You are still marketable after staying home for 10 years…

Before twins, my career was in the pharmaceutical industry where I served as a District Sales Manager. I led a team of 10, covering a 4-state region, enjoying the challenges and perks of a successful career. The decision to have a family was something my husband and I agreed we wanted. At 40, I had twins—a girl and a boy. Being Mommy to two beautiful and healthy babies was such a blessing. You can prepare all you want for their arrival, but the reality was, life as I knew it was changed forever…

Death. So much death, so much blood. Rusty red littered the Lebanese soil under her feet - tinted the soles of her shoes. War left its stain across her country - houses fallen, bombs ignited, bodies rotting. My mother knew what it was like to contemplate the prospect of tomorrow. Still, she pushed through with faith that one day, she’d find “home” again.

When my mom turned 12, her family packed their belongings, kissed their decaying country farewell, and boarded a flight to America. As their plane danced its way across the Atlantic, swaying among stratus, soaring in a foreign sky not littered with smoke or smog, my mom realized that she finally achieved what she was waiting for. There was no war, no danger.

How did one woman make it up the corporate ladder? She raised her hand.

6 essential insights

I got a Master’s degree in Human Resources (HR) and moved out to Los Angeles to be near my boyfriend (now husband.) Praxair is a leading producer of industrial gasses and I landed a job in their HR department. It should come as no surprise; I was the only female sitting at the conference table. I was the HR manager for 3 years, and then moved back to Chicago to get married…

I met my friend Mary Kay when my family moved to Houston for my husband’s job.

During our 6 years there, my daughter became besties with Sofia, and I found a close friend in her mother. Mary Kay is the full package; she’s been a force in business, working for one of Houston’s top real estate developers, became a devoted mom to two girls later than most, and lost her beloved mother to the anguish of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Watching her triumph has been a wonderful example of persistence, courage and love. I’ll let her tell you the story…
–Daisy Malek-Shadid

We Are Girls!

We don’t need to be bossed around by boys. We can follow our dreams and don’t give up. We can stand up for ourselves and have big imaginations. We can have anyone or any thing girls can rule! Kindness and strongness! We are different. Let’s stand up for ourselves. We share and help without asking. We should ask boys to help.

Let’s do it together!

A four-minute phone call changed my life. I asked this woman I had never spoken with, “Is my father’s name Laszlo Simon?”

She answered, “Yes.” She was cordial but not receptive to having a future relationship or talking very long. I promised that I would respect her wishes. It was the first and only time I had contact with my biological mother. But, in a call that lasted a brief 4 minutes, I learned something that meant the world to me. I had a sister…

I was in my mid-40’s. Life was happily in flow. I had a loving marriage, and we were the parents of a 10 year-old daughter. My career was challenging, and I enjoyed it. I had a lot to be grateful for. But who thinks about gratitude when you’re in the midst of living life?

As a successful mother, wife and veterinarian, Susan had some challenges to work through to get to where she is today.

On the fourth of August 1982, I surrendered…

Drinking abusively since I was 16, the end came without drama; just a sad acknowledgement that the switch I turned on for fun and confidence had no off mode. As my husband put it, “You bopped till you dropped.” So, I called the AA number and spoke to a nice woman who took me to a meeting.

We all know that when bad things happen, they come in multiples.

For middle school teacher Jillian Mackey, it was rough couple of years. But the resilience and inventiveness she demonstrates to her three children is the reason La Jolie MLN chose Jillian to be the recipient of our “WAY TO GO!” gift.

How important is fashion to me? Very, very important. Because it makes ME smile.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not a shallow gal and, some days, I wear my workout clothes all day; on those days, I give myself the gift of a good “sweat sesh,” and I treasure every minute of my workout. As a consequence, I don’t make it to the shower until night. That “post-workout look” is not my favorite look and, while I sometimes feel like I fell short, I know it’s okay…

If you loved Julia Roberts’ portrayal of Vivian in Pretty Woman, you’ll remember the scene when she goes back to the snooty boutique that had asked her to leave. Her “call-girl” outfit gave her away. However, armed with cash from Richard Gere’s character, Edward, she buys out the place. Her transformation from “skank” to classic beauty is an enduring fashion moment…

The little black dress; simple, elegant, timeless. Once exclusively reserved for aristocrats. A garment for mourning in Victorian times. Elevated to mass-produced fashion necessity in the 1920’s. Its meaning has transformed over time. And yet, through time, this dress has consistently made a statement…

What is a brand? For most of us, it’s a line of apparel, a type of smartphone, or your favorite cereal. But a brand goes way beyond just products and extends to people. Some of you will remember the Apple ad that showcased a Bill Gates type (guy in a jacket and tie, looking dull and corporate) against a Steve Jobs type (hip, casual, smart). You get the point…

If you watched Meryl Streep’s take on legendary Vogue editor Anna Wintour in “The Devil Wears Prada,” you’ll remember the scene where her character Amanda Priestly schools the naïve Andy (played by Ann Hathaway) on the value of fashion.Andy makes the mistake of giggling when Miranda can’t decide between two seemingly identical belts. The powerful editor says, “You go to your closet and you select that lumpy, loose sweater because you’re trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back, but…