Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Italian heiress, Marchesa Luisa Casati Stampa di Soncino died 61 years ago today

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


Photo, right, of Marchesa Luisa Casati Stampa di Soncino (23 January 1881 - 1/ June 1957), Italian heiress, muse and patroness of the arts in early 20th-century Europe. 


She died 61 years ago today (June 1, 2018). 


She was known for her wild and outrageous eccentricities and fashion from wearing outlandish clothing accessorized with live leashed cheetahs to live snakes as jewelry (necklaces and bracelets).  



Photo left is Marchesa Luisa Casati with a greyhound.



Public Domain  Photo right, File: Giovanni Boldini (1842-1931), La Marchesa Luisa Casati (1881-1957) con un levriero.jpg, Created: 31 December 1907 




Collage below of the many faces and "way-ahead-of-her-time" fashion looks of arts advocate, Marchesa Luisa Casati (1/23/1881-6/1/1957).  Interesting to note the many historical fashions of Marchesa are repeated by world renown award winning fashion designers as well as many fashion and lifestyle magazines.







Friday, May 25, 2018

Happy 151st Memorial Day America, Monday, May 28, 2018

This blog is an update from previous Memorial Day blog posting. Enjoy!

Happy 151st  Memorial Day Weekend America! We need to keep on remembering and praying for all of our U.S. veterans who have sacrificeD their lives fighting for our great country, the U.S.A.

“We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies." 
 ~~ Moina Michael (aka Poppy Lady)
U.S. professor and humanitarian who vowed to always wear a red poppy as a symbol of remembrance for those who served in the war. In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem, We Shall Keep the Faith, November 1918


In Flanders Fields by John McCrae 
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow,
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead.
Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved and now we lie,
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw,
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us, who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow,
In Flanders Fields. 


We all seem to forget that we celebrate Memorial Day for the many service members who have lost their lives serving our country. Memorial Day is one of the special times of the year to honor loved ones who have passed and "In Flanders Fields" reminds us of those who have died protecting our country and freedom.


FASHION TRENDS ON MEMORIAL DAY 
 Memorial day marks the first day of the year for white-wear. The traditional fashion trend, “no white before Memorial Day or after Labor Day” gained popularity as the wealthy began wearing white in the summer. 


Light clothing was the symbol of leisure and black and navy were always the norm for the working class. This fad continued until years later as many began replacing white pants with the likes of bold solids and floral prints, pastel jungle prints, red jumpsuits, neon pink and cobalt sun dresses. 


I was fortunate to receive this 
article from one of my very 
dearest cousins about our late 
fathers and their 2 brothers 
(total 7 brothers, 1 sister).

All 4 brothers served during WWII. We were blessed as all 4 survived; However we always remember those soldiers who sacrificed their lives. 


FASHION FOR MEN TOO THIS MEMORIAL DAY 
 For all you men out there, check out GQ for ways to wear white on Memorial Day, Three Ways to Wear White on Memorial Day http://www.gq.com/style/blogs/the-gq-eye/2015/05/memorial-day-three-ways-to-wear-white.html 


What to do in NYC on Memorial Day weekend 

► Memorial Day weekend events in NYC, TimeOut http://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/memorial-day-weekend-events-in-nyc?package_page=36341
Best beaches near NYC http://www.timeout.com/newyork/attractions/best-beaches?package_page=36341
► The best NYC parks, TimeOut http://www.timeout.com/newyork/parks?package_page=36341
► Memorial Day Parade, NYCCO.com
► New York Memorial Day Weekend Events https://www.eventbrite.com/d/ny--new-york/memorial-day-weekend/
► Best Things to do in NYC, NYCtrip.com
► How to Observe Memorial Day , http://www.usmemorialday.org/observe.htm 


HISTORY OF MEMORIAL DAY 
 The first Memorial Day celebration traces back to May 30, 1868. Memorial Day honors men and women who fought for our country so that we can all be free. 

Originally coined "Decoration Day," Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Memorial Day is less about barbecues and more about celebrating our nation’s veterans. Don't forget -- raise your flag half-staff -- honor more than one million Americans who gave their lives in service of this country for our freedom. 

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states.

The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee. 

Memorial Day Fashion Trends 

► Enjoy the Long Weekend with Memorial Day Fashion Finds on Glamour.com http://www.glamour.com/fashion/blogs/dressed/2015/05/memorial-day-fashion-sales-2015
► What To Wear For Every Kind Of Memorial Day Weekend http://www.luckyshops.com/article/memorial-day-outfits
► Do You Have to Wait Until After Memorial Day to Wear White? | http://ksoo.com/do-you-have-to-wait-until-after-memorial-day-to-wear-white/?trackback=tsmclip
► Moina Bell Michael: the Idea for the Flanders Fields Memorial Poppy 

Other Resources 

USmemorialday.org
Memorial Day Calendar 
Memorial Day History 
► How to Observe Memorial Day
► Buddy Poppy
► The Story Behind the Poppy
► InflandersFields-YouTube
► InflandersFields-YouTube 


Please share this on your LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media networks you enjoy! Thanks for visiting.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.

All photos courtesy of Wikimedia unless otherwise indicated.

Friday, May 11, 2018

Happy 104th Mother's Day America! Enjoy this easy 1-2-3 cookie recipe

This Mother's Day blog posting is a reporting from previous Mother's Day blog posts. Enjoy!
Did you know  Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey's favorite twitter account is his mom, Marcia Dorsey  @marciadorsey?  Marcia Dorsey 


"A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. 

And candy!

You take a box to Mother—and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment."
 ~~ Anna Jarvis, Founder of the Mother's Day holiday in the United States, on the true meaning of mothers.







Photo left, photo collage of my mom to celebrate Mother's Day.







Photo right (courtesy of Wikipedia) of The International Mother's Day Shrine was designated a National Historic Landmark October 5, 1992. T

he Shrine, constructed in 1873 is located at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church at 11 E. Main Street in Grafton West Virginia. Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church also called the "mother church" of Mother's Day, was incorporated as the International Mother's Day Shrine on May 15, 1962, as a tribute to all mothers.



Will update Google doodle for this year when ready. In the meantime, enjoy this lovely, bicycle-themed doodle (May 2014).
Happy 104th Mother's Day America

Below is MD blog post from 2015 with minor updates. Enjoy!

Happy 104th Mother's Day America
Mother's Day, this year is Sunday, May 14th and always a great day to celebrate love, friendship and moms.

Did you know that U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in his 1914 presidential proclamation, by the U.S. Congress proclaimed the very first Mother's Day celebration?

Mother's Day was originally created by Anna Marie Jarvis in 1907 when she had a memorial to celebrate her Mother, Ann Jarvis who passed away on May 12, 1905. Anna's mother Ann Jarvis had founded Mothers' Day Work Clubs in five cities to improve sanitary and health conditions. The Mothers' Day Work Clubs also treated wounds, fed, and clothed both Union and Confederate soldiers with neutrality. Anna Marie Jarvis never married and had no children. She and her sister Ellsinore became disappointed with the commercialization of Mother's Day. They spent their family inheritance campaigning against what the holiday had become. Both died in poverty.

Yellow roses are very popular on Mother's Day as they indicate joy, gladness, friendship and "I Care?" Our way of remembering and celebrating is sharing our photo of beautiful bouquet of 2 dozen yellow roses my husband and I presented to our mom in May 2011. And I like to share her special cookie recipe.


As a child my mother would often bake all sorts of foods, pies, desserts, cakes and cookies. One of my favorite, all time cookies is a famous Italian cookie called "Anginette" (aka Anginetti), in the USA popularly called "Lemon Drop Cookies." The great thing about this cookie is that it is popular all year round and with just a few ingredients, anyone can prepare and bake this great cookie in less than 30 minutes. {Photo left, our mom, and photo below right me and mom on my Wedding Day, March 2008)

I use to always enjoy rolling the dough into extra long cigar shapes and coiling the cookie into 2 and 3 tiers high with my mom and grandmother. The sky is the limit in regards to creativity; although Anginetti are delightful plain they are lovely and appetizing garnished with frosting and sprinkles. The prep time including rolling the dough into cigar shapes was slightly less than 15 minutes and it baked in 8 minutes. I try to bake these as much as I can. I once baked Anginettes and decided to bring in a tray for an early meeting where I was leading a direct marketing presentation to a group of about 30 people. The cookies were a big hit as was my presentation. Besides adding a personal touch, they were a surprise breakfast treat especially while sipping coffee and tea.


INGREDIENTS:
► Eggs 6
► Baking Powder 4 - 6 teaspoons max
► Baking Soda 1/2 teaspoon
► Flour 6 cups
► Vanilla 1 - 2 teaspoons
► Sugar 1 - 2 cups (can substitute with alteratives, e.g., splenda, equal, etc.)
► Butter 4 sticks (can substitute with vegetable oil)

OPTIONAL ICING:
► Powdered Sugar (aka Confectioners Sugar) 3 tablespoons
► Milk, Lemon Juice or Water (just a dash, about 1/2 teaspoon)

OPTIONAL OTHER:
► Lemon or Orange Skin (grated or peeled, optional with flour mix)
► Caraway seeds, almonds, walnuts, cream cheese, etc.
► Be Creative

Step 1 : Make Dough (5 min) 
► Prepare oven at 375°; In large bowl combine ingredients
► Eggs
► Baking Powder
► Flour (put about half and add the remaining flour while mixing in bowl)
► Vanilla
► Sugar (or alternative, e.g., splenda, equal, etc.)
► Butter 


Step 2 : Knead, Cut & Shape Dough (10 min) 
► Knead dough when ready divide into amounts enough to roll into long cigars (about 6" to 8 inches); Then create circular coil shapes. Place in baking tray. Makes about 36 cookies or so depending on shape and size of cookies. You can make many more if you use a simple flat, round conventional shape cookie, but then again, it won't have the look and feel as a true, anginette. 

Step 3 : Place tray in 375° oven (8 - 18 min) 
► Depending on your oven, bake anywhere from 10to 20 minutes, keep watching and when the cookies are golden brown color on the bottom it is done. If you want to have frosting, mix the powdered sugar and water and stir until paste like. Wait at least 10 minutes for baked cookies to cool and dip cookies into frosting mix, or simply pour a little on each. Should set within 15 minutes. Can serve plain or with the traditional sugar frosting. Be creative, try cutting a few plain ones and adding cream cheese in the middle.
► Don't forget to wait at least 10 minutes before adding the icing and sprinkles or serving without icing.

Total time - 23 - 33 Minutes 


   

These cookies are great plain or with icing. There are different textures and styles. The neutral-colored frosting was made using lemon instead of milk with powdered sugar.


“The sweetest sounds to mortals given. Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven” -- William Goldsmith Brown (1902-1982);
Survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Later he wrote a book about his experiences on the ship, and had his story featured in the documentary, Titanic: 


The Legend Lives On, as well as a children's book about the disaster, Inside the Titanic.
Below is our mother's Eulogy from her Funeral Mass. May our mom RIP knowing how much she is loved and remembered.

Saturday, May 5, 2018

What Marketers Need to Know About GDPR


(L-R, April Mullen - Selligent, Basil Alomary - Simon Data, Jon Chang - Kickstarter, Steven Dimirsky - Selligent)
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is a complex topic affecting marketers globally as it becomes law on May 25th.  Although originating in the European Union (EU), it impacts US companies if any of their customers and their data comes from a country within the EU.

Selligent Marketing Cloud held a panel discussion on May 3 in their New York office on this subject featuring a panel of experts.  Moderated by April Mullen, Director at Selligent Marketing Cloud (and co-founder of Women of Email of which I’m a member), the panel featured Jon Chang, Digital Marketing Director at Kickstarter, Basil Alomary, Growth Marketer from Simon Data, and Senior Counsel, Steven Dimirsky, also from Selligent.

Here are some key takeaways if you are a US company currently grappling with GDPR:

1) Explicit customer consent is key.  According to Mullen, GDPR crosses the Atlantic and non-compliant companies could face steep fines (up to 4% of global revenue).  Keep boxes unchecked so customers opt-in and give permission saying, “I am okay with you having my data and I have control of how data is being used.”

2) Map out your data. Alomary said that US companies need to map out their data. “Who and what are you collecting and why, who has access to it?”  In addition, Dimirsky said that marketers in general need to be mindful of sources and storehouses of data – where is it kept and what are you doing with it? “Retention policy needs to be reasonable – do you have a reason for keeping it for that period of time?”  He said that 7 years is a rule of thumb in North America and  there is no law that requires keeping of data for more than 10 years.

3) Follow KickStarter’s GDPR plan.  Chang says it’s important to “assess vendor policy and their documentation as it pertains to GDPR.”  His company, Kickstarter, appointed data deputies in each department to audit how they collected data, where it was stored and how it was used.  They also talked with their users to assess what was considered private information.  Kickstarter used this information to build a preference center for customers around privacy.  He said the process was expensive but he thinks that Kickstarter is in a good position for whatever GDPR brings.

4) GDPR certification is evolving. Although there aren’t legitimate certifications yet for GDPR, Privacy Shield certification allows for data to be transferred from EU to US.  Dimirsky recommends checking out Privacyshield.gov/list (US Dept of Commerce) which lists companies that are compliant.  There is some pending litigation on the subject, including one in the Irish courts suing to invalidate the Privacy Shield.

5) GDPR is evolving and the data landscape will be impacted by it.  Enforcement will initially be focused on larger tech companies such as Facebook, Google, and Microsoft, but smaller companies need to get on board with GDPR, as countries such as Canada and Australia adopt GDPR (being part of the British commonwealth) and US states such as CA and MA introduce legislation, according to Dimirsky.

For more information on GDPR, Selliigent has a wealth of content on the subject.