Destin, FL December 2022

THE

Giving ISSUE S E A S O N A L S E TU P S

CH RISTM A S WITH BELL A FLO RA 3 0A

D E C E M B E R 2 022

Ideas for Holiday Gifts!

4 4 9 5 Fu r l i n g L a n e # 17 0 , D e s t i n , F L 3 2 5 41, U S A .

A s h l e i g h Wo o l l y, O w n e r / O p e r a to r | ( 8 5 0 ) 4 2 4 - 7 011

Chef Alex Naeger, Your Traveling Private Chef 504-644-9783 c h e f a l e x n a e ge r @ g m a i l . c o m w w w. a l e x n a e ge r p r i va t e c h e f . c o m @ c h e f a l e x n a e ge r f a c e b o o k . c o m / a n a e ge r

December 2022 PUBLISHER

Carmen Ionascu | Carmen.Ionascu@citylifestyle.com MANAGING EDITOR

Josh Foster | josh.foster@citylifestyle.com

LIFESTYLE LETTER

Warmest wishes for a joyous Holiday season!

EDITOR IAL COOR DINATOR

Cheryl Forde | cheryl.forde@citylifestyle.com AD DESIGNER

Matthew Endersbe LAYOUT DESIGNER

Antanette Ray CONTR IBUTING WR ITER

Cheryl Forde CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER S

Robert Young, Melonie Marie Photography

This month, we wanted to highlight the magic of the season and what our city has to offer that helps spread holiday cheer. We’ve compiled a gift guide to make your shopping easier and that also supports our local businesses.

We also wanted to share what our area has to offer this holiday season for entertainment and ways to give back. While this season can be beautiful for some, it can be painful and lonely for others, especially those who have recently lost a loved one. In the true spirit of the season, let’s take care of those in our community that need assistance or who are alone. My warmest wishes to you and your loved ones for a Merry Christmas, a joyous Holiday season, and a happy, healthy, and successful New Year.

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Randy Radosevich DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

CARMEN IONASCU, PUBLISHER @DESTINCITYLIFESTYLE

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson AD MANAGER Chad Jensen WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

Learn how to start your own publication at: citylifestyle.com//franchise

Scan QR code to visit our Instagram CIT YLIFEST YLE.COM/DESTIN |

Proverbs 3:5-6 Destin City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Destin area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

Information in Destin City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the

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accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

Megan Lamade REALTOR® Lauren Endres REALTOR® 706-853-1646 585-313-0490 Megan@AbbottMartinGroup.com Lauren@AbbottMartinGroup.com meganlamade.finddestinrealestate.com laurenendres.finddestinrealestate.com

DECEMBER 2022

inside the issue The Holiday & Giving Issue

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16

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

16 Children in Crisis

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Lifestyle Letter

10

City Scene

12

Business Monthly

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Giving Back

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Seasonal Setups

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Inspired By

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Local Limelight

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Giving Back

A Haven for Vulnerable Children

22 Bella Flora 30A

Local Florist Accentuates the Holidays

28 Austin Music Co

Legacy Shop for Musicians & Friends

34 Adam Crosby Talks Landscape Lighting Lighting As an Experience

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Robert Young This beautiful floral arrangement from Bella Flora 30A graces “Mont Blanc”, an estate in the 30A Seaside community.

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EDU CAT I O N HO ME + DESIG N

S HO PPI NG HO ME + DES IG N

LI FE + C U LT U R E

Pamper Your Skin

This Holiday Season !

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SIZE REDUCTION Anti Cellulite Body Sculpting Hair Removal Scars Stretch Marks Massages

850.960.0130 | mgbeautystudiofl.com 1234 Airport Rd, Suite 105, Destin, Florida 32541

DECEMBER 2022

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

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1: The Market Shops 7th Annual Bloody Mary Festival, benefiting Habitat for Humanity. 2: The Market Shops 7th Annual Bloody Mary Festival presented by Step One Automotive. 3: The Market Shops 7th Annual Bloody Mary Festival, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, Nathan Waldstein. 4: Mentoring Emerald Coast Requirement Mixer Team & Fundraiser at Beachworx. 5: The 8th Annual Eggs on the Beach Cooking Competition benefits Food for Thought. 6: The 8th Annual Eggs on the Beach Event benefits Fisher House of the Emerald Coast.

7: Mentoring Emerald Coast Requirement Mixer team & Fundraiser at Beachworx. Photography by Destin City Lifestyle

Want to be seen in the magazine?

Tag your Instagram photos with @DestinCityLifestyle

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C I T Y SC E N E

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Give us a call today for a free consultation.

me today l l Cato see how I can help you purchase your next primary, vacation or investment property!

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DECEMBER 2022

business monthly A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Destin High School To Receive $1 Million Donation Local business owner of The Tolbert Group, Tripp Tolbert, pledged a major donation to Destin High School athletics totaling $1 million. Tolbert delivered the first portion of his donation, $250,000, to Destin High School this week at a special surprise student assembly held in “The Shark Tank” at DHS. The donation was presented by Tolbert, who spoke to the students to inspire them to work hard, show leadership, and give big to their community.

Photography Kay Phelan

Wags Marine Construction Wags Marine Construction is a veteran owned company ran by the owner, Joseph Wagner. The business name Wags Marine Construction was developed from his prior military nickname “Wags”. He served ten years in the USAF. Upon discharge, Joseph relocated to Florida and began his marine construction lifestyle.

Wags Marine Construction covers a multitude of dock-related specialties such as: piling wrapping, piling swapping, demolition, rebuilds, new builds, top board replacements, and seawalls.

Photography Destin City Lifestyle

Business Before Hours Sponsored

by Gateway Payments Gulf Coast Gateway Payments is a Destin-based merchant services provider, offering point of sale systems and credit card processing. Operated by Owner Josh Foster and his team, it is one of the only local licensed MSPs in Northwest Florida and is designed to help businesses achieve everyday success through powerful merchant processing services. Whether you need in-store, mobile credit card processing, or e-commerce credit card processing, Gateway Payments has the perfect solution, just right for your business!

Photography Destin City Lifestyle

Scan to read more.

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Destin

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B USIN E SS M ON T H LY

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ARTICLE BY CHERYL FORDE

A HAVEN FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN

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G IV IN G BAC K | ED U CATION

CHILDR EN IN CR ISIS

Here at Destin City Lifestyle, we are focused throughout the holiday season on giving. To help you find your giving opportunity, we introduce Children in Crisis, an organization that brings joy throughout the year to our community’s most vulnerable children. Please read on to hear what Ken Hair, President and CEO, had to say about this lovely little neighborhood in Fort Walton Beach that has provided emergency shelter and safe homes to children since 2008.

When Children in Crisis got started there was not a single emergency shelter in Florida’s District One (Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa, and Escambia counties) for children removed from an unsafe environment on short notice.

Local supporters and civic leaders joined Sharilyn Darnell and Mack Gay, the founders of Children in Crisis, to meet this need. Infrastructure plans were drafted in 2005 and by 2008, the doors opened on an emergency shelter.

This wonderful facility is clean, bright, and most importantly safe!

The emergency shelter was soon followed by five homes, each housing a permanent resident foster family of up to 7 children. Each parent comes with two important qualifications - a love for children and a thorough background check. What they don’t need is special skills. CIC has grown to provide relevant training and certification on-site!

In October, Children in Crisis held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for an on-site therapy center that reduces the tricky logistics resident families face getting to appointments. A food pantry simplifies grocery shopping expeditions. And,

8 studio apartments in the Opportunity Home offer young adults continued support as they start their young lives!

Generous donors and other non-profits have made all of this possible. For example, the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation has provided over $3 million in support over the past 17 years, sponsoring four of the homes.

You may think parenting seven children is overwhelming, but Ken and Danna Franks, the Vice President of Operations, explained that the parents receive a full range of support. They are there to assist in many parenting duties, even caring for crying little ones. For example, one child had a difficult transition and cried for hours. This intense need was met with the support of the entire neighborhood.

Ken and Danna have both been at Children in Crisis for more than fifteen years. Their speech is filled with words that express a heartfelt respect for the families in their care - “love”, “believe in themselves”, “blessings”, “opportunity”, “success”! They express wonder at watching children grow in front of their eyes.

They have seen more than 1,020 children arrive scared, with one small bag, maybe containing a change of clothes.

They have the joy of seeing these children blossom. The children learn basic self care, build confidence, succeed at school, and just have a chance to be a kid!

Visit the Children in Crisis website to see how you can help. Opportunities include vital, ongoing sponsorship and parenting roles. childrenincrisisfl.org

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Walton County’s Newest Gym

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Bella Flora 30A Local Florist Accentuates the Holidays ARTICLE BY CHERYL FORDE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT YOUNG

In this article, Kevin Sotomey of Bella Flora 30A shares some considerations for using florals and foliage to make holiday gatherings memorable. Fresh arrangements add evocative decor and scents to the complex of details that characterize a special occasion in treasured memories.

When Kevin came to Florida, he knew that this beautiful destination was perfect for gatherings and celebrations.

And, every special day deserves distinctive florals.

Kevin’s career as an electrical engineer took him to places as far away as Shanghai, China. From there, he and his wife prepared to return to the United States wanting to start a business. Although he had been

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raised in Ghana, West Africa, it was the unrivaled beauty of 30A that called to him and his wife. He didn’t know all the details, but he knew this - “It had to be Florida!”

The majestic retreat “Mont Blanc” in Seagrove, FL provides a dramatic setting for floral arrangements that Bella Flora 30A designers prepared for this spread. Mont Blanc is a 9,000 square foot masterpiece that “epitomizes 30A luxury living” and awaits a new resident to stand on its balconies that overlook perfect sunrises over the Emerald Coast.

Let’s find out how you can prepare for Bella Flora 30A to deliver amazing live decor to create a welcoming atmosphere this holiday season.

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PLACEMENT AND PRODUCT The first consideration when ordering flowers is placement and product.

Strategic placement of flowers ensures the greatest effect. The entrance and the dining table are two high impact areas.

For the entrance, consider a wreath, well-placed garland, or Christmas sconce swag. These elements greet guests with fresh evergreen smells characteristic of the holiday season.

For the dining table, Bella Flora 30A’s decorators can assemble garlands or floral arrangements to liven the dining table.

OCCASION OR THEME Bella Flora 30As designers are familiar with most occasions or themes, but you can also share a few photos that inspire you. They can assemble custom decorations for holidays, meals, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, etc. to your specifications. Or, you may prefer the “Designer’s Choice” option which leaves the details to your designer.

SIZE You should also think about the size of the arrangement. For florals, how high should they sit on your dining table? For garland, a specific length ensures proper coverage for your table or doorway. A few basic measurements may be helpful.

ALLERGIES AND PREFERENCES Finally, consider allergies and preferences. For example, common flower allergies include aster, baby’s breath, and chamomile. Discuss excluding flowers that have strong scents if you prefer or adding scents that contribute to the mood of your occasion. For example, you could ask for a few cinnamon sticks for the Christmas season.

With these few things in mind, you are ready to contact Bella Flora 30A for the perfect arrangement.

Before we go, here’s a short list of the services offered by Bella Flora 30A.

SUBSCRIPTIONS If you or your business needs flowers year-round, you can opt for a subscription service. Subscriptions are a great way to decorate effortlessly. Bella Flora 30A

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S EASON A L SE T U P S | HOME + DE S I GN

Pushing the boundaries of both architectural design and fortified construction, this idyllic legacy home pairs utmost quality and artistic inspiration into a refined finish that is unrivaled in Northwest Florida.

regularly delivers weekly to vacation rentals, homes, churches, venues, hotels, spas, restaurants, and loved ones!

• Floral arrangements for special occasions • Florals for dances (corsages, bouquets, boutonnières) • Bridal Rental Items (vases, chairs, tables, bars, boxwood walls) • Real Estate Florals (closings, open house, vacation rentals)

ABOUT MONT BLANC ''Mont Blanc'' exemplifies a well-traveled coastal retreat featuring iconic architectural styling prominently positioned to offer an unparalleled Gulf Front lifestyle along the pristine white sand beaches of Seagrove, Florida. Pushing the boundaries of both architectural design and fortified construction, this idyllic legacy home pairs utmost quality and artistic inspiration into a refined finish that is unrivaled in Northwest Florida. Newly furnished and finely outfitted by Robin Rains Interior Design, this iconic architectural marvel has been highly curated with priceless furniture, accessories, home automation, window treatments, lighting and artwork by one of Nashville's premier designers.

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LISTING AGENTS: Lyndon Jackson 850-419-5072 Lyndon.jackson@compass.com Jonathan Spears 850-974-1761 jonathan.spears@compass.com

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S EASON A L SE T U P S | HOME + DE S I GN

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Legacy Shop For

HOLIDAY GIFTS & MORE

Musicians & ARTICLE BY CHERYL FORDE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELONIE MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY

Friends

Calling all musicians! Grab your friends and head down to Austin Music Co in Miramar Beach. Located on South Holiday Road across from Culver’s this award-winning legacy music shop is more than just a place to meet all your professional music needs - high-quality instruments, a guitar technician, great coffee, television, and merch. While you indulge in music nostalgia, your friends can browse the merchandise and enjoy a cup of joe.

Stop by or shop online at austinmusicco.com for great holiday gifts. Gift cards, hats, and clothing will suit any recipient.

For fun musical gifts, take a look at their selection of guitars, keyboards, drums, ukeleles, and more!

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I’ll introduce Dan and Jess Austin and you’ll see why they’ve designed it to offer so much.

Dan is the musician in the house. He is the Lead Singer of the local band Clinch 46 and Worship Leader at Shoreline Church. Jess, who hails from Texas, on the other hand has been his faithful music store companion throughout their marriage. She’s found herself standing around many music stores that had the appeal of “an old man’s closet”. She was determined to create an experience for music lovers AND their friends!

For Dan, putting together a great store was easy. Dan is the son of local drummer Robert “Bob” Austin who played in local bands Alibi and Masque in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Dan and his brother Michael of Austin Music Co PCB both grew up as musicians. Dan played the guitar with his dad’s band as he grew older and more accomplished. You can watch him perform as Lead Singer of Clinch 46 at the Old Florida Fish House on New Year’s Eve. Bob Austin passed away, but Dan honors his music legacy at Austin Music Co. Bob’s photo overlooks the drum section in the store. And, the store has a record collection from both Bob and Jess’s fathers. The family’s past “leader of the band” would load the family up into their 1980’s station wagon and call out “To da beach!”

Another awesome feature of the store is a vintage baby grand piano that Dan and Jess recovered from the side of the road although they did not yet have a store! But, they had the vision and the faith to take a leap.

They have hit the ground running, listed in the Top 100 Music Dealers by the National Association of Music Merchants in their first two years of business. They carry a stunning collection of guitars including PRS, Takamine, Meinl, & LTD. They also carry Orange Amps. But, they can get their hands on any instrument as a dealer.

Just stop in to find out.

Their instrument rentals are designed for professional musicians who don’t want to travel with bulky instruments. And, finally, keep your eye out for the Austin Academy. They get daily inquiries about lessons and expect to offer lessons in February of 2023.

Stay tuned for more from Jess and Dan of the Austin Music Co!

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When you work with us,

YOU SHOULD EXPECT A COLLABORATION WITH TRANSPARENCY AND CONSISTENCY.

Want to learn more?

Contact us today for an initial consultation.

Howard Real Estate Consulting 850-960-0689 howardrealestateconsulting.com info@howardrealestateconsulting.com

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ADAM CROSBY TALKS LANDSCAPE LIGHTING LIGHTING AS AN EXPERIENCE

ARTICLE BY CHERYL FORDE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MADYSON GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY Theater productions use a few well-known devices to convince an audience that they are no longer in their seats, but instead have been swept up into the story on stage. Of those, lighting is chief. Lighting sparks powerful emotions.

In the same manner, professionally designed and installed outdoor lighting solutions bring excitement to any property. Adam Crosby of Elite Outdoor Lighting talks landscape lighting in this edition of Destin City Lifestyle.

Landscape lighting is less about trends, than technology improvements. When you’re next to the beach, quality matters. The salt air rapidly destroys commonly available products. Dauer Manufacturing products installed by Elite Outdoor Lighting offer professional grade brass fixtures.

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Their installations range from just a few lights to comprehensive landscape lighting for homes and commercial properties.

Using a lighting specialist brings advantages from start to finish. Elite Outdoor Lighting steers you through the experience beginning with a face to face consultation and culminating in a reveal of the installation. At twilight, the lights are turned on for the first time. It is truly an “as seen on TV” moment. Grown men cry and homeowners scream with delight.

Adam explained, “I think that lighting has become more of an experience, less of just a project that you do to your house.”

Think about painting your home. Immediately, the results begin to fade, losing the original enjoyment. But, a full lighting solution comes with a lifetime warranty to secure function. Elite Outdoor

Lighting also offers a maintenance plan to keep the lighting looking the same as the day of installation.

A specialty company puts the latest innovations in lighting at your fingertips. Strings of warm bistro lighting carve out charming gathering spaces along our beaches and various venues. The lights are cute, but standardly available lighting is destined to quickly succumb to the elements. Elite Outdoor Lighting’s brass sockets and brass bulb fittings patina, but don’t fail!

Elite Outdoor Lighting also installs stunning lighting packages including under dock and fish lighting as a preferred partner with WF Davis Marine Construction.

The Crosby’s simple landscaping company in Albany, Georgia has rapidly grown into a fully electronic service provider delivering top quality lighting solutions in Georgia and the Emerald Coast.

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DESTIN CITY LIFESTYLE

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DESTIN CITY LIFESTYLE

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DES TIN CITY LIFESTYLE

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FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES CONTACT: @carmen.ionascu@citylifestyle.com @destincitylifestyle

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DUAL PRICING L E A R N H O W T O O F F S E T Y O U R PAY M E N T P R O C E S S I N G F E E S

POINT OF SALE · PAYMENTS · E-COMMERCE

info@gatewaygulfcoast.com · 850.387.2395 34990 Emerald Coast Parkway, Suite 326, Destin, FL 32541

The City Lifestyle

Giving Campaign Now in its third year, the City Lifestyle Giving Campaign will give away $300,000 this holiday season to help individual community members who would benefit from a helping hand during their time of need. But they need YOUR HELP to make it happen! Maybe you know of a single parent struggling to provide, an elderly person who has experienced loss, a child enduring a health issue, a co-worker suffering a sudden, unexpected tragedy or a neighbor with a financial hardship who has fallen between the cracks of getting assistance. Chances are you know someone with a specific need—even if nobody else does.

To preserve and protect the dignity of every recipient, the City Lifestyle Giving Campaign is completely confidential. No identities will be revealed or publicized in ANY way. (Even those who nominate others may remain anonymous if they choose.)

Last year, City Lifestyle was able to give to more than 70 recipients all over the country by sending checks in the mail through New Year’s Eve. (This year, the goal is to double that number with checks ranging in amount up to $3,000 each.)

With nominations flooding in from community members and leaders such as judges, police officers, teachers, nurses, social workers, mentors and readers like you, we were able to reach people who might otherwise go unnoticed.

“We believe in giving back and serving the communities where we live in a real and tangible way,” says Steven Schowengerdt, CEO and founder of City Lifestyle. “This Giving Campaign is all about personally impacting the lives of people we know with an unexpected check in the mail just to say that someone thought of them this holiday season.”

Together with Matthew Perry, Chief Sales Officer, Steven adds that the outpouring and gratitude from the recipients was overwhelming and affirmed that this is a tradition they want to continue.

“We believe God has blessed our company with continued success,” Matthew adds, “so we in turn want to be a blessing to others.”

City Lifestyle has also enacted an internal giving program whereby every employee in the company receives $100 to give away to someone in the community. “The idea is to encourage our employees to keep doing it on their own,” Steven says. “Taking care of one another and blessing others is so rewarding that it perpetuates a cycle of giving. It’s extremely important to me as a person and as a company to foster that culture of generosity.”

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“This Giving Campaign is all about personally impacting the lives of people we know with an unexpected check in the mail just to say that someone thought of them this holiday season.”

W here ha s t he c a mpa ig n g i f t e d?

Scan Code to

Nominate between Dec. 1 – 15, 2022

Follow @citylifestyle on Instagram for reminders!

To submit a nomination, follow @citylifestyle on Instagram and fill out the form found in the bio link.

All entries will be read, and because this is not a raffle, there is no need to nominate someone more than once.

The amount given to each recipient will be based on need.

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MODERN REAL ESTATE

raditional Luxury

Jacqui Luberto, Broker/Owner 850.830.5955 JacquiLuberto@gmail.com Cora Rasmussen, REALTOR® 253.509.2516 CoraRasRealtor@gmail.com