In The Pursuit of Happiness: Marilyn Monroe on women

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I've always admired Marilyn Monroe -- everything from her classic fashion sense to the way she carried herself. And when it came to women, she knew exactly what was up...

"Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition."

YES, Marilyn! You've got it right. Do you have a favorite Marilyn quote, friends?

P.S. Zooey Deschanel on feminism and Susan Sarandon on aging. Two thumbs up for inspiring women! :)

[Quote via Penelope; photos via LIFE]

An Open Letter To Angelina Jolie

FREE IMAGES Dear Ms. Jolie:

Where do I even begin? I'm not quite sure, but there's definitely one thing I want to make sure I don't forget to tell you: THANK YOU. And yes, I meant to put that in caps on purpose. Because there's really no better way to say it, and because, frankly, a thank you deserves to be said that way. When you think about it, just saying thank you pales in comparison to what you've done recently.

As I read your recent op-ed piece in The New York Times, I found myself almost cheering you on with each sentence. I kept thinking to myself, "Yes, right on, Angelina. You've got it." You've captured what so many women are thinking and feeling, but you also gave a much-needed voice to the constant fear that comes with motherhood: Not being there for your children and not being able to watch them grow up. Your decision to have a preventative double mastectomy tugged at my heartstrings, as I'm sure it did with thousands of other women (and men).

"It is reassuring that they see nothing that makes them uncomfortable," you wrote. "They can see my small scars and that’s it. Everything else is just Mommy, the same as she always was. And they know that I love them and will do anything to be with them as long as I can. On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity."

I can only imagine what it must be like as a mother to know that there's a high probability your children will lose their mother much too soon. But as the child of someone who got cancer, I can tell you that someday, your children are going to come to you and say, "Thank you, Mom. Thank you for doing everything in your power to be here for us. Thank you for everything." Your decision made me think about my own father and our family's struggles when he was diagnosed with sinus cancer. The odds weren't good. The chances of the cancer coming back even after chemo and radiation were more than 70 percent. Even now, 10 years after his suicide (which I'm 100 percent sure wouldn't have happened if he hadn't gotten cancer...), I wonder what our lives would be like if he were still here with us today. Would we be living a different life? What would my father be doing? Would he be proud of me? Thanks to you, your children will never be forced to wrestle with those sorts of questions.

So thank you, Ms. Jolie -- thank you more than you'll ever know. Like you said, you could have chosen to keep your experience private. Of course we all would have respected that. But instead, you chose to share your journey in the most beautiful way possible. You took control of your life. How selfless. How heroic. Thank you for taking a stand against cancer for women, mothers and children everywhere.

Jennifer Lawrence on SNL

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Who else is excited to see Jennifer Lawrence host SNL this week? Ever since I saw her in The Hunger Games, she's quickly become my newest girl crush. And, I'm dying to see her in Silver Linings Playbook... xoxo

P.S. My favorite SNL character.

An Open Letter To Jodie Foster

FREE IMAGES Dear Ms. Foster:

I considered addressing you as "Jodie," but that just doesn't feel right. In fact, even just typing that didn't feel right. I suppose I should just begin by offering my sincerest congratulations on receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award at Sunday's Golden Globes. I can't think of a better recipient of a lifetime achievement award -- and what a lifetime you've had.

I've admired you ever since I first saw you wield a field hockey stick as Annabel in Freaky Friday. And through the years, you've managed to stay true to who you are; as I understand it, that's a pretty hard feat in Hollywood. It's so refreshing to see someone who isn't afraid of who they are or what people think. It's so easy to let people's opinions of us lead us down a dangerous path until, well, we don't even know ourselves anymore. But through the years, you've held tight to your sense of self, and for that, I wholeheartedly applaud you. If only we had more young women like that.

Which brings me to your acceptance speech during the Golden Globes. I can only imagine how nervous you were, but it didn't show. You were poised and graceful and confident and articulate. Your declaration was inspiring to watch. Thank you for showing the world that life is meant to be lived as your true self and never hiding that -- from anyone. What a wonderful lesson to teach the next generation. Thank you, Ms. Foster. You certainly are -- and will forever be -- a true legend. xoxo

Amelia Earhart on marriage

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On February 7th, 1931, famed aviator Amelia Earhart married her publicist, George Putnam. Before the wedding, Earhart penned a letter to Putnam outlining her views on marriage and what she wanted -- and didn't want. Of their life together, she wrote...

"Please let us not interfere with the others’ work or play, nor let the world see our private joys or disagreements. In this connection I may have to keep some place where I can go to be myself, now and then, for I cannot guarantee to endure at all times the confinements of even an attractive cage. I must exact a cruel promise and that is you will let me go in a year if we find no happiness together."

That's actually some pretty genius advice, don't you think? I love Earhart's independent spunk! xoxo

[Via Brain Pickings, an amazing site I just discovered]

An Open Letter To Taylor Swift

FREE IMAGES Dear Taylor:

So, I think it's important that we get something out of the way first: I'm not one of those crazy-obsessed super fans -- the Swifties, I think they call themselves. Don't get me wrong -- I think you're pretty awesome, but not in that creepy, stalkerish way. I mean, it's not like I have the lyrics to all your songs memorized...well, not all your songs, anyway.

But I digress. I suppose I'm writing to thank you. I know how you feel. You see, I can identify with your struggles over the years, especially when it comes to how people perceive you. You want to show them exactly who you are, but you know it's not always pretty. You know it's not what people want to hear sometimes. And, yes, of course people may disagree with it sometimes. But you know what? It's real. All of it. The good. The bad. The in between. Like you, writing about my life -- and yes, that most certainly includes the people, places and things in it -- has always been a part of who I am. It's just not something you can strip away easily. And the more I do this thing called writing, the more I realize how very much it is an inseparable part of who I am and who I will become.

Now, I understand that you turn 23 today. A lot of people are trying to hold you to this high pedestal; they want to somehow make you older than you are. They've said things, whispered rumors and even printed stories about you and that Kennedy kid. And all the while? Well, you've handled it all with grace and class. You've stood firm. You've stood your ground, never wavering. You know who you are. You don't compromise anything. In this day and age (Oh, wow, I sound like my mother...), that is such a refreshing thing to see. Granted, I didn't agree with some of the beaus you've dated (Read: John Mayer. We both know how I feel about him...), but that's part of growing up. Heck, at 23, I never would have been able to do that; let's just say that I was a huge fan of hiding in the deep, dark shadows back then. But, please remember this: You aren't older than 23. I hope you never forget that. You're just a young woman who's trying to figure it all out. You just happen to be doing all of this growing up stuff in front of quite a few people. Take it from an older (just a little older...) lady: Stay true to who you are, and there's no way that you can go wrong.