INSPIRATION: The many faces of my brave, beautiful, creative, very determined, cancer’s-butt-kickin’ friend, Holly Bertone, author of The Coconut Head’s Guide to Survival blog and CEO and President of Pink Fortitude, LLC.
Holly Bertone of The Coconut Head’s Guide to Survival blog was kind enough to consent to being a part of this post on the condition (that I happily accepted!) that I share her message with you: “I was young and healthy. If it can happen to me, it can happen to you. Please take care of your health. Early detection saves lives.”
So this post is dedicated to Holly and every woman or man out there who has stared breast cancer in its ugly face and “beat it like it stole something.” The fight is a tough one. I salute those who won the battle and honor the memory of those who, in spite of fighting the good fight, were taken from us too soon.
(Click on any photo, then click again to enhance/enlarge it.)
The table is dressed in a pure white full-length tablecloth from LinenTablecloth.com. The stretch white chair cover and pink satin sash are also from LTC. I wanted so much to tie the ribbon in the shape of the Breast Cancer Awareness symbol, but just couldn’t figure it out! Maybe by next year this time…! 🙂
Each place setting starts with a silverplate charger and platinum-rimmed Noritake “Spectrum” dinner and salad plate. A soft pink, simply folded napkin from Bed, Bath & Beyond sits atop the plates. I created the menus on our home computer and gave them more of a 3-D look by adding an actual ribbon dotted with a pink gemstone. (The menu items were our actual dinner that night. You can find my recipe for the chicken pot pie on this site under Recipes. The cake is a wonderful recipe from Kitty’s Kozy Kitchen, and it is decadently delicious!!!)
I wanted this table to literally reflect everything beautiful, so I used Cristal d’Arques Longchamps stemware with lots of reflective facets that caught the light of the votives in the centerpiece. The handle of the dinner knife and the mirror shine of the charger both have the same reflective quality.
After-dinner coffee is extra sweet with a rose-kissed sugar cube from Rebekah Foster, Cake Artist.
Who says bald can’t be absolutely beautiful? I admittedly spent a great deal of time working on this unique Breast Cancer Awareness centerpiece. I wanted to shout to the world that bald can indeed be beautiful, simple, sweet, sexy, exotic, erotic, and everything in between.
To create this very special centerpiece, I used ballerina pink and soft glitter spray paint to tint an inexpensive Styrofoam wig form. I applied flirty black eyelashes (did better than I do on my own eyes!) and then went to work with gemstone and pearl head pins. Just when I thought I was finished, I decided to add the nose ring to give her a youthful, contemporary flair to punctuate Holly’s message: Just because you’re young and healthy doesn’t mean it can’t happen to you. I spread sparkling clear and pink crystals (Beau-coup.com) at the base to represent reflective beauty and added votives to symbolize hope and light radiated by fighters like Holly.
Other tablescapes suitable for Breast Cancer Awareness Month on this site:
Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon
Pretty in Pink, Wicked in Spurs
All A’Bloom
Pleasant Under Glass
Roses in October
Princess Pink Birthday Dinner
Blushing Bridal Shower
Pink Plaid & Posies
Luncheon in Pink
Pretty in Pink
Springtime in Paris
Peony Power
Coming Up Roses
Tea Roses
I am happily joining these ladies’ blog parties this week:
Christine at Rustic & Refined for “Table It!”
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for “Tablescape Thursday”
Bev at How Sweet the Sound for “Pink Saturday”
Tablescapes at Table /Twenty-One 
Lovely tribute and reminder! The table is perfectly beautiful! My niece at age 40 had a double mastectomy while caring for her critically ill little son. He has since passed, and we pray she will continue to be a survivor. One directive her doc gave her was no wine. It isn’t good for breast cancer survivors. I know so many so many survivors who still drink, as bad as skin cancer patients sitting in the sun, or smoking. I guess it is hard to break bad habits though.
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Alycia this is beautiful! I have visited Holly’s blog many times and she is always delightful and upbeat. Using the wig form as a centerpiece was brilliant. Bald can be beautiful as you have shown. It also shows that it’s what’s underneath that counts. This is a lovely tribute to Holly and all of the other brave sisters who have had to face this. Kudos to you!
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The centerpiece is a masterpiece Alycia! Love the crushed crystal sprayed across the table. It is a classy, elegant table to bring awareness to Holly’s message. The soft pink napkins and chair bows are understated but very pretTy and let the focus be on the centerpiece. I returned from a lunch where I learned a friend’s 33 year old daughter was just diagnosed. So your message is resonating with me especially today. Such a terrible disease. Lost my mother in law( diagnosed at 48) to it, an aunt, and have 5 other famiky members and 4 friends who are survivors. Thank you for bringing attention to the cause.
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Hi Alycia – Oh my goodness. When you asked me… I had no.idea. There are no words that I can even come up with as I wipe a few tears from my eyes (darn those fall allergies!). You have rendered me speechless. It’s beautiful. It’s stunning. It’s perfect. I love every single detail you put into making this sweet sentiment for breast cancer survivors. And I’m totally stealing a few ideas for the fundraiser in February! The head form is brilliant. And the crystal. And everything. Thank you for all of your support! Love and hugs, Holly
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Holly, you are an inspiration to all of us and Alycia knew just how to pay tribute!
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I am completely charmed by this. It’s a lovely table, with a delicious sounding menu. I really like what you did with the foam head. It adds both seriousness and whimsy at the same time.
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A beautiful tribute to beautiful women battling an ugly disease.
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This is totally wonderful, right down to that nose stud. My cousin, thank God, is a survivor as is a former SIL. Both were pretty young and had very aggressive forms of the disease and no recurrence. It just goes to show that you need to know and pay attention to your own body.
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This is stunningly beautiful Alycia! I am sitting in the hairstylists chair now and don’t have time to comment as much as I would like but I adore the bling and the headform couldn’t be any prettier nor more appropriate. Kudos to you for supporting such a worthwhile cause.
XXX
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Very meaningful table setting. Love the bling you added to the form.
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This is stunning Alycia! I am so impressed by the use of the headform and the bling is just perfect! Kudos to you for supporting your friend and this worthwhile cause!
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Alycia this is stunning! What a soft, glamorous and feminine tribute for the cause of breast cancer awareness and in honor of Holly! I love how you decorated the pink head form! The glistening crystal, beautiful dishes and beads and the perfect touch. Every detail is exquisite! You are right- bald can be beautiful! 🙂
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I missed the punky and sassy nose decoration and had to go back to see it. You’ve hit it out of the park again, Miss Alycia.
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What a lovely tribute! My sister is a breast cancer survivor and I didn’t find out until several years later when a friend of hers mentioned it in a video. She lives in California and I live in MD. We talk each week but she hid this from the family. I’m so glad she’s been cancer free for nearly fourteen years. Unfortunately, I lost my best friend of over forty years last year to cancer that started in her breast and moved to her lungs and brain. She had a mammogram in December and the doctors said it was clean. A few months later after complaining of back pain they did another mammogram and told her she had stage four breast cancer. She wanted a double mastectomy and loved bald heads, but it was too late for her and nothing could be done. She was gone within two months. We all need to be self aware and if we feel things just aren’t right find someone in the medical field who will listen and get involve.
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How wonderful of you to use your tablescaping talents for such a worthy cause! Of course, you would come up with the perfect centerpiece even tweaking it just a bit with the nose ring to further reflect that cancer can strike even the young. The whole theme of your table is so fitting with the reflective sparkle of the crystals and stemware – survivors shining brightly! Well done!
Lori
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Greetings, The crystal dinner knives are lovely!!!! Do you know of a source for them, I’m very interested in finding some. Thanks, Susan Schmidt susanschmidt19@yahoo.com
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I’ve admired Holly for some time and enjoy reading her blog. This is a lovely tribute to her and to those who battle with this horrible disease. Beautiful table, Alycia!!
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Wonderful PSA and tribute for all the survivors and warriors out there! Your menu looked terrific, and the crystal especially looks glamorous against the china and silverware – recognizing that cancer is anything BUT glamorous. I remember reading Holly’s story in a featured blog a while back. Great job, Alycia!
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I’m giving you a standing ovation for this. You captured the beauty of an ugly illness which helps all the survivors stand up and hold their heads high. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and you my dear friend, are beautiful inside and out. You’re a truly a fantastic lady!!! (and now I know who I can call for eyelash instructions..lol)
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This is awesome. The setting is feminine and elegant which matches the dignity and courage that this beautiful young woman has within her.
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What a lovely tribute to Holly and to all those wonderful women who are fighting breast cancer. Cancer has certainly touched all of our lives and I pray everyday for a cure and better treatment for those fighting cancer. Your table reflects your wonderful sense of style, passion and fun, Alycia. Your menu sounds perfect and the centerpiece is so touching and creative. Blessings to you, my friend.
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It really is.
Beautiful as in the sharing of “I survived” as it is by simply being.
Your setting is awesome and as I do in life I focused in that tiny sugar cube with a rose. You’re my favorite tablescaper and lovely heart.
Thank you for sharing,
Teresa
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Alycia, this is such a beautiful and heartwarming tribute to the ladies that fight such an awful disease. My sister-in-law is a breast cancer survivor of 5 years this last month and we are all celebrating. Your table is absolutely one of the most gorgeous settings – I love the way you made it so classy. Thank you for this beautiful tribute.
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So charming and such a lovely sentiment. So very kind of you! Kudos to you. I can only imagine how touched Holly must have been.
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Prayers for sweet Holly!…what an honor and tribute you have made for all of the countless women who are battling breast cancer. Your table exudes the strength and determination of these brave women who we can all learn from….This is truly one of my favorite tables due to the message…”bald is beautiful” and you have definitely sent that message through your most gorgeous tablescape!!!…Bravo Alycia!
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Just beautful! The idea, the inspiration and the message all very fitting to bring awareness and honor those touched by breast cancer. You have a fabulous heart and a special way of sharing your compassion for all. Thank you Alycia!
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Yes, you’re very, very talented, artistic, creative…. Alycia, but above all you have such a big heart and tender sensibilities that have shown through in so many of your tablescapes, but none better than this one. I hope Komen gets a look at this…. The way you paid tribute and honored is just.lovely…. I commend you and thank you. Your friend, ~Zuni
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What a beautiful tribute to breast cancer patients. I love your centerpiece and I agree with you, bald is beautiful!…Christine
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I thank you for this beautiful honor to bald ladies of cancer as I just celebrated my 7th year out. I feel women are extremely gorgeous when they are bald it accentuates their beautiful eyes and makes their cheekbones stand out besides you can wear a wig and be anybody you want!Susie
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Very moving tribute Alycia, Holly is one of so many very brave, beautiful women~ love the menu and the special pot pies, and your very creative centerpiece of course!
Jenna
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What an awesome post, Alycia! Beautiful table, too. That pot pie looks delicious.
Have a great weekend.
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What a beautiful message! Your table is lovely and very inspiring. Holly has a wonderful attitude and sweet spirit. I enjoy her blog very much! She is establishing a legacy of giving for her cause – for so many others, too. I love this post, Alycia!
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Only you would come up with a table celebrating baldness. If there is anything good about breast cancer, it’s that so many survive it, i.e., Holly. Your table does what it needs to do in an understated with a touch of glam way.
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A wonderful tribute to this worthy case. Nicely done. Some people actually look better bald.
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I should have loaned you my pink chair for the party LOL
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Wow this was a beautiful tribute. I have lost family members to breast cancer and sometimes it is too hard to read about others but I force myself for there is such great hope such beautiful strong ladies who are going through it and others suporting them! Happy Pink Saturday Grace xoox
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Alycia, You are brilliant – you captured the essence of surviving this horrible affliction beautifully. The head form blinged out in pearls and pink rhinestones is ingenious – and so spot on. There truly is beauty in being able to survive and go on with life in dignity (bald or not) and beat this wretched disease.
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