Fall has always been a season that releases stronger, more powerful films, when Oscar attention begins. Here are suggestions from the serious to the not so serious with a couple documentaries thrown in the mix you might consider. See you at the movies!

Someone finally asked me where the name “Skating Uphill” came from and who thought of it in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle column. There is quite a story here, as there are with many things in Pink Magazine. Whenever you find a group of bold, out-there, rowdy ladies, combined with a little wine and a lot of laughs, you are bound to get stories.

I told a friend that my fiancé and I were secretly planning to elope to Las Vegas and that I needed a dress, and her being the truly excellent confidant that she is, she took me to Madhouse Vintage in Bluffton. And that is where I first met Caroline Noble, the owner of the shop and an extraordinary curator of vintage fashion and jewelry.

Am I too old to have a baby?
Although there’s not really an age at which we tell people to not have children, there are a few factors one must consider. As we age, our chromosomes are more likely to have anomalies within them. Thus an aging mother is at higher risk for Down Syndrome and other chromosome abnormalities.  Miscarriage rates are much higher in older women, thus the emotional burden of miscarriages plays a larger role as we age. This is thought to occur because of the chromosome issues.

Let’s talk about substitutes. Not substitute teachers or substitute mah-jong players, but substitute foods. What I mean is interchanging one food, food type, or food brand for another for specific reasons. Often it is a health reason or a calorie issue. Sometimes it is related to allergies or not liking a particular ingredient. For the purpose of this article, I am going to talk about substituting or selecting one food item or personal care item over another mainly for better health. After all, better physical and emotional health is what we are all about, isn’t it?

When you enter Whitney’s world, the phrase that immediately springs to mind is “Well, Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore!” Just substitute “Hilton Head” for “Kansas” in that phrase and you will be on the right track to understanding this exceptional young lady.

These past few months have been fertile with teachable moments about gender issues.  Two prominent business leaders—a corporate Chairman and a Chairman/CEO—left their positions: Kevin Roberts resigned because of backlash after proclaiming in an interview that the gender debate is over.  Roger Ailes was fired because of sexual harassment.

Some of the best films ever created revolve around the agony and ecstasy of attending school.

For years Walt Disney Animation Studios has captured the hearts of children everywhere. Now grown children are making up a high percentage of animated movie goers. It’s clear from the numbers that animated family films are not just for families anymore. More and more millennials are going to the cinema to see films traditionally marketed to a much younger demographic, and that’s not even taking into consideration viewing habits on outlets like Netflix. Film companies have caught on, too. It is an opinion that the lure of animated and young adult features to millennials is much more complex than pure nostalgia.

We all look at things from different points of view. It doesn’t mean though, that the thing we are talking about is not actually going to happen, does it? School is happening, so let’s make the best of it.

A Solid Start:
The last thing anyone wants or needs is a sick or even semi sick grumpy pet, while hurling down the highway headed for rest and relaxation. A quick trip to your family vet will ensure your pet is up-to-date with all necessary vaccinations. The veterinarian can also issue a health certificate for your pet, if needed. If you and your pet will be traveling across state lines, you must obtain a recent health certificate and a certificate of rabies vaccination.  If your plans include traveling with your pet from the United States to Canada, you will need to bring along a certificate issued by a veterinarian that clearly identifies the animal and certifies that your pet has been vaccinated against rabies during the preceding 24-month period. Be sure to contact the destination you plan to visit, as each province has its own requirements. Stuck at the border with Fido, being denied entry, would stress out even the most savvy road tripper.

I’ve always known Vivian to be a true original, and when I asked her if I could interview her for the Style Council she said, “Well, I’ve always been left-of-center, and these days I don’t really care if my plaids and stripes match! I just like to suit myself.” Perfect! The thing is, when you decide not to follow “The Rules,” and you set out to “suit yourself,” that’s when true creativity happens.

One pattern I have observed across organizations is how executives are distinguishable by the legacies they leave behind. In my prior organization, I could pretty accurately predict whether a person had ever worked directly for a specific executive, based on the thinking skills they demonstrated and developed in others. This executive had taught her staff how to think by challenging them and being transparent about her own problem solving and decision-making thought processes. She was a multiplier, and she left a legacy of strong thinkers and leaders.

MEET MISSY: In 2011 Missy Hartley’s husband, Charlie, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a highly invasive form of brain cancer.  Together, they spent the next two years enduring treatments and living life. Fighting cancer, raising two girls, running a business, and keeping up with the finances shifted their daily existence into survival mode. Charlie passed away in 2013. Missy closed their building supply store and focused on her girls. Hair, makeup and clothes were the last thing on Missy’s mind. The years of heartache and worry left Missy looking and feeling run down.

Whether it is Tom Hanks playing a WWII hero, Will Smith protecting the White House, or Matt Damon as Jason Bourne keeping our CIA honest, Hollywood has supplied us with incredible Patriotic Films. The Reel Corner challenges you to a Patriotic Films “Find the Film Words Challenge”

Summer is officially here and with a vengeance.  It is hot, and that’s a fact! I absolutely love long, hot, summer days, and I love the long, warm, summer evenings, even more. Unfortunately, I have read many articles explaining that summer can be extremely unhealthy.

To tell you the truth, both statements are true. Summer is fabulous, and to my mind, the best time of the year. But, there are things one must do to protect against the hot and harmful elements of summer. Many thoughts I will share are common sense and simply serve as reminders. However, a few new things are important, as there is updated research about "things" we thought we knew.

Everyone loves the idea of purchasing a new (or new to them) vehicle and often will research the smallest details of their new car purchase. I have friends who will quote me volumes about safety features and “5-Star” ratings, even about how well the audio interfaces with their iPhone. But when they call me and ask a maintenance question, and I give my opinion and ask about the car's warranty coverage, I often get a blank stare.

Isn’t it lovely to see women, of any age, find their niche? When their inherent gifts line up with what they do for a living every day, and everything just seems to blossom and expand? This is true about Catie Wolfe in many ways…

One pattern I have observed across organizations is how executives are distinguishable by the legacies they leave behind. In my prior organization, I could pretty accurately predict whether a person had ever worked directly for a specific executive, based on the thinking skills they demonstrated and developed in others. This executive had taught her staff how to think by challenging them and being transparent about her own problem solving and decision-making thought processes. She was a multiplier, and she left a legacy of strong thinkers and leaders.

MEET MISSY: In 2011 Missy Hartley’s husband, Charlie, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a highly invasive form of brain cancer.  Together, they spent the next two years enduring treatments and living life. Fighting cancer, raising two girls, running a business, and keeping up with the finances shifted their daily existence into survival mode. Charlie passed away in 2013. Missy closed their building supply store and focused on her girls. Hair, makeup and clothes were the last thing on Missy’s mind. The years of heartache and worry left Missy looking and feeling run down.

I approached Marilyn about joining the Style Council because of her quintessential elegance and beauty, but what I learned is that she has quite a fabulous background in the fashion industry: As a fresh-faced, young lady from Larchmont, NY, she became an in-house model for the Henri Bendel and Bergdorf Goodman stores in Manhattan in the late 1950s, which she describes as an “alive and exciting experience. There were some outrageous and interesting personalities around at that time.” She met Julie Andrews, who was a newcomer, and Elizabeth Taylor, who was sporting that huge diamond! She also met her husband George then, and they have been married for 55 years. Continuing her modeling career in New York with the William Morris Agency, Marilyn has many wonderful and colorful stories and memories from that period in her life. After starting a family, she began employing her classic style and excellent taste selling clothes for the Tanner Company, and in fact still works for them today at the Doncaster Outlet on Hilton Head. Not just another pretty face, Marilyn feels strongly about giving back and today she is a sustaining member of the Junior League, a tireless volunteer for her church and the Boys & Girls Club, among others. Here’s to Marilyn’s classic style and timeless beauty! 

A few years ago, researchers at Yale University sent out a fictional application to science professors at top U.S. research universities asking them to evaluate an applicant. There was one variation in what the professors received—the name of the applicant for some was Jennifer and, for others, it was John. Both male and female professors showed a significant bias toward John in their evaluations of competency, hireability and salary to offer. This study came ten years after a study at Harvard University that asked students to share impressions of an entrepreneur—named either Heidi or Howard—with similar results. These studies disclosed unconscious bias—a bias that you are unaware of and, therefore, unable to control. This is not just a gender bias issue. Studies have confirmed that unconscious bias applies to numerous other factors including race, nationality, height, weight, accents and beliefs to name a few.

All right, no falling asleep now.  No nodding off either. This is a very important column and you really should read every word very carefully. Who is that snoring out there?  It better not be you or you will miss out on some very valuable information about—you guessed it—sleep.

Last month I shared a couple of lifestyle tips, and interestingly enough, I had several email questions about the little piece I shared dealing with sleep as a health issue. I will expand on that since there is interest, and also since there is a variety of new research about the benefits and drawbacks of sleep. Yes, believe it or not, there are actually as many drawbacks and health issues surrounding the concept of too much sleep, as there is about too little.

How much influence has Hollywood had on how we define Love? Whether it be a historical romantic film, drama, thriller, comedy, or fantasy, when love is portrayed on the screen, it sends a message. Love has been portrayed in a variety of ways over the years in film and has evolved over time. Thus, it is often debated whether films influence society or society influences film. While you contemplate this thought try to match a well-known love quote to its movie.

Zepp and Joey
Zepp and Joey are both labradoodles, brothers from the same mother, but you’d never know it. Zepp sports a soft-haired coat like a giant teddy bear, while his brother Joey wears his wild, wiry haired mane without apology. The two brothers arrived at the Hilton Head Humane Association after their owner passed away. Nearly inseparable, the plan was to find a family who was willing to take both of them. After hearing their story, Pink Magazine was excited to help out by treating these two already handsome guys to a gentlemanly makeover giving them center stage in our pet takeover edition.