SHEsaysWITHaSMILE.blogspot.com

MY PARTY DRESS backstory -sandra mickanen sharing... #fashion #reallifestyles #magicofmacys

when i placed mine on my side of our closet...  it was kind of near the dress I wore for New Years Eve welcoming in 2025..
 

public "Thank You!" here to Lesa who does all the sewing magic..

now, unfortunately, i could not get the sleeves to stay put while dancing, so ended up, i just placed the sleeves on our table, and grooved on..

kept those sleeves though..  and that dress...

and inspired by the coordinating colors, i put the dress on,  put my NFL Super Bowl LX tshirt over the dress...    -love!    then, kind of held the sleeves up...     awesome!

public "Thank You!" again to Lesa..   had the sleeves sewn onto the t-shirt..

i did have to remove the black mesh from the front of the dress myself.. it created too much bulk under the t-shirt,  but left the mesh on the back of the dress..

and then..   seemed like such a great opportunity to also use my husband's tie, that had been made to match..   use it as a belt!

  -couldn't have been more pleased with the whole result..

then!   my sister had mailed me, in advance of our party..   the cutest! most darling bday cake theme earrings, and the colors of the earrings..   -

i asked her if she had sent a spy in advance..  went so well with..

"thank you!"   "love you!"

*****

more fun with fashions in 2026...    really looking forward to it!!

all tithing and "thank you!" prayers.. 

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 10:20 AM 0 comments

the greatest gift: this memory! -on the morning of my 60th birthday, fri feb 13th, 2026 -sandra mickanen sharing

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 8:15 AM 0 comments

Super Bowl LX PLUS Sandra's LX Milestone Birthday Party 2026 @ the micks #bliss #vellumdays

        -but not the best super bowl party we'll ever have....."

#bliss  #vellumdays 

***

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 3:13 PM 1 comments

RESERVED FOR VELLUM DAYS POST

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 2:48 PM 0 comments

FAST FORWARD 10 YEARS: the juxtaposition of women in leadership, born in 1970 vs. 1980 -sandra mickanen sharing observations

which shares several years in the life of Jacinda Ardern [ born July 1980 ]  New Zealand's 40th (and youngest) Prime Minister, Oct 2017 - January 2023

2 things for now until i have more time:

mysterious, spiritual...  answered prayer.  -prior to sitting down to get lost in some type of story..  tv, movie, podcast..  lots to choose from these days, 

but, i always pay attention to what i'm feeling as a result of watching... [variable here]

   /and how i feel, about how i'm feeling..   there's always a 2nd layer, but saving that topic for a later date:

i kind of put out a simple prayer:    something that inspires and empowers me..    that's how i want to feel as..   and in the after of watching:   i want the result of watching -whatever it is-  to be that it makes me feel inspired and empowered.

****

that simple prayer was directly answered by coming across, and clicking on  PRIME MINISTER

*****

in one word:   GLUED.     as it was unfolding, my mind was already..

this is my favorite documentary ever...   i love this...    wow to this..     thank you... 

***

and i'll return to write more, but..

especially as i've recently read, and am slowly re-reading Melania, the book..   which covers the time period of when Melania was First Lady, the first time..  2016-2020 ish, 

and then, we very recently went and saw the documentary, Melania, which covers only the 20 days leading up to her 2nd time being First Lady..

and while i am inspired and intrigued, and appreciate..

when i reflected on the documentary, i found myself saying/thinking    that's like going back in time..  

backwards for women...

it's very dated, in this way:  much more 'image' focused; brand focused..    looks and fashion at the forefront..    and she is a fashion model, and she is beautiful, and she does use her stilettos as a flex..

nothing wrong about accentuating your gifts; the positive

and she does also have exquisite taste, an education/eye for design, architecture; a heart for helping, a mind and spirit for leadership..

but you can clearly see, from my perspective, born in 1966, that Melania was born in (into)

1970;  that puts her receiving and applying the 'cultural messages' prominent in the late 80's, early 90's..following (sometimes setting) the trends of that time; under the influence of popular culture of those decades; what was considered 'valued'  'valuable'  -successful, of high status, etc.   

what was viewed as strength vs weakness.

but, what is 'missing' if you will, in the documentary, Melania, is any..

well, 

best shared this way:   everything i found 'missing' in the documentary, Melania, 

was present in the documentary, Prime Minister.

  -i.e.,  there was a time when women would not be caught dead without their make-up..  on camera!  -forget it..   in public; no way..

women on camera, on public display..    ONLY & EXCLUSIVELY when your hair is styled, your make-up is on, your clothes are dry-cleaned and tailored, your nails and toes are painted, your accessories..

etc.

you saw women at their best or not at all.   

but over time, the culture shifted, incrementally, and you'd see less make-up, imperfect hair, casual clothes, 

over time, and incrementally, we got to see women -behind the 'what i want you to see' scenes

and started to see them at both their best; and worst; and everything in between.  

the whole woman; closer to the truth..     

in PRIME MINISTER, we see Jacinda in her professional, leadership role..   dressed for the success, so to speak; as she should be, 

but also, in her pajamas, when she should be..

we see her strong; we see her emotional, with make-up, without make-up, confident..  unsure..

navigating several crises;

we see the spectrum of demands..

we see her pregnant; we see her breastfeed; we see her in love; we see her.

that's the point, i guess:  we get to see her.   not a manufactured, or carefully crafted image.

what feels like, 'the real her'     -but to be certain, even this documentary is edited selectively, with personal choices about what to, and not to reveal.  what to, and not to include. 

and also, to be certain, 

each woman   -each woman leader-   Melania & Jacinda

they are both under the influence of their time; with a decade between them.

what is considered, regarded as 'strong' of their individual time..   

at one time, (Melania's time); strength and success were found in creating and mastering a public 'image'   -seen at your best or not at all. 

my point, is that if Jacinda was born in 1970, and Melania in 1980..

because, current culture, associates 'weakness' with 'image-culture'

now we seem to worship and admire, 'real'   -whole,  unmasked..    seen at best, worst, and everything in between, 

and i do regard this as progress; evolving in the correct direction, as 'real' and 'whole' women

i don't think any of us really want to return to 'be seen at best or not at all' 

and there is still an even greater point being made here:   how my focus is on 'appearance'   -what is seen vs. not seen

i suppose because they're women; and suppose because i'm comparing  -visual- documentaries and not books of only text..

but, that layer discussed, shared and pushed back, 

we can look at, look more closely at:   leading.  navigating crisis.  lifting, elevating large populations, addressing issues; debating issues; correcting course, maintaining what's great; weeding out what's not working; fighting for worthy causes..   handling multiple adversities, and victories and responsibilities simultaneously

personal and cultural values..

being a woman; wife; mom; sister, aunt, daughter, friend, neighbor, politician, consumer, student, leader, citizen of the world..

****

but, highly, highly recommend watching both and experiencing/witnessing the juxtaposition of a woman leader born in 1980 vs. 1970

and, processing, our next leaders from 1990, 2000..   2010...  

more later, 

all thank you prayers & tithing..    amen.

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 8:42 AM 0 comments

Ephesians 1:21 in ages and worlds to come.. -sandra mickanen sharing

.. where he talks about space travel; travel, not just to the moon, mars, but other planets..   make star trek real

and it brings to mind for me, Ephesians 1:21..

the part where it reads:    .... not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and in the world which are to come..

but also,  like countless others, conversation topic included 'meaning of life'  and 'living forever'

****

for Christians, the meaning of life is found in loving God and in cultivating loving relationships.

   love God with your whole heart, mind, spirit.. strength  [Mark 12:30]

and love your neighbor as yourself

****

 'to love and be loved'   -eliminates the famous question.

and 'life eternal'..   it is already promised via salvation; which results from cultivating a relationship with Jesus..

****

sometimes i think..    people are chasing what is already known and accessible..

looking for a new or different answer...     when the answer is write in front of them. 

but there's that tricky caveat isn't there:    -for those who believe; you must believe...

long time fascinated me how Christians are referred to, and self-describe as 'believers' not 'knowers.'

  -walking by faith and not sight..

these intangible attributes and qualities and internal experiences:

faith, hope, love; belief. 

***

and i think it is a fair question; worthy of contemplation by all of humanity:

   -the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

Q:   what if, it turns out...   that IS TRUE.

and fun follow up Q:   how on Earth can we know...   ?

*****

selah! & amen!

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 11:34 AM 0 comments

Super Bowl LX Bliss -jan/feb 2026 yard art & poetry by (sexy! & topps!) #bliss -sandra mickanen sharing...

operation super bowl LX yard art mission complete!  and what a joy it has been for my husband and i to play in the yard, creating, painting, designing, embellishing during a string of beautiful, blue sky days.   -will post pix of process below.  once again, big pubic "THANK YOU!" to our artist friend, Jerry Heinrichs, for the addition of the team logo art squares...   next level gorgeous!!  LOVE how they turned out..

******

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 8:05 AM 0 comments

Dear President Donald Trump... "I've got it!" new vocabulary for AI.. -sandra mickanen sharing

"The 2025 AI SUMMIT!"  

President Donald Trump mentioned not liking the word 'artificial'  (me either!)  -put out a casual call for something different;

i believe this is much more accurate:  AI =  Aggregate of Information

i also prefer it because it is more accurate, isnt it.  and i dont like the word 'intelligent' used the current way either

i dont believe an entity that cannot give or receive or experience authentic, true LOVE, can be properly identified as 'intelligent'   or worse, 'super' intelligent.

knowledgeable; yes..    intelligent?   - a non sentient human programmed/trained...

collector/processor/sharer & source of all data available to current date...  minus human discernment..

***

it's just so much more accurate while keeping the initials we've all been introduced to:  A & I

it is an AGGREGATE of INFORMATION... 

i'm very excited about the prospects for world-wide adoption of this new, more accurate definition; to hear it; read it;  -make it official..

cc:  President Donald J Trump, The White House

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 11:15 AM 0 comments

SHOULD ABSOLUTELY HAVE A SET, KNOWABLE TIME FOR PUBLIC OPEN MICS @ CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS -sandra mickanen reporting

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 10:11 AM 0 comments

a shopping we will go... -the micks

 shoppings always fun, sometimes includes tastings..   this time, bubbly..     and great customer service by every staff member.   re-ran into Chris, who we met last year when shopping for our St Patricks Party..    -got his name write!   /SHEsaysWITHaSMILE    and was able to...

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 9:20 AM 0 comments

SEAHAWKS, PATRIOTS HEADING TO LEVI STADIUM Feb 8, 2026 for Super Bowl LX -sandra mickanen reporting to inspire...

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 8:54 AM 0 comments