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newlenoxpatriot.com life & arts
The New Lenox Patriot | October 13, 2016 | 21
NL store sells bracelets for cancer awareness
F. Amanda Tugade
Assistant Editor
It is no secret that 1 Happy
Girl Boutique has embraced
the fall season. Upon entering
the New Lenox boutique,
scents of pumpkins
and spices greet many guests
who have traveled to the
store looking for the perfect
outfit. Warm sweaters, longsleeved
shirts, flannels, denim
jackets, scarves and hats
are on display.
Pairing up patterns, combining
colors and layering
different materials are just a
few suggestions from owner
Paige Schwartz.
However, there is just one
more item the 26-year-old is
to share with area customers.
On the surface, this item – a
bracelet – could be seen as
an extra add-on that would
top off any attire, but to
Schwartz, this simple, small
accessory stands for so much
more.
Paige’s mother Dawn, 56,
was diagnosed with Stage
2 breast cancer in January
of 2015. In an effort to raise
awareness of the disease, the
two, both of Homer Glen, are
to sell two types of bracelets,
one that is made of healing
stones and the other that is
embellished with inspirational
quotes and words. This
initiative is exclusive to October,
as it is known as Breast
Cancer Awareness Month.
“Believe,” “Patient,” “Be
Kind,” “Love” and several
Bible verses are decorated
on Dawn’s and Paige’s copper-colored
bangles, which
also come in silver and gold.
Dalmatian jasper, jade, agate
and aquamarine are just
a few examples of the healing
stones, and they range in
meaning.
Paige and Dawn said they
plan to donate one bracelet
to a breast cancer patient at
Advocate Christ Medical
Pictured is a healing bracelet that is sold at 1 Happy Girl
Boutique in New Lenox.
Protect Your Rack
When: 6-9 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 13
Where: 1 Happy Girl
Boutique, 1421 E.
Lincoln Highway, New
Lenox.
The healing bracelets
retail for $44 and the
positive word bracelets
are priced at $24.
Sales for the healing
bracelets and the
positive word bracelets
run through October. For
more information, visit
1happygirl.com.
Center in Oak Lawn for every
bracelet that they do sell.
These bracelets will also be
sold at 1 Happy Girl’s other
store locations, including
Lemont and Glen Ellyn. Last
year, the two gave over 200
of them to patients, and they
hope to exceed that amount
this year.
‘Protect Your Rack’
In the past, 1 Happy Girl
has done its share to show
support for those with breast
cancer, but now, the mom and
daughter plan to host events
to push their mission forward.
Customers who attend “Protect
Your Rack” at the New
Lenox location and purchase
a bracelet will be entered for
Featured is a display of the healing bracelets ($44) and the positive-word bracelets ($24) sold
at 1 Happy Girl Boutique. These bracelets are to be sold through the month of October, as a
way to raise awareness for breast cancer. Photos by F. Amanda Tugade/22nd Century Media
a chance to win one of their
giveaways, which include
gift certificates to area salons,
a three-day stay at resorts in
Saugatuck, Michigan or Playa
del Carmen in Mexico and
more. Paige and Dawn said
those prizes were sponsored
by local businesses, and their
involvement, kindness and
commitment to help with this
particular cause is something
they both cherish.
The name of the event,
Dawn noted, “is kind of a
play on words there,” and
it is just another way to encourage
women to always
take care of their minds,
bodies and spirits.
“We’re kind of excited
about [it] because we’re doing
something different,”
she added. “Last year, we
didn’t do an event. We just
did the bracelets for the
whole month of October. We
thought we could do a little
bit more.”
And Dawn, too, is not shy
about sharing her story with
those she encounters.
“I tell everyone that you
really need to go for your
mammograms,” she said.
“I know that women are so
afraid to go, but what happened
to me is way worse
than going for a mammogram.
That’s the easy thing.”
Dawn recalled that being
diagnosed with breast cancer,
having the surgery and
going through chemotherapy
was a difficult time in
her life, but eventually, she
accepted her struggle and
learned to push through it.
“I look back on it, and of
course, at the time, it was
terrible,” she said. “It was
hard on my family and everything.
I look back on
it, and now I think it’s not
that bad. You can do it. Everybody
can do it. If you
have to, you can do it. You
get strength from everyone
around you.”
“You’re so much stronger
than you think you are,” she
continued. “You just have to
dig really deep down for that
strength and use it.”
And that is where those
bracelets tie in. When purchased,
those bracelets are
placed in a box. Inside, a
note printed on pink stationary
is tucked with the item.
“So just focus, and keep
aiming,” it reads. “Here is
a daily reminder that you
are beautiful, strong and can
face anything.”
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