#womenftw

[laurentuck]

8 Olympians share who they'd dedicate their medals to — and the answers are pretty sweet

(Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Lifestyle)

Most Olympians dream of making it to the games their entire lives and possibly making it to the podium to collect a gold, silver, or bronze medal. So in the same way that actors practice their Oscars acceptance speeches in the shower, athletes think about who they’d dedicate their hardware to. Yahoo Lifestyle asked 8 competitors who they’d honor with their medal — and the answers are so sweet.

Jaelin Kauf, freestyle skier

I would probably dedicate it to my brother Skyler. I was kind of raised in the sport and my parents were mogul skiers as well but he was really the one who got me into mogul skiing. I never really liked it, and only started mogul skiing because he liked it so much and I kind of wanted to do what he did. So I grew up doing whatever he did — chasing him and wanting to be like him. And he always pushed me to be the best in everything I did. And he skied moguls through high school and then went to [Ithaca] college to play football. And I think he really showed me how to work hard. Everything he did, whether it was mogul skiing or football, he put his whole heart and energy into it and worked harder than I even knew was possible. And he kind of taught me about taking advantage of these amazing opportunities that I have and getting what I want out of it.

Jessica Smith Kooreman, short track speed skater

I don’t think I’d dedicate it to an individual person, but to everyone who has supported me throughout the entire journey since I first put on a pair of skates. Every single person along the way has some part in me getting to where I am today, and I wouldn’t have gotten here without them. I’m just thankful to have everyone that has been there for me and rooting for me.

Maame Biney, short track speed skater

Oh man. I would dedicate the medal for sure to my dad, 100 percent. He has sacrificed. He has given up his life in order for me to succeed and be where I am right now. Regardless of whether I win or I don’t get a medal at all, all of this, the experience that I’m about to have, the fun that I am about to have, is all automatically dedicated to him because he’s the one who’s put me through and sacrificed everything. Obviously, I have a lot of people too but I think my dad is in the middle of it. My dad will definitely get the dedication. If I win any more medals, all the medals will be dedicated to him too.

Aja Evans, bobsledder

My Olympic gold medal, I’m planning on dedicating to my mom. I mean she’s superwoman — she gets on my nerves most of the time but she’s the biggest support I have in my life. She’s the only person that really gets me for me.

And I gotta correct myself because I love my niece, I have a 9-year-old niece and she’s really into watching all my videos and media and in one of my P&G videos I said, “My mom is the only person that gets me.” And she got mad because she considers herself my best friend. So just to have so much support of family members in my life, that’s who I dedicate my next medal to because without them I wouldn’t be able to keep pushing through and deal with as much as you do on such a high level of stress and anxiety that goes into sports.

Clare Egan, biathlete

Probably my grandmother [she is 89 years old and lives in Falmouth, Maine]. She went to Wellsley college, it a women’s college. She’s a really strong and brilliant woman, I don’t even think she had opportunity to do sports and I want to dedicate my performance to her whether or not I win a medal.

Lindsey Jacobellis, snowboarder

That’s so hard because so many people have contributed to my success. It would have to be a time-share. People who found me and people who molded me and my current coaches who have been with me for forever so it’s really hard to say. The easiest thing would be my parents. They really supported this unique path.

Jocelyne Lamoureux, ice hockey player

All the people who supported my sister and me along the way. I would dedicate that to my family, our parents, and brothers and extended family and coaches and my husband, everyone who’s supported us who make up the team behind the team. I don’t think anyone gets to the position we’re in without this great support system. Our journey and success is a reflection of that support.

Monique Lamoureux, ice hockey player

I think just my family and husband, because for the last three years, my husband has been training sister and I. He’s a strength coach. He would never take any bit of credit for the place my sister and I have been able to get to physically on and off the ice. I don’t think he would ever take credit for it, but I also don’t think he understands how appreciative my sister and I have been. He’s got dual roles as my husband but also as our coach, who tells us what to do but doesn’t always tell us what we want to hear, but makes us better athletes.

My parents, my brothers have also been there every step of the way. To share that special moment with them would be amazing.

Additional reporting by Laureen Irat, Kerry Justich, Dana Oliver, Rachel Bender, Alexandra Mondalek, Beth Greenfield, Elise Solé, and Abby Haglage.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: 

Lindsey Vonn isn’t the only athlete not representing President Trump at the Olympics

Olympic ski jumper Sarah Hendrickson supports Lindsey Vonn after Trump backlash

These Olympians would wear black to support #TimesUp and #MeToo — if it were allowed

Meet Maame Biney, the first black woman to compete as a U.S. Olympic speed skater

What 11 Olympians do in the morning to start their days off right

Mirai Nagasu just landed a triple axel at the Olympics. Here’s how she did it.

This biathlete casually learned how to speak Korean before heading to the Olympics

What 11 Olympians packed to make PyeongChang feel a little more like home

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

[fthisweekly]

Thanks for stopping by.

F This Weekly Season 1 has wrapped but you can still tune in below or on iTunes, SoundCloud or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Stay tuned and feel free to write me at fthisweekly [at] gmail [dot] com for any questions, suggestions or just to say hello. GIFs are always welcome.

Much love,

Paola

P.S. More about what I’m up to next at paolamardo.com.

[kitkatlemonsplat]

Women are princesses. They're also warriors. I guess you could call them..warrior princesses.

[laurentuck]

What 11 Olympians do in the morning to to start their days off right

(Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Lifestyle)

Waking up on the wrong side of the bed can be aggravating for most — but for an Olympian, doing so is potentially detrimental. That’s why so many athletes have morning routines that they stick to in order to get their days started right. And while they’re competing and training at elite levels, many of them aren’t that unique. For example, regardless of sport — from cross country skiers to hockey players — coffee serves as a classic pick me up. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some that are out of the ordinary. For biathlete Clare Egan, looking out the window first thing helps her put things into perspective.

Jessie Diggins

(Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Lifestyle)

Mornings are actually kind of hard for me, so the first thing that I do is have coffee. Every day. That’s like the first thing I do. I stumble out of bed and go right for the coffee. But then, I have a really big breakfast. Usually like oatmeal with berries and nuts and yogurt and whatever I have, I just throw it in there. And that’s what I eat before a race or before training so I’m starting off on the right foot. And yeah, the caffeine wakes me up.

Monique Lamoureux

(Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Lifestyle)

Coffee, I love to make coffee in the morning. Depending on if I have to get up earlier, I grind beans the night before because I’m picky about beans I use. I prefer to grind fresh in morning. I like to get up early and take my time getting ready before I go to the rink in the morning.

[My sister and I] have been living together in Florida, and I get up 15 minutes before she does. So the coffee is ready for her when she finally rolls out of bed. Once I finish breakfast, I make sure she’s awake, I usually tell her to get up.

Aja Evans

(Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Lifestyle)

One of the first things I do every day to keep my confidence high  is I kind of just make sure I’m feeling and looking my best. You don’t always feel good, but for some reason when I start doing my grooming and daily routine, it helps me to feel better when I wake and attack these days. Getting in there and making sure I’m nice and moisturized and hydrated, might throw on a little concealer to brighten up under my eyes and kind of feel like I can take on the world.

Kikkan Randall

(Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Lifestyle)

Put on the right outfit. I’m definitely someone who, when I wear the clothes that make me feel good, it just gets the day started on the right foot. So I really handpicked my training clothes to find stuff that not only functions well for me, but just makes me feel fast and fit. So I love just kind of — I’m a morning person, so I bounce up in the morning and I put those clothes on, and I’m ready to go out and train, and attack my goals for the day.

Jessica Smith Kooreman

(Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Lifestyle)

First thing is getting up and getting motivated. Getting somewhat of a good meal in before my first training for the day, whether it be a shake or eggs or oatmeal. I just prepare myself and get the energy to sustain during training.

Clare Egan

(Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Lifestyle)

I open the curtains and look out the window wherever I am and get some light and I think that’s a good way to start the new day, just recognizing hey it’s a new day, that’s pretty cool when you think about it.

Jaelin Kauf

(Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Lifestyle)

The first thing I do is probably start with a cup of coffee [laughter] and breakfast. If I have the choice to make it I have toast with eggs and avocado on it. That kind of fills me and it’s healthy and gives me enough energy to get done what I need to.

Jocelyne Lamoureux

(Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Lifestyle)

I definitely wake up, eat breakfast, it’s got to be a solid breakfast. I have a cup of coffee and relax. I don’t like to rush in the morning and get out door, whether it’s to train or practice. I like to eat, sit on the couch and not be rushed I guess. I think that helps. I don’t like feeling flustered rushing to get where I need to.

I’m a planner, I have a planner that I write in and write my schedule down. I like to see the day, cross things off, things I need to do and have prepared to do.

Sarah Hendrickson

(Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Lifestyle)

I usually drink tea in the morning. It depends what I’m doing. If I’m jumping in morning, I go for an easy run or do a morning yoga flow to warm up before breakfast. That’s important to me. I like to get up early and get fresh air before the day starts.

Lindsey Jacobellis

(Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Lifestyle)

I get a lot of my stuff all ready the night before. There’s not too much for a scramble that way I’m always buffering for time. I’m definitely a morning person. In the winter it’s a little challenging to get up early because it’s darker. Once I’m up and it doesn’t take me long time. I have trouble staying awake past 8am.

Mirai Nagasu

(Photo: Getty Images/Quinn Lemmers for Yahoo Lifestyle)

I go straight to the coffee maker and make myself a nice cup of coffee.

Additional reporting by Laureen Irat, Kerry Justich, Dana Oliver, Rachel Bender, Alexandra Mondalek, Beth Greenfield, Elise Sole, and Abby Haglage.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: 

See all of the best dressed teams at the Olympic opening ceremony

Ivanka Trump will lead Olympics’ Closing Ceremony, known for ‘party-like’ atmosphere 

Team USA’s opening ceremony uniforms feature Wild West fringed gloves and jeans

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

[coolarthistoryftw]

The following was originally part of a longer post but I felt that the Hewitt sisters deserved their own post. Enjoy!

If you are interested in decorative arts, the Cooper Hewitt has an impressive and beautiful collection. I am particularly fond of decorative arts ( something I’m sure you will discover over the course of this blog) and I was really impressed with their collection despite not expecting to see anything like that when entering. There are rooms of exquisitely detailed woodworking and ceramics as well as some very ornate birdcages and jewelery.

Much of what I saw was part of the Hewitt sisters collection. More detail on the Hewitt sisters can be found here but essentially Sarah and Eleanor Hewitt and Amy Hewitt Green started the collection within the Cooper Union,which was, in turn, started by their industrialist and inventor grandfather Peter Cooper. Peter Cooper believed that artistic instruction should be free to all regardless of race, religion, sex, or social status. Cooper Union still exists today, though in 2014 the school did start charging partial tuition. The Cooper Union was particularly important to creative women at the time (it was established in 1859) who were often overlooked, if not outright discouraged, from pursuing any kind of creative work, particularly that which was thought to be the domain of men (aka most of the decorative arts). The Cooper Union provided a haven where these women, many of whom were poor, were able to get art instruction, and due to the education they received, were able to find work in the decorative arts (more on this in an upcoming post).

The Hewitt Sisters eventually amassed enough objects and art that they had created a small museum of decorative arts within the Cooper Union. Over time that museum grew until it became what is now known as the Cooper Hewitt. The three sisters served as directors of the museum until Sarah died in 1930. Over time the museum and the Cooper Union started distancing themselves from each other in terms of programming and in 1963 the museum was closed down. A campaign to save the museum was spearheaded by Henry Francis du Pont (another amazing patron of the decorative arts which I will write about in more detail later) and eventually the museum moved to the Andrew Carnegie Mansion in the 1970. The museum has had its ups and downs, it’s near closings, and amazing resurgences, and even a few re-namings and renovations but it endures to this day and carries on the legacy of the Hewitt sisters and many female museum directors who came after them. If you have the opportunity it is absolutely worth seeing and was a wonderful surprise for me, walking through the door with no idea of what to expect on a cold Tuesday morning.

For additional information about the Hewitt Sisters please enjoy this link! What they did was pretty incredible particularly during the time period in which they did it. They saw an opportunity to educate and enrich the lives of others and they seized it and created something amazing with a legacy that endures to this day. It is my sincerest hope that this blog can continue to highlight such enterprising, philanthropic, and educating individuals.

The next post will contain the link to my Cooper Hewitt Experience and the post following that will detail my afternoon at the Society of Illustrators so stay tuned!