today take a walk in the sunshine or at least get out into the fresh air

May you always walk in sunshine. May you never want for more. May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door.

- Irish blessing

Happy St. Patrick's Day 

And  may I strongly suggest 

a walk in the sunshine or at least in the fresh air 

❤️

We have definitely entered a most bizarre chapter of our lives here on planet earth and as the waves of anxiety and panic surge around, I am feeling a strong pull to counter such fears with positive and inspirational messages. 

So I hope to be posting here more often, unless I get wigged out by social media again 😂

peace and be well!!

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womenwonder: Amy Poehler

“As you navigate through the rest of your life, 

be open to collaboration. 

Other people and other people's ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, 

spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.”

Amy Poehler

Besides being a phenom in the entertainment world, she is a passionate and leader in empowering women and girls, and spearheading and supporting many social and political causes.  She is a serious womanwonder.

As much is known of her contributions to TV and film, I have featured her social and political achievements here: 

Amy Meredith Poehler  is an American actress, comedian, writer, producer, and director. 

In September 2008, Poehler and Meredith Walker and Amy Miles. founded Smart Girls at the Party, an online community and digital web series aimed at empowering girls.^[6][130] The first season premiered online on November 17, 2008, with Mattel's Barbie signed on as the lead sponsor.^[131] Smart Girls at the Party returned in 2012 as part of the YouTube Original Channel Initiative that focused upon the creation of new content. The new Smart Girls at the Party YouTube Channel went live on July 2, 2012, including new episodes of the series along with additional shows by Poehler, Walker and Miles.^[132]

Four years after the launch of Smart Girls at the Party, digital network company Legendary Entertainment acquired ownership of the project. Poehler said in a statement, "We at Smart Girls are excited to be working with Legendary and look forward to providing funny and inspirational content for all of the goofballs out there."^[133] By the time of the deal, over five million views were registered on its YouTube channel and over 550,000 fans had liked the initiative on Facebook.^[133] On the Smart Girls YouTube channel, viewers have the opportunity to ask for life advice from Poehler in segments called Ask Amy.^[134] Smart Girls celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 2018.^[135]

Poehler has also publicly championed a number of social and political causes.^[5] In 2012, she collaborated with the National Domestic Workers Alliance to film a public service announcement (PSA) to draw attention to the proposed California Domestic Worker Bill of Rights.^[136][137] The law, providing overtime pay to domestic workers, was signed into law the following year.^[138] Poehler also supported One Fair Wage, a campaign to require New York businesses to pay tipped workers the general minimum wage.^[139] Poehler has served as a celebrity ambassador for Worldwide Orphans Foundation, traveling to Haiti in 2013.^[5] The following year, Poehler joined Michelle Obama in Miami to celebrate the four year anniversary of her Let's Move! youth health initiative.^[140]

Poehler's memoir, Yes Please, was published on October 28, 2014.^[141] She explained in a promotional interview with National Public Radio (NPR) that she was "used to writing in characters and not really writing about myself ... it was easier to share the early parts of my life rather than my own current events." Topics covered in the book include body image, parenthood, and learning about the limitations of physical appearance.^[142] The book debuted at number one on The New York Times Best-Seller list.^[2]

In 2011, Poehler was included on Time's "100 most influential people in the world".^[143] She also delivered the Class Day address to Harvard University's class of 2011.^[144] The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited Poehler to become a member as part of its 2017 class.^[145]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Poehler

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may this dress remind us all to embrace our spectacular uniqueness!!

“There is a vitality, 

a life force, an energy, 

a quickening 

that is translated 

through you into action, 

and because there is only 

one of you in all time, 

this expression is unique. 

And if you block it, 

it will never exist 

through any other medium 

and will be lost.”

Martha Graham

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Dream dangerously and outrageously this year ...

“I hope you will have a wonderful year, 

that you'll dream 

dangerously and outrageously, 

that you'll make something that didn't exist 

before you made it, 

that you will be loved and that you will be liked, 

and that you will have people 

to love and to like in return.

And, most importantly 

(because I think there should be more kindness 

and more wisdom in the world right now), 

that you will, when you need to be, 

be wise, 

and that you will always be kind.”

Neil Gaiman

couldn't have said it better myself ~

happy 2020! 

peace, virginia

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Celebrate Spring ... your May calendar

“In a world where thrushes sing and 

willow trees are golden in the spring, 

boredom should have been included 

among the seven deadly sins.” 

Elizabeth Goudge, The Rosemary Tree

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April, National Poetry Month ...

Feel free to download and print out this calendar for your personal use this month.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do 

with your one wild and precious life?” 

Mary Oliver

some fun facts and history about:

National Poetry Month

National Poetry Month, a celebration of poetry which takes place each April, was introduced in 1996 and is organized by the Academy of American Poets as a way to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States. The Academy of American Poets' website Poets.org serves as a hub for information about local poetry events during the month. The organization also provides free educational resources to teachers for classroom celebrations and activities, and commissions an annual festival poster.[1] Since 1998, National Poetry Month has also been celebrated each April in Canada.[2]

National Poetry Month was inspired by the success of Black History Month, held each February, and Women's History Month, held in March. In 1995, the Academy of American Poets convened a group of publishers, booksellers, librarians, literary organizations, poets, and teachers to discuss the need and usefulness of a similar monthlong holiday to celebrate poetry.[3] The first National Poetry Month was held in 1996.

In 1998, the Academy of American Poets joined the American Poetry & Literacy Project to distribute 100,000 free books of poetry from New York to California during National Poetry Month. On April 22, President Clinton and the First Lady hosted a gala at the White House that featured Poets Laureate Robert Pinsky, Robert Hass, and Rita Dove.[4]

For National Poetry Month in 2001, the Academy of American Poets invited people to "vote" for poets they most wanted to have a postage stamp. More than 10,000 people cast ballots, with Langston Hughes receiving the most votes. The vote tally was sent to the United States Postal Service, which issued a Langston Hughes stamp in January 2002.[4]

On April 5, 2005 the Empire State Building was illuminated with blue lights to mark the 10th anniversary of National Poetry Month.[4]

In 2006, the Academy of American Poets launched Poem-a-Day, publishing one new poem on its website Poets.org each day during the month-long celebration. Poem-a-Day is now a daily, year-long series, which has been syndicated by King Features.[5]

In 2012, the Academy of American Poets launched the Dear Poet project, which invites students to read and write poems during National Poetry Month, some of which are published on Poets.org. The project is accompanied by a lesson plan offered to K-12 teachers for free.[6]

Each year, a special poster is commissioned by the Academy of American Poets for National Poetry Month, with almost 150,000 copies distributed to schools, libraries, and community centers for free. In the past, posters have been designed by noted graphic designers such as Chip Kidd and Milton Glaser. The 2015 National Poetry Month poster has been designed by New Yorkerillustrator Roz Chast.[7]

In a proclamation issued on April 1, 1996, President Bill Clinton declared: "National Poetry Month offers us a welcome opportunity to celebrate not only the unsurpassed body of literature produced by our poets in the past, but also the vitality and diversity of voices reflected in the works of today's American poetry….Their creativity and wealth of language enrich our culture and inspire a new generation of Americans to learn the power of reading and writing at its best."[8] In addition, similar official National Poetry Month proclamation have been issued by mayors from towns and cities across the country, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Tucson, and Washington, D.C.[9]

thank you wikipedia 

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Our March dailydress calendar starts a celebration for Women's History Month ... watch this space

Feel free to download and print out this calendar for your personal use this month.

a bit of history behind Women's History Month:

Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”

CLicK here to read to learn more:

https://womenshistorymonth.gov

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May this dress remind us to embrace our life force!

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, 

a quickening that is translated through you into action, 

and because there is only one of you in all time, 

this expression is unique. 

And if you block it, it will never exist through 

any other medium and will be lost.” 

 Martha Graham

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May this dress remind us that we are the masters of our fates ....

We are not victims of our genes, 

but masters of our fates, 

able to create lives 

overflowing with 

peace, happiness, and love.

Dr. Bruce Lipton 

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Accept, say YES and enjoy the miraculous transformation!!

“Accept - then act. Whatever the present moment contains, 

accept it as if you had chosen it. 

Always work with it, not against it.”

 Eckhart Tolle

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"Breathe. You can do this."

When we are connected to our hearts, 

we can hear the small voice 

that says with quiet confidence,

"Breathe. You can do this."

Oriah Mountain Dreamer

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May this dress remind us of the power of forgiveness!!

'kid gloves ...' (2012) eggshells, feathers, kid gloves, chicken wire

“It’s one of the greatest gifts 

you can give yourself, 

to forgive. Forgive everybody.” 

Maya Angelou

and with the rebooting of my dailydress project blog comes the rebooting of

#amazingmayamondays

because one can NEVER have to much wisdom from Dr. Angelou!!

thank you and peace,

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May this dress bring my mother a terrific birthday!!! xxxx

'fannie may turtle dress ...' 

Mother love is the fuel

that enables a normal human being 

to do the impossible. 

~Marion C. Garretty, quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul

 happy birthday to the woman

 who gave me the love for the arts 

and the unique!!! 

LUV YA!!!

xxxxxxxx

mom and me having cocktails on the roof of the MET

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may this dress give us faith ...

“It’s not the absence of fear, 

it’s overcoming it. 

Sometimes you’ve got to blast through 

and have faith.” 

  Emma Watson

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In honor of Women's Equality Day ...

“I am not free while any woman is unfree, 

even when her shackles are very different from my own.” 

Audre Lorde, Sister Outsider

Today, August 26, 2018, is the 98th anniversary of women winning the right to vote in the United States.  This win was the result of decades of dedicated and courageous women, and some men, who fought for women's rights as citizens.  

Though this is the anniversary of the The 19th Amendment of the US Constitution being ratified and granting women the right to vote, there is still much work to be done, especially under the current administration.  Making Audre Lorde's quote as pertinent and powerful today as it was when she penned it.

Here is an article from Bustle.com, byAMANDA CHATEL, with some suggestions for things to do on this day: 10 Productive Ways To Spend Women's Equality Day 2018

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Today practice peace ...

Every day brings a choice: 

to practice stress or to practice peace.

Joan Borysenko

Stress breathing in turn stresses your body, causing it to release hormones that make it harder to concentrate and more difficult to remember things. (No wonder I was running around the house that morning wondering where my keys were, only to find them in the refrigerator next to the juice!) Studies show that frequent stress breathing raises heart rate and blood pressure, triggers anxiety, and even changes blood chemistry in a way that makes your platelets stickier, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Joan Borysenko

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may this dress remind us to live richly in the moment ...

If you surrender completely

to the moments as they pass, 

you live more richly those moments.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

love, mom

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Remember that there are NO mistakes!!

... only opportunities* AND is a REALLY great book!! 

“THERE ARE NO MISTAKES, 

only opportunities.” 

Tina Fey, Bossypants

If you are looking for a wonderful read as you head into this 3 day weekend, I HIGHLY suggest Tina Fey's Bossypants.  And if you enjoy audiobooks, then I really encourage you to get your hands on a copy because it is HILARIOUS!! Tina Fey is spectacular!! She got me through a long 6+ drive in the rain and as my destination was nearing I realized that I didn't want the drive to end!! (that is truly saying something since I was speeding along the New Jersey Turnpike?!?)

And remember this - there are NO mistakes!! 

just opportunities, lessons, experiences, and growth!!

love, mom!!

*for those who receive these posts as an email - you might notice my mistake, allowing me this opportunity to correct it?!?!? Happy Friday all!! XXX

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May this dress remind us to slow down, exhale; Trust the process!

Slow down. Calm down. Don’t worry. 

Don’t hurry. Trust the process.

Alexandra Stoddard

love, mom

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find your inner moonlight ...

“Follow your inner moonlight; 

don't hide the madness.” 

Allen Ginsberg

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