At the start of the new year, my friend Diana did what millions of Americans do: She made a resolution to exercise more.

"You're too young to be this out of shape," her doctor told her. Diana had a gym in her building, and a husband who would cover for the kids, and she certainly had the clothes.

Diana set her alarm for 6 a.m. every morning for the first week. She crept out of bed and was on the treadmill by 6:10. Thirty minutes of walking (and checking her email), followed by a few stretches and some weights, and by 7 a.m., she was back in her apartment, showering for work, fighting off the urge to drink a Diet Pepsi for breakfast.

Are you ready to luxuriate in a year of coziness, comfort,
and unpretentious decadence?  Pantone 17-1230, Mocha Mousse,
has been named Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year!

Mocha Mousse sets this year’s color palette with earthy refinement and approachable elegance. It was strategically chosen to impart harmony, as it is as richly mellow as it is subtly decadent. The gentle, yet deep brown nurtures, satisfies, and beckons the mood to let go to “find your moment.”


Self-reflection and education are always a good idea, and what better way to do both than to dive into a good book? We have picked four of our favorites to start you on a positive, informed path for the new year. Remember, if you want to live differently, you have to be different, or at least do something different! Each one of these picks will light up your brain waves and move your life forward. Whether you’re healing, dealing, reeling or just trying to figure a few things out, these books are sure to enlighten as you set out to live your best life in 2025.

Ah, sleep—that elusive friend we all need but sometimes can’t seem to find. I don’t know about you, but I’ve spent plenty of nights staring at the ceiling, wondering why my brain insists on replaying every awkward thing I’ve ever done instead of letting me snooze. The good news? You don’t need fancy gadgets, pricey pillows or lavender-scented contraptions to get some shut-eye. Let’s chat about some simple tricks to help you catch those ZZZs.

SET A SLEEP SCHEDULE
Your body loves a routine. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day—even on weekends. I know, I know. Saturdays are sacred. But hear me out: When your body knows what to expect, it starts shutting down naturally. Think of it like training a toddler to nap—minus the tantrums.

New Morning, a state-wide nonprofit organization, is one of the largest, most successful contraceptive access programs in the U.S., said Bonnie Kapp, CEO and president.

“Our nonprofit clinical network provides family planning counseling and free or low-cost birth control for low-income, uninsured or underinsured women in every corner of the state. We need to ensure equitable status, despite geographic, social, and income barriers,” Bonnie added. “So many women in South Carolina work multiple jobs and still have no money. And 30 percent of rural communities have no medical facilities.” South Carolina is in the top 10 states in the poverty rate, and 14 of its 46 counties have no OB-GYNS.

The colorful masterpieces featured on Pink's cover each month are one of the signature features of our magazine. Created by artists from down the street and across the world, the chosen artwork is carefully procured to set the tone for the monthly theme and bring the issue alive.

In celebration of our 20 year anniversary, we'll be bringing you 20 covers each month to enjoy and reminisce!

Gifts That Sleigh — Pink's Annual Gift Guide
Fabulous Local Finds for the Holiday Season

Tony Satterfield is an ER Tech. I’ve met him several times in the Emergency Room at Beaufort Memorial Hospital when bringing in a family member. His job is to make first contact with the scared, sick and injured folks seeking emergency care.

The joy of the Lord can be seen on Tony’s face. He is cheerful and competent, checking each patient’s temperature, pulse and blood pressure. He asks questions and makes notes. He looks people in the eye and listens intently. He puts ID bands on patients’ wrists, calmly reassuring they will be seen as soon as possible. Then, he takes off running in different directions, up and down the hall, helping other people. I can say from experience, checking into the ER with Tony somehow helps you feel better immediately. He is a real person who genuinely cares about sick people and their loved ones. You just know he will not forget about you.

Come all ye faithful. Be joyful and triumphant. Believe that 2025 can be a breakthrough year for you, with fewer aches and pains, more energy and a renewed willingness to take charge of your own well-being.

As the 12 days of Christmas unfold, here are a dozen reminders that small changes can make a big difference in how you feel, how you look, how you grow, and sparkle as a human being.

A chance encounter between Rosa McGeehin and Beth Freeman in Hampton Lake a year ago led to the creation of a new group to serve breast cancer survivors. Rosa was riding her bike, and Beth was gardening. Rosa stopped to introduce herself and during their chat, Rosa asked Beth if she knew how to crochet. They decided to team up. Beth could teach Rosa how to crochet and Rosa knew all about Knitted Knockers. Both women belong to Turtle Trackers so they would bring their supplies and crochet during the meetings.

The colorful masterpieces featured on Pink's cover each month are one of the signature features of our magazine. Created by artists from down the street and across the world, the chosen artwork is carefully procured to set the tone for the monthly theme and bring the issue alive.

In celebration of our 20 year anniversary, we'll be bringing you 20 covers each month to enjoy and reminisce!

The colorful masterpieces featured on Pink's cover each month are one of the signature features of our magazine. Created by artists from down the street and across the world, the chosen artwork is carefully procured to set the tone for the monthly theme and bring the issue alive.

In celebration of our 20 year anniversary, we'll be bringing you 20 covers each month to enjoy and reminisce!

Call me old fashioned, but nothing seems sweeter than a sip of your favorite libation going down while looking your absolute best. These perfect pairings will not only spike your taste buds, but also tingle your senses—for fashion. Matching your outfit with your favorite cocktail isn’t just chic and playful, it’s absolutely iconic! Imagine your girlfriends realizing you match the cocktail in your hand, and your response is, “I know, isn’t it fabulous!” Carrie Bradshaw would be so very proud! 

So, the question is, Does Retail and Cocktail Therapy Go Hand in Hand?
We are screaming YES!

As the cool breezes move in, perfectly painted pumpkins begin to adorn our homes, and our social calendars tend to begin bursting at the seams. With football parties, holiday gatherings, and family get-togethers there are plenty of opportunities to get creative when you throw your next party. Whether you are greeting guests with a beautifully designed front porch, a brilliant buffet, or a terrific tablescape, the Lowcountry has a multitude of fabulous décor to score. We visited four of our favorite local gurus to gather inspiration for fall!

Welcome to The Lowcountry Lookbook, a new journal to fuel your passion for fashion and learn tips, tricks, and trends to keep you in style and looking good. This article will be your go-to for insight on what's happening in the fashion scene here in the Lowcountry, as well as sharing the buzz of the latest chic sensations. Diane von Furstenberg said, “Style is something each of us already has, all we need to do is find it.” And that is exactly what we're excited to do!

Debbie Wood and Gail Posey know a thrift shop find when they see one.

The doors of the Church Mouse Thrift Shop first opened in 2004. Debbie began volunteering there in 2011 and became the shop’s general manager in 2014. She met Gail, a valued regular shopper, and offered her the assistant manager position four years ago. “I was looking for something to do and thought, ‘They won’t want this old gal,’” said Gail. Debbie was thrilled Gail accepted the offer, and Gail was delighted to step into the role. Debbie and Gail became a formidable team that led them down a parallel path of interior design.

Do you remember the movie, The Wizard of OZ? As children we watched in amazement as Dorothy’s black-and-white world in Kansas suddenly changed into the colorful world of Oz. In a flash, the movie transported us from a world without color to one with a vibrant yellow brick road, fields of bright red poppies, and ruby red slippers. Colors transformed the scenery on the screen and opened our eyes to possibilities.

Art does that. It unlocks our creativity and imagination, introduces us to possibilities, and is always open to interpretation.

The Art League of Hilton Head Academy and Lifelong Learning of Hilton Head are collaborating on a special exhibit this month.

The colorful masterpieces featured on Pink's cover each month are one of the signature features of our magazine. Created by artists from down the street and across the world, the chosen artwork is carefully procured to set the tone for the monthly theme and bring the issue alive.

In celebration of our 20 year anniversary, we'll be bringing you 20 covers each month to enjoy and reminisce!

Ezekiel Dobson is a 19-year-old young man from Kentucky,
who with the blessings of his family,
set out to be the youngest birder in history to identify
over 700 different species of birds by December 31 of this year.
Well, he did it on July 23!

He set out on January 1, 2024, driving alone from Kentucky in his 2018 Nissan Altima. Using the app EBird, and following the Audubon Society guidelines, he carefully recorded the sighting of each bird, date, time, and location. Sometimes he took a picture, or video, to capture the unique song every bird has.

His first bird sighting was on that very first day—New Years Day—at the Montauk Lighthouse on Long Island, New York. The bird was a Red-Throated Loon, a common bird for that area.

The colorful masterpieces featured on Pink's cover each month are one of the signature features of our magazine. Created by artists from down the street to across the world, the chosen artwork is carefully procured to set the tone for the monthly theme and bring the issue alive.

Whether a new puppy makes your dreams of the perfect family dog come true or turns into a total nightmare depends on how well you've prepared, starting with a well-planned first 24 hours.

Choosing your new best friend can be quite a challenge! Visit www.selectadogbreed.com to find the right dog breed to suit your lifestyle, or talk to the experts at your favorite shelter if you plan to adopt. Once you have established the kind of dog and size that is best for your lifestyle, you need to decide where to get the puppy. From a shelter or reputable breeder? Take the time to research this thoroughly. The shelter of course presents the most affordable choice.

Alicia Powell is in love with The Sandbox Children’s Museum. Before joining The Sandbox as its executive director last October, Alicia was the director of development for the Port Royal Sound Foundation and associate director of development for the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation. But of all her prior positions, Alicia has found her calling at The Sandbox. “Kids don’t realize they’re learning while they’re playing, and the parents have a great time with their children, too. I’m always dreaming of what we can do next,” Alicia shared.

I’m going to skip over the obesity statistics for the moment. Let’s just sum it up by saying that every third person in the country is trying to lose weight. It’s not on everyone’s mind—some folks are joyfully roasting chocolate-covered marshmallows over campfires—but with so many millions of American’s dieting, you get tons of people who lose... lose... and then they plateau. The needle gets stuck.

In spite of your best behavior—eating real food and smaller portions, exercising more—suddenly, your body simply stops losing weight. It’s a very common problem. Also very frustrating. Oh Lordy, what’s happening?

Wan.der.lust (noun) 1. A strong desire to travel.

My first recollection of being bitten by the wanderlust bug was in high school.
Gazing out the window, daydreaming about what life must have been like in the early days
of Rome. How did people communicate, live, meet others, and date? I had no idea at the time what a wealth of worldwide opportunities awaited me; I just dreamed about them.

After I graduated college, my sister, Diane, and I went to Europe on a tour of England, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and France. I was fascinated by the countries, cultures, cuisines, and people. However, It would be 35 years before I crossed the pond again. Life, family, marriage, and career filled those many years, but my wanderlust remained. When I was once again free to explore the world, I got busy!

While Hilton Head Island is filled to the brim with tourists each July, there’s an extra special group of visitors here for a weeklong adventure of their own. Camp Leo was started in 1975 by the Lions Club on Hilton Head Island, and it has welcomed legally blind to fully blind children for 49 years. The camp, which is housed at St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church on Pope Avenue, opens the third week of July each year to campers ages 7-19.

The colorful masterpieces featured on Pink's cover each month are one of the signature features of our magazine. Created by artists from down the street to across the world, the chosen artwork is carefully procured to set the tone for the monthly theme and bring the issue alive.

The Back to School banners are waving, and parents all over America are being tested with difficult questions that weren’t even an issue 10 years ago: Is my child too fat? Too stressed? Too medicated? Over-programmed or under-programmed? Too shy or too aggressive? Is his backpack too heavy? Is she spending too much time texting and shopping when she should be on the soccer field, building muscles and a future as a team-playing corporate executive?

A question I receive nearly every day goes something like this: I'm ready to get started taking back control of my finances. But how do I get started? It's like I'm stuck.

Don't think you are alone if you find yourself wanting to do all the steps at once. But that could be a big mistake. In the same way when building a house you wouldn't pour the foundation, raise the walls and put on the roof all at the same time, with your money makeover, you need to take things one step at a time.

Want to know what Lowcountry Ladies are reading?
We asked five local book clubs for
a peek inside their reading lists and to share their No. 1
book recommendation that stirred the soul and created compelling conversations amongst these friendships born from the love of reading.

Imagine driving by a beautiful, open field, looking out, and seeing 7,500 tacky, yet cheerful, plastic pink flamingos stuck everywhere. Can you envision it? Could it be the largest prank you’ve ever seen? Nope. It’s a “Flock of Love” and just one of the impactful parts of the huge, wacky, out-of-the-box fun the tremendous Pledge the Pink Breast Cancer Walk is known for.

Fourteen years ago, local Laura Morgan had an idea. It was to create one of the most fun, empowering, memorable breast cancer awareness and fundraising events ever. Her vision included 30 miles of walking over three days, everyone wearing Pink, working and walking together to raise an enormous amount of money to help people with breast cancer and make a significant donation to aid in research, treatments, mammogram scholarships and resources.