Sasee Magazine - February 2017

February 2017

“Home isn’t a Place, it’s a Feeling” Cecelia Ahern

February 2017 Volume 16, Issue 2

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Sasee Asks an Expert

Easy Steps to a Delicious Beef Tenderloin

By Chef Stephen Bacani

Sasee Asks an Expert

9 10 Read It Catty Me 12 Sasee Asks an Expert 15 16 The Star of Our Family Sit Com Heart Moves 18 Sasee Asks an Expert 20 Home Heartaches 22

Which Window Shade is Right for You?

By Sandy Sheely Review by Nicole McManus

by Erika Hoffman

Choosing Furniture

By John Gore

by Linda O’Connell

by Terri Tiffany

Stylish Outdoor Living

By Jennifer Bell

by Diane Stark

Sasee Asks an Expert

24 Home, A Way From Home 26 Sasee Asks an Expert 28 Snowy Surprise 30 Sasee Asks an Expert 32 34 The Germ (and Dragon) Slayer 36 February Calendar The Best Laid Plans 38 Trash to Treasure 40 New Year, New Lamps

By Marce Singleton

By Jeffery Cohen

Up on Real Estate

By Sheylyn Lee

by Janeen Lewis

Choosing the Right Chandelier

By Thomas Butler

by Rose Ann Sinay

By Diane Stark

Bringing New Life to Vintage Pieces

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Cover Artist

Hanna Norris

Elsa at the Beach, by Hanna Norris Hanna Marta Norris is a graphic designer and artist living in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband, dog and cat. Despite having lived the majority of her life in the desert southwest, she is still trying to acclimate to the hot summers, and blames her birth in the northern regions of Poland as the culprit for her inadaptability.

Being able to hike in the middle of winter makes it worth it. She is inspired by family history and the long-forgotten strangers from dusty family albums and vintage snapshots found in thrift shops.

She likes the idea of giving these people another life, or at least a story. When she is not making art on her computer or at the easel, she can be found hiking mountains, planning new adventures or curled up with a good book. She paints in oil on wood panels.

letter from the editor I love home, always have. There really is no place I would rather be most of the time. Just saying the word brings me peace. The phrase, “introverted extrovert” describes me perfectly – one who loves people and enjoys company, but needs a lot of alone time to thrive.

Sitting on my screened porch in the morning with a cup of coffee, meditating on the upcoming day, is my idea of true happiness. My little house is older, and the furnishings are mostly things that mean a lot to me, either family heirlooms or items found and restored to usefulness and (in my eyes) beauty. I love giving new life to old things. But the most important “thing” in my home is the peaceful feeling that surrounds me as soon as I walk through the door.

But recently I have noticed that it is way past time to spruce up my beloved nest, and I see paint, brushes and drop cloths in my near future. I’ve already picked up paint chips and started planning my new colors – I can’t wait to get started. There are so many fun choices now – should I chalk paint that old chest of drawers?

Add an accent color to one wall in the sun room? What color and fabric is best for the pillows on my porch furniture? Luckily for me our community has many experts to help with these and other decorating dilemmas. This month, Sasee is filled with advice on how to make the most of any decorating project, from how to choose a chandelier to what’s new and exciting in outdoor furnishings. I would love to hear about your upcoming DIY projects – drop me an email at lmoore@strandmedia.com!

You can find her original oil paintings and high-quality giclee prints of her work in her Etsy shop: HANNA MARTA at hannamarta.etsy.com. You can also follow her on Instagram at hannamarta.art.

who’s who Publisher Delores Blount Sales & Marketing Director Susan Bryant Editor Leslie Moore Account Executives Amanda Kennedy-Colie Erica Schneider Gay Stackhouse Art Director Patrick Sullivan Graphic Artist Stephanie Holman

Photographer & Graphic Artist Aubrey Plum Web Developer Scott Konradt Accounting Kristy Rollar Administrative & Creative Coordinator Celia Wester Executive Publishers Jim Creel Bill Hennecy Suzette Rogers

PO Box 1389, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 fax 843-626-6452 • phone 843-626-8911 • www.sasee.com • info@sasee.com Sasee is published monthly and distributed free along the Grand Strand. Letters to the editor are welcome, but could be edited for length. Submissions of articles and art are welcome. Visit our website for details on submission.

Sasee is a Strand Media Group, Inc. publication.

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Copyright © 2017. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material, in part or in whole, prepared by Strand Media Group, Inc. and appearing within this publication is strictly prohibited. Title “Sasee” is registered with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

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7

FINE GIFTS

Easy Steps to Delicious Beef Tenderloin

By Chef Stephen Bacani

Beef tenderloin is one of, if not, the most coveted cuts of beef. When your dinner guests hear that you’re making tenderloin, they know they are in for a treat. (They may even decide to wear a suit and tie as opposed to t-shirt and jeans LOL.) I suggest that the quality of beef should be choice or higher.

Down the Rabbit Hole

• The most important step in preparing delicious and memorable tenderloin is the cleaning of the loin. There is a lot of sinew, silverskin and fat around a tenderloin, so if you don’t have much experience cleaning one just ask your local grocery store or butcher to peel and clean it for you.

• Once you have purchased your succulent cut of meat, the next step is seasoning it. Through the years I have come to realize that the most under-rated seasonings in anyone’s spice cabinet are…drum roll please... salt and pepper! Believe it or not, salt and pepper will make or break your meat. Most recipes will tell you a specific amount of seasoning to put into a dish, but that’s something that is specific to each person’s palate.

• I liberally season tenderloins with equal parts of black pepper, coriander, garlic powder, minced fresh herbs (such as thyme or oregano) and two parts sea salt. It is important to season liberally because the inside of the tenderloin doesn’t get seasoned.

• The next step involves searing. Searing the tenderloin will keep the moisture inside the loin and also enhances the flavor due to the maillard reaction, where the amino acids and sugars are caramelized or browned creating a distinct flavor. Take a pan or skillet of your liking and just cover the bottom of the pan with canola or vegetable oil. Set the pan to high heat, and once it is ready sear all sides of the tenderloin, making sure all sides are a golden brown.

• Now that your tenderloin is seared place it on a baking pan and place it in a 425 degree preheated oven. A five pound loin takes about 25-30 minutes for a medium rare center.

• When you remove your loin from the oven allow it to rest 5 minutes before slicing.

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For delicious dishes prepared by Chef Stephen Baccani, visit Clark’s Seafood & Chop House in Little River, located in Coquina Harbor at 720 Highway 17. Visit www.clarksseafoodandchophouse.com or call 843-399-8888 for menu selections and hours.

6914 N. Kings Hwy., Myrtle Beach, Next to Rose Arbor Fabrics 843-449-0448 • Hours: Mon - Fri 10:00-5:00 Saturday 10:00-4:00

Which Window Shade is Right for you?

By Sandy Sheely Choosing a shade for your window treatments is important for privacy and light control but your choice of window coverings is also a great way of having fashion and function at the same time.

Pirouette® Window Shadings

Duette® Honeycomb Shades

By working with a window coverings professional, they can help guide you in choosing a shade that satisfies your personal style.

Bold Prints & Colors The best way to add flair to any home is to add color or bold prints that accent your existing décor. Roman shades are a wonderful option for those who desire print and color in a fabric shade. Their elegant folds present another dimension to their appearance, giving them a sophisticated feel along with a unique design.

Simplicity Roller shades are a great way to block sun and add privacy in a simple and efficient manner. Available in an array of textures and patterns, roller shades offer a contemporary appearance and ease of use making them a great choice for daily function in your home.

Fashionable & Efficient Nothing satisfies like a window treatment that is not only fashionable but also energy efficient. Honeycomb shades are the perfect example of stylish function while providing you with window treatments that protect your home. The cellular design of the honeycomb shade gives it several layers of insulation against your windows, ultimately saving you money in energy costs.

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Organic Materials For those seeking a more natural earth tone for their personal space, consider woven wood shades for a level of casual style and comfort that is still functional. Woven wood shades are made from various grasses, reeds and wood for durable construction.

With soft folds that mimic a fabric Roman shade, its natural design can serve a variety of uses throughout your home.

Sandy Sheely and her mother Sharon Davis have owned and operated Shades & Draperies for over three decades. Experts in custom window treatments and bed coverings, they are also a certified Hunter Douglas Gallery dealer. Stop by 4905-D, Hwy. 17 South Bypass, Murrells Inlet, call 843-651-8177 or visit www.ShadesAndDraperies.com.

9

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–Read It!– Nicole Says…Read

The(Release Mother’s Promise Date February 21, 2017)

By Sally Hepworth Review by Nicole McManus 10

Funky finds and one of a kinds

843-945-2284 810 Hwy 17 South, Surfside Beach Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm FunkyFreshFringe Alice Stanhope is a single mother who has worked hard to provide for her daughter. When she is diagnosed with cancer, Alice must face the fact that she cannot go through this process alone. Kate Littleton loves her career as a nurse, but she desperately wants to be a mother. She struggles to learn more about Alice, who appears to not have anyone. Zoe suffers from severe social anxiety and only feels safe when it is just her and her mom. Sonja is a social worker who excels at her job while trying to maintain the fountain of youth.

These four women are thrust together in the battle of a lifetime.

Sally Hepworth proves that family is not necessarily made up of blood relations. These women, complete strangers, form a permanent bond, as they fight to hold onto the blessings life has to offer. Readers will easily relate to these characters as if they were their own friends. The rotating points-of-view gives readers a deeper understanding into each woman’s personal struggles.

Readers will begin to question their own reality as they feel what it is like to experience a devastating diagnosis, debilitating social anxiety and infertility through the words of these fictional women. The Mother’s Promise brings to light the fears a lot of people face when they do not have a support system in

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317 Laurel Street • Conway, SC 29526 843.248.2624 (Closed Sundays & Mondays) place. After reading this book, Sally Hepworth will be on everyone’s mustread list.

February is known as the month of love. Love comes in many forms and in many ways. This book demonstrates the powerful strength of a mother’s unconditional love, the desire to love another and the idea of needing to love oneself. This is the first time I have read a Sally Hepworth book, but it surely won’t be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed her poignant style and the breathtaking storylines. I was raving about this book to my friends, long before I had reached the end. To paraphrase a famous quote by Joanne Harris, The Mother’s Promise will swallow your heart and soul.

Nicole McManus Nicole McManus loves to read, to the point that she is sure she was born with a book in her hands. She writes book reviews in the hopes of helping others find the magic found through reading. Contact her at ARIESGRLREVIEW.COM.

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Catty Me!

by Erika Hoffman

“I hope you write that story, Erika. You owe it to your readership,” Susana emailed. “I think an issue of a magazine on cats would give you just the prompt you need to write down that wonderful story you recounted so wittily, fluidly, vividly and spicily.”

When I related my tale, we were floating in a pool at Hotel Jaguar in Santa Clara, Cuba. Last year, I journeyed on a People to People Cultural Exchange to the island nation where we American writers met Cuban authors for an exchange of ideas. Sounds lofty, huh? What we ended up trading were stories about famous folks we’d encountered in our lives. My sole celebrity encounter happened decades ago – Aunt Bee. Cuban TV programming is limited. Susana’s a millennial. When I mentioned Aunt Bee of Mayberry, I drew a blank stare. I explained that the Andy Griffith Show was a popular sitcom during the ‘60s, portraying life in rural North Carolina.

At 28, I moved with my husband to Siler City, North Carolina. He’d completed medical school; the public health service assigned him to a place in need of an internist. Our home was near that of actress Frances Bavier aka Aunt Bee. When I met folks, I’d ask if they knew her. Most shook their heads and explained that she was a recluse with nine cats.

Occasionally, she’d be spotted in the store buying filet mignon for her kitties. “Only person she allows in her house is her yard man who sleeps in the basement,” said a neighbor.

Months passed. I resigned myself: I’d never meet Aunt Bee. One afternoon the telephone rang. My husband was summoned to the ER. As he grabbed his keys, the phone sounded again.

He listened patiently until he finally announced he couldn’t make a house call at that moment, but he’d send his wife over.

“You might find it interesting.”

“But, I’m pregnant and tired and …”

“It’s Aunt Bee.” I hustled out the door.

Star-struck, I approached her two story stone and brick house. I heard a shrill voice hollering: “Pussy! Pussy! Pussy!”

I saw a gray-bunned head poking out the side door. Cats scurried toward the screen door she held open.

“Mrs. Hoffman, I never use the front door.”

This actress looked exactly as she had on the show – a sweet, rotund, maternal-looking, elderly woman.

Expecting to enter a Southern kitchen like on the set, I was startled when I stumbled into a dark, shuttered room with peeling yellow stained wallpaper, a dirty linoleum floor with chipped tiles, scattered bowls of old cat food and air thick with nicotine and cat urine. I dialed back my surprise at the overflowing ashtrays. I coughed.

My eyes watered. She directed me toward the den where her TV blared and cats lazed on the sofa and chair.

I hesitated remembering how my OB-GYN advised against coming in contact with cat litter boxes, and there was one – overflowing. Nervously, I explained I was a fan of the Andy Griffith Show.

“HUH?” I was ponderously heavy, expecting our first child.

“I never watch it,” she said. “Only public broadcasting is worth watching.”

“She needs someone to keep her company,” he said.

“Huh?” “She’s gone through all the physicians in town.

I’m new so she’s calling me.”

“Who?”

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“Oh.” “I like to stay up late at night and sleep during the day.”

“Oh.” I was an actress on Broadway first. I’m a New Yorker.”

“I thought you were Southern.”

“Heavens no. I never spoke with a Southern accent.”

“Andy Griffith was from Mount Airy.”

I balanced the fat cat on my hip, shoved the pills in, and grabbed the syringe to squirt water into the cat’s mouth when the cat screamed, “Meow” and clawed up my body to my shoulder and then jumped off.

“Yes.”

I squirted myself in the eye.

“You stay in contact with him?”

I laughed.

“No.”

“Mrs. Hoffman, you think a dying cat is a laughing matter?”

“Anyone from the show?”

My eyes grew wide.

“Only the make-up artist.”

“No, No. Miss Bavier. I don’t,” I stuttered.

“Oh.”

“Then why are you laughing?”

“Andy was a womanizer!”

“Well, um, um, um.”

“OH!”

“You are nervous? It is a nervous laugh? A habit of yours?”

“But a talented man. He could sing. And he was a writer. He wrote many of the scripts, like the one about the pickle contest.”

“That’s it. Yes.”

“I’d love to hear more about…”

“Mrs. Hoffman, I need a favor.”

“Sure. Anything.”

“I need you to administer medicine to my sick cat. I can’t catch her. That vet…well, that vet in town, well, I need to fire him.”

“Where’s the medicine? I’ll put it in a bowl of milk and...”

“NO! You must give the pills by mouth.”

“We’ll have to find my pussy again and get water in her.”

I got down on all fours peering under dust bunny inhabited beds and sagging armchairs. To my undying relief, we never located that old cat.

Sneezing, wheezing with a pounding headache, I took my leave, while expressing my regret at not being more help in healing her cat.

And I fled.

That day so long ago cured me of being taken with fame and celebrities.

It let me know there is a bit of truth to tabloid stories about eccentric, reclusive, old movie stars and their houses full of beloved cats.

“Oh.” “She’s the large, orange one. Usually atop the piano.”

Aunt Bee, following close behind me, surveying every nook and cranny, yelled, “There’s my sick pussy!” For an ill cat, she leaped high off the piano when I reached for her. I laughed. Aunt Bee shot me a withering look.

“Hurry Mrs. Hoffman. She must have her pills.”

I chased the cat and finally corralled her. She hissed as I hoisted her atop my large belly.

“Put the pills in her mouth!” demanded Aunt Bee. “Take this syringe of water and squirt it down her mouth.”

Erika Hoffman

enjoys writing personal essays so much that she’s teaching a course at OLLI at Duke University on just that topic; it’s time to share the wisdom she’s garnered so far in penning her narratives.

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14

Choosing Furniture – Making the Right Choice

By John Gore, Allied Member, ASID

Trends in interior design, like trends in fashion, come and go very rapidly, but furniture selections deserve much thought before purchase to avoid making costly mistakes that can turn your trendy new living room into yesterday’s look very quickly. First and foremost, have an idea of your budget, and purchase the best you can afford. Remember that the word sofa is as generic as the word automobile – with lots to choose from – going very high to very low.

When shopping, make sure the sales person knows the particular needs for the piece to be purchased. Pets, children and room location are all factors for wear and tear of upholstery. Once again, buy the best you can afford. There is “more than meets the eye” underneath the fabric on a sofa or the veneer on a chest. For example, on an inexpensive sofa you can usually feel the wood frame beneath the fabric and batting, and an inexpensive nightstand made with particleboard and laminate veneers can be picked up by one person. In furnishings, as in clothing, you get what you pay for.

The interior design world is constantly changing; however, over the last few years, there seems to be a constant factor in the overall direction and that is “transitional” (design in the middle of traditional and contemporary). Upholstery is becoming more simplified and streamlined, reminiscent of mid-century. Furniture pieces or “casegoods” are now making more of a statement with exotic veneers and lacquered paints with metal accents. Brass, yesterday’s metal darling, gave way to silver and brushed nickel, and is now making a comeback in a softer gold patina.

Mixing all metal finishes can be quite stunning when done properly.

Mixing the old with the new creates a personal design that is both interesting and conversational. I’ve always stated that every room, no matter how contemporary, needs at least one antique for conversational interest. It can be an antique Asian chest, a primitive olive jar from Turkey, or an antique Southern tobacco cutter – something unique with a fascinating story behind it. When accessorizing, I like to see at least some personal items in the scheme. Whether family photographs or previously mentioned artifacts, the room should reflect you and make your personal statement.

John Gore is the owner of B. Graham Interiors and an Allied Member of ASID with 35 years of experience in Interior Design. B. Graham Interiors is located at 1307 Enterprise Avenue in Myrtle Beach.

Contact John at 843-692-7844 or visit www.bgrahaminteriors.com.

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The Star of our Family Sitcom

by Linda O’Connell

Reality shows, you either love them or hate them. Our family, while not part of a television dynasty, had a petite, quiet, outspoken matriarch. At five feet two, Mom was the star in our family, and did she ever act up and draw attention to herself. Her short curly hair faded to a modest gray in her later years. Her faith remained strong, and her eyes were forever focused on her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She always tried to see the good in people.

Mom and I had a good relationship. We told each other exactly what the other wanted to hear, then we each did what we wanted to do, our own thing. We often laughed heartily together. In the end, I parented her the way she once parented me, lovingly and with humor.

My mom was not naive, but she did view life through rose colored glasses.

Two pairs. Worn simultaneously. She looked like she was wearing a stack of saucers on the bridge of her nose, one pair prescription-strength and one tinted pair for the sun. When I teased her that she looked like a TV actress with her giant, bug-eyed sunglasses, she’d touch her hair, smile proudly and preen.

I obeyed and never even tried smoking cigarettes. I constantly nagged her to stop smoking, if not for me, then for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She swore she would. She never did. In her later years, whenever I rang her doorbell, I could hear her footsteps as she approached the door. I knew she was peering through the peep hole to see if it was me.

Then I’d hear a hissing sound. She’d unload half a can of air freshener into her three room apartment before she’d fling the door wide open and nearly kill me with fluorocarbons.

My brother, who lived out of town, came for a visit and took her to the optometrist. He bought her a new pair of glasses with tinted, transition lenses. She selected huge, pale pink frames the size of South Carolina. They teetered on her nose for two days. Then she concluded that the tint was too dark. She asked us to drive her back to the doctor where she begged the optometrist to remove the tint. Neither he nor we were pleased. But Mom had a way about her. The optometrist complained as loudly as we did, but he reluctantly complied. Mom smiled innocently and thanked the doctor.

She put hands on her hips and asked bluntly of us, “How would YOU like to walk around in the dark all of the time?”

Mom interfered lovingly in my parenting. In the early years, she thought my babies were hers by relative extension. When she babysat, she often snipped the elastic in their waistbands and shirt sleeves to make them more comfortable. It made her happy, and it made me crazy.

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From my childhood through adolescence, Mom preached, “Never-ever smoke; it’s a nasty harmful habit I wish I’d never ever begun.”

“Come in. Now be honest and don’t start with me! You don’t smell any smoke in here today, young lady, do you?”

“No,” I choked on vanilla scented canned air. “Hack-hack. I don’t Mom. ” When she’d come to our house for holiday gatherings, she’d sneak outside to smoke. She always said she was trying to quit.

“Where are you going, Mom?” I’d ask, as if I didn’t know.

“Out for a breath of fresh air,” she’d sing-song.

I’d watch her light up, pace the driveway and puff compulsively like a naughty child. She’d keep one eye on the front door hoping not to get caught. I never confronted her until she stepped into the house.

“Mom!” Even though the tell-tale odor permeated her clothes, she’d glare and say, “Who told on me?”

That holiday, she was the center of attention and laughed along with the rest of the family who thought her antics hilarious.

“She’s funny.”

I didn’t want my home or furniture to reek, and she respected that. Or so I thought. One rainy holiday at our house, I discovered her in our bathroom flipping the exhaust fan on and off. It was obvious that she was in there puffing like a locomotive. My husband boomed, “Is someone smoking in the house?”

“She’s a cute little old lady.”

Mom calmly walked out of the bathroom with her purse over her shoulder and an unlit cigarette in her hand like an old time Hollywood movie star. With narrowed eyes she replied, “I know you don’t want anyone smoking in your house. See? I’m going outside to smoke.” If she’d had long hair she’d have flipped it.

“Oh she’s a flaming beauty alright, the star of our own family sitcom.

“She sure does her own thing.”

Every family member had an opinion.

Mom had a way about her, and she almost always got her way with me.

Linda O’Connell,

Then, she asked family members who were all non-smokers, for a “light.”

No one had a match or lighter. I heard her sneak through the kitchen and then out the back door. I walked through the kitchen to peek through the blinds at her. I smelled a putrid odor and flung the door open. There stood Mom, frantically patting her bangs. She admitted that when she couldn’t find a match, she’d leaned over the stove to light her cigarette and had scorched her hair.

a preschool teacher for almost four decades, is notorious for holding her life together with duct tape and humor.

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17

Heart Moves

by Terri Tiffany

May 13th. Was it Saturday already? A menagerie of voices from the kitchen drifted through my closed bedroom door. Today my only child, Shelly, would marry a boy she met a year ago. For months, we’d prepared everything to the minutest detail: the cake, the dresses, the music. All that remained were the ceremony and the goodbyes.

I rolled over, shutting my eyes one more time. Another move. I wasn’t sure my heart could take it.

Hours later with my husband at my side, we stood before Shelly in the bridal room at the church. “You look beautiful,” I said, blinking fast. “No crying, okay? Your makeup is perfect, and we want your pictures perfect, too.”

Shelly choked back a sob and leaned in for a tight hug. How could I let her go? I remembered the day her future fiancé flew in to surprise her.

We’d driven him to another airport where Shelly was returning from a two-week European trip. Later that night, she entered my darkened bedroom, kneeling by my side with a whisper. “He proposed, Mom. I’m getting married.”

The hope every parent dreams for their daughter: a good man, love. But I remembered the consequences to my own life.

After patting her veil, I gave her one final hug and left them to take my place in the front pew along with our other hundred guests. I glanced over my shoulder toward my best friend. She mouthed me encouraging words. Her son’s wedding was scheduled for the following month. How many hours had we burned up on the phone sharing our concerns and excitement? Not enough.

The traditional wedding march began, tugging me back to the present.

I rose, biting back the salty tears that stung my throat. Although we had prepared physically for this day, we had left the emotional packing for last.

My daughter would move to Seattle today. Mother’s Day weekend. Our home here in Florida could not be further away. I studied her husbandto-be as he stood at the altar, his eyes shining, his promise to me fresh on my mind. “I’ll bring her back once I finish college. This move is temporary.” I’d smiled and agreed with him, but I understood moves more than most people.

Curt, my husband of thirty years, had moved us seven times. When I kissed my parents on my wedding day, we had already planned our first move. Two weeks after our honeymoon, we drove our packed U-Haul from Pennsylvania to Virginia. “We’ll be back, Mom,” I had promised.

“After Curt gets out of the military.”

I had meant to keep our promise but life hadn’t let me.

The moments ticked by as we played our roles on my daughter’s special day. “It’s time. They’re ready to go.” I looked past my husband to find my daughter saying her goodbyes at the reception. Her new husband waited nearby with the keys to the rented convertible on one finger. I pressed my hand to my mouth, swallowed. I could do this. I had to do this. A mother had only so many acts she needed to perform well. Today was one of those times.

Curt gathered my hand in his as we walked together outside. Our friends and family followed our lead, throwing birdseed at the young couple. Shelly, still

dressed in her gown, wore an eager smile as her husband parked the rental car on the road in front of the rustic lodge we had selected as the venue.

Is that how young I looked when I left my parents?

I sought out my best friend once more. She knew what was coming and rushed over to hug me. Why had this day flown by so fast? Couldn’t I do a rewind? My thoughts flashed five years ahead, ten years...when grandchildren would hardly know us. Holidays spent alone. Empty bedrooms. Why did we send her to that college? Why did we move away from our small town in Pennsylvania when we first married? She would have met a boy there, moved two miles from us and we would be talking about me helping put away her wedding gifts instead of loading them onto a U-Haul for her in-laws to cart across the country.

What did our first move start?

My husband reached her first. Then it was my turn. She ran into my arms as I did hers. We held each other, her promising me everything a daughter does – phone calls, safety, and that we would see each other again soon. Me promising her that her life would be fantastic.

And then they left.

An hour later, we stepped into our garage. Mountains of packed boxes waited. Tomorrow her belongings would start their long trek across the country. I ran my fingers over the stand we’d given her one Christmas for her stereo. The quilt rack her grandfather made to hold the many

quilts she’d sewn as a girl. The dresser she’d purchased with her own money to decorate in her new home.

Another move. This time my daughter’s move.

I opened the door to her bathroom, surveyed the empty counters.

Took a deep breath.

But this was my move too. A piece of my heart had moved across the country but the other piece belonged here in my home with my husband. A new move for both of us into a new category of life.

The following week Curt asked me where we should travel now that we were officially empty nesters. I looked up from my computer. “How much time can you get off for Christmas? I hear Seattle is pretty that time of year.”

He tipped his head toward the keyboard. “Tell her I hear they have good coffee there. I’m looking forward to buying her a cup.”

Terri Tiffany

has been published in numerous anthologies and magazines including Chicken Soup for the Soul and Hallmark. Her first novel, The Mulligan, was published in 2015 by Pelican Book Group.

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We are so accustomed to bringing the outdoors in to our homes, but the trend continues in outdoor living to bring the indoors outside! Fabric, furniture and lighting options for outdoor living are more plentiful than ever! Almost anything you would put inside your home has been made into a version for outdoors as well. Gone are the days of wicker sets and iron patio furniture as your only choice for your porch. Designers and manufacturers have created beautiful sectional sofas, curtains, drapery rods, lamps, and durable rugs that are made to sit out in the elements.

Outdoor fabrics continue to evolve as well. Soft linens and chenilles have taken the place of a basic patio stripe sunbrella fabric. To finish off a pillow or cushions, there are great looking outdoor tapes and trims. The possibilities are endless!

When arranging an outdoor seating area, mix and match different pieces instead of choosing one whole patio set. Use a fully upholstered sofa with a pair of rattan chairs and garden stools, instead of a coffee table or side tables. Don’t be afraid to mix and match, treat it as a room in your home! Bright colors still remain popular to treat the outdoors, but outdoor fabrics come in all shades. Do not be afraid of white sunbrella fabric! You can bleach it if need be!

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21

Home Heartaches

by Diane DeVaughn Stokes

Home is truly where the heart is. There is no place I would rather be, curled up with our darling dog and two precious cats, our babies, surrounded by all of our stuff collected from thirty-two years of marriage.

But our home has presented us with some of our biggest heartaches and trauma as well.

In 1992 we were fortunate to buy a lot that we planned to build a house on. Folks kept saying, “Are you going to build your dream house?” My answer was always, “No, neither one of us ever DREAMED we would be able to afford to do so. This is beyond our dreams house.” We paid on the lot for three years before the project began.

But the path was not an easy one.

Staying on top of the contractor and making sure all the details were taken care of was a full time job. However, eight months later we were ecstatic moving into a home we designed and intimately knew inside out and upside down. Or at least we thought.

Three years later, mold rings appeared under the windows and, weirdly enough, my allergies grew so bad my allergist said that there was something seriously wrong with the house. He was right. The stucco was installed wrong, and we had to file a lawsuit to get it re-done correctly.

That took three years and by the time we got to court, we had more damage than if we had repaired it right away, bad advice from our attorney. And yes, we won the lawsuit, but had to take a second mortgage on the house to get all the work done. I wish that were the worst of the story.

Once the stucco was repaired, we decided to pull out the carpet and put in hard wood floors. While I was in a big box store looking at hardwood a young man came up to me who said he was a contractor

22

buying tile for a client of his. He said he could buy any product cheaper and install it cheaper than I could get anywhere and would love to work with me. As he gave me his card, I asked him to call me with three references. He did, and he checked out with flying colors. Of course at the time, I did not know that those references were probably family lying for him.

This guy was clean-cut, charming, lived in Litchfield, had a wife and two kids, and even told me where his kids went to school, which I also checked out! All appeared to be okay, but not a chance!

First he installed the wrong tile in our sunroom while I was at work, and then apologized profusely and promised to re-do it when the entire house was done. It was his effort to gain our trust.

Then the big con happened. He told us that the hardwood floor we ordered could not be delivered on time so he offered to go to Florida to pick it up. But instead of us just giving him the deposit he already received from us when we placed the order, he said he had to have the rest of the money to pick up the flooring from the Florida distributor – sounded reasonable. Wrong!

A week later he was not returning my calls. I knew then that we had been scammed.

I went into panic mode and called my brother-in law, an attorney in Columbia. He searched the name of the contractor and found several previous arrests in Florida and Georgia, yes under the exact name. I was shocked that he did not change his name having done so many cons. Then I contacted the police and solicitor’s office, but as bad as this crime was, they had tons worse crimes going on, and I knew I had to deal with this myself.

I was very lucky to know a private detective who went to work with me, and we found at least ten folks in this community who were also screwed by this guy, including some retailers who had let him take some supplies out of the store with the understanding that he would return them or come back and pay later. I also got a phone call from a business that wanted to know if I had any more of my sun room tile left because they said he had stolen it from a site at the Grand Dunes. When I read them the serial number off of the leftover box of tile in my garage it confirmed the theft. Someone recognized him, and alerted the builder that my conman had been there snooping around.

So just like on TV, my friend the private detective set up a sting. We had a woman call him and say she needed her floor re-done, and would he kindly meet her to discuss it. Sure enough he showed up, and we had the cops there to bust him. I was in the parking lot watching as they took him out.

expect me to come home at noon, and when I did I smelled a scent that took me back to my college days. No, I never smoked pot, I was on the Florence County Drug Council, but I was certainly familiar with its pungent odor. Of course I threw the painters out and fired the contractor who sent them there and demanded my deposit back. We painted the rest of the house ourselves.

So how could a smart chick like me get caught up in crap like this especially when I checked out references, and did all due diligence possible? That’s why they call them “professional con men.” So beware my dear friends. I have written this to warn you of the bad-guys lurking nearby waiting to make your life miserable. It’s hard to trust anyone these days, I’m very sad to say. And that comes from an ever-optimistic, Mary Poppins, Snow White, Susie Sunshine type of a gal who use to trust every one of God’s children!

I am actually getting nauseated just writing about this. It brings back all the anxiety and angst we lived because of this creep. However, we did get him put in jail for a few years, but he got out on good behavior, probably up to the same tricks once again.

I finally went to Lowes to buy the flooring on my charge card. We walked on cement flooring for five months after the con-job as he had already torn out the carpet.

Months later we brought in painters, who were recommended by a reputable paint store in town to freshen up the house. They did not

Diane DeVaughn Stokes

and her husband Chuck own Stages Video Productions in Myrtle Beach. Diane is also the Host and Producer for TV show “Inside Out” as seen on HTC channel 4, and “Diane on Six” on EASY Radio.

Her new book Floating On Air- A Broadcasting Love Affair is available on amazon.com.

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New Year, New Lamps: New Lamps for 2017

By Marce Singleton

If you’ve been thinking it’s time to freshen things up in your home décor, adding some great new lamps can be an easy way to update your space.

• Clear crystal is a look that will work in almost any room. With its clean lines and bold, chunky shapes this style adds a feeling of luxury and elegance. These lamps work well with many of the interesting new shades that are trending now.

• Transitional style lamps are meant to bridge the gap between traditional designs and more contemporary looks as so many people today like to mix things up in their own eclectic style.

• Metallic finishes on glass or other material is also a popular look. Rubbed gilt combined with black is very elegant and stylish.

Mercury glass is still very strong on its own in great shapes or combined with other elements such as metal or acrylic.

• Coastal designs are a popular choice for many people moving to the Grand Strand area and wanting to create a home that reflects where they are living. This style can be rustic or sophisticated.

• The industrial style continues to trend with lots of metal, some vintage style glass, and exposed decorative bulbs with filaments in interesting patterns.

• Many people are updating their traditional lamps such as Chinese porcelains by changing to an acrylic base, adding a new shade in an unexpected shape and a large glass or crystal finial.

This, too, can bring a fresh look to a room.

With so many beautiful styles available in 2017 there is sure to be one, or several, that will accent your existing furnishings and add a special ambiance to your living space. Choosing just the right lamp can add personality to your room and make it your very own.

Stop and see Marce at La Faye’s Lamp & Lampshade Shop located at 608 North Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach, or call 843-626-9952.

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Quality Replacement Shades all sizes, shapes, styles Large Selection of Lamps designs for all decors

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25

Home, A Way from Home

by Jeffery Cohen

As the final diploma was handed out and commencement drew to a close, I found myself shaking hands with college friends I would probably never see again. We were all headed off in different directions, down untraveled roads, ready to begin a new life. The only problem was, my road was a one way street that led back to my parent’s house.

“I was worried. I thought something might have happened to you,” she said, ladle in hand.

Now, you might think that that bothered me. It did . . . but not as much as it bothered them. What I’d never realized was, my folks had grown quite fond of their newly emptied nest. So, they welcomed me home, not quite with open arms, but with the understanding that I would always have a place to come back to, if I really needed it . . . and I REALLY needed it.

With no money, no job and no prospects, I didn’t have much choice, and we all knew it. I couldn’t help but wonder if I was making a big mistake. It didn’t take long to find out.

Whenever I found an old movie that I was just dying to see on TV, my Dad found a baseball game, or a football game, or a basketball game that he couldn’t miss. I started to wonder if old movies were only scheduled during sporting events.

So I’d wait until everyone was asleep, then I’d sneak out into the living room and quietly turn on the television. Ten minutes later a voice shrieked from my parent’s room. “What are you doing out there? It’s almost twelve o’clock. Are you going to stay up all night?”

My first morning home, my bedroom door flew open. “Breakfast is ready,” my mother announced.

Feeling like a vampire whose coffin lid had been pried open, I shielded my eyes from the morning sunlight as my mother pulled up the shades.

“What time is it?” I whispered, still trying to raise my eyelids.

“Seven o’clock,” she said, matter-of-factly. The last time I had gotten up that early, the dorm was on fire at school. “Your eggs are getting cold,” she warned two minutes later. Then she stood there, hands on her hips waiting, until I dragged myself out of the bed. And that was just the beginning.

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“It’s only ten after six,” I explained.

“So, where were you all that time?”

The law was laid down daily. “Don’t put your feet up on the new furniture. No snacks in bed.

Don’t eat junk food. It’ll stunt your growth. Hang that jacket up. Put those sneakers away. Close that door. Were you raised in a barn?”

As I lay in my single bed in the tiny room that I’d grown up in, I stared at the four walls, still remembering the Jack and Jill print wallpaper that lurked behind several coats of paint. I was certain that I could hear the tiny water-toting duo from my childhood whispering to me. “What are you doing back here?

Shouldn’t you have your own place by now?”

There were all kinds of what I thought to be new rules, until I was reminded that, these were always the rules. Four years at college tended to make me forget.

For the next six months I worked hard at any and every odd job I could find until I’d finally saved enough money to rent an apartment. With my meager resources, I have to admit, the place that I did find was not the newest building, and it certainly wasn’t in the best neighborhood. But the way I figured it, a little paint, a little creativity, and it could have great possibilities.

Dinner was always at six. If I was late, Mom wanted to know why.

I decided to decorate the entire place in an Asian motif. I hung

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After weeks of scrubbing, painting, arranging and rearranging, I felt the place had finally begun to take shape, so I invited my family over.

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My father took his time moving from room to room, inspecting every corner. Then he shrugged his shoulders, nodded his head and said, “It’s alright.” For my Dad, that was quite a compliment.

My mother smiled broadly. All she said was, “It’s a miracle!” I wasn’t sure if she was commenting on what I’d done with the apartment or voicing her relief at my finally moving out.

My brother was quite taken with the ingenious style I had decorated in, and from that day on, always referred to my place as “The world of Jeffery Orient.” All in all, I felt as though I’d gotten the stamp of approval.

That night, after everyone left, I breathed a sigh of relief, then I climbed into bed with a bag of potato chips and a couple of packs of Twinkies, kicked my shoes off and dropped them on the floor next to my jacket, then turned on the TV to Casablanca. Just past midnight, as Rick smiled at Ilsa and said, “Here’s looking at you kid,” I gazed around the place and grinned with satisfaction. It is more than alright . . . greater than a miracle . . . even better than China itself.

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27

The Gift of Simple Elegance

Up on Real Estate

By Shelyn Mosseri Lee

My three daughters, no matter what they are searching for, always start their search via the web, as do many of us. That being said, I must say that more and more, from $100,000 condos to $4 million dollar ocean front homes, the process of “shopping” for a home seems to start on the web as well.

Darden Jewelers Serving the Grand Strand since 1940

Search engines like Home Finder, Zillow, Trulia, are a few sites folks use to search for properties. Once the search is narrowed down, most potential buyers will want to take a look at their picks. Virtual reality (VR) is gaining traction at an unprecedented pace, and many real estate agents now do 3-D virtual tours for their listings. Realtors still drive clients around and show them properties, do open houses and advertise in magazines. But now we also bring them to our office where we have a sweet setup with an HD TV, nice chairs, snacks and beverages – and we control the 3-D tour for the client! In our area, the resort properties are often rented during busy seasons, and realtors cannot get clients in to see the locations. Virtual reality brings clients into the property at their convenience.

Now that a buyer has decided to begin looking at a property, here are a few things to consider before purchase.

• Will the location suit their future lifestyle? While vacation homes can gain value over time, short-term speculation on residential real estate is risky business, so buyers need to settle on a property they’ll enjoy for many years to come.

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• Will that buyer need rental income? A house located a mile from the beach may be cheaper, but that distance can also affect the rental and resale values.

• Can the property be insured at a reasonable cost? Flood insurance, for example, can increase a property’s carrying costs.

• Is the property big enough for a growing family, or does the area have a range of recreational opportunities to accommodate evolving interests?

Proximity to the property is especially important if planning to visit the property frequently.

Buyers and sellers are becoming smarter about their homes and this means less time wasted trying to figure things out. Using internet resources and a resourceful realtor can insure a successful and positive experience finding your new property.

Shelyn is happy to help with any and all of your real estate needs.

Email: ShelynML@gmail.com, contact Resourceful Realty, located at 5213 North Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach or call 843-222-3331.

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I am being told all the time how good I look and a few co-workers even call me skinny as I walk by them. I also get asked about what I have been doing to lose it and I tell them about going and checking out Dr. Sattele’s Rapid Weight Loss program. My blood pressure has come down and is lower now than it has ever been. I recommend him all the time to friends and family. Dr. Sattele is the reason I have been able to do as much as I have and I am truly thankful.

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My name is Eric Hannah, father of 3 and Assistant Supervisor with Nan Ya Plastics Corp America in Lake City, SC. I was very unhappy and unhealthy. I felt that I needed to make a change because I was taking blood pressure medicine and was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. I was at an all-time low and when I looked in the mirror, I didn’t recognize the man looking back at me. I tried other programs before but wasn’t happy with the results or what was involved in losing the weight and keeping it off.

A friend recently had triple by-pass surgery and he said to me “I want you to work on losing weight and getting off the medicine. My doctor informed me that 90% of my health problems were due to my life style, my eating habits and being overweight.” His words to me were the reason I chose Dr. Sattele’s Rapid Weight Loss.

I started September 11, 2016 and I have lost over 60 pounds and over 4 gallons of fat. With this plan I eat real food and I love the medical staff. They are very friendly and supportive. My life has truly changed in ways I can’t describe. My confidence is through the roof, my blood pressure is lower, and I am no longer taking medication and I don’t need the c-pap machine because I no longer have sleep apnea.

I have recommended several friends, co-workers, and family members to Dr. Sattele and I will continue to do so. I’m looking forward to my future again with renewed confidence and a new body.

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Snowy Surprise

by Janeen Lewis

I couldn’t sleep on the hard floor. So I lay awake listening to the rhythmic breathing of my husband and our two children while they slept. It was our last night in the only home we had known as a family. The home I moved to after Jesse and I married. The home we brought our children Andrew and Gracie to as newborns. Both children took their first steps on the living room floor where they slept.

Months before, we learned that Jesse had gotten a job near Atlanta.

It was an opportunity for which he had waited years. We had visited Atlanta when Jesse applied for the job and were impressed with the many attractions it held, so unlike the rural town where we lived in Kentucky.

We were in for a big change, giving up scenic drives full of cow fields and horse pastures for a city full of bright lights and high-rise buildings. We were leaving the roots we’d known our entire lives to move to a place where we didn’t know a soul.

It felt bittersweet, leaving family, friends and the church we had grown to love. But we promised to keep in touch through e-mail, Facebook and letters – Kentucky would only be a day’s drive away.

We focused on the positive. My children were thrilled at the prospect of living twenty minutes from the roller coasters at Six Flags Over Georgia.

They loved the idea of being a few hours from the beach. I was excited about the longer growing season I would have for my flowers.

There was one thing that couldn’t be reconciled, however.

Snow.

The children and I loved a snow deep enough to sink our boots into, one from which a sturdy snow man could be shaped easily. We enjoyed these snows in Kentucky, but they would be rare in the Deep South.

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“How will we have snow ball fights?” six-year-old Andrew asked.

Three-year-old Gracie took it a little harder.

“How am I going to make snow angels?” Tears welled in her eyes.

I thought of my own favorite part of snowy weather – standing inside our cozy kitchen window drinking hazelnut coffee while I watched the flakes gently blanket our lawn.

Something about this was so peaceful.

“I’m going to miss it, too,” I said.

Nevertheless, we rented a house in Georgia, reserved a moving truck and I began to pack, planning our move for the last weekend in February.

At that time of the year in Kentucky the weather can be unpredictable.

Sometimes it’s like spring. Other times a winter storm can brew. I thought ruefully about Murphy’s Law, and how ironic it would be if we got one of our big snows the weekend of the move.

In the end, it was a leaky spigot that delayed us. When we unhooked the washer, the ancient spigot began to drip. By the time a plumber installed a new spigot, it was too late to begin the move. With everything we owned packed up in the moving truck, we slept on the living room floor with a few blankets and pillows intended for the trip, which led to my family asleep on the floor while I lay awake contemplating what a life-changing move we were making. Mostly I was excited, but I still felt a little apprehensive.

Moving day was beautiful, short-sleeve weather full of blue skies. After the kids and I yelled, “Goodbye house!” from my CRV one last time, we

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followed Jesse and the moving truck out of our neighborhood, and I shed a few tears. Would this move be all that we hoped?

Mild temperatures greeted us when we rolled into Georgia, and I looked forward to spring weather in a warmer climate. Our first week was a blur of busyness, but still, nagging thoughts crossed my mind. Would my children make friends soon? Would I make friends soon? I already missed my friends from home and as a stay-at-home mom I needed all the support I could get. I didn’t sleep trying to adjust to all the new creaks that came with a different house. And every time we saw a wreck in the busy traffic of the congested city, I worried about our safety.

I knew we were in the right place, and we were there for a purpose, but I needed some peace, some hope that we would adapt well to our new lives.

Then it got really cold. I didn’t pay much attention because cold without snow seemed pointless to me. At the end of our first week in Georgia, I awoke to the excited squeals of my children.

“Wait until Mom sees it!”

In my groggy state I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I could tell there was some kind of a commotion outside. I went to the window, and pulled back the blinds. I couldn’t believe what I saw.

Snow.

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Flakes cascaded slowly down, dusting the rooftops and the grass. I stood still and watched, silently, contentedly, as they fell.

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Quietly, Jesse opened the bedroom door.

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“Honey, it’s snowing!” He said.

“Yes,” I said. “It’s beautiful.” He returned to the children and left me in my reverie.

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I’ll never forget that snowy morning. I believe it was a sign, a simple reassurance that my first home wasn’t so far away. And now I had a new home that wasn’t so different from the one I had left behind. Suddenly, I couldn’t wait to see new places, meet new people and explore the city.

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Janeen Lewis

is a freelance journalist, part-time STEM teacher, and mother of two. When she isn’t spending time with her family, she loves writing about them.

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Looking around for Lighting?

Choosing the Right Chandelier

By Thomas Butler

How Big Should my Chandelier be?

Above a dining table, choose a chandelier approximately half the width of your table. Taking into account the height of the entire body of the light including a reasonable length of chain, the bottom of your fixture should be 30 inches to 36 inches above your tabletop.

When not above a table, a simple formula based on room size is Length of the Room (in feet) + Width of the Room (in feet) = Diameter of the Chandelier (in inches). For hanging height, 7 feet above the floor is a guideline for head clearance. If you have high ceilings, you may go a little higher.

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843-448-4364 926 Frontage Road East • North of Highway 501 www.ButlersElectric.com

I heard LED is good, but does it have to be that blue tinted light?

No it doesn’t. This is a common misconception, but LED lights come in all colors. You can get the warm color that will exactly match your old light bulbs, or various shades of more crisp whiter colors all the way up to the near blue tint, which is mostly used in commercial applications. Prices have been dropping quickly on LEDs, so if you haven’t looked at them in a while they are worth a second look!

Thomas Butler, owner of Butler Lighting in Myrtle Beach, located at 926 Frontage Rd E, says this is the number one question asked by his clients! Call Butler Lighting at 843-448-4364 or stop by for answers to all of your lighting questions.

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33

The Germ (and Dragon) Slayer

by Rose Ann Sinay

Well, we did it. My daughter, my son-in-law, my granddaughter, two dogs and a cat (and a couple of hopeful spiders looking for a warm spot) survived almost two and a half months together in the same house in an attempt to bring a bit of normal back to their lives that had been shaken by the unexpected.

Since life, bills and taxes go on, my presence allowed my daughter and her husband to go back to work while we waited for a surgery date for my granddaughter. Their home was a bubble of sorts to keep “our” baby, Mila Rose, healthy for her upcoming surgery. A common cold and an emergency operation had delayed her scheduled heart surgery, so we had to be extra vigilant to keep it from happening again.

I arrived and took over my daughter’s large office/spare room (she works from home) that also housed Mila’s baby-spa swing with all the buttons and options that I would, eventually, conquer. It was also Mila’s designated nap and changing area during the day. A hutch section of the bookcase became the baby center stocked with diapers, lotions, salves and extra clothes.

I like to say I’m a creative person which means I am not organized or tidy. I had no problem navigating through my clothes, some hung in the closet, others stacked in a plastic basket.

And okay, a few hanging on the foot board of the bed. My cosmetics and sundries were haphazardly shoved into a cleared niche next to my daughter’s neatly organized and labeled work shelves. My daughter is a neat freak who actually makes lists and checks off the items when completed. If she takes something out, she puts it away when she’s finished. We are not alike.

“The baby is in here somewhere, right?” she would ask with a laugh when she walked in the room when she took a break. I saw her cringe and felt her need to put something away, but not knowing where to start. I knew it was going to drive both of us crazy. I tried to be neater, and she tried to stay out of the room.

We hibernated inside our bubble, warding off germs, keeping everybody and everything at bay. In my mind’s eye, I saw ugly, nasty looking bugs – complete with hairy legs, sharp pointy teeth and green slime slithering from their mouths – lurking on every surface. I may not have a neatness compulsion, but I do border on mysophobia. I walked around the house, when I wasn’t holding the baby, with a can of Lysol trying to find an inch of space that I hadn’t disinfected.

My son-in-law headed straight for the shower as soon as he got home from work, reminding me of a decontamination chamber in a sci-fi movie. There was a germicidal pump (or two) in every room, as well as special wipes, and breathing masks in case we felt a tickle in our throats or the hint of any 34 malady coming on. Of course, I imagined I had everything possible. If I

sneezed, I began the “what ifs.” What if that sneeze was the beginning of a cold, or a virus, or a fever?

My first week of Grandma Daycare, I wore the blue and white elastic hospital mask over my lower face. My granddaughter must have thought it was a part of me because when I finally stopped wearing it, I got huge, sloppy smiles from Mila. She must have realized Grandma was a human after all, complete with a mouth and a nose.

No, we shouldn’t have been taking her temperature every day, three times a day. But we did. We couldn’t help it. I would find my daughter pointing the thermometer at Mila’s head after I had done so just fifteen minutes earlier.

We pretended not to notice. Sneezing three or four times in secession, several times a day is common with Mila’s condition. We knew that, but we couldn’t help but stare, expecting her to suddenly break out in hives or a runny nose.

We worried as we disinfected, sterilized and waited for the date from the surgeon. Mila, on the other hand, smiled and cooed, crying only when wet or hungry. It was ironic that she created the stabilizing, calming moments of our day.

Friday afternoon the phone rang. Mila had a date; we were elated. And then, the enormity of it all hit us. Now the real work would begin.

I am on the train on my way home. Luckily, there is no one in the other seat. It is piled high with my coat, computer case and my purse. My overstuffed suitcases are crammed in the space above me. I am comfortable.

Back at my daughter’s house, her office is back to being an office. Mila is probably drinking her fifth or sixth bottle of the day. I miss her little face already. How lucky I am to have spent this time with her.

We had bumbled through some of the endless waiting together. I will be so happy when Mila’s parents can take that big sigh of relief, for then I can, too. I will be back after the surgery, armed with charmed herbs (baby vapor rub), boiling water and sanitizers to help slay the dragons and the pointytoothed germs for our little warrior princess.

Rose Ann Sinay

is a freelance writer typing away in sunny North Carolina. Her articles/stories have been published in The Carolinas Today, The Oddville Press and The Brunswick Beacon.

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February 2017

4

Chocolate & Champagne Fundraiser for SC Cares Animal Rescue, 5-9 pm, Flo’s Place, Murrells Inlet, $30 per person or $50 per couple. For more info, call 843-546-7893 or visit sc-cares.org.

11-12

Annual Myrtle Beach Stamp and Postcard Show Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Myrtle Beach (formerly Holiday Inn West).

Sat. 10am-5 pm, Sun. 10am4pm, free admission and appraisals. For more info, call 843-347-0087 or e-mail lilfort@sccoast.net.

22-3/11

Pricilla Queen of the Desert the Musical Theatre of the Republic, Conway. For more info, call 843-488-0821, theatreoftherepublic.com.

4

Miss Grand Strand Pageant 4 pm, Dunes Club, Myrtle Beach. Two divisions - Miss Grand Strand Teen, ages 1417, and Miss Grand Strand, ages 17-24; Ed Piotrowski will MC this event. For more info, call 843-390-0192 or email jgflowers7529@gmail.com.

11-4/23

The Fabric of Our Collection Exhibit at The Myrtle Beach Art Museum, 3100 S. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach. For more info, call 843-238-3510 or visit myrtlebeachartmuseum.org.

24-25

23rd Annual Horry County Museum Quilt Gala 10 am-4 pm both days, Ocean Lakes Campground Recreation Center. For more info, call 843-915-5320 or visit horrycountymuseum.org.

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Winter Teas at Brookgreen Gardens Saturdays and Sundays, seatings at 4 pm, members $30, non-members $35, reservations are required. For more info, call 843-235-6016 or visit brookgreen.org.

14

“Cooking with Herbs” Lecture by Ed Robidoux, Low Country Herb Society, 9:30am, Waccamaw Library, Pawleys Island.

For more info, email sclchsnews@gmail.com.

28

Mardi Gras in Downtown Georgetown Parade on Harborwalk at 5:30 pm. For more info, call 843-520-0744.

2 9 16 23

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

9, 16

FPC Concert Series; First Presbyterian Church, Myrtle Beach, 1 pm both days, 9-Olga Kern, piano; 16-André Courville, bassbaritone & Danielle Orlando, piano. For more info, call 843-448-4496 or visit myrtlebeachpresbyterianchurch.org.

17

Moveable Feast Jane Lee Berg discusses, Rembrant’s Shadow, Ocean One, 11 am, $30. For more info, call 843-235-9600 or visit classatpawleys.com.

3/2-4

Myrtle Beach Marathon Weekend Events for all ages. For more info, call 843-293-RACE or visit mbmarathon.com.

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37

The Best Laid Plans?

by Diane Stark

Five years ago, my husband, Eric, and I went to Hawaii to celebrate his 40th birthday. While we were there, we went into an art gallery, and I fell in love with a painting of a Hawaiian sunset over the ocean. It was beautiful, and I knew I had to have it.

“Where are you going to hang it?” Eric asked. “It doesn’t really go with anything we already have.”

“I’m going to put it in our sun room,” I answered.

“Our sun room that doesn’t yet exist?”

I nodded as though it wasn’t a strange request.

“You want to buy a painting to hang in a room that only exists in your imagination?”

When I nodded again, Eric shrugged agreeably because that’s who he is. “It’s fine with me,” he said, even though I could tell he still thought it was a teeny bit crazy.

We bought the painting and started construction on the sun room that spring. At that time, we’d only lived in our house about a year. We have beautiful French doors in our eat-in kitchen. But because we also have a walk-out basement, the ground beneath the doors was a full story down.

So those beautiful French doors could never be opened. Well, not safely anyway.

We’d always planned to build a deck off the kitchen. I imagined throwing open those French doors and enjoying meals outside. But that all changed when I saw a house in the small town where I grew up.

“Look at that house,” I said to Eric. “See how their sun room is built into the deck? I love that!”

Eric stopped the car to really look at the house. “We could do something like that,” he said thoughtfully.

It was decided. We would build not just a deck, but a deck with an enclosed sun room attached.

We hired a contractor to do the portions of the work that Eric could not do himself. Eric laid all of the deck boards and railings himself, but the contractor poured the foundation and built the skeleton for the sun room.

Although the original idea was mine – because I stole it from the other house – Eric really developed a vision for the project. “You want floor to ceiling windows in the sun room, right?” When I nodded, he said, “I 38 was thinking of putting sky lights in there too.”

My sun room had taken on a life of its own. Every weekend for months, Eric hung dry wall and trimmed the enormous windows. Finally, it was time to choose paint colors. Eric had hung up a chair rail, and we’d decided to choose two colors, one for the top half and a different color for the bottom half.

I took my new painting with us to the paint store. I chose a sea foam green that exactly matched the ocean water in the painting and a butter yellow that brought out the colors in the sunset. My favorite color is usually pink, but I was beyond excited about these color choices.

“I still can’t believe we bought that painting before we’d even built the room,” Eric said. “It really was a crazy thing to do.”

“I know, but it all worked out in the end,” I said. “The sun room is going to be gorgeous.”

We started painting as soon as we got home. When the paint dried, I grabbed my sunset painting, anxious to hang it on the wall. I brought it into the room and realized we had a big problem.

My floor to ceiling windows were also wall to wall windows, leaving no room on the wall for my painting.

The painting that had inspired the room did not fit in the room.

I burst out laughing because I didn’t know what else to do. Eric pointed out that there was actually room for the painting behind the French doors.

“But I want the doors to stay open, so no one would ever see the painting,”

I said. “This is so sad. How did we not realize this before now?”

“You know what they say about the best laid plans.”

I snickered. “Yeah, but this time, I didn’t have a plan at all. I just really wanted to buy the painting.”

“You were excited. It’s OK.” I nodded. I am definitely the excitable type. My excitement is often contagious, spreading to my very easy-going, but far more level-headed husband.

“So what do you want to do now?” I asked.

Eric shrugged. “We could hang the painting behind the door until we think of another place to hang it.”

“I really don’t think people will see it behind the door,” I said. “Let’s wait and look for another spot for it.”

My husband celebrated his 45th birthday on Halloween last year. That means we’ve had our Hawaiian sunset painting for more than five years now.

Currently, it is in its original packaging, sitting on top of the curio cabinet in our dining room. I’m pretty sure no one can see it there either.

But we’ve got plans for that painting. We’ve still got a few unpainted rooms in our house, and those rooms are not covered in floor to ceiling, wall to wall windows. Someday soon, I’m going to take my painting back to paint store and pick another perfect color.

My sun room painting is not hanging on the wall in my sun room, but that’s all right.

It’s still my favorite room in our house. Mostly because it reminds me that I have a wonderful husband, who loves me enough to shrug agreeably and go along with my sometimes-crazy ideas.

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Diane Stark

is a wife and mom of five. She loves to write about her family and her faith. Her essays have been published in over 20 Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

39

Trash to Treasure Bringing New Life to Vintage Pieces Don’t throw away that old nightstand, coffee table or chest of drawers! Chalk paint it instead. Local artists and designers love the look of painted furniture – Sasee asked a few for ideas on how we can duplicate the look at home.

Janey Harrison says to consider giving new life to a piece you already own.

I search for old furniture that is considered “trash” and I turn it into a “treasure.” Repurposing an old piece of furniture permits everyone to indulge in furnishing their home on a budget yet with great style.

I recently purchased an older chest of drawers, cleaned it up and made minor repairs. I painted it with “Ivory Lace” chalk paint and distressed it with fine sandpaper. I then finished it off by replacing handles with vintage handles and applied a neutral paste wax. By using chalk paint, I gave an old chest a rustic look and a new lease on life.

Visit Janey at By Gone Beauties, located at 1409 Highway 17 South in Surfside Beach, or call 843-215-9697.

Angie Rodriguez gave us some advice on choosing colors for your project.

Repurposed and up cycled furniture is still the trend for 2017. Effectively achieving an updated look using existing furniture and accessories is easy with the use of chalk-based paints. This year we will continue to see the aqua, blues and grays with more earthy taupes and greens added into the mix. For the adventurous at heart, dusty plums and deep jewel tones will be showcased. Paint what you have then add in natural textures such as wood, vintage metal or terra cotta accessories to achieve a 2017 organic feel.

Don’t feel like you can do it?

Call 843-333-0136 for Angie’s upcoming paint class schedule at Two Sisters with Southern Charm, located at 2520 Hwy. 17 Business, in Garden City.

Trying to decide where to start with your DIY project?

Burke Daniel says inspiration is everywhere!

Color, texture, shapes and sizes provide the pallet for designing a home, room or project piece. When thinking about updating your home, consider what you already own and love – everything from a small necklace to a unique gift can be your inspiration! There’s nothing better than creating a space or piece that puts a smile on your face every time you see it.

For inspiration and advice on your next project, visit Fringe, A Funky Fresh Vintage Shop, located at 810 Hwy 17 South in Surfside Beach or call 843-945-2284.

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Please join us for oysters, chicken bog and beer.

TICKETS: $45 Proceeds benefit LCFH Mercy Care’s Palliative Care Program Palliative care is an extra layer of care and support for patients and families facing lifelimiting or advanced chronic illness. We work with our patient’s physician to determine the best medical plan of care and focus on providing relief from the symptoms, pain, and physical and mental stress of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis. Our goal is to improve quality of life for our patient and their family. Your support of this event ensures no patient is turned away regardless of their ability to pay.

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SEATING IS LIMITED. Tickets available at MercyCareOysterRoast.org.

Advertiser Index

42

Angelo’s Steaks & Pasta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Barbara’s Fine Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 B. Graham Interiors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Bleu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 The Boundary House Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Brookgreen Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Butler Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Bygone Beauties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Carolina Car Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 The Citizens Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Clark’s Seafood & Chop House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 CoCo Salon & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Darden Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Dr. David Grabeman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Dr. Sattele’s Rapid Weight Loss & Esthetics Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Easton Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Eggs Up Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Fowler Life Coaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Fringe, A Funky Fresh Vintage Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Gateway Supply Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 GIFU Crystal Xchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Good Deed Goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Grady’s Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Grand Strand Plastic Surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Home Couture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Homewatch Caregivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Hospice Care of SC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Just Because IYQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 La Fayes Lamp & Lampshade Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Long Bay Symphony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Lower Cape Fear Hospice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Mickey’s Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Myrtle Beach Estates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Oreck Vacuums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Palmetto Ace Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Piedmont Springs Interiors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 RK Consignments & Interiors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Roper St. Francis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Rose Arbor Fabrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Sea Island Trading Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Seaside Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Shades & Draperies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 A Silver Shack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Spaces by Valerie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Studio 77 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Take 2 Resale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Taz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Think Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Thrive Assisted Living & Memory Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Tidelands Community Hospice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Two Sisters with Southern Charm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Vandy Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 WEZV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Women in Philanthropy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

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LEAD THE CHANGE Women’s Leadership Conference & Celebration of Inspiring Women

Presented by Women in Philanthropy and Leadership for Coastal Carolina University

FEBRUARY 7-8, 2017

7th Annual

Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel

Join extraordinary women who are leading change – in their lives, communities and the world. Remarkable speakers – and the shared energy of participants of all ages, backgrounds and professions who connect at this powerful event – will inspire and challenge you to LEAD THE CHANGE!

Register Today wiplconference.com. For sponsorship or exhibitors information, contact wipl-adm@coastal.edu or call 843.349.5033.

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