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Essays
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Youth Dew
I started wearing Youth Dew in my mid-teens, delighted to find a scent that didn’t wear off in five minutes. I can’t remember who introduced me to Estee Lauder’s Youth Dew, but it was love at first whiff. Youth Dew…
Love What You Do and Where You Are: Ginger Gray
Ginger Gray, owner of Doodlebugs Children’s Finery & Gifts in Georgetown, finds her appreciation for her quaint and beautiful hometown increases with each passing year. “More and more people are seeing the great potential we have in Georgetown. I’ve lived…
The Saga of Home Improvement Drama
It all started with ten little words: Honey, I need to make a quick trip to Lowe’s. My husband, Eric, is quite handy around the house. His current home improvement project is putting up and finishing the dry wall in…
Learning by Giving
Being someone whose appearance was often considered sketchy at best, (hair never behaving, being too shy to smile), feeling beautiful in something was rare. As a child, I never cared about clothes – until a certain pale blue sleeveless organza…
A Color to Dye for
As I stared into the mirror, old age began staring back at me, and I sure didn’t like the looks of that old geezer one little bit. When I was a boy, I wanted to be just like my Dad,…
What Lies Within
The chore seemed overwhelming since my wardrobe has expanded to cover three different sizes: yesterday, today, and wishful thinking. Remember Carrie Bradshaw’s dream closet in the movie Sex in the City 2? We all oohed and aahed in the theater…
Wardrobe “Dis”Function
Another shirt had watermelons all over it and some man in a grocery store line had the nerve to tell me he loved my melons. I admit it. Sometimes I feel like I am only half woman. You see I…
The Tao of a Couch
That couch became the background for Christmas photos, dozens of birthday parties, bridge-playing get-togethers, garden club gatherings and countless occasions through a score of years Any decorator worth her myriad of swatches would advise reupholstering, at a minimum – slipcovers,…
Creating a Life of Beauty: Deborah Mayberry Mandrell
With her signature eclectic and stunning style, Deborah Mayberry Mandrell makes a dramatic entrance wherever she goes. From her closely cropped hair to her signature jewelry designs to her fabulous outfits, Deborah is a woman who gets attention when she…
My Great Escape
I long to read my book without fear of being interrupted by conversation, phone calls, or ding-dong doorbells. Viewers snicker at a prominent insurance company’s television ad campaign. In the commercial, as Cheryl watches her she-shed burn down, she vows…
Create Your Best Life
Leslie Menich, Salon Coordinator and Wellness Educator with Baddhare Clean Mission knows firsthand the benefits of eliminating toxins from her diet and environment and shares her story below. In high school, I was diagnosed with IBS and was on a…
Book Chat: with Author, Colleen Oakley
“I cut my teeth in the magazine world,” said hugely popular, bestselling author Colleen Oakley, now promoting her third book, You Were There, Too. I asked Colleen why she left the journalism for full time writing and the answer was…
Out to Lunch
Because I know her parents don’t approve of her having candy, I took her aside and in a conspiratorial tone, I said, ‘Georgia, if you poop in the potty, Ama will give you candy.’ My college roomie from 45 years…
A Life Restored
I’m originally from Florida where I operated an automotive body shop. In 2001 I moved to Hickory, North Carolina. My former husband was an airline pilot, and we opened a motorcycle business which I ran because he was away a…
It’s Never Too Late!
Active people stay independent longer – I see a real difference in our members at Brightwater where I work as the Wellness Director. We offer five levels of care, and those who exercise regularly move through those levels of care…
Living Their Best Life Every Day: Brian and Sassy Henry
For those of you who have never met Brian and Sassy Henry, they are the sort of people who instantly make everyone feel at ease around them. Their success, both personal and professional, is inspiring, as well as their determination…
What’s Wrong with You?
You see, I’m single – single and 37. And the thing is, as crazy, sad, or hard to believe as it may sound, I’m happy – fulfilled, even. Juggling paper towels, toothpaste, and a six-pack of Pellegrino (or was it…
Food for Health
It’s January and maybe you’ve overindulged – many people ask me what is the most effective way to lose those holiday pounds. First, increase your water intake. My clients are asked to drink two liters of water each day. When…
Message from Above
The truck violently plowed into my car’s left front end, broke my axle, and bent the wheel under my car. The image of my red car in motion flashed sporadically in my mind for two weeks, whether I was asleep or…
Thank You, Sister Friend
When I entered the conference room, I hoped no one could tell my knees were shaking, as I approached the twenty-five writers seated at four long rectangular tables laden with laptops, yellow lined tablets, and pens. It had taken two…