I HAVE A HAT FOR EVERY MOOD

Thank God for Hats! I have a hat for every mood. I love hats. Probably because I hate getting haircuts. Besides, I look good in hats and putting on a hat takes a lot less time than futzing with my hair!

I have baseball caps, cowboy hats, straw hats, fedoras, sexy hats, vintage hats and goofy hats - hey, I even have a hat that makes me into the Statue of Liberty! I have a top hat and a matching top hat for Pixel, my Yorkiepoo, for New Years! I'm a hat freak - I think I have more hats than shoes!

Hats are a boon to DIVAS. Aside from protecting your face from the ravages of ultraviolet damage, a hat can define your look and proclaim your personality. They can make you glamorous, mysterious or mischievous. They can be as simple as a baseball cap borrowed from a boyfriend or as elaborate as a Las Vegas showgirl's headdress.

Every DIVA should have at least one special hat, if only to save them on a bad hair day!

I HAVE A HAT FOR EVERY MOOD is available in various sizes as archival prints and giclees on canvas at PopArtDiva.com. Copyright 2008 by PopArtDiva.com. All rights reserved. No permission is given to copy, distribute or reproduce without written permission from PopArtDiva.com.

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH - Famous Women

I was researching famous women and it occurred to me that one of the most famous women is The Statue of Liberty. Yes, she's not a real woman but isn't it interesting that a it's a woman that stands at the entrance to our shores to welcome the "masses yearning to be free"?

It's also a woman who represents justice as Lady Justice or Blind Justice! Freedom and Justice. Yes, indeed. Proper descriptions for DIVAS, wouldn't you agree?

Throughout history women have made tremendous contributions to their countries, the world and their people. Women have written books that changed the world (Harriet Beecher Stowe), they have pioneered flight (Amelia Earhart), they have ruled countries and kings (Cleopatra) and they have saved countless lives (Florence Nightengale) and souls (Mother Teresa).

Some are famous, like those mentioned here, some not so well known. Read up on some of the women who have a claim to fame and be proud you are a woman:

A Timeline of Famous Women

Distinguised Women of Past and Present

National Women's Hall of Fame

LADY LIBERTY is available in various sizes as archival prints and giclees on canvas at PopArtDiva.com. Post images Copyright 2008 by PopArtDiva.com. All rights reserved. No permission is given to copy, distribute or reproduce without written permission from PopArtDiva.com.

POP ART DIVA GOES BLOND!?

I always wondered what I'd look like as a blond and I got a chance to find out!!!

My fellow Diva Boomer, Bev Mahone, has a link on her site that allows you to do a do a FREE MAKE-OVER!

I was curious so I tried it out and this was the result. I'm not bad as a blond, huh? I might just have to get a blond wig!

I think I could pull off being a blond. What do you think?

SOME NEWS! I have always wanted a venue to air my grievances, so I have created a new blog, The BRAT in the HAT, where I will be posting frequent rants, pet peeves and blogging about things that really bug me. But in keeping with my new philosophy of positive thinking I will end each rant in a positive tone with On The Upside comments!

Stop by and share some of your pet peeves with me!

SOME QUOTES FROM NOTABLE WOMEN

"A lady should not tattle.....unless she gets a book deal" is part of my Fabulous Fifties Females series and is available as archival prints and giclees on canvas at my website. Post images Copyright 2008 by PopArtDiva.com. All rights reserved. No permission is given to copy, distribute or reproduce without written permission from PopArtDiva.com.

NEVER EAT MORE THAN YOU CAN LIFT - MISS PIGGY

WHEN WOMEN ARE DEPRESSED THEY EITHER EAT OR GO SHOPPING. MEN INVADE ANOTHER COUNTRY - MARIE CORELLI

WHEN CHOOSING BETWEEN TWO EVILS, I ALWAYS LIKE TO TRY ONE I'VE NEVER TRIED BEFORE - MAE WEST

EVERY ONE'S ENTITLED TO MY OPINION - MADONNA

I'VE BEEN ON A CALENDAR, BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN ON TIME. - MARILYN MONROE

THE TROUBLE WITH BEING IN THE RAT RACE IS THAT EVEN IF YOU WIN...YOU'RE STILL A RAT - LILY TOMLIN

HOUSE WORK CAN'T KILL YOU, BUT WHY TAKE A CHANCE - PHYLIS DILLER

I'M NOT GOING TO VACUUM UNTIL SEARS MAKES ONE YOU CAN RIDE ON - ROSEANNE BARR

I AM A MARVELOUS HOUSEKEEPER. EVERY TIME I LEAVE A MAN I KEEP HIS HOUSE - ZSA ZSA GABOR

THE PROBLEM WITH WOMEN IS THAT THEY GET ALL WORRIED AND CRAZY ABOUT NOTHING AND THEN THEY MARRY HIM. - CHER

REMEMBER, GINGER ROGERS DID EVERYTHING FRED ASTAIRE DID, BUT SHE DID IT BACKWARDS AND IN HIGH HEELS - FAITH WHITTLESEY

NORMAL IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER. - WHOOPI GOLDBERG

I NEVER MARRIED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO NEED. I HAVE THREE PETS AT HOME WHICH ANSWER THE SAME PURPOSE AS A HUSBAND. I HAVE A DOG WHICH GROWLS EVERY MORNING, A PARROT WHICH SWEARS ALL AFTERNOON AND A CAT THAT COMES HOME LATE AT NIGHT - MARIE CORELLI

IN PASSING, ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE FIRST TIME ADAM HAD A CHANCE HE LAID THE BLAME ON A WOMAN - NANCY ASTOR

THE BEST WAY TO GET MOST HUSBANDS TO DO SOMETHING IS TO SUGGEST THAT PERHAPS THEY'RE TOO OLD TO DO IT - ANN BANCROFT

MEN ARE LIKE A FINE WINE. THEY ALL START OUT LIKE GRAPES, AND IT'S OUR JOB TO STOMP ON THEM AND KEEP THEM IN THE DARK UNTIL THEY MATURE INTO SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH. - ANONYMOUS

PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS ASKING COUPLES WHOSE MARRIAGES HAVE ENDURED AT LEAST A QUARTER OF A CENTURY FOR THEIR SECRET FOR SUCCESS. ACTUALLY, IT IS NO SECRET AT ALL. I AM A FORGIVING WOMAN. LONG AGO, I FORGAVE MY HUSBAND FOR NOT BEING PAUL NEWMAN - ERMA BOMBECK

I'M NOT OFFENDED BY ALL THE DUMB BLOND JOKES BECAUSE I KNOW I'M NOT DUMB..AND I ALSO KNOW THAT I'M NOT BLOND - DOLLY PARTON

OLD AGE AIN'T NO PLACE FOR SISSIES - BETTE DAVIS

IN POLITICS, IF YOU WANT ANYTHING SAID, ASK A MAN. IF YOU WANT ANYTHING DONE, ASK A WOMEN - MARGARET THATCHER

NOBODY CAN MAKE YOU FEEL INFERIOR WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION - ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

I HAVE EVERYTHING I HAD 20 YEARS AGO EXCEPT NOW IT'S LOWER - GYPSY ROSE LEE

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH - Women in Politics, It's DIVA to run for office!

Fifteen years ago today Janet Reno became the first, and so far the only, female Attorney General of the United States. She was nominated by President Clinton on February 11th, 1993 and was confirmed one month later to become the second longest serving Attorney General in the U.S. Her term in office ran from March 11th, 1993 to January 20th, 2001.

Here's a time line of other women in politics - maybe we are finally gettin' somewhere?

1872: Susan B. Anthony is the first U.S. woman to register to vote. As a result she becomes the first to make a ballot, for which she is arrested.

1917: Jeanette Rankin of Montana is the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

1930: Alexandra Kollontai is appointed Ambassador from the Soviet Union to Sweden, becoming the first woman Ambassador in modern history.

1960: Siramavo Bandaranaike of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) becomes the world's first female Prime Minister.

1966: Indira Gandhi becomes the first Prime Minister of India.

1969: Golda Meir becomes the first female Prime Minister of Israel.

1979: Margaret Thatcher becomes the first woman Prime Mnister of the United Kingdom. She served in that position -- winning re-election in 1983 and in 1987 -- until resigning in 1990.

1984: Geraldine Ferraro is the first woman nominated for Vice-President by either major political party in the United States.

1986: Corazon Aquino is the first woman elected president of the Philippines.

1988: Benazir Bhutto is the first woman elected Prime Minister of Pakistan and becomes the first woman elected to head a Muslim country.

1990: Carmen Lawrence is Australia's first female premier.

1991: Edith Cresson is the first woman elected Prime Minister of France.

1991: Rita Johnston is Canada's first female Premier.

1992: California elects two women, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, to the U.S. Senate.

1992: Betty Boothroyd is the first woman chosen to be Speaker of the House of Commons in Great Britain.

2002: Nancy Pelosi is sworn in as the House Democratic Whip - the highest-ranking leadership position ever held by a women in the United States Congress at that time. She was later named Minority Leader.

2006: Democrats take control of the United States Congress and Nancy Pelosi is elevated to the position of Speaker of the House. She is the third highest ranking official in the United States government and the highest ranking female in US political history.

2007: Senator Hillary Clinton is the first woman to ever be considered as a serious candidate for the US Presidency.

And don't forget Shirley Temple Black! - She was appointed a delegate to the United Nations by President Richard M. Nixon in 1969. She was United States Ambassador to Ghana (1974–76). In 1976, she became the first female Chief of Protocol of the United States. She was United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia (1989–92).

As of this date, twenty-nine women have been or are currently serving as the governor of an American state. currently there are 16 women serving in the 100 member Senate, 73 women serving in the U.S. House of Representatives of the 110th Congress, and one woman running for President of the United States.

I wonder, if Hillary wins, would her Secret Service codename be MsPOTUS?

The image at the top of the post "FIRST HUSBAND?" was adapted from my political parody, WASHINGTON DISSES WASHINGTON. The original image is available as archival giclees in various sizes on my website, PopArtDiva.com. Copyright 2008 by PopArtDiva.com. All rights reserved. No permission is given to copy, distribute or reproduce without written permission from PopArtDiva.com.

MARCH IS WOMAN'S HISTORY MONTH - Today: Famous Women Inventors and Hedy Lamarr is one of them!

March is National Women’s History Month and today I am focusing on Women Inventors. These are the DIVAS who have made our lives easier, more comfortable and more secure and we should all kick up our high heels in thanks and celebration.

The DIVA for today is Hedy Lamarr. You may think of her as "the most beautiful woman in the world", as a film actress and a movie star, but this DIVA was far more than that. She was a woman of intelligence, humanity, creativity and invention!

Thanks to Hedy Lamar you can have a secure conversation on your cell phone. As a result of events in her personal life, Lamar invented the spread spectrum communication, an anti-rocket frequency hopping device, as a way to guide torpedoes to their target without being intercepted by the enemy.Wanting to help the war effort, Hedy Lamarr and a musician friend, George Antheil, developed a technology based on the player piano that would change the radio frequency of a signal, thus blocking an enemy from intercepting and jamming the signal.

Though never used in World War II this device is now at the core of modern cell phone technology. CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) uses spread spectrum technology because the encryption allows for better security and privacy for cell phone users. Additionally, spread spectrum allows for simultaneous communication over the same bands without noticable interference, allowing for shared frequencies and more bandwidth for increasing demand.

So, my dear DIVAS, you can thank this amazingly beautiful and talented DIVA of invention, Ms. Hedy Lamarr, the next time you pick up your cell phone to make a call or surf the internet!

Other inventions by women that have changed the world we live in for the better:

1812 - Tabitha Babbitt invented the circular saw.

1864 - Sarah P. Mather invented the submarine telescope.

1867 - Elizabeth Hawk invented the cooking stove.

1871 - Margaret Colvin invented the washing machine.

1886 - Josephine Cochrane invented the dishwasher.

1887 - Anna Connelly invented the fire escape.

1903 - Mary Anderson - invented a window cleaning device for street cars that eventually became the forefunner to the windshield wiper.

1914 - Florence Parpart invented the refrigerator.

1917 - Ida Forbes invented the electric hot water heater.

1930 - Ruth Wakefield invented the chocolate chip cookie (ok, technically a recipe not an invention, but where would DIVAs be without Chocolate Chip Cookies?

1946 - Marion Donovan invented the disposable diaper.

1956 - Patsy O. Sherman invented Scotchgard.

1956 - Bette Nesmith Graham (mother of Michael Nesmith,member of The Monkees!) invented "Mistake Out" later named Liquid Paper

1965 - Stephanie Kwolek invented Kevlar, the material used in the making of bullet proof vests.

To learn more about your DIVA sisters who paved the way for you:

National Women's History Project

Women Nobel Prize Winners

Women Pulitzer Prize Winners

The National Parks Historic Places, Womens History Month

New Jersey Women - History: Clara Barton

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.

How to Take a DIVA DAY OFF

Sometimes it's healthy to take a day off from your life. It's a day where you give yourself a reprive from all the things you think you "have" to do. Sometimes you can let "stuff" go for at least one day and instead you can:

• Have a leisurely breakfast while you watch "The View"
• Take a hot bubble bath where you pour in the entire bottle of bubbles!
• Watch DVDs all day
• Read a whole book
• Order in great take-out instead of cooking and washing dishes
• Eat the WHOLE box of cookies
• Call your friends and have a good long chat
• Take out your photo albums while you drink a glass of wine
• Have a massage, a mani-pedi and skip your work out
• Write some great letters to people you love - on real stationery - and dab on some perfume!
• Play Fetch with your dog or wiggle a feather for your cat
• Have ice cream for lunch
• Have a nap
• Spend the whole day in your pjs
• Put on some music and dance naked
• Check out the price of yachts on the internet
• Get in the car and have a day road trip with your best friend - take a picnic basket

Whatever gives you a sense of "to hell with it" or makes you feel all comfy and "tucked in", however it makes you feel or however you approach it, a DIVA Day off is good for the heart and soul. And you'll go back to your normal schedule with a little Cheshire Cat smile and a little more rested.

THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND - A Diva Royal!

I watched Barbara Walter's special tonight on the Royal Family and fell in love with Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. If you ever want to see the epitome of Diva just take a look at this amazing woman who, at almost 82 years old reigns over the United Kingdom with grace, intelligence, style and a wee bit of humor.

When Elizabeth was crowned Queen on June 2nd, 1953 at Westminster Abbey, she was 27 years old. She has spent 55 years in service to the Crown, her country and her subjects and she has done it always with elegance and graciousness. Her rule has lasted through 10 Presidents, countless wars, personal tragedies and over 50 years of world events and through all this she always been a lady.

Every woman who has a desire to be a Diva need only look across the pond and peek into Buckingham Palace for the best example of what a true woman and a real Diva can be.

Yes, I kind of developed a crush on "Lilibet" - I think it was that little twinkle of humor in her eyes that got me, a dyed in the wool Yankee from Kansas, in the end. She's kind of a cutie!

The Official Website of the British Monarchy