Scarlett | March+April 2022

March+April 2022

Wellness Feelin' Good

The latest in women’s fashion, beauty, home decor, lifestyle, and health.

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What’s Inside Features 19

WELLNESS Fashion

Beauty

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80

Like what you see? Here’s how to match our style.

Get the truth about serums ... a versatile product for your skin care routine.

Get the Look

Leah VanHoose It’s Only Hair

Take a personal and heartfelt journey with Leah through her ups and downs on the way to acceptance, self-love, and empowerment.

Health 55

Let’s Get Physical

Women and boxing — sounds like a winning combination to us!

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Body Talk

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Get your vibe on! All you ever wanted to know about vibrators.

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Foodie

Let the smoothie bowl mix up your morning routine.

Home Decor Pensacola Little Theatre

Little Theatre, Big Possibilities For more than 80 years, PLT has been Pensacola’s claim to fame in the realm of playacting. And now with a generous donation, PLT will be reimagined from the inside out to better serve the community.

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Tour of Homes Pensacola

About Face

Lifestyle 29

Heroines

Raise a glass to some amazing women in our community.

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A Few Good Men

Leaders, mentors, partners, gentlemen ... a few good men.

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The Queen of Hearts

Tanya Holloway has found a love for the stage, winning hearts and pageants along the way.

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Happy Hour

Red, red wine — from Merlot to Shiraz and sipping to cooking.

Is Florida the new California?

Jessica Duncan explains what the buzz is all about.

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Samantha York is so serious about fitness that she made it her career so she could not only live the lifestyle herself, but help others along the way.

Welcome Home

Shut the front door! And if you don’t like what you see, we’ve got some suggestions.

Anything He Can Do...

www.ScarlettMag.com

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March + April 2022

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They say it takes a village.

That’s true for every stage of life, and elder care is no different. Elder Care of Okaloosa County has served the senior community for more than 50 years.

Read any good books lately? Here are our picks to get you started.

Before diving in, turn up this specially curated playlist inspired by this issue.

Be the Change

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Cover to Cover

Listen Up!

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| There’s Something About Mary

Be the Queen

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s women, we all wear many hats. Not all of those hats look the same, but the truth of the matter is that we all wear many, MANY hats. For me, I love having so many roles. I love being a mom, a wife, a friend. I enjoy being involved in my community and checking out all of the latest and greatest events along the Gulf Coast. HOWEVER, it is very easy to put my personal needs on the back burner. Sometimes I forget to take time for myself.

Sometimes I just can’t say no. I have to stop and remind myself to put my oxygen mask on first.

At the end of the day, if I’m not feeling my best, physically or mentally, I can’t wear all of those other hats properly.

So what does self-care look like for me? Does anyone else have an “everything” shower? You know what I’m talking about. It’s where you do the leave-in mask on your hair, exfoliate, shave, and do the extra skin care all in one. It’s not an in-and-out shower, you’re gonna be in there awhile. These are my favorites. Not only is there peace and quiet for the whole time, you leave that shower feeling like the QUEEN that you know you are. “Everything” showers are the best and always leave me feeling ready to take on the week.

I love to take my kids on a walk around our neighborhood when I’m feeling overwhelmed. I try to put a pin in whatever I’m doing and go for a quick loop around the block. The exercise helps me relax, refocus, and refresh, and you can never go wrong with some fresh air and a healthy dose of sunshine.

Although sometimes getting out for a walk is easier said than done. And any time I can’t get outside, a round of jumping jacks does the trick.

I’ve also started journaling in the mornings. I fill a full page every day no matter what. When I started, it seemed impossible. What am I going to write about every day? As time has passed, I find myself writing more than one page. I try to fill each page with things I’m grateful for, things that make my heart feel full, and wonderful things about the people I surround myself with. You’ll be surprised with how wonderful you feel after writing about the best parts of your life.

It doesn’t have to be over the top to count as self-care. Let’s declare 2022 our year ladies. We are thrilled to bring you the second Wellness issue. Go social and follow us on Instagram: @Scarlett.magaine and Like us on Facebook: Scarlett Magazine. We are happy to continue bringing y’all the latest in women’s fashion, beauty, home decor, lifestyle, and health because frankly, we know you give a damn.

Mary Aho Editor

photography by: Shanna Magnuson

www.ScarlettMag.com

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On the Cover March+April 2022

Wellness Feelin' Good

e decor, lifestyle, and health.

The latest in women’s fashion, beauty, home decor, lifestyle, and health.

Unapologetically You Our Wellness issue is about feeling like the best version of yourself. Our cover girl, Leah VanHoose, knows better than anyone else what feeling like your best truly means. When you lose a part of you that you consider your identity, you have to go on a self-discovery journey to find out who you really are, be comfortable with yourself and most importantly, be unapologetically you. Read Leah’s story about overcoming the challenges of alopecia in our feature “It’s Only Hair.” photography by: Shanna Magnuson model: Leah VanHoose 15

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Who is Scarlett?

The Team

Steve Barber

Publisher steve@scarlettmag.com

Sheila MacDiarmid Graphic Designer

Mary Aho

Editor mary@scarlettmag.com

Kristin Frazier Copy Editor

Jessica Graña Creative Director

Shanna Magnuson Lead Photographer

www.ScarlettMag.com

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Contributors Here they are ... our amazing team of contributors. Smart, talented, opinionated.

The strength of this group is incredible. Scarlett is possible because of their wisdom, vision, perspective, and passion for their work because frankly, we know you give a damn.

We are proud to surround ourselves with this incredible talent:

Steve Barber, Publisher Mary Aho, Editor Jessica Graña, Creative Director Kristin Frazier, Copy Editor Sheila MacDiarmid, Graphic Designer Shanna Magnuson, Lead Photographer

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Harrison Barber, Distribution Emily Brink, Writer Jessica Duncan, Writer Courtney Murray, Writer Liesel Schmidt, Writer

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AI

IT'S ONLY written by: Leah VanHoose photography by: Shanna Magnuson

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W

hat in the world,” I said to myself as I looked in the mirror. I was tying my hair up into the usual ponytail so I could head to the gym when I first noticed … I looked weird. Something was different. I touched both sides of my head over my ears. It was smooth. It was bald. “Is that normal?” I didn’t understand. I felt around my scalp a little more. I discovered a round circle the size of a tennis ball on the back of my head as well. Smooth as a baby’s butt. My stomach sank. “What the fuck is going on?” I stood there in that tiny bathroom staring at myself, not understanding what would end up happening to me.

Not understanding how much my life would change. Not understanding how much I would change.

My hair was a part of me, my identity, for as long as I could remember. I wasn’t allowed to cut it until I was in sixth grade. It was so long it reached the top of my butt.

Pigtails and ponytails and braids. My grandmother would spend Saturdays watching us, my sister and I. We’d watch Dallas and Fantasy Island, and she would brush our hair. I wanted to be a Solid Gold dancer. I wanted to be the dancer with her hair to her knees. I’d dance on the coffee table, my stage of course, and copy her movements. She was so cool and sexy. I wanted to be her. My best friend and I in middle and high school would spend hours brushing each other’s hair. I was so jealous of hers, it was beautiful and hung straight, heavy and thick. Is it weird that when I think about my childhood, I mostly think about hair?

As much as I identified with my hair, it was never what I wanted it to be. It started the first time I was allowed to get it cut. What a day! Wendy, my sister, and I had an appointment with an actual hairdresser! I was so excited, I was beside myself. Apart from the time when I decided to cut myself bangs in Miss Mary’s little bathroom before the school bus came to get us, scissors had never touched my hair. Sitting in that chair, with my head in the sink as she washed, I pictured Farrah Fawcett. That’s exactly how I was going to look. Sexy wings down each side of my head. I was going to look just like her! As she spun the chair around for me to look in the mirror a wave of disappointment came over me. I did not look like Farrah. I looked more like Punky Brewster.

After my bald spot discovery, I went straight to the computer and looked up hair loss. I found what it was. I found alopecia. Or, did alopecia find me? As I researched, my stomach dropped further and further. “Oh my god,” I thought, “NO ONE can ever see me bald! Jason can never see me bald! Can you wear a wig to sleep? He’s not going to love me anymore.” I sat there and read as tears silently crept down my face. Only 1 percent end up with universalis I “

read. Total loss of all body hair. Oh good. That was a relief.

People usually have round circles that appear and then it regrows. Ok, I can deal with that. I wear a lot of baseball caps anyway. I called my husband Jason. I was crying. He was unfazed. He told me to make a doctor’s appointment and quit freaking out and I would be fine. “You’re not going to die, are you,” he asked. “Well, I don’t think it’s deadly,” I said.

I began to learn all about alopecia. The fact that doctors have no idea what to do about it other than mask the symptoms. To inject your scalp with steroids in hopes to calm the inflammation. One of the worst procedures I have endured. You see, alopecia is only painful in the fact that you are losing your identity, your confidence, a piece of you. It doesn’t physically hurt. It’s not deadly so therefore there is little research. Little knowledge exists about autoimmunity anyway. Why in the world would your body attack itself? I endured one round of steroid shots and never went back to that doctor. I knew he couldn’t help me. So I hid it from the outside world as it continued to fall out in clumps, in the shower, on my pillow, in my hands. I wore my baseball caps pulling what was remaining on my head down to my ears so you couldn't see what was now most of the sides of my scalp. My fingers were drawn to it.

The smoothness, so soft yet so hard to think about. It was all I thought about. People would see, they would see me losing my hair and that was hard. I didn’t want Jason to see it. I wouldn’t be sexy anymore. I wouldn’t be beautiful in his eyes. Who could ever love a bald woman? I continued to hide it, from others, trying to hide it from myself. Then one day, I realized I couldn’t hide it anymore. Too much was lost. I was devastated.

My birthday is in September, right around Labor Day. Our friends were having a party. They knew I told a few what was happening to me. They loved me anyway. I knew this was the day I was going to stop trying to hold on to the little bit of hair I had left. I was almost completely bald except for the top of my head, kind of a reverse combover. All the girls and I gathered in Holly’s bathroom. She brought in a stool. I sat down, and Kristin with clippers in her hand got to work on my mohawk. There were tears, there was whiskey, and there was love.

I looked weird. I saw what I would look like with a mohawk. Not really my style. Then I saw what I would look like for the rest of my life — bald. It was heartwrenching. My friends supported me and teased me and loved me, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to introduce my head to them. I will forever be grateful to them for this day.

www.ScarlettMag.com

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Through all of this, I continued going to the gym. In fact, this is when I discovered CrossFit. I believe CrossFit is the thing that showed me that I can still be strong, I can still be confident, I can still be me. Me, even bald. After we shaved my head, I switched from the baseball cap to a bandana. I felt the ball cap made me look like a cancer patient. The bandana still made me look like a cancer patient, but less like one in my eyes. I’ll get into it later but in the public’s eyes, any bald woman is apparently a cancer patient.

While this story is not about CrossFit, CrossFit was a huge part of my life. I became obsessed when I found it. I lived, breathed, and ate it. It consumed me, and I believe distracted me from my condition, therefore my condition did not consume me as it has done to so many other women. I opened my gym seven months after shaving my head. I built a community of people that supported one another. We were comfortable being ourselves around each other. Plus, it was so hot in the summer, so taking that bandana off my head around them was easy. But only in the gym. I was not ready to bare my head in public. Not one, single bit.

“I love you, I love you, I love you!” Michael Franti sang along with 500 other people in the 9:30 club in Washington, D.C. It was magical to hear this, and it gave me the courage to take off my bandana for the first time in public. Well, he also had a bald woman up on stage singing with him. That definitely helped too. I whipped that thing off and stood there in the club, and I felt it. I felt the love.

I also got a couple of free drinks out of it, so score! This started my foray into the public eye with no boundaries.

And when I say no boundaries, I mean other people. They don’t give a shit. They will ask you if you have cancer with no hesitation.

There is something about the grocery store. Going into the grocery store without my bandana was the hardest trip to take. For some reason, it made me the most nervous of all. Like poop-my-pants nervous, but I did it and you know what, it was worth it. I sat in the car getting up my nerve, whipped that thing off and set it on the seat next to me so I couldn’t chicken out halfway through and put it back on my head, and walked in. As I walked down the aisles everyone stared at me. Looking back now, they were probably staring because I’d left the gym and had on a tiny tank top, booty shorts, and tall socks. They were probably staring at my ass, not my head. But yeah, they stared. I got to the check out line and the lady behind the counter looked at me and said, “I’ve been waiting for you to take that damn thing off your head!” And, you know what? I never put one on again.

While we are on the subject of grocery stores …

Actually, it’s not only grocery stores, but I would say that’s where it happens most frequently. Really, though, it’s every time I am in public. Someone comes up to me and asks about my “cancer.” I know I am bald. I know chemo causes baldness. But if you see me in person, I do not look sick. I am fit, I am strong, and it shows. Granted, every once in a while I am dreadfully hung over. So, maybe then I do look like I’m on my third round of chemo, but for fuck’s sake people, I DO NOT HAVE CANCER. Now, with all those big bold letters, it looks like it bothers me. Honestly, once in a while it does, like the time I got prayers from not only the lady in front of me in the checkout line, but also the lady behind me in line. I know people are just trying to connect with me, find some common ground. All of their stories are the same. They have, had or know someone that has or had cancer. They want me to know it’s OK. They hug me and they pray for me, and I know that I don’t have cancer, but I am happy to receive their love. I know it’s why I’m so lucky in my life. I get tons of love from complete strangers.

I have twin boys. No … I have amazing twin boys.

Granted I blocked out the first four years of their life and from the ages of 14 –18 because babies are hard, and well teenagers are the worst. I say that jokingly, and I really do remember. Ryan’s hair went first when he was about 14, then about nine months later Drew lost all of his. To say it was traumatic doesn’t cut it. People always said, “Well, at least they are boys. Boys can pull off bald.” NOT A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY! They aren’t bald, and teenagers are the meanest creatures on the planet. Now, I had to be strong. I had to be proud. I had to find an answer. Why in the world were all three of us bald within a year of each other? Hmmm, Jason wasn’t bald! Was he poisoning us?

We tested for arsenic, for heavy metals, for radon. No, he wasn’t poisoning us. I changed my diet, went to Johns Hopkins Hospital, went to other dermatologists, read every single thing I could on autoimmunity and alopecia.

Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. No answers, just acceptance.

Jason was, and still is, our biggest supporter. Jason gets what he wants and he’s not afraid to fight for it. Hell, that’s how he got me. He’s not really good with emotions.

Claims he has none, but that’s not true. He has a strong love for us, and he just shows it in a different way. He shows it by always supporting us, making us face our fears, and taking on our problems head on. It’s hard love but love nonetheless. On one of my particularly hard days he looked at me and said, “Leah, it’s just your head! It’s always been there, you can just see it now.” Good point.

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WE are lucky in the fact that we all have wonderfully shaped heads. No bumps or lumps, our faces are set in our heads very symmetrically. We are pretty lucky in that sense. We are beautiful people.

Going on 11 years of this, we have had a long time to process and adapt and most importantly accept. You see, acceptance is beautiful. It shows everyone else that you accept who you are and so they have no other choice but to accept you too.

Confidence is a funny thing.

What it boils down to is selflove. When you realize that it doesn’t matter what life throws at you, you are equipped to deal with it and move past it. We are here to learn, to grow, and ultimately to share. I’m using my biggest challenge as my biggest platform. I want to share what I have learned. I want to share the love I have received, and ultimately I want to teach you that you are an incredible being.

We are magical creatures! We run on light and energy! Believe in yourself and your abilities to take on your challenges, and believe me you will rise above them and be better for it.

www.ScarlettMag.com

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| Playlist

wellness

Scan the QR Code to start listening to Scarlett’s curated March + April 2022 issue playlist.

I Am Woman Emmy Meli

Roar Katy Perry

Good Feeling Flo Rida

Sexy And I Know It LMFAO

24K Magic Bruno Mars

Play That Funky Music Wild Cherry

Bust A Move Young MC

Twist And Shout The Beatles

Sugar Maroon 5

Walking On Sunshine Katrina And The Waves

Wannabe Spice Girls

Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of…) Lou Bega

U Can’t Touch This MC Hammer

All About That Bass Meghan Trainor

(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty KC & The Sunshine Band

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ot all heroes wear capes, some wear fabulous heels. Being a woman can be a difficult job. We are often expected to be everything to everyone. Work hard to reach your full potential in your career field, but also raise a family in-between.

Make sure you meet all of your deadlines at work but also bake a casserole and join a book club. While it may seem overwhelming to “do it all,” there are a few local women who seem to have it figured out. And, for that, they are my heroes; or should I say heroines. Malala Fund said, “I want every girl to know that her voice can change the world.” This group of women are bravely climbing to the top and making a difference in the lives of those around them.

In these articles, we are raising a glass to some amazing women in our community. As successful businesswomen and entrepreneurs, these women are the examples that we need for our youth. Some are mothers, some are bosses, some are adventurous, some lead quietly from the sidelines, but there is one thing they all have in common — they are heroines. The leaders, the path blazers, the extraordinary women that always go a step above the rest. A heroine is defined as a woman admired or idealized for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.

These fearless women are that and more.

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| Heroines

Kristie Tobias

Corporate Business and Healthcare Change Management and Leadership and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director, Consultant, and National Speaker, Huron Consulting Group written by: Emily Brink photography provided by: Kate Treick Photography

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ristie Tobias knows that life is not about having it all figured out. For her, life is about giving herself the grace to stumble and fall flat on her face. The grace to allow her faith to help propel her life forward into the next journey. Kristie is the woman she is today because versions of her past self and the struggles she has faced helped shape her into someone who can empower other women. She is not ashamed of her past, but she uses those imperfections, the scars, and the vulnerabilities as a catalyst for thriving.

Born and raised in Greensborough, North Carolina, Kristie’s family was a big influence for her to start getting involved in the community. Their family always had an open door policy. Friends, family, and even strangers could come to their home and be heard. As a child in that environment, Kristie learned by example how to give others a voice and has taken that example into her own life today. It wasn’t until after she spent some time serving in orphanages in Russia and Kenya that she began serving on boards and being a decision-maker in the community.

Kristie wanted to invest in her own community and hometown and to bring the lessons she learned abroad into practice at home.

Since 2014, Kristie has lived in Pensacola, Florida, and wears an assortment of hats in her professional life.

Her multi-faceted role with Huron Consulting Group is summed up as Corporate Business and Healthcare Change Management and Leadership and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director, Consultant, and National Speaker.

She is also a personal, small business and nonprofit coach with her own company, Fearless Existence, LLC. Her • Currently Reading: It’s About Damn Time by Arlan Hamilton.

A book about digging into the realities that will help you take ownership of your own personal journey, and as Arlan says, “move from underestimated into your greatest advantage.”

book, Fearlessly Made You earned her the title of nationally published author. In addition, she hosts a podcast with the same title, Fearlessly Made You. Publishing her book is one of her proudest accomplishments. She was finally able to tell a story that so many people couldn’t tell before. Kristie believes that God gave her this opportunity to share her story and be a voice for others who could not tell their own stories.

Growing up, Kristie’s mother was her greatest female influence. She taught Kristie that we are not the product of our mistakes but the product of our decisions to learn from our mistakes. She taught her that everyone has the ability and the authority to shape their journey in a way that builds pathways for others to follow. When Kristie looks back on her 20-year-old self she was living a life of true fear and disorder, and she didn’t see a way out of it. But now, when the PTSD from abusive relationships, hospital stays, poorly managed mental health crises, and unbalanced hormones comes back to haunt her, Kristie reminds herself, “We are not glass, we will not break, we are meant to move forward.” She also tells herself, “You are meant to share your story so someone else can feel the love and support that you so desperately wanted.”

Throughout her career, Kristie has learned the difference between leading people and guiding them. She has learned how to lift up the voices of those who are not being heard.

To help them become more empowered!

Over the next five years, Kristie will continue to serve on community boards like the Ronald McDonald House, the YMCA of Northwest Florida, the Pensacola Little Theatre, Favor House, and Gulf Coast Kid’s House. She is also excited to continue developing her podcast and to begin including all kinds of people local to the Pensacola area and to tell their stories.

• Go-to Cocktail: Anyone who has ever spent more than

Valley Vineyards.

• Favorite Show to Binge-Watch:

Gilmore Girls together every single episodes of Gilmore Girls. I have the box set and I have it saved

Gilmore Girls!

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| Heroines

Candace Rorrer

Exercise Physiologist + Owner, Essentially Fit written by: Emily Brink photography by: Katie Keeton

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his heroine is walking proof that it is never too late to switch career paths and to figure out what it is that truly brings you passion.

Candace Rorrer has a degree in Computer Networking, but that didn’t really produce a lot of passion or desire to stay within that career path. Going back to school for Exercise Science is her proudest accomplishment. She was already married and working full time when she made the decision to switch career paths. When her first son was born, Candace was in school and never even stopped taking classes at that time. She completed her degree, and not long after graduation she started working as a personal trainer.

It really is never too late to pursue your dreams.

From going to the gym with her mom in middle school to running track in high school, Candace has always been a very active person. She struggled with weight loss when she was in her 20s that ultimately boiled down to unhealthy eating habits.

This experience taught her that there is more to a healthy lifestyle than just exercise. All of these experiences combined led her to ultimately changing her entire career path so she could teach others how to make those small changes in their own lives. It is the small changes that truly add up to become the big successes for their health. Currently Candace is an Exercise Physiologist whose goal is to help people become the healthiest version of themselves.

Candace’s mom is her biggest female influence. She modeled what it was like to be strong, supportive, selfless, loving, and passionate, all while raising Candace as a single

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mother. Her mother always worked so hard to support her family. Candace watched her mother work all the way up to a management position. She showed her how to put in the work to get where you want to be in life. Candace’s amazing grandparents were also a huge part of her childhood, and Candace would not change a thing about how she was brought up. She grew up in Pensacola, graduated from Tate High School, and received her undergraduate degree from the University of West Florida.

The biggest advice Candace could offer to her 20-yearold self is to do things scared. She used to think that before she could start something new she needed to have all the answers, but she learned through her experiences that simply is not true. When she decided to quit her 8-5 job and start her own business, it was so scary! But she did it anyway and it has been the best decision for her. She was 30 when she switched to self-employment.

For the past nine years, Candace has been an avid volunteer with the children’s program at her church. She enjoys coaching Upwards Soccer as well as helping with the children’s choir. She experiences so many rewarding moments working with the children in the community and plans to continue in these endeavors.

Candace loves teaching people how to take care of

• Currently Reading: “The Armor of God” by Priscilla Shirer • Guilty Pleasure: Sleeping in. When you have kids that just doesn’t happen very often. Both of my kids love to wake up at 6 a.m.

• Favorite TV Show to Binge-Watch: I just binge-watched Sweet Magnolia’s.

• The Beach or The Pool: I love a good beach day. Growing up, my mom and I went to the beach every Saturday and Sunday during the warmer months. It’s my happy place.

• Hogwarts House:

their bodies. Learning more about the ingredients in the food we eat and the products we use around our homes is essential to healthy living. She knows that by teaching people these skills, their outlook on lifestyle changes completely shifts, and they are more willing to take those first steps. Even her children will read the labels on food packages now! The more you know, the better decisions you can make.

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| Heroines

Kathleen Hensley

Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Crane Center, LLC written by: Emily Brink photography by: Shanna Magnuson

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oming from a long line of public servants, being an active member of the community is literally in this heroine’s DNA. Kathleen Hensley learned from the amazing people around her how to reach out and help those in need. Her mother was a nurse who spent many years working in public health. Her father was a firefighter in Dothan, Alabama, near where she grew up. Her brother is also a firefighter and her identical twin sister is a teacher. These examples really helped influence her decision to serve her community by getting involved in the mental health field.

Kathleen’s mother is her greatest female influence. When Kathleen and her twin sister were first in college, their mother would send weekly emails titled, “Mom’s Words of Wisdom.” The emails covered topics such as being an effective leader, being resilient, perseverance, and the importance of having compassion and empathy for others. As the Nursing Director for the Alabama Department of Public Health Area 10, her mother instilled the importance of having true compassion for every single person you meet. Kathleen still has those emails and has started sharing them with her oldest son.

Pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and becoming a licensed mental health counselor was no easy task, especially not while trying to parent a 2 year old little boy. However, Kathleen knew that was what she needed to do.

It had been a long road full of ups and downs, but she was driven forward by her clear desire to help those in crisis. The lessons of sacrifice, self-sufficiency, and hard work she

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learned during that time have helped her immensely throughout the rest of her life.

Currently, Kathleen is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with the Crane Center, LLC. She has offices in both Destin and Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, where she lives with her family. Kathleen has served in several community organizations. She also coordinated and served as an honorary commander for a charity wine dinner and raffle for the 53rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base.

She has also served in the Domestic Violence Women’s Shelter and worked closely with some of the greatest first responders in Walton County.

There have been a lot of proud moments in Kathleen’s life, but being a mother of two handsome boys is definitely sitting at the top of her list. She is also proud of completing her degree and working full time, while still being a mother. She loves to think about the day she graduated and giving her little boy the biggest hug ever.

In that moment she remembers thinking, “It was all for you.” All the long nights of school and studying were all for her boys. The picture of that moment is still one of her favorite memories.

Over the next five years, Kathleen wants to expand her efforts with first responders and health care workers who may have residual issues related to the ongoing pandemic.

• Ultimate Guilty Pleasure: Singing and dancing to my favorite ‘70s music • Soundtrack to Your Life: Here I Go Again — Whitesnake • Childhood Dream Job: I wanted to work for the FBI. • Favorite Disney Princess: Sleeping Beauty

She will also continue participating in suicide prevention nonprofits and chrities and events to honor the military community such as the Wreaths Across America. Kathleen tries to mentor others so they can succeed in both their personal and professional lives. She truly enjoys being a qualified supervisor for counseling students and interns. It is so important for her to help others succeed so that the mental health community continues to grow and thrive.

Mental health counselors provide critical services to the community that truly impact its members and their ability to continue flourishing.

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| Heroines

Maggie Weaver

Director of Marketing, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa written by: Emily Brink photography by: M. Sand Photography

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hey say who you spend time with determines who you will become. This heroine takes that to heart when choosing the people she associates with.

Maggie Weaver chooses to surround herself with people who lift her up and celebrate her successes. Because of this mindset, Maggie does not have just one female influence but a whole slew of amazing women she can rely on and turn to in times of need. Her closest friends inspire her, influence her, and constantly teach her new things she had not thought of before.

Maggie grew up in the birthplace of speed, Daytona, Florida. Today she lives in Freeport, Florida, with her family. Her daughter is the best thing that has ever happened to her. Maggie is a full-time working mother whose proudest accomplishment is that she gets to be an example to her daughter of someone who is hardworking and dedicated. It is her goal that her daughter takes that same work ethic into her own life and channels greatness because of it.

Hard work is a theme throughout Maggie’s life. If she could go back and tell her 20-year-old self one thing, she would definitely want to say to work hard, but do not take yourself too seriously. Work will always be there in the morning.

Even though yes, work is important, there are things in life that are even more important. So be sure to spend time with people

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you care about because in the end you only get so much time with them. Those relationships count for so much when it comes to making your life positive.

Getting to where she is today was no easy task. It took her perfectionist personality and determined mindset to get her started. The thing keeping her going is the fact that she found an industry she truly loves and wants to keep working in. Today, Maggie is the Director of Marketing for Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa. She is responsible for the marketing of all of the hotel’s outlets.

She also does marketing for the award-winning Serenity by the Sea Spa and the area’s only AAA Four-Diamond steakhouse, Seagar’s Prime Steaks and Seafood. In addition, she is the current Vice President of Professional Development for the Northwest Florida Chapter of Florida Public Relations Association. Through her company, Maggie is a member of both the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce as well as the Destin Chamber of Commerce.

It was her mentor, Angela Vaughn, who really helped Maggie see the importance of being involved in the community you live in. Angela took her under her wing when Maggie first moved out here six years ago.

She showed her all things Walton County. Playing an active role in the community you live and work in was a huge talking point of Angela’s. Maggie truly credits her for the drive to stay involved with the community.

Today, Maggie tries to make it a point to stay attentive to what is happening around town and the things that are impacting the area. Maggie specifically looks for ways her company, Hilton Sandestin, can be involved and make the community an even better place to live, grow your family, and truly thrive.

• Last Google Search: Mardi Gras-themed cocktails • Go-to Cocktail: Pinot Grigio • Favorite Show to Binge-Watch: Anything on Bravo, I love a good Housewives franchise.

• Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Publix brand Moose Tracks is the best!

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| Heroines

Teresa Allen

Customer Service Expert/Speaker, Common Sense Solutions written by: Emily Brink photography by: Steve Barber

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or someone who grew up as a shy child, this heroine loves being able to look at how far she has come.

Teresa Allen operates on what she calls the three E’s — effort, energy, and enthusiasm. She counts the three E’s as the means for which she succeeds in her endeavors. Some of her strong points are networking, meeting new people, and helping them forge their own success path.

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Teresa moved to Destin with her wonderful husband in 2018 and has been making herself a part of the community ever since. She serves as Membership Co-Chair of Impact100 Northwest Florida, participates in Fort Walton, Destin, and Walton Area Chambers, Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA), and tourism industry events. She is also on the Outreach Committee of Destiny Worship Center. Teresa has ranked No. 1 for two consecutive years on Global Gurus’ list of the world’s customer service experts.

She is internationally recognized for sharing service strategies with organizations across the U.S. and abroad for more than 25 years.

When they moved to the area, Teresa did not know many people and wanted to make some friends.

This desire inspired her to get involved and to join Impact100 Northwest Florida which immediately connected her with hundreds of women who cultivate a spirit of generosity in their own lives. Joining this organization also taught her about other nonprofit organizations in the area and the tremendous need the area experiences. She has been helping where she can ever since and loving every minute. Teresa has been

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inspired by the generosity and kindness she has seen from members of local businesses and members in the community. Everyone has been so welcoming it was easy to feel at home.

Teresa’s mother was her greatest female influence. She brought energy and enthusiasm to all she did, loved being surrounded by friends, and was always the life of the party! If Teresa could have a chat with her 20-year-old self, her bit of advice would be to “guard your time as your greatest life asset.” She would want to set specific goals and only give her time to efforts that will fulfill those goals.

Her greatest personal accomplishment is being married to David Allen. He has put up with all her crazy ideas for 41 years of marriage and she couldn’t be happier being married to him.

Working with Impact100 Northwest Florida, Teresa has combined her annual $1,000 charitable donation with the donations of others in order to provide $100,000 worth of transformational grants to Okaloosa and Walton County nonprofits. Her position with Impact100 allows her to help members and potential new members connect with their philanthropic spirit while also building life-long friendships. Teresa is an Evergreen member, which means she has committed to serve year after year in this great organization.

Working with service professionals from every industry imaginable for the past 25 years, Teresa has been able to make lasting relationships with her clients. Sometimes they will call her years later to say that they still use the skills she taught them. These testimonials give her confidence that the information she shares actually has a beneficial impact on those she teaches. She has mentored emerging speakers, sharing what helped build her own success. It is rewarding to see the speakers grow and enhance their speaking business and skills. Teresa is excited to continue serving in the community and making lasting relationships with the people she meets.

• Currently Reading: Overload by Joyce Meyer. Overload pretty much sums up most days in my life. Joyce points out that you have to trust God to be in control — a good message for a control freak like me!

• The Beach or The Pool: The beach is my happy place.

• Go-to Cocktail: Martini • Ultimate Guilty Pleasure: A bag of kettle potato chips • Favorite Dish to Cook: • Favorite Show to Binge Watch: Ozark

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®

MILITARY RELOCATION PROFESSIONAL

WE FIND HOMES THAT FIT YOU

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dane@pcsfla.com | pcsfla.com (850) 974-0728 (Mobile) | (850) 664-2510 (Office) 28 A Walter Martin Road NE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 ©2021 RE/MAX, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Pub 1/21 Each Office Independently Owned and Operated. 18_266971

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en — can’t live with them, can’t live without them. But luckily we’ve found a few good men! Leaders, mentors, partners, gentlemen.

There are approximately 161.6 million men in the United States. That’s a big number, but all we need is a few good men to make a difference. We are lucky that the Emerald Coast has as many good men as they do palm trees. Our area is booming with strong male role models helping to lead the way and to guide the younger generations down the right path.

These men are out there in our community making a real difference. They are running businesses, they are volunteering, they are working at the local nonprofits, they are fathers, and they are husbands. These men are juggling all of these jobs and are doing it with style and grace. Being a good man is more than just following the rules, it’s being the individual who goes above and beyond.

It’s being the man who isn’t afraid to stand up for what is right. A truly good man is one whose traits perfectly balance out. He is both strong and sensitive, a leader but can also take direction. A good man is someone you can look up to.

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| A Few Good Men

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Dustin Parkman Senior Advisor, NBI Properties written by: Emily Brink photography by: Shanna Magnuson

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eing involved with the community is something Dustin Parkman has always loved to do. Dustin loves when he has time to give back, whatever that may look like for him at that time. He tries to instill knowledge of his own successes and mistakes into the younger generation so they can go even further than he did! With his previous company, Dustin was involved with Westonwood Ranch, a transitional service program for teens and young adults with autism and related developmental disorders, as well as the Habitat for Humanity. He was involved with his local Board of Directors for the Art Museum and prides himself on always being a “patron of the arts.”

Dustin was born in Dothan, Alabama, but was raised here in Destin. He was even a part of the first classes at Destin Middle School! After moving back to the coastal area, he started with his current position at NBI Properties.

They represent some residential developers but are mostly focused on commercial development real estate.

Dustin’s job mainly focuses on retail and hospitality assets.

Currently he is working on his first independent restaurant project for the area. It will end up being about 5,000 square feet and be located directly on the water as part of a larger marina redevelopment. It will be in Panama City so keep an eye out because he is so excited about the release!

Overall, Dustin’s mother is his biggest female influence.

He was very young when they first moved to Destin from Alabama. He remembers his mother having to work multiple jobs just to keep the household running. She has always had the entrepreneur mindset, which is probably where Dustin got his from. Women have always played a big role in his life, and Dustin says that women can be considerably better at management than men! Women possess a level of organization, communication, and empathy that is so important in today’s workforce. Dustin has always been able to learn from female colleagues and continues to be amazed at how they balance everything happening in their lives.

As a proud father, Dustin’s children are his greatest accomplishment. Seeing them grow, develop their own personalities, and become individuals is so fun to watch.

Parents want to provide the best life for their children, which is one reason Dustin works as hard as he does.

He hopes that it will all make sense to them one day. In exciting news, their family is expecting another baby soon!

If Dustin could sit down with his 20-year-old self he would tell him to slow down. As he looks back, he was

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always in a rush to succeed, and he realized he missed some important things. His advice is to take your 20s to learn everything you can about what it is you want to do. Then, in your 30s, you can bet on yourself and just let it ride!

Looking forward to the next five years, Dustin is excited to renew his efforts of being more involved in the community. The last two years were years spent on investing in work and his own efforts, but he is back in a place now where he can return that investment to the community. He hopes to develop an intersection for arts, entertainment, and business to come together and create something beautiful.

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| A Few Good Men

James Hedricks CEO + Founder, Impel Nutrition written by: Emily Brink photography by: Shanna Magnuson

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nly two days after he was born in Jacksonville, Florida, James Hedricks and his family moved to a new city.

This was the life of a kid with a dad in the U.S. Navy. Lucky for him, he and his family have lived in Panama City Beach on and off now for the past 15 years. Despite the ups and downs, James has created a life he is proud of and feels passionate about. For the past 20 years, it has been James and his wife against the world, and he is happy to say that she is his greatest female influence. She held unwavering confidence in James long before he felt he deserved it, always supported his wild and crazy ventures, and helped him stay true to himself. His wife is his emotional compass and has shown him what it means to truly trust someone.

It was partially because of his supportive wife that he has been able to expand from his corporate job as the Production & Shipping Manager at Berg Pipe Panama City and begin the position of CEO and Founder of Impel Nutrition. Impel is defined as an internal driving force that pushes you to do something, so it makes sense that James chose that word to name his company after. Impel Nutrition was created in 2019 in an effort to combat the misinformation and random trends in the sports nutrition industry. James saw the need for highly effective products with an extreme focus on quality. With this focus and the drive to build a positive community of like-minded people, Impel Nutrition is steadily growing and making an impact in the sports nutrition community.

In order to understand where James is now, you need to know his backstory. James’ life was in a downward spiral. He was living in his car with nothing to his name and didn’t know where to go from that point. Eventually he took control of his life and turned things around for himself. He cites getting into fitness as the conduit of his success. Growing from that experience and finding out what he needed was a life-changing experience for James.

Creating Impel Nutrition and giving people access to supplements to help their progress is one of James’ greatest accomplishments. He started the business with zero internet presence and now has experienced 100 percent business growth the past two years. His hard work is paying off.

James tries to lead by being an example of unrelenting positivity. He tells his story with the hopes of inspiring another person to realize that whatever they are going through, there is a way out of the darkness. He runs his

business as a platform where people can go for advice and recommendations, as well as somewhere they can turn when they are just feeling down. James is also someone who is not afraid to jump into a situation and get his hands dirty. During the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, he and his wife helped organize the assembly and delivery of hygiene bags, on top of helping neighbors and strangers clean up their homes.

Over the next five years, you will see Impel Nutrition continue to grow. James also hopes to get involved with a program called Elevate Bay, which puts mentors in touch with at-risk youth. James hopes to help kids not make the same mistakes he did as a youth. So often kids slip through the cracks, and he hopes to catch some of them and help them on their way through life.

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A Few Good Men |

Jacob Watkins

Owner + Real Estate Advisor, Corcoran Reverie written by: Emily Brink photography by: Desiree Gardner Photography

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ooking back, Jacob Watkins would tell his 20-year-old self to always say yes! His advice is to always be present and to take advantage of every single experience that life brings. Jacob names relationships as the most important asset you can earn so they should be heavily invested in.

Lastly, always give more than you receive and put others before yourself. He believes that if you do this, it will always come back tenfold. He tries to put this into practice in his everyday life, but especially in his professional life.

Even though he was born in Fairhope, Alabama, Jacob currently lives in Inlet, Florida, where he is the owner and a Real Estate Advisor for Corcoran Reverie, a luxury real estate business in Northwest Florida. He also spends some

of his free time as a board member for the Sonder Project, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower impoverished communities through high-impact, sustainable development. Jacob is proud to be a board member for this organization and to see the difference it does for the community and the people around him.

Corcoran Reverie is a company that not only provides luxury homes to their clients, but they are also heavily invested in making the community a better place to live. Jacob is proud to lead a company that prioritizes community impact. They support a number of other local organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Food for Thought, and the Seaside School Foundation. As a company, they have committed to continue to focus and commit a portion of their earnings to support these organizations. This opportunity to impact others and create positive waves in the community was a big reason Jacob decided to get involved in the first place. Being involved drives his commitment to his family, his work, and his community.

The relationships he has formed are Jacob’s proudest accomplishments. His family and friends are the most important parts of his life, and he tries every day to invest in those relationships. He is proud that throughout his success in his career, he has been able to create even more time, experiences, and memories with his family and friends. The women in his life are so incredible and have truly taught him so much. His wife, his mother, his business partner, and each one of his female friends have helped shape him both personally and professionally.

He believes that there is nothing more important or more difficult than being a mother. Jacob has had the opportunity and privilege of watching these women raise incredible families, all while being intentional and successful with their relationships, careers, and commitments.

Jacob is so proud of the success and achievements they have seen from their agents at Corcoran Reverie. He constantly strives to provide everyone in the company with the support and knowledge they need to be the best they can be and to truly succeed. Every day Jacob commits time to do whatever he can to help facilitate those successes for other people in the office. The agents at Corcoran Reverie continue to rank at the top of the market and break records. He is so proud to lead these amazing individuals and truly celebrates each of their success.

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| Sweet Tooth

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats ¾ cup toasted nuts of your choice* ½ tsp salt ¼ cup oil of your choice** ¼ cup sweetener of your choice*** ½ tsp vanilla extract ½ cup additional mix-ins****

*Nut options: Pecans, walnuts, peanuts, or a mix

**Oil options: Coconut oil (melted), olive oil, or avocado oil ***Sweetener options: Maple syrup, honey, or agave

****Mix-ins: Coconut flakes (toasted), sunflower seeds, chocolate chips, and dried fruits

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees 2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the oil, sweetener, and vanilla extract, mix well.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, salt and cinnamon, mix well.

4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mix and stir until oat mixture is lightly coated.

5. Pour the granola onto a lined baking sheet and spread into an even layer.

6. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the granola is golden brown. Stir halfway through.

7. Allow the granola to cool for at least an hour before breaking into pieces and adding option mix-ins.

Enjoy your homemade granola on its own, with milk as cereal, or on top of your favorite yogurt or smoothie bowl!

Store granola in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Yields approximately 4 cups.

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Queen Hearts The

of

written by: Liesel Schmidt

photography by: Carlos Velez 47

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photography by: Catherine & Andrew Studios www.ScarlettMag.com

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or most of America, the picture that we hold in our mind’s eye of a pageant queen is one of a thin and sculpted woman who looks airbrushed to perfection. But there’s more to the pageant world than strict diets and boob tape. In fact, for the millions of plus-sized women all across the country, there are role models who hold the title of queen and wear the crown — all without thought to their dress size.

As a proud woman who loves her curvy body and celebrates it, Tanya Holloway is the ideal person to stand on a national stage and represent all of the women who look in the mirror at themselves and wonder if they are beautiful. A long-time lover of pageants, Tanya found the perfect time to start competing and the perfect reasons to do it. “I have always been a pageant fan,” says Tanya, who lives in Panama City with her husband, a retired Airman who now works as a civilian for the Air Force. “When I was younger, I loved watching the beautiful women on TV, all elegant and poised in their sparkling evening gowns. I'd never been involved in pageants, though. But there was a perception that pageantry was basically nonexistent outside of certain social circles.

A local woman was featured on the news as she was competing in a Plus Pageant, and I had no idea there was such a thing as plus pageantry! It wasn’t the right time for me to compete, but it was always something that I knew I wanted to do. Last year, while my husband was deployed, I had a list of things I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and try. Competing in the pageant was one of them!”

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Little did she know that she would actually make it into the Miss Plus America Pageant — and that she would go far. Still, there were lessons to learn. “Having never competed in a pageant, I realized quickly that there was much more to it than finding a pretty dress and looking poised on stage,” Tanya admits. “If I hadn’t hired a coach, I really don’t think I would have been successful because I had no clue what I was doing!”

Luckily, being on stage wasn’t an issue for Tanya because she had experience performing for an audience. “In high school, I was in the colorguard and winterguard. We were very competitive, and I enjoyed performing in front of full stadiums and arenas, so being on stage in front of a smaller audience was no problem,” she notes. “What did make me nervous was knowing that I was still very new to pageantry, and I was competing against women who were very experienced.”

Despite the fact that she was less experienced, Tanya was crowned Miss Plus America Elite 2021, proving that she had the poise, beauty, strength of character, and grace to embody their representative. “Honestly, no one was more surprised than me!” she recalls. “I really didn’t want to set any goals or expectations other than to do my best. That way, I wouldn’t be too disappointed in however I placed, as long as I was happy with how I did. I was shocked and happy to make it to the top five, and even more shocked that I won.”

Now, Tanya is gearing up for the 2022 Miss Plus World/Ms. Plus Intercontinental Pageant in March. “I’ll be representing America in the Intercontinental Division (ages 36+), as Ms. Plus Intercontinental America 2022,” she explains. “It’s very similar to how Miss USA represents our country at the Miss Universe Pageant. I can’t wait to meet the other queens and learn about their cultures!”

"I really didn't want to set any goals or expectations other than to do my best. That way, I wouldn't be too disappointed in however I placed, as long as I was happy with how I did."

Devoted to celebrating the essence of the full-figured woman and giving her an avenue in which to pursue recognition for those causes closest to her heart, The Miss Plus America Pageant System has four divisions. Each division has one winner, and the Elite title goes to the

photography by: Carlos Velez

queen with the highest overall score. The organization will celebrate its 20th anniversary during the 2022-2023 pageant on June 29-July 3 in Houston, Texas. The Miss Plus World Pageant was established four years ago to celebrate the accomplishments and humanitarian services of women from around the world. Because these are pageants specifically for plus-sized women, there are minimum size requirements to compete. Miss Plus America delegates must wear at least a size 14 (US), while Miss Plus World/ Intercontinental delegates must wear clothing size 12 or larger (US).

For Tanya, winning has meant so much more than just the crown. “First and foremost, I’m enjoying myself!” she says. “I’ve met so many wonderful people that I now call friends. I am so proud of myself for doing something new and a little bit intimidating! Doing this has made me braver and given me the confidence that I can do much more than I have given myself credit for in the past. Pageantry really does help with confidence. From the outside, you may think it would do the opposite, but that depends on a lot of factors such as your self-esteem, your support system, knowing who you are, and ‘needing’ to win vs. ‘wanting’ to win. Pageantry isn’t for everyone, but if you already have self-esteem and a support system, that’s a great start. The benefits of pageantry are that you meet lots of people, travel, and use your time as a titleholder to spread awareness about the issues you’re most passionate about,” continues Tanya, who as an Ambassador for the American Red Cross is using her title to promote disaster preparedness. “Everyone has a voice, but being a pageant queen gives you a way to share your message to a larger audience.”

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WOTYS

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reparing for senior year should be fairly straight forward. Summer reading, sports practice, college test prep, and spending time making lasting memories with friends. For Janey Carter, senior year of high school was anything from ordinary. In fact, doctors were not even sure she would live to see her senior year. She is here today, defying odds and trying every day to regain her strength lost in the accident.

It was a warm day in Jasper, Alabama, in July of 2017 when Janey was running late to the first volleyball practice of the season. Hoping to shave off some time, she was going too fast for the roads. She ended up driving off the road, overcorrecting, and colliding with a tree. The accident dislocated her skull from her spinal cord, which as you can imagine, left her with severe

"

The New written by: Emily Brink photography provided by: Janey Carter

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spinal damage. When she made it to the hospital the doctors were astonished. The neurosurgeon told her family they did not know what to expect. People with this kind of damage do not usually make it to the hospital.

With a prognosis like that, one can only imagine the emotional pain that accompanies those words. All Janey wanted after her accident was to get back to “normal,” and if she could not get back to normal, she wanted to be as close as possible. She worked so hard during physical therapy to reach these goals. No matter how hard she worked, regaining movement takes time.

Janey learned how to be patient and to just let her body heal at the pace it needed. When it came to regaining her movement, she was doing good until she had issues with her shunt. These issues caused serious setbacks in her physical movement, and Janey would lose the movement she had regained over and over and over again. This is the hardest part of recovery — the setbacks.

Currently Janey has a lot of movement in her legs, but not much movement in her arms. She will spend time working out at the gym which does wonders in helping her regain her strength. She also looks forward to summer because moving around in the pool is much easier than on dry land. Being outside is one of her favorite places to be, and if she gets to go to the beach that is even better. Sunshine and beach waves do wonders for a person. One of the best things Janey does for her mental health is to continue moving her body even when it feels impossible. When she feels stronger physically, it is easier for her to feel strong mentally.

Additionally, at some point during the process, either during the initial injury or an emergency trachea surgery, one of Janey’s vocal cords was damaged. Today her voice is very quiet so she will often use a voice amplifier to make it easier for people to hear her. All in all, Janey is happy to be alive! Her life is so different than how she imagined it, but she is here and she is trying every day to be the best version of herself.

After her accident, high school graduation continued to loom closer and closer. Other students were making plans for the future while Janey kept asking herself, “What kind of job could I possibly do without movement?” She really did not have a clue what she wanted to do or even what she could do with her physical abilities. It was a really daunting feeling having to face graduation with no real plan or direction.

It was May of 2020 and Janey was searching for a gift for Mother’s Day. All of the stores were closed so people couldn’t really shop in person. Janey started painting cards with watercolors and selling them for people to give to their mothers.

She ended up selling more than she expected and people kept coming back saying how happy their moms were to have a card painted by her! She took it and ran with it and has been making cards ever since. Thus Paper by Janey was born. Janey’s proudest accomplishment is finding something that she loves, that she can do with limited movement, and that she can market and turn into a real business.

As soon as Janey finishes her general studies, she is planning on starting a graphic design program which will help further

her card business and allow Paper by Janey to have even more designs available. Currently she is only making greeting cards, but she hopes to grow her business into a large company that will provide even more people with sweet handmade cards.

Janey hopes that her cards bring a little bit of happiness to each person who sends and receives them. She hopes that they spread her story all over the world, and with her story, the encouragement people need to face their own trials. She loves being able to reach so many people with her business. Her least favorite part of being a business owner? Definitely the shipping costs!

In five years, Janey imagines that her business has grown tremendously. Maybe she will even have her own storefront that provides people with a tangible place to visit her shop! She will have continued to gain her strength back, and she will even have a college degree. She also wants to become a certified life coach.

There are people every day who go through serious setbacks and hardships. She wants to be able to coach people through certain areas of their life to propel them forward into something greater.

Janey is only 21 years old but has already shown the world she means business. She does not give up even through tremendous hardships. From spreading her business across the country to standing from her chair unassisted to purchasing a beach wheelchair, Janey does not plan on stopping her progress anytime soon. She knows that God has a purpose for her life and that knowledge keeps her going, even when the going gets tough.

If you are looking to learn more about Janey’s story, you

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Let's Get Physical |

Get

Ring in the

written by: Courtney Murray

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he world of women’s sports has grown tremendously over the past few decades and continues to expand each year. Boxing may not be viewed as a traditionally female sport, but that doesn’t mean that women aren’t kicking butts and taking names in the ring! Women have participated in boxing for almost as long as the sport has existed, but athletic commissioners refused to sanction or issue licenses to women boxers. Female fights have been outlawed for most of boxing’s history and most nations went as far as officially banning the sport. There was a huge win for the sport when women’s boxing joined the Olympics in 2012! There are 17 weight classes within women’s boxing, from heavyweight to atomweight. These weight classes compete within four major sanctioning bodies, World Boxing Organization (WBO), International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Association (WBA), and World Boxing Council (WBC).

You don’t need to be an Olympian or a professional athlete to get in on the action. Anyone can reap the countless benefits of boxing starting today. Boxing is one of the most physically demanding sports there is and burns fat and calories while completing a full body workout and improving your overall health and stamina. In addition to the physical benefits there are huge mental benefits as well including boosting your confidence, more mental clarity, reducing stress, and learning important self-defense skills.

Boxing can have a major impact on women in particular.

It’s not just your arms getting the workout, your legs are engaged during your lightning-fast maneuvers and your abs and core are firing on all cylinders when you’re punching as hard as you can. This type of workout will boost your metabolism and get you to your ideal lean fighting weight in no time.

There are a plethora of local classes you can take at gyms or with personal trainers across the country to hone your boxing skills, but another option is setting up your own version in your home. Working out from the comfort of your home gym or living room has gained popularity over the years; especially during the pandemic. Coupled with many gyms being closed and the want of having a personal space for workouts came the rise of the home gym. You can go as simple or elaborate as you’d like depending on your space, experience level, and fitness vision. The first step is to plan your space. Do you have an entire bonus room to dedicate to your boxing gym? Are you going to set it up in a corner of your garage? Or, do you live in an area with perfect weather so you can have your gym outdoors in your backyard?

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You’ll need adequate space to hang a punching bag without it bumping into things and still be able to do other exercises like burpees and jumping jacks in between your sparring. You’ll need to start your building from the ground up. If you plan on jumping and fancy footwork, investing in mats can help lessen the impact on your joints leaving you lighter on your toes. The key component you’ll need is a punching bag. This can be a free-standing bag or a wall- or ceiling-mounted hanging bag. Quality boxing gloves not only help you look the part, they protect your knuckles and wrists from impact and provide extra weight, giving you an even better workout with each right hook. If you’re looking to expand your gym even further you can add a variety of bags to your collection like a double end bag, a hook and uppercut bag, and a speed bag. The options for expansion are virtually endless. You can really up your game with the addition of benches or squat racks, dumbbells, kettlebells or barbells, and weight plates. Now you’re ready to start on this path toward personal growth and fitness and really get a hard-hitting start to 2022.

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Tour of Homes Pensacola |

is

Florida

the

new

with Special Guest Writer

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s a local Real Estate Agent, the questions I hear daily is, “When will the housing market crash?” Many people also say, “I want to wait to purchase a home until after prices go down. Will prices go down?” These are concerns of home buyers today in our local market.

Of course, I don’t have a crystal ball to predict the real estate market, but I have access to the facts, statistics, and the knowledge to make an informed prediction. Take it for what it is — my professional opinion!

First, let’s talk about why people think the market will crash. Before the crash we saw across the country in 2008, 2005 was the height of the housing market. In 2005, we saw a 17 percent increase yearover-year in our local area’s average home sale price compared to 2004. That is a considerable increase for one year.

In 2021, we saw a 19% increase yearover-year in the average home sale price compared to 2020. That is a massive increase and even more so than in 2005.

Some people think it’s a precursor of things to come, and I understand why someone could feel this way. We use history and previous experience to predict the future, but are the same factors at play? Fortunately, we are not in the same situation.

The 2005 surge was mainly driven economically, while today’s surge is driven by demand. In 2005, many homebuyers purchased with low or no down payments. Many buyers financed over the purchase price, and we even saw 125 percent loan-to-value mortgages. A 125 percent loan-to-value mortgage means the buyer started their loan out owing 25 percent more than the home’s worth. We also had many interest-only loans, and people were not paying down the loan’s principal. The process of qualifying home buyers was lacking too. Some people joked that you could buy a home if you had a pulse.

Buyers were given loans they could not afford. What a perfect storm! People did not qualify for their loans, they owed more than the home was worth, and they were not paying down the balance,

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unlike today’s real estate market.

Over the past two years, many buyers have moved to our area from larger, higher-priced markets. Many factors encourage them to move here, including our lower cost of living with beautiful water and beach access. Permanently working from home allows people to live where they choose.

Many people relocated, not only to our market, but all over Florida. Since these homebuyers moved from more expensive markets, they came with lots of cash, giving these buyers the means to have large down payments or even pay cash for the homes they purchased.

By 2010, when the market had receded to its lowest point, average home sale prices had dropped 18 percent from 2005.

When the market adjusted, many people owed more for their home than it was worth. The easiest solution, while not comfortable, was to give the house back to the bank or let the home go into foreclosure. Let’s just say hypothetically prices adjust down 18 percent again. Over the last two years, a large portion of the home purchasers have been putting 20 percent or more down on the property or paying 100 percent cash.

These people are less likely to foreclose since they don’t owe the total purchase amount on the home. The adjusted value would be less than the cash they put into the house at the time of purchase. A foreclosure will not be as appealing of an option for people. Homeowners are not as willing to walk away when they have large amounts of cash invested.

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I believe others have discovered our area. We have so much to offer and are still more affordable than other beach communities around the nation. Let’s face it; we live in paradise! I think we could see some areas around the country cool down, but I don’t think we will see an adjustment in our market, at least not for the next few years. However, we will not continue to have as high a growth rate, but I believe we will still have growth, and prices will continue to increase. If you are waiting on the crash, you might be waiting for a very long time because Florida could be the new California! source: Pensacola Multiple Listing Service January – December 2004, 2005, 2010, 2019, 2020 & 2021

Jessica Duncan Real Estate Agent

Jessica Duncan, an award-winning, top-producing Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Main Street Properties, is driven by a passion for providing the highest level of service with integrity to clients in her hometown.

Jessica was born and raised in Pensacola, educated at the University of West Florida, and is deeply rooted in her community. She has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Finance and prides herself in being innovative in real estate sales and marketing strategies, a skillset sharpened through 12 years in the corporate arena as a marketing strategist.

In addition to real estate, Jessica is passionate about serving her community through several area nonprofits and is a proud board member of IMPACT100 Pensacola Bay Area, an all-women philanthropic organization.

1313 Creighton Rd Pensacola, FL 32504 850.554.1783 If you’d like to recommend a home to be featured, email Jessica at Jessica@JessicaLoveDuncan.com.

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2022 Winners THE Woman of the Year - Hilary Farnum-Fasth Corcoran Reverie

Highly respected by colleagues and clients alike, Hilary has used her integrity, vast market knowledge, and disciplined sales strategies to become a preeminent real estate strategist of luxury residential sales across Northwest Florida. For nearly two decades, she has used her powerful negotiation skills and relationship-building abilities to stay ahead of the curve in the dynamic and ever-changing real estate industry while also maintaining a dedication to community involvement and giving back to several local nonprofits. Hilary began her real estate career within the renowned communities of Regatta Bay in Destin, Florida, and WaterSound Beach along 30A before opening her own brokerage and eventually joining the Corcoran affiliate network in 2020 with Corcoran Reverie. In addition to her successful real estate career, Hilary is the wife of Christoffer Fasth and a mother of three: Faith (20), Ben (17), and Sebi (2).

THE Top Three WOTY - Jessica Duncan

THE Top Three WOTY - Laurie Hood

Jessica Duncan, an award-winning, top-producing Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Main Street Properties, is driven by a passion for providing the highest level of service with integrity to clients in her hometown.

A true visionary and change-maker, Laurie Hood founded Alaqua Animal Refuge 15 years ago to give abused, neglected, and homeless animals a second chance at life. She has been a passionate animal lover since childhood and has made a lifelong commitment to improving the lives of all animals.

Jessica Duncan Team - Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Main Street Properties

Jessica has been married to her biggest cheerleader, Mike Duncan, for 21 years. They enjoy traveling the world with a focus on adventure.

Jessica was raised in Pensacola, educated at the University of West Florida, and is deeply rooted in her community. She is a forward-thinking real estate leader who brings a strategic approach to real estate.

In addition to real estate, Jessica is passionate about serving her community through many area nonprofits, including being a proud board member of Impact100, Krewe of SWAT, Gulf Coast Kids House, Rally, and many others. She started Closings for Charity to give back to the community while providing the opportunity to educate her customers on area nonprofits.

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Alaqua Animal Refuge

Under her leadership, Alaqua has grown to be the Southeast’s premier, no-kill refuge and sanctuary for domestic and wild animals — most recently opening a wildlife rehabilitation center. Having rescued and placed tens of thousands of animals into loving homes and environments, Alaqua continues to make a huge, positive impact in Northwest Florida and beyond — not only for the animals they save, but for the people who love them.

Born and raised in Louisiana, Laurie graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. In her spare time, she enjoys paddle boarding, boating, and horseback riding with her husband and two boys.

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Orthodontist Casi B. Stubbs DMD, PA Stubbs Orthodontics Optometrist Dr. Lindsay Durtschi Midtown Vision & Dental Ophthalmologist Dr. Karen Stein Stein Eye Care General Practitioner Maria Parris, DO Maria Parris Dentist Dr. Lygia Nabors Nabors Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Pediatrician Lyn Sprenkle, MD Coastal Pediatric Group Chiropractor Larissa Tenzycki Growing Green Families Alternative/Natural Medicine Tara Santosuosso Chill Cryotherapy Cosmetic Dentist Julia Skinner Vein/Vascular Care Provider Danielle McGraw Renew Aesthetics & Anti- Aging Clinic Nurse Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Audiologist Mallory Faust Hearing Life/Destin Hearing Assoc.

Podiatrist Dr. Francia Squatrito Bay Foot & Ankle Center Veterinarian Dr. Kelly Haeusler Airport Vet Physical Therapist Victoria Berry Hand Center for the Emerald Coast Pharmacist Katelyn Tidwell Fisher’s Pharmacy

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Dermatologist Cather McKay Coastal Skin & Dermatology Woman’s Health Provider Kathleen Hensley The Crane Center, LLC OBGYN Dr. Yolanda Jones Ascension Sacred Heart Esthetician Allyson Shirley Allyson Salon/Spa and Skincare

Clothier Kim Dettle Today’s Boutique Jeweler Ashleigh Woolly Beyond Measure Boutique Owner Alyssa Jamieson Classea Chic Boutique Furniture Retailer Marisol Gullo Not Too Shabby Sales Representative Tina Newton Automotive Sales Robin Homer World Ford Pensacola Local Retailer Carolyn C. Brigman McCaskill & Company Formal Wear Provider Christin Mathis Bella Bridesmaids Bridal Consultant Maggie Matthews Margaret Ellen Bridal

Caterer Edie Thompson Celestines

Chef Carrie Knife Knife’s Edge Private Chef & Catering, LLC Server Dani Connelly Aegean Restaurant Barista Anna Monk Craft Bakery Restaurateur Jami Jones Wharf 850 Hostess Terry Kuzila Bijoux Restaurant + Spirits Bartender Maggie White Slick Lips Seafood and Oyster House

Event Planner Felicia D. Rabb Felicia by Design Musician Anne Cline Cline Street Wedding Planner Kristi Purvis Kiss the Bride Weddings Dancer Danielle Torley Emerald Flame Dance Artist Melanie Moore Melanie Moore Art Dance Instructor Rachel Prescott studio6twenty5 Photographer Kayla Reeder Kayla Reeder Photography Wedding Photographer Kate Treick Kate Treick Photography Florist Jullian Holt Fleur Zoe Florals Videographer Cali Hlavac Silver Shade Studios

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Salter Studio

SERVICE PROVIDERS BEAUTY

Sarah Stein Thos. Stein, Inc Alana Stone Aaron Stone Construction Jeanne Dailey

Anchored Salon Vintage Title & Escrow, Inc. The Spa At Renew

Shantelle Dedicke Frances Roy Agency

Tracy Frick

Stephanie Tonkin Cassandra Stokes

Edward Jones

HEALTH Cheri Dunn Dunn Diabetes

The Spa At Renew

BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS Rosalyn Wik Shelter House, Inc. Boss Johanna Allard CPA Debra Henry

Lisa Tucker Grand Fitness Riane Hughes Lane Redding Rita Dodson

HOME

th

Tracy Stanford Signchick Signs

Classic Insurance Group

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LRS

Hillaree Durso Frances Roy Agency

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WOTYS

Many Congratulations!

To Kathleen Hensley, MS, LMHC, NCC, CCMHC For Winning The Women’s Health Provider.

We cannot imagine there is someone more deserving than yourself. Your dedication and commitment to the mental health community is paramount and second to none!

You have touched, comforted, and saved many lives. The community and our team are absolutely blessed, thankful, and grateful to have you in our lives. On behalf of our entire team at The Crane Center, we are so proud of your success and honored to be associated with you!

- Dr. Eric Goldberg & The Crane Center team

THE CRANE CENTER L.L.C. 137 Crystal Beach Drive Suite 137-C · Destin, FL 32541 P. 850.226.7100 · F. 850.226.7157 THECRANECENTERLLC.COM www.ScarlettMag.com

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WOTY

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WOTY

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written by: Liesel Schmidt / photography provided by: Pensacola Little Theatre

nce upon a time, in a small town by the sea, there was a little theatre that was created to tell tales and weave stories in a fantastical way, captivating audiences and taking them to another time and place.

For Pensacola Little Theatre (PLT) that has been the charge for more than 80 years, and the company has become Pensacola’s claim to fame in the realm of playacting. “Ever since humanity has had a story to tell, theatre has existed to create it,” says Sid Williams-Heath, Executive Director of Pensacola Little Theatre and Pensacola Cultural Center.

“Pensacola Little Theatre claims to have officially begun telling those stories as an organization in 1936, though we know those stories were told more loosely in the same capacity even years before then. And so, PLT stands as the longest continually operating theatre in the Southeastern United States. We go way back!

We credit our establishment to the Works Progress Administration by an effort of what was the Pensacola Civic Drama Players formed in 1926.

Today, our nonprofit is led by an active board of trustees, a vibrant artistic committee, and a small-butmighty staff of eight.”

Naturally, over its eight decades, the PLT has done a great deal of evolving to fit the needs of the time — though it will always remain what it was intended to be — a place where community comes first, making art for the community by the community.

Arguably, the changes have made it better. “The theatre has changed in terms of both the quality of the art and the quantity of the artists excelling far from where we started,” said Sid. “But the organization has changed in terms of how many people we serve. The biggest shift began when we purchased, renovated,

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"Ever since humanity has had a story to tell, theatre has existed to create it."

and began to own and operate the Pensacola Cultural Center, with the vision of that being our home to open up to other arts and cultural organizations to use and grow while within our doors. And that’s where the story shifts today. From even our original vision to include other organizations into our center, we’ve continued to want to do more — and be more. Now, we are reimagining our building to position our home as the “Center of Downtown,” an artistic hub for creatives to collaborate, find inspiration, and proudly showcase an array of art in a very public space.

There is so much that happens in that space throughout the year that fuses community and commerce with creativity and chronicle.”

As such, the theatre and Cultural Center have captured the hearts of some very generous donors, spawning a new name in the process. “You can’t have big dreams without big donors, and a family that has been near and dear to the theatre for decades decided to make those dreams become a reality for us,” explains Sid. “The family of Dave and Cynthia Clark has been immersed in that building in every capacity, from the boardroom to the ballet to the backbone behind our major fundraising initiatives. With their recent $1 million donation, we are proudly renaming the Pensacola Cultural Center to reflect their generosity and dedication to showcase the diverse art found in The Clark Family Cultural Center. That gift serves as the kickoff for our $3 million campaign to reimagine the entire building from the inside out to better suit the progression of Pensacola and its people.”

Current plans include a complete overhaul of the first floor of the building from the theatre seating, acoustics, and lighting to new flooring 73

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and paint throughout the building.

The atrium will be redesigned as a public parlor to accommodate both a lobby for productions and a day-time collaborative hub to meet with clients and creatives in a relaxed environment conducive to the exchange of ideas.

The courtroom will incorporate new access points to the outside terrazza, expanding the space for events and rentals, with a beautiful new gallery space to showcase fine arts and digital arts exhibits. Additionally, a selfguided walking tour will be displayed throughout the building to showcase both the PLT’s history and the history of the arts in Pensacola. Lastly, a new rooftop venue will be added.

“Perfectly positioned in the height and heart of downtown, the new rooftop terrace will feature a performance area, lounge, and speakeasy-style bar that boasts both water and city views,” explains Sid. “Our vision is to use the rooftop itself as a work of art for Downtown that is more modern in design, to be seen and enjoyed as a pedestrian or patron.”

Major construction will begin in January 2023, with plans for completion by that fall. As construction commences, the PLT and Cultural Center will remain in operation. “Entering the theatre’s 85th season, we know the Rubik’s Cube of a calendar it takes to keep the organization up and running,” says Sid. “In short, this ain’t our first rodeo in strategizing the schedule of that multi-space building; and the artistic and executive teams have cleverly planned a season of shows and staggered phasing of construction to keep audiences safely in the building.”

So far, PLT is a little more than halfway to its $3 million goal, and there are numerous ways to get involved both in the project and the organization including contributions and limited naming opportunities.

For more information on The Center, visit FindYourCenterPensacola.com or inquire at info@pensacolaculturalcenter.com.

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| Happy Hour

Red, Red

Wine written by: Courtney Murray

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ife is stressful. There are so many things to juggle and so many hats being worn that everyone needs a way to unwind at the end of the day. For some, drawing a hot bath does the trick. Pour in some lavender-scented bubble bath and soak away your worries. For others, curling up on the couch with a weighted blanket is the key. Sink into the soft cushions and crack open your favorite book and enter relaxation mode.

If none of these techniques work for you though, you can go the tried-and-true method … a smooth, bold, delicious glass of red, red wine. Pop. The blissful sound of a cork being released from a new bottle of wine and the sound of the sweet elixir being poured into a beautiful wine glass.

Now that you’ve chosen your method of relaxation, let’s hone in on all of your options. There is no question that drinking red wine is delicious and makes you happy. But does it have health benefits as well? It’s been debated for years, but studies have shown time and time again that consuming a moderate rate of red wine with an alcohol content of 12-15 percent on a daily basis helps in the prevention of numerous diseases, including heart disease. Like all things in life, moderation is key. If you’re tossing back bottles of wine, you aren’t only causing damage to your health, you are also going to wake up with a massive hangover.

Red wines vary in taste and color and come in a wide variety. Some fan favorites are Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz. If you’re looking for some excuses to incorporate red wine into your daily life, look no further.

High-fiber Tempranillo red grapes used to make certain red wines like Rioja have been found to lower bad cholesterol levels. They are rich in antioxidants including polyphenols, which can help keep your heart healthy by keeping your blood vessels flexible and preventing clogging. Resveratrol is a natural compound found in grape skin that can regulate your blood sugar. If these weren’t enough to start dabbling in red wine, knowing that moderate consumption of red wine can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer as well as help treat the common cold might be enough to sway to the dark

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side of the wine world. The wonders of resveratrol continue by proving that this incredible ingredient can also reduce fat cells in your body and keep your memory sharp. There is an antibacterial nature of red wine which can have positive effects on your stomach and digestive system. It’s no secret that drinking a smooth glass of red wine can relax you, warm your body, and put you in a good mood. But it can do more than lift your spirits though, it can reduce the risk of depression.

If sipping a robust red wine doesn’t strike your fancy, you can use it as an ingredient in your cooking and still gain those same health benefits as well as adding depth and flavor to your dishes.

If you’re open to expanding your palate, let’s explore some of the healthier red wines. Pinot Noir is considered the healthiest wine with a thin skin and low tannins but high levels of resveratrol.

Merlot is a medium-bodied red wine with notes of black cherry and plum that is known to lower cholesterol and promote heart health. If you’re looking for a natural immunity boost, pour yourself a glass of Malbec and savor those blackberry and chocolate notes.

Cheers to a healthy body and a happy soul.

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| About Face

written by: Courtney Murray

I

n today’s society we put so many hours into pointless activities. Hours binging TV shows and scrolling Instagram. If we spent half the time on skin care that we do on TikTok we would be well on our way to smooth and flawless skin. Your face is your calling card, so make sure you take care of it. Everyone is aware of the benefits of everyday Sun Protection Factor (SPF), cleansing your face, and a good moisturizer; but what about serums, lotion’s stronger, more translucent, and impactful sister. These little jars of magic may be small but they are mighty and can pack a serious punch with just a few drops. Serums can do everything from brighten your complexion and clear acne to smooth wrinkles and help to tone and tighten your skin.

Adding a serum to your skin care regimen should be a no-brainer.

Serums have certainly come a long way from the originals in the 1930s based on horse blood, egg albumin, and bovine placenta … oh my! They were eventually made available commercially by packaging the products in sterile ampoules preserved with oxyquinoline, and later with parabens.

These early products had a short shelf life, meaning they needed to be made in small batches and packaged in tiny bottles; a practice that has stayed with us today. They say great things come in small packages, and that definitely holds true for skin care. In the 1960s teenagers used to spend hours basking in the sun slathered in baby oil and using tin foil panels to reflect extra sunlight onto their faces. Yikes! Luckily, today’s generation has learned from the mistakes of those that have come before them. Today’s youth may have some questionable choices in fashion and music preferences on occasion, but at least they know the importance of three little letters — SPF. The new generation puts time and resources into investing in their skin and will in turn pass that knowledge down to the next generation.

With age comes different needs for your skin care regimen and not all serums are created equal. It can be extremely overwhelming with the amount of serums on the market, but it’s important to do your research since the active ingredients and texture in them will offer different benefits and functions. As you age, ingredients like hyaluronic acid can help combat the loss of skin elasticity resulting in smoother skin. Another important ingredient is peptides. These small fragments of proteins help to reduce wrinkles and garner an overall more youthful appearance. If you happen to be blessed with a wrinkle free face, having a brighter complexion might be a goal you seek. Many serums contain powerful brighteners and antioxidants like vitamin C. Three of the most potent forms of vitamin C are ascorbyl glucoside, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. Vitamin C has gained popularity for good reasons boasting results including stimulating collagen production, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, brightening and stabilizing skin tone. Who doesn’t want those results at any age? Cheers to putting your best face forward this year! www.ScarlettMag.com

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Q: How and when should I apply a serum?

A: Remember to go in order of thickness when it comes to skin care products. First, cleanse your skin (and/ or shave) and then apply your serums, then SPF, and finally moisturizer to lock it all in. Disperse a pea-sized amount onto your fingertips and gently pat it into the skin on your face and neck until it absorbs.

Q: How often should I apply a serum?

A: Usually once or twice a day. Unless it contains an active ingredient like retinol that causes skin photosensitivity, then it should only be applied at night when you won’t be having sun exposure.

Q: What are some of the powerful ingredients found in a face serum?

A: Antioxidants – Protect the skin from sun damage, pollution and free radicals.

Retinols – Vitamin A derivatives with powerful anti-aging properties.

Hyaluronic Acids – Provides moisturizing properties and prevents dryness.

– Reduces redness and puffiness with ingredients like arnica, aloe vera, zinc, etc.

Q: What type of serums target specific skin types?

A: Acne-prone Skin – Serums containing salicylic acid, aloe vera and vitamin C. Dry Skin – Serums containing vitamin E, niacinamide, or glycolic acid.

– Lightweight serums containing vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, or salicylic acid will target your different needs without clogging pores.

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Body Talk |

Getting a

written by: Liesel Schmidt

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U

nless you’ve been living under a rock for your entire adult life, chances are you’ve heard of the magical tool called a vibrator. Blessed with varying speeds of bliss, different tempos, and even customizable patterns, vibrators are everything you could want in a sexual partner — and they take direction very well. Thanks to technical advancements, you can even hand over the controls to someone else to give you all your vibe action from miles away. And who doesn’t love a surprise tease from their SO? Regardless of whether you’re walking down the aisle of the local grocery and suddenly feeling some pleasure in your panties or you’re at home armed to the teeth with a drawer full of buzz buddies, getting off has never been as easy as it is now. Solo style or with a partner, vibes are all the rage — and we have history to thank for them.

As the stories go, doctors as early as the first century A.D. used to give women hand jobs as part of clinical care. Yep, you read that right, ladies. Women who were "hysterical"— note: they were actually just sexually frustrated — would visit their local doc-in-the-box, who would massage them to paroxysm. Before you pause your reading to Google the word, paroxysm is another

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word for climax. Doing so would, obvie, ease their hysteria (frustration), and voila! We are cured. At the time, doctors didn’t even realize that they were giving sexual gratification to their patients. And yes, women everywhere are rolling their eyes at the complete idiocy and obviousness of this. But I digress…

All was good in the land until doctors realized how much work and time it took to cure all the hysterical women in their practices. I mean, really, it can take a minute to get there, yes? Enter the vibrator, a wonderful little invention that saved the tired hands of overworked doctors everywhere.

Interestingly, home use didn’t come until long after the advent of the vibrating massager. Patented in the 1880s, vibrators — or "massagers" — were developed as an especially effective tool for curing hysteria in a much shorter time than manual masturbation would. Still, doctors didn’t put two and two together to realize that maybe, just maybe, their female patients were getting off during their vibe sesh.

As much as a win-win as it seemed, vibes had lost their vibe in the medical community by the 1920s, which was when the manufacturers began to appeal to the consumer

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market. Got a sore neck? Get a massager! Worried about getting wrinkles on that pretty face? Get a massager!

Still, the underlying intent of vibrators were always there, despite thinly veiled efforts to legitimize them as something other than sex tools.

By the ’30s, vibes got a makeover, with many models hitting the market, many of which boasted various heads for the purpose of hitting different muscles. Uh huh. And before God invented USB models, women everywhere kept stockpiles of AAA batteries because they were worried about running out of batteries for our TV remotes.

Back to the history lesson. Until the 1950s, vibrators had one speed. This decade, however, ushered in the miracle of speed control. By the ’60s, women were liberated from the pretense of buying vibrators for the easing of muscle tension. The sexual revolution had truly arrived, and women everywhere welcomed it with an outcry of vibrator-induced orgasms as vibes were accepted as sex toys.

By the last three decades of the 20th century, vibrators began to undergo great transformations. They became more streamline and less clunky, and women began to start their own sex toy companies to create products

that actually appealed to the female market. No more vibrators that looked like something from a Sears toolbox or a torture chamber (though that might appeal to some).

They were quieter and sleeker, not to mention lighter.

The finger vibe was also invented, which was targeted at clitoral stimulation.

By the 21st century, vibes hit the market in all shapes, sizes, and styles. Want clitoral stimulation? Those are in ready supply, in everything from lipstick or bullet vibes to wands. G-spot stimulation is also on the menu, with dildos in various sizes for the ultimate experience. For all over play, there are combo models with shapes that offer internal and external stimulation. And don’t forget the wearable kind. Some are intended for clit play, while others are actually meant to be inserted and kept in place for G-spot orgasms, and both can be great for keeping your partner stimulated across the miles. They even offer an app for your phone that makes distance a nonissue.

Clearly, vibrators have come a great distance over time.

One thing that remains the same is that all women need sexual satisfaction. So to the inventors of vibrators, we offer a heartfelt thank you. And a great big O. 85

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… written by: Liesel Schmidt

M

ental health is one of those hot-button issues that most of us like to avoid.

Depression, anxiety, stress … Those are the ones we think of when we hear that phrase, but mental health really encompasses so many things. By definition, it includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being and affects how we think, feel, and act as well as how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy decisions for ourselves. So when our mental health is off our lives can seem totally derailed.

Seeing the signs in ourselves can sometimes be difficult, but the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers a few warning signals to heed: • Excessive worry or fear • Feelings of excessive sadness • Confusion or problems concentrating and learning • Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” • Prolonged or strong feelings of irritability or anger • Avoidance of friends and social activities • Difficulties understanding or relating to other people • Changes in sleeping habits or feelings of low energy or exhaustion • Changes in eating habits such as increased hunger or lack of appetite • Changes in sex drive • Difficulty perceiving reality • Inability to perceive changes in one’s own feelings, behavior, or personality • Abuse of substances like alcohol or drugs • Multiple physical ailments without obvious causes • Suicidal thoughts • Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress • Intense fear of weight gain or concern with appearance

accepting them, and treating them with compassion is incredibly important to how they feel and how they deal with their mental health issues. Being able to talk about what’s going on will encourage them to seek help.

Whether you or a friend need treatment for mental illnesses, you’ll likely need therapy, medication, or some combination of both. Treatment is often available in person, via virtual consult, or by phone. Your primary care provider can also be an important resource and provide you with initial mental health screenings and referrals to mental health specialists. If you have an appointment with your primary care provider, approach them with any mental health concerns.

If you’ve seen signs of mental illness in friends — even if they seem happy — take time to check in on them. Show them that you care and offer your support, but also show them that your friendship won’t change. Also realize that your friend will likely want to keep things as normal as possible, even if you need to adapt some of the activities you used to do together. Remember that someone who insists that they’re fine may actually be suffering. They may just need to talk, or they may need professional help. In some cases, getting them to open up may be as simple as asking if they’re sure they’re fine when they tell you they are. Sometimes they just need to be given the space and the security to talk. The most valuable kind of support you can give them is just being there to talk and listen. Making time to call or text and visiting or inviting someone over can make a big difference in how they feel. Because mental health problems can be misunderstood, acknowledging your friend’s problem, www.ScarlettMag.com

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As you go about your day, some activities that are shown to improve mental health include: • Deep breathing • Exercise • Gardening • Reading • Social interaction Take a personal inventory and see how your mental health is. Are you stressed? Worried? Tired? Do you still enjoy the things you used to? Talk to someone you trust. Tell them what’s going on and decide if you might need professional help.

To reach out to someone for help with mental

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Be the Change |

Care

Community written by: Liesel Schmidt

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etting older is something that all of us must think about at some point. Will we have enough for retirement? Will we be taken care of? Do we have plans in place for medical expenses?

For countless people in this country, elder care is a concern that goes unanswered, as they have no one in their lives to help them through the most vulnerable times. Thankfully, there are organizations specifically created to address such issues, offering aid and non-medical care to the elderly of the community. For Elder Services of Okaloosa County providing these services to the aging in the comfort of their own homes has been their mission for more than 50 years.

Formed in 1971 as Okaloosa County Council on Aging by a group of concerned citizens who identified a need in the community to provide services to its aging community, Elder Services of Okaloosa County has provided assistance to thousands over the course of their existence. “Elder Services is an important part of Okaloosa County because we identify older adults who need our specific services whereas, left unchecked, they could be without food or someone to help them with housekeeping, personal care, or even just companionship,” says Elder Home Care Program Supervisor Tammy Barber. “Our mission is to provide non-medical services to the frail, at risk or recuperating persons in the preferred and comfortable setting of their home.”

Tammy Barber, Elder Home Care Program Supervisor Divided into two programs, Elder Services includes Meals on Wheels (MOW) and Elder Home Care. MOW provides fresh, nutritious, low-cost meals to those in the program, all of which are prepared on premises, then packaged and delivered by a dedicated group of volunteers. Formed in 1977, Elder Home Care is a licensed home health agency which identifies older adults in Okaloosa County who may need any number of services. The agency accepts referrals from Medicare and Medicaid, but many clients are brought into the program by family members and pay privately.

“We identify the needs of a client and assign a caregiver to provide the services they need, which may include housekeeping and meal preparation or help with personal care,” Tammy explains. “Sometimes the client just needs a companion to talk to, run errands, or take them to appointments. We also offer respite care, which provides relief to a live-in caregiver. www.ScarlettMag.com

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The agency also offers wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, heaters, and box fans to elderly citizens in the community at no charge, and we always accept donations of these items so that we can redistribute them to those in need.”

Naturally, with the demand for services comes the challenge of staffing. “It’s nearly impossible to find employees,” Tammy notes. “I am fortunate to have the caregivers that I do have.

They are all very dedicated, and our clients often tell us how much the caregivers mean to them and that they go over and beyond expectation.”

Even with such challenges, Elder Services has made amazing inroads in helping the aging community of Okaloosa County. “I think our most notable accomplishment is that the initial group of people who formed the agency had the foresight to set up an organization that has been able to help so many people in our county,” Tammy observes. “The fact that we have been in the business of helping elderly people in our community for 51 years speaks for itself.”

For more information on Elder Services of Okaloosa County, visit elder-services.org.

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Cover to revo C Who doesn’t love to curl up with a good book? They’re the perfect excuse to snuggle under your favorite blanket, sink into your favorite chair, or relax in your favorite nook, and get lost in a different world. We’re always up for a new adventure, so whether your genre of choice is romance, self-help, history, or mystery, this list has something for everyone. book picks by: Mary Aho / reviews by: Amazon.com

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It Ends With Us

Fiona and Jane

by Colleen Hoover

by Jean Chen Ho

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town where she grew up — she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. And when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life seems too good to be true.

Best friends since second grade, Fiona Lin and Jane Shen explore the lonely freeways and seedy bars of Los Angeles together through their teenage years, surviving unfulfilling romantic encounters and carrying with them the scars of their families’ tumultuous pasts.

Fiona was always destined to leave, her effortless beauty burnished by fierce ambition — qualities that Jane admired and feared in equal measure. When Fiona moves to New York and cares for a sick friend through a breakup with an opportunistic boyfriend, Jane remains in California and grieves her estranged father’s sudden death, in the process alienating an overzealous girlfriend.

Strained by distance and unintended betrayals, the women float in and out of each other’s lives, their friendship both a beacon of home and a reminder of all they’ve lost.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant.

He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily.

And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

[Best Seller]

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan — her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector.

When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

In stories told in alternating voices, Jean Chen Ho’s debut collection peels back the layers of female friendship — the intensity, resentment, and boundless love — to probe the beating hearts of young women coming to terms with themselves, and each other, in light of the insecurities and shame that holds them back.

Spanning countries and selves, Fiona and Jane is an intimate portrait of a friendship, a deep dive into the universal perplexities of being young and alive, and a bracingly honest account of two Asian women who dare to stake a claim on joy in a changing, contemporary America.

[Book Club Worthy]

What Would Dolly Do? How to Be a Diamond in a Rhinestone World

by Lauren Marino A spirited homage to Dolly Parton that captures the unique humor, no-nonsense wisdom, flash, and sass of one of America’s most iconic stars.

One of twelve children raised in a shack in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Dolly Parton grew to become an international superstar famous for classic songs such as Jolene, 9 to 5, The Coat of Many Colors, and I Will Always Love You. She is a reflection of the American dream, a role model for the ages, and a mentor to a whole new generation of entertainers. There is much to be learned from her unique brand, her big heart and spirituality, her grit, and work ethic.

This lively, illustrated book — part biography, part inspiration, part words of wisdom and life lessons — highlights the very best of the “Dolly Mama,” from her quotable Dollyisms, unrelenting positivity, and powerful spirituality, to her belief in the human ability to overcome adversity.

Drawing on Dolly’s two autobiographies, cookbooks and songs; as well as artifacts; books by her family members; biographies; and decades worth of television, print interviews and performances, “What Would Dolly Do?” shows you how to tap into your Inner Dolly with confidence, faith, and humor.

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The Maid

by Nita Prose Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her Gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.

Since Gran died a few months ago, 25-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter — she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.

But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what’s happening, Molly’s unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black — but will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late?

A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different — and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.

[Thriller]

The Well Plated Cookbook

by Erin Clarke Known for her incredibly approachable, slimmed-down, and outrageously delicious recipes, Erin Clarke is the creator of the smash-hit food blog in the healthy-eating blogosphere, Well Plated

by Erin. Erin’s site welcomes millions of readers, and with good reason: Her recipes are fast, budget-friendly, and clever; she never includes an ingredient you can’t find in a regular supermarket or that isn’t essential to a dish’s success, and she hacks her recipes for maximum nutrition by using the “stealthy healthy” ingredient swaps she’s mastered so that you don’t lose an ounce of flavor.

In this essential cookbook for everyday cooking, Erin shares more than 130 brand-new rapid-fire recipes, along with secrets to lightening up classic comfort favorites inspired by her midwestern roots, and clever recipe hacks that will enable you to put a healthy meal on the table any night of the week. Many of the recipes feature a single ingredient used in multiple, ingenious ways, such as Sweet Potato Boats 5 Ways.

The recipes are affordable and keep practicality top-of-mind.

She’s eliminated odd leftover “orphan” ingredients and included Market Swaps so you can adjust the ingredients based on the season or what you have on hand. To help you make the most of your cooking, she’s even included tips to store and reheat leftovers, as well as clever ideas to turn them into an entirely new dish. From One-Pot Creamy Sundried Tomato Orzo to Sheet Pan Tandoori Chicken, all of the recipes are accessible to cooks of every level, and so indulgent you won’t detect the healthy ingredients. As Erin always hears from her readers, “My family doesn’t like healthy food, but they LOVED this!” This is your homey guide to a healthier kitchen.

[Cookbook] www.ScarlettMag.com

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| Foodie

written by: Courtney Murray

F

ood trends come in waves, and there are always shops popping up across the country featuring the hottest new thing. There was a long stretch of time featuring trendy desserts — specialty cupcakes, then gourmet popsicles, then lines around the block for the perfect flaky cronut. Now it’s time for the unhealthy treats to step aside for a healthier version, but no less flavorful and fun: smoothie bowls. You could always blend up your favorite fruit medley and then sip it with a straw, but why not step it up a notch by making your smoothie a little thicker and adding incredible toppings? This is where smoothie bowls and acai bowls come in. You can bring the island vacation vibe to your own kitchen each morning.

For a super simple bowl base, blend frozen bananas and frozen mixed berries on low and then throw in optional protein powder, green powder, and spinach or nut butters. Next, add a little non-dairy milk like coconut, soy, or almond milk and continue to blend until smooth. The result is a thick and delicious soft-serve consistency smoothie bowl base. If you want an extra nutritional boost, create a bowl with the superfood acai berry and tropical fruits like mango and pineapple. If you are looking for a lower sugar version, you can substitute frozen bananas with frozen cauliflower. As far as toppings go the possibilities are limitless. They are aesthetically pleasing when sprinkled in neat lines, think adorable little berries all sitting in a row. It’s like a beautiful, colorful work of art. Some of the most popular toppings include coconut flakes, hemp seeds, chia seeds, granola, fresh fruit, sunflower seeds, nuts, cacao nibs, and nut butters. Not only are these bowls delicious they are nutrient rich, healthy, creamy, naturally sweet, and incredibly satisfying.

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Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl

Green Smoothie Bowl

Place frozen strawberries into blender on low until blended into small pieces. Add frozen bananas for a rich texture. Squeeze in a little honey for the perfect partner to your fruit. Blend in Greek yogurt and lastly add a small amount of milk or non-dairy milk.

Blend until the perfect, thick consistency.

Place frozen mango and frozen pineapple into blender and add fresh spinach or kale and blend on low. Add in nut butter for extra protein, frozen bananas for natural sweetness, and avocado for healthy fats and richness. If you’re looking for additional fiber you can incorporate flaxseed meal as well.

Oatmeal Berry Smoothie Bowl Place frozen strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries in a blender on low until chopped into small pieces. Add cooked oatmeal to create a creamy concoction packed with extra fiber. Blend it with a frozen banana and a small amount of milk or non-dairy milk and you’ve got yourself a complete meal in a bowl.

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Thursday Night Concert Series

Concerts are FREE for MKAF Members

TICKETS: MKAF.ORG/EVENTS

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Announces Spring 2022 Lineup of Showstopping Concerts

MKAF.ORG/MEMBERSHIP

Michael Jackson LIVE APRIL 21 | 7 PM

On Thursday, April 21, 2022, the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) kicks off the 2022 Spring Concerts in the Village series with the showstopping Michael Jackson LIVE, direct from Las Vegas featuring Santana Jackson, one of the top Michael Jackson tribute artists in the world! The highly anticipated season includes pop icon, Taylor Dane; fan favorites, Sister Hazel; and the Music of Led Zeppelin featuring Sinfonia Gulf Coast.

For 27 years, the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation has been at the forefront of providing arts entertainment and education to Northwest Florida. The annual Concerts in the Village is no exception, and we are thrilled to announce this year’s incredible lineup of guest artists. The revenue generated from these events enables us to provide the highest quality of arts education and community engagement throughout Okaloosa, Walton and Bay counties.

Thank you to all of our season sponsors, community partners, and members! If you are not yet a member, please consider joining.” ‒ Demetrius Fuller, CEO, Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation

Enjoy a night under the stars at the most beautiful outdoor music venue on the Emerald Coast. Bring a bottle of wine, your favorite craft beer, some delicious snacks, and a blanket or chair. Food and drinks are available for purchase!

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Taylor Dayne MAY 26 | 7 PM

Sister Hazel JUNE 9 | 7 PM

Sinfonia Gulf Coast performing The Music of Led Zeppelin JUNE 16 | 7 PM

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mattie kelly arts foundation

Artz for All with Zot THURS, APRIL 14 | 11:30AM Special Guest: Dwayne Szot, founder of Zot Artz Lunch at Hotel Effie Sandestin

Throughout the spring concert season, concertgoers can expect exciting performances from an incredible lineup of artists.

Gates open at 6 PM with concerts beginning at 7 PM for this come-as-you-are, family-friendly outdoor concert series.

Celebrate “Ability over Disability!” Join us to experience the wildly wonderful world of Dwayne Szot, inventor and champion for people of all abilities as we explore the creative possibilities using adaptive art tools used to create mega murals and more.

TICKETS: $55 FOR MEMBERS $75 FOR NOT YET MEMBERS

MKAF.org

Purchase tickets online at MKAF.org/events.

General admission varies per concert. Children (12 and under), and MKAF members are free. mattie kelly arts foundation

Those interested in becoming a MKAF member can learn more at MKAF.org. Children 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All sales are final; sorry, no refunds. Pets, tables larger than two feet, and drones are not permitted.

A limited number of VIP tables (provides a reserved table and seating with admission for up to eight guests) are available.

Those interested in sponsoring the 2022 MKAF season, please call 850-650-2226 for details.

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SPRING CONCERTS Annual Thursday evening concert series featuring a diverse genre of music suitable for all ages and families.

APR 21 Michael Jackson LIVE APR 28 Naturally 7 MAY 5 Shania Twin, Shania Twain Tribute MAY 12 Yacht Rock Revue MAY 19 Six Piece Suits MAY 26 Taylor Dayne JUN 2 Alter Eagles JUN 9 Sister Hazel JUN 16 Sinfonia Gulf Coast performing The Music of Led Zeppelin JUN 23 Boogie Wonder Band, followed

by Silent Disco

Become a Member - JOIN NOW!

MKAF.org

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| Welcome Home

Shut the Front

DOOR written by: Emily Brink

F

ront doors are the focal point of any home. They’re the place you say your warmest hellos and hardest goodbyes. Front doors have so much potential to provide that inviting feeling you want guests to feel as they visit your home. The front door is the threshold every person must pass through in order to be welcomed into your space, and it is a shame that so many front doors are just left barren and sad-looking. If your front door fits this description, we have a few ideas to help.

First of all, every front door needs a mat. They serve a purpose — brushing off the dirt on shoes, especially if you live in a heavy sand or dirt area! The best part, though, is that doormats can also be so fun to look at. Finding the perfect doormat will create the vibes for the rest of your home. Think about what it is you like and just give it an internet search. Wine, books, beach, dogs, friends, something else? There is a doormat that will perfectly match your personality and aesthetic.

Door hangers are also such a fun way to spruce up your front door because they can be so eye-catching. If you’re a DIY person, there are plenty of ideas for door hangers on Pinterest, but they’re just as fun when they come from the store too. Pick one you love and keep it forever, or change it every season. Door hangers are so versatile from the initial for your last name to a pretty Christmas wreath to a fun bunch of summer flowers, the possibilities are endless!

Next time you are walking through your front door take a look and decide how you feel. Does the door give off the vibes you are looking for? If not, consider changing things up! Maybe a plant beside the door or a welcome sign somewhere nearby. New decorations for the front door can change the way you feel about your whole house and make you smile every time you see them.

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| Anything He Can Do...

Anything

Can Do...

Samantha York photography by: Shanna Magnuson

Hometown Chattanooga, TN Current Residence Panama City Beach, FL Occupation Manager/Personal Trainer, Rosemary Beach Fitness Center

How did you get interested in your occupation?

Once I started my weight loss/fitness journey, I decided that I not only wanted, but needed, to make it my lifestyle.

They say that “you are what you love,” and I love fitness so much that I wanted to make it my career. I want to not only continue to better myself but also help others who are serious about changing their lifestyles as well.

How long have you been practicing your trade?

Three glorious years!

Tell us a little about your favorite part of the job you do.

Hands down my favorite part is the interaction I get with the members and guests of the facility. Most everyone has a fitness story to share. Whether it is a weight loss story, a bodybuilding story, or story from previous college or professional athletes. Everyone’s fitness background is different, and everyone’s fitness style is different. Yet, when you are in the gym together, it’s a sense of camaraderie.

Let us in on the least favorite part of your job.

Least favorite part of the job would have to be seeing people giving up on their fitness goals and routines. Some start off so strong, and then it will fizzle away. They stop showing up, and they give up on themselves.

What empowers you as a woman in a typically male industry?

I absolutely love lifting weights. There is a huge stigma around women and weightlifting. So many are afraid they will put on muscle mass and “be too manly.” Not the case www.ScarlettMag.com

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at all! Lifting weight as a woman will give you a leaner physique and more strength to make those everyday activities a little easier! Women will come in and only want to do cardio but want that “Kim K butt.” You’re not going to get it on the treadmill, honey. You gotta pick up some weight and get some squats in! You also are not going to turn into Arnold Schwarzenegger either. Only if you want to. I can also help with that if that’s what you desire.

What advice do you have for other women interested in your trade?

The gym can be a very intimidating place for women who are first getting started and even after. Do not be afraid to ask how machines work and what exercises you should be doing to achieve certain goals. Gym staff is here to help. They will be able to give you a run down of how the machines work and be able to direct you to the area/machines you will need to use in order to achieve your specific goals. Never ever be afraid to ask for help.

Everyone is new at some point, and you can hurt yourself in the gym setting if you do not know how to properly perform an exercise or use a specific piece of equipment.

Since you’ve started, have you noticed a change in your industry when it comes to opportunities for women?

Social media has started a fitness craze! I believe this has had a positive impact on the fitness community.

No matter your shape or size, you can find someone on the internet that has started where you are and ended up where you want to be. Everyone that goes through a fitness journey has a story. Getting to physically see someone’s transformation unfold before your eyes is so inspiring. You never know who you will help by just sharing your story. I see a lot of women fitness influencers out there creating content specifically for women, showing how exercises should be performed, even showing you the latest and greatest activewear.

Fitness is not just for the boys anymore. Women are taking over the scene now!

Words you live by…

“If you really want something, like really want it, you will make it happen. No matter how challenging it is.”

Did/do you have any role models that inspired you to choose your line of work?

No one really inspired me. I actually was just very unhappy with how I felt and the mental state I was constantly in. ‘If you really want something bad enough, no matter what it is, you will do whatever it takes to get it.’ I tell all of my clients this and everyone that comes up to me and says they want to start their weight loss/fitness journey. You can talk about it all day, but you’ll never actually do it if you don’t start.

How do you think diversity in the workplace helps shape our community?

In the fitness industry, each person falls into their own type of enthusiast. You have crossfitters, bodybuilders, powerlifters, cardio kings and queens, and just your average, regular everyday gym goers. Everyone is working toward something different, but yet everyone just wants to be happy and healthy. The route they choose to take to get there is up to the individual. The gym is one big melting pot, not just in our community but in all communities.

It is a place to go to be with friends from different walks of life, to spend a little time together, and to learn a little about your neighbor.

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