About the Blog Name
Princess Daisy, age 9 in photo
At the age of 3 my daughter gave me what later would become my mantra while trying to find myself after separating from my husband. Princess Daisy was exhilarated swinging up towards the sky on a particularly beautiful day (blue sky, no DC humidity yet). She screamed,”Mommy, I am a naked girl in a dress!” She felt so free, happy, and uninhibited. This moment with her was so brief and yet, 7 years later, I still remember it vividly. It has resonated for me during this difficult time in my life because I want to capture that feeling as I rediscover life.
Free
Happy
Uninhibited
I was also 4 months shy of my 40th birthday when my husband and I separated. This gave me even more to contemplate. Was the first 40 a dress rehearsal? Have I really hit mid-life? What was I going to do now that I was divorcing–both professionally and personally? During the early months of separation, I was constantly asked by my friends:
“What are you going to do?”
I wasn’t really sure WHAT I was going to do, but I had a single response to the question:
“I am going to be happy.”
Join me on this journey.
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Love this story! Wonderful things our kids teach us, huh? I ‘celebrated’ my 28th wedding anniversary just 3 months before the divorce was final. Never thought I would be here, but a few years later I am so glad that I am! I have grandchildren now that teach me wonderful things all the time, last tip came from the 6 yr old granddaughter: “Nannie, tomatoes come from ketchup! That’s why I like them so much!” :). Love your blog, you are an inspiration to me! Angela
Angela~ Don’t you love the adorable comments kids make? I have a journal for writing down funny things my kids say.
Hi Kelly, I love the story behind the name and the picture too. Your about page is good. I hope blogging will help you come to terms with all the change, make new friends, let you explore your creativity and just have fun in your own space.
I feel as if I’ve been there with you at one time or another, just without the break up and love that you can share that with other women who are going through the same thing.
Great to meet you out here in the blogosphere. I’ve been to DC so now I can picture you in situ too:) x A
Annabel,
Thanks for stopping by for a visit. I really enjoy your blog so it means a lot that you were here visiting.
So far the blog has exceeded my expectations both personally and professionally. I have such a passion for writing and love the blog as the outlet for my creativity.
Wow. What an amazing moment. You can tell your daughter that I am one of probably many many people who saw “Naked Girl in a Dress” and thought, “Gotta read what this girl has to say!”
In my case I found you via Twitter, and you also introduced me to The Red Dress Club, so I am doubly grateful. Looking forward to following along on your journey.
So glad you stopped by for a visit. Isn’t The Red Dress Club great? I am meeting wonderful bloggers through the group. Glad to meet you too.
Oh wow. What an utterly beautiful thing to say! I wish I could feel that way…like a naked girl in a dress! I have to say, I was curious about your name also, and I’m so glad I read this!
P.S. Thank you for trying to help me with the Studio Thirty Plus/Twitter update thing. It still doesn’t work, but it’s nice that you tried!
Vicki~
You CAN feel like a Naked Girl in a Dress!
Did The Yellow Factor help you out with the twitter thing?
Sadly, no. But I’m not sweating it. The people on Studio Thirty Plus will just have to think that I’m tired and achy forever, lol!
Thank you. This at the same time made me think and brought me to a big smile. I now too want to feel like a naked girl in a dress.
I am so pleased the story of the blog name resonated for you!
I love the blog and the name of the site. The story is so heart warming … we can truly learn so much from our children if we take the time to listen.
Katie~ I agree! Thank you for reading.
Love your Blog. It is as warm and loving as you are.
You inspire me. Thank you.
Linda~ Thank you!
i add my sentiment to the other comments that have been made here. naked girl in a dress conjures many positive feelings within. i suppose that what you DO with these feelings and possibilities is really what matters. thank you for sharing.
Hello,
I saw a post of yours on ThinkTraffic, the A-list Blogger Milestones, and curiosity was going to kill me. So here I am. ;-)
Very precious story. Some of the things children say, just adorable. What’s cute is how even at 3, she was saying something very true, deep and meaningful…and something so poetic.
Great looking website! Geez, all these nice Thesis-themed sites I’m running into the past few days… Making me really reconsider what I’m going to be using for the third blog I just started.
All the best, hope your week is going well.
Thomas
Thomas,
Thanks for stopping by! Corbett has a great site and I enjoy Think Traffic as well.
Yes, the name of my blog seems to draw people in, but fortunately many come back (even though there is a lack of nudity!).
I highly recommend Thesis after torturing myself over the decision for months. Let me know if you have any questions.
Well wow. Just wow. You are right – her one sentence says it all. We should all be so uninhibited and free, joyfully enjoying the rush of air in our faces, the blue sky above us and the potential of LIFE. It is never too late to grab life and be what you want to be!! What a great way to live!
I know how you feel. Having this profound moment based on something a 3 year old says can really move you. It made an impact and I never forgot, not just the words, but how she was caught up in the moment and the scene. Blue sky, dress billowing in the wind, the exhilaration in her voice, and more; it was a complete moment.
Your point that it is never too late is my thought exactly. I have been excited to have the opportunity a difficulty in my life presented to me and I don’t plan to waste a day embracing life and happiness.
This is so beautiful. And so indicative of how life can be, where our smallest actions can have such huge impacts. All it takes is for a person to say one thing that right way, and our entire course has been changed forever.
Thank you for sharing this lovely story, DressGirl.~
Beautiful story! I just found your website, and I’m glad I did :)
Welcome! I am so glad you visited and hope you will return.
I LOVE that story. I want to be a naked girl in a dress too!!
Just saw your blog’s name and loved it. Didn’t think you could top something so wonderful. Then I read your story above. :)
All the best to you. -eldon
Eldon Sarte recently posted..Lions and Tigers Really Don’t Get Along
so incredible to have that moment, right when you needed it.
I love a good blog title…
Evelyn recently posted..Farrah & Manny
That really was a lovely moment in time.
My son had a few of those…
And now he is 23.
Geez.
Hug those babies quickly.
HogsAteMySister recently posted..Waco’s Capt. Buttface and the Pink House
Lovely!
BigLittleWolf recently posted..How Many Ways Can You Break a Heart?
What a great story. I really hope you find your happiness. But wow, you must get some disappointed google searchers!
my honest answer recently posted..I’m not pregnant, I’m just…
Thank you for commenting and for visiting! I do get a lot of “naked girl” searches and I am sure I am disappointing many men. Oh well.
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