Scarlett | November+December 2021

November+December 2021

HOLIDAY ‘Tis The Season

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

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What’s Inside Features 19

HOLIDAY Fashion

Lifestyle

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Whether you ring in the New Year with the ball drop or a fancy dinner, here’s how to do it in style!

Raise a glass to some amazing women in our community.

Get Ready with Me

Holiday Traditions ‘Tis the Season

This time of year is packed with celebrations from Thanksgiving to Kwanza, and we’d like to highlight a few.

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Health 54

Let’s Get Physical

Riane Hughes is carving out a space for female bodybuilders whose passion is in a traditionally maledominated field.

Beauty 76

About Face

Danielle McGraw fills us in on all things Lyfts at Renew Aesthetics & Anti-Aging Clinic.

Home Decor THE WOTYs

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Scarlett is looking for THE WOTY (Woman of the Year) and 99 other deserving women. We have THE list, and we need you to tell us who is most eligible.

Jessica Duncan gives us the ups and downs of 2021’s real estate trends.

Woman of the Year

Tour of Homes Pensacola

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Get the Look

Add a little holiday flair to your life this season!

Heroines

41

A Few Good Men

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

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The Rythm of Law

Erica Reed never imagined she’d go from Rockette to Attorney, but looking back it makes perfect sense.

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Cover to Cover

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

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Happy Hour

Cheers! Raise a glass to Champagne.

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Dressing or Stuffing?

We’ll try to get down to the bottom of the age-old debate of what to have with the turkey.

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Anything He Can Do...

Behind every good man is an amazing woman, and Mrs. Claus is no exception to that rule!

www.ScarlettMag.com

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November+December 2021

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108

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If you’ve ever considered giving back during the holiday season, we’ve got you covered!

Consider sponsoring a family this year, spreading holiday cheer never felt so good.

We love it, and we know you’ll love it too. Take a look at what we’ve chosen for this issue’s musthaves.

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

Be the Change

Wishlist Haul

Listen Up!

scan here 13

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| There’s Something About Mary

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

M

y favorite time of the year is here! Thanksgiving and Christmas are my all-time favorite holidays to celebrate. I love spending time with loved ones, the cooler weather, and the all around good spirit that surrounds the holidays. One of the many perks of being fortunate enough to have most of our immediate family only a few minutes away is that we always have a house full of people this time of year. Extra hands while making cookies, at the ready child care for date night, and always having people who “get you” close by are just a few of the perks of having family right around the corner.

When my husband, Dane, and I were first married, I told him a goal of mine was to host Thanksgiving at our home with both of our families. The first few years of our marriage that wasn’t doable because we didn’t have the space to accommodate everyone. Last year we purchased a bigger home, and my hosting dreams would finally become a reality.

Y’all, I had my worries about hosting such a special occasion. Thanksgiving is a big deal. It only happens once a year after all. The day before, I did all the prep for cooking. I had everything chopped, prepared, and ready for the following day. Everything was going to be photography by: Shanna Magnuson PERFECT. I excitedly woke up the next morning in the wee hours before sunrise. I went to put my turkey in the oven, and to my utter disbelief, it didn’t fit. My roasting pan was too big for my oven. This was go time, and the main course was holding me back. What were we going to do? All the stores were closed for Thanksgiving. All of my Thanksgiving Day dreams were quickly fizzling out. Luckily, my husband was able to drive to my in-laws (yet another perk!) and grab a smaller roasting pan, and thankfully it all worked out in the end.

I am planning on having Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner at my house again this year. If I learned anything from last year, it’s that you can plan and plan but what will be is going to be. The most important thing is to enjoy the holidays with the ones you love.

We are thrilled to bring you the Holiday issue of Scarlett, our final issue of the year. In this issue, we tackle the great debate of dressing vs stuffing, talk about some killer looks for New Year’s Eve, and teach you how to make an epic cup of hot chocolate. Don’t forget to go social and follow us on facebook @ScarlettMagazine, and Instagram @Scarlett.Magazine. Because frankly, we know you give a damn!

Mary Aho Editor

www.ScarlettMag.com

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On the Cover November+December 2021

e decor, lifestyle, and health.

HOLIDAY ‘Tis The Season

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

Sleigh, What?!

For the holiday issue of Scarlett, our cover girls are merry and bright. Shanna Magnuson is the owner of Davista Photography and a team member here at Scarlett. Her cover girl co-star is Sarah Yohn, Owner of Waffle Queen Cafe in Panama City Beach. These beautiful besties make the perfect pair for our November+December cover. Holiday traditions are the hot topic in this festive edition, like getting cozy with cocoa under the tree for Christmas. So hold on for DEER life, the holiday issue is here. photography by: Shanna Magnuson models: Shanna Magnuson + Sarah Yohn 15

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Who is Scarlett?

The Team

Steve Barber

Mary Aho

Publisher steve@scarlettmag.com

Sheila MacDiarmid Graphic Designer

Editor mary@scarlettmag.com

Kristin Frazier Copy Editor

Shanna Magnuson Lead Photographer

Jessica Graña Creative Director

Mason Brunner Portrait 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 Mason Brunner, Portrait Photographer

.

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

Special Thanks The Scarlett Team would like to thank everyone who has supported, cheered, contributed, and celebrated with us to make this year possible — you know who you are!

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H.2oliday.6 T.3radition.3s written by: Liesel Schmidt

photo by: Shanna Magnuson

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W

hile Old Saint Nick might get the most play during the holidays, there is more to this particular season than just Christmas trees stuffed with presents and a jolly fat man in a red suit.

For many, it’s a season of reverence, reflection, thankfulness, and religious or cultural significance.

For many African Americans, December brings with it Kwanzaa, a secular festival that runs from Dec. 26 until Jan. 1 to celebrate their cultural heritage and traditional values. The week-long fest has four celebrations: unity, creativity, faith, and the giving of gifts. Kwanzaa is actually a Swahili word that means "first" and signifies the first fruits of the harvest — something that, to the various ethnic groups of Africa, is deeply important to celebrate.

Maintaining a sense of community, family, and heritage is also vital, so Kwanzaa is a recommitment to and a reflection on these things. To honor ancestors, Kwanzaa often opens with the pouring of libations into the unity cup (Kikombe cha Umoja) for those who have come before and paved the way for the living. Survivors of the Middle Passage, those who worked for freedom, and all those who perished are toasted. The oldest person at the gathering usually guides this traditional observance.

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah, while perhaps more familiar than Kwanzaa, is still largely a mystery to the non-Jewish community. But nowhere will you find a people more filled with symbolism and cultural significance than Judaism. In fact, Hanukkah recalls an ancient miracle after a hard-fought victory over religious oppression in the first century CE, when the Temple was taken back from the Greeks and rededicated to God. A menorah that should have only had enough oil to burn for one night stayed lit for eight — and thus Hanukkah runs for eight nights.

And, while the nightly lighting of the menorah and the recitation of a prayer is important to the festival, there are other traditions of note. One of them is quite tasty, in fact. Visit any Jewish kitchen during Hanukkah, and you’ll most likely

www.ScarlettMag.com

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find latkes or potato-and-onion pancakes fried in oil. You may even find sufganiyot, or jelly-filled donuts. These traditional Jewish delicacies — along with other fried foods — symbolize the miracle of the oil.

In the U.K. and countries that were once part of the British Empire, the day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day, a day that originated as a day for giving gifts to the poor. Some theories believe that the name references the alms boxes kept in the narthex of Christian churches to collect donations for the poor, though most recently it has become a shopping holiday.

Regardless, the day has a number of traditions — one of the most interesting being the Polar Bear Plunge, during which one takes a plunge into the freezing English Channel along with members of various swimming clubs on Boxing Day. This crazy event raises money for charities.

As North Americans, we celebrate the coming together of the Pilgrims who first settled the colonies and the Native Americans who had been living off the land for centuries before. Now, centuries after the peaceful feast that gave thanks for safe passage to the New World, for food, and for the friendship that was being forged, we have huge feasts that come with all the trimmings, celebrating with family and friends — and hoping that everyone behaves. But there are some other Thanksgiving traditions than stuffing our faces. One important tradition is the turkey pardon. Each year at Thanksgiving, the president of the United States receives a gift of two live turkeys. At a White House ceremony, the president "pardons" the turkeys, after which they are then sent to live out their days on a farm. The tradition is one that, according to some stories, dates back to President Lincoln, while other sources say it 21

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began with President Truman. Regardless of who is to thank, the turkeys are eternally grateful.

While not nearly as publicized or commercialized as the rest, All Saints’ Day is an important holiday for Roman Catholics, recognizing and celebrating all saints of the church who have reached Heaven. Currently celebrated on Nov. 1, it was originally celebrated on May 13, memorializing the day in 609 AD when Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome as a church in honor of the Virgin Mary and all martyrs. Within the Catholic Church, All Saints' Day is usually considered a Holy Day of Obligation, making Mass attendance required unless someone is either ill or has another sufficient excuse.

Many Protestant denominations also observe All Saints' Day, acknowledging it as a day of thanking God for the selfsacrifices of the martyrs.

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| Foodie

charcuterie Hot Chocolate article + photography by: Mary Aho

Following a color palette will make your board look more cohesive. We chose classic Christmas colors, red and white.

Adding Different varieties of chocolate gives your hot chocolate new fun fLavors.

Cookies are great for dipping and add different textures to your board.

*

If you are making hot chocolate for a crowd, make it in a slow cooker. You can make a lot, and it stays hot!

peppermints add extra FLavor, and candy canes make great stir sticks.

www.ScarlettMag.com

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Decadent Slow Cooker Hot chocolate INGREDIENTS

3 cups half & half 28 oz sweetened condensed milk 12 cups milk 2 tsp vanilla 32 oz milk or semi sweet chocolate, chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. In a 6-7 quart slow cooker, stir together all ingredients.

2. Cover and turn slow cooker to low.

3. Cook for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

4. Once the chocolate is completely melted, turn the slow cooker to warm.

5. Stir before serving.

6. Garnish with marshmallows, whipped cream, and mix-ins.

* serves 12-16

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holiday

Scan the QR Code to start listening to Scarlett’s curated November + December 2021 issue playlist.

It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas - Perry Como, The Fontane Sisters It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! - Frank Sinatra Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt Twelve Days of Christmas - Bing Crosby, The Andrews Sisters (Everybody’s Waitin’ for) The Man With the Bag - Kay Starr Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Burl Ives You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Thurl Ravenscroft Baby, It’s Cold Outside - Dean Martin This Christmas - Donny Hathaway White Christmas - Irving Berlin, Bing Crosby Silent Night - Carpenters The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) - Nat King Cole Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland I’ll be Home for Christmas - Bing Crosby www.ScarlettMag.com

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N

H.2eroines

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

Lindsey Berling Cannon Regional Executive Director, Children’s Home Society of Florida written by: Emily Brink photography by: Kristina Wright

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earning and growing is something this heroine is no stranger to. In fact, Lindsey Berling Cannon is constantly learning new things about her career, the people around her, and especially herself and her abilities. As part of her job as the Regional Executive Director for the Children’s Home Society of Florida, Lindsey is faced with new challenges and situations on a daily basis. It is through these challenges that she is able to learn how to best serve those in the community.

Growing up in Panama City, Lindsey and her family would spend vacations in Pensacola where a lot of her extended family lived. When she had the opportunity to move to this area, she was so happy because it felt like coming home. Lindsey’s family invested heavily in her success from an early age. She had constant encouragement from her parents both personally and career-wise. Her family encouraged her to be an advocate for others who may not have had the same opportunities. This continual support was something that propelled Lindsey forward into getting started in the career field she is in currently.

Serving as a Child Protective Investigator with the Department of Children and Families, Lindsey and her team helped mend the problems of families who were facing some of their most challenging moments. In doing so, Lindsey learned that she is capable of doing the hard jobs and that there was still so much to learn. At each organization she’s worked at, Lindsey took the opportunity to learn from the executive director and from those who had been there longer to gain the knowledge and resources to help the next people who needed them.

Children’s Home Society was started in 1902 and has been helping families in need ever since. They are invested in the potential of every child and believe that each family is stronger than the odds they are stacked against. Together with the families they help, the Children’s Home Society hopes to create opportunities that bring brighter futures.

Lindsey and her team deliver the right services at the right time to families who are in crisis. They work to help keep more kids safe at home with their families, giving parents confidence and opportunities to build upon their strengths, empowering them to raise their children in healthy, nurturing homes.

When it comes to her leadership position as the Regional Executive Director, Lindsey believes that her job is to direct and not dictate. She recognizes that she does not have all the solutions but there may be someone else on her team who does. She has learned to rely on that team to get them where they need to be.

Being a mother and a wife is Lindsey’s proudest accomplishment. She has been married to her husband for 10 years and they have two boys ages 6 and 8. Looking back at her 20-year-old self, Lindsey wishes she could tell her, “Each challenge you are facing today is building the person God has planned for you to be. He never promised it would be easy, but he did promise to bring you through it.”

Moving forward, Lindsey will continue working toward her goal to create a system of care that is collaborative, trauma informed, and provides solutions. She won’t stop until she has achieved it.

• Currently Reading: “Dare to Lead: The Moments and Myths”

by Brené Brown • Dream Vacation: One day I definitely want to go to Italy. The history, the sights, just all of it!

• Childhood Dream Job: I think when I was little I wanted to be a teacher, but as I got into psychology, I really wanted to be an FBI Profiler. Needless to say, neither of those worked out.

• The Beach or The Pool: I am 100% a beach girl. There is nothing better to me than my toes in the sand, listening to the waves crash, watching my children play, and shore fishing.

Rejuvenates my soul!

• Favorite Show to Binge Watch: It is “Yellowstone”! Has season four dropped yet? Anxiously awaiting!

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| Heroines

Stacey Young

Community + Media Relations Strategist, Destin-Fort Walton Beach written by: Emily Brink photography by: Darris Hartman Photography

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rowing up in Cornwall, New York, Stacey Young and her family would vacation to the Gulf Coast and eventually end up relocating to Okaloosa when she was 12. Currently, Stacey and her family live in Fort Walton Beach where she works with Destin-Fort Walton Beach as the Community and Media Relations Strategist. Her position is to coordinate the public relations for the area to help improve tourism.

Having spent so much time visiting here as a child, she is no stranger to the things that make this area a desirable destination for visitors.

Before settling into her role in public relations, Stacey actually spent a lot of her career in the arts industry.

Her graduate degree is in arts management which usually earns her a questioning glance when she tells anyone because it is so different from her current job title. Her proudest accomplishment was getting hired by the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York City to manage their Young Actors program. It was such a fun time for Stacey’s career, and she looks back on her time working with the youth so fondly.

Theatre has been a part of her life since she was young. At Fort Walton Beach High School, Stacey’s drama teacher, Christa Whittaker, always had a loving heart and always pushed her students to reach their highest level of potential. She knew how to get things done and was a wonderful drama teacher who made magic happen for her students! Stacey believes that theatre has the ability to create something from nothing, and that teamwork is the core of a successful production. These life lessons were not forgotten, and she still applies them to her life and

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lessons were not forgotten, and she still applies them to her life and career today.

When it comes to life lessons, Stacey would tell her 20-year-old self, “Allow yourself to not be good at something.” She would want her to write more, learn more, and do more of what makes her uncomfortable in the best ways. “Euphoros means the bearer of goodness — figure out how to be that for others.” Learning to carve out a life and keep showing up is an important start for any 20 year old.

Everyone loves the typical Italian grandmother who gives the best grandmotherly advice whilst serving up a double portion of the most delicious homemade pasta, but Stacey loves hers most of all. Stacey’s grandmother, Grace DiCesare, is her biggest female influence. Grace is the type of woman who makes everyone feel loved in her presence and makes the smallest things special. Growing up in an immigrant family at the height of the Great Depression, Grace learned the importance of family and hard work.

She passed these sentiments on to her granddaughter, and Stacey is so grateful for her sweet insight. Her life was not easy but she never complained and always radiates light to the people she interacts with.

Promoting an area that she loves does not really feel like work to Stacey. She takes pride in the community

• Currently Reading: Dana Perino, “Everything Will Be Okay: Life Lessons for Young Women” but my all-time favorite is “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith • Dream Vacation: The Cotswolds in England • Favorite TV Show: “Downton Abbey” — I have an affinity for anything period.

• Childhood Dream Job: On Broadway!

• Favorite Disney Princess: Belle from “Beauty & the Beast”

and hopes to be an advocate for the people and businesses who are involved with tourism. She looks forward to volunteering more with children through the local community theatre. Stacey also has a talented daughter, coincidentally named Scarlett, who Stacey loves to watch perform the violin and sing in church. Scarlett definitely lives up to her name, and we are so happy to feature her mom!

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| Heroines

Marlayna Goosby

Founder & Director, Grow Your Gift Conservatory of Music written by: Emily Brink photography by: Mondria Sutliff of Mondria Sutliff Photography

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veryone has those moments in life that knock you down and leave you wondering how you will even stand up. It is how we make our next choices that really define who we are. Marlayna Goosby knows these experiences firsthand and has made some incredible choices to get where she is today. Through the twists and turns of life, she became a woman she is proud of.

Marlayna grew up as a military “brat.” Before landing in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, the place she calls home, she lived in England, Montgomery, Alabama, and Anchorage, Alaska. She watched her parents make goals and push past obstacles to achieve those goals.

They became her inspiration in turning her life around and making it into something functional and joyful. She is currently the Founder and Director of Grow your Gift Conservatory of Music, as well as the Executive Director of its partnering foundation, The Full Circle Foundation, Inc. Together these two institutions work together to provide music opportunities to the community through private and group music lessons. They also deliver music education services to other local organizations throughout the community.

This life is something Marlayna is so passionate about, and she is so grateful to have the opportunity to pursue her passions in a professional setting. Getting here was no easy task. Her life started out fairly straight forward, but it wasn’t long before she was knocked off track. She persevered through single parenthood, earning two degrees and pursuing a career in higher education so now she can live her dreams. Marlayna learned that

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she always had what it takes to survive and to make a difference. She surrounded herself with women doing the same — women who were genuine in their interactions, ready and willing to support others, and humble enough to share their own struggles on the road to success. She turned their advice into a reality and now hopes to give that back to others who are struggling.

Earlier in her life she found herself in need of assistance from the government. But after six years of being a recipient of food stamps, W.I.C., cash assistance, child care services, and Section 8, Marlayna utilized the system she had paid into to be catapulted into the life she was destined for. Being a success story of government assistance is Marlayna’s proudest accomplishment. She made it, and she knows other people can make it too.

When she is not at work, Marlayna volunteers her time with the Choctaw Bay Music Club, Friends of the Niceville Chorus, and Okaloosa Arts Alliance. She is also the Band Parent President for the Choctawhatchee Style Marchers and leads a mentor/protégé organization for African American women called The Women of Eminence, Inc. She gets to help people realize the potential they have inside themselves and see those people bloom everyday.

Asking questions of herself and others is one of the ways she was able to learn. Looking back on her younger self

• Last Google Search: My last Google search was for boxing lessons. I think this will be a fun (and different) endeavor for me!

• Dream Vacation: My dream vacation is to take a fjord tour in Alaska. I remember as a kid as part of our travel from Montgomery to Anchorage, we took a ferry from Spokane, Washington, to Canada. I wasn’t old enough to appreciate it at 10 years old, but I know I will soak it all in now!

• Childhood Dream Job: My dream job was to be a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force. I remember shadowing the commander of the flight squadron for Career Day during my senior year of high school. After the tour of the fighter jet, he let me down gently by telling me I was a few inches too short to fly. The Air Force has a height requirement and unfortunately, I did not meet it. “Top Gun” remains to be my favorite movie, and I will always want to be a fighter pilot!

she would ask, “Who is on your side? Who is your support system? How are they pouring into your life?” She believes that right is right and wrong is wrong and tries her best to lead and guide with a pure heart.

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| Heroines

Mary Florence Owner, Baskets by Mary written by: Emily Brink photography by: Mary Florence

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rowing up in the “friendly city” of Columbus, Mississippi, our heroine certainly learned how to take that sentiment to heart. Mary Florence currently lives in Mary Esther, Florida, and loves being only 5 miles from Navarre Beach.

Mary spent 33 years working for Eglin Federal Credit Union and only just retired in 2018.

She is now putting her efforts into building up her gift basket business she started way back in 2007 called Baskets by Mary. If she is not working on that, she is spending her time helping in one of her various community involvement positions.

Mary has been a committee member of the White Wilson Community Foundation Little Black Dress Party since the first year it began. She is a member of the 100 Women of the Emerald Coast, and has volunteered for Sinfonia Gulf Coast for more than 10 years now. She helps with the Sandestin Wine Festival and the Cumulus Radio Station St. Jude fundraiser. Mary has also been an ambassador for the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce for more than 12 years now. She loves her time spent helping out the community and the people she gets to interact with on a daily basis.

This community is a special one. It helped to inspire Mary to get involved because each organization truly gives back to the local community. It is a very loving and giving community, and it makes a difference in the lives of its residents.

www.ScarlettMag.com

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Mary attributes the community as well as dedication, determination, hard work, and family support as the things that made her the woman she is today.

At this point in her life, Mary has many accomplishments that have made her proud. But looking back now, she would say her proudest accomplishment is learning how to be independent. Losing a loved one, especially a husband of 45 years is a daunting idea, but when Mary’s husband passed unexpectedly in July 2017 from a massive heart attack, Mary had to learn how to do things by herself. She learned not to take the little things for granted anymore, but to truly appreciate them and appreciate her own abilities. She was never one to work in the yard, but like many others Mary picked up a new hobby during the pandemic. She now loves to garden even though everything she grows is in a pot. It is small things like that which show her independence and growth.

Mary has always looked up to her mother and her late sister in so many ways. Her mother always told her, “Can’t never could do anything,” and taught Mary to work hard for what she wants. Her sister was diagnosed with ovarian cancer five years before she passed in 2018. She was the strongest person Mary ever knew.

Slowing down anytime soon does not seem to be in the cards for Mary. Over the next five years, she will continue to volunteer her time and resources to places and organizations in need. She will donate gift baskets to fundraisers and look for places to make a difference.

When it comes to leadership roles, Mary hopes that those under her tutelage will grow not only professionally but personally as well. By practicing this principle, she has seen people assume leadership roles in jobs as well as in the community. It is always exciting when someone does the work to get themselves ahead in life, and Mary is happy to be a small part of that success.

• Last Google Search: This is funny, but it was Brick Mason.

• Go-to Cocktail: A good glass or two of Chianti • Fashion Icon: Michelle Obama • The Beach or The Pool: I would have to say the beach. We live in paradise and have the most beautiful beaches in the world.

• Favorite Dish to Cook: Chicken Piccata 37

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| Heroines

Kay Phelan

Independent PR Consultant written by: Emily Brink photography by: Lynn Wesson

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elping those around her has always been a part of Kay Phelan’s life. This mindset dates all the way back to her time as a candy striper in the Hackensack Hospital in New Jersey while she was in junior high school. Kay came from the decades of the 60s and 70s when women were not widely accepted in the business industry. She has loved being able to see the world changing and to be a part of the difference. For much of her working career, Kay built her own marketing, advertising, and public relations business, Phelan & Lowry, Ltd. Much has changed in the time since she became a successful business owner, but she is proud of the work she accomplished in a time when women were not as involved in the business world.

Currently, Kay operates as an Independent Public Relations Consultant maintaining a select client base here in the Northwest Florida area. Before semi-retiring here, she worked with her company in Atlanta for 36 years building a client base and gaining the resources to support herself and her two sons.

She worked with companies such as Kroger’s Southeast Division helping them with programs that raised millions of dollars for area children’s hospitals, put thousands of computers in schools, and provided millions of pounds of needed food to feed the hungry. All of this was done through cause-related marketing and that is still a major focus of Kay’s work today.

Cause-related marketing is one of the reasons Kay is so involved with multiple nonprofits such as Sinfonia Gulf Coast, Mattie Kelly Arts Association, Cultural Arts Association, Fisher House, and Chi Chi Miguel Throwdown. This list also includes the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center where for the past eight years she has

handled their public relations. Kay feels honored to still be making an impact on the community even after seven decades!

Kay has always been interested in serving, but it was the death of her son, Brad, at age 36 from pancreatic cancer, that really made an impact on her life. During the end of his journey, Kay was his sole caretaker.

After his passing, Kay became Chairman for the American Cancer Society’s Emerald Coast Cattle Barons’ Ball, a position she’s held for the past five years. She accepted this role with the hopes of making a difference in the fight against cancer and to honor Brad.

Something Kay lives by is the saying that goes “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” In other words, she tries not to waste her time worrying about things she cannot do anything about. Kay believes that every decision is for our own good and a wrong choice does not have to define who you are. She is also a living

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example of someone who changed their life’s course later on and is better off for it. Leaving her thriving business in Atlanta to move to Destin was scary, but she believed it would bring her life balance, and it did. Don’t be afraid to start over or shift directions!

• Favorite Dish to Cook: An omelet with green peppers, red peppers, onions, and cheese • Currently Reading: Stuart Wood’s “Shakeup,” a Stone Barrington novel — I love all things Stone Barrington!

• Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Ben & Jerry’s “Americone Dream” with Steven Colbert on the label • Dream Vacation: Since I traveled all my life and moved many times, my dream vacation is right here in Destin in our own backyard … the Gulf of Mexico. Why would one want to go any place else?

• Favorite Disney Princess: My twin granddaughters introduced me to the Disney movie “Moana” — though the lead heroine Moana may not be a princess, she is in my book!

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A.2 Few Good Men.4

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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Matthew Cooper Real Estate Broker, Coast Realty written by: Emily Brink photography by: Shanna Magnuson

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ack in 2012, Matthew Kristopher Cooper and his family moved to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Although his hometown is Duluth, Georgia, Matthew and his wife knew they wanted to make the Gulf Coast their forever home. As soon as they got settled into their new house, they began to “grow roots” and become involved with the community around them. If they were going to live here long term, they wanted to make friends and become a part of the community to continue making this area a better place. Matthew dug himself into the market here, hoping to learn everything there was to know about the area. They became “locals,” and in turn, helped people who were new to the area or just didn’t know all the hidden nuggets.

Not only did Matthew become involved with local chapters, he also started a successful real estate business that covers the entire Emerald Coast area from Panama City to Pensacola. Currently, Matthew is working at his company, Coast Realty, as a Real Estate Broker and as a Real Estate Investor helping people find the perfect home in the most beautiful locations.

Matthew’s greatest female influence is actually the woman who first helped him get into the real estate business. Theresa Hatler brought him into her business and worked with him side by side throughout the first year of his career. She showed patience with Matthew’s questions and really made him understand his role in the real estate business. It was because of her advice that Matthew and his family made the decision to move to the Emerald Coast. He would be able to accelerate his career and do what made him happy.

Matthew’s proudest accomplishment is his family. He is so proud of his children and how they have grown and become successful in their lives. His daughter is a full-time nurse in Virginia and saved enough money to buy a house on her own at the young age of 22. His eldest son has been working and saving since he was 14. He has enough money saved up to purchase a new car and to get him on his feet when he finishes college. Matthew believes in hard work and has done his best to pass that down to his children.

If he had the opportunity to talk to his 20-year-old self, he would first tell him to work harder. Then he would admonish him to seek out a mentor because they will be able to direct you into good things. Over the next five years, Matthew will continue investing in local business and giving his time and talents to the local chamber of commerce. He currently offers mentoring to new real

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estate agents and works daily to guide his investors to purchase foreclosed homes, which once brought up to a livable standard will better the community.

Matthew will continue helping those around him and inspiring minds to work together. He believes in the creative mindset instead of the competitive mindset. As a leader, Matthew knows he can only rise by lifting others up with him.

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| A Few Good Men

Jeff Dannelly

Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Management, Hancock Whitney written by: Emily Brink photography by: Steve Barber

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hroughout his childhood, Jeff Dannelly observed his parents giving back to the community through various philanthropic opportunities, and it really made an impact on him. He learned the importance of giving time and energy to organizations that matter in his life and in his family’s life. His parents did not really make it an option of whether or not to become involved, it was more of a question about where he would be involved. He is happy to continue his community involvement with his own family and to continue the legacy set by his parents.

Today Jeff lives in Niceville, Florida, not far from his hometown of Pensacola with his family. He is the Senior Vice President of Hancock Whitney, a private wealth management company. When he is not helping people make the most of their money he is serving in one of his various board member positions. Currently Jeff is the Board President for Sinfonia Gulf Coast and a member of the board for the Children’s Volunteer Health Benefit and Embrace Florida Kids. He is also a part of the music ministry for Crosspoint. He only wishes that he had gotten serious about his own community involvement earlier than he did.

Once Jeff realized he needed to be giving back to the community like his parents had, he knew he needed to make it a priority or he would never get around to it. He started by researching different organizations in the area that aligned with his beliefs and needed something he could offer. Once he found the organizations he believed in and became a part of them, things became much easier. The people started feeling like family and their passions started feeling like his own. In the next few years, Jeff hopes to continue finding new outlets to help the community and to bring other people with him.

Women continue to influence Jeff on a daily basis. His mother, mother-in-law, wife, and even his sweet 13-yearold daughter are all among the list of influential women in Jeff’s life. Their common traits include their love for God, their giving spirit, their love for all regardless of differences, their focus on family, and so many more qualities that make Jeff’s life better everyday. More importantly, however, these women influence every person they meet, and Jeff is proud to be able to witness it.

Being an optimistic and positive person is something Jeff prides himself on. He hopes that the people he interacts

with on a daily basis leave his presence feeling a little bit better about themselves and the world around them. He does his best to focus on the good around him and to find the strengths each person has to offer. Jeff continues to learn from those around him and tries to use his own strengths to complement their strengths. When we learn from each other we all win because we benefit in more ways than one.

Jeff’s advice to his 20-year-old self is to start investing as soon as possible! To keep running, or some form of exercise because it will help you later in life. Get involved early and with what you are passionate about. Try new things, but don’t wait until you’re asked. Always call your parents and hug them every chance you get. And, be nice to your brother because one day he will be your best friend!

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A Few Good Men |

Brandon Sexton Owner, Diamond Gulf Realty

written by: Emily Brink photography provided by: Shanna Magnuson

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rowing up in Middletown, Indiana, with a population somewhere close to 2,500 and living in a small 800-square-foot home then downsizing to only a one bedroom after the passing of his father, Brandon Sexton is no stranger to the struggles of life. It is important to understand Brandon’s childhood in order to fully appreciate how far he has come. Brandon’s father was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer when Brandon was a baby, and through government assistance and local family aid, his father lived until Brandon was 13 years old. Just thinking about his humble roots and early life, Brandon is even more grateful to be where he is today and grateful to

be able to do what he loves, in a place that he loves.

After working a desk job for 12 years, Brandon switched his career to real estate and he and his wife, Mariah, made the move from Indiana to Destin, Florida, in 2013. He first worked with his friends at Diamond Gulf Rentals and eventually Diamond Gulf Realty was born. He and his team specialize in income properties and getting investors the best return on their money. They also help second home owners afford their dream retirement homes by helping to offset the cost of ownership with rental income. When Brandon was looking to buy his first house, the realtor they were working with in Indiana changed the way Brandon saw the real estate business. It was not a sales person looking to cash in big, it was someone who truly wanted to match Brandon with the home that would be their perfect fit. He took this attitude with him when he started doing real estate himself. Now Brandon likes to refer to his job as matchmaking with a splash of analysis.

Owning a real estate brokerage, especially in one of the most beautiful places in the country, is Brandon’s proudest accomplishment. He thinks back to his humble beginnings a lot and sometimes cannot believe how he got here.

Brandon never could have done it without the support of his amazing wife. Mariah has been his number one hypeman since day one! Without her, Brandon likely would still be stuck in his office job in Indiana playing it safe. Mariah is always the push he needs to take the scary leaps in life like moving to Florida and starting a brokerage. He also credits his mother for showing him selflessness during the hard growing up years, his aunt Amy for always being a shoulder to lean on, and his Mamaw who helped raise him and taught him to become the greatest Scrabble player of all time! (Just kidding… sorta?) Without these women, Brandon would not be the person he is today with the values, habits, and lessons he learned from them.

Piecing together cars with parts his father took on trade for payment is something Brandon holds onto tightly from his childhood. His father was definitely a gearhead and cars is something Brandon still finds joy in today. Currently he is a sponsor of the Destin Cars & Coffee and also a member of a local group called Emerald Coast Exotic Cars. He loves bringing cars to birthday parties and events to show people how much fun cars can be. Diamond Gulf Realty hopes to become more involved with the community and local charities in the coming years. If they can use cars to help garner attention, even better!

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The

R.2hythm of Law.3 written by: Liesel Schmidt photography provided by: Erica Reed

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W

hen Erica Reed sits across from opposing counsel at the negotiating table or presents her case in court, she’s composed and poised, confident in her argument and in herself. A Senior Attorney with The Bloom Firm, Erica works for one of the largest victim's rights law firms in the country, a fact which has afforded her the opportunity to seek justice for victims of discrimination, abuse, and civil rights violations. “It’s my proudest accomplishment as a lawyer,” says Erica.

The passion that drives her, that makes her such an effective litigator, is every bit as deep as the passion that once drove her to be something that one would never expect. As a child, Erica attended her mother’s dance studio and performed in her dance company. “I had ballet shoes on by the time I was 2 years old,” she says.

After graduating from Duke Ellington High School of the Arts, she moved to New York City at 17 to attend Fordham University. “When I moved to New York, my plan was to audition for Broadway shows while obtaining my BA in Women’s Studies from Fordham,” she explains.

At the time, Erica had never seen the Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular show at Radio City. A year later, however, and she hadn’t just seen the show — she was in the show. “My mom saw an audition for the Rockettes in the Backstage Newspaper and called me the morning of,” she recalls. “I was late to the audition — I think I was number 299 out of 300. After two grueling days of auditioning, I was cast to perform in the New York line of Rockettes, and the rest is history. At 18 years old, I began my career as a Rockette.”

Over the next five years, from 1999 to 2004, Erica was one of the elite, learning the importance of timing, 47

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“I learned the power of teamwork and the commitment it takes to achieve the world-renowned precision of the R.2ockettes.” grace, and teamwork in a way that few ever do. “I learned the power of teamwork and the commitment it takes to achieve the world-renowned precision of the Rockettes,” she says. “We dance in unison, identically, without even a finger out of place. Prior to joining the Rockettes, I performed in jazz, modern, ballet, and tap performances as a soloist and in group productions; but never had I experienced being part of a precision dance company, and not just any precision dance company, the precision dance company. I quickly learned that our beauty, prestige, and wonder came from our ability to commit to performing in unison.

I learned commitment to something greater than myself to achieve an outcome that amounted to one of my life’s greatest accomplishments.”

More than that, she achieved something that reached beyond herself and changed the face of the company. “While performing as a Rockette, I became a Diversity Consultant for Radio City Music Hall, where I was given the opportunity to diversify the Rockette line of dancers,” she says proudly. “I recruited and trained minority women to audition for the show. It was a truly rewarding experience, and one of my proudest moments as a Rockette.”

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Interestingly, she uses some of what she learned as a Rockette in her life now in her law practice. “While performing as a Rockette, I had extremely long days,” says Erica, who attended New York University School of Law. “I would rehearse from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and then attend evening classes at Fordham University from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Once the holiday season commences, Rockettes perform in as many as six shows a day!

The work ethic and mental stamina required to perform as a Rockette prepared me for my career as an attorney.”

As much as dance is in her blood, so too is the law. “My dad was an attorney and encouraged me to take the LSAT and pursue a career in the law. Growing up, I had always thought about becoming a lawyer. Many of my family members are lawyers, and they always supported and inspired me, especially once I made the decision to attend law school.”

And, while becoming a Rockette was an accomplishment that she takes great pride in, passing the bar was a singular moment in Erica’s life. “It felt like a dream,” she recalls. “After months of studying for more than 12 hours a day, I was relieved and over the moon! Having spent my formative years in the arts, it was the pivotal start of my second career.”

In fact, becoming an attorney completely changed her world.

“It really changed the entire trajectory of my life,” she says. “I traded the stage for the courtroom and embarked on a career that I never imagined would lead me to a passion beyond my career in the arts.”

Now, she has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Washington, D.C., and Florida. For those who dream the impossible, she offers this advice: “I firmly believe that if a dream is placed in your heart, you have the ability to achieve it.

With hard work and commitment, nothing is impossible. Do not allow what seems impossible to deter you from trying.” www.ScarlettMag.com

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Deck e Harbor written by: Liesel Schmidt / photography provided by: Emerald Grande

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A

s the holiday season approaches, so too does the flurry of events that make the days feel festive, fun, and magical. All throughout the harbor, you’ll see wreaths hung, palm trees twinkling with holiday lights, and storefronts adorned with garland, welcoming the season with open arms — and HarborWalk Village celebrates with an entire month of Holiday on the Harbor events.

Just days after Thanksgiving, Santa Claus comes to town on Saturday, Nov. 27, bringing with him fun for the whole family. Go on a Rudolph-themed scavenger hunt, take part in holiday activities, and write letters to Santa. The jolly ol’ elf stops by HarborWalk Village from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through the month until Christmas. Guests receive a free 4x6 photo that will help them remember the fun forever.

For kids from 1 to 92, Holidays on the Harbor appeals to everyone, getting everyone in the spirit of the season with events for all ages. Adults will love the annual Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl on Dec. 3 featuring a game of “food and drink specials” bingo as well as live music performed by North Pole Panic on the main stage. Still looking for the perfect gift? You’re in luck! The Olde Holiday Market on Dec. 11 and 12 is sure to have everything you need. And, there’s even more fun at the 35th Annual Holiday Boat Parade on Sunday, Dec. 12. Boats of all shapes and sizes line up to illuminate the harbor, ending the evening with a festive fireworks show.

“The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year, and I am thrilled to bring holiday magic to the Harbor for all to experience!” says HarborWalk Village Event Coordinator Ragan Griggs of this year’s festivities, continuing the tradition that has made HarborWalk a holiday destination for years.

To help bring the holiday spirit alive, local high schools and choirs will be featured on the main stage throughout the month. Performances include “The Nutcracker” by the Ballet Conservatory and Destin School of Music and Dance,

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a concert by the Fort Walton Beach High School Chorus, and a special holiday performance by the Sinfonia Youth Orchestra.

In the spirit of giving, each Holiday on the Harbor event offers an opportunity to support a local nonprofit or charitable organization. In fact, even mailing a letter to Santa is a way to give back. For every letter mailed to the North Pole from the Harbor Post Office, a $1 donation will be made to the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). A toy drive will also be held at HarborWalk Village to support Emerald Coast Toys for Tots.

“We love supporting our local nonprofits,” says Ragan of the various ways that HarborWalk has aligned with community organizations to help meet their needs. “HarborWalk Village is excited to partner with these charities to give back this holiday season, at a time when many might be going without.”

Other holiday events include Breakfast with Santa at the Emerald Grande, available only by reservation, and Santa Paws Pictures — the perfect way to get your furry friend in on the fun!

For complete information on Holiday on the Harbor events, visit the HarborWalk Village Facebook Page @HarborWalkVillageDestin. To book Breakfast with Santa, call (850) 424-0622.

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| Let's Get Physical

Bodybuilding R.2iane H.4ughes with

written by: Emily Brink / photograhy by: Shanna Magnuson

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odybuilding is such a male-dominated sport that oftentimes when people mention bodybuilding, only images of males come to mind. Thankfully there are females like Riane Hughes here to revolutionize the game. Riane did not always aspire to be a bodybuilder, but when she was looking to get back into shape about four years ago, she walked into Militia Fitness in Destin, and well, the rest is history. After her first competition, she felt ready to help others along their own journey. She is currently employed at Militia Fitness as a Team Leader and Fitness Trainer. Her most favorite moments in the gym are when people finally have that breakthrough they have been working toward. It can be emotional at times, but for Riane and many of the women at Militia Fitness, the gym is a safe place. It is those precious moments where you can let everything else slip away and get out of your head. In many ways, it is therapeutic.

Although bodybuilding traditions can be traced back as early as ancient Egypt and Greece, an official female bodybuilding competition was not held until the late 1970s.

That is almost 80 years after the first large-scale men’s competition was held. Women like Riane and the ladies she works with have a constant battle to fight when it comes to carving out a space for their passions. Fighting to make room for other females in a male-dominated field is no easy task, but who better to fight for women than bodybuilders?

Confidence is not something that comes naturally for Riane. Even with an athletic background, Riane can sometimes feel like an imposter in her own field. She has found that becoming a trainer in the bodybuilding scene has really helped boost her confidence. Now people are asking her questions and asking for her input. They want to know how she got those arms! This growing confidence makes it easier to carve that space out for herself and for the new women who join the team. Fighting for a place in the world is never easy, but with women supporting women, it is definitely doable.

Taking a step back and looking at the industry abstractly, there are quite a few differences between the male bodybuilders and the female bodybuilders. The main difference being physiological. Men have more testosterone than women do which contributes to muscle mass and definition. Being that these categories are ones in which a bodybuilder is judged, women really have to work harder than men to create that crisp definition of muscle.

Another difference is that women’s bodies tend to have a harder time metabolizing fat which leads to more cardio and a lower-carb diet to help burn off that excess. Besides a few other small differences, bodybuilding is very similar 55

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for men and women. The theories associated with breaking down fat and building muscle are pretty much universal. It just depends on your personal preferences and body to help you determine the perfect workout regimen.

Getting more women involved in bodybuilding is a goal of Riane’s. She would really love to see more women supporting each other rather than seeing each other as competition.

She loves seeing diversity in the gym.

Different personalities, perspectives, and goals help to shape the community into something beautiful.

Getting a more diverse population in the bodybuilding industry will help trainers better understand all body types as well as help the new people feel comfortable getting started.

Everyone deserves support designed specifically for them.

If you are itching to try some bodybuilding, find a gym that specializes in weight training.

Research the science behind the sport and the differences specific body types might have. Bodybuilding is intense, there's no doubt about that.

It requires commitment, dedication, and passion, but the reward is the satisfaction and pride at seeing what you can accomplish. And, for those considering becoming a trainer, Riane says to “take

yourself seriously and demand respect.” Boss up! People see confidence and trust that confidence.

Do not be afraid of jumping into something so male-dominated.

Women deserve to be respected, and strong, and celebrated. Jump in with the ladies at Militia Fitness or find your own groove somewhere else.

Just remember, bodybuilding is for women just as much as it is for men.

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Tour of Homes Pensacola |

Real Estate

Trends in 2021 written by: Jessica Duncan

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here is low inventory (not enough houses) in the real estate market, which seems to be everyone’s favorite way to describe the current market along the Gulf Coast.

You have also probably heard it’s a hot market. What does a “hot market” even mean?

Of course, some naysayers believe the market is going to crash again, like in 2008. It is essential to understand what is happening in the current real estate market instead of accepting the quick one-liners that don’t give you any facts. Let’s look at the facts and the numbers behind what is happening in the local real estate market.

Do we have a low-inventory market? When you examine the actual numbers, 19% more houses have been put up for sale in 2021 compared to 2020. More houses going up for sale means more inventory. The number of residential homes sold is up 17.29%. If more houses are coming on the market and an increased number are being sold compared to last year, is it an inventory problem? It is not a low-inventory market but instead a highvelocity market. A high-velocity market means houses are selling faster than the previous year. The average number of days a home was up for sale in 2021 has decreased by 49% compared to 2020. Houses are going on the market and selling in a shorter period creating a high-velocity market, not a low-inventory market.

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HOME SALES OVER $1,000,000 INCREASED

144%

FROM 75 IN 2020 TO 183 IN 2021.

2020

2021 0

50

100

150

200

SOURCE: PENSACOLA MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICES JANUARY - SEPTEMBER 2020 AND 2021

The driving force that created this high-velocity market is the number of people moving from out of state to our area. When the shutdowns happened in 2020 due to Covid-19, we saw an initial rush of people moving here since Florida was not restricted as extensively compared to other states. Over the last year, this initial rush became a steady flow of people moving to our area.

The three most common reasons for this continued movement are lower taxes, politics, and the flexibility to live anywhere they choose since many have been permanently assigned to work from home. If you can live anywhere you want unrestricted by your employer, why not live in this paradise we are blessed to call home?

How did the migration of people moving into our area creating a highvelocity market affect residential home prices? In 2020, the average price of homes sold was $275,240. In 2021, this number is up to $323,624. That is a 17.57% increase in the average home price. The rise in price means www.ScarlettMag.com

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the value of the houses in the area has increased significantly. An increased home value is excellent news for homeowners as their investments are worth more than years before 2021. Many of the people who moved to our market moved from a state where the average home prices are higher. They are moving their equity from out of state into home purchases here and causing an increase in the number of sales of higher-end homes in our area. The number of home sales between $700,000 to $1,000,000 is up 79% from 2020, and home sales more than $1,000,000 are up 144% year over year. The number of home sales in these two price ranges has seen the highest increase.

To sum up the 2021 real estate trends for our area, more houses are going up for sale. They are selling fast and for more money.

We have an increased movement in high-end priced homes. People moving to our market from out of state have created this highvelocity market.

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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 IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, an all-women philanthropic organization.

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

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V.3OTE N.4OVEMBER.5 1-19 www.ScarlettMag.com

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carlett is looking for THE WOTY (Woman of the Year) and 99 other deserving women. We have THE list, and we need you to tell us who is most eligible. We want THE women that rocked 2021 at the top of their game.

From bartenders to baristas, real estate agents to dance teachers, and all in between.

We have 99 categories including Wellness, Retail, Dining, Arts & Entertainment, and Service Providers in beauty, health, home, and business.

And … of course THE WOTY (Woman of the Year). She should be an amazing, strong, independent woman who is confident, reliable, hardworking, spirited, open-minded, brave, and determined — a total Badass!

Sorry guys … this is a contest for the ladies only. Nominees must be 21 years old, must be an individual person (no company entries will be accepted).

Help us fill THE list because … Frankly, we know you give a damn.

W.4ELLNESS Orthodontist Optometrist Ophthalmologist General Practitioner Dentist Pediatrician Chiropractor ER Doctor Alternative/Natural Medicine Cosmetic Dentist Vein/Vascular Care Provider Nurse Audiologist Podiatrist Veterinarian Physical Therapist Pharmacist Dermatologist Woman’s Health Provider OBGYN Cardiologist Esthetician

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Clothier Jeweler Boat Sales Boutique Owner Furniture Retailer Sales Representative Automotive Sales Local Retailer Formal Wear Provider Bridal Consultant

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SERVICE PROVIDERS BEAUTY Hair Stylist Nail Technician Lash Technician Makeup Artist Stylist Permanent Makeup HEALTH Weightloss Provider IV Therapy Provider Massage Therapist Personal Trainer Martial Arts Instructor Coach Golf Pro Tennis Pro

Flooring Expert Landscaper Property Management Title Company Originator Mortgage Lender Real Estate Professional Residential Real Estate Professional Commercial Association Manager

Lawyer Pet Sitter CEO HR Director Charter Fishing Guide Travel Agent Groomer Financial Adviser Public Relations Mavin Printer Teacher/Educator Pilot Law Enforcement Officer Military Service Member Philanthropist Volunteer Marketing Professional

HOME Interior Designer Contractor

BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS Non Profit Director Boss CPA IT/Web Designer Banker Sign Maker Boat Captain Insurance Agent Architect

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DINING.6

T.2HE W.3OTY

Caterer Chef Server Barista Restaurateur Hostess Bartender

Woman of the Year

Event Planner Musician Wedding Planner Dancer Artist Dance Instructor Photographer Wedding Photographer Florist Videographer Tattoo Artist

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Close-up with

Step One Automotive Group writer: Aerika Wardrip photograhy provided by: Step One Automotive Group

850.904.4800 696 Beal Pkwy, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 www.StepOneAutomotive.com

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tep One Automotive Group is an American company headquartered in Fort Walton Beach, Florida that was built on a singular dedication to empowering lives through smarter and easier ways of accessing mobility. At Step One Automotive Group, our guiding principles are Health. Family, Business.

And whether you buy or service from us, you are a part of the Step One Automotive Family.

Step One Automotive Group has 22 locations in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, representing 16 brands including Chrysler, Dodge Jeep, Ram Fiat, Volkswagen, Subaru, Kia, Hyundai, Genesis, Ford, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati, as well as two pre-owned operations and three wholesale parts operations. Combined those brands comprise 46% of the US automotive market. Out of 18,000 dealer groups in the United States, Step One Automotive Group ranks within the top 90 dealer groups in the country and in the top 10 in Florida.

Step One Automotive Group CEO, Fernando Arellano brings an extensive background in the automotive industry to the Emerald Coast, including: • International experience in the Automotive Industry in Europe, Latin America, and USA. • Strong experience in car dealership management in Argentina - Renault and Fiat - and in USA - Fiat & Alfa Romeo

North Miami and Volvo North Miami • Appointed as Minority Dealer Candidate by FCA in 2015 and by GM in 2019

Community Outreach

Leaving a legacy in the community is part of the Step One mission statement and has been a major focus for the company since inception. Between sponsorships, in-kind donations and volunteer opportunities, Step One Automotive Group gives back more than $250,000 a year in the communities they serve.

Military Outreach

The company has always been very involved in military outreach. CEO, Fernando Arellano was named Honorary Commander of the 33 MXG Eglin AFB from 2018-2021, In 2019, he was invited to join the Emerald Coast Military Advisory Council, became an Air Force Association Community Partner from 2018-2019, and received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Special Forces Association Chapter VII in 2018.

Step One’s commitment to the military is best demonstrated

by Forever Warriors, an initiative whose primary focus is on closing the gap between transitioning military members and their families and local partners to aid in employment and education opportunities.

www.ScarlettMag.com

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Adapting in a Pandemic Year

The year 2020 brought special challenges as the company continued to stay engaged in the community, despite the COVID pandemic by hosting socially distanced events like drive through food drives and grab and go meals for first responders. They also made a special commitment to provide support to those suffering most like nursing home patients and meals on wheels recipients.

In the year 2020 alone during the COVID-19 pandemic, Step One impacted the community with: • 11,354 pounds of food distributed • 1717 free meals served • 1610 first responders fed • 437 volunteer hours donated • 308 community events attended • 106 charities supported • 35 Animals adopted

Awards

The community has recognized Step One Automotive Group on several platforms. Step One dealerships and the company in general have been awarded in both “Best in Destin” and “Best In Pensacola” starting in 2019 through 2021. These dealerships include the entire scale of the automotive industry, from preowned, new, and luxury. NW Florida Daily News awarded Step One Automotive Group with the notable “Finest on the Emerald Coast” in 2021.

Contact

Step One Automotive Group is active on social accounts including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Follow the hashtags at #foreverwarriors and #westeptogether and the website blog to stay up to date in our community involvement, dealership updates, new model launches, and everything powered by Step One Automotive Group. Hours of operation vary between dealerships, however the headquarter office can be reached between the weekday business hours of 8am-5pm Monday through Friday.

Please visit www.steponeautomotive. com/ for more information and to reach all Step One dealerships.

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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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The Four Winds

The Hunting Wives

by Kristin Hannah

by May Cobb

Texas, 1921. A time of abundance. The Great War is over, the bounty of the land is plentiful, and America is on the brink of a new and optimistic era. But for Elsa Wolcott, deemed too old to marry in a time when marriage is a woman’s only option, the future seems bleak. Until the night she meets Rafe Martinelli and decides to change the direction of her life. With her reputation in ruin, there is only one respectable choice: marriage to a man she barely knows.

Sophie O’Neill left behind an envy-inspiring career and the stressful, competitive life of big-city Chicago to settle down with her husband and young son in a small Texas town. It seems like the perfect life with a beautiful home in an idyllic rural community. But Sophie soon realizes that life is now too quiet, and she’s feeling bored and restless.

By 1934, the world has changed; millions are out of work and drought has devastated the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as crops fail and water dries up and the earth cracks open. Dust storms roll relentlessly across the plains. Everything on the Martinelli farm is dying, including Elsa’s tenuous marriage; each day is a desperate battle against nature and a fight to keep her children alive.

In this uncertain and perilous time, Elsa ― like so many of her neighbors ― must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or leave it behind and go west, to California, in search of a better life for her family.

Then she meets Margot Banks, an alluring socialite who is part of an elite clique secretly known as the Hunting Wives. Sophie finds herself completely drawn to Margot and swept into her mysterious world of late-night target practice and dangerous partying. As Sophie’s curiosity gives way to full-blown obsession, she slips farther away from the safety of her family and deeper into this nest of vipers.

When the body of a teenage girl is discovered in the woods where the Hunting Wives meet, Sophie finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and her life spiraling out of control.

[Thriller]

[Best Seller]

The Paper Palace

by Miranda Cowley Heller It is a perfect July morning, and Elle, a 50-year-old happily married mother of three, awakens at “The Paper Palace” — the family summer place which she has visited every summer of her life. But this morning is different: last night Elle and her oldest friend Jonas crept out the back door into the darkness and had sex with each other for the first time, all while their spouses chatted away inside. Now, over the next 24 hours, Elle will have to decide between the life she has made with her genuinely beloved husband, Peter, and the life she always imagined she would have had with her childhood love, Jonas, if a tragic event hadn’t forever changed the course of their lives. As Heller colors in the experiences that have led Elle to this day, we arrive at her ultimate decision with all its complexity. Tender yet devastating, “The Paper Palace” considers the tensions between desire and dignity, the legacies of abuse, and the crimes and misdemeanors of families.

[Book Club Worthy] 71

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The Twelve Dates of Christmas

by Jenny Bayliss When it comes to relationships, 34-year-old Kate Turner is ready to say “Bah, humbug.” The sleepy town of Blexford, England, isn’t exactly brimming with prospects, and anyway, Kate’s found fulfillment in her career as a designer, and in her delicious side job baking for her old friend Matt’s neighborhood café. But then her best friend signs her up for a dating agency that promises to help singles find love before the holidays. Twenty-three days until Christmas. Twelve dates with twelve different men. The odds must finally be in her favor . . . right?

Read any good books lately?

If you’d like to recommend a book for review in Cover to Cover, send to Mary@ScarlettMag.com.

Yet with each new date more disastrous than the one before — and the whole town keeping tabs on her misadventures — Kate must remind herself that sometimes love, like mistletoe, shows up where it’s least expected. And maybe, just maybe, it’s been right under her nose all along . . .

[Easy Holiday Read]

Radically Happy: A User’s Guide to the Mind

by Phakchok Rinpoche + Erric Solomon East meets West in a fresh, modern take on a timeless challenge: how to find contentment and meaning in life. A longtime meditator and seasoned Silicon Valley entrepreneur meets a young, insightful, and traditionally educated Tibetan Rinpoche. Together they present a path to radical happiness through accessible meditation and mindfulness techniques. Following three parts, the authors guide readers through Basic Happiness, Interconnected Happiness, and finally Radical Happiness, with each section building on itself to form a complete program. Filled with personal stories, scientific studies, suggested daily plans, and step-by-step exercises, this is the perfect introduction to meditation and Buddhist thought. It’s a thoughtful exploration of modern science and ancient wisdom ⁠— there’s no dumbing things down ⁠— yet it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

[Self-Help] www.ScarlettMag.com

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The Clique Beth Mangum

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Sis, these are the women, I mean, THE women. These are the gals to keep your eye on. They are the ones who Get. It. Done. The Clique is a group of women that come from all walks of life and all industries. Get to know them...

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ow that she’s been here on the Gulf Coast for more than 30 years, Beth Mangum finally considers herself a bonafide local. When her job brought her here in the early 90s, she immediately knew she had found home!

After a long career in music both locally and in the regional Southeast, then working with local businesses creating advertising campaigns at several media outlets, she decided it was time to find a “forever job” that she had true passion for, and working with home buyers has fulfilled that need. Growing up an Air Force child, she is no stranger to the challenges military families face having to move from base to base and is determined to help make these families’ home purchasing process as smooth and worry free as possible.

In her free time, Beth serves on the board of the Emerald Coast Foundation, giving much needed help to local children, and volunteers with several other charities. She is proud to be a member of this community and to call the Fort Walton Beach/Destin area home! If you need help financing or refinancing your home, Team Mangum at Bank of England Mortgage would be honored to be a part of that process.

Bank of England Mortgage 850.642.8412 • www.BoEFWB.com bmangum@boemortgage.com

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Melanie Parm, DO

W

ith a heart for helping and advocating for others, White-Wilson Medical Center’s Dr. Melanie Parm feels caring for children is her calling. As a veteran of the U.S. Army, Dr. Parm has the experience and skills to offer high-quality care to patients from a variety of cultural and familial backgrounds.

She likes to make her visits with families an educational experience that empowers all.

Dr. Parm began her journey in health care by receiving her medical degree from Lincoln Memorial University’s Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. It was then she enlisted in the Army and completed her residency at Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Washington.

From there, Dr. Parm began an honorable career as an Army physician where she cared for patients as a pediatrician and later Chief of Pediatrics at Fort Stewart in Georgia, as well as Officer in Charge at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center’s Pediatric Clinic in Landstuhl, Germany. With a desire to build more longterm relationships with her patients and focus more closely on patient care, she finished her service and entered into civilian practice.

Dr. Parm specializes in all aspects of general pediatric care for children ages 0 to 18 and has a special interest in working with teens. She encourages her patients and their families to take an active role in their health care and believes the best care is provided when a pediatrician, patient, and family work together as a team.

White-Wilson Pediatric Clinic

850.396.0108 • www.White-Wilson.com 8990 Navarre Parkway, Navarre

Kristina Wright

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ristina Wright is always the friendly face at events, weddings, and concerts from Pensacola to Destin and all along the Emerald Coast. She has been a professional photographer for 11 years and is always on the move. “I have had a camera in my hand since I was a kid. Professionally, I started out photographing local bands in 2011 in dive bars and clubs. Over the years, I grew up and gained more experience and knowledge within the photography realm, while exploring various other photography styles and genres,” says Kristina.

“I still love photographing bands on stage.

I also cover bands I love for my friend’s company 850 Music & Entertainment as often as I get the chance. I hope to one day have a gallery, show review, and article published in “Rolling Stone” magazine,” Kristina adds.

She is a native of Milton, Florida, and currently resides in Pensacola, Florida. In her spare time, Kristina enjoys gardening, sewing, crocheting, getting tattoos, Halloween shopping, and working out. She and Phillip, together for 13 years, love spending time with their cats Shadow, George, River, and Mischief.

Transcending Dreams Photography 850.361.5462 www.TranscendingDreamsPhotography.com

Do you want to be part of The Clique?

Join the group every issue in celebration of what’s unique about each woman.

Whether you want the community to know about a stand-out employee, highlight a new addition to your crew, or pat yourself on the back after an extraordinary achievement, The Clique is your chance to be part of a remarkable tribe of women!

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| About Face

F.3ace Facts written by: Liesel Schmidt / photography by: Shanna Magnuson

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sk any woman on the street if she’s happy with what she sees in the mirror, and you’ll hear an overwhelming response of “No!” Fortunately, thanks to the marvels of modern science, the status quo doesn’t have to stay reality.

Since opening in 2019, Renew Aesthetics & Anti-Aging Clinic has been offering procedures in all things aesthetics, from injectables, fillers, and Botox to barbed suture Lyfts, PRP, body contouring, laser hair removal, and laser resurfacing.

Lyfts, in particular, are a popular option for those who want noticeable differences in their appearance. “We offer multiple types of Lyfts, including brow, cat eye, mid face, lower face, V-line, and snatched jawline trends,” says Danielle McGraw, who co-owns Renew and is one of the practitioners. “We also offer body lifting procedures such as knees, arms, breast, and butt Lyfts.”

To create the most effective results, Renew offers Lyfts with fillers as well as Lyfts with threads. “MINT is the brand of threads that we use at Renew, and they are an absorbable polydioxanone (PDO) barbed suture indicated for use in soft tissue approximation,” explains Danielle, who has been in practice since 2009. “PDO is a safe, raw material that has been used for orthopedic and cardiovascular surgery for wound closure. As a safe raw material that is completely absorbed by the body through hydrolysis, PDO causes minimal tissue reaction and tissue trauma. Stimulation of collagen, elastin, and neovascularization are the main goals when placing the PDO threads. The end result helps improve skin elasticity, texture, fine lines, and volume for a timeless rejuvenation that lasts for up to 18 months. In conjunction with threads or on their own, injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) is a type of temporary dermal filler.

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is found naturally throughout the body. In the skin, hyaluronic acid attracts water, which allows the skin

to become more hydrated. As we age, the fat, muscles, bone, and skin in our face begins to thin. This loss of volume affects the entire face and can cause a sunken or sagging appearance, fine lines, wrinkles, and folds that become more prominent, while lips appear to thin out. Injectable HA has an effect that is seen almost immediately and can be used to create structure, framework, and add volume to the face. Most patients need a combination of both procedures to achieve optimal effect.”

As with any procedure, there are side effects and considerations. “There is always a risk for infection when the skin is being penetrated,” Danielle notes. “Results are also more subtle than you'd see from a surgical facelift. If a patient has thin skin, the threads may be visible under the skin’s surface; and puckering or indents are also possible complications.

This is why all patients are evaluated, and a practitioner with experience is necessary.”

Fortunately, downtime is also much less than with a facelift.

“Patients can return to work the next day,” Danielle says.

“Patients are also asked to not excessively work out for the first two to three weeks.”

www.ScarlettMag.com

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Q: Who are the best candidates for Lyfts?

A: All patients must have a one-onone consult to determine if they are candidates for the procedure.

Q: How do I know if a Lyft is right for me?

A: This type of Lyft is an option for someone who has lax but not severely sagging skin. All patients should have a consult so a full evaluation can be performed.

Q: Is there anything I should do to prepare?

A: Patients will need to stop all Ibuprofen or medications that increase the chance of bleeding. Oral Arnica can be started two to three days prior to the procedure. Patients should come to the appointment with no makeup and hair pulled back away from the face.

Q: Can I go out in the sun after a Lyft?

A: We recommend that for the first week patients take it easy. Sun is not a contraindication but most likely would not be comfortable and increase swelling.

Q: What is aftercare like?

A: Swelling can last anywhere from three to 14 days, and bruising is common. Ice is recommended to reduce swelling faster. Swelling may also be reduced by sleeping, sitting up for a few days, and avoiding rubbing, tugging, or massaging skin or making exaggerated facial movements.

Renew Aesthetics & Anti-Aging Clinic 205 Brooks South East Suite 301, Fort Walton 850.503.1060 www.Renew-AestheticsClinic.com 65

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| Happy Hour

B.3ubbly.6 written by: Courtney Murray illustrations by: Sheila MacDiarmid

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op. Fizz. Whoo! If a bottle of Champagne is opened at a party and there aren’t any girls there to shout “whoo,” did it even open? There’s a universal unspoken code that when a Champagne bottle is popped, every female within ear shot must respond wholeheartedly with whoops and cheers.

The process of taking off the foil and unwinding the cage, the anticipation of popping the bottle, the excitement of slowly pouring the fizzy golden liquid into your waiting glass. It’s a ritual that indicates it’s time to celebrate! Every home should be required to have a chilled bottle of bubbly on hand just like a working smoke detector. It’s a necessity. While of course Champagne can be enjoyed on a random Tuesday or a girl’s night out, it’s often given as a gift or to mark a special occasion.

There are three types of acceptable Champagne glasses to choose from: Champagne flutes, Champagne coupes, and Champagne tulips. A nice bottle of Champagne with a pair of engraved glasses is the perfect, classy, and memorable present for friends or family. No matter what you drink from, Champagne always puts a smile on your face and an extra pep in your step.

The sparkling version of the Champagne wine was discovered by accident by the wine growers from the Champagne region of France. Once the sparkling wine was discovered, the King of France began serving the exciting new beverage during official dinners at the Royal Palace. It’s rumored, however, that the monk Dom Perignon invented Champagne; but this is doubtful.

However it came to be, we are grateful that it’s here! How else would we have bottomless mimosa brunch after all?

Mimosas are what put the ‘funday’ in Sunday. Champagne is deliciously refreshing on its own but adding some flair with fresh herbs, juices, berries, and more will open a whole new world.

If you’re ready to step up your cocktail game this holiday season, try out some festival Champagne-based libations that will be crowd pleasers at all of your events. Cheers!

Wide Tulip

function: collects aged flavors

Tulip

function: collects floral aromatics

Flute

function: aids in preserving the bubbles

Coupe

function: disperses bubbles quickly, enhances fruity flavors

www.ScarlettMag.com

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Sparkling Margarita

Apple Cider Champagne Cocktail

1 oz white tequila 1 oz Triple Sec 3 oz Brut Champagne 2 Tbsp sweetened lime juice ½ Tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice

2 oz brandy 4 oz apple cider 8 oz chilled Champagne

Rim glass with sugar and garnish with lime wedges.

Rim glass with cinnamon and sugar and garnish with an apple slice or cinnamon stick.

Poinsettia Spritz

Blood Orange Champagne Mule

1 oz vodka ¼ cup cranberry or pomegranate juice ½ oz St. Germain elderflower liqueur 1 oz Champagne fresh cranberries

juice of ½ a medium blood orange juice of ½ a lime 1 oz vodka 8 leaves mint 2 oz chilled ginger beer

Garnish with sprigs of rosemary and orange slices.

Top with chilled Champagne.

Garnish with blood orange slices and fresh mint.

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| Get Ready with Me

New.2 Year's E.3ve Ready

Get

with Me

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litz, glam, fireworks, and champagne. This year has been a roller coaster, but we are still standing honey, and that’s something to celebrate! Post prom era, there are very few occasions where wearing a full sequin dress, 6-inch stilettos, and feather earrings is appropriate. Unless you really like to strut it out down the aisles on your weekly trip to Publix. Glam on aisle 12! Luckily there’s one night a year where being extra is not only expected, it is encouraged. Cheers, it’s New Year’s Eve, babe.

Whether you go to the all-inclusive, over-the-top event in an elaborate ballroom, or you choose to host an intimate party at home, a little sparkle is always necessary for New Year’s Eve. Putting together a killer outfit is just as important if you’re watching the ball drop from the comfort of your couch as it is if you’re walking a red carpet at a high-end event. Take pride in your ensemble and let yourself shine. Let’s take a peek at a variety of New Year’s Eve looks that will suit any occasion and help you stand out in a crowd.

Formal party: If you’re going to be attending a formal event to celebrate the start of a new year, you’ll need the wardrobe to

match. This is your chance to be extra, be over the top, and step out of the box. A full-length sequin gown? Not too much! A velvet backless number? Go ahead girl! You don’t have to wear black or glitter to embrace the New Year’s Eve style. A floor length floral dress in a beautiful burgundy or shimmery bronze would be glamorous in an unexpected way. Dresses aren’t your only option though. A perfectly tailored pantsuit can be ultra glam when accessorized properly. Worn with a showstopping high heel and statement jewelry this is an ensemble that can land you on the best dressed list for sure. My advice to all evening looks is less is more when it comes to accessorizing. Choose a gemstone chandelier earring or a studded sequin clutch to add pizzazz to your look.

You don’t want to overpower your outfit, you want to complement it. So pick one showstopper and let it have the spotlight.

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Casual house party: If you aren’t in the mood for heels and a cocktail dress, there are more casual options that still look fabulous. A leather mini-skirt and festive flowy top or cropped sweater will be perfect for shaking martinis while your guests play games. Add in a pair of patterned tights and killer booties to take it up a notch. If sparkles are more your speed, a fun twist on a closet staple is a sequin jogger and sleek bodysuit paired with a fierce heel. Even if you aren’t at the club, you can bring the fist-pumping vibes to your home by turning on a disco light and breaking it down with your friends.

Family date night in: If you decide to keep it low key this New Year’s you can still make it special. Gather your family and create fun charcuterie and kidcuterie boards together. Take out your fancy stemware, pop some bubbly and get cozy; but make it glam. Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you need to rock your sweatpants. A pair of spanx faux leather leggings and a cute tunic sweater are a great option. Add some diamond earrings and lux fluffy slippers and your casual look is automatically elevated. If your family is into matching, you can create the perfect Insta-moment with black silk pajama sets and sparkly New Year’s tiaras and top hats. You just created posh PJs. 85

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Fancy dinner: It’s been a long year, and you aren’t getting

any younger, so maybe loud music and dancing until 3 a.m. is no longer your scene. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a slightly lower key glamourous night out. Planning a special night at a unique restaurant with a friend, significant other, or intimate group can be the perfect way to ring in the New Year in a sophisticated style. You can’t go wrong with a little black dress, and there are so many variations to the classic silhouette that you can explore. A playful way to wear a little black dress without being basic is to throw a silk kimono on top. This adds layers, texture, and visual interest to your outfit. If you’re feeling extra flirty, consider a dress with a fitted top and a feathered skirt. Worn with a sleek strappy heel this look is chic and elevated.

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The

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B.4ird written by: Courtney Murray

10/19/21 10:34 AM

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ou can tell that the long, sun-soaked days of summer are over when you step outside in the morning and take a deep breath of that crisp fall air. Imaine You’re wrapped up in your favorite oversized flannel blanket and the scent of pumpkin spice latte is wafting on the breeze. Envision the sound of new fallen leaves crunching beneath your suede booties as you sip and scroll through carefully curated Pinterest boards laden with chunky sweaters, freshly potted mums, and apple crisp candles. Fall is upon us and before you know it Thanksgiving will be here!

Now is the time to channel your inner Joanna Gaines and impress your friends and family with a Thanksgiving feast they will never forget. Everyone has their favorite side dishes they grew up with that have become their go-to for bringing to Aunt Sally’s or your annual Friendsgiving. You can’t go wrong with a classic green bean casserole or mashed potatoes and gravy … all the goodness of gravy. Or maybe, you like to push the envelope and bring a twice-baked, maple syrup acorn squash or step up the basic sweet potato casserole by adding bourbon, bacon, and pecans. Whatever side dish you choose to bring, it will always take a back seat to the star of the show, the bird — turkey.

This savory meat is enjoyed many ways throughout the year, but not so often as a 30-pound showstopper. Once a year, the turkey is the main event. So don’t sleep on your bird and let your moment to shine pass by. Whether you’re buying fresh or frozen, creating the perfectly cooked turkey takes time, preparation, and planning. You should plan for about 1.5 pounds of turkey per person. If you end up with too much there’s nothing better than leftovers for a sandwich on Black Friday.

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There are many ways to make your turkey day special and ensure that your bird isn’t a bore. Try one of these techniques at your next holiday dinner.

Roast: If this is your first turkey, roasting is a great way to pull off a flavorful, tender, and juicy recipe. Roasting is an excellent option for feeding a large group and enjoying your family time rather than hovering over a fryer or constantly tending to your bird. This method is foolproof with no brining, basting, or fancy roasting pans required, and you’ll still end up with a delicious perfectly cooked turkey. Slather the outer and inner skin of your turkey with a savory herb butter to create that gorgeous browned layer. Season with salt and pepper and stuff with lemon, onion, apple, and herbs. Pro tip: use a cheap disposable roasting pan and place the turkey on top of a bed of chopped veggies.

Smoke: If you’re looking for a unique and rich-flavored turkey this year, try out smoking. While this method does require having a smoker, cooking your bird low and slow will result in a tender and flavor-packed main course. To create the perfect brine, combine 1 gallon of water, bay leaves, lemons, parsley, thyme, rosemary, sage, garlic, salt, honey, and peppercorns. After the brining process is complete oil her up and rub her down with lemon garlic seasoning that will complement the smoky notes perfectly. You can even use apple juice in the pan instead of water for an extra pop of flavor. Remember that different types of wood chips will yield different tastes as well.

Deep Fry: If you want a faster method of cooking your turkey and more space in your oven for scrumptious side dishes then deep frying may be the way to go. Deep frying for Thanksgiving hit the scene in a big way several years ago and conjures up images of blooper reels and birds exploding out of oil vats. Although, if you have the tools, it’s one of the easiest and quickest ways to cook a turkey. Since it’s done outside you can delegate this job to a family member as well, score! If you have a smaller group this is a great option since a standard 30-quart pot can only handle a 14-pound turkey. Rubbing your bird down with a dry brine or spice rub the day before allows it to absorb all that goodness overnight.

Grill: No smoker or fryer required for this new twist on

cooking your Thanksgiving turkey. The prep is super simple and results in a delicious, smoky, crispy bird that will wow your guests.

Don’t skimp on the butter and stuff the bird with onions, lemons, and herbs and leave the stuffing for grilling on the side. Double up on disposable pans to avoid ruining a nice one. This method is also great for delegating to free up more time for sipping wine in the kitchen … I mean making pies from scratch.

Air Fryer: If you’re cooking for just yourself or a small family making a whole turkey might not make sense so consider just a breast. Enter the air fryer. Perfectly cooked, crispy golden-skinned turkey on the table in less than an hour? Yes, please. Brush both sides with oil and then dry rub a mixture of salt, thyme, rosemary, pepper, sage, garlic powder, paprika, and brown sugar all over and under the skin. A little sweet, a little spicy. Pop that baby in the air fryer and sit back and watch the Thanksgiving Day parade in peace.

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Spreading H.2oliday.6 Ch.3eer

Be the Change |

written by: Emily Brink

T

he holiday season is a time of so much joy and excitement.

It’s the culmination of a year well lived. It is beautiful, cozy, and special. However, for so many individuals and families, this is the hardest time of the year. Many parents struggle to put food on the table during regular months, let alone the holiday months. Thinking about gifts is basically out of the question. For many, the holidays are a time of loneliness, fear, embarrassment, and darkness. It is too often a time when people are forgotten and slip through the cracks.

During this season of giving, it is our opportunity to lighten

the load of those around us. We can spend time with the lonely, provide food to the hungry, and bring light into the darkness.

The holiday season does not have to be something dreaded by those who cannot afford food for their Thanksgiving meal or mourned by the children left with nothing under the Christmas tree. The holidays are not only for celebrating the year we lived, they are about celebrating the year we have all lived. So even though the holidays are full of hectic activities, last-minute shopping, and flustered days of cooking, it is vital that we include those less fortunate into our schedules.

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The best part of wanting to help local people in need is that it has never been easier. There are countless charities and churches who take the time to set everything up, you just get to do the fun part of making someone’s life a little less difficult.

One of the best ways to volunteer your time and assets is to “sponsor a family.” When you decide to sponsor a family, you will usually be given a list of genders and ages of people in that family, and it is up to you to decide what to gift them. For example, a 4-year-old girl might want a new doll, whereas a 13-year-old boy might want a new pocket knife. Imagine the joy on a child’s face when they get to open a gift or two on Christmas morning after a long year of scrimping and saving.

Imagine the relief those parents would feel knowing their children will not have to go without this Christmas like they did last year. That is what holidays are all about, giving to people in need, giving back to the community, and giving smiles to those who may have forgotten how to smile. www.ScarlettMag.com

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If you are feeling pushed to help this holiday season, there are many outlets in which you can look into. First, if you attend a local congregation, check with your pastor or minister. Many churches will already have something set up, otherwise the leadership will be happy to help you get started. Another way to find people in need this holiday season is through a simple Google search, “sponsor a family for Christmas near me” is a great place to start. Your child’s school may also have a program for helping the children and families closest to you. The school secretary can definitely answer your questions.

However you decide to give back, remember that you are the change. We always hear the saying, “be the change you hope to see in the world.” Well, this is the time to actually do it. Invite your widowed neighbor over for dinner, sponsor a family for Christmas, or donate to your local food drive. There are so many opportunities for giving back; it truly has never been easier.

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S.3w.2eet.3 16 written by: Zandra Wolfgram / photography provided by: Sinfonia

This season's lineup features a Hitchcock spine-tingling thriller, the Beatles, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and more!

K

eeping the tempo at the forefront of the Emerald Coast’s cultural scene since its founding in 2005, Sinfonia Gulf Coast maintains the tradition of “symphony redefined” as it enters its 16th season.

“Sinfonia proudly impacts all areas of our community with the highest caliber orchestral performances, award-winning guest artists, and the most innovative and comprehensive music education initiatives for K-12 students throughout Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay counties,” says Music and Artistic Director Demetrius Fuller.

Feel the suspense as Sinfonia Gulf Coast plays Bernard Hermann’s spinetingling score to Hitchcock’s classic thriller “Psycho” with the original screenplay projected above the orchestra. This al fresco performance on Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in Destin will feature reserved table seating as well as general BYO (chair or blanket) lawn seating. Food and drinks will be available for purchase on site.

Imagine The Beatles playing in concert with a symphony orchestra no more.

Classical Mystery Tour performs live with Sinfonia Gulf Coast on Saturday, Nov. 13. Hear “Penny Lane” with a live trumpet section; experience the beauty of “Yesterday” with an acoustic guitar www.ScarlettMag.com

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and string quartet; enjoy the rock/ classical blend on the hard-edged “I Am the Walrus.” From early Beatles music on through the solo years, Classical Mystery Tour is the best of The Beatles like you’ve never heard them — totally live.

Bring the entire family for the most festive seasonal concert along the Gulf Coast featuring singer/actor of the stage and screen, Nicholas Rodriguez, singing holiday carols, Broadway ballads, and tunes from the American Songbook accompanied by the sensational Sinfonia orchestra. Make plans now to attend this spirited holiday event on Friday, Dec. 10.

For this first Silver Sands Premium Outlets’ Classical Connections concert on Saturday, Jan. 8, Sinfonia defies convention and boundaries with the return of Chris Brubeck and Time For Three (TF3). Bonded by an uncommon blend of their instruments fused together with their voices, Charles Yang (violin, vocals), Nicolas “Nick” Kendall (violin, vocals), and Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals), deliver a totally unique sound.

Grammy-nominated composer Chris Brubeck paired with Time For Three promises an incredible jam session culminating in the Southeast U.S. premier of Chris’s concerto, “Travels in Time for Three,” written expressly for TF3.

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The second installment of the Silver Sands Premium Outlets’ Classical Connections Series will be on Saturday, March 12 at Destin High School and features Sinfonia’s Assistant Conductor, Aaron King Vaughn. This concert of riveting repertoire includes Igor Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale,” complete with theatrical narration and W.A. Mozart’s whimsically charming “Symphony no. 29 in A Major.” The perfect classical concert for the entire family.

On Saturday, April 30, the season’s cinematic finale at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center will relive the magic on the silver screen with the original great adventure “Raiders of the Lost Ark” featuring John Williams’ epic score performed live by Sinfonia’s orchestra.

The 2021-2022 season marks Maestro Demetrius Fuller’s 16th as Founding Music & Artistic Director of Florida’s Sinfonia Gulf Coast. Demetrius has helped redefine the cultural and arts education landscape of Northwest Florida by offering inspiring and artistically high-caliber performances, exciting critics and patrons alike, as well as championing arts education and music in the schools by providing outreach opportunities to thousands of students. In November 2020, as the organization was completing its 25th anniversary, Demetrius was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation.

Demetrius is an award recipient from the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts, the Werner Foundation, and the International Music Foundation. He trained at the prestigious University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music, receiving both his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees. www.ScarlettMag.com

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g n i ss e r D ? g n ffi u t S or

written by: Emily Brink

W

e all agree that one dish filled with herbs, starch, and other various ingredients is a staple at the holiday table.

What we cannot agree on is what in the world to call it! Some houses refer to it as “stuffing,” and some houses refer to it as “dressing,” and few have a real reason for calling it one or the other.

The fact of the matter is really quite simple — The dish is called stuffing when the ingredients are cooked inside the cavity of the bird, but when the ingredients are cooked separately from the bird, it is called dressing. However, culture plays a huge role in language as well. Looking at Google trends, southern states tend to refer to it as dressing while the northern states (especially northeast) refer to the dish as stuffing.

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Alright, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of this classic dish starting with stuffing. Remember, stuffing is the stuff that actually gets stuffed inside the bird before you cook it. The best argument for stuffing is pure flavor! Herbs, vegetables, and sometimes meats like sausage will cook those flavors into the bird and give you the result you are dreaming of. This sounds like the way to go when you think of it that way, but it is not without its problems.

The biggest problem when it comes to stuffing is the increased possibility of foodborne diseases like salmonella. At holiday meals, we choose big birds that will feed a whole slew of people. The issue arises when the bird is not cooked at the right temperature for a long enough time. Our first tip is to not let the bird sit out on your counter for very long, which is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. When you’re actually cooking it, make sure the oven is set to at least 325 F or more depending on the size of the bird.

When it comes to the stuffing part, one easy mistake is overstuffing. If you overstuff the bird it makes it harder for everything to cook properly, again leaving room for bacteria. A pretty good rule is ¾ cup for every 1 pound of meat. It is going to take a few hours to cook because the inside temperature of everything (meat and stuffing) needs to be at least 165 F before it is ready to eat. And remember, do not remove the stuffing early because at that point it has already absorbed the juices and that could make you sick.

When choosing the ingredients to put inside your stuffing, think about the meat on the bird. If you use a bread-based stuffing, it will soak up all the natural juices of the bird. But, with a more herb, vegetable, and sausage-based stuffing, you are able to get all the flavors infused into the meat without sacrificing the moistness.

With all the rules that come with stuffing, some people might want to take the easier route and go with dressing.

Or, if you prefer alternative methods of cooking the bird — frying, grilling, or smoking — then stuffing is not for you either. That is why dressing is so convenient!

Dressing can have all the ingredients of a traditional stuffing with none of the health worries. And, you can add starch without worrying about having dry meat!

One benefit of dressing you cannot get with stuffing is a nice, crispy top layer. You know the one that makes the bread just a little crunchy and adds that extra texture.

The secret to the crispy layer is to cook it with foil on top for most of the time, then for the last 10 minutes take the foil off and let it crisp up!

Each option has great benefits, from flavor to crispiness, and everything in between. Below you will find two traditional options for stuffing and dressing that are sure to meet your holiday needs. Who knows, maybe this year you will try cornbread instead of the traditional white bread. Just choose the right option for you and get cooking! www.ScarlettMag.com

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Sage, Sausage, and Apple Stuffing

Cornbread Dressing

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

One 16-ounce bag stuffing cubes

Favorite cornbread, cooked

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the pan and topping

2 Tbsp butter, plus more for baking dish

1 lb fresh sage sausage, casings removed

1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed

2 cooking apples, such as Gravenstein, Rome, or Golden Delicious, peeled, cored, and chopped

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1-2 ribs of celery with leaves, chopped

2 tsp fresh thyme leaves

Kosher salt 3 cups chicken broth, homemade or low-sodium canned 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1/2 cup walnut pieces, toasted (see Cook's note) 2 large eggs, beaten

3 stalks celery, finely chopped 2 tsp fresh sage, minced Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth 1/4 cup milk

Directions:

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1. Put the stuffing cubes in a large bowl and set aside.

Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish

2. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over mediumhigh heat. Add the sausage and break it up with a wooden spoon.

Cook until it loses most of its pink color, but not so much that it's dry, about 5 minutes. Add the sausage and pan drippings to the stuffing cubes. Melt the remaining butter in the pan. Add the onion, apple, celery, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook until the vegetables get soft, about 5 minutes. Add the broth and parsley and bring to a boil.

Directions:

3. Pour the vegetable mixture over the stuffing cubes and toss until evenly moistened. Mix in the walnuts and eggs. Loosely pack the dressing inside the prepared turkey.

4. Cook until turkey and stuffing have an internal temperature of 165 F

Cook’s note:

To toast nuts, spread them out on a baking sheet and toast in an oven at 350 F. until golden, about 7 minutes.

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 9-inch, square baking dish with butter. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Cook sausage, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until golden and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.

2. To the same skillet add butter, onion, and celery and cook until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add thyme and sage, then season with salt and pepper. Add broth to deglaze, scraping up brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat and let cool slightly, then transfer to bowl with sausage.

3. Add cornbread pieces, then stir in milk and eggs. Season generously with salt and pepper and stir, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until everything is well incorporated and cornbread pieces are a mixture of smaller chunks and crumbs.

4. Add mixture to prepared baking dish and bake until golden and crispy on top and set in the center, 30 minutes.

5. Garnish with parsley before serving.

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holiday YAAAS girl, you know you want it!

Lily Chartier Pearls Freshwater Pearls

www.WildAboutPearls.com Lily Chartier brings you 42 inches of oval hand knotted Freshwater Pearls with a Sterling Silver Starfish Clasp.

Blue Magnolia Catering Charcuterie Board

www.BlueMagnoliaCatering.com Give the gift of love this holiday season through delicious and beautiful food. Blue Magnolia is a local father-daughter-owned and operated charcuterie company that features a variety of charcuterie boards, small plates, and in-home dining options.

Broussard’s Bayou Co. Turducken

www.CajunSpecialtyMeats.com The original turducken that started the craze! Our semi-boneless turkey (leaving only the wings & legs), is stuffed with boneless chicken and duck, Cajun pork sausage, and cornbread dressing.

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Milton Quality Bakery Pettifores

www.MiltonQualityBakery.com These holiday pettifores are the perfect bitesized treat for your holiday party. Delicious and glazed to perfection, these pettifores are sure to wow your guests at any gathering.

Spode

Woodland Turkey Rectangular Platter www.Macys.com Framed by a rich vintage-style border of Victorian flowers, this turkey platter by Spode is a stunning addition to your dinner table. Great for Thanksgiving or any entertaining occasion.

Lillian Vernon

Heirloom Needlepoint Personalized Christmas Stocking www.LillianVernon.com Make Christmas morning even more magical with one of our whimsical personalized stockings. Crafted from premium materials, our festive stockings are premium quality and made to last for many Christmas mornings to come. Every stocking comes with complimentary embroidery, which makes it easy to identify each of your family member’s stockings and avoid sibling mix-ups.

The Lakeside Collection

Retro Lighted Christmas Tree www.Lakeside.com Decorate your home with the look of holidays past with this Retro Lighted Christmas Tree.

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Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village Half Shells on the Harbor Tickets

Facebook: Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village This Tide to Table event features fresh oyster tastings as local chefs come together to showcase their spin on this coastal classic.

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| Anything He Can Do...

Anything

Can Do...

Mrs. Claus photography by: Christopher Saul

Hometown The North Pole Current Residence The North Pole Occupation Homemaker Special Skills Baking, Sewing, Time Management

How did you get interested in your occupation?

When I was first married, I thought my days would be spent making cocoa and shining Santa’s boots. I learned quickly that the man with the big red bag wasn’t as capable as he seemed. The elves were out of control, the naughty and nice list was in disarray, and no one had had a decent cookie in years. I decided to take things into my own hands and now I oversee all of the operations at the North Pole on top of my daily chores.

How long have you been practicing your trade?

It seems like only yesterday, but Santa and I have been happily married for hundreds of years, and I’ve been his right hand ever since.

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

One of my most important jobs at the North Pole is opening and organizing the letters Santa receives. He gets millions of letters every year from little boys and girls all over the world. I organize the letters in alphabetical order and separate them by who is on the nice list and who is on the naughty list. It makes it easier for Santa to figure out what toys he needs to make for the year.

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

Although I love the reindeer, I would say keeping www.ScarlettMag.com

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the barn tidy and overseeing the elves that help with the reindeer is my least favorite part of the job. The barn is rather smelly, and there are always plenty of chores to do.

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

Although I don’t have Santa’s job, I am a big part of his success. Without me Christmas would not go as smoothly as it does. Santa adores me and praises me all the time. The elves love me and appreciate all the things I do for them. I think the love I receive from the ones around me is the most empowering.

Have you had any role models that inspired you to choose your line of work?

I believe that my role is one of a kind although my mother was an exceptional baker and helped me develop the best chocolate chip cookie recipe, which I still use to this day.

Words you live by…

Don’t let the Scrooges get you down.

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| Get the Look

the Holiday Style Williams Sonoma: Woodland Berry Christmas Tree Skirt

Clinique: Clinique Pop™ Reds Lipstick in Red Hot Anthropologie: Festive Party Crackers

Kohl’s: Women’s Jammies For Your Families® Holly Jolly Pajama Set

Crate & Barrel: Stacking Acrylic Clear Wine Glass

Pottery Barn: Santa Claus Shaped Handcrafted Ceramic Mug

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