LULU BEAUTY
{please visit Lulu Beauty here}
For Miss B. and I, entering into a Sephora is not unlike the rush Tom Sizemore probably feels when he crosses the threshold of a house of ill repute. So many lip glosses, so little time. We’re sure that’s what Sizemore is thinking, too.
Miss B. knows every mascara created, and I know the names of the latest sheer foundations. Together, we know the celebrity-darling perfumes inside and out. Enter Julie Merriman Wray of Lulu Beauty. Merriman Wray has been making perfume for over twenty years. Seven years ago, she launched Lulu Beauty and now counts Madonna, Tori Spelling, and Teri Hatcher as fans. You can find Lulu Beauty at Sephora, Nordstrom, and, of course, Merriman Wrays own shop, Show Pony in Seattle. Of all the scents in the Lulu Beauty collection, we have to agree with Tori Spelling and pronounce Starlet our favorite with it’s mix of Gardenia, musk, and hint of honey. Wait a minute–did we just admit to agreeing with Tori Spelling? This is more than a perfume, people. It’s a instrument of world peace.
Lulu Beauty is giving away 3 bottles of Starlets perfume oil to three winners! Now, a note about perfume oil. This is perfume in a very concentrated form, and usually comes in a very small glass bottle with a roll on applicator. Don’t be alarmed–this will last you longer than a regular bottle of atomized perfume, which is diluted with water and alcohol. Besides, it comes in a super cute turquoise cigarette box with a mirror. Enough said. In order to win, please answer the following question by Wednesday August 5, 2009.
Who is the woman you admire most and why?
Please start checking the winner’s box on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 to see if you won. Good Luck!
I admire my sister, she is strong beyond measure, loves unconditionally and always seems to be smiling. And she makes th best cookies!
I admire my best friend more than any other woman. She taught me from a very young age that everyone deserves to be treated with kindness.
I think Audrey Hepburn was truly one of the most inspirational women of our time. Yes, she was beautiful on the outside, but her true beauty came from her incredible strength and compassion for others.
My mother. She has done so much for me and my siblings over the years. She has taught me so much, everything from how to cook, to being the best mother I can be.
My momma for sure. She had us 4 kids through her 20’s, then raised us, and very well I might add, then she went back to school when we were ages 6-14, got a degree in nursing, was a life flight nurse (helicopter rescues) for 10 years for one of the best hospitals in the world, she managed an ICU, and now she is in a new field of nursing she has never done before at 55. She is never scared to get out and try new things, and I admire her so much for that! If she fails she gets up and kicks butt doing something else, brushes it off like its nothing. We call her Big Mar (her name is Mary), she is petite as can be, but she is larger than life!
Like most of the answers are (and should be) I admire my moma. Used to hope that I wouldn’t grow up to be like her but now I pray that I am lucky enough to be only half the joyful and hardworking woman she is!
I would have to say Lady Princess Diane..She showed her love and concern for humanity all over the world…
Yeah. Gonna have to go with my mum. She’s given all she has, so we might have it all. She’s good and strong and giving and kind. I can always count on “the look” when I utter profanities on my blog. She makes me laugh. Out loud. She’s by far my biggest fan. And I’m hers.
Among the many women I admire is my Mom. She’s been hard-working, generous, devoted, caring, and strong. One of those who has learned, without all the books and TV shows we have nowadays, about how to raise a family well.
Perhaps a typical answer, but a true one. I admire my mom the most. She has a certain way about her that i envy. She makes every guest in her house feel at ease and as a result my house is a haven for my friends. She is non judgmental and accepting of everyone, no matter the problems they have had in the past. She only cares that you’re a well-meaning human being.
divine mother,
we are all here because of that energy….
by the power of divine mother i am, i am.
I admire one of my neighbors. This women is a true Martha Stewart… she is always put together, volunteers, always has a clean house AND she is the mother of five. I have no idea how she does it but I admire her so much!
i admire mother nature because she can be awe-inspiring and fearsome at the same time.
I admire my older cousin. As two only children she was often more like a sibling in our fights. However, at 5 years old than me she was also the first person I’d really watched “grow up” and do things. You see I grew up in the rural south, where you graduated high school, married your sweetie, and had babies. She was the first person I knew to not do that….even though we are still regarded as “odd or too independent” I think that she really helped me realize it was ok to follow your own path in life. Now at 32 I am so thankful for that, I look at where I am and the things I’d done in life….and at my very unlikely husband (think super geek) and I am so proud her daring demand to have a different life let me know it was ok to do something different.
Years ago, when I was still a child, a saw a photo of a woman. I have never met her but I believe that she has inspired my life like scarcely anybody else. I remember her very clearly – she was much older than I was then (older than I am now, even), and she looked almost sad, tragic, but also dignified, graceful and strong. She probably is, to this day, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. It feels weird to say that the woman I adore the most is fictional – I know that she doesn’t exist, at least not how I imagine her to be: I don’t know who she really is, I don’t even know whether she is still alive, but I have made up so many stories about her over the years that she has become a great inspiration for me (she is the reason I really started to write, for example).
A former co-worker of mine, who has selflessly nursed after her own mother (for 10 years until she died) while raising a severely autistic son (who will never be able to live independently). She then met a wonderful man (1st husb/father of son took off when son was diagnosed), who thought she was the best thing since sliced bread and who doted on both her and her son. And then he was diagnosed with untreatable cancer, and she spent many months nursing after him at home before he died. Now her elderly father needs care, and all the while she’s still working full time and taking care of her son. She always has a smile on her face, a joke to tell, and an upbeat demeanor. I’d like to think that I would be as resilient as she’s been if I went through all she has, but I’m not so sure. Nonetheless, she is an amazing example.
One of my close friends had a liver transplant when she was about 22. The transplant was very unexpected … one day she went into the ER and the next instant for her she woke up in the hospital with a new liver. This was about 8 years ago and she has gone on to do many amazing things and often inspire me.
I’m not sure I could choose who I admire MOST, but I have always admired jackie Kennedy. She had such grace, beauty and dignity and really helped usher our country into a new age. Her life may not have been perfect, but she never complained and handled everything with style and class.
I admire my mom’s mum, my grammy the most, because even though she suffered from breast cancer for 20 years, she still managed to leave her little 5 year old grandchild with a world of memories of her to hold on to. She couldn’t get out of bed by the time I was born, but would let us all come sit with her and play with her perfume or bring all the boardgames from the closet and spill checkers everywhere. She passed away just after christmas, I think it helps to know that my sister and I remember her kindness and spirit.
My Mom. Even though we disagree all of the time, at the end of the day, the woman loves me more than life itself. That kind of unconditional love is awe-inspiring.
There are lots of wonderful women in my life (and throughout history) that I admire. But right now I am working on admiring myself most of all. While there are many things about myself that need improvement, I am proud of many things that I have accomplished, and am working every day to make myself a better person, someone that other people can admire.
A lot of people amire their mother. As do I. But there is one mother who was completly selfless, full of compassion and dedicated to mankind. If I could accomplish a tenth of what she did in life- I would be truly succesful. For those reasons I admire Mother Theresa.
I most admire my mother, like many here do. She is one of the most selfless and generous people I know, while still remaining unfailingly positive in most situations.
She taught me to respect people, she taught me to give people the benefit of the doubt, she taught me how to be happy, and most importantly, she taught me how to live in the moment, how to say yes to new experiences, and how to survive in the face of adversity.
She’s quite a woman. If I win these earrings, they’re going to her. (And then I might borrow them sometimes.)
Of course I admire my mother the most. She was so strong. English is her third language, you know. And the way she managed to raise and feed me and my siblings while putting us through private school and higher education. We never felt we in want of anything we needed. I only wish that I could give her what she deserved.
I admire my mother. She’s my example that you don’t have to follow your original career path and I am always impressed by her two bachelor’s and two master’s degrees. My dad was a stay-at-home dad for most of my childhood, so my mom was the breadwinner. She’s just wonderful.
I wish this question asked who were the WOMEN you admire most…because I’ve come to respect and admire the women in my family (when I say family I mean blood family and chosen family). If I had to pick one I’d chose my mother. She had so many good qualities including her strength, strong faith, power to forgive, a heart of gold… She always thought of her loved ones first and she loved to see them smile. My mother was amazing. Even though she’s no longer with us my family and I continue to experience her giving heart.
I have to second, third, etc. and say my mother. She made me strong and proud to be who and what I am. She recently went through treatment for breast cancer and seeing how she handled everything totally blew me away. It just added to how much respect I have for her.
Without a doubt, I admire both of my grandmothers and my mother. Each of them have had such an amazing role in developing and maintaning a family full of love, support, faith and happiness. I admire their commitment to family, through thick and thin. When times were tough, they pick everyone up and when times are good – they truly bring celebration to each day! Most importantly, they have raised me to appreciate each day and each special person in my life:) Thanks grams, grandma and mum!
I admire my grandma, a farmer’s wife and a public school teacher. She knows how to grow all her own fruit and veggies, bake her own bread, can all her preserves, and made time to raise 4 kids and teach full time. She even wrote a book about local history when she was in her 70’s! Plus, she was always positive and upbeat. Man, I’m just exhausted thinking about all of that.
Not the first and I’m sure I won’t be the last to say, My Mum! She’s raised my sister and I alone, and has taught me endless things about life through the love and kindness he’s show’s to everyone she come’s into to contact with. If I win, this will be for her – a small thank you for everything she has done :)
I absolutely admire what Ursula von der Leyen, a German family minister. This woman has got 6 kids (including twins!) and is an extemely succesfull politican at the same time. What else can I say? This lady is a gorgeous example of what women can reach today. What she does for German women is absolutely great, too.
Want an example? Kindergeld (child money) allows you to get 67 % of your salary while staying at home with your baby during his/her frist year. What s a greater motivation for all those career-orientated guys to finally become parents? Plese, notice, that the list of such examples can be continued to a greater extent!
Sorry, I was so excited writing about von der Leyen, that I made far too many mistakes in my post, I beg you all pardon.
I admire my mom the most-she is my role model in my life. In fact, people say I’m a lot like her and that makes me proud because she is a very bright, independent and hard-working woman. She raised me and my sister on her own and we have become successful, happy women.
My mom has taught me a lot about life and how to deal with difficult times.
My mentor, Marlene Lee. She was a missionary to Rwanda for 27 years. She was there in the 90s through the war/genocide, and did music therapy for orphans in refugee camps. She founded the Kigali Music School, where Rwandan children can go and feel loved, and learn to play music. She was fired from the mission field because she refused to sign a statement that said women should be submissive. When she was sent home, she had malaria. Through multiple life-threatening sicknesses and unbelievable hardships, she still perserveres, still has the music school, still teaches lessons, still sings, and still has her faith. And she manages to encourage me and everyone else who knows her! What a truly amazing woman.
My dear Grandma Leola. She raised 6 children on her own. Her husband died when her youngest child was only a few months old. She raised the children and lived without the man of her dreams for over 40 years. I truly believe they are together again and living the life they couldn’t have while on this earth.
I admire my mother who has taught me so many wonderful things throughout my life like the power of positive thinking and encouraging me that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. I wasn’t so sure about that when I was younger but now that I am in my 20’s I am seeing just how wise my mother is and how true her words are!
No doubt about it, my little sis. at a whooping 10 years younger, she manages to bring me back to reality and show me sometimes the only way to act is like a kid…
My mom, who I am so thankful for. She was a woman who had so many hardships in her life of having to raise 10 kids with a dead beat husband, but still had time to sing me to sleep and always had dinner ready when you got home. She taught me everything I know from being creative to being a strong woman. And despite all of her hardships she never took it out on us and still loved all of us the same. I love my mommy.
My mom because after 40 years of marriage my father passed and my mom followed all of his wishes to the letter…several months after his funeral she walked me down the aisle of my wedding…..and didn’t shed a tear….she helped me that day to learn that God’s plan is always perfect…we may not like it at the time, but it’s always perfect. I wouldn’t trade having her walk me down the aisle for anything.
My mother is the woman I most admire. She is the strongest and most loving person I’ve ever met. I hope I can be even half the mom she has been to me.
I admire my Grandmother most and I never even met her. See…. she died just 2 weeks before I was born but I really feel a connection with her. In fact, my Grandfather (her husband) and I were extremely close my entire life and he died at the ripe young age of 92. He always said I reminded him of her. Lillian was a crafty one and I too did not fall far from that tree:) The reason I admire her most is because she believed in higher education and had a Master’s degree in the 1940’s. She also did not marry the first time until she was over 30 and that in and of itself was just about unheard of in those days.
I would have to say that I admire my maternal grandmother most of all. She married at 17 and quickly learned to run an efficient and economical home. She can make biscuits from scratch in the time it takes me to open a can of Pillsbury dough and is still madly in love with the man she married more than 50 years ago.
Angela Davis! What a rad woman, person, force! She has challenged every status quo that can be challenged, and she continues to do so today. She has been on the FBI most wanted list, and she is now a distinguished and notable activist and professor. Her writing has changed the way I view so many things. I only hope that I can live up to a fraction of what she has accomplished.
My mentor. I interned for her over a year ago and recently a job opened that I have dreamed about for the past 6 years (and I just graduated college.) I wasn’t going to apply because I didn’t feel I have the experience required but after she encouraged me to apply, I did! I had an interview on Tuesday and am very hopeful about how it goes.
No matter how it ends up, this would be the perfect gift to say thank you.
I admire Princess Diana-even though she is long gone, her memory lives on in the hearts and minds of those who knew and loved her. As a woman, she had her faults like we all do. People expected her to be perfect, and she was not. She lived under an enormous amount of stress, and at times it was too much. Her mistakes were magnified 10x by those out to hurt her, and her personal life the subject of many tabloids. She tried to fit in with the Royal family, but she was the People’s Princess-bringing happiness to sick children, meeting with lepers, and helping the hungry and the impoverished. She was expected to follow protocol and look the other way when her husband had a mistress, which must have been humiliating and embarrassing to her as the newlywed Princess. She became a mother, and was determined to show her sons a side of life that they might not have known otherwise. Unfortunately, just as she had found new freedom in her life and was perhaps happy for the first time in many years, her life ended. I often wonder what might have happened if she were still with us, what types of differences she might have made for those lives she touched and what might have happened to those that benefited from her giving and caring spirit.
Mary, the mother of God.
For completely submitting to the will of God for the good of us all. And for all of the love and comfort she provides for so many even in these frightening times.