I am both a victim of and participant in what Ashley describes as the “assault on all women.” I can and do blame the media, the fashion industry, Hollywood, and every advisor, director or movement teacher who ever publicly humiliated me by talking about my looks in a disparaging manner, summing me up as no more than a collection of physical characteristics that do not fit into the limited idea of the aspirational American beauty. But I also need to accept some of the blame myself. For believing them. For taking those comments and images to heart. And mostly for seeing myself the way they saw me, the way all the outside sources trained me to see myself and my mother before me and my daughters after me for what we are NOT instead of what we are.

Ashley puts it quite well when she writes, “We are described and detailed, our faces and bodies analyzed and picked apart, our worth ascertained and ascribed based on the reduction of personhood to simple physical objectification. Our voices, our personhood, our potential, and our accomplishments are regularly minimized and muted.”

I have to ask myself, “Do we do it just because we are so used to hearing it, reading it, seeing it on TV? How did this happen to us? Why do we let it continue? Why can’t we stop ourselves?” For, if we can’t stop ourselves, if we can’t muster the Ashley Judd in ourselves, then how can we expect others to stop? I’ve had four conversations in the last few days with different women of different ages about what was happening to our bodies as we hit “a certain age,” and how disgusted we were with the change. One woman was in her mid 40′s, the others in their mid 50′s. Each of these women are intelligent, capable, educated, accomplished strong women in many areas of their lives — but not in this area.

I can rationalize the reasons for my own weakness at every age and stage of my life. And this age is no different. At this age, I see my reaction as sad more than weak. Sad that I have wasted so much time and energy feeling this way. Sad over the passage of time, over the change that is indeed happening, that can no longer be ignored. If I don’t look in a mirror, I don’t know how old I am. I don’t often feel in my head, in my heart, like the almost 50 year old woman that I am. But when I look at myself in the mirror, I don’t see the self I feel, I see the list  … the list that needs tightening, smoothing, whitening, coloring, shaping, minimizing, dieting and there I go again.

I guess I have some work to do. Thank you, Ashley, for speaking out and inspiring me to do the work.

When I say that – which I do often and which is obvious to my Facebook friends from my seemingly endless pinning activity – some people want to know why. They just don’t see the appeal, and I can totally understand that because, at first, I didn’t, either. Until I saw the light — or, rather, the enlightening “Art Journals,” “Great Libraries” and “Tea Shoppes and Patisseries” boards.

Let me back up a little for those of you who have somehow missed the Pinterest revolution. Pinterest is a social media site that is basically a virtual bulletin board. You create themed boards – books, recipes, crafts, dogs you think are cute – and every time you see something you like on the web, you “pin it” to your board with a little widgety thing that takes a few seconds to install. When you see something you like on someone else’s board, you simply click to “re-pin” it on to yours.

For those of us who have always cut out pictures and articles from magazines, this is like a dream come true. You get to have all the stuff you love in one place – no more files and piles of papers – and it’s so easy to find what you want. Just looking at my boards makes me happy. (In fact, I repinned someone’s directions about how to make a board PDF and, honestly, I would love to make a digital book of them.)

I admit I first joined Pinterest as a business tool. According to Mashable, Pinterest generates more referral traffic to websites than YouTube, Google+ and LinkedIn – combined. Since a whopping 97% of Pinterest users are women, this seemed like a great place to build our online community, and it has been. Amy, Susan and I each have a “StyleSubstanceSoul.com” board, and I have “Books Worth Losing Sleep Over,” “Going to Australia with Oprah” and “Great Stuff That Gives Back” boards that generate a lot of traffic for us, too.

All of that is really great. But on a personal level, I am deeply inspired by so much of what people pin. I used to scrapbook and I’ve made a couple of quilts, and through Pinterest, I have found so many new projects I want to do. People, for the most part, are great about crediting sources and posting links to tutorials. I’ve also added a list of must-see spots to my own “Oh, the Places I Want to Go” board.

Pinterest can be like one gorgeous coffee table book, and it’s often enough to just scroll through images, “ooh”-ing and “ah”-ing. But it takes a little effort to make sure you’re not inundated with pictures of things in which you have no interest. It took me a while to reach this point but I’ve learned how to turn Pinterest into my own custom gallery.

When I originally joined Pinterest, I mistakenly thought the purpose of the boards was to let people know who you are, what you like. So, of course, my first Board was “Why I Should Have Been an Anthropologie Major,” and I filled it with pictures of everything I like from the store. Although my feelings for Anthropologie are as strong as ever, that board is my least favorite because I specifically went looking for pictures to pin to it. The thrill of Pinterest is in the discovery – it’s coming across a picture someone has pinned and gasping. (Okay, that may be a little dramatic although, well, I have done that.)

To open the door for that discovery, though, you have to follow people who have the same interests as you. When you join Pinterest, you automatically follow everyone you’re friends with on Facebook or Twitter. Now, just because you’re friends with them doesn’t mean you care about all their boards. Edit. Don’t follow boards that bore you, and when someone re-pins something you like, see who they’ve pinned it from and follow the boards you like from that person. It’s much easier than it sounds, and now when I sign on, I’m way less likely to see rows of pictures of baby clothes or celebrities or holiday decorations. Instead, I see beautiful destinations, handmade journals, great quotes.

I like to drop in to Pinterest throughout the day (and night) to see what’s new. It’s like walking through a museum to me. I do think it’s important to just pin the things I really love – it seems like it would be very easy to become a hoarder here. And I also want to use Pinterest as a kind of vision board and make sure I actually do some of the projects and visit some of the places I’ve pinned.

Meanwhile, I plan to keep pinning my hopes and dreams here – along with pictures of Julia Child’s personal library and an adorable chair covered in fabric scraps.

Follow me on Pinterest at Lois Alter Mark. If you’re not a member yet and want an invitation, just let me know and I’ll get you one. Yes, I am a bad influence.

Apparently, her music touches everyone!

We feel a special kinship to Sara whose appearance on The Oprah Show so inspired us as we were developing StyleSubstanceSoul.com. Because of this, we were chosen to accompany Oprah on the trip of a lifetime to Australia as “Ultimate Viewers.” You can read the whole amazing story here.

Using her life savings of $5000 to start her company, Sara literally changed the shape of women’s fashion. Fourteen years later, she joins Oprah – to whom she donated $1 million for her Leadership Academy for Girls in Africa – in the elite group of women making ten figures (figures probably ensconced in Spanx!). She has also taken on her own philanthropic causes, supporting a variety of charities and organizations which empower women through her Sara Blakely Foundation.

We applaud Sara, who continues to be an inspiration to us. We hope to have as great an impact on women as she has, and we hope to one day join her on this list. (Hey, putting it out into the universe is what got us to Australia with Oprah!)

You would never guess that the stunner Livia wore to the 2010 Golden Globes was a re-purposed wedding dress or that this totally modern red beauty was an altered vintage dress that her mother actually wore back in the ‘70s.

In January, she attended the 2012 Golden Globes in this Giorgio Armani gown created from a fabric made of recycled plastic bottles.

Livia, the owner of Eco Age, is serious about eco-fashion and has enlisted top designers from Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent to Tom Ford and Valentino to show that sustainable style can be sexy and sophisticated. She’s even done the unthinkable by – horrors! – wearing the same dress on more than one occasion.

We can’t wait to see what Livia wears to the Oscars tonight – and who else will be following in her recycled footsteps. We’re especially intrigued by her Tweet: “THE most amazing actress 4 #Oscars #GreenCarpet Challenge!!!!” Hmmm … Meryl? Viola?

Besides everything Livia is doing for the environment, we love that she may finally be changing the way we look at the Red Carpet as well. Instead of judging the celebrities by how flattering their outfit is to them – an activity that puts the focus on the nominees’ looks rather than their talent – we can instead talk about how flattering their outfit is to the environment.

Don’t forget to check out our Oscar predictions here and enter to win a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-Ray Combo Pack, for which Gregory Peck won an Academy Award, here.

Use these tips from Dee to decide which earphones are right for you, then take advantage of a special 20% discount:

If you have an iPhone, go for the hf3 or mc3. For other phones, check out the hf2 or mc2. The hf series is the best deal and best fit for an adult.

The er4 series provides the best of the best in high-end audio but they are only earphones and don’t have the headset capability.

For kids, look at the etykids 5 (earphones only) or the etykid3 (earphones + headset).

As you know, I love books and I love paper and I love scrapbooks. These two titles incorporate all of those in some way, and you should seriously consider buying copies for yourself as well as those who feel the same way.

Curling up with The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures is like going back in time with someone who would probably have been your friend if you lived in the same era. Author Caroline Preston has created a story that would have kept readers turning pages even without the visuals, but those eye-popping visuals – postcards, ticket stubs, letters, catalog pages – literally add such texture and richness that they’ll take your breath away.

Through her own collection of vintage ephemera and memorabilia, Preston has pieced together the tale of young Frankie Pratt, who receives a scrapbook and typewriter for her high school graduation in 1920. She uses the stuff of everyday living – candy wrappers, menus, fabric swatches – to bring to life Frankie’s coming of age. We join her at Vassar, take part in the bohemian culture of the flapper era, travel with her to Paris and experience her dreams, heartbreaks and triumphs. This is a truly original treasure that you will swear you found hidden away in your attic. Watch Preston talk about the making of the book here.

Storm of the i: An Artobiography is the scrapbook of a real woman, and it’s a stunner. Tina Collen’s memoir packs a powerful punch, both emotionally and visually, as the author uses both words and art (all gorgeous!) to explore — and try to understand — her father’s refusal to communicate with her.

Each page of this book is full of revelations, and you never know whether you’ll find them by lifting a flap, pulling the contents from an envelope, interacting with a pop-up, unfolding panels or simply reading. Storm of the i is a very personal work of art, and it just may inspire a whole new genre of memoirs.

Okay, I have to write about these two books, too, because, after devouring the beauties I just told you about, you’re likely to feel crafty!

The Repurposed Library: 33 Craft Projects That Give Old Books New Life is the perfect book to give with an e-Reader! I love decorating with books, and this collection by Lisa Occhipinti features so many unique ways to upcycle old ones into vases, clocks, lamps and shelves. There’s even a Kindle Keeper to remind that high-tech e-Reader of its paper roots!

Collage Couture: Techniques for Creating Fashionable Art is filled with “ooh”-inspiring ideas for the little — or big! — girls in your life. Julie Nutting has put together the cutest collection of sophisticated yet funky fashion collages, and she teaches easy techniques for making cards, notebooks, clipboards and framed artwork using simple materials. You don’t even have to go out and buy pretty papers (although you’ll want to!) – you can use newspapers and old magazines to become your own designer!

Be sure to check out the websites for all these books, so you can see some sample pages. They will make you want more!

I seriously love everything about your company, from its name to the idea behind it to the actual t-shirt designs. Tell me a little about how you got started, and why you decided to do this.

Thank you so much, Lois! I’m so glad you love them! I started making the collages about fifteen years ago when I was living in Montreal. I was writing full-time and house-sitting for my brother’s colleagues. He’s an Anthropology professor and all of the anthropologists in his department would go off at various times to do their fieldwork and needed someone to take care of their animals and plants. It was fantastic. I was able to live in different apartments and condos all over the city for free and write. I started out making collages of writers that I loved and giving them away as gifts. One day a friend said, “You should sell these.” We brought thirty collages out to Bennington, Vermont, and sold them all in the first boutique we went into. I was floored. I then got into making greeting cards, magnets, bookmarks and seven-day glass votive candles with the image wrapped around them. They sold quite well. Then I learned the t-shirt trade and started putting my images with quotes on to high quality soft cotton t-shirts that I would wear. That took a lot of research to find the right company, but once I did it was a hit.

How do you choose which people to feature?

I will only do a collage of someone I admire. These are magnanimous figures that I hold in high esteem. I love every one of them!

How do you select the quotes you use with each one? There would be so many I’d want to use for each one.

That’s always difficult. I agree with you. There are so many excellent quotes from all of these incredible innovators, but it usually comes down to what appeals to me most and it must fit around the image on the t-shirt, so both size of quote and something that engages me are essential!

Which ones are the most popular?

Meg's friend, writer Robert Vaughn

It depends on where they’re selling. Frida Kahlo is quite popular here in NM. In Vancouver, they love Joni Mitchell. She lives in the same town as this boutique I sell my t-shirts in. There are many requests for Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin, Bob Marley, Tesla, Gandhi, Jimi Hendrix, Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, Nietzsche and Flannery O’Connor.

But then, there’s always someone who comes along, who wants that certain someone that might seem more obscure to most people. My Editor-in-Chief at Connotation Press, Ken Robidoux, loves Delmore Schwartz, the poet (as do I), and ordered a shirt of his. There’s someone for everyone, I hope!

Any funny – or touching – requests?

I had a woman come to my booth at a festival and she was adamant about getting a Johnny Cash t-shirt in her size. I found a Hank Williams Sr. and thought she’d like him, but no, it had to be Johnny. It turns out she was one of Johnny Cash’s daughters and we did find a Johnny t-shirt in her size. That was very cool!

Which is your own personal favorite? Why?

I love them all, but if I think about which one I wear the most, it would have to be Carson McCullers. I love her writing and I love the quote on the t-shirt: “While Time the Endless Idiot, Runs Screaming Round the World.” And I wear Kafka quite often, as well as Flannery and Samuel Beckett. It’s hard to pick a favorite. My husband’s favorite is Frank Zappa: “My Dandruff is Loose, My Breathe is Chartreuse.” And sometimes I pick out one depending on the color I feel like wearing that day. I have a huge collection in my closet. They make me very happy!

Who’s still on the to-do list?

Hemingway, David Foster Wallace, Raymond Carver. I have more on the list, but have been writing so much lately that I haven’t had time to add to the group in a while!

Let us know who you’d like to see on one of Meg’s t-shirts!

Whether you choose a piece of jewelry, a keychain or a mug, this simple but powerful design will really resonate with anyone involved in Christian music.

Clairvoyant Beauty has developed quite a cult following since actress/activist Lexie Masterson founded the luxury line of natural, hand-crafted anti-aging products only a year ago – one that’s likely to grow dramatically with the launch of CLAIRVOYANT, a crisp floral-citrus fragrance that is truly visionary. Designed to be layered, this all-natural fragrance features bergamot and lime top notes; rose, jasmine and ylang ylang middle notes; and tobacco absolue, fir absolue and green cognac base notes. We’re swooning already. We are strong believers in Clairvoyant Beauty’s philosophy to “see beyond the range of ordinary perception, both in the individual and throughout the world.” Lexie’s mission is to nurture inner beauty through products made with the finest natural and organic ingredients, while improving the world through environmentally safe practices and social responsibility. Because of her high standards and ideals, we just may have to extend our own philosophy to become “Look good. Feel good. Do good. Smell good.”

Try the 1.0 fl. oz. pure parfum spray, enter promo code SSS12011 at checkout and get the Style Substance and Soul Joy Collection ($307 value) ABSOLUTELY FREE! This collection includes FULL-SIZED:

Detoxifying Clay Cleanser, Lavender & Sea Minerals Toner, Simply Roses Cream, Exfoliating AHA Scrub, Nourishing Meadowfoam Serum, Depuffing Cranberry & Cucumber Eye Gel, Skin Firming DMAE & MSM Serum

Try the 1.7 fl. oz eau de parfum spray, enter promo code SSS22011 at checkout and get the Style Substance and Soul Jolly Collection ($195 value) ABSOLUTELY FREE! This collection includes FULL-SIZED:

Detoxifying Clay Cleanser, Lavender & Sea Minerals Toner, Simply Roses Cream, Gentle & Healing Rosewater Eye Cream, Skin Firming DMAE & MSM Serum

Try the .33 fl. oz. pure parfum (perfect for your purse!), enter promo code SSS32011 at checkout and get the Style Substance and Soul Noel Collection ($135 value) ABSOLUTELY FREE! This collection includes FULL-SIZED:

Exfoliating AHA Scrub, Skin Rejuvenating AHA Cream, Skin Firming DMAE & MSM Serum