • Organizing a car wash or garage sale
  • Holding a bake sale
  • Holding a school dance and selling tickets
  • Organizing a raffle

Worried about your ability to raise funds? Don’t be! Get creative and have fun! Every dollar raised helps us help others. Whether you raise $10.00 or $10,000, you are making a difference and helping us help others.

Step 4

Keep us informed!

If you’re organizing an event in support of The Pink Tulip Foundation, we want to hear from you! Send your updates, stories and photos to us at info@pinktulip.ca. We just might profile you and your event on our website or in our newsletters.

Thank you for your support!

Why pink?
That’s simple. It’s the colour that’s become associated with breast cancer awareness. The name of this site “Pink Tulip” is just one example. You’ll often see women, girls – and men, too – wearing pink clothing or accessories to demonstrate their support, especially during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

What are pink brands?
A while ago, manufacturers started bringing out special “pink” brands, products that are pink or have a pink ribbon on them. Although sometimes they promote awareness only, most of the time, pink products help raise money for breast cancer. A percentage of the profits go towards breast cancer projects or research.

Pink is taking off!
Look around you. While a couple of years ago, there may have been a handful of pink products, like t-shirts or pens, pink is now everywhere! You’ll find pink laptops, DVDs, memory cards, tissues, cosmetics, snack items, candles, jewelry, clothing, school supplies – you name it. There’s even a “pink” Mustang convertible!

Why buy pink?
Two reasons. First, you’re showing your support for breast cancer awareness. Second, you want a percentage of your purchase to go towards important breast cancer services or research. (Of course, loving to shop could be another reason!)

How do I know where my money goes?

Check out the label. It should include the name of the organization that’s receiving your money and their website. In addition, there should be information available about how much or what percentage of the purchase price is going to the breast cancer organization.

When pink isn’t really pink
Something else you should know – there’s no copyright on pink or the pink ribbon. The vast majority of pink merchandise supports breast cancer. But there are exceptions. Some merchandisers may use pink to try to take advantage of consumers like you. Or they may just offer a colour choice that happens to be pink. So check the label and what’s online. Before you buy, be sure you feel comfortable with the information and where your money’s going.