The big chill is on its way, and that means doing a coat check. Many of us have invested in more than one coat ... after all, we wear coats day in and night out for a couple of months—so why be boring? Make a fashion statement! Here are some great ways to chase away the chills and cover up in style this season:

“The Spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love, generosity and goodness.
It illuminates the window of our soul.”  - Thomas S Monson

In Sea Pines’ Harbour Town there is a spot where the magic and spirit of Christmas are apparent daily, except for Christmas Day. On December 25th the magic moves from the very popular and beautiful Harbour Town Christmas store to the lovely home of its owners, Michael and Linda Oliver. There the warmth of Christmas explodes in a day long sharing of family traditions with their children and grand children.

Celebrating their 40th year of bringing the joy of song to our community at Christmas, the Hilton Head Choral Society’s annual "The Sounds of Christmas Concert, A Merrie Olde Christmas” is at 8:00 pm. on Friday, Dec. 11 at First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Pwky, Hilton Head.

Not a day goes by that a patient doesn’t come into my office desperate for antibiotics to relieve the debilitating symptoms of the flu, a cold or a bad case of bronchitis.  

As much as I would like to alleviate their misery, prescribing antibiotics isn’t going to help. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not the viruses that cause those common-but-oh-so-aggravating ailments. All the antibiotics in the world won’t make them go away.

When we hear so much about how progress for women is too slow, it is easy to lose sight of the bright spots. And there are bright spots in how leadership and accountability are being reframed.

With 27- plus ways to say delicious, Lowcountry foodies know they are in for the ultimate “Taste of the Season experience,” as they enjoy an elegant sampling of the region’s best cuisine.  Come celebrate award-winning cuisine from 27 of the area’s top chefs at Taste of the Season, presented by the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. 

If the 2015 Public Art Exhibition isn’t on your radar, Pink wants to enhance your detector system. This is a Lowcountry event that needs to be on every resident’s—and guest’s—to do list. Located on the grounds of Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, the exhibit features 19 dramatic large-scale sculptures by artists from around the country, including our own local artist, Kevin Eichner.

Ever since Hansel and Gretel walked into the dark recesses of little boys’ and girls’ psyches around the world, the gingerbread house has fired the imaginations of children and adults alike.  Who wouldn’t love a story where a little brother and sister face the horror of parental abandonment and the terror of captivity by a hideous, cannibalistic witch only to outwit the old hag, push her in an oven and discover enough treasure and jewels to live happily ever after? Add that the kids eat all the gingerbread, cake and candy they could ever possibly want and you have a perfect fantasy to feed our hungry human hearts.  The story will live forever.

“Every day I see volunteers go to the classrooms and see students eagerly awaiting their turn to work with the volunteer,” said Karen Cauller, Literacy Coach at Hilton Head Island Elementary School for the Creative Arts. “I wish everyone could see the excitement when students see new books in their folders.”

When the curtain rises at Hilton Head Christian academy (HHCA), the audiences do, too! The acting acumen and musical productions keep getting better and better. The growing popularity of the HHCA Arts Program is a direct correlation to the enthusiasm Michelle McElroy, last year’s teacher of the year, has ignited in the students. Michelle stepped into her new role as theater director last year after directing Cinderella and assisting the former theater director and mentor, Rhonda Stones, with the 2014 production of Annie. Her passion for theater is contagious, and frankly, all in the details, as evidenced by her personal investment to each and every show. She gives equal attention to casting, direction and production and her shows are known for beautiful sets, costumes, choreography, music and talent.

The mission of 100 Red Apron Women is to recruit 100 women to make up a special donor group for the purpose of empowering women and their families to work toward self-reliance and independence.

I’m turning 65 in a few months and getting close to retiring. My ex is also turning 65, and as far as I know, he’s still working. I would like to file for my ex-spouse’s Social Security benefits but don’t really want to talk to him about it. Does he have to be involved? 

A question that coaches love to ask is “What would you do if you felt no fear?” Fear has many roots. You may be afraid of failing, being judged, feeling embarrassed, losing ground . . . or even of success.

Out with the old; in with the new. It’s time to do a closet sweep before a new fashion season is upon us. As the crisp cool days of fall begin to seep in, and before you hit the stores to stock your wardrobe for the holidays, take a hard look at what’s in your closet now. Then start getting organized. 

If you’ve ever been the recipient of a random act of kindness, then you understand how a simple gesture can go a long way. 

The theme for this month's issue is “Be Innovative.” Coincidentally, one of the most thrilling 
events for innovators is also this month. Geekend is bringing a bonanza of cutting edge innovators to our neighborhood for the second year. Watch out California! There’s a new kid on the block 
and the high-tech landscape might just be moving to the Lowcountry.

The staff at Pink magazine mirrors our readers in many ways.  We span decades, with people in their 20s through 60s. We come from the North and South.  We have different habits, interests, passions and opinions. We are married, single and newly engaged. Yet, we are all interested in improving our world and ourselves—individually and as we carry out our magazine’s mission: empower, inform, encourage and invoke thought. This month, each staff member selected a book she found valuable and worth recommending to others. The selections are as diverse as our staff and readers. We feel sure there is something here for you:

Domestic violence is a serious and potentially lethal epidemic that continues to grow as the local population increases. South Carolina currently ranks 2nd in the nation for the rate of women murdered by men (Violence Policy Center 2014) and Beaufort County ranks 10^th in the state for the number of victims reporting domestic violence incidents (SLED 2012). CODA is the only organization serving Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties that provide comprehensive services to adult and child survivors of domestic abuse.

The Wheel of Life is a tool and exercise used by coaches, therapists and retreat leaders the world over to enable individuals to instantly see where there life is at this moment. The purpose is to create a graphic view of the areas that are giving you satisfaction and areas that might need attention. The shape of the new wheel you create can instantly indicate how bumpy or smooth your life feels right now. 

Can you imagine jumping out of bed every morning, anxious to get to work, and leaving work at the end of the day with your battery fully charged, because you love what you are doing?  It is estimated that less than a third of employees nationwide actually feel this way. The rest are buying time, experiencing frustration or working hard and feeling unfulfilled.

Every day I drive by a beautiful new assisted living complex under construction close to where I live. As beautiful as this place is, it's become a daily reminder to me for how difficult it can be to talk to aging parents about their health and future needs.

I love paddling Walter, my well-worn, 17-foot foot Solstice, and not just because it’s an inspiring upper body workout. In less than a minute, kayaking transports me into the silence, the rhythm of the waves, one stroke on my right, another on my left, over and over, inhaling, exhaling, sometimes repeating the mantra, sometimes sending my breath to a tight spot on my torso that’s begging 
for attention.

It’s back in the saddle again. Time to round up those fresh jeans and head into a new season of denim—a favorite in our wardrobes, year after year. The stars of this season’s fashion rodeo lineup are extra relaxed, playing like a modern Western with more options than ever. Here are some ways you can ride high and get in the denim spirit right now:

Flying down the beach in her purple and pink cape, 9-year-old Chloe Bredeson’s energy and spirit just might defy gravity. Her ability to soar through life is just one of the superpowers that has earned her the nickname Super Chloe.

Go big and go bold. It’s the mantra of jewelry designers everywhere this year. The bigger the bauble the better. From pearls to pendants, jewelry is once again making a big fashion statement—popping up not only on celebrities strutting their multimillion-dollar sparklers on the red carpets, but in the accessory wardrobes of women who are scoring great finds from local artisans and vintage flea markets.

I saw the funniest sign recently. But it wasn’t funny for long because I started to think about it. It read, “Everything happens for a reason, sometimes the reason is you’re stupid and make bad decisions.”

Take a minute to think about a frustrating relationship you have with someone. 
Your frustration probably stems from the other person not meeting your expectations, which may or may not have been shared with the person. In fact, most expectations are not explicitly communicated because the holder assumes they are self-evident—any reasonable person would hold these expectations. Therefore, too often we learn about the expectations of others and the importance of these expectations when we fail to meet them. Here (right) are some examples that may sound familiar... 

Platelets are bloods little particles that help create blood clots when necessary. Platelets also contain many Growth Factors, which we can use for rejuvenation purposes.