Gulf Coast Woman

OMAN GULF COAST

Celebrating 18 years!

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2016 COMPLIMENTARY

COAST HOLIDAY MEALS START WITH SEAFOOD! BEST PLACES TO GIFT-SHOP MILITARY WIVES HOLD THE LINE EVERY DAY COOPER NAMED WOMAN OF YEAR

THE

L

AST WO CO M N A

GU

JOY MAKER

2016

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Riley & Hillyer House continue to wrap up memories

on i p m Cha www.gcwmultimedia.com

v18n1 01-15 FRONT.indd 1

1

10/19/16 5:48 PM

Michael J. Christie M.D., F.A.C.O.G.

BOARD CERTIFIED OB/GYN

Diplomate of the American Board of OB/GYN

Serving the Gulf Coast for 15 years Laparoscopic Surgery • All aspects of Gynecology Normal and High Risk Obstetrics • Minimally Invasive Outpatient Surgery Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Hysterectomy • Uterine Ablation • 4-D Ultrasound

Dr. Christie and his Team will take the time to address your healthcare needs

Dr. Christie

Kelly Mask, FNP-C Board Certified Nurse Practitioner

BOARD CERTIFIED OB/GYN

Cynthia Kinsey, FNP-C Board Certified Nurse Practitioner

Treatment of Women’s Health Concerns With an emphasis on preventative care and wellness Women’s Health Care • Annual Wellness Exams Family Planning • Pelvic Pain • Birth Control & Hormones

Quality Care One Patient At A Time MAIN OFFICE

Ocean Springs (228) 818-0025 2113 Government St., I-4

v18n1 01-15 FRONT.indd 2

BILOXI OFFICE

(228) 374-3749 147 Reynoir St., Suite 102

10/19/16 5:48 PM

A Full-Service Salon featuring...

blowouts | cut & color | updos | facials | makeup massages | manicures & pedicures | waxing | extensions

228.206.5465 | mon. - sat. | 9am - 6p m

panache

Ask about our Bridal & Birthday Party Packages!

Follow us on

or

to receive 20% off your first salon service!

Valid for First-Time Clients only. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Call for details.

1308 col l eg e st . | g ul f p ort | polishedblowoutandbeautybar.com 3

v18n1 01-15 FRONT.indd 3

10/19/16 5:48 PM

Celebrating

10 YEARS of

Success

Three Rivers Rd., Gulfport

228-822-0120 behind Gulfport Wal-Mart

REBECA FAIRLEY Owner 44

November-December 2016

v18n1 01-15 FRONT.indd 4

10/19/16 5:48 PM

Holiday Wish List

Ronaldo

welry

opesco Je P e in r e th a

C

Sassy Pants Pottery

Luca & Dani

nal rnatio allets e t n I Hobo ags and w b Hand

Sbicca Shoes

Hobo International Handbags and wallets

Boulevard Bags

v18n1 01-15 FRONT.indd 5

Living Wate

r Jewelry

www.gcwmultimedia.com

5

10/19/16 5:48 PM

G.

FOUNDER Angela Bruni

ND

EDITOR & PUBLISHER Dorothy P. Wilson DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Tori Bishop

Baby

SENIOR WRITER Dana Sleger CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brenda Blount Jackie Merlau Brandi Bosarge Kathryn Moran Dr. Randy Buntyn Rebecca Ritchey Brittney Fairley Lee Rogers John Folding Elaine Stevens Ryan Giles Tammy Turnage Myrna Beth Haskell Andrea Yeager Denise Howell

RES

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY William Colgin

aphs

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Brian Pearse

sions

NT

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Farrah Underwood Catherine Schmidt

ortunity inue to und).

ON THE COVER

.D.

Paige Riley, owner of Hillyer House, Ocean Springs

y ecology

ADVERTISE Angela Bruni, (228) 760-8887 Dorothy Wilson, (228) 697-5676 Jennifer Cox, (228) 697-5119 Tori Bishop, (228) 596-0285 Aisa Templeton, (228) 697-7091

/GYN

,

CONTACT US 15431 O’Neal Road, Suite A, Gulfport, MS 39503 (228) 539-2422 dorothywilson@gulfcoastwomanmagazine.com

www.gcwmultimedia.com

ng I-4

al Center)

228-539-5858 15190 Community Road, Suite 350 • Gulfport www.gulfportsurgeryclinic.com

v18n1 01-15 FRONT.indd 6

© 2016 Gulf Coast Woman is published six times per year and is available free of charge. We encourage your comments, suggestions and submissions, however, we reserve the right to refuse or edit them. Gulf Coast Woman is not responsible for unsolicited documents or manuscripts.

All material is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.

10/19/16 5:48 PM

YOU DESERVE IT! Personalized Weight Management Dedicated Coaches See Results Choice of 2 Locations: Biloxi & Gulfport Sustainable Results

Deborah Meza, LMT #187, Aesthetician

Now

SAFE AND EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR YOUR AESTHETIC NEEDS

Tightening and Wrinkle Reduction - 4D Facial, Laser Resurfacing Little or No Downtime - Fractional Laser Rejuvenation No Anesthesia Needed Vaginal Rejuvenation/Stress Urinary Incontinence Spider Veins Hair Removal (INCLUDING BLONDE HAIR) Tightsculpting

NOW PROVIDING: ZO MEDICAL & ZO SKIN HEALTH PRODUCTS for Anti-Aging, Skin Correction, Maintenance, Protection PRENATAL MASSAGE Minimize Stress • Promote Relaxation • Relieve Aches & Tension Calm Nervous Irritability • Positive Physiological & Psychological Effects

P rovidin g CHEMIC AL PE E L S !

25

$

OFF

CHEMICAL PEEL

vailable

ates A Gift Certific

Celebrating Over 50 years of quality health care for women!

WOMAN’S CLINIC

DEBORAH MEZA, Laser, Skin Care and Massage Department 228-341-7879 OB/GYN CLINIC, 4577 13th Street, GULFPORT: 228-864-2752 OB/GYN CLINIC, 2781 C.T. Switzer Drive, Suite # 302, BILOXI: 228-388-4816 THOMAS W. LEHMAN, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. • KEITH G. GOODFELLOW, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. • SHAHIRA HANNA, M.D.,F.A.C.O.G. JOHN F. PAPPAS, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. • JOANNA M. TRUS, M.D. F.A.C.O.G. • ALISHA H. WARE, M.D. F.A.C.O.G.

WWW.WOMANSCLINICPA.NET

v18n1 01-15 FRONT.indd 7

10/19/16 5:48 PM

CONT E NTS

Nov-Dec 2016

holiday edition

40

120

This issue is brimming over with ideas to make your holiday the most grand yet!

Meet Donna Brown, Jessica Ryan Peters and Vivien Robinson, who were selected as the Faces of Success for this issue.

B R I N G ON T H E DÉ C OR !

FAC E S OF SU C C E S S

W H Y WA I T TILL

Join the GCW team in getting healthier right now.

We share tips and successes. p. 87

122

F R E SH C ON C E P T

Geneva Dummer’s dream has come together in a new idea for shared business space and services.

8

105

M I L I TA RY WIVES

Military spouses dedicated network of strength.

57

R E A DY T O SHO P ?

Gulf Coast Woman knows the best places for great gift shopping.

November-December 2016

v18n1 01-15 FRONT.indd 8

10/19/16 5:48 PM

w

Shop in Store

EDGEWATER MALL

2600 Beach Blvd Suite 50 Biloxi, MS 39531 228-388-3198

BRIDGEWATER SHOPPING CENTER

8930 Lorraine Rd Suite F Gulfport, MS 39507 228-206-6251

P?

LET’S GET SOCIAL www.bellaroseboutique.com v18n1 01-15 FRONT.indd 9

9

10/19/16 5:48 PM

from the team Angela, Dorothy, Vicki, Kathy & Connie

Dana, Bill, Farrah, Jennifer, Tori, Aisa, John, Crystal, Elaine, Brenda, Ricky

Jeffrey C. Hamm, CRPCÂŽ Vice President Wealth Management

Pam Burnett Program Coordinator

Growing to Serve You.

For most people, achieving and maintaining financial strength is a lifetime pursuit.

It involves planning, preparation, performance and follow-through. That is why the NCU Wealth Management Program provides a collection of protection and asset accumulation products that can help you meet your personal financial objectives.

As NCU Wealth Management representatives, we are qualified to provide professional assistance, quality financial products and dependable service. So whether you are saving for a home, providing a college education or planning for a comfortable retirement, our team of dedicated career professionals can work with you to provide the information you need on a variety of services and products.

Call today and start your journey.

BreEllen Harmon Licensed Sales Assistant

Hannon Fayard, Jr. Registered Representative

228-474-3427

6012 Highway 63 Moss Point, MS

Securities sold, advisory services offered through CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc. (CBSI), member FINRA/SIPC , a registered broker/dealer and investment advisor. CBSI is under contract with the financial institution to make securities available to members. Not NCUA/NCUSIF/FDIC insured, May Lose Value, No Financial Institution Guarantee. Not a deposit of any financial institution. FR-1569976.1-0816-0918

v18n1 01-15 FRONT.indd 10

10/19/16 5:48 PM

Financial success tomorrow starts with financial confidence today.

56.2% of women surveyed said working with a financial advisor made them feel more confident about their financial decisions.* Women are controlling more wealth than ever before. And they’re doing it on their own terms. That’s why Regions offers tools, insights and guidance to help you feel confident you’re making informed decisions about your unique financial situation. It’s also why your Regions Wealth Advisor is with you every step of the way, offering straight talk and complete transparency, from a single point of contact, on everything from investing to retirement planning and beyond. We asked more than 1,000 women what financial advice they’d give their younger selves, and 69% said they’d start sooner and save more. Don’t let another day pass before you set up a personal consultation with a Regions Wealth Advisor. Call 1.800.826.6933 or visit us online at regions.com/womenandwealth.

Cheryl Johnson | Gulf Coast City President | 228.897.7802 1015 Cowan Road | Gulfport, MS 39507 Wealth Management | Investments | Retirement Services | Insurance Annuity, Investment and Insurance Products: Are Not FDIC Insured | Are Not a Deposit | May Go Down in Value

Are Not Bank Guaranteed | Are Not Insured by Any Government Agency Are Not a Condition of Any Banking Activity

© 2016 Regions Bank. Loans are subject to credit approval. *Regions Bank designed the Women and Wealth Survey in conjunction with faculty at Vanderbilt University. The study, based on 1,157 total responses, measured opinions of customers with estimated household investable personal assets of $2 million or greater. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of customers surveyed in June 2015. I Regions and the Regions logo are registered trademarks of Regions Bank. The LifeGreen color is a trademark of Regions Bank.

www.gcwmultimedia.com

v18n1 01-15 FRONT.indd 11

11

10/19/16 5:48 PM

THE CADILLAC OF CADILLAC DEALERS

2016 ATS

2016 CT6

2016 Escalade

2016 XTS

Something close to magic happens when Cadillac the name synonymous with luxury and innovation for over a century, comes together with Turan-Foley the name synonymous with inspired service and customer satisfaction.

Perhaps this is why Turan-Foley has won more Mark of Excellence Awards than any other dealer on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and is the Cadillac of Cadillac dealers.

CADILLAC 11123 HIGHWAY 49 NORTH 228-539-7500 • TURANFOLEY.COM 12

November-December 2016

v18n1 01-15 FRONT.indd 12

10/19/16 5:48 PM

Rick Foley Owner

Brett Favre 3 Time NFL MVP

It goes to show when you give your customers a great automotive buying experience and award winning service after the sale good things will happen like you making Turan-Foley Chevrolet-Cadillac-Buick the #1 selling General Motors dealer on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. And we promise when you come to Turan-Foley we will exhaust every possible talent and effort to make your car buying experience the best ever. From our entire team at Turan-Foley we really appreciate and thank you for making us #1.

11123 Hwy. 49 North 228-539-7500 • TuranFoley.com www.gcwmultimedia.com

v18n1 01-15 FRONT.indd 13

13

10/19/16 5:48 PM

Know when to get help

taking care of your aging parent

Realizing your parent or loved one is no longer safe at home alone can be an emotional experience. Not knowing what services are available can add to an already emotional state.

We can help answer questions like: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NURSING HOME, ASSISTED LIVING AND SITTER SERVICES? WHAT DO HOME HEALTH SERVICES AND HOSPICE PROVIDE? WHAT DOES MEDICARE COVER? WHAT ARE THE COSTS AND WHERE DO I BEGIN TO LOOK?

Call PRN Home Care

for friendly, reliable caregivers. We are here to make a difference in your life and that of your loved ones. Our services enhance the individual’s independence by allowing them to remain in the comfort of their own home.

CALL FOR APPOINTMENT (228) 385-2603 or 888-782-3316 www.prnhomecareservices.com kearn@prnhomecareservices.com

14

PRN HOME CARE PROVIDES EXPERIENCED HOMEMAKER SERVICES, ADULT SITTER SERVICES (COMPANION), NURSING ASSISTANT/PERSONAL CARE AIDE, BATH AIDES, ERRAND RUNNER/DRIVERS, and LIVE IN/OUT SERVICES

November-December 2016

v18n1 01-15 FRONT.indd 14

10/19/16 5:48 PM

New Location!

CELEBRATING OUR

@ElleBoutiqueGulfport | www.facebook.com/shopelleboutique845 Courthouse Plaza | 500 Courthouse Rd., Suite D | Gulfport, Ms 39507 www.elleboutiquegulfport.com |

v18n1 01-15 FRONT.indd 15

(228) 214-7186

10/19/16 5:48 PM

FACES & PLACES

KIMBERLY NASTASI FAREWELL RECEPTION

RACE FOR A CURE 16

November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 16

10/19/16 7:55 PM

Brand New Home in Florence Gardens by

Open Daily!

13327 Kinder Drive - 4BR/3BA - Rear Entry Garage - Two Master Suites - Large Covered Outdoor Space - Beautiful Built-Ins - Perfect For Singles, Families & Retirees -

Safe From Hurricanes Excellent Insurance Rates Including Wind

Neighborhood amenities include stocked lake, saltwater pool, miles of walking trails, parks, greenspace

www.florencegardens.com | 228.861.9500 SALES CENTER at Magnolia Hall—12321 Preservation Drive Weekdays 10am-5pm, Weekends 3-5pm, or by appointment Located on O’Neal Road in Gulfport—1.7 miles west of Hwy 605 and 3.0 miles east of Hwy 49

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 17

10/19/16 7:55 PM

FACES & PLACES

LIGHTHOUSE BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL WOMEN

by Brian Pearse RECEPTION

by Brian Pearse

Featuring Hammitt, Jennifer Thames Jewelry, and Corkcicle

1610 Bienville Boulevard Ocean Springs, Mississippi

228-818-0470 v18n1 16-74 front.indd 18

10/19/16 7:55 PM

N

SEAN AND FARAH MERRILL Senior Vice President with Primerica

Former Teacher and Coach and Dental Hygienist. They started their business seven years ago at ages 25 and 22. They teach financial concepts to families and train motivated people who are entrepreneurs to start part-time and transition into full-time careers to open offices. They love that they got to start from nothing and have created a dream life that they get to build together as a team and family.

CONTACT INFO: 14231 SEAWAY RD. SUITE 4001 | GULFPORT, MS 39503 | 228-860-9984 19 CONTACT SEAN MERRILL AT MERRILL.PRI@GMAIL.COM

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 19

10/19/16 7:55 PM

The New Way scarlet pearl

Experience Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort, Mississippi Gulf Coast’s newest and most exciting destination.

9380 Central Avenue, D’Iberville, MS 39540 | 888-752-9772 | ScarletPearlCasino.com Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort reserves all rights to cancel or modify any program at any time. See Pearl Rewards Club for details. Must be 21. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-522-4700.

20

November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 20 Oct_Fullpage_GulfCoastWomenMag.indd 1

10/19/16 10/14/16 7:55 2:34 PM PM

WHEN LIFE TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY...

Fast For For uncontrollable uncontrollable wheezing, wheezing, gasping, gasping, shortness shortness of of breath, breath, coughing, coughing, chest chest tightness, tightness, pain or pressure, pain or pressure, choose choose the the team team of of experts experts at at the the ER ER at at Garden Garden Park Park Medical Center so Medical Center so we we can help you get back can help you get back to to what what matters matters most. most.

4700.

6 2:34 PM

15200 15200 Community Community Road, Road, Gulfport, Gulfport, MS MS 39503 39503 www.gcwmultimedia.com (228) 575-7000 gpmedical.com (228) 575-7000 gpmedical.com v18n1 16-74 front.indd 21

21

10/19/16 7:55 PM

BOARDING

GROOMING

GOURMET PET TREATS

Snap Happy Photography willRbeHcapturing your O N YOU ON EYMO sweet pets

BE

Holiday Photo!

Custom W

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH OPEN HOUSE GULFPORT LOCATION

YOUR H O N Limited bookings available.

Call for appointment 228-380-0829.

YOUR H O N

C C

Only at Sandals can you

Dream W

TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS: Only at LONG BEACH - 7486 Beatline Rd., Long Beach, MS Only at JAMAICA • ANTIGUA • SAINT LUCIA • BAH GULFPORT - 15456 Dedeaux Rd., Gulfport, MS

228.380.0829

*Visit www.sandals.com/disclaimers JAMAICA • ANTIG or call 1-800-SANDALS for importa

JAMAICA*Visit • ANTIG ww

or callww 1*Visit or call 1v18n1 16-74 front.indd 22

SAN 33674_FP Bridal AD LO2_jp.indd 1

SAN10/19/16 33674_FP AD LO2 7:55Bridal PM

OR MORE! THREE-NIGHT STAY OR MORE!

THE HONEYMOON IS FREE*, TOO! INVITE FAMILY & FRIENDS AND THE HONEYMOON IS FREE*, TOO!

O N B E G I N S T H E M O M E N T YOU SAY

!

Weddings

Celebrate your love with a ceremony that is as intimate as the two H of you, or as extravagant as a celebrity affair. Take advantage of a Free* Beautiful Beginnings Wedding or customize every step of the way with the help of a complimentary wedding all, after your magical wedding day, the two OU R H ONEY MOO N B E G I N S T H E M O planner.

M E N T Best YOUofSAY OU R H ONEY MOO N B E G I N S T H E M O of M you E N Tcan YOU SAYto your romantic Love Nest Suite®. Enjoy slip away unlimited land and water sports, Gourmet Discovery Dining at up to 16 outstanding and endless poursasof Celebrate yourrestaurants love with a ceremony that is as intimate theRobert two of you, oryour as extravagant aspremium a celebrity Take24/7. advantage Celebrate love withand a ceremony that isaffair. as intimate as the two Mondavi Twin Oaks wines spirits It’s all a Free* Beautiful Beginnings Wedding or customize every of you, or as extravagant as a celebrity affair.

Take advantage included, all unlimited, all the time. So say “I do” to a Sandals step of theBeautiful way with the help of a complimentary wedding of a Free* Beginnings Wedding or customize every honeymoonstep and the and life together planner.

Best ofmemories all, after magical wedding day,wedding the begin. two oflet the way with theyour help of ayour complimentary

Custom Custom Weddings Weddings

® of you can slipofaway to your romantic Nest Suite . Enjoy planner.

Best all, after your magicalLove wedding day, the two ® unlimited water sports, Gourmet Dining at of you canland slip and away to your romantic LoveDiscovery Nest Suite . Enjoy up to 16 outstanding restaurants and endless pours of Robert unlimited land and water sports, Gourmet Discovery Dining at Mondavi Twin Oaks restaurants wines and premium spirits 24/7.

It’s all up to 16 outstanding and endless pours of Robert included, Twin all unlimited, all the time.

So say spirits “I do” to a Sandals Mondavi Oaks wines and premium 24/7.

It’s all ® honeymoon let the all memories and lifedo” together begin. included, all and unlimited, the time.

Soyour say “I to a Sandals Love honeymoon Is All Youand Need, Everything Is Included let the memories andElse your life together begin.

can you design your own

The #1 Destination in Weddings and Honeymoons

mOnly Wedding at Sandals can you design your own Only at Sandals can you design your own

Dream Wedding Dream Wedding /disclaimers/travelaffiliatesjune2016

UCIA • BAHAMAS • GRENADA • BARBADOS

MAICA • ANTIGUAterms • SAINT LUCIA • BAHAMAS • GRENADA • BARBADOS for important and conditions.

MAICA*Visit • ANTIGUA • SAINT LUCIA • BAHAMAS • GRENADA • BARBADOS www.sandals.com/disclaimers/travelaffiliatesjune2016 or callwww.sandals.com/disclaimers/travelaffiliatesjune2016 1-800-SANDALS for important terms and conditions. *Visit or call 1-800-SANDALS for important terms and conditions.

_FP Bridal AD LO2_jp.indd 1 23 v18n1 16-74 front.indd

@weddingmoons ®

® Love Is All You Need, Everything Else Is Included The #1 in Weddings and Honeymoons Love IsDestination All You Need, Everything Else Is Included

The #1 Destination in Weddings and Honeymoons

534 Courthouse Rd. @weddingmoons @weddingmoons Gulfport, MS 39507

228-604-0070 534 Courthouse Rd. 534 Courthouse Rd. Gulfport, MS 39507 www.travelaffiliates.com Gulfport, MS 39507 228-604-0070 228-604-0070 www.travelaffiliates.com www.travelaffiliates.com

4/7/16 6:14 PM

4/7/16 10/19/16 6:14 7:56 PM PM

FACES & PLACES

BETHESDA FREE CLINIC FALL FASHION SHOW

by Brian Pearse

24

November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 24

10/19/16 7:56 PM

NEW CLIENT SPECIAL Haircut and Hi-Lite only $85 Full nail and eye lash extension services available

Walk-ins Welcome Alexander Deeks/Owner Master Stylist/Color Specialist

1115 Cowan Rd. | Gulfport, MS 39507 228-896-3352 | www.salonalexanders.com

Holiday gift cards now available! v18n1 16-74 front.indd 25

10/19/16 7:56 PM

FACES & PLACES

JUNIOR AUXILIARY BALL

by Christen Duhé

26

November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 26

10/19/16 7:56 PM

13309_

THE BIGG

EST

OF THE SE ASON

CHECK OUT THIS

DEAL!

With the Keesler Federal MasterCard®, you can save on every purchase.

Plus, you don’t have to wake up at 3am, wait in line or run anywhere!

Introductory Period

After Introductory Period

6 MONTHS

AS LOW AS

ALL PURCHASES

NON-VARIABLE RATE

• No annual fee • Low $5 balance transfer fee • Free travel insurance

• Accepted worldwide • Credit limits available from $500 to $25,000

0.0% 8.9% APPLY ONLINE TODAY! www.kfcu.org *Introductory 0% promotion available on purchases for first 6 months on new credit card accounts only; not available on balance transfers. Non-Promotional rates are 8.9%-15.9% based on credit. After 6 months, promotional rate for purchases changes to the rates listed above. Transaction fees per transaction: cash advance $5; balance transfer $5; ISA fee on international transactions 1%. Membership and credit eligibility required.

13309_KFCU_BF_GCW_8.25X10.75.indd 1 v18n1 16-74 front.indd 27

10/11/16 4:25 PM 10/19/16 7:56 PM

Holiday

Open House 20% OFF

GIFT CARDS, SERVICES AND PRODUCTS

Come enjoy refreshments!

Service and Product giveaways!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 10:00AM - 5:00PM *If you miss us, then come see us at Honeycomb Salon’s open house on November 19

Call or schedule an appointment online

228-280-8072 www.bridgesskinbody.com BRIDGESSKINANDBODY@GMAIL.COM 240 Eisenhower Dr., Suite J • Biloxi, MS 39531 (in Petit Bois Specialty Center)

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 28

10/19/16 7:56 PM

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 29

10/19/16 7:56 PM

FACES & PLACES DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY

by Brian Pearse

30

November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 30

10/19/16 7:57 PM

In every real estate transaction,

Experience

matters.

Jode’BraxtonHignight

is a

licensed, full time REALTOR who has been recognized within the top 3% of selling agents in South Mississippi by the Gulf Coast Association of Realtors, earning her a 2015 Residential Platinum Award.

Jode’ Braxton Hignight, REALTOR 228.806.JODE (5633) jode@cableone.net

14335 Dedeaux Rd., Gulfport, MS 39503 Find us on Facebook ~ www.cameronbellproperties.com

Ask about same-day appointments.

Because there’s Merit in care when you need it.

Whether it’s a checkup or something more serious, you and your family need convenient, accessible healthcare. Fortunately, the providers at Merit Health Medical Group are making it easier than ever to get primary care. Ask about same-day appointments.

Primary Care and Occupational Health Lakeview 3680 Sangani Blvd., Suite H-2 D’Iberville, MS Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

228-354-9300

92926_BILO_MHMG_7_5x5c.indd 1 v18n1 16-74 front.indd 31

Primary Care Cedar Lake 967 Cedar Lake Road Suite B Biloxi, MS Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

228-392-7760

Primary Care South Cowan Primary Care Promenade 350 Cowan Road 3920 Promenade Pkwy.

Gulfport, MS Suite A Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

D’lberville, MS Friday, 8 a.m.-Noon Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

228-896-5195 Friday, 8 a.m.-Noon 228-456-0173 www.gcwmultimedia.com 31

8/2/16 10:04 AM 10/19/16 7:57 PM

Gulf Coast

WEDDINGS presents

sponsored by

NOVEMBER 6, 2016 • 4 PM TO 7 PM THE BRIDAL EXPERIENCE IS A ONE OF A KIND INTERACTIVE BRIDAL SHOW Preview all the 2017 trends from elite vendors in fashion, florals, colors, design and more in a way you have never seen before. Every bride is a VIP at The Bridal Experience and will receive a beautiful rhinestone “Bride” brooch, custom tote and more!

The Bridal Experience is an intimate affair, only 150 VIP bride tickets available.

VIP Bride Ticket $40 | Guest Ticket $10

DON’T WAIT — BUY YOUR TICKET TODAY — THE EVENT WILL SELL OUT! www.gulfcoastwomanmagazine.com

Produced by

OMAN GULF COAST

Photography by Whitney Nichols

Vendor Info contact Tori Bishop 228-596-0285 tori@gulfcoastwomanmagazine.com 32

November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 32

10/19/16 7:57 PM

A gift for you from Allen Toyota

Think Toyota. Think Allen Toyota.

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 33

10/19/16 7:57 PM

Turning

DREAMS

into

AFFORDABLE REALITY

Insurance is complicated and stressful...

ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL. Having the wrong coverage, too much or too little, will not protect you in a loss.

Choose SouthGroup as your agent.

OF SOUTH MISSISSIPPI

We make saving easy.

Meet our team!

Ashlie Carnley Moody

Steven “Mr. Biggs” Biggs 228-669-9986 THE PROMENADE SHOPPING CENTER 11619 Bobby Eleutrius Blvd., D’Iberville, MS 39540

www.mbofsm.com

Brittany Jones

Anne Dayao Gillam

Angelyn Treutel Zeringue CPA, President

Three locations to better serve you: 5400 Indian Hill DIAMONDHEAD ph: 228-467-2282 fx: 888-415-8922

412 Hwy 90 BAY ST. LOUIS ph: 228-466-4498 fx: 888-415-8922

2502 Pass Rd BILOXI ph: 228-385-1177 fx: 888-415-8922

www.southgroupgulfcoast.com

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 34

10/19/16 7:57 PM

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 35

10/19/16 7:57 PM

Your Community Bank Treasury Team Business & Commercial Banking

Treasury Management

• Checking • Money Market • SBA / Lending

• Online Banking

Personal Banking

• • • •

• • • •

Checking and Savings Retirement Mortgage Lending

Leslie Kelley

Sherri Johnson

AVP / BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

• ACH • Wires • Positive Pay

MyDeposit Lockbox Services Sweep Services Merchant Services

GULFPORT / ORANGE GROVE / PASCAGOULA / LEAKESVILLE / BILOXI / OCEAN SPRINGS / D’IBERVILLE / LUCEDALE 228-396-8338

COMMUNITYBANK.NET • ©2016 COMMUNITY BANK • MEMBER FDIC

Love

Let us make your home 10 in BuYsears iness Famil Owne y d

in every snip

Locally owned and operated by Dianne Falcon, avid animal lover, especially dogs.

Passionate about making your pets happy!

• Residential • Commercial Cleaning • Free estimate • Excellent references • Licensed & Insured

CALL FOR APPOINTMENT

(228) 539-9929

12100 Highway 49 Suite 500 Gulfport, MS 39503 Clipanddipgulfport

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 36

ANA’S

CLEANING SERVICE GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!

CALL (228) 222-3092 | TEXT (973) 264-3689

10/19/16 7:57 PM

COVER STORY

RETAIL QUEEN

Paige’s Corner has grown into a beautiful venture that wraps up boxes of joy especially at Christmastime

Photography by William Colgin

by Elaine Stevens Paige’s Corner has grown into a beautiful venture that wraps up boxes of joy especially at Christmastime.

Imagine being a 10-year-old South Mississippi girl with your very own tiny gift hop tucked away in the corner of your mother’s larger store. And, in that special place you bought and sold some of your favorite things. That’s how Paige Riley, owner of Hillyer House, began her retail career in 1970. She called it Paige’s Corner. By the time Paige turned 18, she was a full-fl dged partner in Hillyer House Pass Christian.

Hillyer House, celebrating it’s 47th year in November, is focusing on its most magical time of the year. You can actually hear the lilt in Paige’s voice when she refl cts on seasons past. “Over 46 years, I’ve grown up and had the pleasure of making families excited to unwrap an American made treasure, one that can be used, enjoyed, www.gcwmultimedia.com

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 37

37

10/19/16 7:57 PM

For that special gift

A collection of unique, inspired gifts are awaiting you!

Drop in today to choose from custom artwork, pottery, and jewelry.

A Galler y Gift S ho p Celebr atin g the C r ea tive S pir it!

The mermaid is an icon for the shop. She is dressed up for the holiday season and greets customers entering the store.

and passed down to the next generation.” In other words, Hillyer House is creating the heirloom pieces of tomorrow.

She goes on to explain you won’t see much traditional red and green — except for the famous Hillyer House mermaid in her red Santa hat. “The store is decorated in big garland wrapped in aqua tulle with white lights and starfish,” Paige says. “We are coastal with beautiful items you can put in your home all year long, like oyster trees, aqua bowls holding ornaments, and timeless pieces you can add that give extra sparkle during the holiday season.”

More than anything Paige says she is honored Hillyer House is becoming a family tradition in more ways than one. “As families grow up and move away, they always come home for Christmas,” she says. “It means so much to me that Hillyer House is a place they want to come each year to shop.”

Paige’s two children, 21-year-old son, Reed, and 18-year-old daughter, Shelby, are involved in the business as well. The three celebrate a warm and nostalgic Christmas dinner with Paige’s sister and her family. “We all bring a favorite dish in one of our cherished glass or pottery pieces we have collected over the years, relax, and enjoy telling stories of Christmases long ago,” Paige says.

distinctive jewelry art gifts

255 Davis Ave., Pass Christian, MS 39571

228.222.4863

www.RobinsNestinthePass.com Store hours: Mon-Fri, 10-5; Sat. 10-4; Closed Sunday

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 38

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Celebrating its 47th year in South Mississippi, Hillyer House is a nationally recognized awardwinning gallery. Special guest appearances by new and favorite artists are being featured for the November birthday celebration. Each of the 400 artists represented in the gallery have sent in their latest collections.

10/19/16 7:57 PM

Free Delivery – Certified Installation Latest Techonolgy

Now is the time to get your

dream kitchen and with 12 Months Same As Cash*!

Trend Beyon

By Jo

THERE’S NO REASON TO WAIT!

*with Approved Credit

APPLIANCE, LLC and

Outdoor Living Center 1249 PASS RD, GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI 228.864.4220 // COMPTONANDSONAPPLIANCE.COM

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 39

10/19/16 7:57 PM

HOME

Ready For The Holidays TREND WATCH

M D

by John Folding

The new colors of Christmas

Have you ever wondered why traditional Christmas colors are red and green? For ancient people, these colors were vibrant and easily visible during the winter snows. Red berries kept birds and other creatures sustained during the winter, and if cut, the branches kept their color inside for decorating. Since then, the colors have taken on a more religious connotation with red being representative of the blood of Christ, white representing peace, blue representing Mary, and gold being reminiscent of the gifts f the Magi.

Green, the other color typically associated with Christmas, is probably the most prominent color in all of nature (except perhaps the blue of the sky and sea) and because of that evergreen plants have been used for centuries to brighten our homes during the dark of winter and as a reminder that spring was just around the corner.

Well, now that we know where traditional colors come from, what about the addition of other colors in our modern times? Palettes for the holidays come in virtually every hue, but if you look at the colors, technically they are mostly abstractions of the originals.

in

B

Red: pink, purple Green: lime, Kelly, pastel Blue: turquoise, ice, navy White: ivory and other neutrals/naturals Metallic: gold, bronze, silver Trends in color for the holidays haven’t really changed in the last five to seven years. What changes is the decoration. (For instance, birds have always been a type November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 40

10/19/16 7:57 PM

1

Celebrating 20 Years in Business MAKE THOSE HOLIDAY DREAMS COME TRUE …

Find that unique gift at the Coast’s only unfinished furniture store

Custom finishes and design available Featuring the largest unfinished furniture inventory in Mississippi

BOOKCASES • DINING TABLES AND CHAIRS • CHILDREN’S FURNITURE BEDROOM FURNITURE • BENCHES • SWINGS • ROCKING CHAIRS KITCHEN ISLANDS • BUNK BEDS • TV CABINETS • CURIOS ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS

15101 CREOSOTE ROAD | GULFPORT, MS 39503 | (228) 868-1988

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 41

10/19/16 7:57 PM

of decoration, but owls were added about four years ago.) There are three broad color schemes. The fi st contains rich jewel tones (navy, purple, burgundy, gold); the second has cool, wintry tones (ice blue, lime, hot pink, silver); and the third is neutrals/naturals (brown, ivory, tan — warmer colors).

As you shop this year use these key words to help you focus your Christmas and holiday decorating: MOTHER NATURE Colors are greens and browns, and use natural elements like pinecones and evergreen garlands and berries. You can mix this up with antlers, sticks, burlap, and other elements found in nature.

NEUTRAL FUNDAMENTALS Colors are white, ivory and parchment. Any metallic goes well with this palette. Th s is a good color scheme for the Coast because you can incorporate shells, starfish and other water-related items.

Bleached driftwood and warm, sandy tan. Toss in a bit of sky blue and you’ve got a gorgeous, not-socold, coastal winter theme.

SOPHISTICATED DETAILS Colors are vibrant jewel tones mixed with metallics and cooler accent colors. Thi k Kelly green and baby blue, violet/purple/burgundy and bronze, turquoise and white. Decorations in this palette would include ribbons made of rich brocades, velvets, metallics and embroidery. Traditional shapes like fin als, onions, and ball ornaments come in these colors so you can still have your traditional cake iced and eat it too with non-traditional color.

HARMONIOUS HUES These color combinations are fun and playful. Great for kid’s trees or décor, or if you just want to do something different — just because. Tones include hot pink and white, lime green and white, bubblegum pink and purple, and robin’s egg blue and silver.

No matter what scheme you come up with, it should refl ct your personality and lifestyle, and there’s certainly no shame in hauling out all of the old family heirloom ornaments and creating your own nostal- gic look.

TIP Start with the base of a single traditional color — a good choice is white because you can add any number of trending colors or you can transition easily back to the more traditional color palette of red and green.

42

November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 42

10/19/16 7:57 PM

Women’s Apparel, Accessories, & Gifts 3880 Gautier Vancleave Rd. • Suite 4 Gautier, MS 39553 228-202-5127 10845 Factory Shop Blvd.

Gulfport, MS 39503 228-868-5037 Email Coralboutique@rocketmail.com www.coralboutiqueonline.com

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 43

10/19/16 7:57 PM

44

November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 44

10/19/16 7:57 PM

CHRISTMAS with COASTAL FLAIR

by John D. Folding | photography by William Colgin One of most exciting things about living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast is that we get snow so rarely. Th s allows holiday decorating to get more local. It has always seemed strange to me to see snowmen and icicle decorations when A) it’s not cold and B) there’s no snow! Th s is defin tely one time of the year when bringing the outside in is a good thing.

Donna and David Machado’s house in Gulfport’s Stanton Place neighborhood was on last year’s Civic League tour of homes and it showed off ll the ways that holiday decorating can enhance a living space, not overwhelm or replace it. And it showed how to keep the holiday look local.

When Donna approached me to help her get ready for the tour of homes, she and David had just fin shed making over their home’s interior. The color palette goes from cool blue tones to warm whites and ivories. Metallic touches in accessories and art allow light to glance around the spaces, letting your eye move easily from one area to the next.

Donna’s plan was to decorate her home with a coast-

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 45

al flair using the colors and textures already present in her everyday décor. She wanted to use natural elements like pinecones, grapevine, berries, and feathers. To add more to the coastal look, starfish and shell-shaped ornaments were included as well.

Because she already had an artific al fl cked tree, elements including white ball ornaments and mercury glass were incorporated to bring the whole look together.

The front entrance to the home is natural stone in a variety of brown shades, so Donna decided she wanted to bring in metallic copper and bronze decorations to surround her front door. These colors, mixed with the silvers and burlap, allow for transitioning to a new scheme when the time comes.

The loggia along the back of the house by the pool is an area that the Machados use a lot, so Donna asked that the columns be decorated and lit so the family could enjoy that space throughout the season as well. Grapevine, www.gcwmultimedia.com

45

10/19/16 7:57 PM

pinecones and mercury glass ornaments tied the outside to the inside seamlessly.

The showstopper, according to Donna, was the stunning mantle piece. Not only is it the focal point of the living room, but also it is for the whole home. It is the fi st thing you see when you enter from the front door

46

and if you come through the garage into the kitchen, it dominates the view from there as well. Pheasant feathers (real and faux) mixed with large mercury glass ornaments set asymmetrically on the mantle created that wow factor Donna wanted for her guests and for the Civic League’s tourists.

November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 46

10/19/16 7:57 PM

Christmas

He hath made everything

Beautiful

Blessings...

in his time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Free In-Home Design Consultation Baton Rouge, LA Long Beach, MS Mandeville, LA www.afd-furniture.com (985) 871-0300

joy laughter OPEN TO great possibility MAY YOUR WALLS KNOW

AND EVERY WINDOW

, MAY EVERY ROOM HOLD

,

. - Mary Anne Radmacher

Featuring local, MS, and USA made art, gourmet foods, and gifts.

ERICA LAYTON, Owner 630 Washington Ave. | Ocean Springs, Ms 39564 | Mon-Sat 10-5

228-215-1415

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 47

10/19/16 7:58 PM

Since 1984

441 Hwy 49 | McHenry, MS 39561 |601-928-5194

89

Mon-Thu: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Fri-Sat: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. |Sun: 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

M

T v18n1 16-74 front.indd 48

10/19/16 7:58 PM

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED. Homemade candy made in small batches.

Pecans, fruit cakes and gifts.

Located in Gulfport and McHenry.

8930 Lorraine Rd. Ste A, Gulfport, MS 39503 | 228-357-5412 Mon-Sat 9:00 AM-5:30PM; Closed Sunday

Toll Free 1-800-562-0769 v18n1 16-74 front.indd 49

10/19/16 7:58 PM

MAKE YOUR TABLE

Sparkle

C

by Billie Comeaux | photography from American Factory Direct

hoosing a neutral palette with metallic elements will give you a simple but classic base to build your holiday design. Here are some tips to achieve a great look for your tablescape.

• For starters, create your tablescape on a complimentary runner or mirror.

• Spray branches with a metallic paint (silver or gold) and place them in a vase or on the table. Th s adds an unexpected dimension.

• Add feathers for an exotic flair! Candles and twinkle lights lend a magical ambiance.

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 50

• Fill clear vases with colored ornaments in assorted sizes to add a dramatic touch.

• Make your design personal by choosing items you have in your home such as candlestick holders, collectibles, wine goblets, etc., to add to your design.

• Bring your chandelier to light! Complement your table design by draping ribbons from the chandelier in staggered lengths and adding textured ornaments.

Comeaux is CEO and corporate designer for American Factory Direct Furniture Outlets.

10/19/16 7:58 PM

228-284-1768 home interiors & gifts

516-E Courthouse Rd., Gulfport, MS nellagifts@gmail.com

For a limited time we are offering DuraSupreme cabinetry exceptional savings! Call or stop by!

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

1611 Government Street | Ocean Springs, MS 39564 228-875-4112 | oslumber.com

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 51

10/19/16 7:58 PM

Set the table

When your holiday guests enter your home, a cornucopia of tasty smells will tickle their taste buds. Next, they marvel at the beautifully arranged table — the centerpiece of the holiday meal. Adding something new and stylish is sure to bring on the compliments.

Gulf Coast Woman found these great finds on a recent shopping trip.

1

2 3

52

November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 52

WHERE WE FOUND IT

1. Nella Home Interiors & Gifts, Gulfport; 2. Layton’s Ocean Springs; 3. Nella Home Interiors & Gifts, Gulfport

4 10/19/16 7:58 PM

5

6 8

8 7

9

WHERE WE FOUND IT

5 & 6. Hillyer House, Ocean Springs; 7. Layton’s Ocean Springs; 8 & 9. Martin Miazza Gifts, Gulfport.

www.gcwmultimedia.com

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 53

53

10/19/16 7:58 PM

Home trends Rustic love

Rustic chic is a trend that keeps on trending. Timeless-looking pieces are showing up as accents mixed in with traditional styles as well as in rustic modern designs. But, if you’re not handy with a drill and saw or you just don’t have time to create your own inspired pieces, you can fi d a plethora of accent furniture pieces for indoor and interior spaces at home décor stores.

How do you own this trend? Start by adding a few pieces of nature-inspired side tables, cabinets and wall hangings to your décor.

Gulf Coast Woman discovered these repurposed fi ds at Real Wood & Furniture Showcase in Gulfport.

54

November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 54

10/19/16 7:58 PM

Lifetime

CUSTOM GRANITE & FLOORING

BEAUTY TO LAST A

Our goal is not only to help you create enduring luxury in your home with custom granite and tile — but to make the process enjoyable and affordable.

GRANITE | MARBLE | QUARTZ QUARTZITE | TUB SURROUNDS BACK SPLASHES | FIREPLACES OUTDOOR KITCHENS Read what others have to say about us at

www.customgraniteandmore.com

Holiday Special and ask for our referral list.

Pottery • Art Gallery • Creative Glass • Artistic Jewelry Bridal registry available S tor e Ho urs : Mon - Fr i 9:30am-5:30pm S at 9 : 3 0 a m - 5 p m S un 1 2 p m - 4 p m

www.HillyerHouse.com

920 Washington Ave. • Ocean Springs • (228) 875.8065

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 55

18-gauge beautiful stainless-steel kitchen sink in choice of three styles Our compliments, with your custom countertops, thru February 2017!

(228) 209-4704 customgranite2@yahoo.com

SERVING MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA AND LOUISIANA

10/19/16 7:58 PM

best places to shop Coral

Find unique clothing and jewelry

Coral Boutique provides a place for you to explore fashion and even step outside your comfort zone with a team whose passion is outfitting you to look and feel your best.

Customer service takes a front seat at Coral in Gautier and Gulfport. The staff l ves to help its clients select winning outfits for any occasion, and they love to follow up, too. As owner Kaleigh Ivy says, they want to know “How did your daughter’s dance go? How was your date?”

Coral features a thoughtfully curated selection of clothing, jewelry, and accessories that you can’t fi d just anywhere. As the weather turns cooler, look for KanCan jeans, cozy cardigans and kimonos, vests, over-the-knee

boots, hats, and chokers to be favorites. Specialty items include Red Rooster t-shirts, Very Volatile and Sbicca shoes, Jane Marie jewelry, Erimish bracelets, and Capri Blue candles.

Before Coral, Kaleigh knew that her two daughters, Tammy and Reagan, had a knack for shopping, keeping up with trends, and putting outfits together. In 2012 the family put those talents to work, opening Coral Boutique in Gautier. In October 2015 they opened a second store at Gulfport Premium Outlet Mall.

“We couldn’t have done any of this without our loyal customers,” says Kaleigh.

educate & celebrate

Offering so much more than school supplies

Educate & Celebrate specializes in helping busy parents and teachers.

“We understand that life gets hectic and we are here to make it a little easier by offering school project materials, learning tools, party supplies, gifts, chool supplies, personalized products, arts and crafts, nd more,” says owner/ president Macey Young.

Macey says she opened the store in April 2014 because she saw a great need in the community for teacher and student supplies and materials, as well as high-quality, but affordable toys, games and crafts Popular gift tems include Melissa & Doug and Gibby 56

& Libby items. “Both of these brands are well made to last and are a great way for children to play and discover without electronics,” Macey says. “We have a wide range of toys and games for children of all ages.”

And if you want to keep these gifts a urprise, Educate & Celebrate will hold them until you can schedule pick-up. Gift wrapping is offered as well.

Macey says people are surprised to discover that “we offer teacher shopping days, where we will come to schools to set up products and take orders for teachers and deliver directly back to the school. We can also deliver locally to schools and accept purchase orders.”

November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 56

10/19/16 7:58 PM

ItC’s All ArrAnged F onsIgnment

urnIture , LLC

Previously Adored Home Decor and d more...

Previously Adored Home ecor And more…

Ask about chalk paint classes

228-215-1867 228-327-0556 7325 Bienville Blvd.

Choose. . .

Dedication CAROLINE BROOKS

228-860-6216

Hrs: 10 am - 5 pm Tuesday - Saturday

Mindfulness KERRI MCBRIDE

228-547-4442

Results SUE DURBIN

228-596-1348

Merry Christmas from our agents & staff!

Ask ABouT cHAlk PAinT clAsses 228.215.1867 228.327.0556 7325 Bienville Blvd. oceAn sPrings, ms Hrs: Tues - sAT 10Am – 5Pm v18n1 16-74 front.indd 57

777 Watkins Avenue | Gulfport, MS 39507

228.896.6060 www.latter-blum.com

Latter & Blum Shaw Properties, ERA Powered, is independently owned and operated.

10/19/16 7:58 PM

best places to shop Panache

Panache’s selection of Popesco, other brands stands out

Panache Apparel and Accessories is 4,000 square feet of great shopping for women of all ages.

The store, owned by Rebeca Fairley, is celebrating 10 years this November, a testament to its popularity.

Fairley says Panache carries the Coast’s largest selection of Catherine Popesco, Karlie, Jade, Joy Joy Apparel, Tyler Candles, Living Water Jewelry, Bussola Footwear, Brighton Collectibles and MS Made Pottery.

Panache places a premium on customer service, so the team is friendly and helpful.

Like a number of items and would love to have them given as gifts or Christmas or your birthday? Just ask your personal stylist to add them to your wish list.

Th s year, popular holiday gift tems will be Boulevard personalized bags, Booties, new designs by Catherine Popesco, Bath Bombs made with all natural ingredients, Tyler Candles and gift ets.

Panache caters to a wide range of women, carrying apparel up to size XL and 16.

Panache is enjoying successful times now, but “it was not a very easy road, but God helped lead me back home,” Rebeca says. “What I mean by that is when my fashion career started it had taken me to Birmingham, Ala., where I had just purchased a home eight months before Katrina struck the Coast. After the devastation from Katrina, I realized that family was more important than anything, and so I packed up and moved back home. With the money I made from selling my home I was able to open up my own store. I opened up on November 20 of 2006 on Pass Road just east of Courthouse Road for the fi st two years.”

Business was stagnant, so Fairley knew she had to make a change. In 2009, she was approached about relocating.

“It was a risk that I was taking, but I knew it was the right decision in order for Panache to grow,” she says. “We have been in our current location now for eight years and it by far has been the best decision I could have made. We have been so blessed with all of our amazing customers and an awesome staff.”

charisma

Great brands, great prices

Charisma “A Girl’s Best Outfit,” located in the heart of downtown Ocean Springs, combines current fashion with affordable pricing and offers it to a wide variety of people.

“Incorporating all three of those together is what makes Charisma so successful,” says Brandin Brosh, owner.

The boutique, which has been open for nearly three years, carries Steve Madden, Quay, Le Specs, Lokai, B.B. Lila Jewelry and several other name brands.

During the holidays, aside from clothing and jewelry, “we tend to sell a ton of gift ards,” Brandin says. “When you give someone a gift ard, you’re essentially putting down the cash to let them buy whatever present they want! “ She added that “people are always surprised at how affordable Charisma is.”

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 58

10/19/16 7:59 PM

1524 Pass Rd Gulfport, MS 39501 228-868-2037 www.bridalformalboutique.com

1419 27th Ave Gulfport, MS 39501 228-822-1480 www.backontherackgulfport.com

3821 Promenade Pkwy., Ste. G D’Iberville, MS 39540

228-354-8499

Follow us on @ivyboutiquems

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 59

10/19/16 7:59 PM

best places to shop Martin Miazza

Martin Miazza has something for everyone

“We have always tried to fi d interesting lines that you don’t see everywhere else,” says Kennedy White, owner of Martin Miazza Gifts in ulfport. “There is some crossover, but it’s fun to bring new things to the Coast.”

White says in addition to the great fi ds at Martin Miazza, the staff s what really sets us apart. “I realize I am biased, but I have the nicest group of women working at the store. They always take that extra step to help a customer fi d the perfect gift. Of c urse, our selection of merchandise also sets us apart.”

If you’re looking for a custom gift, artin Miazza has a great selection. “We have a line of polished pewter cuff bracelets that are very popular,” White says. “Also, we have Mississippi coastline coasters as well as vintage Gulfport and Biloxi hotel coasters. Our line of Mississippi Groceries is popular, too, and of course McCarty Pottery is always a favorite. Last but not least, our beautiful complimentary gift rap is a special service that our customers love.”

If you’re shopping for Christmas ornaments, be sure to pick up an Original Mississippi Christmas Ornament.

“That’s our polished pewter ornament that is a favorite

of many of our customers,” says White, who has offered them for 29 years. “Also, Vietri’s Old St. Nick pattern is very popular.”

White adds that it is a misconception that the majority of what Martin Miazza offer is on the pricey side. “Truly, we have something for everyone,” she says. “If you want to spend $20 or $200, we can take care of it.”

nella home interiors & gifts

Nella inspires unique and personal décor style Nella Home Interiors & Gifts eatures pieces of French chateau, vintage, coastal, rustic, handmade and mid-century modern to inspire people to create a style uniquely their own.

Customers walking into the boutique, which opened in August on Courthouse Road in Gulfport, are immediately inspired by the hanging chandeliers and artwork.

Owner Kate Cusick says, starting the business “is something I have always wanted to do. My family is so talented — we are always creating!”

Specialty items include Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, artwork, and all types of home décor.

“Some of our most popular gift tems include original paintings by Kathy Allen, metal by Steve Allen, Rewind candles, and pillows,” Kate says.”One of the most 60

surprising things about my store is there is a lot of ‘white’ and family plays a huge part.”

November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 60

10/19/16 7:59 PM

Visit your neighborhood TOY STORE for all your CHRISTMAS SHOPPING! Toys | Games | Arts | Crafts | Gifts | Party Supplies Classroom Décor | Educational Books | Nap Mats Learning Materials | Flash Cards | Festival Supplies Stickers/Awards | Certificates | School Project Supplies Balloons | Seasonal Décor | School Spirit Items Costume Accessories | Summer Learning | Special Events

311 Cowan Road | Gulfport, MS 39507

228-206-1901 www.educatecelebrate.com sales@educatecelebrate.com

Like Us on Facebook for updates on store events, special hours, & sales.

CLOTHING • ACCESSORIES • GIFTS 636 Washington Ave. Ocean Springs, MS 39564

(228) 872-6118 www.gcwmultimedia.com

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 61

61

10/19/16 7:59 PM

best places to shop victoria lynn

Creating handmade sparkling pieces

Victoria Lynn Jewelry’s passion is to make women look and feel beautiful with unique and handcrafted jewelry.

“Our business is unique because our pieces of handcrafted jewelry is made on the spot, right here in our building,” says Sheila Hodges, owner. “If what the customer wants is not already made and displayed in the show room, it’s made within a few minutes right here.

Also, our individual customer service that each customer receives makes this business unique.”

Sheila, who has been in business for 13 years, started with the Bead Shak in 2003. “We then began to teach our customers how to bead and make jewelry of their own,” she says. “After doing this for a few years, we put a name behind the jewelry and in 2011, Victoria Lynn Jewelry was born. Giving God all the credit, we are well known across state lines and are continuing to grow nationwide.”

All of Victoria Lynn’s pieces are specially made, however, the main specialty piece and most popular holiday gift tem is the 12mm bracelet, Sheila says.

“Made with genuine Swarovski crystals, it’s sure to give you that sparkled fin sh for each handcrafted piece,” she says.

“Out of more than 100 colors to choose from, you can always add a matching pair of 12mm earrings and necklace, giving you the perfect gift et for any holiday.”

Sheila says many people are most surprised to learn that Victoria Lynn’s jewelry is made locally here on the Coast.

tribe

Find contemporary, classic merchandise and jewelry

Tribe is a fashion-forward women’s clothing store offering contemporary, classic pieces at an affordable price.

“We help educate our customers on what to wear and how to wear styles appropriate for their body type and how to transition from season to season,” says Kristina Graham, owner.

Tribe recently celebrated it’s fi st anniversary.

Kristina says she has always had an eye for fashion and styling, “so I attended LIM College in New York to further educate myself on the fashion industry. I moved home and noticed the Coast could use something different in the local fashion industry so I decided to open Tribe Boutique!”

Popular gift tems will be the dainty 14k jewelry. “They are classic and perfect for any outfit! They are great for November-December 2016 62

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 62

layering, last a lifetime, and are priced really well,” she notes.

Kristina says customers love that Tribe has unique/ different merchandise than most boutiques in our area.

10/19/16 7:59 PM

Joie | Ramy Brook | Vince | Tibi Fifteen Twenty | Tart | Kelly Wynne Natalie B Jewelry | Alice + Olivia | Milly

The Shoppes at Mary Mahoney’s 110 Rue Magnolia, Biloxi 228-818-3233

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 63

Mon-Fri 10-5 Sat 10-4 14397 Creosote Road Gulfport, MS 39503 228-831-0182 www.VictoriaLynnJewelry.com

10/19/16 7:59 PM

best places to shop fly boutique

Trendy fashions with affordable pricing

Fly Boutique, off ourthouse Road in Gulfport, is a women’s contemporary fashion boutique featuring clothing, accessories, jewelry and shoes.

“Recognizing the need for affordable trendy women’s clothing, we give our customers variety and affordability for young women starting around age 14, all the way to anyone young-at-heart,” says Tessie Happ, owner and fashionista.

With four locations, Fly Boutique is able to provide shoppers the added benefit of being able to shop a variety of merchandise and exchange items at either location.

Tessie says its important to her to carry a wide variety of styles — traditional, trendy, conservative and more daring — and not just what appeals to her personally. She adds that being fashionable doesn’t have to cost a lot. “We carry clothing and jewelry in a wide range of price points for all shoppers.”

The fi st Fly Boutique opened in Picayune seven

years ago. The second location is in Hattiesburg. Next came Petal and now Gulfport.

“Fashion, helping others look better and making them happy have always been my passion, even as a young girl,” Tessie notes. “Several years ago, when my daughters were little, I opened my own children’s clothing store mainly because I couldn’t fi d what I liked for my own daughters. The children’s store was successful but as my daughters (now ages 15 and 18) transitioned into women’s sizes, I decided to sell the children’s wear store and opened Fly Boutique in Picayune. So I guess you could say my desire to dress my daughters is the reason I got started!”

Fly offers a number of brands, including Free People, THREE EIGHTY TWO, Quay, Diff, Kendra Scott, Luca & Danni, Sorelli, Erimish and AB Jewels.

Popular holiday gifts ill be Sorrelli jewelry, Catherine Popesco, Quay sunglasses and CC beanies, Tessie says.

w By worth

Clothing company for smart, spirited shoppers

W by Worth, designed in New York, is a contemporary women’s clothing company.

“Our clothes are as sexy, spirited and smart as the women who wear them,” says Dianne Mavar, wardrobe stylist with W by Worth. “These are exceptional women’s fashions curated to you and sold by women.”

Dianne does not operate her business from a storefront, but clothing at trunk shows throughout the year. “I also host giving events for various charities,” says Dianne, of Gulfport.

She says W by Worth is known for gorgeous fabrics and high-quality construction.

“I have been a stylist with W by Worth for seven years. I love fabrics, fashion and styling! My personal style is classic with a modern twist,” Dianne says. “I love helping women to look and feel their best everyday.”

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 64

10/19/16 7:59 PM

A Boutique Salon

HAIR NAILS KERATIN EXTENSIONS BOUTIQUE Ann Nguyen

Nail Technician

Tiffany Soljan

Owner/Head Stylist Color & Extension Specialist

Kari Madden

Senior Stylist - Color Specialist

Angelia Cabibi

Stylist - Color & Extension Specialist

1896 Popps Ferry Rd. | Biloxi MS | Call or book online 228-392-9188 | www.swaybiloxi.com

Healthier You special section

Coming in January

We’ll help you weigh all the options

Nutrition • weight loss exercise • surgical reductions diabetes • blood pressure hormones & more!

For advertising info: 228.539.2422 v18n1 16-74 front.indd 65

www.gcwmultimedia.com

65

10/19/16 7:59 PM

best places to shop Grant’s For Her

Grant’s features exclusive designer wear

Grant’s For Her is unique in many delightful ways. It is located at the center of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and is part of Mary Mahoney’s historic restaurant on Beach Boulevard. It is a boutique that offers designer clothes and accessories, most of which are exclusive on the Gulf Coast.

Owner Peter Grant moved Grant’s Menswear from Ocean Springs to Biloxi in February 2013 and added Grant’s For Her. Sharon Weeks has been managing the women’s boutique with a team of women who love beautiful clothes and accessories.

For the holidays, popular holiday gift tems will include Natalie B. Vintage Jewelry, Kelly Wynne handbags and cashmere and fur by exclusive designers Ramy Brook, Joie and Vince.

jubilee boutique

Treat yourself and someone else to a great gift Jubilee Boutique in downtown Ocean Springs caters to every age and budget by offering a variety of clothing, accessories and gifts.

“We can help you fi d the perfect gift or someone, or help you fi d something to treat yourself!” says owner Lana Sauls.

Jubilee has evolved to what it is today over the past 10 years. “We started out as a shoe boutique, had some name and location changes and gradually started carrying an assortment of clothing, accessories and gifts” Lana says Jubilee carries several popular jewelry brands and numerous lines made in Mississippi.

For gift- iving, Catherine Popesco Jewelry and Kendra Scott Jewelry are always very popular during the holidays.

Lana says shoppers are surprised to learn that they offer such an affordable and unique selection of items.

66

November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 66

10/19/16 7:59 PM

r u o Y Get

! s n a c

Pe

FRESHNESS DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME OR OFFICE Seasonal Vegetables and Fruits

DOBBINS QUALITY PRODUCE Call Ricky Dobbins at (228) 731-1008

THE VERY BEST

Christmas Cookies FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Heritage House Gifts GIFTS FOR ALL OCCASIONS 738 East Pass Road • Gulfport, MS 39507 228.897.7644

W by Worth, designed in New York, is a contemporary clothing company.

Our Clothes are as sexy, spirited and smart as the women who wear them.

DIANNE MAVAR Wardrobe Stylist

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY 228-380-5070

www.gcwmultimedia.com

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 67

67

10/19/16 7:59 PM

best places to shop robin’s nest in the pass Inspiring experience for shoppers

Robin’s Nest in the Pass is a gallery gift hop that celebrates the creative spirit.

“We showcase distinctive, handmade jewelry, art by local, regional and international artists, women’s and men’s clothing accessories and unique gifts” says Dorothy Roberts, owner. “We offer wonderful customer service designed to enhance our shopper’s experience. We have a store environment that uplifts nd inspires our shoppers.”

The shop is named in honor of Dorothy’s sister, Robin Roberts, who along with her family, loves the Pass Christian community.

“You will fi d the RRR Private Collection, which features jewelry worn by Robin,” Dorothy says. “A portion of the sale from this collection is donated to the Senior Citizen Program at the Randolph Center in Pass Christian.”

Robin’s Nest recently celebrated one year in business

but, Dorothy has been making jewelry for more than 10 years.

Robin’s Nest is the only store outside of the Ocean Springs area that sells the work of Walter Anderson, Dorothy notes. “We carry a variety kitchenware items with his images. We also feature the D. Roberts Collection, which is my line of jewelry I design and make by hand. We have over 40 artists on consignment, featuring local and regional artists. We have a full line of the Rolf Glass, which is a USA-based glass company. They have a wide range of distinctive designs etched and cut onto many styles of glassware. We have an online store as well. I am able to make minor jewelry repairs, converting most pierced earrings to clips, which is greatly appreciated by customers.”

She says Robin’s Nest’s jewelry will be hot gift tems for Christmas giving.

sports shack

Fan and tailgating headquarters for 9 years

Sports Shack is a locally owned collegiate and Saints store located in D’Iberville.

“We have everything you need for the Sports Fan and more,” says Pam Thompson, co-owner with her husband, David Thompson. “We have ‘what to wear’, ‘merchandise for your auto, and home décor shop. We are your tailgating headquarters.”

Thompson says the Sports Shack team emphasizes customer service and quality over quantity.

Sports Shack recently celebrated its ninth anniversary.

The Thompsons, both big sports fans, opened the store to help others show their school spirit.

Sports Shack will personalize its home décor items while you wait, and will ship items locally and elsewhere.

November-December 2016 68

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 68

“We can customize merchandise for your business, such as Tervis Tumblers and Lit Coolers,” Pam says.

She added that the most popular gift tems this year will be pottery, Tervis Tumblers, home décor, and clothing.

10/19/16 7:59 PM

Apparel • Accessories • Yard Art & More

SOMETHING FOR

EVERYONE! FlyBOUTIQUE 452 Courthouse Rd., Suite H | Gulfport, MS 39507

228-206-4137 PETAL | PICAYUNE | HATTIESBURG shopflyboutique

www.shopflyboutique.com

11516 Lamey Bridge Rd. Ste. L, D’Iberville, MS 228-392-7007 www.sportsshack.com

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 69

10/19/16 7:59 PM

best places to shop layton’s

Home décor, food and specialty items

Layton’s is an eclectic gift and home décor shop in downtown Ocean Springs.

“Founded by a hometown girl, Layton’s offers items that are admired by both male and female customers, whether young or young at heart,” says owner Erica Layton.

“Our motto is ‘LOCAL, regional, and USA made as much as possible,’ “ Erica says. “We have the stories to back up our artists’ work.

The fact that we strive to carry items that are sold at all price points makes it possible for any pocketbook.”

Layton’s recently celebrated a one-year anniversary.

Erica was a commissioned artist (photographer) in the previous store at this location. “When the space became available, I jumped at the opportunity to feature more artists and specialty goods,” she says.

She says MONA B is Layton’s anchor line that the store is really known for. “They are recycled handbags, totes, wine and beer caddies, cross body bags and more made from military tarps and tents,” Erica says.

Layton’s also offers several local and regional gourmet items. “We also currently carry several Mississippimade pottery lines from different regions of our state: Musee Bath Balms, artwork and Bringin In the Beach boxes all from the Jackson area; leather, wood and metal items from Tennessee; handmade wooden bookmarks from Purvis; cutting/cheese boards from Vancleave; rosaries and doorknob blessings and Coastal Creations jewelry from D’Iberville, and the list goes on and on!”

Gift askets with items from Johnson’s Sweet Heat, Mickles Pickles and Resident Chef will be popular items for gift- iving. “For ladies, the Mona B bags and Beaucoup jewelry offer many good choices. Men seem to love the .50 caliber pens and bottle openers, as well as the .30 caliber keyrings. And for those wanting items refl ctive of this area, beach boxes, pottery, and/or handpainted crosses and handmade doorknob blessings are great options,” she says.

ivy boutique

Affordable, yet very fashionable

Ivy Boutique, located in the Promenade in D’Iberville, offers trendy yet affordable apparel catering to a wide range of ages for a variety of occasions.

Ivy has been in business for nearly five years. “We wanted to bring a new concept to the Coast — an affordable yet fashionable women’s boutique with quality pieces and top-notch service,” says April Bullock, owner.

April says Ivy features women’s clothing, shoes, exclusive jewelry lines, and accessories, as well as formalwear for prom and Mardi Gras balls. “We can style an entire outfit head to toe.”

Scarves, fur vests and jewelry make perfect gifts, pril says.

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 70

She goes to market with her customers in mind. “We know what they want and can pick out specific ieces that we know they will love,” she says.

10/19/16 7:59 PM

310 Popps Ferry Road, Ste. 200 • Biloxi, MS 39531 • 228.207.0723

 CELEBRATE THE

HOLIDAYS

WITH US!

RETAILER OF THE YEAR Ocean Springs 2015

 1000-B Government St. | Ocean Springs, MS Brandin Brosh, Owner

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 71

228-215-1203 10/19/16 7:59 PM

GULF COAST WOMAN

WISH LIST Ideas for gift-giving for everyone!

Martin Miazza Gifts Gulfport

Ed G

Martin Miazza G ifts Gulfport

Grant’s for Her Biloxi

Sports Shack D’Iberville 72

Fly Boutique Gulfport

November-December 2016

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 72

10/19/16 8:00 PM

Martin Miazza Gifts Gulfport

Tribe Biloxi

Educate & Celebrate Gulfport, MS Educate & Celebrate Gulfport, MS

Ivy Boutique D’Iberville

Fly Boutique Gulfport Jubilee Ocean Springs

Grant’s for Her Biloxi

www.gcwmultimedia.com

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 73

73

10/19/16 8:00 PM

It’s a Dawg’s World The Dawg House is a fun and upscale daycare, boarding, and grooming facility. We provide your dog to come and socialize with others their size and temperament. They will love to run around in our playrooms and playgrounds. We also have kenneling for when you go out of town. Overnight stay also includes Daycare, so they won’t be stuck around doing nothing all day.

Daycare - Boarding - Grooming

Come check us out!

DOG DAY CARE PRICING One dog: 1 day .................. $22 Two dogs: 1 day ................. $37

Three dogs: 1 day .............. $48 Half day: ........................ $16

Packages: 10 full days ............$190 10 half days ...........$140

OVERNIGHT BOARDING PRICES Day Camp included in all overnight stays.

Family dogs must share a cabin for multi-dog pricing.

One Dog: ................... $30/Night Two Dogs: .................. $54/Night Three Dogs: ................ $72/Night

WE ALSO HAVE MONTHLY MEMBERSHIPS

1023 E Pass Rd. | Gulfport, MS 39507 | 228-206-8596 Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 6 p.m.-7 p.m. (for pick ups)

NEW LOCATION IN BILOXI COMING SOON • 191 Hopkins Blvd. Biloxi, MS 39531

YOUR LOCAL WELLNESS CENTER Norwood Village Shopping Center 12100 US 49, Suite 628 Gulfport, MS 39503

• Vitamin &

COAST Knowledgeable friendly staff

(228) 831-1785 www.coasthealthandnutrition.com Military Discount and EBT

v18n1 16-74 front.indd 74

Supplements • Organic Produce Program • Natural & Organic Groceries • Gluten-Free Products • Local Honey and Eggs Country Girl Milk • Essential Oils and more

We bring compassion

HOME.

Serving the following counties: Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Perry and Stone

Call our office today to learn more.

228.435.2265

© 2015, LHC Group Inc. All rights reserved.

10/19/16 8:00 PM

SS

A Coastal Christmas Gumbo, fried catfish, oyster dressing and shrimp any way you like it — that’s what a coastal Christmas is all about!

To many on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, seafood is the go-to feature on holiday dinner tables as opposed to the traditional turkey and dressing.

However, if you’re looking to round out your dinner table with a few new menu items, this section is full of recipes, tips on why buying local is best, and where to buy the freshest seafood. May your holidays be merry and bright, and full of bountiful blessings harvested right from our backyard waters! photography by Shannon Lutkins

Presented by: MS Seafood

Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum Desporte and Son’s Seafood Quality Poultry and Seafood

v18n1 75-108.indd 75

10/19/16 7:48 PM

SUCCESS

From the Gulf to your plate

When looking for ways to shake up that turkey/ham tradition and embrace a more coastal Christmas, we’re fortunate to have access to the freshest seafood right at our fi gertips. From late fall into early winter is a great time to enjoy succulent Gulf oysters. The cool water temperatures and good mixing of fresh and salt water make for a delicious treat on the half shell, off he grill, or in a savory dressing. Also, commercial shrimp are still coming in off he boats, and together with the oysters, you can make a tasty gumbo. Of course, the question then becomes do you eat your gumbo with potato salad on the side or a nice scoop right inside the bowl?

From the Gulf to your plate is what a coastal Christmas is all about, but it’s important to stay educated about the dos and don’ts of local vs. imported seafood. Gulf Coast Woman magazine chatted with Dr. Kelly Lucas, the chief scientific officer or the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, to fi d out more.

Q: WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF BUYING LOCAL SEAFOOD? Buying local helps support our local fishermen and businesses. When you buy local, these fishermen, their families and their businesses continue to support the local economy through purchases in the community and this in turn helps create more jobs. Local products reduce environmental impacts through reduced transportation cost and additionally handling. And my favorite reason is because fresh local seafood tastes the best.

worldwide and the populations of wild fish are historically less. The shortfall from wild harvest is made up through aquaculture. Although the U.S. is a large consumer of aquaculture products, the majority of aquaculture products are imported. There are efforts underway in the U.S. and in Mississippi to increase aquaculture of marine species.

Q: WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS OF BUYING IMPORTED SEAFOOD? Some of the seafood imported into the United States are from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing Q: WHAT ARE SOME COMMON and some imports are mislabeled.

MISCONCEPTIONS PEOPLE HAVE Nationally, there are efforts underway ABOUT SEAFOOD? to address these issues and fi d ways Dr. Kelly Lucas, chief scientific Sadly, there are some people who to ensure the seafood you consume is officer for the Mississippi think that fish from the Gulf is tainted what you purchased and that the seafood Department of Marine Resources from the Deep Water Horizon oil spill. was harvested in a safe and sustainable Th ough numerous tests by Mississippi, manner. Additional problems include that imported other state and federal agencies and independent sources, aquaculture products tainted with drugs and antibiotics we can confi m that Gulf seafood contains no oil and banned in the U.S. or products infected with bacteria is safe to consume. From a consumption standpoint, have been making it into the American market. Although America is the third largest consumer of seafood and imported seafood is inspected, only a small percentage roughly 90 percent of the fish and shellfish consumed is gets scrutinized, inspected and tested. We recommend imported. Half of the imports are wild caught and half you choose fresh local harvested seafood. If local wildis aquaculture. The demand for seafood is increasing harvest or U.S. wild-harvest is not available, look for U.S.

{ 76

As a consumer you should always ask where your seafood comes from.

When you are dining in restaurants don’t assume the fish is lo al. Just because you are near the water does not mean that your fish ame from that water.

Local seafood is a healthy option and it promotes your community.

November-December 2016

v18n1 75-108.indd 76

— Dr. Kelly Lucas

{ 10/19/16 7:48 PM

SS BILOXI BUTTER

Recipes courtesy of MS Seafood

1 lb. boiled Mississippi Gulf shrimp (spicier the better) 1 8 oz. block of cream cheese (room temp) 1/2 stick of butter or margarine (room temp) Garlic powder to taste Peel shrimp and finely chop. Mix all ingredients together. Use as a spread on your favorite crackers.

BLOODY MARY OYSTER SHOOTERS 1 cup tomato juice 2 oz. lemon juice 1 oz. lime juice 2 oz. Worcestershire sauce 1 Tbsp. fresh grated horseradish 1 tsp. kosher salt 2 tsp. of your favorite pepper sauce 1/2 tsp. celery salt 1/2 tsp. black pepper 8 fresh-shucked Mississippi Gulf oysters Celery top leaves for garnish In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients, except for the oysters, and let refrigerate for an hour.

Then, take oysters and place one each into a 2-ounce shot glass. Top with Bloody Mary mix and garnish with celery leaves.

farm-raised products. The U.S. has strict regulations for aquaculture in our borders.

Q: WHERE ARE SOME PLACES PEOPLE CAN BUY LOCAL SEAFOOD? The Mississippi Gulf Coast offers many places to buy fresh seafood, including directly from fishermen at the docks, as well as local seafood markets. Local grocery stores also stock wild-caught Gulf seafood, but consumers must read the labels to make sure they are getting a local product and not an imported one.

Q: WHEN BUYING LOCAL SEAFOOD IN GROCERY STORES, ARE THERE CERTAIN LABELS PEOPLE NEED TO LOOK FOR? When buying seafood some key things to ask or look for on the label include: Where is it from and is it

MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST LASAGNA 1 lb. medium Mississippi Gulf shrimp 1 lb. Mississippi blue crabmeat (remove all shell) 1 lb. lasagna noodles 2 cups white wine 2 cups chicken broth 6 Tbsp. butter 1/2 cup flour Salt and pepper to taste Dash of paprika 2 Tbsp. sherry wine 2 lbs. sharp Cheddar cheese, sliced Cook lasagna according to package directions.

SautĂŠ seafood in chicken broth and wine for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove seafood and chop coarsely (reserve stock). In a saucepan, melt butter, add flour and seasonings, and cook, stirring for a few minutes. Stir in 2 cups of reserved stock and cook until thickened. Stir in chopped seafood and set aside. In a greased lasagna pan, layer noodles, sliced cheddar cheese, and seafood mixture in that order, finishing with a layer of cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

MS Seafood is the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources’ marketing program for local Mississippi seafood.

wild-harvest or farm-raised? Keep in mind that some wild-harvest fish are caught in the U.S. and processed in foreign countries. New regulations nationwide look to close the gap on labeling so consumers can more easily identify the product, how and where it was harvested, and keep that information throughout the processing chain.

Q: HOW DOES ONE CHOOSE THE BEST SEAFOOD? One of the best tools for buying the best seafood is to fi d a good fishmonger, which is a person that deals in fish. You can fi d a fishmonger in your local seafood market and grocery stores. You should ask them questions about what is local, what is fresh and what is in season?

They can also make substitute suggestions if you are looking for a particular fish. www.gcwmultimedia.com

v18n1 75-108.indd 77

77

10/19/16 7:48 PM

SUCCESS

Coastal Christmas Tablescapes

November-December 2016

v18n1 75-108.indd 78

10/19/16 7:48 PM

SS

Recipes courtesy of

Crystal Seas Seafood, Pass Christian CHARGRILLED OYSTERS

3 Tbsp. flour 6 Tbsp. butter 1 cup sharp cheese, grated 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. lemon juice 1/2 tsp. mild horseradish 1/2 cup buttered breadcrumbs Paprika

2 lbs. butter or margarine 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning 1 Tbsp. white pepper 1 Tbsp. black pepper 1 Tbsp olive oil Hot sauce to taste Parmesan cheese 48 oysters on the half shell Bring butter or margarine to room temperature.

Stir in all ingredients except Parmesan cheese.

Preheat grill to medium high. Place oysters on the grill. Once the natural juice of the oyster begins to bubble, spoon some of the butter mixture on the hot oyster. When the edges of the oysters begin to curl, put the desired amount of Parmesan cheese on top of the oysters. Once the cheese has melted, take the oysters off the grill and serve them piping hot.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt butter, add flour and stir until smooth. Add milk and remaining ingredients, mixing well. Pour into buttered baking dish. Sprinkle with buttered breadcrumbs and paprika. Bake for 20-30 minutes.

CRAB CAKES

SHRIMP AND CRAB CASSEROLE

4 slices bread, crust removed 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise 2 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning 1/2 tsp. prepared mustard 1 egg, beaten 1 lb. lump crabmeat

1 lb. jumbo lump crabmeat 1 lb. small shrimp 1 tsp. prepared mustard 1 1/2 cups milk

Crumble bread in a large bowl. Mix in mayonnaise, Old Bay, mustard and egg. Gently stir in the crabmeat. Shape into approximately 4 patties. Broil for 10 minutes or pan fry until golden brown.

{

Our family always eats oysters raw and grilled. Very rarely do we eat them other than the way God gave them to us because they are so delicious just the way they are with a little hot sauce or cocktail sauce.

Tablescapes designed by John D. Folding with items sourced from: Martin Miazza Gifts 1208 Pass Road Gulfport, MS 39501 (228) 863-1252

— Jennifer Jenkins, owner of Crystal Seas Seafood Hillyer House 920 Washington Ave. Ocean Springs, MS 39564 (228) 875-8065 Florals by Rachel Bond of Pine Hills Floral Designs 7434 Cuevas Road Pass Christian, MS 39571 (228) 255-9645

{

John D. Folding & Associates (228) 243-3271 johnfolding245@gmail.com Photo shoot location: Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, Biloxi

www.gcwmultimedia.com

v18n1 75-108.indd 79

79

10/19/16 7:48 PM

SUCCESS

Recipes courtesy of

Desporte & Son’s Seafood, Biloxi When in season, Desporte’s specializes in fresh and frozen shrimp, live and boiled crabs, fresh crabmeat, oysters, red snapper, speckled trout, flounder, lobster, stuffed crabs, mullet, stone crab claws, swordfish, lemonfish, scallops, crawfish and catfish.

CRABMEAT AU GRATIN 1 lb. jumbo lump crabmeat 1 1/2 cups half and half 1 white onion, chopped 1/2 bunch parsley, chopped 1 stick of butter 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire 2 Tbsp. Cajun hot sauce 1 Tbsp. flour Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sauté stick of butter, white onion and parsley. Add half and half, Worcestershire sauce, Cajun hot sauce and stir in flour for thickness. Add crabmeat and mix together. Pour mixture into a glass baking dish.

Sprinkle Cheddar cheese and Parmesan on top.

Bake 20-25 minutes.

CRABMEAT DRESSING 1 lb. jumbo lump crabmeat 1 white onion, chopped 1 bunch green onion, chopped 1/2 bunch parsley, chopped 1 stick of butter 2 cups Italian breadcrumb seasoning 1 cup of water Cajun seasoning Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sauté stick of butter, white onion, green onion and parsley. Add 1 cup of Italian breadcrumbs and cook until caramelized, and then add crabmeat. Add water to keep moist (may not need one cup but add to mixture until it’s moist). Add desired amount of Cajun seasoning to taste. Pour mixture into glass baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs on top. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

CAJUN POTATO SALAD 2 lbs. fresh small peeled shrimp 3 lbs. red new potatoes 1/2 bunch green onions, chopped 1/2 stalk of celery, chopped 2 Tbsp. crab boil 2 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning Chop up potatoes and place in a pot. Fill water to cover potatoes, add crab boil and boil potatoes until soft. In a separate pot, add water and Cajun seasoning and bring to a boil (if you want shrimp spicier, add more seasoning). Add shrimp to boiling water, bring back to a boil, and then turn off heat.

Mix potatoes, shrimp, celery and onions together in a bowl and season to taste.

WEST INDIES SALAD 1 lb. of jumbo lump crabmeat 1/2 bunch parsley, chopped 1 purple onion, chopped 1 cup apple cider vinegar 1 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 Tbsp. sugar 1/2 squeezed lemon Cajun seasoning Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and serve.

Serve as is or refrigerate for 20 minutes.

November-December 2016

v18n1 75-108.indd 80

10/19/16 7:48 PM

S

SS

If It Swims...We Got It! It Swims...We Got It!• OYSTERS SHRIMP • IfFISH • CRABS

WE CAN ALSO SHRIMP • FISH • CRABS • OYSTERS PACK IT FOR TRAVEL! Get your orders in today.

1075 Division Street • Biloxi

228.432.1018 / 228.435.2175 www.desporteseafood.com

v18n1 75-108.indd 81

10/19/16 7:48 PM

SUCCESS

Recipes courtesy of

Quality Poultry & Seafood, Biloxi Quality Poultry and Seafood offers a great selection of crab cakes, crab meat, crawfish, fish, oysters, seasonings, shrimp, snow crabs, stuffed chickens, stuffed shrimp potatoes and “specialty stuft meats.”

CRABMEAT DIP 1 lb. fresh crab claw meat 1 stick of real butter 1/2 bunch green onions, chopped 2 packages Philadelphia cream cheese 1 cup sour cream 1 Tbsp. granulated garlic 2 tsp. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix Pinch of Tony Chachere’s In large saucepan, sauté onions and butter. Add softened cream cheese and mix well. Blend in crabmeat, sour cream and all seasonings, and then mix well. Serve hot or cold with chips or crackers. Serves 15.

SEAFOOD BISQUE 6 quarts heavy cream 4 lbs. crabmeat 4 lbs. crawfish tails 4 lbs. shrimp 16 oz. can mushroom pieces, drained 8 cans (10.5 oz. each) cream of potato soup 4 cans (10.75 oz. each) cream of mushroom soup 4 cans (15.25 oz. each) whole kernel corn, drained 4 cans (14.75 oz. each) cream style corn 6 sticks of butter (not margarine) 4 Tbsp. Tony Chachere’s seasoning 4 capfuls of crab boil 6 cups vegetable blend 4 tsp. granulated garlic Mix all ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on low for 1 1/2 hours. Do not let it come to a boil or the

v18n1 75-108.indd 82

butter will separate. Makes 18 quarts so make sure slow cooker is large enough to hold recipe.

SHRIMP PASTA SALAD 1 1/4 lb. 40/50 peeled & deveined shrimp 2 bags colored pasta (4 cups) 1 can black olives, sliced (12 oz.)

1 jar salad olives, sliced (12 oz.)

1 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix 1 tsp. Tony Chachere’s Seasoning Dash of Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp. Cavender’s seasoning Italian dressing Sauté shrimp until cooked well and cool. Cook pasta and cool. Slice olives. Mix all ingredients in large bowl together. Mix in Italian dressing (add enough to coat — do not float). Serve cold.

10/19/16 7:48 PM

SS

PICK UP, DELIVERY AND FULL SERVICE CATERING FOR MENUS AND QUOTES CALL 228-432-5216, EXT. 304 CORPORATE AND HOLIDAY PARTIES www.gcwmultimedia.com 83 v18n1 75-108.indd 83

10/19/16 7:48 PM

SUCCESS

MISSISSIPPI SEAFOOD stands out from the rest. Every tasty bite stems from our nutrient-rich waterways of the Gulf of Mexico. Bursting with fresh flavor, our seafood thrives with local culture and supports a unique way of life.

We invite you to learn why Mississippi Gulf Fresh Seafood is some of the best seafood in the world!

WWW.MSSEAFOOD.COM

COME ON! TAKE YOUR PICK!

v18n1 75-108.indd 84

10/19/16 7:48 PM

SS

A special event calls for a unique setting.

Make your events extraordinary

Great for Holiday Parties!

Weddings • Corporate Events • Business Meetings • Reunions

115 1st Street • Biloxi • 228.435.6320 www.maritimemuseum.org

v18n1 75-108.indd 85

10/19/16 7:48 PM

Let it shine!

SUCCESS

by Tammy Turnage

As I held her hand in admire in these women and the hospital room, I could how you can develop these hardly speak for the tears as character traits in your life. she lay there fi hting for her Is it love for their families, every breath and battling patience, understanding, something so painful. There kindness, a dynamic prayer was nothing I could do but life, or the gift f hospitality? pray. Leukemia was draining Whatever it is, pray and ask any ounce of energy she God for guidance and look had. up scriptures on that topic My eyes glanced over and commit to memory her sweet, frail body, and those verses that you can I noticed the things about treasure in your heart. her that are beautiful to me.

Before long, you’ll fi d you Reminders of how she has are on your way! given so much of herself to Many years ago a sweet Tammy Turnage, right, and her mom others. Her delicate hands, friend was battling breast which prepared many meals cancer. When she began to for our family, sewed clothes for us to wear, and baked the lose her hair she gathered her three small children and most delicious pecan pies. And hands that brought glory gave each of them a pair of little scissors. She told them to God every Sunday as she played the organ in church. to help cut Mommy’s hair. Then her loving husband Her eyes, which so lovingly watched every “Mom, watch helped as well. Finally she looked in the mirror to see this!” as I tried to ride my bike, and eyes that didn’t miss herself without her beautiful auburn hair. It was then a recital or school program I was in. Those beautiful hazel that her little 5-year-old son crawled up into her lap eyes will forever be etched in my memory. Tears fell down and gently rubbed her head. He looked at her with such her cheeks as I pulled away to college. precious childlike love for her and said “Mama, you are so As I have time to sit and cherish every moment, my beautiful.” mind also wanders back to a quote written in the back You see, true beauty does come from within. Never, of my Bible. It was Mother’s Day 2004, and our preacher ever forget that. was speaking on what the true image of a woman of God These beautiful women have both gone on to live happy, looks like. He said, “As a woman who loves the Lord ages, healthy lives. God had wonderful plans! Mom truly is she becomes more beautiful and radiant. a walking miracle. Today she encourages many women She truly glows from the inside out.” battling leukemia and was there when our family lost our She glows. At that moment, I think my mother shined home in Hurricane Katrina, giving us encouragement and like never before — her unwavering faith in God, her much needed emotional support. She still makes those strong will to survive, and her belief in prayer. The words delicious pecan pies and delivers them all over town to of Isaiah 60:9 reminded me that God had truly made her those in need. so very beautiful. How did this all happen? You see, her And my sweet friend? Susan is a loving mother of faith became the focus of her life, not her illness! How three wonderful grown children and a grandmother to beautiful. How truly beautiful. a precious baby granddaughter! She also encourages When we take our eyes off f ourselves and place them women battling cancer and gives encouragement to their on our loving God, He becomes the focus and we become families. Today, their beauty shines like never before! So more beautiful. go out there, share your faith, and tell others how God I’ve known many women who are examples to me of has helped you through the difficult times in your life. faith. How about you? Who refl cts the light of a life lived Imagine the difference your light can make in the world! for Christ in your life? Now, stop and think of what you Get out there and let it shine!

86

November-December 2016

v18n1 75-108.indd 86

10/19/16 7:48 PM

HEALTH

SS

Join the GCW team in a healthier you quest!

Sooo, you’re thinking you will NOT be passing up on all of that delicious food Thanksgiving Day, and you defin tely don’t want to be the ONLY one not digging in at the holiday parties, right? Well, here’s another way to think about whether you should begin a healthier you plan right now versus in January: Start losing weight now, make healthier choices at the Thanksgiving buffet and eat lightly at all those parties and you’ll have 5 to 10 lbs. LESS to try losing come January. And the GCW team will help you meet your goals by telling you how we’re succeeding with four different approaches to a healthier state. Read our stories and follow us on gcwmultimedia.com/why-wait-challenge and on social media for lots of tips and information.

C’mon, why wait till January?

JENNIFER COX WHY I ACCEPTED THE #WHYWAITTILLJANUARY CHALLENGE? As a very busy single mom of teenage twins, my focus completely shifted to everything and everyone besides myself. Also, a series of failed relationships led me to emotional eating and the stress got me to being the biggest I have ever been.

MY PLAN: My plan is to work out a minimum of three days a week at my gym sponsor Southern Elite Fitness with my trainer Richard Hawthorne.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the #WhyWaitTillJanuary challenge are those of the authors and do not necessarily refl ct the offi al endorsement of Gulf Coast Woman, LLC.

www.gcwmultimedia.com

v18n1 75-108.indd 87

87

10/19/16 7:48 PM

SUCCESS

COX continued

I am also incorporating cryotherapy sessions at Gulf Coast Cryotherapy and will be trying the Ketopia diet.

I will also have Robby D’Angelo coaching me through healthy eating and meal planning.

WHAT SUCCESS WILL LOOK LIKE FOR ME: Th s is not about a number for me. I am not going in with an amount I want to lose weight wise. I want to feel better and look better, but not necessarily on just the outside!

TEAM COX

P

10

v18n1 75-108.indd 88

10/19/16 7:49 PM

SS

NOT JUST ANOTHER GYM “Everyone starts somewhere” Knowledgeable Staff and Trainers available to help you reach your fitness goals

Owners L to R: Aaron Big Red Williams, Kenny Davis and Richard Hawthorne

Group Fitness Classes Including Yoga Sports Performance Training Proud Sponsor of Jennifer Cox for Gulf Coast Woman Magazines “Why Wait til January Challenge”

10380 Auto Mall Parkway | D’Iberville,MS 39549 | 228.207.3728 Opened and Staffed 24/7 v18n1 75-108.indd 89

10/19/16 7:49 PM

CRYOTHERAPY

SUCCESS for the

Mississippi Gulf Coast

Whole-body cryotherapy is the newest treatment in sports medicine and overall health and well-being!

Helps with • Pain Relief & Management • Injury Recovery • Anti-Aging and Skin Renewal • Mental Health & Well-being Call today or walk in to find out why elite athletes and pro teams are using cryotherapy all across the country!

10598 D’Iberville Boulevard • D’Iberville,MS 39540 228.463.3070 www.gulfcoastcryo.net • Facebook: gulfcoastcryo

Put your body into a state of natual ketosis!

Call us at GULF COAST CRYO today to find out about the “ketopia lifestyle.”

Contact our product representatives Diana Paffe and Colin Bush

228-463-3070 v18n1 75-108.indd 90

For more information or to order your Ketopia 7-Day Reset Kit, visit keydietplan.com

10/19/16 7:49 PM

SS

TORI BISHOP WHY I ACCEPTED THE #WHYWAITTILLJANUARY CHALLENGE? I have been on a diet since the age of five. My mother took me to the pediatrician for a regular visit and he told her I was overweight. My relationship with food changed forever. I am 41 and there has not been one day since that doctor’s appointment that I have not thought about my weight, my body and food. For me, #WhyWaitTillJanuary is really I can’t wait till January.

My body feels the effects of being overweight and my mind is exhausted from thinking about how to lose it. Most importantly, I do not want to pass along bad eating habits to my children.

MY PLAN: My plan is to build a team to help me learn how to shop and cook healthy for me and my family. I have learned from experience that trying to do a program separate from my family does not work. Staying active is also a critical part of my strategy. I will be recruiting a team member who can help me be accountable with working out regularly. I would also like someone to help me with the emotional effects of struggling with weight loss.

TEAM BISHOP

WHAT SUCCESS WILL LOOK LIKE FOR ME: There are many ways to measure success. For the purpose of this challenge, I will record my weight and measurements as well as keep a diary of my emotions throughout the process. Ultimately, my goal is to walk away from this challenge with a new skill set to help me have a healthy relationship with food. No more dieting!!

www.gcwmultimedia.com

v18n1 75-108.indd 91

91

10/19/16 7:49 PM

SUCCESS

FIVE REASONS you may need to stop by Foundations Bra Fitting for a professional bra assessment.

1. Fluff - Some people call it “back fat” did you know wearing a properly fitted bra can eliminate back bulge?

2. Neck or Back Hurting - You may not be wearing a properly sized bra which can cause neck or back pain 3. Center of bra lifted off of your chest 4. Dents in your shoulders 5. Bra band rides up in the back

STOP BY FOUNDATIONS BRA FITTING FOR A COMPLEMENTARY FITTING!

Tues - Fri 10 - 6 | Sat 10 - 2

228-896-3688

Appointments Recommended

9138 Carl Leggett Rd., Suite C | Gulfport, MS 39503 v18n1 75-108.indd 92

10/19/16 7:49 PM

SS

Coach Derek Shoemake, Coach Ty Carter, Coach John Byrd, Coach/Owner Ryan Webb, Coach Chris Boudreax Not pictured: Coach Anna Carver and Shane Lyons

CROSSFIT 228 is an authorized CrossFit & CrossFit Kids gym located on the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast.

WE ARE A GROUP OF FRIENDS THAT WORK TO GROW STRONGER, FASTER AND BETTER TOGETHER. CrossFit 228 offers daily classes, certified trainers, and a family-friendly space to workout.

COACH RYAN WEBB for more information at (228) 697-5202, or just drop in for a class today.

Contact

421 VICTORY ST. | GULFPORT MS 39507 v18n1 75-108.indd 93

10/19/16 7:49 PM

Better bones, better you

SUCCESS

by Myrna Beth Haskell

Not long ago, I was talking to a friend who had just found out she was at high risk for osteoporosis due to the results of a recent bone density test. She informed me that osteoporosis runs in her family. I was surprised because I had always thought osteoporosis was a problem which affl ted the 60 and older crowd, but my friend had just turned 50. Most understand that grandma is likely to break a bone if she falls, but many don’t realize that women should start asking questions about bone health in their 40s.

As children, we are told to drink milk for stronger bones. I was never a big milk drinker, so my friend’s news disturbed me. Has my love and regular consumption of other dairy products, such as cheese, saved me?

Do all women have a chance of developing osteoporosis?

Are there specific hings women can do to encourage healthy bones, or is it just too late for those who are already entering middle age?

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY… Women are at a much higher risk than men to develop osteoporosis. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, “Of the estimated ten million Americans with osteoporosis, about eight million or 80 percent are women.”

Miranda Hebert RDN, RDN, LD LD

Registered Dietitian, Dietitian, Nutritionist, Registered Owner,doTERRA doTERRA Wellness Wellness Advocate Owner

Your Nutrition Goals Your Goals Are AreMy MyMission!

Mission!

• Nutrition Counseling Now O • Meal Planning • Nutrition CounselingInffering Food to lera • Supermarket Tours Testin nce g • Pantry Makeovers • Corporate Wellness • Corporate Wellness • Management/Prevention of chronic disease • Essential Oil Consults (Diabetes, HTN etc.)

• Essential •oilMRT consults Food Intolerance/ • MRT FoodFood Intolerance/Food Sensitivty Sensitivity Testing Testing

Before

After

• AND MUCH, MUCH MORE! • AND MUCH, MUCH MORE! * Some Insurance Accepted * *Some Insurance Accepted*

It’s Not A Diet, It’s A Lifestyle!

Miranda Hebert, LD, Owner It’s Not A Diet, It’s A RDN, Lifestyle!

228-215-0884

LOST 58.4 LBS IN 10 MONTHS!

www.missionnutritionrd.com

Miranda Hebert, RDN, LD, Owner Mission.nutritionRD@gmail.com 228-215-0884 www.mydoterra.com/mirandahebert www.missionnutritionrd.com www.facebook.com/mission.nutritionrd www.mydoterra.com/mirandahebert

v18n1 75-108.indd 94

Gino Tutera, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., a specialist in menopause and hormone replacement therapy, explains, “If she is 40, Caucasian, a smoker, or a woman of menopause, she should have a DEXA scan (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) for bone density determination. A family history of osteoporosis is also a risk factor.” However, Tutera recommends that all women get a bone density test in their 40s. Bone density scans are painless and noninvasive. One or two years after an initial bone density test, a second bone density can determine if you have low peak bone mass that is staying the same, or if you are actually losing bone.

Women need not be victims. There are many things women can do to improve bone health. Tutera suggests regular exercise. Exercise should be both weight-bearing (which includes jogging, dancing and climbing stairs) and muscle strengthening (which includes lifting free weights or using weight machines). He also suggests taking calcium daily (at least 1200 mg) and taking vitamin D3 if needed.

The best source of vitamin D3 is the sun, but liberal use of sunscreen decreases your D3 exposure. Beef liver, cheese, egg yolks, and fatty fish contain small amounts of the vitamin.

Fortifi d milk and orange juice also contain vitamin D, but manufacturers can choose to add D2 or D3. So, many women choose a supplement to be sure they are getting enough vitamin D3.

Lifestyle choices also affect bone health. Chronic alcohol consumption decreases bone density. According to an article published by the Mayo Clinic in 2013, “Regular consumption of more than two alcoholic drinks a day increases your risk of osteoporosis, possibly because alcohol can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb calcium.” Researchers also have found that tobacco use contributes to weak bones. In addition, women should limit caffeine consumption, especially from soft d inks.

What does menopause have to do with the equation?

Tutera, who is also a pioneer in hormone replacement, reports, “A loss of estrogen increases the speed of bone break down and stops the patient from making bone.” Th s is why menopausal women have to take particular care when it comes to bone health.

Women should also take care to physically change their environments to prevent falls: Keep fl ors clutter free, particularly by stairways; hold onto stair rails; and wear comfortable, sturdy shoes with good support, particularly when you need to walk long distances. For pain management, women should talk to their healthcare provider to discuss options.

For more information, visit the National Osteoporosis Foundation website at www.nof.org.

Haskell is an award-winning author, columnist and feature writer.

Her work has appeared in national and regional publications across the U.S. and internationally (www.myrnahaskell.com).

10/19/16 7:49 PM

SS

AISA TEMPLETON WHY I ACCEPTED THE #WHYWAITTILLJANUARY CHALLENGE? Like most women, I’ve struggled with yo-yo weight patterns most of my adult life — gain 20 pounds, lose 20 pounds, then gain 30 — over and over again. By the age of 40, the extra weight contributed to knee and back pain that limited my activity level to where I couldn’t climb stairs, walk distances or kneel down without sharp pain. After a series of unsuccessful medical treatments, a friend referred me to a personal trainer who developed my stabilizer muscles and got my weight down so that my joint pain was nearly gone.

By 2014, I thought I had fi ally conquered my weight and joint problems: I reached and maintained my goal weight for almost a year. But then life threw me a series of curveballs and, unable to manage my stress levels, I succumbed to my old patterns of emotional eating. In one year, I put back on 30 pounds and my joint pain came back.

MY PLAN: Th s will be a holistic approach. It’s not only about eating right and exercising. It’s about understanding the emotional reasons behind mindless overeating and how to cope. My plan is to learn proper nutrition and exercise, how to recognize emotional eating triggers and develop lifestyle changes so I can maintain both my physical and mental health.

TEAM TEMPLETON

WHAT SUCCESS WILL LOOK LIKE FOR ME: Success will be conquering emotional eating and adjusting my lifestlyle to achieve 18 to 20 percent body fat composition.

www.gcwmultimedia.com

v18n1 75-108.indd 95

95

10/19/16 7:49 PM

R

U

DE

20

TH

16

SUCCESS

1 CEMBER 3

,

C

TRAIN FOR LIFE BEING HEALTHY & FIT STARTS AT ANY AGE Personal Training, Small Group Training & Fitness Instruction

AMENITIES INCLUDE:

• Expert Personal Trainers • Group Fitness Classes • State-of-the-Art Cardio with HD TV Viewing • Free Weights & Strength Machines • Outdoor Obstacle Course • Open 24/7 with access to thousands of locations Every new member receives a FREE Get Started Plan!

A no-pressure fitness consultation and 30-day fitness plan.

4494 POPPS FERRY RD. | D’IBERVILLE, MS 39540

228.396.8459

http://anytimefitness.com/gyms/2571

Join us for a full body, holistic approach to a healthier lifestyle You will receive a comprehensive diet

H Cl

Youth & athletic training available

• Contact Radical Alterations for an interview appointment today

(228) 224-2595

NHalliburton@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/radicalalterations

GULFPORT

https://www.facebook.com/AnytimeFitnessDlbervilleMS

• • • • • •

HELPING THE WORLD

LIVE HEALTHIER

• •

Are you always in a hurry?

Does life create a challenge for you to eat a balanced meal?

•

HAVE NO FEAR OGXFENIX IS HERE.

•

3 grams Fiber 13 grams Protein 23 grams Vital Nutrients

•

W Ea an

15 HEALTH MEALS FOR $80 A weight loss meal plan you can actually stick to!

Less than $2.50 a day as a

PREFERRED CUSTOMER

www.goodeninternational.organogold.com v18n1 75-108.indd 96

TEXT “I’M READY” TO (985) 290-9757

10/19/16 7:49 PM

SS

CELEBRATE YOUR

Health B eauty AND

INSIDE AND OUT!

HEALTH FIT M.D. is the Premier Medical Weight Loss Clinic and Medical Aesthetics Center Offering: • Non-surgical Medical Weight Loss – Safely lose 10lbs to 100lbs or more!

HEALTHY BODY! HEALTHY MIND!

B eautiful You!

• The “Gold Standard” in Gentle® Laser Hair Removal • Skin Tightening and Rejuvenation • Chemical Peels • Latisse® for Longer Eyelashes • Photo-Facials • Zerona® Body Contouring – Fat Loss/Inch Loss • Age and Sun Spot Treatment • Spider Vein Treatment

Our Licensed Medical Aesthetician Holly Ranson has over 10 Years’ Experience!

BEFORE

AFTER

• Acne Treatment • SkinMedica® - by Allergan® Medical-Grade Skin Care Products • Metagenics® and Designs for Health®

BEFORE

We are Allergan “Brilliant Distinctions® (BD®)” partners!

Earn & use your points here on all Allergan® and SkinMedica® Products!

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

For more info, call us at (228) 206-0542 or visit us at 12261 Highway 49, Suite 6 | Gulfport, MS 39503 http://healthfitmd.com

v18n1 75-108.indd 97

https://www.facebook.com/HealthFitMDAestheticsAndWeightLoss/

10/19/16 7:49 PM

SUCCESS

DOROTHY WILSON WHY I ACCEPTED THE #WHYWAITTILLJANUARY CHALLENGE? Th s time of year, I think about starting a diet but put it off ecause I want to enjoy the holiday feasting!

I’m not at my optimal weight and I want to feel like myself so I don’t want to add another five pounds over Thanksgiving and Christmas and then have to work that much harder to slim down next year.

I’m competitive, so having a challenge will help me stay committed. Also, I think a lot of other women need some encouragement right about now to DO something and quit waiting.

MY PLAN: Study the various options and fi d a plan that fits my needs: easy to follow; doesn’t require a lot of preparation time; is proven to be safe; includes an assessment by a healthcare professional. I’ve been able to successfully eat better and lose weight in the past but when I get really busy, I slip back into old habits.

My strategy will include prepared meals and shakes to supplement cleaner meals (low fat, low carbs, low sugar). I also know it will be difficult for me to commit to going to the gym 3-4 times weekly, so I plan to incorporate regular brisk walks into my routine.

TEAM WILSON

98

WHAT SUCCESS WILL LOOK LIKE FOR ME: Lose 40 pounds, lower my blood pressure, healthier eating habits.

November-December 2016

v18n1 75-108.indd 98

10/19/16 7:49 PM

SS

LOSING WEIGHT IS A

WALK IN

THE PARK!

I lost 100 poun ds with Idea

Burn Fat and Preserve Lean Muscle with the Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method. Registered dietitians will help you set and achieve your weight loss goals. l Protein!*

JOIN TODAY.

Call (228) 575-7105 or visit GPMedical.com *Results may vary.

15200 Community Road, Gulfport, MS 39503 • (228) 575-7000 v18n1 75-108.indd 99

10/19/16 7:49 PM

GULF COAST MOBILE MASSAGE SPA, LLC

SUCCESS

We come to you!

Gulf Coast Mobile Massage Spa brings the spa experience to your home, hotel, bachelorette party, bridal party, corporate events and wellness spa parties.

Custom Massages Firming Mud Wrap & Mask Skinny Wrap Sugar & Salt Scrubs Purple Tiger & Vistalife* Weight Loss Supplements

Custom spa services in the privacy of your home or in our brand new spa facility HOLIDAY GIFT CERTIFICATES

NOW AVAILABLE

AFFORDABLE • CONVENIENT • CUSTOM FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL

228.760.0176 2600 Beach Blvd., Suite 6, Biloxi, MS www.gulfcoastmobilemassagespa.weebly.com Powered by Purple Tiger Energy*

v18n1 75-108.indd 100

10/19/16 7:49 PM

SS

“We are dedicated to improving awareness of natural parenting on the Gulf Coast.”

Hallie Wald

rep, Owner

aden + anais Apparel Art & Creativity Babywearing Breastfeeding Tula Diaper Bags Cloth Diapers CottonBabies Gear Gifts Mealtime Swim & Sun Lillebaby

Maternal Instinct Boutique is natural parenting store located in Pascagoula, MS. Our aim is to bring natural parenting to the Gulf Coast. We offer a wide selection of baby carriers, cloth diapers, feeding and lifestyle products, and styles for both mom and baby. We run a non-profit education and outreach program called Moms in Black, and we are the local hosts of the nationally accredited cloth diaper bank “Share the Love.”

www.maternalinstinctboutique.com www.facebook.com/maternalinstinctboutique

@m_i_boutique

Do you want to provide the best care for your family,

BUT REALIZE THAT YOU CAN’T DO IT ALL BY YOURSELF? THE PILLARS OF BILOXI is the solution for your rehabilitation, long-term or respite care needs. We offer a range of specialized services, from 24-hour nursing care, IV therapy, physical, occupational, speech therapy; and

Beauty Salon

also memory care services with

Specialized Activities

specialized memory care services with specialized male and female units. We create personalized

Reconnecting people to life through individuals serving individuals.

treatment programs to address the specific needs for each patient.

Visit or call

THE PILLARS OF BILOXI

Compassionate Staff Private Therapy Suites Looking for career opportunities with the Pillars? Visit our website at pillarsbiloxi.cesltc.com

today at

228.388.1805

2279 Atkinson Road • Biloxi, MS 39531

v18n1 75-108.indd 101

10/19/16 7:49 PM

We LISTEN so you can HEAR. Hearing evaluations Hearing aid fittings Tinnitus treatment

by Dr. Randy Buntyn

Hearing aid cleanings are free Serving the Coast since 1996 Locally owned Open five days a week

Ross Deavours, Au.D.

Doctor of Audiology

“Loss of hearing separates you from people.My greatest joy is improving the quality of my patients’ lives. It is extra special when my patients become my friends.They share their lives and family with me and I share mine.” ~ ROSS DEAVOURS, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology

Better Hearing Center 2112 Bienville Blvd., Suite I Ocean Springs, MS

228.818.9555

www.thebetterhearingcenter.com

site tire service

“We bring the shop to you” 24-hr Emergency Road Service

Home • Office • Roadside

228.832.3802

After Hours

228.669.6101

Michelin • BF Goodrich • Bridgestone • Firestone • Good Year • Toyo • Nitto • Uniroyal • Dunlop • General CARS • TRUCKS • CAMPERS • TRAILERS New Tires • Tire Repairs • Spare Tire Installed • Lock-Outs, Fuel Delivery, Jump Starts and Batteries Installed

v18n1 75-108.indd 102

Healthy teeth isSUCCESS part of living well Is it just me or is this year flying by? It seems like every year passes faster and faster and we wonder where the time has gone. In this fast-paced world of ours, we often look back and refl ct. Maybe we wish we had slowed down to smell a few more roses, spent more quality time with family and friends, spent more time helping others, or read a few more books.

Truth is, we often have to fi ht for quality time.

Almost every day in my dental practice, I have conversations with very well meaning patients about their health in general, specifi ally their dental health. For the most part, our teeth are out of sight and out of mind. Most of us know to take care of our teeth, but most don’t think about how our teeth take care of us.

Our smile is a huge part of our personality. It is one of the fi st things people notice and it can convey many aspects of personalities. Th s doesn’t mean you should have a “Hollywood smile,” but you should have a healthy smile.

Your gums are incredibly important in your overall health.

Are they red and irritated (even sometimes)? That can be a strong indicator that your body is having a tough time controlling the bacteria around your teeth. Th s bacteria is making its way into your bloodstream — the same bloodstream that feeds every part of your body. Reducing infection is critical to your overall health, which is why you should take a close look at your gums and have a dentist look too.

Aside from wisdom teeth that may have been removed years ago, are you missing any other teeth? I’m talking about other ones that may have been removed due to infection or other problems. Having all of your teeth in place is very important.

Over time, missing even one tooth can have a real affect on your life. Digestion is a huge part of a healthy life and a happy lifestyle, and chewing is the fi st step in digestion. Food should be chewed into small pieces and this helps with the absorption of the nutrients used to feed every part of your body. If your food isn’t chewed well, it’s possible that your digestive system is having to work harder to get the nutrients from your food.

The fewer teeth we have, the harder this becomes. Missing teeth can also cause other teeth to shift c eating overall problems with your bite and the muscles you use to chew.

If we want to really enjoy time with others, having good meals and laughing about the joys of life, we should concentrate on having a healthy lifestyle. Do the things you know you should do to be good to yourself. If you want some direction about the health of your teeth, then visit one of the local dentists on the Coast. A healthy smile could be the fi st step to a healthier life.

L. Randy Buntyn, DMD, owns Smile Gulf Coast in Ocean Springs (general, implant and cosmetic dentistry). For more information, call (228) 875-3343 or visit www.

SmileGulfCoast.com.

10/19/16 7:49 PM

SS

Family.

You’re cared for like

Why wait 2 weeks to be seen?

We see patients within 48 hours.

Schedule your Running Analysis

TODAY!

SPECIAL PROGRAMS SERVICES

Personal Care, Homemaker /Companion, Hospital Accompaniment, Transport, Assistance with Bathing, Dressing and Grooming, Assistance with Walking and Mobility, Incontinence Care, and much, much, more.

SERVICE AREAS Hancock County, Harrison County, Jackson County, and Stone County

9259-B Woolmarket Road | Biloxi, MS 39532 Phone: 228-280-8231 | Fax: 228-967-7639

www.UpliftHC.com Monday-Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm Saturday & Sunday: Closed | On-Call: 24 Hours

• Running Analysis • Pre and Post-op Bariatric Program • ACL Injury Prevention Program for Middle School and High School Students • “Just Strollin’” Walking Club

SERVICES • Comprehensive evaluations to accurately determine the deficits and special needs of each patient.

• Modalities (heat, cold, ultrasound, assist in pain relief.

• Innovative approaches to exercise with the goal of restoring function.

• Rehabilitation programs for post surgical shoulders, elbows, knees, neck and back.

Tired of struggling with your weight? Feel like you’ve tried everything?

Hypnosis is a program designed to help you understand how you lost control and teaches you how to understand your body in relation to food and help you take back control.

• Comprehensive Functional Capacities Evaluations, 2-day format.

• DSI trained with over 6000 FCE’s performed since 1989.

• Instruction in home exercise programs.

• Work injury rehabilitation programs.

• Manual therapy.

• Dry Needling.

• Spine & joint mobilization and manipulation.

Call today to book your first session and let hypnosis get you back on track to a healthier you!

Physical ˜ erapy Center of Ocean Springs

for more information contact

900 Holcomb Blvd., Suite A Ocean Springs, MS

BARRY R. JONES, JR. 1636 Popps Ferry Rd. Biloxi, Ms 39535

228-596-7377

www.foundationaltraininginstitute.com

v18n1 75-108.indd 103

(228) 872-6821

NOW OPEN IN BILOXI

175 MAIN STREET • 228-222-4485 www.gcwmultimedia.com 103 10/19/16 7:49 PM

SUCCESS

We’re the SMILE MAKERS!

Kinyatta Bennett, D.M.D. General Dentist

Most Insurances Accepted • New Patients Welcome

Please call to schedule your appointment today: (228) 832-1000 13179 Three Rivers Road | Gulfport, MS 39503 Services offered include: Tooth Color Bonded Restorations, Crowns, Bridges, Amalgam Restorations, Dentures, Partials, Teeth Whitening, Extractions and more

Dental Charlene Taylor • Karen Slater

Doctors of Audiology

C.A. “Buddy” Brice D.D.S., P.A. Jason S. Rector, D.M.D.

Pediatric Dentists Dedicated To The Oral Health Of Infants, Children, Teens And Children With Special Needs BILOXI OFFICE

OCEAN SPRINGS OFFICE

1070 Judge Sekul Ave. Biloxi, MS 39530

1268 Ocean Springs Rd. Ocean Springs, MS 39564

(228) 374-8175

v18n1 75-108.indd 104

(228) 215-3100

10/19/16 7:49 PM

SS

WOMEN ON THE LINE A NEW SERIES: PART 2 OF 3

by Elaine Stevens Military wives defin tely trade in their pearls for his dog tags. However, love makes the impossible possible, as you will see from three amazing south Mississippi women. They don’t sit idly by in puddles of self-pity waiting for deployment to end. They are completely engaged in the community. Their common bond is a dedicated network of military spouses helping each other overcome the struggles and the fears.

ERIKA Erika Ritschard heard the horrors of military life from her father, a U.S. Army veteran. “When I was 13 I promised myself I would not be willing to go through that and would never be with someone in the military.”

At age 16, Erika conceived her daughter with her high school sweetheart Jonathan, which changed her mind and heart. He broke the news to her about joining the Navy, and Erika gave birth to their daughter while Jonathan was away at Navy “A” school. They married six weeks later. The Kansas native was an 18-year-old newlywed with an eight-month-old when she found herself in Gulfport, Mississippi, and alone during Jonathan’s fi st deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan just a couple of months after moving from their home state.

“I didn’t know anybody here. I didn’t know the area and there was very little money. I dropped my husband off. We said our goodbyes and I cried for three days.”

She went home to Kansas for an extended visit and upon returning after Christmas decided it was time to move off

base. That’s when she discovered her spirit of responsibility.

She knew she had to make the time away from Jonathan work for her and her infant daughter.

“It takes 28 days to develop a habit,” Erika says. “So after the fi st month I get into a routine.” Of course, that all changes when Jonathan comes home and another routine must be established.

During the fi st deployment Erika became the Vice President of the Family Readiness Group, which connects families of those deployed. When Jonathan deployed the third time, Erika was the ombudsman for the battalion, meaning she was the single point of contact between the families and the command.

The hard times apart, nevertheless, remain fresh.

Th ough tears, the 26-year-old explains how difficult it was not having Jonathan present for her college graduation last May and for the birth of two of their three children.

“It’s not like missing the fi st day of school,” Erika explains. “He actually missed the fi st breath of air our children took as human beings in a new world.”

Those events are in the past. Jonathan has just returned in August from his fourth deployment over his nine-year Navy career, but the mother of three knows the “D” word will rear its fated head once again in the very near future.

Jonathan’s shortest deployment was five and a half months; the longest deployment to Africa six years ago took him away from home for nearly a year.

“Until it’s over and he’s home, deployment seems impossible,” Erika says. “I stay true to myself, my husband, and my kids, and I don’t give in to negative things.”

SPONSORED BY Special thanks to Allen Toyota for sponsoring Women on the Line, a three-part series recognizing women answering the toughest challenges in their communities.

v18n1 75-108.indd 105

10/19/16 7:49 PM

SUCCESS

MICHELLE Michelle Volkmann is planning a big family Christmas this year when her Iowa family comes to Mississippi, but it will be without her husband Benny. He was deployed by the Navy in August and is not expected home until February 2017. That means the holidays and a 12th wedding anniversary on her own.

Michelle says, “The hardest part is trying to explain to my two girls, ages 7 and 4, why Daddy isn’t here and why he has to leave. They see their cousins’ parents who don’t leave for six months and come back home. There is really no good answer except to say, ‘Daddy loves you, and it is important that he goes away.’”

Like others in her situation Michelle stays active and takes advantage of the many resources available for families of the deployed. FOCUS — Families Overcoming Under Stress — is based on over 20 years of research with children and families facing challenges and adversities in many different settings.

Michelle explains, “They have therapists and counselors the girls can meet with and talk through the frustrating moments of missing their dad.”

Being a military spouse has given Michelle insight into her own life and objectives. Describing herself as a “goal digger,” Michelle says, “My career path is an obstacle course that dips into muddy waters and rises up to steep rope climbs. By being a goal digger, I own my career path. I’m forging it every day.”

Volunteering as co-chair for the local chapter of In Gear Career for Military Spouses, as well as an advisor for a family readiness group, Michelle is also a freelance writer and managing editor for NextGenMilspouse.com and other publications.

“I write about how husbands and wives are holding it together while apart,” she says. “But the nights are a challenging time for my girls when they need extra cuddles and stories.” That’s why the Volkmanns schedule weekly FaceTime on Sunday afternoons while the children eat

MOLLY Molly is not only a military wife, but an Army veteran herself. At age 19 she joined the reserves and was called into active duty after the September 11 attacks on the United States.

“It was incredibly difficult,” Molly says in a soft nd understated tone. “I had just met my husband and was chomping at the bit to get home and go to grad school. Next 106

lunch. “I miss him the most on their birthdays,” Michelle says.

She adds her anxiety levels and fears were at their highest when Benny was in Iraq for nine months in 2007. “I was 26 years old, no children at the time. I drank wine and cried a lot.” That’s why today Michelle says she cannot afford to be a very emotional person in the day-to-day. “I have to keep moving forward until he gets home.”

In spite of the longing, Michelle and the girls remain positive in what she describes as a “life of constant transitions,” which have provided them a broad range of experiences, cultures, and countries as a family. She says she fi ds the joy in military life because her husband loves the Navy, and she loves her husband. Like so many military wives, friendships remain the key to sanity.

“Reach out to the community that is around you,” Michelle advises. “Meet other military wives and fi d that one person who you can call in the middle of the night, who will drive you to the ER, jumpstart your car, or take your children for the day when you are sick. That is the person who will get you through. And, remember every night that goes by is one day closer to your husband coming home.”

thing you know I am stuck in Kuwait with no idea of when I would be coming back to the U.S.” Unfortunately, like so many of the troops, Molly suffered post-traumatic stress syndrome. Her journey to healing was long and painful.

She eventually earned her master’s degree in business administration and married the man of her dreams.

Though she still struggles with health issues, today Molly is happily married with a son in second grade, a daughter in kindergarten, and an Air Force husband stationed for

November-December 2016

v18n1 75-108.indd 106

10/19/16 7:49 PM

SS the next year or more in what she describes as a “remote, hostile, and undisclosed location of Europe.” Upon fi st learning about his new duty station, Molly says it was like having whiplash.

“I was in an angry stupor for the fi st week, saying this is not really going to happen. It’s a really bad prank.”

She decided immediately to pull in and determine her priorities for her family. That meant giving up a lucrative position as a fi ancial professional.

“I stepped away from a 100-percent commission in my role, but it takes so much to run the house and to be here completely for my children,” Molly explains. “I cannot have anything else on me, like a full time job. There is just so much uncertainty in my world right now.”

Molly has developed constructive coping mechanisms to deal with the many months her husband is overseas.

She is helping her children to do the same.

“They throw their shoes and start screaming. They are experiencing pain from their father’s absence and they don’t have the internal understanding to draw that correlation,” Molly says. “I enrolled both children in a martial arts program three times a week. Also, we are about to start the FOCUS program.”

For Molly volunteer work has been rewarding, and being with other military wives who understand is rejuvenating for her.

“I am fi ding a new rhythm. I love to entertain at home over the holidays, so I will still try to do that.” Her mother-in-law being in town is a godsend for Molly as well. “She is staying for six months and we garden and do other things together.”

For Christmas Molly is planning to visit her mother in Florida and her brother in South Carolina. However, her October 18 wedding anniversary was a keen reminder that “her favorite person in the world” is not nearby. “I cannot crawl in bed with him and fall asleep with my skin blanket,” Molly says sadly. Yet her wisdom about her friendships with others in the same predicament shines through.

“If I thought for one minute I was doing this alone I would be a wreck, but friends ask me how I’m doing. They call to give me a break and even tell me to make a list of the jobs I need done around the house. Knowing they are there is a lifesaver.”

v18n1 75-108.indd 107

Supporting women on the line everyday as they make a difference on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Allen Toyota would like to invite our local

SHEROES to stop by for a COMPLIMENTARY CAR WASH AND COFFEE!

u o y k n a h T

for your bravery and service!

shero \noun | she•ro \ : a woman regarded as a hero

Think Toyota. Think Allen Toyota.

10/19/16 7:49 PM

PARENTING

SUCCESS

Time to give thanks...for moms!

by Rebecca Ritchey

Brandy Ring

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS During the Olympic commercials, I thought about my mom. She sacrific d much for her children, and I didn’t realize it until I became a mom. It’s about the little things, like staying awake late at night to listen to you talk.

Making sure your laundry is clean, folded, and mended.

Teaching you personal hygiene and making sure you have food to eat. The little things that make everyday life.

Nancy Wielgosz, Owner

and her granddaughter

“I tell you the truth, if you have faiths as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20-21 At The Mustard Seed, we believe in the care and education of the whole child. Our curriculum provides a superior educational foundation but also introduces children to who they are in God’s world, the importance of developing a good character, having healthy eating and exercising habits, and much more.

Our Classes Include: Infants: Buds - 2+ months Ones: Seedlings - 12+ months Twos: Sprouts - 2 Years Threes: Shoots - 3 Years Fours: Vines - 4 Years Monday - Friday 7:00am - 5:30pm

NOW TAKING INFANTS

4247 Popps Ferry Road D’Iberville, MS 39540 TEL: 228.392.7405 | FAX: 228.392.7409 www.gotomustardseed.com

v18n1 75-108.indd 108

The Summer Olympics were a big deal in our home this year. We enjoyed the competitions, but what touched me the most were the “thanks, Mom!” commercials. When those commercials came on, my family would watch as I turned crying into an offi al Olympic sport.

As the season of thankfulness nears, take time to thank the moms in your life. A mom can be more than someone who birthed you. A mom can be a mentor, an adopted mom, or an aunt who stepped in to be a mother figu e.

IT’S THE BIG THINGS The big things are different for each person. Holding you and letting you cry when your heart is broken.

Accompanying you to doctor appointments. Letting people know that you are her daughter and she is proud of you. Thank the mom in your life for the big things she did for you.

THANK YOU You may not hear it often as a mom, but thank you.

Whatever your role is as a mother, thank you. Thank you for being a mom to the person whose mother doesn’t live near. Thank you for being a mother figu e by being a mentor. Thank you for washing clothes and feeding your family. Thank you for kissing scrapes and making everything better with a hug. When you think no one is watching you teach your children about life, thank you.

Ritchey is CEO of the Ritchey household, the mother of three children and wife to Jonathan. Reach her at rebeccaritchey@ymail.com

“Give thanks for a little, and you will find a lot.” — Hausa Proverb

10/19/16 7:49 PM

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT WINNERS

Cooper named WOMAN OF THE YEAR Cheryl Jackson Cooper received the Karen Sock Woman of the Year Award from Lighthouse Business &n Professional Women at the SUCCESS Women’s Conference in October.

She is a self-described multitasker — a trait she demonstrates in almost every aspect of her life.

As the principal of a comprehensive marketing communications consulting company, CC Cooper Communications, she works with clients to plan and implement marketing strategies aimed at both internal and external target audiences. Her efforts encompass everything from corporate identity to multi-media advertising to client research to messages on hold. She also works closely with her husband, Michael, as the office admi strator of both P&M Seafood and Back Bay Fuel & Ice, two familyowned businesses.

She is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with master’s degrees in both business administration and communications, and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Mississippi University for Women. She began her marketing career at Biloxi Regional Medical Center in 1984, and coordinated the grand opening of the new hospital in downtown Biloxi prior to becoming the fi st director of marketing for Singing River Hospital System in 1986. Before moving to the Coast, she had been a journalist with daily and weekly newspapers.

She completed her healthcare marketing career after 17 years, and began her current and third career in 2001. In 2005, she was the Communications Office for the City of Ocean Springs and coordinated postKatrina crisis communications with local, state and national media while also serving as the marketing/ communications professional handling the multi-

Cheryl Cooper, principal of CC Cooper Communications, was honored at the SUCCESS Women’s Conference Oct. 28.

She was presented with the 2016 Karen Sock Woman of the Year Award by Lighthouse Business & Professional Women.

media efforts of The Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund.

Cheryl enjoys fi ding ways to use her communications skills to meet the challenges facing businesses and nonprofit organizations and helping them succeed. She shares her marketing acumen with a number of organizations as an active volunteer and is currently a member of the board of directors for both the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center and the Mississippi Nurses Foundation. Her community efforts include serving on the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Jackson County, and she chaired the Ocean Springs committee, which raised

“My most significant accomplishment to date is likely the fact that I have persevered, facing a great many obstacles through the years, continuing to put my abilities to good use while maintaining a marriage and helping raise a family. I truly believe my most significant accomplishment is still ahead of me!” www.gcwmultimedia.com

v18n1 109-119 SUCCESS winners.indd 109

109

10/19/16 5:58 PM

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / WOMAN OF THE YEAR funds to purchase the building that now houses the Mary C. Ruddiman Unit in Ocean Springs.

Cheryl is a past president of the MUW Alumni Association and a former president of the Ocean Springs Education Foundation. Cheryl also is an enthusiastic tennis player and is involved in league tennis teams.

She admires leaders who listen and advocate collaboration, encourage teambuilding, embrace flex bility and problem solving, and more than anything,

she admires the ability to see a large vision and inspire enthusiasm in others.

Concerning advice to other career women, it’s all about sticking to the basics.

“Never give up! Really, there is so much benefit in persistence and self-belief,” Cheryl says. “The only job security is being good at what you do and knowing the value of your contributions. Plus, there’s really no better advice at work or in life than the Golden Rule.”

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR ROLE MODELS AND WHY? “Jessica Savitch, Gloria Steinem and Elizabeth Cady Stanton are all role models of mine. Coming of age during the time of “women’s lib,” I saw Gloria Steinem as a hero, and I admire not only her accomplishments as a feminist and journalist, but also her longevity and remaining vibrant and relevant into her 80s. Jessica Savitch was one of the first women to be the sole anchor of a national evening newscast and she was in her prime during my high school and early college years. Elizabeth Cady Stanton is probably the founder of the organized women’s rights and suffrage movement, and she is the author of the amendment to the Constitution which gives women the right to vote — though it was not adopted until after her death. She is not nearly as well-known as her friend Susan B. Anthony, yet she wrote or co-wrote most of her speeches! She was a stay-at-home mother yet was able to use her talents and convictions to change the world around her.”

— ­­ Cheryl Cooper

Join BPW THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO SUCCEED Lighthouse Business & Professional Women is here to help women advance their careers. Our mission is to unite professional women, support business and community relationships, and provide leadership skills and networking opportunities.

MEMBER BENEFITS Impact: Be part of a national movement to create the changes needed for equitable work environments and supportive communities.

NETWORKING Exchange ideas, explore business opportunities, and share common goals with professional women across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

110

MORE INFO Connect with BPW on Facebook and at www.lighthousebpw.com

November-December 2016

v18n1 109-119 SUCCESS winners.indd 110

10/19/16 5:58 PM

1295

Lighthouse Business Professional Women’s

2016 Woman of Achievement Nominee

EMILY BURKE PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER

A recognition well deserved!

SM

v18n1 109-119 SUCCESS winners.indd 111 12958_IP_GulfCoastWoman_8.25x10.75_EmilyBurke.indd 1

Don’t Let The Game Get Out Of Hand.

Gambling Problem? Call 1-888-777-9696.

| IPBiloxi.com

10/19/16 5:58 PM 8/15/16 4:38 PM

Women of Achievement category winners honored WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / CORPORATE WINNER Rhonda Weidner

Anchor, co-host, WLOX TV As co-host of WLOX TV’s Good Morning Mississippi and Midday news programs and an anchor/reporter, Rhonda Weidner has been a familiar face to Coastians for almost 30 years.

When she fi st moved to Biloxi, Rhonda was active in Coast theatre, performing in numerous shows. She’s also been seen on stage in Sounds of the Holidays, a fundraiser for the American Heart Association. For more than 10 years, Rhonda has served as the celebrity spokesman/emcee for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, and has emceed at Relay for Life.

An animal lover, Rhonda has helped numerous Coast

animal welfare organizations with fundraisers. She’s been called on numerous times to judge talent competitions and pageants. Rhonda also loves children, and she volunteers to read to students and share her knowledge and expertise at schools’ career days.

Rhonda is the mother of a teen daughter who is starting her senior year at Biloxi High. Alexandra plans to attend Ole Miss next fall.

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / GOVERNMENT WINNER Angel Myers

Assistant District Attorney, 19th Circuit Court District Angel Myers is an assistant district attorney for the 19th Circuit Court District, where she has served the citizens of Jackson, George and Greene counties for the last 10 years. In this role she played an integral part in drafting and lobbying for the Lonnie Smith Act, which passed in 2012, completely overhauling Mississippi’s child abuse law. Lonnie Smith is a child who suffered permanent injury from the abuse infli ted upon him by his mother.

She has taught criminal investigations and criminal law at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Gautier campus.

She is a member of the Attorney General’s Internet Crimes against Children Task Force.

Angel earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2000. She attended law school at Mississippi College School of Law, where she graduated in the top 25 percent of her class, having earned the Gayle and Victor Marvar scholarship, as well as the Marble, Frisby, Griffin, nd Gaines scholarship. She was also a Joey Phillips Award Finalist. She was admitted to practice law in Mississippi in 2004. She is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, Jackson County Bar Association, National District

Attorneys Association, and is the immediate past president of the Mississippi Prosecutor’s Association (MPA). She has also served the MPA as past vice president, secretary/ treasurer, as well as being a member of the board of directors, legislative committee, and curriculum committee. She currently serves on the Mary C. O’Keefe nominating committee and is a former board member. Angel is an active member of the Biloxi-Ocean Springs Junior Auxiliary.

For nearly five years, Angel was director of the former Child Protection Unit in the DA’s offi .

Her honors include being recognized for dedicated service to the Mississippi Prosecutor’s Association and being featured in the Winter 2014 Amicus, the magazine for Mississippi College School of Law. She also won an American Jurisprudence Award, Expert Witness Seminar. Angel is admitted to practice in all Mississippi state courts, in the Northern and Southern federal district courts of Mississippi, and to practice before the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

November-December 2016

v18n1 109-119 SUCCESS winners.indd 112

10/19/16 5:58 PM

CONGRATULATES

ULF COAST CWJC SITE COORDINATOR C IHARN IST E NJ' S J OC BO CR OP RP CHRIST WII A ON MW EO NM 'S OB SS CHRIST A N W O M E N ' S J O B C O R P S CONGRATULATES C O N GCR LTAUTLEAS OA NT GU RA TES

DIANE BENNETT DIANE BENNETT

GULF COAST CWJC SITE COORDINATOR

EO CO D IA NT AO TO G U L F CG OUALSF TC O CAWSJTCC W S IJTCES ICT O RODRI N RR

IST JeOnBcC O RrPaSBENNETT OCuHr Rm i sI AsNi oWnO Mi sE Nt'oS DIANE O uo r mu i s s i o ngi set o ew n co o um r a ge e wn o mt e not o C O N G R A T U L A T E SO e nh rti os t , p uurrs m u ei sas i roenl ai st i ot o n sehni pc owuirtahgJee w s uosm C O u r m i s s i o n i s t o e n c o u r a g e w o m e n or i ts t,, rpsw ev iA e aRp tJ ieo,e n sa h Jveesh Ci hts pGuU rL sF uC OeA SaT rCeWlJaC tSi IoT n hOi p sn idputwosi tmhoC tpR ouD rIuoN i adtT erh hl o tuhserm Es CO O p u r s u e tao wrpaer rol dav itsdi eoelnfh­ssoh idtchtyoJbme upfiefp,i caiw enn y ospvureosvt h iC deihm nrgi s t , e ,l,f ­m ctrioe im dgi tnhg­ t o p r o v i d e h o p e ,t o ap rno vdietdodewutachoradot iposm o tc,yhoabvneyed pm n nfdftioe i nngm strthor e ev n e as eunv e d u c a t i o n , m e n t o r i n g , a n d s t r e n gth­ t o w a r d bs aesl ef ­ds sukf iflil cs .i e n c y b y p r o v i d i n g C tar c to CW 2 8 )g 586­3510 bc a sy e d sb k iy l l so.np t o w a r d s e l f ­ s u f f iecd ui cea n vn dJiCds (ti2r en t igoen w , ommeennC t otoorni tnagc ,t Ca W n)g5t8h6­­ 3 5 1 0 J C ( 2 2 8 O u r m i s s i o n i s t o e n c o u r a CHRISTIAN WOMEN'S JOB CORPS bo ei idn sa e l ae t i on n sth iapsrw t hsg Jkei,lsl u s. C eCdOuN GcRaAptTuiUrosLuAneT,aE Srm nhdr i s t s, t r e n g t h ­ C o n t t o p r o v i d e h o p e , a n d t o m o v e t h e ma c t C W J C ( 2 2 8 ) 5 8 6 ­ 3 5 1 0 GULF COAST CWJC SITE COORDINATOR b a s e d t osw akr di lslesl f ­.s u f f i c i e n c y b y p r o v i d i n g education, mentoring, and strength­ Contact CWJC (228)586­3510 DIANE BENNETT based skills.

DIANE BENNETT

DIANE BENNETT

O u r m i s s i o n i s t o e n c o u r aC g eo n w toamcetn Ct oW J C pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ, to provide hope, and to move them toward self­sufficiency by providing Mortgage Rates are education, mentoring, and strength­ Falling b awith s e d sthe k i l l sLeaves! .

Contact CWJC (228)586­3510

(228)586­3510

New Penn Financial is Your Local Hometown Lender.

New Penn Financial is Your

At New Penn Financial, we are passionate about what we do. We want our customers ge Rates are Local Hometown Lender. to brag about their mortgage.

At New Penn Financial, we are passionate about we do.

Don what A. BlAize with the Leaves! our Specialties: Newmortgage.

Penn Mortgage Specialist We want our customers to brag about their NMLS #184888

Conventional mortgages • Jumbo loans Investor properties • FHA, VA, & USDA

Mortgage Rates new Penn Benefits:

Our Specialties: are

P| (228) 493-0313 e| dblaize@newpennfinancial.com

Conventional mortgages • Jumbo loans FREE Credit Enhancement Competitive Falling with the •Leaves!

Rates • Low Closing Costsproperties • FHA, VA, & USDA Investor All loans are subject to credit and property approval. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions apply. New Penn Financial, LLC, 4000 Chemical Road, Suite 200, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462. Corp NMLS#: 3013 (nmlsconsumeraccess.org). MS: Licensed by the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. © 2016 New Penn Financial, LLC. All rights reserved.

New Penn Benefits:

Credit Enhancement Financial is Your LocalFREE Hometown Lender. • Competitive Rates • Financial, we are passionate about what we do.Low We Closing want ourCosts customers their mortgage.

ies:

New Penn Financial is Your Local Hometown Lender.

Don A. BlAize At New Penn Financial, we are passionate about what NMLS we do.

We want our customers #184888 to brag about their mortgage.

New Penn Mortgage Specialist

mortgages • Jumbo loans P| (228) 493-0313 Don A. BlAize NMLS #184888 our Specialties: New Penn Mortgage Specialist erties • FHA, VA, &Conventional USDA mortgages • Jumbo e|loans dblaize@newpennfinancial.com

enefits:

Investor properties • FHA, VA, & USDA

P| (228) 493-0313 e| dblaize@newpennfinancial.com

new Penn Benefits: Enhancement • Competitive FREE Credit Enhancement • Competitive Closing Costs Rates • Low Closing Costs

bject to credit and property approval.AllPrograms, rates, termsand and conditions are subjectrates, to change notice.

Other loans are subject to credit property approval.

Programs, terms andwithout conditions are subject to change without notice. Other ly. New Penn Financial, LLC, 4000 Chemical Road,New Suite Plymouth Meeting, 19462.

CorpPlymouth NMLS#: 3013PA 19462. Corp NMLS#: 3013 restrictions apply.

Penn200, Financial, LLC, 4000 ChemicalPA Road, Suite 200, Meeting, (nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

MS: Licensed and by theConsumer Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. © 2016 New Penn Financial, access.org). MS: Licensed by the Mississippi Department of Banking Finance. © 2016 New Penn Financial, LLC. All rights reserved. eserved.

v18n1 109-119 SUCCESS winners.indd 113

OUR SERVICES: ▪ Landscape Installation/ Maintenance ▪ Irrigation/Sprinkler Systems/Water Line ▪ Civil Engineering ▪ Retaining Walls ▪ Erosion Control/Riprap ▪ Hydro seeding

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Post Construction Cleaning Site Excavation Backfill Grading Concrete Classroom Cleaning Cafeteria Cleaning Office & Restroom Services Day Porter Services

▪ Full-Service Night ▪ Exterior & Interior Window Washing ▪ Pressure Washing ▪ Carpet Cleaning ▪ Floor Cleaning/Floor Care/Wood Floors ▪ Strip and Finish

CALL EMILY SMITH TODAY

228-236-8565 www.smithcontracting.us

10/19/16 5:59 PM

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / MEDICAL WINNER Dr. Andrea L. Davis, DDS

Owner, Gulf Coast Dental Center Owner, Divine Dentistry at Lakeview Village Owner, Divine Dentistry Dolphin Court As owner of three thriving dental clinics on the Mississippi Coast, Dr. Andrea L. Davis is fulfilling a lifelong dream. “I have wanted to be a dentist since I was very young,” she says. “I have always wanted to help people and serve the underserved. If I am completely honest, dentistry chose me. I enjoy providing care to individuals who may not otherwise receive care and giving back to the community that gave me so much. Giving people their smiles back and getting them out of pain is very rewarding.”

The recipient of many awards and recognitions, Andrea was a scholar and cum laude graduate. She attended Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, then the University of

Missouri in Kansas City, Missouri, and then Meharry Medical College in Tennessee. She obtained her Mississippi dental license in August 2005.

In other leaders, she appreciates the ability to lead by example. Her role models are First Lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey. She is proud of being a single mother and successfully running three businesses.

Her advice: “Treat others the way you would like to be treated and learn from everyone around you.”

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / NONPROFIT WINNER Janie Barrett O’Keefe

Executive director, Disability Connection Janie O’Keefe serves as executive director of Disability Connection, a 501c3 nonprofit corporation with offices i Gulfport and in the Ocean Springs City Hall. A widowed mother of five, Janie has a disabled child at home so she has a thorough understanding of and passion for the disabled community.

Janie spent the fi st 30 years of her career in radio and television advertising. She and her husband co-owned several businesses including a coffee house, water company, printing company, and fl rist. In 2002, Janie founded Destination: Gulf Coast, a nonprofit project incorporating three counties to promote the smaller tourism businesses. Janie also directed educational projects for William Carey University students. Her second project was a film and study guide to retain the heritages of storytelling and folk art, “Hello, I’m Alice Moseley.” Following the destruction of Katrina, Janie refocused the nonprofit under a new name, O’Keefe Educational Media, doing business as Disability Connection, with a mission to create a connected community, to engage people with disabilities in community involvement, develop resources, and remove barriers to an active life.

Janie has developed numerous programs including the annual Arbor Day - 5K-1 Mile Run/Walk/Roll & 1/4 Mile Challenge, the annual Art Ability Fair, Mayor’s Disability Awareness Health Fair, People with Disabilities/Disabled Veterans Job Fair, Sports Clinics, Performing Friends, Forums, Workshops, Disability Network Meetings, and the fi st totally inclusive playground, Disability Connection Community Playground. She is the creative force behind an internet resource center and community network, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community Resource Guide.

She began a Community Assist program to provide emergency needs including home repair and wheelchair ramps, and the Employment Connection to eliminate barriers to employment.

The program teaches people with disabilities entrepreneur. Janie’s newest project is the Gulf Coast Heritage Tours, universally designed tours for all individuals to learn how to experience 114

the Gulf Coast national heritage areas, with special attention to identifying barrier access for people with disabilities. Janie is an author, publishing “With All My Heart” in 2007 and co-authoring her second book, “Homeless by God’s Design.”

Janie has received many recognitions and awards, twice being nominated for the Celebration of Caring Women, and receiving national recognition for a campaign called “She is Noble.” Janie earned the Excellence in Action certifi ation from MS Center for Nonprofits for “Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Management Excellence.”

For several years she has received recognition through community partnerships including FEMA MS Recovery Offic Certifi ate of Appreciation, the Gulfport Job Corps Business Appreciation Award, and Kaboom Champion of Play. Janie has also received several civic awards including being named Civitan Magnolia District Club Advisor of the Year and Junior Civitan Area coordinator.

Janie received a bachelor of science degree from Texas Tech University. She continues to expand her education through continuing education programs such as Red Cross, CASA, Landscape Structures, and Volunteer Gulf Coast. Janie specializes in disability advocacy and has earned three ADA certifi ates, the ADA Coordinator Training Certifi ate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the ADA Professional Certifi ate from the University of Missouri, and the ADA/APA Specialty Designation through the Accessibility Professionals Association.

She is a licensed minister through Faith Christian Fellowship International.

She advises other career women, “Always work hard but keep your priorities of faith and family fi st. Be honorable, be a woman of your word, and always fi d ways to encourage others.”

November-December 2016

v18n1 109-119 SUCCESS winners.indd 114

10/19/16 5:59 PM

RESEARCH-BASED STRATEGIES DRIVING ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS

School Improvement Plans | Mississippi College and Career Ready Standards Preparation Discipline Intervention for Students | Parent Workshops Computer Training | Writing Workshops | School Accreditation Assistance Veterans Re-employment Assistance | Resumé Development | Grant Writing Academic Camps | Professional Writing | Tutoring for Adults and Children

DR. IRENE AMOS

15 Years of Education Experience 18 Years in Military

ACADEMIC SUCCESS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

v18n1 109-119 SUCCESS winners.indd 115

1636 Popps Ferry Rd. Suite 219 Biloxi, MS 39532 (228) 617-9749 (228) 206-5884 www.csieducon.com

10/19/16 5:59 PM

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / EDUCATION WINNER Dr. Bonita R. Coleman

Superintendent, Ocean Springs School District Dr. Bonita Coleman has been superintendent of the Ocean Springs School District since June 2012. Prior to this appointment, Bonita served as deputy superintendent of Prince George’s County Public Schools, Maryland’s second largest school district and the 18th largest system in the nation.

Bonita has served more than 20 years in public education and has worked as a teacher and a college professor. After her fi st year of leadership in the Ocean Springs School District, the district earned an A rating from the Mississippi Department of Education. The district is the home to one of the nation’s Blue Ribbon Schools for Exemplary Academic Performance and ranks 22nd in the nation’s sports programs. It has a nationally recognized fi e arts program (K-12), and places a strong emphasis on student engagement. OSSD received the state’s fi st National Math and Science Initiative Grant, which has already helped increase advanced-placement student participation from 80 students to over 400 students. In 2015, the district was recognized at the White House for having the most growth in advanced placement.

Bonita admires leaders who have tenacity. “Tenacity, the ability to analyze a situation with a solution-oriented perspective and a refusal to take short cuts are the attributes I most admire

in leaders.

Her role models are Marva Collin, who Bonita says was instrumental in changing the frame for building instructional expectations for students, particularly those from situations of poverty.

She also admires Sheryl Sandberg for her commitment to empower women to achieve their ambitions.

Her mother, Elmer Coleman, also is a role model, who Bonita says instilled in her values and ethics. She says her most signifi ant accomplishment is being the mother to a son who has fl urished and is someone she deeply admires.

To other career women, she advises: “Understand from the onset that you have to go the extra mile and yes, women still have to prove they deserve a place at the table. Be prepared, be consistent, and be reliable and understand that we are required to make signifi ant sacrifices, ut if you are following your calling, it’s all worth it.”

A resident of Ocean Springs, Bonita enjoys reading, music, and all sports, especially football. She is the proud mother of one son, Chandler L. Potter.

WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT / YOUNG CAREERIST WINNER Dr. Ashley N. Harris

Assistant professor and director of Removable Prosthodontics A major in the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Ashley N. Harris is assistant professor and director of Removable Prosthodontics and is in the Air Force post-graduate dental school’s advanced education in general dentistry residency. Th ough the program, she is getting instruction in comprehensive oral and maxillofacial health care across all nine specialties in dentistry.

In addition, Ashley is a board-certifi d fellow of the American Board of Prosthodontics as well as a licensed member of the North Carolina Dental Board. She has served as a historian, community service committee chairwoman, and pre-dental advisor of the National Dental Association.

Ashley received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Hampton University and was commissioned through the Health Professions Scholarship Program in 2007. She received a doctorate of dental surgery in 2011 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She continued her education at the University Health Science Center, San Antonio, and received a master’s of science degree.

The Belleville, Illinois, native currently resides in Biloxi, where she is a member of Northwood Church and serves in the children’s check-in ministry as a team leader. She is working to establish a non-profit organization, Timeless Smiles, which will provide oral health care to the nursing home community.

In leaders, she admires authenticity, self-awareness, and humility. “I have always believed that each of us has a very unique set of personality traits and ways of identifying our inner 116

strengths. In carrying out this process within ourselves, we identify the traits and qualities that ultimately allow us to lead.”

She names her mother as her biggest role model. “She taught me that having genuine compassion for people is the best way to truly move through life. She also has shown me that if there is something you want to achieve, the only barrier to success that one may have is themselves” Her most signifi ant accomplishment was being selected, through peer nomination, as a coordinator for the dental student run, Student Health Action Coalition Dental Clinic in Chapel Hill, N.C. “As a coordinator for this clinic I was able to implement protocols and programs, which streamlined treatment. Th s position served as a catalyst in identifying how I could utilize my newly acquired dental skills to help others. Further, the experience gained has proven to be paramount in pinpointing my purpose to serve the underserved elderly populations throughout our country.”

Her advice to others: “First, it is not enough to simply have a dream — instead, focus on identifying and cultivating the purpose behind your dream. A woman with a dream that has no purpose can very easily run out of desire to attain her dream, but the woman who has a purpose can not only reach that dream but attain unimaginable fulfillment.”

November-December 2016

v18n1 109-119 SUCCESS winners.indd 116

10/19/16 5:59 PM

Congratulations

Kimberly Aguillard Media & Marketing Manager 2016 Woman of Achievement Finalist

DOWNLOAD THE

GC Weddings App!

• Be the First to Know About Events • Exciting Giveaways • New Trends • Find Vendors And More!!

Gulf Coast

WEDDINGS v18n1 109-119 SUCCESS winners.indd 117

10/19/16 5:59 PM

Whitwell BPW Member of the Year

Brenda Whitwell has been named Member of the Year for Lighthouse Business and Professional Women.

BPW President Kearn Cherry says Brenda is “dedicated, reliable, and very committed to helping others.”

Brenda, who has been in Brenda Whitwell fi ance since 1998, is a fi ancial advisor. She has more than 20 years of experience as a healthcare CFO, COO and CEO. Brenda says her passion is helping clients plan today so they can enjoy tomorrow.

JOIN US FOR NETWORKING!

Connect. Learn.

excel.

Lighthouse Business and Professional Women empowers MS Gulf Coast women in the workplace through networking, speakers and mentoring relationships.

10361B Automall Parkway D’Iberville, MS 39540 ------------------------------------------(228) 392-3299 Fax (228) 392-4520

NOVEMBER 16 • NOON Location: Merit Health - Nancy Harville Room GUEST SPEAKER: NATALIE GUESS Join in our Social Media Lab 201

e-mail: sorg@sorgprinting.com

Christmas Basket Raffle (over 20 raff e baskets)

December 15 Featuring:

Coach bag basket and others Get your tickets:

5 for $5, 15 for $10, 30 for $20 11:30 am - 1pm Location: TBA

NATALIE GUESS is the Director of the Magnolia Business Alliance and Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions. Guess holds a BA in business with a concentration in integrated advertising and marketing from Southeastern Louisiana University.

For more information, go to www.lighthousebpw.com or call Kearn at (228) 239-1867

Find us on Facebook

SORG AD v18n1 3.75x10.25.indd 109-119 SUCCESS 1 winners.indd 118

8/30/16 4:34 PM

10/19/16 5:59 PM

119 v18n1 109-119 SUCCESS winners.indd 119

10/19/16 5:59 PM

FACES OF SUCCESS

3 women who are being their own kind of successful

by Elaine Stevens

She can shoot a stick bow and hit a squirrel running along a power line. She also has fl wn and copiloted a hot air balloon. Donna Brown is as diverse as her heritage.

Hailing from an Irish Catholic mother and Mohawk Indian father, Donna was born in Waltham, Mass. As a “proud” Air Force brat, the award-winning hotelier and tourism industry professional got the travel bug early on. Donna’s family lived throughout the United States and the Philippines before settling at Biloxi’s Keesler Air Force Base in 1964.

“My mom ran the travel agency in downtown Biloxi and I started working there after school and summers when I was 14,” Donna recalls. “I knew I wanted to be in the travel industry.”

Working for the city of Biloxi under two prestigious leaders, mayors Danny Guice and Jerry O’Keefe, Donna traveled extensively representing the city at regional and national travel and tourism trade shows. She also has the honor of being the fi st non-family hostess at Mary Mahoney’s Old French House, working evenings and weekends.

“I learned everything I know about the true meaning of the hospitality industry from Ms. Mary,” Donna explains.

“She taught me to look people in the eyes, learn their names, and remember them whether they came back weekly or only once a year.” The words of wisdom expressed at the bottom of this article are “Ms. Mary’s” also, which Donna says she lives by to this day.

Her love aff ir with the hotel industry began serendipitously at a trade show where she met the owner of the original Howard Johnson Hotel on the Biloxi Beach.

Months later she was offered a position as director of Sales and Marketing for “HoJo.” “I knew absolutely nothing

about the hotel industry, but they offered me a salary that made my head spin,” Donna says. “I couldn’t give my two-week notice to the city fast enough!”

Immersing herself in her new career, Donna eventually became the fi st president of the Mississippi Hotel Sales and Marketing Association. She was instrumental in organizing the newly chartered group at that time by breaking away from the Deep South Hotel Sales and Marketing Association. Community service honors began pouring in and so did a transfer that took Donna to Baton Rouge, La. From there, her management skills took her to Atlanta, Houston, Denver and New Orleans, where she says, “I had a corporate apartment in the French Quarter and skated to and from work some days with Ruthie, the Duck Lady! Had a ball, but yearned to return to Colorado and my friends.”

That dream came true when Donna became the regional director of operations and then vice president of the Rocky Mountain Region for the Residence Inn Hotel Co. Twentyone years later, divorced, and tired of shoveling snow, Donna came home to South Mississippi in 1999 for “new beginnings.”

Diving into her coastal community with board service, a variety of leadership positions, and accolades too numerous to list, Donna says she is most proud of leading the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce as president during and after Hurricane Katrina, and orchestrating the comeback of Gulf Hills Hotel to its respected position as a premier property since beginning her employment there in 2001.

“There is no such thing as an obstacle in my mind. Every day is a new adventure and if I don’t know where I’m going, I can never get lost.”

DONNA BROWN

“Pitch in and do whatever it takes to make sure the guests are happy and the work gets done. Don’t ever stop smiling. Take extra good care of the people who work with you.”

— Donna Brown, general manager of Gulf Hills Hotel & Conference Center, Ocean Springs 120

November-December 2016

v18n1 120-129.indd 120

10/19/16 6:41 PM

Thank you!

Your support of the 2nd annual SUCCESS Women’s Conference is greatly appreciated.

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

v18n1 120-129.indd 121

10/19/16 6:41 PM

DR. VIVIAN MCLEAN-ROBINSON “I like to think that I inspire and encourage students to strive for greatness. It is within our school hallways and classrooms that individual dreams take flight.”

— Dr. Vivian McLean-Robinson, principal of Long Beach High School

Growing up the seventh among eight siblings, Vivian Robinson says daily chores and nightly reading are among the core values that paved her journey to success. “My mother was a beacon of light down a dimly lit educational path in the early 1970s,” Vivian says. “I was inspired by loving parents, a sister within the administrator ranks, and numerous elementary teachers and college professors.”

Born in Germany and educated within the Gulfport school system, the young and energetic student developed a scholar’s academic hunger. She says, “My thirst for knowledge and continuous learning became the gasoline that ignited the fi e of going on to obtain my National Board Teaching Certifi ation, master’s degree in counseling, followed by a specialist and doctorate in

educational leadership.”

Hundreds of students and faculty are, no doubt, delighted Vivian chose education over a once-considered medical career. “My mother attended Tuskegee Institute and majored in nursing,” Vivian explains. “I set out to follow in her footsteps and become a registered nurse.”

However, she quickly discovered that rather than dissect a real cat reeking of formaldehyde, she would much rather read Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat ensconced in symbolism.

As the daughter of a United Methodist minister, Vivian says she had no option in life other than to stay in school and “fi d my place in this world.”

“His advice was always know who you are and own it.

MCLEAN-ROBINSON continued on page 128

Mom-biologist-manager opens Meeting Place

After four years of research and development, The Meeting Place has taken elements from traditional coworking facilities, executive office paces and incubators to create 770 Water St. — an executive level co-working environment for today’s business professional.

The Meeting Place is located at 770 Water St. in downtown Biloxi and offers Class A space, an attended reception area, 1 GB fiber internet, fully furnished collaborative and private work spaces, a small meeting room and a conference room. Businesses may choose the level of membership that best suits their business. The face behind The Meeting Place is Geneva Dummer. Geneva, who Geneva Dummer took her fi st job at age 14, has had an interesting career with many stops and many lessons.

“I’ve worked since the age of 14 and left ome at 16, moving from Florida to Texas courtesy of a transfer opportunity with Sunglass Hut,” she says. “At the age of 18, I joined the U.S. Navy, where I learned how to maintain and repair avionics. I worked my way up to Avionics Collateral 122

November-December 2016

v18n1 120-129.indd 122

Duty inspector before being honorably discharged in 1999.

I earned both bachelor and master of science degrees in molecular biology. My research focused on developing gene therapy vehicles for breast cancer treatment.”

She visited the Coast for the fi st time while her husband was job searching. “I realized that my degree was not going to be of much use unless I opted to commute to NOLA or Mobile,” she says. “I developed a résumé refl cting my accumulated knowledge, skills, and abilities that were relevant to serving the needs of a business and was selected as manager of human resources at the Diamondhead Property Owners Association. There I headed up the human resources department in addition to handling IT and risk management needs. I am still so thankful for that opportunity; I learned so much!”

She worked several over jobs, including helping her husband with Arguelles Auto Sales, where she handled bookkeeping, risk management and human resources. They closed the business in 2013 after their second child was born.

In 2012, when Geneva created The Meeting Place, LLC, she operated as a virtual assistant service for a select handful of private, corporate, and nonprofit organizations.

MEETING PLACE continued on page 128

10/19/16 6:41 PM

JESSICA RYAN PETERS

Because of her extensive 30 years of training and her professional performance experience from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast, one could say Jessica Ryan Peters has been dancing her way through life. She certainly fits the adage: “A ballerina may look fragile, but she is much stronger than you think.”

Not even Hurricane Katrina kept her from fulfilling her childhood dream of teaching dance. The plan of opening Jess Dance in September 2005 with 100 pre-registered students was deterred slightly. Instead the studio opened in mid-November with 40 students with a completely intact facility. Today, nearly 11 years later, Jess Dance continues to grow — so much in fact, there is a new and bigger location which offers more classes and times.

“I felt passionate about sharing my love of dance with children,” Jessica says. “Dance has always given me inner strength and an outlet for life’s obstacles.”

Jessica has also managed to fulfill another lifelong dream, that of having children with her husband, Greg, who is her helpmate in business and soulmate in marriage. “I am so proud of my best productions, 11-year old Lexie and our 7-year old son, Cade.”

Like so many other female entrepreneurs have encountered, the demanding challenge of balancing numerous family and business obligations exists in the Peters household. “It hasn’t always been easy, but thanks to our wonderful family’s support we have been able to fi d a balance.”

Apparently all is well-balanced on the family and dance fronts as the awards continue to mount: For Jessica, the 2016 choreography award for her competition dance, “Cool PETERS continued on page 128

“I believe and tell my students to follow your dreams, work hard, try your best, and remember, with God all things are possible.”

— Jessica Ryan Peters, Jess Dance Studio, Gulfport

v18n1 120-129.indd 123

Turning life’s storm waters …

If

you are troubled, maybe I can help. If you are a small business needing help or considering forming a business, a family member who needs help with a loved one, or an individual who has been injured or needs help with a divorce, give me a call and I will use over 17 years of experience to help you no matter what situation you may face.

I graduated from the University of Alabama in 1983, magna cum laude, and then received a Master of Arts before later proceeding to law school at the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. I received my Juris Doctorate degree in 1997 and have had extensive experience since that time in corporate and insurance defense litigation, general civil litigation, as well as in the areas of Trusts, Probate, Estates, and the legal area called “Elder Law.”

CALL TODAY

(228) 357-5227 Kathy Brown van Zutphen Attorney at Law

AL-MSCOASTALLAW.COM ELDER LAW | BUSINESS LAW | REAL ESTATE LITIGATION

10/19/16 6:41 PM

Independent Beauty Consultant

YOUR PETS’ HOME AWAY FROM HOME A Premier Boarding Facility in South Mississippi

MARY KAY CHARLOTTE DISTEFANO cdistefano1@marykay.com (228) 806-1425 www.marykay.com/ cdistefano1 Advanced Color Consultant

Highly rated on DogVacay.com AND Rover.com, with knowledge and experience in care of all sizes, breeds, seniors and pets with special needs.

By KATE LAWLER (661) 434-5283 www.facebook.com/ yourpetshome awayfromhomems

PAMPERED CHEF JOYCE WILSON TOUCHSTONE CRYSTAL

BY SWAROVSKI SUSAN LENES

susanlenes@aol.com (228) 596-9168 www.touchstonecrystal.com/susanlenes From the runway to your doorway

#760779 Call (228) 861-5387 Email wilson.joyces@gmail.com Estore www.pamperedchef.biz/joycewilson Facebook Joyce Wills Wilson

DENISE MCNAMARA LOVE THE MOUSE TRAVEL

MARGARET (PEGGY) STEWARD Independent Stylist helping women to discover their true style by introducing a uniquely styled clothing line into a home setting.

(228) 249-9670 peggysteward@gmail.com peggysteward.cabionline.com

Free professional and personalized service tailored to your family’s needs.

I’ll handle all the details so you can relax and enjoy your Magical Vacation!!

LINDA GALLOUP

Travel Consultant Free Disney Vacation Planning (228) 697-6790 linda@lovethemousetravel.com www.facebook.com/ lindaatlovethemousetravel

EDDRAY DEARTH LULAROE FASHION CONSULTANT (228) 324-5234 lularoewitheddray@gmail.com LuLaRoe is a unique clothing line full of flattering, comfortable, and fun styles.

Host a pop up boutique and earn FREE clothes!

MAC’S COFFEE

7198 Beatline Rd Long Beach, MS 39560 (228) 265-7194 Open Monday - Saturday Now Serving Hot - Iced - Frozen Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Chai Tea, fresh muffins, cookies, scones and breakfast croissants.

Limited lunch menu.

Women in Business networking host Wine Down and Shop with Women in Business every last Wednesday of every month at Black Tie White Rose Events, 6616 Rose Farm RD, Ocean Springs 39564. For more information contact Summer Gregory 228-641-4610.

Interested in Joining Women in Business Networking? Contact Charlotte DiStefano 228-806-1425.

v18n1 120-129.indd 124

10/19/16 6:41 PM

Pr

O s

n

Shop these Local Businesses

GULF COAST DOULA

YOUNIQUE COSMETICS

NATASHA WOODARD, CLD

Younique Cosmetics is most famous for it’s 3D mascara, but did you know we have a full line of professional grade cosmetics for everyday women?

gulfcoastdoula@gmail.com (228) 365-5941 www.gulfcoastdoula.com Providing professional compassionate support before, during, and after the birth of your baby.

Offering Labor & Postpartum Doula services and Childbirth Preparation.

STACEY MICHELLE

Younique Independent Presenter (228) 860-3003 StacysBeautyBiz.com

ARROW LANDSCAPE DESIGNS ROBYN SMITH LEVI

(228) 239-9297 robyn@arrowlandscapedesigns.com Landscape Design Professional Mowing Patios & Decks - Fencing Water Features “On Target All the Time”

STORYBOOK BIRTHDAYS Storybook Birthdays provides fairytale and adventure themed entertainment.

Our professional entertainers come to your event dressed in high quality costumes prepared to wow your guests.

MICHELLE GOODSON

(228) 447-8364 http://www.storybookbirthdays.com/

Independent Distributor

BLACK TIE WHITE ROSE SOUTHERN BOUND BOOK SHOP

MICHELLE MILLER SMITH

(228) 326-1463 www.FitChampionsForLife.com info@FitChampionsForLife.com Premier health and wellness products to help you Look, Feel and Perform better - Energy, Weight Loss, Nutrition and Sports Performance Products.

Free Coaching included!

Come and shop Biloxi and Ocean Springs locally owned indie book shop. Southern Bound Book Shop is pleased to offer new and used books with a strong southern focus.

1218 Government St. Ocean Springs, MS 39564 280 Eisenhower Dr., Biloxi, MS (228) 207-6472 www.southernboundblog.net

BTWR is a beautiful venue for weddings, receptions, Can you slow aging, inside and out?

YES! Activate your own gene expression!

I Nrf2, do you?

One link can explain…LifeVantage: At the forefront of Nutrigenomics Disclaimer: Protandim has 22 peerreviewed studies on www.pubmed.gov

VIRGINIA NEWTON (228) 861-3143 virginianewton.lifevantage.com

baby/bridal showers, birthdays, anniversaries, and charity events.

We provide complete package planning services inhouse and offsite.

6616 Rose Farm Rd Ocean Springs, MS 39564 (228) 641-4610

Come join us!

0.

v18n1 120-129.indd 125

10/19/16 6:41 PM

We’re moving forward

v18n1 120-129.indd 126

10/19/16 6:41 PM

and we’re bringing you with us.

Local has never reached so far. velocitythinkdigital.com sunherald.com

v18n1 120-129.indd 127

10/19/16 6:41 PM

Two nonprofits award seed grants at conference

The Magnolia Business Alliance partnered with Renaissance Corporation to put on a business pitch for a chance to win seed money at the SUCCESS Women’s Conference. The organizations raised $500 each to be able to support the development of two woman-owned businesses.

“Working with resource partners to support womanowned businesses has been a terrific ex erience,” says Natalie Guess, director of the MBA. “I am fully aware of the many talented women who will contribute directly to economic development in our state, each in her own unique and distinctive way.”

The grants are designed to stimulate growth among small, woman-owned businesses. The program places particular emphasis on helping socially and economically disadvantaged woman-owned fi ms get to the next level of their business.

The Magnolia Business Alliance (MBA) is a 501(C)6 not-for-profit corporation acting as a support

organization and forum for the advancement of small and medium businesses (SMB) in the southeastern US. For more information please visit http://www.magnolia-ba.biz.

Renaissance Corporation is a 501(C)3 non-profit Community Development Financial Institution providing lending opportunities to low-to-moderate income residents and businesses in Mississippi. With The Dream Fund, Renaissance provides mortgage loans to make the dream of homeownership a reality to all. With its Commercial Lending Programs, Renaissance provides personalized fi ancing for entrepreneurs or existing businesses.

Renaissance is the only Mississippi-based SBA Microlender and is also an SBA Community Advantage Lender.

Renaissance’s innovative loan programs include valuable fi ancial education, both homebuyer education and business technical assistance, to ensure the continued success of all clients.

MCLEAN-ROBINSON continued

PETERS continued

I credit being raised by Christian parents, acknowledging the power of prayer, and surrounding myself with knowledgeable educators who share in my vision and mission of student growth and achievement as the secret to my success.”

Vivian’s mission and vision have obviously been successfully implemented at Long Beach High School. The school is a nationally recognized high school, a bronze medal awardwinner with an 88 percent graduation rate, and is No. 1 in Mississippi for graduating students with disabilities. “I make it a point to spread positivity throughout the school and directly assist students and staff in ide tifying and reaching their potential,” Vivian says proudly.

With her winning record behind her when she eventually retires as principal of Long Beach High School, Vivian says she plans to continue pursuing her passion for education by someday becoming a school superintendent. “The idea of undertaking a struggling district and guiding them to academic achievement and success awakens the urgency within me,” Vivian says. “I still possess the sense of urgency in education, especially when it is evident quality education for students is being compromised.”

Kids,” and for daughter, Lexie, Miss Dance Revolution 2016, dancing in her mother’s path. Offering classes to students from two years to adulthood, Jessica is proud of the results. “I believe in providing strong technique, combining traditional dance education in a Christian-based environment,” Jessica explains.

“My company dancers have received titles, overall high score awards, and scholarships. We also have an award-winning competitive dance team.”

With that kind of motivation and a curriculum that includes, ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, pointe, lyrical, acrobatics, and Irish, it’s no wonder Jess Dance Studio performs at community events and holds a spectacular annual recital for all of South Mississippi to enjoy.

128

MEETING PLACE continued

“I also actively collected and compiled data about co-working and business needs by participating in chamber events, such as Leadership Gulf Coast and Women Entrepreneurs,” she says. “I routinely would convince myself this was the best idea and then that it was the absolute worst idea I had ever had. I went through several different models, some of which will happen as part of my 10- and 15-year plans, others that were simply not feasible for one reason or another.”

Not surprisingly, her motto is “Adapt and Overcome and Never Stop Learning.” The most valuable lesson, she says, was understanding “that I am at my level best when helping others succeed.”

November-December 2016

v18n1 120-129.indd 128

10/19/16 6:41 PM

Your dream is my

PASSION! Being a native of the Ms Gulf Coast has allowed me to take full advantage and be appreciative of its natural scenic views and Southern charm. I’m a passionate, outgoing agent eager to help others see the beauty in residing on the MS Gulf Coast and ultimately call it their home.

Cassie Lizana, REALTOR

Since becoming a Realtor in 2015, I have helped numerous Mississippi natives and non natives with home ownership. Regardless if you are looking to buy or sale, “your dream is my passion.”

Sawyer Real Estate, Inc. of MS 2300 14TH St Gulfport, MS 39501 cassie@sawyernet.com cassie@naisawyer.com

COMING SOON Your source to Shop, Eat & Play in D’Iberville! Get ready to save at your favorite businesses.

Contact us for more information: Phone: (228) 234-6880 Email: contact@loyaltysystems.us

v18n1 120-129.indd 129

10/19/16 6:41 PM

MONEY

‘Tis the season . . . for tax planning

The fall brings in cooler weather, autumn colors, festivals, family gatherings, and year-end tax planning. Yes, that dreaded word — tax.

by Denise Howell The year-end sneaks upon us quickly because of all the activities this time of year. But, there are numerous topics that need to be addressed before December 31. The main issue to discuss this fall is tax planning for individuals and businesses.

Individuals should discuss funding opportunities for retirement, education, and gifting. If you are not currently an active participant in a retirement plan, before year-end you should decide if 2017 will be the year you start participating in your employer-sponsored retirement plan. Not only will any deferred contributions reduce your taxable income, but also it’s never too early to start saving for your retirement. The best advice is to talk to a fi ancial planner and ask questions regarding all options such as individual retirement accounts (IRAs), both traditional

and ROTH; employer sponsored retirement plans; and annuities. If you are self-employed, Simplifi d Employer Plans (SEPs) and SIMPLE plans are the most popular along with solo 401(k) plans, which could give you varied options for investments to hold such as business ownership and real estate. Also, you may want to consider contributions to education IRAs for a family member. Gifting transfers could also reduce your taxable income in 2017 and subsequent years.

Charitable contributions are generally allowable up to 50 percent of your taxable income. If you are in higher tax brackets, this could signifi antly reduce your tax liability.

Charitable remainder trusts allow taxpayers to designate assets that will transfer to the charitable organization upon death while obtaining a charitable contribution in the year the trust is created. You would need to meet with a trust attorney to discuss options available. Additionally, traditional charitable contributions to an approved organization should be considered.

Individuals with multiple employers, and households with two incomes, should consult their tax professional to ensure that suffici t tax has been withheld during the year. Withholding tax is generally calculated based upon the fact that the income is the only one of the year — even Denise Howell, a CPA licensed in Louisiana when you withhold at the married rates. Many times, and Mississippi, has more than 12 years of married individuals with moderate to high income will experience in public accounting. She is a fi d when they file their returns that a signifi ant amount member of the American Institute of Certified of tax is due. Th s is caused when combined income results Public, Louisiana Association of Certified in higher tax brackets. Th s also occurs when an individual Public Accountancy and the Mississippi has concurrent multiple employers.

Society of Certified Public Accountants. Denise Business owners should review income from the busigraduated Cum Laude from Auburn University ness and consult their tax professional to see if there are with a Bachelor in Accountancy in 1998 and a any transactions that could be made prior to January 1 Master of Accountancy in 1999. in order to reduce taxable income. Tax rate changes and Denise Howell She currently operates Howell CPA-PA. the effect on a transaction may also make it more advan12 YEARS IN PUBLIC ACCOUNTING • 5 YEARS IN CORPORATE COMPLIANCE tageous to complete the transaction before the end of the EXPERIENCE IN ALL 50 STATES year, for both businesses and individuals.

Attests • Audits • Advisory • Accounting • Taxes These issues and many others are why this fall is a good NOW OFFERING CERTIFIED PAYROLL SERVICES time to sit down with your tax and fi ancial planner to Start getting answers to your financial questions re-evaluate your objectives for the short and long term.

A different kind of CPA PANTONE

PANTONE

PANTONE

PANTONE

124

399

2593

234

ITC AVANT GARDE GOTHIC

Call 228.396.2996

Denise is a CPA licensed in Louisiana and Mississippi and is a member of the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants which operates as the national regulatory agency for CPAs), the LCPA (Louisiana Association of Certified Public Accountancy) and the MSCPA (Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants).

15506 Lemoyne Blvd., Ste D | Biloxi, MS 39532 Howell CPA • PA is owned and operated by Denise Howell, CPA. Howell is licensed in Louisiana and Mississippi and is a member of the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants).

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 130

10/19/16 8:08 PM

Saving money on car insurance means more to spend on the ones you love.

O

nce upon a time, there were two dukes named SLEEPY and HAPPY, and they had great wealth. SLEEPY was able to keep his investments in check despite rising taxes and inflation. His life seemed headed for a bright and successful journey. Then one day, he fell ill and soon became in need. His great wealth began to disappear .... .

Happy holidays from your local GEICO office.

228-832-0600

HAPPY, too, had planned for a merry journey through life. His plan included strategies for taxation, inflation and ill health. He, too, experienced an unfortunate illness that caused him to miss many days from work ....

Turn the page to see what happens....

RETIREMENT | INCOME | PLANNING

3586 Sangani BLVD, D'Iberville 15429 O’Neal Road | Gulfport, MS 39503

(228) 832-9313

www.marstonrogers.com lrogers@aicinvest.com kathy@marstonrogers.com Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. GEICO Gecko image © 1999-2016. © 2016 GEICO.

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 131

Securities and investment advisory services are offered solely through Ameritas Investment Corp. (AIC) Member FINRA/SIPC. AIC and Marston Rogers Group are not affiliated.

Additional products and services may be available through Lee Rogers and Marston Rogers Group that are not offered through AIC. For securities, please contact lrogers@ www.gcwmultimedia.com aicinvest.com.

131

10/19/16 8:08 PM

by Lee Rogers

Happily Ever

After

H

APPY, however was able to quickly recover from his financial trial. He was fortunate indeed! His long-term planning had saved the day. He was able to keep all of his wealth in tact and stay on his merry path to a bright and promising future.

The moral of this story is:

It pays to have a plan.

Start building your plan today.

Call Marston Rogers Group for a consultation to help you understand all of your options and benefits.

RETIREMENT | INCOME | PLANNING

15429 O’Neal Road | Gulfport, MS 39503

(228) 832-9313

www.marstonrogers.com lrogers@aicinvest.com | kathy@marstonrogers.com Securities and investment advisory services are offered solely through Ameritas Investment Corp.

(AIC) Member FINRA/SIPC. AIC and Marston Rogers Group are not affiliated. Additional products and services may be available through Lee Rogers and Marston Rogers Group that are not offered through securities, please contact lrogers@aicinvest.com.

2016 132 AIC. ForNovember-December

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 132

Keep your eyes on the financial road

Imagine getting in the car with someone who tells you they just decided — today, in fact — that they would be a better driver if they keep their eyes fi ed on the rearview mirror instead of the road ahead. If you are like me, you would want out of that car. Why, they are an accident waiting to happen. In investing, everyone wants to put his money in a four- or five-star fund — a fund with a good track record. A good fund track record is good, just as is the driving record of someone who has never had a wreck. However, just as a good driving record is no guarantee you won’t have an accident a four- or five-star fund rating gives little information about future performance.

(Past performance is no guarantee of future results.)

Vanguard said in a recent report, “our analysis reveals that higher rated funds are no more likely to outperform a given benchmark than lower rated funds.” In plain English and in the fi e print of all fund marketing, past returns is no guarantee of future performance. That’s why I compare fund selection based solely on their record to driving while only looking in the rearview mirror.

The mutual fund rating business has grown into a multimillion-dollar industry. Chasing performance has led many investors to have the false expectation that if they put money in a highly rated fund they are all set. Just because a fund was highly rated last year or even for several consecutive years doesn’t mean it will continue its positive outperformance.

In 2014, The Wall Street Journal requested that Morningstar produce a list of past performance of five-star funds over a tenyear period starting in 2004. Only 14 percent of the five-star funds had five-star results moving forward while 49 percent of the five-star funds came in at average or below average.

Effective risk management works best when human emotion is eliminated from the investment equation while providing the flex bility to adjust your plan based on unexpected life events. Rating services like Lipper and Morningstar are tools to help your plot your course. A local fi ancial advisor should simply be a trusted advisor to assist you and help you keep your plan on track. You have a choice: will you choose to drive your fi ancial plan while looking to the past, or will you choose to look forward and make a plan that gives you the flex bility to navigate around life’s unforeseen circumstances?

Securities (and investment advisory services) are o ered solely through Ameritas Investment Corp. (AIC). Member FINRA/SIPC. AIC and Marston Rogers Group are not affili ed. Additional products and services may be available through Marston Rogers or Marston Rogers Group that are not o ered through AIC. Before investing, carefully consider the investment objectives, limitations, risks, fees and expenses of the product and any underlying investment options. This information can be found in the product prospectuses. Copies are available from our o e. Please read carefully before investing.

10/19/16 8:08 PM

James Bishop

Scott Moser Owner/Agent

Owner/Agent

Text "BishopIns" for a quote today!

(228) 354-0877 | 14507 Lemoyne Blvd Biloxi, MS 39532

LET US TAKE CARE OF YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS. We have over 40 Yrs experience combined, and we pride ourselves in sales, service & efficiency.

WE OFFER HOMEOWNERS with Wind, Auto-Commercial & Personal, Recreational vehicles, Boat, Flood, Excess flood, Commercial GL & W.Comp.

Debbie Luke Agent

Wanda Mcinnis Office Manager

Amberlee Holmes Agent

Casey Whelchel Agent

E.J. Hamrick Agent

John O'Neal Agent

Khanh Tran Agent

Marcie Reed CSR

Sarah Collier CSR/Sales Support

Sean Logan Agent

Stephanie Landry Insurance Quoting

Tammy Muller Agent

WWW.BISHOPINS.COM

PROCRASTINATION

Mother, daughter, wife, sister … friend.

As a woman, you play many roles for the people who are most important to you and, by choice or circumstance, wealth manager may be in your repertoire. In fact, in

#1 – Today, are you closer to your goals? OR #2 – Are you in the same place today as you were the last time you looked?

If your answer is #2, we have some bad news. You can’t tread water in a moving stream. Inflation may be causing you to drift further from your goals.

one of out of four U.S. households with a net worth of $1 million or more, a woman is calling the shots when it comes to investing and spending money.1 Since your wealth touches many lives in many ways, it’s vital to get advice from a reliable source.

At Morgan Stanley, you can expect to work with a Financial Advisor who invests time in understanding your specific situation and has the experience and resources

Managing Director Investment Advisor Representative

Suzie Pierce Sawyer

Managing Director Investment Advisor Representative

(228) 864-4460 | (877) 896-4664 | www.sawyerteam.com 2304 14th Street | Gulfport, Mississippi 39501

Financial Advisor Phoenix High Net Worth Market Insights, August 2010

h

1

11 N. Water Street, Suite 16290

ca r

in

g

needed to help you prepare for the future.

ut tr

Brenda Whitwell

Robert J. Sawyer

integrity

Mobile, AL 33602 251-470- 2310 brenda.whitwell@morganstanley.com

133 © 2013 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 133

GP11-01086P-N07/11 7177513 SEG006 10/12

Securities offered through Century Securities Associates, Inc. | Member SIPC & FINRA A subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp. www.gcwmultimedia.com 133 Home Office: 501 North Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri 63102 | (314) 342-4050

10/19/16 8:08 PM

BEAUTY MONEY

WHAT TO WEAR?

by Brenda Blount

Here’s the answer

It’s that time of year. There is a chill in the air and a question: What to wear? There’s the office arty, the cookie exchange, the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, the Christmas dinner party and, of course, New Year’s Eve. Here are five trends to keep in mind for the holiday festivities: THE OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY Look chic and effortless with a winter-white sheath dress with a touch of sparkle. Yes, it’s OK not to wear your standard black dress or that lovely Christmas sweater you break out every year for the office arty. Winter white is effortless and while everyone may be in black, you will stand out with your statement winter-white sheath and a touch of sparkle.

NEW YEAR’S EVE Whether you are staying in and watching the ball drop or going out for a night on the town, New Year’s Eve is your time to shine. Step out in a cocktail dress and, by all means, make it jewel tones or winter white.

Brenda, of A Better You Image Transformation, is a seasoned retail and fashion merchandising executive, image consultant, pageant coach, and former model with more than 30 years experience in the retail industry. Find out more about her at http://muchbetteru.com.

THE HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS COOKIE EXCHANGE Th s is always fun but don’t slack on your style while exchanging cookies. You will sparkle in a festive Christmas tee or sweater paired with, of course, black pants.

THE UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER PARTY National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is Friday, Dec. 16. Here’s your chance to go wild and be as tacky as you want. Add as many Christmas trinkets to your sweater as you like. There are no limits!

THE CHRISTMAS DINNER PARTY Thi k all-out glam for the dinner party! Here’s your chance to wear that little black dress with as much sparkle as you can muster.

Winter white is effortless and while everyone may be in black, you will stand out with your statement winter-white sheath and a touch of sparkle. v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 134

10/19/16 8:08 PM

HAIRCUTS | BLOWOUTS

WAXING | NAIL SERVICES SPRAY TANNING

COLOR SERVICES OMBRÉ

& COLOR SERVICES BALAYAGE

4061 Suzanne Drive D’Iberville, MS 39530

228-354-8143

1241 Market St. | Pascagoula, MS 39567 228-762-0251| 228-762-0453 Hours: Tue. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Holly Hall, Owner

Specialty updo’s • Keratin • Extensions • Waxing

Full service Nail/pedicures • Makeup • Bridal party

Haircuts for women, men & children • Bang trim • Hair coloring • Root touch-ups

Full highlights • Partial highlights • Ombre • Single and double process color

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 135

10/19/16 8:08 PM

Ready for extensions?

by Brandi Bosarge

Have you ever thought about getting eyelash extensions? Here are a few things to keep in mind.

First, fi ding the right person to do your lash extensions is a lot like choosing a hairstylist. Lashes can be expensive, but well worth it if you have the right person. Be careful if you are looking for a bargain. The last thing you want is to have poorly done lashes or a cheap look!

The right lash stylist will help you decide if you are looking for fullness, length, or both for your lashes.

What are lash extensions? Imitation singular eyelashes are dipped in glue and adhered to your natural lashes one by one. Once done, you should barely know they are there. Curing takes 24 hours, so don’t expose your lashes to any water or heat. Depending on the individual, it is recommended to have them filled every 2-4 weeks.

So to recap: If you are thinking about lash extensions, choose a good stylist, look at the quality of the lashes, and be aware of upkeep and the proper care of lash extensions.

Brandi Bosarge is a stylist at Salon Rouge in Ocean Springs. She has completed advanced training courses in Goldwell color, haircutting, and bridal styles, and specializes in extensions and makeup. Reach Brandi at (228) 875-4233.

Celebrating

20 Years!

Holiday Gift Certificates

NOW AVAILABLE

228.832.2875 (curl) • antoniansalon.com

9354 three rivers road, suite c, gulfport, 39503 228.832.2875 (curl)ms • antoniansalon.com 136

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 136

10/19/16 8:08 PM

before before after

after

before

Here to make you look beautiful in every way!

after

Highlights | Color | Fashion Colors | Ombre’ | Balayage | Haircuts | Hair Extensions Special Occasion Styling | Eyelash Extensions | Airbrush Spray Tan | Facials | Nails | Makeup | Waxing

6905 Washington Ave. Ocean Springs, MS 39564 | 228-875-4233 | SalonRouge3@yahoo.com Find us on Facebook or check out our website at WWW.SALONROUGE-MS.COM

PANTONE

PANTONE

PANTONE

PANTONE

124

399

2593

234

ITC AVANT GARDE GOTHIC

CHANGING SKIN. CHANGING LIVES. I love how the products make your skin feel. I love the results.”

— Donna Cooley, consultant

(228) 617-8563 coolybr549@aol.com dcooley4.myrandf.com We are a team of professional hairstylists dedicated to making you look as beautiful outside as you are inside!

CHRISTINA MOORE (owner/stylist) BONNIE COOPER (colorist/stylist) KATIE RAY (hair straightening/color/styling) 11280 East Taylor Rd., Suite E • Gulfport MS 39503

228-284-4539

www.schedulicity.com (book appointments) Honeycombsalonllc@gmail.com

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 137

sun damage – acne – sensitive skin – blemishes – anti-aging

10/19/16 8:09 PM

Fall, winter makeup

PUSHES THE BOUNDARIES

by Jackie Merlau Jmerlaumakeup.com Th s season is geared toward pushing boundaries with your makeup. There was a time when makeup was used solely to keep our flaws and features natural or nonexistent, but we are continuing to show women ways to use makeup as an accessory. Thi k geometric, dark, glossy and futuristic.

SILVER I have always gone straight for iridescent pearl to highlight the inner corner of my eye. With this new trend, I challenge you to use a silver shadow in the inner corner of your eye instead. Another great way to incorporate this trend would be to use a metallic liquid liner to create your cat eye.

Both techniques are a surefi e way to put a futuristic pop on your everyday makeup routine!

DARK LIP We hear it every fall and winter: darker lips. However, this year try something extra dark. Stay further away from the red tones and closer to the black spectrum. And don’t just leave these lips matte. Pair your extra dark lips with a clear gloss. Thi k modern-day gothic.

PEACH Peaches have never been given the chance to shine in the fall and winter. So this year, I love that peach is gaining some attention in the cooler months! Whether it is a peach eyeshadow, blush, or lipstick, be sure to give this color a chance!

GLITTER I’m not sure glitter has ever gone out of style. Play up the eyes with glitter. Try glitter eyeliners on your bottom lash line or tap a bit of glitter on the center part of your eyelid. Feeling really bold? Use glitter as your brow bone highlight. Have fun with this one! Sparkle is very wearable this season.

NATURAL Th s is a trend that NEVER goes out of style. Take a break. Skip the contour and keep it simple. Some mascara, blush and a tinted lip balm are all you need to be ready in 3 minutes! Make sure you get a nice peach shade of blush and lip to keep your look fresh and on trend.

November-December 2016

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 138

10/19/16 8:09 PM

TimeWise Repair TimeWise Repair Volu-Firm Set Volu-Firm Set Lift away the years.

®

®

®

®

Lift away the years.

Experience the power of an innovative

Experience the power of an regimen created to target theinnovative advanced regimen createdThis to target the set advanced signs of aging. premium reduces signs of aging.

This premium set reduces the look of deep lines and wrinkles, the look of lines andofwrinkles, restores thedeep appearance lifted contours restores the appearance of lifted Are contours and recaptures youthful volume. you and youthful volume. ® Are you readyrecaptures to see these amazing results? ® amazing results? ready to me seeto these Contact rediscover your youth.

TimeWise Repair TimeWise Repair Contact me to rediscover Volu-Firm Set your youth.

TimeWise Repair Robert Wessler, M.D. Volu-Firm Set Lift away the years.

Volu-Firm Set ®

®

®

®

DERMATOLOGY wessler

Lift Lift away awaythe the years. years.

Experience the power of an innovative Experiencethe theregimen power ofof an innovative Experience power an innovative created to target the advanced regimen created to target the advanced regimen created to target the advanced of aging.

This premium set reduces signs of aging.signs This premium set reduces Latisha Lewis Price signstheoflook aging.

This premium setlines reduces of deep lines andof wrinkles, the look deep and wrinkles, Latisha Lewis Price restores appearance of lifted contours Independent Beauty Consultant Dr. Robert Wessler has the look of the deep lines and wrinkles, restores the appearance of lifted contours and recaptures youthful volume. Are you restores the appearance of lifted contours Independent Beauty Consultant and recaptures youthful volume. Are you www.marykay.com/latishalewisprice ready to see these amazing results? provided dermatology care and Contact recaptures youthful volume. you results? to see theseAre amazing me toready rediscover your youth. www.marykay.com/latishalewisprice 228.617.0188 ready to see these amazing results? on the Gulf Coast for the Contact me to rediscover your youth.

228.617.0188

Contact me to rediscover your youth. past 30 years.

Latisha Lewis Price

Latisha Lewis Price Dr. Wessler’s practice includes Independent Beauty Consultant Latisha Lewiswww.marykay.com/latishalewisprice Price the diagnosis and treatment of or Consultant latishalewis30@gmail.com Latisha LewisIndependent Price Beauty skin disease and skin cancer, Independent Beauty Consultant 228-617-0188 www.marykay.com/latishalewisprice www.marykay.com/latishalewisprice 228.617.0188 including melanoma.

Independent Beauty Consultant

www.marykay.com/latishalewisprice 228.617.0188

228.617.0188

All patient care is performed personally by Dr. Wessler.

Most Insurances accepted.

Call to make your appointment today.

People only rave about stuff that works

Robert Wessler, M.D.

Board Certified Dermatologist

82% of Women who make over $100,000 per year, do it through a home-based business.

Join My Team

Member of American Academy of Dermatology

228-863-7115

JOHNETTE O. SALINAS

1118 Broad Avenue Gulfport, MS 39501 www.wesslerdermatology.com Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Closed Friday

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 139

Rodan+Fields Level V Executive Consultant

228-365-0411 PRODUCT SITE: BUSINESS SITE:

www.johnetteowensalinas.myrandf.com www.johnetteowensalinas.myrandf.biz 139

10/19/16 8:09 PM

Reasons to Call Us!

Is she the dog whisperer?

Vacation • Weekend Trip Work-Related Travel • Hosting a Party Home Remodeling/Repair New Baby at Home • Doggie Socialization

Featured on DogVacay.com & Rover.com Licensed • Insured • Military Friendly

Judy Hortman-Mann loves on all of her fur babies.

Find us on

YourPetsHomeAwayFromHome@gmail.com

(228) 224-2582

Plan Ahead for

TAX TIME Give to a cause that

SAand VES LIVES take a deduction!

WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER Pregnancy Solutions

9155 Old Lorraine Rd. | Gulfport, MS 39503 | 228.897.8958 info@wrcGulfport.org

Judy Hortman-Mann has been pouring her heart into what she loves for 20 years.

“I love grooming cats and dogs,” says Judy, who owns two Shabby Chic grooming salons and the Vintage Attic Auctions House. “My heart is with all my fur babies we groom. I have been teaching grooming for the last 16 years. It’s a great profession and rewarding work. Friends and family call me a dog whisperer because I will groom the good ones and the very bad ones. I can usually talk them through it.”

Her years of experience helps but “if you love on them, they will love you back,” Judy says.

Judy moved to the Coast from Atlanta four years ago after meeting her husband. She sold the grooming business in Georgia and set out for a new life in Gulfport.

As one who follows her passion, it was easy choice to pursue the auction business. “I love collecting and selling old vintage items,” Judy says.

On a Friday night, you can fi d Judy and her husband hustling and bustling at the auction off ississippi 53 in Gulfport. The atmosphere is fun and friendly, with a hodgepodge of potential bidders from collectors to housewives to kids.

Whether at the salon or the auction, you’ll fi d Judy serving customers.

Doggie gets the baby treatment at Shabby Chic

Mon. & Tues. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Wed. 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Thurs. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday

140

November-December 2016

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 140

10/19/16 8:09 PM

Frost the frizzies!

by Brittney Fairley Trying to keep up with your natural hair in South Mississippi’s humidity can be a hassle but not an impossibility. Even during the “cooler” fall/winter months, many days still are quite warm and humid. One solution to taming the frizzies is the up-do.

The up-do also is a great alternative when you just want a different style. Try the “goddess braid,” which has become a very popular hairstyle. Start by parting your hair down the middle into two equal sections. Braid each side using a two-strand flat twist. I have to admit that I’m not much of a braider and it took me an hour to get this look together on my fi st try! Once you have a little practice, you can accomplish this ‘do in 5 minutes and be out the door! Practice makes perfect.

Keep this style in your look book and fi d lots of other

ideas for natural hair on YouTube. Don’t give up on your natural hair just yet — the styling possibilities are endless!

Follow Brittney on Instagram: www.instagram.com/itsmebfairley

Specializing in

Brazilian Blowout

Smoothing Treatments COME IN AND EXPERIENCE AN IMMEDIATE HAIR TRANSFORMATION with a BRAZILIAN BLOWOUT

12261 Hwy 49, Suite 2-B Gulfport, MS 39503 228.832.2240 www.perryshairsalon.com www.gcwmultimedia.com

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 141

141

10/19/16 8:09 PM

$200,000

Healthier You special section

HOUSING REHABILITATION 2016 CAMPAIGN

Before

Coming in January

We’ll help you weigh all the options

After Imagine being a family that does not have the resources to make needed home repairs. Your deteriorating home negatively affects your families’ quality of life as well your community. You fall further behind in making repairs due to other pressing debts not knowing how you will ever be able to make your home safe for your family or contribute positively to your neighborhood. This is a heavy burden of shame and embarrassment to carry.

Nutrition • weight loss exercise • surgical reductions • diabetes blood pressure hormones

Through Back Bay Mission’s Housing Rehab Program we are able to improve the quality of a home; relieving the families burden and stress. Therefore improve the quality of life for the family, the neighborhood, and the overall community.

To advertise, call 228. 539.2422

Good Shepherd Christian Academy provides quality education partnered with a Christian environment to students in the Gulfport, MS area.

We use the “Beginnings” curriculum and computer programs to enhance preparation for kindergarten.

Enroll your child today in the safe, healthy, cheerful environment of our school.

Our loving and professional staff works with every child in a caring, positive, and encouraging manner.

“Help us give a helping hand to homeowners on the road to long-term sustainability.”

1012 Division Street • Biloxi, MS 39530

228-432-0301

www.thebackbaymission.org

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 142

• • • •

Chapel each morning Christian environment Low child/ teacher ratio Child care from 6 weeks to completion of Pre K

80 48th St. • Gulfport, MS 39507 Hours of Business:

Mon. thru Fri. 6:30 AM to 5:45 PM

10/19/16 8:09 PM

FOOD

UMMM, DELICIOUS The way Mamaw cooked it!

by Andrea Yeager Remember reading stories and singing about “Over the river and through the woods”-type Thanksgivings? Those vintage Thanksgivings with tables laden with food of all descriptions and family and friends galore gathered around multiple tables?

Welcome to the Martin sisters’ annual feast.

Hope Martin Redmond and younger sister Terrie Martin Walker not only remember Thanksgivings around Mamaw’s table, but also carry the traditions and family recipes on year after year.

“We are the grandma generation, and our daughters look forward to this family gathering, too,” Walker says.

“Our daughter and her husband schedule their vacation to be here for Thanksgiving, and Hope’s oldest daughter Victoria wants to carry on our traditions by hosting this year.”

Thanksgiving is by far this family’s favorite holiday.

“We come together and give thanks to God for our friends and family who gather around and make it a special day to enjoy being together,” Redmond says. “We all come together and celebrate God and His goodness and each other.”

Truly, their old-time Thanksgiving is a “whosoever will,” with family, friends, and their guests spilling over to the whole house and backyard too. It’s a come-and-go aff ir because these sisters know everyone has schedules to keep.

“As long as they come, that’s all we care about,” Redmond says.

And the food? OMG. Sweet potato casserole, mac and cheese, cranberry salad, fried and smoked turkeys, green bean casserole, dressing, stuffed celery and a whole other table of desserts.

“We make our girls’ and families’ favorite dishes,”

Homemade cornbread dressing is the centerpiece of the side dishes.

143

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 143

10/19/16 8:09 PM

Walker says. “If they don’t see their favorite dish, they want to know where it is.”

These foods are classics from prior generations: Walker’s mother-in-law’s cranberry salad, the sisters’ grandmother’s chocolate sheath cake and Redmond’s mother-in-law’s dressing. But this duo and their husbands, Bidwell Redmond and James Walker, are always on the lookout for a new recipe to add to the menu.

“If we see a recipe that has caught our attention, then we’ll try it,” Redmond says, whose husband and sister are well known for trying out new recipes on guests.

Thanksgiving takes these families back to a quieter, gentler time, where life was a lot less complicated. Redmond summed it up: “It’s our special time to step back, enjoy the memories, make new ones and celebrate God’s goodness.”

GRANDMA’S DRESSING

Best karaoke venue Best pizza best bar best live music BUY ANY APPETIZER GET A 2ND APPETIZER 1/ 1/2 OFF

2 pounds bacon, fried and broken up 2 pounds gizzards, boiled and chopped 7 eggs, boiled 1/4 cup butter in the stock 2 onions, chopped 2 cups rice, mashed 2 pans cornbread Salt and pepper to taste Mix cornbread, bacon, onions, rice, gizzards, eggs.

Add stock until mixture is soupy. Place in baking dish and bake until dressing has dried out some and a little crispy on top.

CRANBERRY SALAD (EVA COOPER WALKER)

1 can whole berry cranberry sauce 1 large can crushed pineapple 1 bag miniature marshmallows 3-4 bananas 2 cups grapes, peeled and cut in half 1 (12-ounce) container Cool Whip 1 cup chopped pecans The night before you are serving, mix drained pineapple and whole cranberry sauce together well.

Refrigerate.

(228) 435-5822

Thirty minutes before serving, mix all ingredients except bananas together. Just before serving, stir in cut-up bananas.

DOWNTOWN BILOXI | 709 HOWARD AVE. BILOXI, MS 144WWW.

ZEPPELINSBILOXI .COM

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 144

10/19/16 8:10 PM

Tina Bishop, Owner

228-392-4549

16205 Lemoyne Blvd. Biloxi,, MS 39532 Tues-Fri 8:30am-6pm - Sat 9am-3pm

Prepping You For A Healthier Lifestyle We are a Clean Eating Prepared Meal Service here in the Biloxi/Gulfport & Surrounding Areas!

We pride ourselves on providing the freshest local organic foods! Our meals are fresh and healthy!

You could get a box in the mail, but who wants to cook after a long day! We take care of Shopping, Cooking & Delivery!

Please visit our website at:

www.weeklymealsprep.com

Email to: food@weeklymealsprep.com Call Us: 228/265-8880

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 145

Mon-Fri 7am-5:00pm • Sat 10am-2pm

Biloxi’s Premier Christian Preschool since 1956

Bible-based Christian Curriculum Art • Music • Daily Computer Lessons Low child-teacher ratio • Open-door policy State licensed for PreK3 & PreK4 Experienced, educated, caring staff Daily Bible Lesson • Weekly Chapel Service

REGISTERING NOW FOR 2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR

Pass Road • Biloxi, MS Good Shepherd 2004 228-388-4720 or 228-239-8370

Lutheran Preschool

Hours: M-F 8am-11:30am Lunch Bunch: Tues & Thur 11:30-2

www.goodshepherdlutheranpreschool.com

Bring in this ad to waive registration fee 145 Tuition includes computerwww.gcwmultimedia.com lab fees, daily snack, and educational resource material

10/19/16 8:10 PM

COAST CARES

Alzheimer’s Mississippi offers high-quality support and programs

by Kathryn Moran MORE INFO Alzheimer’s Mississippi is headquartered in Ridgeland and opened a Gulf Coast office at the Knight Nonprofit Center, 11975 Seaway Road in Gulfport, last July. Learn more about support groups, programs, and events at alzms.org.

Contact the Gulf Coast office at (228) 236-7211, or for 24-hour assistance call Alzheimer’s Mississippi at (877) 9306190.

146

The mission of Alzheimer’s Mississippi is to support those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia and their caregivers, with 100 percent of funds raised remaining in Mississippi.

Currently over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease and 52,000 of those are in Mississippi. It is estimated that nearly 206,000 family caregivers, predominantly female, provide millions of hours of informal care valued at over $2 billion in Mississippi alone.

Alzheimer’s Mississippi, the largest Mississippi-based voluntary health organization providing care and support services for all Mississippians affected

by Alzheimer’s disease, is increasing awareness and advocating for improved treatments and research to fi d a cure.

The organization offers free programs like “The 10 Signs of Alzheimer’s” and “Brain Health as You Age,” education about stages of the disease, conferences for health professionals and caregivers, and over 40 support groups across the state. Alzheimer’s Mississippi has also partnered with the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art for the Art in Mind program, which provides art therapy and meaningful social engagement for individuals with early- to midstage dementia and their caregivers.

“Almost immediately after Gary’s diagnosis we contacted Alzheimer’s Mississippi,” Lisa Cumbest Michiels says.

A longtime Gulf Coast resident and the primary caregiver for her husband, Gary, Lisa says she wanted more information about the disease and how to manage the journey ahead. “The staff w s incredible and continues to offer not only information, such as the ‘Alzheimer’s Resource Guide,’ but also genuine care and concern for our well-being along this hard road we are on.”

Alzheimer’s entails chronic decline; as the disease progresses, patients are able to perform fewer of the activities of daily living. They enlist loved ones to assist them, and Alzheimer’s Mississippi is dedicated to supporting those families and caregivers.

For many, the best support comes through regular support group meetings.

Meetings remind caregivers that they are not alone in the daily struggle of caring for someone with dementia, and they open doors to new relationships with those who understand a caregiver’s personal journey.

Al Kirsch is a support group leader at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Gulfport.

He explains what being an Alzheimer’s support group facilitator means to him: “Strangers enter each other’s lives. We come to help each other with this most difficult, functionally declining, and devastating disease. We help each other lose loved ones. The development of this safe arena [helps caregivers] to express themselves . . . [and] learn about local, national, and internet resources for their self-education.

“Not everyone has people to help them in times of need,” says Kirsch. “Support group may be their only respite or haven.”

There are many ways through advocacy and awareness events for families, friends and supporters to get involved in the fi ht to stop Alzheimer’s in Mississippi. One of the largest events on the Gulf Coast is walk4ALZ, which brings communities together in the fi ht against Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Held annually on the second Saturday in November at the Biloxi Town Green, 2016’s walk4ALZ happens Nov. 12 with registration at 9 a.m. and the 3-mile walk starting at 10 a.m.

November-December 2016

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 146

10/19/16 8:10 PM

Tickets On Sale Now! 360207

DEC. 1 – 4 v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 147

MISSISSIPPI COAST COLISEUM

DisneyOnIce.com • ticketmaster.com • 800-745-3000

147

10/19/16 8:10 PM

Smile Gulf CoaSt Implant, Cosmetic & General Dentistry

At Smile Gulf Coast, we pride ourselves on caring for your physical and emotional well-being in a relaxing and friendly atmosphere.

In our practice, you will receive advanced and comprehensive dental care in total comfort.

Ross Buntyn, D.D.S. and “Randy” Buntyn, D.M.D. 1203 Government Street • Ocean Springs, MS 39564

228.875.3343

148

email: SmileTeam@SmileGulfCoast.com November-December 2016 www.SmileGulfCoast.com

v18n1 130-148 FINAL.indd 148

10/19/16 8:10 PM