Dear Readers,
I talk a lot about setting financial goals, primarily because I believe in them. Having an idea of what you want to achieve is the first step in actually doing something. That’s particularly true when it comes to money. And what better time to focus on your financial goals than the start of a new year?
To me, setting goals can actually be the fun part of getting on top of your finances. Why? Because it’s a chance to evaluate your priorities and maybe dream a little. For instance, what are the most important things you’d like to achieve in both the near and distant future? Do you dream of buying a house, or starting a new business? What’s on your travel bucket list? Do you imagine switching to a less lucrative but more fulfilling career path? 

Imagine you just lost your job. Perhaps you, or a family member, were sick and you missed too many days at work. Perhaps your car broke down and you had no way of getting to work. In the end, it doesn’t matter. The paychecks stop coming and the bills continue without pause, until finally the letter you’ve been dreading arrives. You look up from the eviction notice and see the faces of your children staring back at you, their eyes mirroring the fear in yours.

Hidden in Plain Sight
According to 2016 Federal data, children and their families account for more than 35 percent of the homeless population in this country and represent its fastest growing segment. In Beaufort County alone, there are more than 600 homeless children (as identified by the federal McKinney-Vento Act report for Beaufort County Schools). It is a statistic that seems, at first glance, impossible. Yet, because of the fluid living arrangements many of these families must endure—continually moving from the homes of friends or family to shelters, motels or ‘unsheltered’ alternatives such as cars—we don’t always see the problem in front of our faces.

What? You’ve already thought you may fail to keep your New Year’s resolutions?

Of course you have. Welcome to human nature. And don’t feel badly. Zillions of your fellow Americans are also failing to give up nachos, sleep seven hours a night, bicycle to work, defend their souls against time-sucking small-screen devices. Great intentions, depressing results.

Why is the new-habit failure rate so high? Because changing behavior—as in developing new habits—is a skill. Like shoeing a horse. It’s something you need to learn how to do, so when you decide to do it, your chance of success will skyrocket.

From all-over shimmering cocktail frocks to glittering skirts and jackets—even glittering leggings and twinkling toes—there are show-stopping ways to sparkle in sequins. But before you leave a trail of shiny discs behind you, here are a few things to keep in mind when buying sequined clothing.Check the care labels.

Many of you may not have taken a shine to sequins for this very reason: They can be intimidating to clean. After years of owning all kinds of “embellished” clothing, I heartily recommend hand-washing with baby shampoo. While many pieces can be laundered on the gentle cycle in the washing machine, just as you would delicate lingerie, it can be tricky. Just make sure you turn the garment inside out and place it in a mesh bag. Never place in a dryer, but rather drip-dry over a towel and then lay flat.

Sophia Townes didn’t set out to become an advocate for families with autism. On the contrary, the native South Carolinian’s love of French culture and language led her to places and pursuits far removed from her hometown of Barnwell. Even after marrying her high school sweetheart and building a home and family together in Bluffton, autism was simply not part of her world.

But, life has a way of changing the rules without notice, as Sophia and her husband George learned four years ago when their 3-year-old son Jack was diagnosed with autism.

Have you heard about self-care?
Merriam-Webster defines it as “care for oneself,” and the concept of making your physical and emotional wellness a priority is really taking off. It’s not selfish to take care of yourself and your well-being.

“Self-care is vitally important because if you don’t take the time to stop and care for yourself, your body will stop you,” says Canadian mental health advocate Mark Henick. “If you never let your foot off the gas, you won’t keep driving forever—you’ll either run out of gas or crash. The same is true for the body and mind.”

Henick says self-care is a choice to re-balance your internal resources so you can bounce back from stressors.

Americans are known around the world for eating too much, but when it comes to time, we are starving ourselves. It’s called “time famine”—an unpleasant, uncomfortable feeling that we have too much to do in too little time. Social scientists have been studying it for more than 20 years.

“I’m behind before I get up!” my mother-in-law used to say. Sound familiar? It’s that existentially endless to-do list that keeps us feeling rushed, hassled, busy-busy-busy, the opposite of “All Is Well.”

Sadly, I don’t have the time necessary to explain all the reasons why “time famine” is overwhelming so many of us and why “time affluence,” the blissful sense of having plenty of time, is so elusive. But you can bet your favorite digital device that it has everything to do with the crush of modern technology and what sociologist Simon Gottschalk calls “the oppression of speed.”

Everyone, it seems, is talking about Instant Pot—the revolutionary electric pressure cooker that, for all the hype, promises to turn anyone into an overnight culinary rockstar. Well, bring it on.

That's what you thought, right? And why not? Instant Pot cooks healthy food fast. And take a look at that instrument panel!

The latest model (10-in-1, which means it does just about everything short of vacuuming the living room) is an egg cooker, saute pan, slow cooker, rice cooker, cake maker, yogurt maker, sterilizer, pressure cooker, food warmer and steamer. Whew!

Time to get cozy! Sweater weather is sending chills down our spines
and right into our toes. This season, the best knit hits are bold and beautiful,
in colorful patterns and chic shapes. Here are five sweaters to collect now:

The Sweater Jacket. This all-purpose knit bridges the gap between heavy coats and light cardigans...perfect for transitioning into winter wardrobes. This fall, sweater jackets are statement pieces in multipatterned florals, plaids and stripes. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the new oversized trend. A little extra room allows for more warmth and layering.

Sophia Townes didn’t set out to become an advocate for families with autism. On the contrary, the native South Carolinian’s love of French culture and language led her to places and pursuits far removed from her hometown of Barnwell. Even after marrying her high school sweetheart and building a home and family together in Bluffton, autism was simply not part of her world.

But, life has a way of changing the rules without notice, as Sophia and her husband George learned four years ago when their 3-year-old son Jack was diagnosed with autism.

Thankful and Blessed: It’s easy to take blessings for granted each day. So the Pink team decided it’s time we “spread the love” to highlight the spirit of the season, our #Blessed theme and mission to empower women. Cut out the blessing cards below and surprise your friends, family, co-workers or even a stranger with kindness. If you’d like even more blessing cards (we hope you do), you can print more online at www.itsallpink.com. Gratitude is great and so are you!

Are you worried about how much you worry? Bravo.

Uncontrolled anxiety is a giant obstacle to personal happiness. No surprise. Worry causes stress, and stress saps our strength, disturbs our sleep, fries our brain and constantly undermines our best efforts to stay healthy, relaxed and optimistic.

And yet there’s so much to worry about these days. Is Alexa really recording everything I say? Why is our air more foul, our food and water more toxic? What do we do when all our online 24/7 connectivity only increases people’s loneliness and isolation?

It’s time for a Spooktacular Halloween! We’ve got enchanted Pillsbury recipes
for your guests to eat, drink and be scary; DIY projects for a bewitching and
Boo-tiful Halloween evening! Don’t forget to tell your guests to BYOB—Bring Your Own Broom.

Dear Carrie: My wife and I just had our second child. We already have a 529 plan for our 21/2-year-old son. Can we continue to make contributions to our current plan and distribute the savings to both of our children’s college funds? Or should we have separate 529 plans for each child and make contributions to each plan? —A Reader

Dear Reader: The tax advantages of a 529 plan make it one of the best ways to save for a child’s education, so congrats on getting a jump on saving for your son. Now that you have a second child, I can understand why it might seem easier to manage a single 529 and just divvy up the money as the kids need it. But while that’s technically possible, having one 529 rather than a separate account for each child actually complicates things. Here’s why:

Slip out of those slides and scoot into the hottest footwear trend of the season: boots. From cowboy classics to laced-up Victorians to tough-chic hikers, there’s a boot for every day of the week and then some. Here are the best ways to reboot your shoe wardrobe this fall

>>On the Western front. Because designers at Fendi and Celine start walking cowboy boots down runways, you know these shoes are going to be moving up on the trend lists. And while some hardy souls have worn them all their lives (“meanwhile, back at the ranch”), many of fashion’s elite have not experienced the old-school comfort of a broken-in pair of these leather wonders. Frye boots have been my constant companion since my high school days. They have lasted long after the bell-bottoms were stashed away. Expect to see them on the best-dressed list next spring, too.

A blessing in today’s terms can be perceived as a gift that arrives just at the right time. Others may see a blessing as a gift from God—a favor from heaven. Of course, the greatest blessing is life itself! Therefore, you are a walking, talking blessing upon this earth filled with light and energy.

Now, before I get super woo-woo, hear me out. You see, blessings are not one sided; it’s a two-way street in the world of blessings. I invite you to step into the blessing you are, the blessing you can become, and/or the blessing you will receive. 

It’s time for a Spooktacular Halloween! We’ve got enchanted Pillsbury recipes
for your guests to eat, drink and be scary; DIY projects for a bewitching and
Boo-tiful Halloween evening! Don’t forget to tell your guests to BYOB—Bring Your Own Broom.

Dear Readers: Often when I talk about the importance of a financial plan, I see people start to squirm. There’s something about the topic that makes them uncomfortable. When I dig a little deeper to find out why, two reasons regularly come up: Either people don’t think they have enough money to warrant a financial plan or they think a financial plan costs too much. And no matter how often I try to debunk these myths, it’s hard to change someone’s preconception.

It’s a challenge for sure, but I’m such a firm believer that everyone needs a financial plan that I’m going to give it another try by showing you how you can actually be your own financial planner. It doesn’t require that you have a lot of money—and it doesn’t have to cost you a penny. If you’re willing to spend a little time, you can actually do it yourself. Here’s how:

“Empowered Women, Empower Women”—YES. WE. DO. We support each other through thick and thin and through diagnoses, especially the one called breast cancer. We provide care and sustenance, we’ve “got your back”, we help each other maintain and often lift each other up. Women help each other with funding, upkeep, advocation and with words—encouraging, meaningful words and phrases we share to let each other know, ‘You are loved and very special to me.’

We asked women diagnosed with breast cancer what the best advice they received while fighting the fight. They've spoken. Turn the page to read on.

Coco Chanel may have famously said “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory,” but this fall, she might rethink that advice­­—and tell us to just pile more on! Big and bold clothes that are all the rage on the runways call for bigger and bolder accessories. So don’t be afraid to go the extra fashion mile this fall with these top accessories.

Oversize jewelry. The trendy buzzword for fall ready-to-wear is “oversize,” and the jewelry shows up larger than life, too. Go for the gold in chunky chain necklaces, dangling earrings and sculptural cuff bracelets. Mix with silver metals for even more of a modern touch.

How we navigate our world says a lot about who we are; our values, ambitions, the choices we make that affect our next steps. In terms of direction, navigating from place to place is but a simple GPS command to our device of choice. Bill Dengler of Hilton Head has been navigating his world without sight for 18 years. Yet, to define this first year university student by his lack of sight would be an enormous disservice to the person he is, and how he’s mapping his own pathway in the field of technology and beyond.

Aging is not a disease; it is a natural progression of life. With it come factors that sometimes make us wonder who we are looking at in the mirror. Both women and men claim all the time: “I feel great, but I look tired and worn down. I can’t believe that’s me. I still feel like I’m 25!” With so many leading active, healthy lifestyles, and the average lifespan being the highest it has ever been, many members of the aging population want their outer appearance to match their inner energy. While some hold the stamps of time, such as gray hair and wrinkles, sacred, as well-earned badges of wisdom, others don’t want anything to do with it. They are concerned about the effects of aging and how it affects their confidence, especially in the face.

Before I was a walker, I was a runner — a slow, lumbering, back-of-the-pack runner. When I discovered racewalking, I found my sport. And since then, I’ve become a ferocious fan of every style of walking: all ages, speeds, styles and sexes. (If only walking were, somehow, a sexier sport.)

I could fill the rest of this column and several more spelling out all the wonderful things walking will do for your body and your mind. It’s great for your brain, your strength, for every cell in your body, for calming yourself mentally and boosting your energy physically.

It’s also the perfect antidote to the crazed, stepped-up pace of life today, when too much technology walks all over our human need to slow down and ... how can I put this ... think.

I never meant to adopt a dog; at least not on the day I adopted Henry. My precious schnoodle, Mimi, had died, and I saw a picture of Henry on Hilton Head Humane’s (HHH) Facebook page. Grieving, I went to HHH to pet him. That’s all. When I arrived, he was the “office” dog, meaning he was inside frolicking around in a little open-air pen, and his name was Elmo. I asked if I could hold him. Even so, I was just there to pet and put back.

“Find a job you enjoy doing and you will never have to work a day in your life.”  This quote, attributed to Mark Twain, is personified in this month’s #AnAppleADay Motivational Man, Bobby Alan.

A walking, talking, megawatt-smiling ambassador for the GNC brand, the 52-year-old retired Marine owns three GNC franchise stores; one South Carolina location in Bluffton, and two in North Carolina; one in booming Winston Salem, and one in Andy Griffith’s fictional hometown of Mount Airy.

According to a statement on the General Nutrition Centers corporate website, the company’s mission is to “connect customers to their best selves by offering a premium assortment of heath, wellness and performance products.” The company was founded in 1935 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a neighborhood “healthy food” store, introducing yogurt to Americans for the first time. Many people thought health food was just a passing fad, but it has only exploded since then.

Before I was a walker, I was a runner — a slow, lumbering, back-of-the-pack runner. When I discovered racewalking, I found my sport. And since then, I’ve become a ferocious fan of every style of walking: all ages, speeds, styles and sexes. (If only walking were, somehow, a sexier sport.)

I could fill the rest of this column and several more spelling out all the wonderful things walking will do for your body and your mind. It’s great for your brain, your strength, for every cell in your body, for calming yourself mentally and boosting your energy physically.

It’s also the perfect antidote to the crazed, stepped-up pace of life today, when too much technology walks all over our human need to slow down and ... how can I put this ... think.

Golden, thick, and sweet, honey is a staple in many of my favorite dishes. I’ve recently learned about the variety of flavors and healthy benefits that make raw, hand-poured honey a nutritional superstar. Little did I know, honey has a mysterious counterpart that many healers have been using for centuries—bee pollen—and it’s becoming all the rage. So, I headed over to my favorite honey shop, Capital Bee Company (CBCo) in Savannah, to find out why it’s all the buzz.

What Is Bee Pollen?
It’s one of the richest natural foods ever discovered. Bee pollen is a granule created from pollen dust of flower blossoms. The incredible nutritional and medicinal value of pollen has been known for thousands of years and is known as nature’s most complete food.

You may still be flip-flopping around in pool slides, but it’s the perfect time to step out in a new pair of shoes and be the first to kick off the fashion season ahead...yes, even with a killer pair of boots. Start checking out the latest shoe scene now.

Check out the new architectural heels.
This is definitely the year of the “heel,” and they’re the good kind. Look for sculptural angled heels to geometric cylindrical spikes to woodsy blocks to sparkling crystals. And don’t forget the ‘80s disco platforms...for all those “Mamma Mia” fans out there. Here we go again!

Our journey to a whole food, plant based lifestyle has truly been life changing for me and my family. We are healthier, stronger, and happier people than we were before making the transition to veganism and WFPB eating. We still enjoy eating out and especially traveling to cities with a large selection of vegan menu items. Regional VegFests have become weekend destinations. As a long time environmentalist and lover of all animals (wild, companion, and farm) this lifestyle helps me to match my ethics and beliefs with my actions. I want to be healthy, kind to all people and animals, and reduce my carbon footprint and rate of pollution. The whole-food, plant-based vegan lifestyle helps me to better achieve that on a daily basis, and being the facilitator of the Palmetto Plant Eaters Club plays a major role in that achievement.

It all started in October 2015 when the groundbreaking food documentary “PlantPure Nation” was screened on Hilton Head Island. The following month, in response to the film, the Palmetto Plant Eaters Club (PPEC) was formed, and the group has been meeting monthly ever since. PPEC membership is free, open to the public, and meets in Bluffton on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry on Malphrus Road. At each meeting, expert guest speakers lecture on topics such as building vegan muscle, enhancing nutrition with herbs, growing organic produce, best practices for sustainable weight loss, making healthful choices when eating out and traveling, and non-toxic wellness modalities.

We are fortunate to have Jane Fraser, President and Spokeswoman for the Stuttering Foundation of America so close to the Lowcountry. She recently opened a St. Simons Island, GA branch of the 71-year-old foremost nonprofit organization, dedicated to helping those who stutter.

Focused on basic research, causes, treatment, and prevention for nearly three million people world-wide who struggle daily with this complex disorder, Jane shared the foundation’s simple goal, “To provide effective and accurate materials, up-to-date training, and hope to those who stutter, their families, and the dedicated therapists who help them.”