If I Were President...

The world would be a much more boring place :)  This is actually something that I've considered.  When I was 7 I had President Barbie.  She was fabulous and ruled the Oval Office!  I also have a major intellectual girl crush on Hillary Clinton.  In 7th grade I did my 7th Grade Research Project on her.  My classmates' reaction?

source

 I was incensed that not ONE 7th grader was interested.  Can you believe that?  No one cared about an ex-first lady?  What kinda 12 year olds are we dealing with here?  Apparently normal ones :)

Also, last night Jess and I saw Gone Girl.  O-M-G!!  Terrifying!  We left saying, you know what?  Single life ain't so bad.  If you haven't seen it, I highly suggest you do!  Definitely worth the $11 a ticket :) If you did see it, what did you think?  I haven't read the book yet, so I'm curious how it lines up.

So anyway, if I was President, my number one priority would be:

source

Oh, sorry!  That would be what I would say if I had beauty, and grace, she's Miss United States.  Can we just take a moment to bask in the glory that is Sandra Bullock?

Now for the serious stuff!

1.) Student loan interest rate.  Um, 7%?  For real?  Home loans are 4%!  So lemme get this straight, I am being punished for being educated?  Times are tough my Congresspeople and guess what?  We are 22!  We have no money!  More importantly, we didn't even elect (most) of you.  Why are you beating the new generation of adults by killing us with debt?  No thanks!  I am beyond blessed to have my job and I make a great salary.  I pay a lot of money on my loan every month to try to squish it down (does anyone else feel like that number never gets lower?!) and I don't love that I could be saving that money for a house.  Why not lower the interest rate and help a voter out?  By the way Congresspeople, how are those private planes?  

source

2.) Dinner with Ellen DeGeneres!  Ellen, if I ever become President, I'm calling you!  You are going to write all of my speeches.  People would love me!

3.) Optional pre-school for everyone starting at age 3.  There is such a difference come kindergarten for students have been to pre-k versus those who have not.  Pre-school would be free and offered to all families.  You would have the option to decline the pre-school offer, but it would still stand.  

4.) Every child would get presents on Christmas.  It makes me sad to know that kids don't get presents on Christmas.  Every trip I take to the mall, I bring a present with me for a child.  

5.) Magazines and advertisements would have to use women of normal size to be the models.  Let's just say that every woman needs to feel represented in our society.  It makes me sad when women (and believe me I do it, too!) beat themselves up over their looks.  It's sad.  It's unfair and it's cruel.  We need to start congratulating each other on making it through the day alive, not tear each other down because society has convinced we're not good enough unless we're a size 0.  

source

LC has the best eye rolls.  I think they could win any argument about anything.  

6.) Mental health would be taken more seriously.  Suicide, eating disorders, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and all other mental illnesses are serious.  They are real medical conditions.  

7.) Stores wouldn't open until 4 am on Black Friday.  People deserve Thanksgiving off!!  I love Black Friday as much as the next Jersey Girl, but come on!  Thanksgiving is for eating and being with your loved ones--not killing each other over PS2s.  (Are PS2s still cool?  If they're not just insert any trendy gift you want :) )

8.) No children would be hungry, without a warm bed, loving family, or without health care.  (I don't care what your politics say/are (this is not the place to discuss it), BUT every child deserves medicine and care.  That is a human right!)  As a teacher, I can tell you that a well fed, well cared for child, makes a better student.

9.) Politicians and the Pearson Company would take their grubby little fingers out of education!  Would you let a politician perform heart surgery on you?  No.  So why do we allow politicians to infiltrate our schools?  Let teachers teach.  

10.) There would be no homeless veterans.  If you served our country, you should always be taken care of.  Also, there should be better mental health care for our service people.  

11.) No one would use the R word.  As a special education teacher, it breaks my heart to know that my students are insulted by people who use this word.  They are kind, caring, hard-working, and terrific people and they do not deserve to be degraded by a word.  

12.) Apple would have to extend Apple Care for the lifetime of your product.  I think we can all say that at one point or another, we've all been screwed by the Big Mac Co.  

13.)  The Phillies would win the World Series at least once a decade and I would get to attend.

14.) M&Ms and Cheesecake Factory would have no calories :)

source

15.) Women would receive equal rights, equal pay, and equal opportunities.  

source

16.) Everyone would get the chance to marry who they love.   I've said it before and I'll say it again as a single woman I know that it is hard to find someone to love you, and if you are blessed enough to have found that, then good for you!  You should be able to celebrate that love openly and legally!  

17.)  Nothing would start before 10 am.  Life is better after 10 am. 

source

These would be my 17 things!  What would y'all do?  I love that a group of strong women are discussing the realities of a woman President.  Snaps for us!  

Keep your head, heels, and standards high!

-E

The Great Body Debate

Happy Thursday!

I hope all of you are doing well today!  Just 24 hours and it will be Friday afternoon and almost time for the weekend!  I hope you all have super fun plans.  I have a dinner with Jess and a graduatoin party for a girl I used to babysit who now is a gorgeous soon to be college freshmen. I'm proud to say that we're now friends and she still is like my little sister.  So excited for her!  College was the best 5 years of my life and I'm excited for all the memories that she is going to make.  But in reality, I do feel really really old!  How can my little babysittee be graduating from high school?!

Anyway, today is a link up that I am very excited about.  I think it is a serious conversation (way more serious than most things you will find on this little bloggy) that is extremely important.  The topic today is body image.  Body image.  Two little words that plague most of the human (eh hem mostly female) population.  I will be the first to admit that I am not immune to the body image or as I like to call it Body War:  Forever.  Raise your hand if you feel like there are times when you are at complete war with your body?

source

I do.  Every day I feel like I am on a hamster wheel of chasing "the perfect body".  And everyday I lose this game, this battle, this war, this epic war against humanity.  Because that's what it is.  It's a war against women and humanity.  My struggle with weight began when I was in middle school.  I was always an active kid.  I danced 3 nights a week since I was 7 years old (before that was one-two days a week since I was three), I practiced Kenpo Karate from the time I was 6 until I was 12, I played basketball from the time I was in kindergarten until 8th grade, I swam from 3rd grade to 7th grade, and I played soccer for a few years.  I was an active kid with an active kid body.  I was a size zero from the time I was in 5th grade until 9th grade.  I wore those size 0 pants as a badge of honor.  I was proud to be the skinniest kid in class.  I weighed about 100 pounds and was 5'8".  I was awkward and gangly but when I looked at the models, girls my age (13-15), they were my size.  They were my size and they were models. They were perfect--something my Type-A personality strived to be.  I remember how closely I wold judge my body when I changed into my size XS Soffee shorts for cheer practice in 8th grade.  If I had even a smidge of fat hanging over the non-forigiving waist band I would "diet".  Thus beginning my downward spiral and negative relationship with food.  Let me preface this with no one, not a single person, ever told me I was fat or needed to lose weight.  This was/is/will always be something in my head.  

My "diet" for most of 6th-8th grade consisted of Cheerios for breakfast, Smartfood popcorn and a water bottle for lunch, and then half of whatever we ate for dinner.  Total calorie count?  Around 1,000.  I also downed a soda with dinner because I needed energy.  Something 1,000 calories of processed crap doesn't give you.  Go figure.  Do you want to know why I ate 1,000 calories?  Beacuse I read in a People magazine that Jennifer Garner ate 1,200 calories a day.  I thought ok, she's thin but I want to be thinner.  So I went with 1,000.  Also I only drank 2 bottles of water a day because I was afraid of "water weight".  Sick.  I now drink 100s of ounces of water a day.  

My exercise plan, as laid out by aforementioned People told me that these stars exercise 4-6 hours a day.  SO What Did I Do?  I exercised 4-6 hours a day.  Every. Single. Day. I not only went to five times a week cheerleading practice (2 hours a day), but then I went to dance class (45 minutes to 1.5 hours 3 times a week) followed by basketball practice for 2 hours twice a week.  Then, I did an hour of cardio OnDemand followed by a half hour of yoga and half hour of Pilates.  Pretty sick.  Sure I maintained my size 0 status, but I wasn't healthy.  I felt that if I went over 100 pounds I was done.  Done with cheerleading, done with dance, done, done, done.  I began to realize this was crazy.  I remember crying really hard when I went to the mall and bought a size 27 Levi's 501.  That was insane.  A size 27?  I had failed. I was no longer perfect.  I remember feeling so badly about myself that day at Kohl's.  

Later that week, my 8th grade math teacher passed out our report cards.  I received a B.  A B?!  Are you freaking kidding me? Now my perfect A streak was over.  My immediate thought was, if you were skinnier, that size 0, you would have gotten an A.  That is insane and I now know it.  I started working on my "diet" again and working out like crazy.  I once did 1,000 sit ups 3 times a week while I watched TRL.  (The good ones with Carson Daly) Why did I do this?  Because Britney Spears did 1,000 sit ups thrice a week.  Note to self-seek help when you start making lifestyle choices because Ms. Spears tells you it's a good idea.  

Then, high school started.  I started cheering 5 days a week, dancing 3 days a week, and lifting weights twice a week.  Suddenly, my little 8th grade body began to be a muscle machine.  Cheerleading does that to you.  I remember trying on my Sweet 16 dress at Jessica McClintock and crying because it was a size 3. A freaking size 3 made me cry!?  I started hating the very muscles that enabled me to be a great cheerleader and dancer. 

Suddenly I became incensed that my size 0 jeans didn't fit my new athletic and womanly shape.  I had hips and boobs and a booty.  I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that I didn't look like the size 0 little kid body I once had.  

As high school wore on I began to feel better about myself.  College was pretty good, too.  Suddenly I was surrounded by people who cared more about grades, academia, and education than how much they weighed.  These were good people to be surrounded by.  I also was surrounded by healthy choices.  I ate healthy proteins, healthy fats, and healthy foods at every meal.  I also visited the gym regularly and established a healthy routine.  I was teaching dance (a job I loved and desparately miss) and therefore felt a responsiblity to be a good healthy role model for the little girls who told me weekly, "Miss Erin when I grow up I want to be you."  I started making healthier choices.  Every time I felt the need to "diet" to lose 3 pounds, I would say to myself, what if so and so saw you?  What would they think of their hero?  That was powerful stuff.  

Then I turned 22.  My super-high metabolism slowed down a little and suddenly I actually had to work out if I wanted to keep myself a size 2.  When I lived in my own apartment in college I cooked three meals a day for myself and rarely ate out.  I still drank a soda a day and ate chocolate but most of my eats were clean.  I learned how to cook healthy meals.  I still cried when I didn't fit into my size 2 pants, but also was surprised that now I could easily run 5 miles a night.  I began seriously weight training and felt even better about my newly defined arms.  I hadn't had guns like these since my high school cheerleading days.  

Now I feel like I do fight a battle against my body.  I know that it is unrealistic to wish to be that 13-year-old size 0 girl that I was 10.5 years ago.  I'm a woman and I love that I have a woman's body because it means I can one day have a baby and live an active life.  I now work out daily and eat very healthy foods.  I don't drink soda anymore and I consume way more than 1,000 calories a day.  I feel good about myself--for the most part.  Sure I have some moments where I go what is that?  Where did that come from?  Recently I started asking myself what I would really accomplish if I lost 5 pounds.  How would I feel?  Then the scariest thing ever happened.  I said, "I'd be happy!"  HAPPY?  Are you kidding me?  I'd be happy if I lost 5 pounds?  What do I have to be unhappy about?  I have a body that lets me train for half marathons, dance, lift weights, laugh, stretch, and play.  I have a family and friends that most would be jealous of.  I have a life that is better than anything I could have imagined.  I have a Master's degree and have had a world class education.  I'm  a blessed woman.  From those blessings I should find my happiness--not from a number.  I'll be compeltely honest with y'all here:

Erin's stats

Height-5'8"

Weight-140 pounds

Dress size-2/4

Bra size-34 C/D depending on their mood.  Does anyone else have boobs that vary depending on their mood?  Mine do.  

Shoe size-8.5

I think we should all take time to say one thing we love about our bodies.  I love my legs and my arms.  They are long and toned from lifting weights and years of dancing.  They are healthy and strong.  Sure my thighs are thicker than Jennifer Aniston's, I don't have a thigh gap, and I have cellulite on them.  But guess what?  They are mine and I am fortunate to have them.  Sure I'd love my stomach to be flatter and my 6 pack to be more defined (I can feel it under the layer of sugary sweets that have claimed my stomach as their home) but guess what?  When I was a size 0 I wasn't happy!  I was miserable.  I am much happier now as a size 4 than I was then.  So let's all say screw the magazines, the models, the media, the public.  Do you know what the public wants us to look like?  

This girl!  This is NOT HEALTHY!  I don't want this body!  

source

This is rambly.

This is not fat.

source

She's hot, no?!  

We all need to take a beat and realize that health is more important than skinny.  We don't all need to rock a 6 pack and ripped arms.  We need to find happiness outside of our body image.  We as women have so much to be proud of.  By design we are beautiful.  We are also smart, funny, kick-ass, and awesome!  We need to find a sense of purpose, self, and happiness  in something besides our bodies and our sizes.  Ladies raise your forks to a life where we are not judged by our sizes.  To a life where we don't walk down the street and judge other women and their bodies.  

Happy Body Image Love Day,

xoox,

E

My Reaction To Princeton Mom's Letter To Us Single Ladies

Hi Friends!!

Sorry I've been MIA, I have been super busy being a goober and enjoying the snow by doing nothing.  I'll catch up with everything else soon...

Yesterday I read this article that really ruffled my hot pink feathers.  Have you read Princeton Mom's Open Letter To Women?  If you haven't, here's the link

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303496804579369420198599600


I read this and after I picked my jaw up off the floor because this letter was written in 2014 not 1014, I began fuming.  

source

I know, shocking Erin was annoyed about someone writing something negative, sexist, agist, classist, and anti-feminist.  

But hear me out.  

First, this is not an attack on marriage or people's right to marry.  I support marriage for all consenting individuals.  I want to get married myself one day.  I have friends that are getting married soon and I know they will be happy and I completely support that.  As I've said before, life is hard for all people and if you can find someone in this life to ease that hardship then go for it!  I salute you!

Ok, so here we go.

The main point of the article that Ms. Patton is trying to make is that women need to abandon their studies and focus all of their attention on finding a husband.  I'm sorry I didn't know that I was living in Mona Lisa Smile.  This is damaging to women.  It again reaffirms that your value in society is dependent solely on whether or not you are married.  Whether or not someone, besides you, determines your worth.  This is wrong!  Ladies, women, girls, you are invaluable.  Your dreams are important.  Your life is important.  People do not make you any more or less valuable. 

In my Masters degree, single woman, feminist opinion, marriage only works if both people are whole people independent of each other.  Whole people are well rounded, they have their own ambitions, ideas, goals, self-respect, personalities, and interests.  These make marriages more interesting.  If you have your own life, think of how much more you will bring to your marriage.  You will have endless conversations and contributions that will make your union grow stronger and better.  Nothing screams Erin's getting a divorce more than me losing myself and hoping that I find myself in my marriage.  That won't work for me.  I don't think it's healthy to try to find yourself and your self-worth in someone else.  Kinda defeats the purpose...

I don't know about you but I would not/could not/should not marry anyone who did not intellectual stimulate me, enjoy travel, was well read, had their own life, their own career, and their own sense of self.  

Anyway, go on Ms. Patton...

Ms. Patton's next point is that the "cornerstone of your happiness will be the man you marry".  

source

I think what she means is, "the cornerstone of your marital happiness will be the man you marry."  

Yes, yes if you marry Freddy Krueger, your life WILL SUCK!  Why?  Oh I don't know, all the ugly sweaters, the killing, the police reports, the fact that no one will trick or treat at your house, the list writes itself people.  But no, your happiness does not depend on whether or not you have a band of gold on your left hand.  Marriage does NOT instantaneously grant you eternal happiness.  I think some women feel that marriage=happiness, it does not.  In Erinland marriage does = happiness but that's because my marriage will be a piece of my happiness based on the life that I want and the type of relationship that I will create.

Teaching women that happiness only comes from a marriage certificate is belittling to all of our other accomplishments.  Yes, when I get married I will be happy.  But I will be happy because of the person I marry, not simply because I am married.  Remember, sometimes the grass is greener on the other side of the fence because it rains more on that side of the fence.  

Now she talks about "investing my energy" into finding a husband and abandon my career ambitions.  Okay, I'm going to go with a big....yeah about that.

I'll use my girl Olivia Munn's quote:

“People tell me, ‘Your work won’t keep you warm at night.’ But it does pay for my heat and my down comforter, so it technically does.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/olivia-munn-battles-anxiety-career-takes-article-1.1124214

Here's where Ms. Patton takes a jump even further down the crazy hole.  She claims that if I spend my 20's building my career I won't have time to find a husband until I'm in my...gasp...30's!  Ok, we're not 8 anymore, 30 is NOT old!  What ever happened to 13 Going on 30's mantra of 30, flirty, and fabulous?  I will take Jennifer Garner's word over Ms. Patton's any day.  It's damaging to women (and clearly agist) to say that at age 30 no man will desire you because of your cacophonous biological clock.  I'm sorry but maybe Ms. Patton is unaware of these fine looking ladies who are all...gasp...over 30 aka shoulda fallen off the face of the Earth by now because they are O-L-D OLD!  

source

source

source

Sorry Ms. Patton, I think I'll take my chances and say that at 30, I'll still be fine.  Also, this article says that a woman's worth is dependent on her looks and age.  DAMAGING!  Also, guess what?  If you get married in your 20's...you will eventually hit that 30th birthday and then what?  Ms. Patton inadvertently suggests that you will not be attractive to your husband because he will want a 20 something girl.  

Ms. Patton clearly has a different definition of marriage than I do.  

Ms. Patton then says that if I chose to forego her wisdom and keep working on my intellectual endeavors, that I should probably marry down.  Fellas, this is where it becomes offensive to all humans!  She says men who would be an educational and intellectual match for us are not interested in brainy ladies.  

source

I will say that sometimes this is true, but it is not a universal truth!  If this is the truth, I'd rather die alone than married to a man who detests what I bring to the table intellectually.  I wouldn't be able to do it.  I could not, would not, should not, spend my life married to a man who hates my brain.  We shouldn't sell men short here!  Men don't suck!  We need to stop selling them short and teaching this crap to our daughters!  Don't teach them to settle for men who, according to Ms. Patton, find their intelligence emasculating!  Teach them to be proud and unapologetic about their accomplishments!  Teach them that marriage is not the be all end all of life.  Marriage is great if you marry someone who respects you, your accomplishments, and supports your life and dreams.  

Women should not ever date a man who is so intimidated by their intelligence that he can't bear the thought of dating them.  He is not your lobster.  Any man who feels this way is emasculating himself.  If a man can't handle your intelligence or earning potential, trust me, he can't handle you.  Let this breed of man become extinct.  You should only date, and if you so choose to, marry, men who appreciate you and all that you can bring to the table.  

Another gem delivered by Ms. Patton?  The line that once you leave college you will never again find such a great display of male specimen.  Ummmm, Ms. Patton?  Where do you think these men go?  Space?  Oblivion?  Or worse...grad school?  Oh, I forgot, higher education is only applicable to males.  They go back to the real world.  There are men.  Lots of them.  Just look out your window, they're outside walking around and interacting with other humans.  Seriously, where is this woman coming from?

Ms. Patton concludes her letter with the idea that if you don't find a husband by the time you leave college you are doomed to a life of (to use an antiquated term like Ms. Patton probably would) spinsterhood.  OhsweetbabyJesus.  I guess I'm doomed to a life of ordering Chinese food for one, world travel, EdD's, invigorating academic pursuits, friendships, love, children, happiness, family, career, excitement, and my own bank account.  Oh, wait, that's not so scary after all.  

But she does leave us with the hope that maybe in grad school we will find someone...that is if they will find it in their heart of hearts to overlook our warts and detractors such as our education, our careers, our personal interests, and our cacophonous biological clocks.  

So Ms. Patton, author of "Marry Smart: Advice for Finding 'The One,' ", forgive me if I don't take your advice.  I'd rather live a modern fairy tale in which I am my own heroine.  A fairy tale in which every day I come home to the house that I paid half for, the family that my equal and I built, the husband that enjoys my brain and intellectual pursuits, and a car that my advanced degree wielding self bought.  
So ladies, don't listen to Ms. Patton.  Yes, who you marry is the cornerstone of your marital happiness; however, it is not the cornerstone to your personal happiness.  

xoxo,

Erin

Day 12 of Thanks

Hey y'all!

Today I am thankful for Feminists!  Thank God for Feminists!  I am a proud, lipstick wearing, hair dying, women's rights loving, feminist.  I'm blessed to live in a country where feminists can be free to make a meaningful difference in the world!  Sometimes people think of feminists as man hating, bra burning, marriage hating women.  Not true.  My definition of feminist is a woman who is autonomous, self-sufficient, and doesn't need anyone to help her succeed and flourish in life.  Feminists lift everyone up, men & women!  I was never leery to call myself a feminist and I think my parents knew they were in for a feminist baby girl when they took me to see Pocahontas and asked what my favorite part of the historically inaccurate film was.  I answered, "That Pocahontas saved John Smith."  Oh boy!  They knew I was gonna be super feminist even at age 5.  In 3rd grade I chose to read and do a book review on a book about women's suffragist historical fiction.  I'm not trying to make any converts to the fem squad (but you are more than welcome) but I think that women's rights are incredibly important.  I'm all about supporting diversity in the workplace, in government, in medicine, in education, in law enforcement, and in the military.  Women's rights are important for everyone!  

Feminist Month at 1969 Exhibit at the Constitution Center in Philly!

Here is a list of my favorite Thank A Feminist Ifs:

THANK A FEMINIST! If you are female and ...

	... you can vote, thank a feminist.
	... you get paid as much as men doing the same job, thank a feminist.
	... you went to college instead of being expected to quit after high school so your brothers could go because "You'll just get married anyway," thank a feminist.
	... you can apply for any job, not just "women's work," thank a feminist.
	... you can get or give birth control information without going to jail, thank a feminist.
	... your doctor, lawyer, pastor, judge or legislator is a woman, thank a feminist.
	... you play an organized sport, thank a feminist.
	... you can wear slacks without being excommunicated from your church or run out of town, thank a feminist.
	... your boss isn't allowed to pressure you to sleep with him, thank a feminist.
	... you get raped and the trial isn't about your hemline or your previous boyfriends, thank a feminist.
	... you start a small business and can get a loan using only your name and credit history, thank a feminist.
	... you are on trial and are allowed to testify in your own defense, thank a feminist.
	... you own property that is solely yours, thank a feminist.
	... you have the right to your own salary even if you are married or have a male relative, thank a feminist.
	... you get custody of your children following divorce or separation, thank a feminist.
	... you get a voice in the raising and care of your children instead of them being completely controlled by the husband/father, thank a feminist.
	... your husband beats you and it is illegal and the police stop him instead of lecturing you on better wifely behavior, thank a feminist.
	... you are granted a degree after attending college instead of a certificate of completion, thank a feminist.
	... you can breast feed your baby discreetly in a public place and not be arrested, thank a feminist.
	... you marry and your civil human rights do not disappear into your husband's rights, thank a feminist.
	... you have the right to refuse sex with a diseased husband [or just "husband"], thank a feminist.
	... you have the right to keep your medical records confidential from the men in your family, thank a feminist.
	... you have the right to read the books you want, thank a feminist.
	... you can testify in court about crimes or wrongs your husband has committed, thank a feminist.
	... you can choose to be a mother or not a mother in your own time not at the dictates of a husband or rapist, thank a feminist.
	... you can look forward to a lifespan of 80 years instead of dying in your 20s from unlimited childbirth, thank a feminist.
	... you can see yourself as a full, adult human being instead of a minor who needs to be controlled by a man, thank a feminist. http://www.nownys.org/thankfeminist.html-source So hug a feminist today everyone!

10th Day of Thankfulness

I'm one day behind so today I'm going to be doubly thankful!  Today (Nov. 10) is Lilly Pulitzer's Birthday!!  I'm thankful for Lilly and her inspirational story, creative genius, and for dominating the fashion world as a woman in an era when men ruled the world.

Lilly was a Palm Beach Princess who was born to upper class socialites and a classmate of my idol, Jacqueline Kennedy.  She married Peter Pulitzer and had three children.  After her youngest child was born she began selling juice (from oranges/grapefruits from her husband's plantation) on a trendy avenue in Palm Beach.  She needed something to wear to hide the juice stains so she made simple little shifts.  Ladies were interested in buying her dresses so she began selling them.  The dresses took off and Lilly became a huge success!  Pretty preppy patterns came to fruition and celebrities and socialites starting wearing her things!  Lilly Pulitzer's brand went to the next level when Jackie Kennedy was photographed wearing her gingham dress.  Since Jackie was the fashionista of the 20th century, every woman in the world wanted this dress.  Lilly then became an international fashion icon.  In the 1960s fashion world men ruled all.  Preppy wasn't as prevalent and it would be a few more years until Ralph Lauren would bring preppy style to the public sphere.  Lilly was it.  She was also the perfect antidote to  the burgeoning American fashion and beauty empire.  *History dork time* Post WWII, America was the wealthiest country in the world and we had an increase in power and the disposable income to invest in American fashion.  Also, the rest of the world's economies were not doing so well.  America was rich!  We had our boys coming home from Europe and we had the GI Bill.  Women, more and more who were working to make ends meet because of the war (and some who enjoyed working) had disposable incomes for the first time ever.  Women's dollars were now buying more than just dough, they were buying dresses!  Lilly's were what they wanted!  Lilly started her brand with a friend and after her divorce from Peter, she used it as a financial lifeline. Lilly also helped friends open satellite stores in trendy southern and northern beach towns.  These friends were often divorcees who needed the income.  Women from all over the world flocked to upscale retailers to scoop up their coveted Lillies!  In the '80's Lilly Pulitzer closed its doors for financial reasons.  In the early 90's the Lilly Pulitzer brand was revived and the flagship store opened in King of Prussia PA!  And Lilly was brought to a whole new generation of Lilly Lovers!  Lilly stayed on as creative director and gave birth to a new vision of modern, sophisticated, preppy happiness.

Every June there is a fabulous gathering of Lilly Lovers who meet up to shop the sales/steals/deals at the Oaks Convention Center.  I went last year for the first time and I was overwhelmed by how fabulous it is!  There is the iconic Lilly jeep, and a line out the door of Lilly crazed girls!  Everyone dresses in their Lilly finest and shopped til their little pink and green hearts were content.

So here's to Miss Lilly and her fabulous love of all things fun!  Lilly made clothes for women and girls who define their personal style as, "sophisticated and refined, yet at the same time, fun and flirtatious,".  And isn't that the best way to be?  I think yes!  So to quote Miss Pulitzer:

"Wear pink and make all the boys wink!"
"Life's a Party, Dress Like It!"

1. “I was a gypsy, living a carefree life of ponies and tennis.”

2. “Anything is possible with sunshine and a little pink.”

3. “Style isn’t just about what you wear, it’s about how you live.”

4. “It's always summer somewhere.”

5. “If you haven’t any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.”

6. “Being happy never goes out of style.”

7. “I designed collections around whatever struck my fancy ... fruits, vegetables, politics, or peacocks!”

8. “I didn't set out to be unusual or different. I just wanted to do things my way.”

9. “That’s what life is all about: Let’s have a party. Let’s have it tonight.”

10. “Jackie [Kennedy] wore one of my dresses – it was made from kitchen curtain material – and people went crazy.”

quote references:  http://www.matchbookmag.com/daily/39-top-10-lilly-pulitzer-quotes



Photo Credit:  http://fashionpearlsofwisdom.co.uk/2013/04/for-the-love-of-lily.html/screen-shot-2011-02-22-at-9-31-59-am


So Happy Lilly Pulitzer Birthday,

Erin

Lilly Pointe Shoe In Saratoga...I Died!

Close Up...Love That Pink and Green!

Lilly in Nashville<3

Where My Girls At?!

Do you remember that song?  It was a late 90's-early 2000's jam that I came to love during my awkward pre-tween years at dance.  This was one of the songs the "big girls" danced to.  By "big girls" I mean they were 13 and I was 11.  I wasn't in the much adored "big girls" class...yet.  (For any of you interested I became a "big girl" at age 12)   Anyway, I just enjoyed a mucho needed Zumba class with Stef.  The class kicked our booties and I just felt totally off.  It took me a few dances to get into my Zumba groove, eventually I got there though.  Anyway, as I looked around my Zumba class I couldn't help but notice:  Where The Boys At??  Zumba, like most of my favorite lifeventures, is a very Girl Power typa thang.  Hmmmm...

In keeping with the Girl Power life weltenschauung I have working for me I realized something.  People are always telling ladies where to meet gentlemen and this got me thinking...maybe women need to back off the Sacagawea explorer band wagon and let the gentlemen find us.  I know, I know, men are terrible with directions and they'd never find us ;) So this can just be a fun little list about the places gentlemen could go to find ladies if they so chose.  These happen to be my favorite places...just saying...

1) Zumba.  This is a room full of senoritas dancing and shaking to Latin beats.  Who wouldn't want to scour this place for chicas?  Guys you're already at the gym working on your fitness, why not try a little Zumba.  Senoritas love senors who can boogie...just saying...

2) The Ballet.  Okay, this place is chocked full of single ex-ballerinas.  The ballet is naturally romantic, boys all you have to do is just show up and throw in these 3 little words:  tondu, passe, and tour jete.  You don't really even have to know what these mean.  Just say them and the patrons will think you know what's going on.  (Think about when girls memorize words like catalytic converter, axel, and Xbox...we don't care what they mean, we just wan to impress you)

3) Pilates.  Most of the ladies who go to Pilates are again, ex dancers.  Plus, Pilates is surprisingly a very sexy form of exercise.  *Note I did not put striprobics on this list....no bueno senoritas*

4) Barnes & Noble.  Ahhhh my own personal Heaven.  Ladies venture to B&N because, as Carrie Bradshaw, Queen of all things dating, says about Book Heavens, Book Heavens, "house all the best love stories."  Ladies are suckers for love stories.  Even feisty feminists like yours truly quiver in the knees when they read a well written love story.  B&N also houses the Children's Literature section and the Biography/History section. Of these two, I am a frequent patron.  These are easy places to strike up a conversation with a lady.  It also lets you bypass all of the awkward small talk and creepy pick up lines and go right for the meat.  Try "Hey, are you a big fan of (fill in author/subject/character...do not say movie)?"  And you're in...it's like a secret code girls have (Elf reference!!  3 days until I can watch that movie)

5) The Mall.  Gentlemen, I can't stress this enough:  Ladies love the mall.  Why?  Oh I don't know, they sell shoes there?!  All you have to do is wander the mall on a Saturday or Sunday and you will see swarms of ladies there.  All you have to do is ask our opinion on something for your MOM (Side note-ladies lerve giving their opinion on anything...especially clothes.  This is seen as a compliment because secretly you have told us that you like our outfit without creeping us out!  Mazel Tov!  NEVER just ask our opinion on a sweater or necklace because we will assume it's for your girlfriend.  Always lead with "I'm picking a birthday present out for my mom_______________".  P.S. we won't care if you are fictitiously celebrating your mom's birthday, we'll forgive you because we'll think it was sweet.

6)  Cupcake or Specialty Dessert Stores.  Here is some Erin Kitley math at it's finest.  This is like the commutative property.  Girls are A.  Cake is B.  Boys are C.  Girls Love Cake.  If boy buy girl cupcake, girl loves boy.  A+B=C.  B=B+C.  Tada!!  MATH.  BOOM.

7)  Baseball Games.  (Any sporting even will do, but this girl likes baseball best)  If any girl is at a baseball game with her girlfriends you need to wife her up.  Girls who like sports are winners.  Girls who like sports also eat boneless buffalo wings and cake.  You want a girl who will hold her own in an eating contest.


Alrighty fraaaands, this is just a small list of places where gentlemen can meet quality ladies.  Ladies, I hope you echo my feelings about these places and feel free to add your own.  I think we need to redirect the idea that women should go to certain places to find gentlemen.  Gentlemen need to pick up the slack!!  :)


Have a Marvelous Monday,

Er

Rocking My New Zumba Swag!
*I know I dislike ladies who dress up for the gym but I got this on sale at a little French boutique you may have heard of called, Tarje?  Aka Target for all you Americans who butcher the French language.  Phoebe Buffay, ladies and gentlemen.