Bella Magazine January 2023

Clean Slate

Usher in 2023 with a clean slate financially and at home; smaller workout goals, big results; fight the dinner doldrums.

ALSO INSIDE: Fighting human trafficking.

HYP NO SIS

Can change what’s going on INSI DE ,

So you can see the change s on the OU TSI DE

Read what our clients have to say:

“I had no idea hypnosis could do this! I went from a size 12 to a 4 in just six months!!! Hypnosis made it possi ble for me to EN JOY eating healthy, exercising, and relaxing my mind . I eat what I want, I’m not on any kind of diet, and oh my goodness …I li ke being thin! ”

- Lind a J-Milton

“I feel li ke a new woman in ALL areas of my life! I have a new and “much” improved attit ude toward life, eating healthy, and exercise . Why did I wait so long to come here?”

- Lisa D-Pe nsacol a

“When I came here, I wa s a hot mess with emotional bag gage and health issues. I literally feel li ke a plug ha s been pulled out of my head to let all the garbage out. I feel lighter and more relaxed Oh, and I’ve lost 40 lbs in 5 months! ”

- Melin da G-Pe nsacol a

leetracypensacola.com 701 E. Gregory St. | (850) 912-8639

As I sit down to write my column each month, I often look back at previous years to make sure I’m not saying the same thing every year – especially with the big months like January.

Looking back at last year’s January column, however, really made me laugh.

My husband and I had just sold our beach house and moved into our condo, which needed a lot of renovations. I wrote all about the clean slate of redesigning our space from scratch.

As I read about my optimism and excitement all I could think is, “bless my heart.”

Why, might you ask? Because we’ve done nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

A year ago was a challenging time to find contractors, designers and materials. It seemed impossible to schedule anything or anyone when appliances were estimated to take several months to arrive, and the arrival dates for other materials were all over the map – and not guaranteed. Prices were constantly going up as well.

And there was life – family health issues, market changes and my unexpected decision to purchase Bella.

It would be easy to look around my home and have it seem like nothing has changed in a year. But, in reality, so much has changed. This last year has been a big one. In addition to becoming a publisher and learning what the heck a publisher does, I got to fulfill a longtime dream of taking off on a sailboat with the man I love (and our fuzzy little dog) and sailing from Pensacola to the Bahamas.

The condo may look the same and some other things might not be what I expected – but I have zero regrets and a ton of gratitude.

So here I go again. Looking ahead to a new year with hope and optimism. I’m not sure where some roads are going to lead, but I know it’s going to be interesting.

I hope you find this issue of Bella interesting and informative – it’s got a lot going on – and I hope you are also looking ahead to 2023 with hope and optimism.

— Kelly MacLeod

inside this issue

BEAUTY: Med spas are on the rise

LOCAL FARE: The ladies of Aero

Baptist Weight-Loss Center

We provide an innovative team approach so you won’t have to go it alone on your weight-loss journey.

spendorsave

Lana Jewelry large “Upside-Down” diamond hoop earrings, $1,595, Nordstrom.com.

Christian Louboutin “Santia Botta 85” embroidered suede and leather boots, $2,195, Editorialist.com.

Proenza Schouler White Label smocked faux-leather skirt, $495, Farfetch.com.

STAUD “Lydie” coat, $550, Shopbop.com.

BY SLOANE STEPHENS COX / BELLAMAGAZINE.COM / PHOTOS PROVIDED

where to shop

Spend: Nordstrom.com, Editorialist.com, Farfetch.com, Shopbop.com

Save: IntermixOnline.com, SteveMadden.com, Shopbop.com, Zara.com

Shashi thin-wire crystal earrings, $68, IntermixOnline.com.

Steve Madden “Lasso” leather western boots, $229.95, SteveMadden. com.

Endless Rose smocked faux-leather skirt, $63, Shopbop.com.

Faux-fur coat, $299, Zara.com.

trends Dangerously FASIONABLE

By Jo Rich

If you have a special event to attend but don’t want the same song and dance with a dress, this little number is for you! And everyone lives for a great jumpsuit. Be sure to turn heads at your next event when you walk into the room with this perfectly tailored, avant-garde piece from Revolve.com. But seriously, it’s the chains and deep V – STUNNING!

• Revolve.com - Pheonix Jumpsuit black on black, $650.

Sparkle & shine into 2023

By Allison McCrory

Pull out all the stops and channel your inner elegance when dressing for the New Year.

Lush velvet, rich jewel tones, sparkles and flirty feathers are all ushering in 2023.

“I’ve always loved velvet, but we are really seeing a lot of it right now,” said Jill Noble, owner of Drift Boutique on Nine Mile Road.

Feathers are coming in hot, a whimsical touch Noble described as “a fun, flirty way to add some glam to your look.”

Now that Northwest Florida finally is wintering, you can’t go wrong with a blazer –maybe in plaid or maybe not. Take your pick to add the warmth and polish the season demands.

“Blazers are classic to me and a favorite way I like to style them is with denim and heels or even sneakers,” said Noble.

The denim cut of the hour features straight legs and high waists, a go-to look and feel for Noble.

“I’ve been living in high-rise, straight-leg denim for a while now and could not love it more!”

Shopping list: Feathers are the embellishment of the season, adding an unexpected touch to this black romper by Entro, $78.

Photo by Kate Treick Photography

Shopping list: High-waisted, destructed jeans and a velvet blazer are a wear everywhere duo that won’t disappoint. Blazer, $62, and cami, $38, by Skies are Blue; jeans by Hidden, $86.

Krystal Campbell

Krystal Campbell loves new beginnings.

In fact, she recently shifted from work in the event industry where she used her hospitality and nutrition degrees from the University of Alabama. Now she’s trying her hand at the film and television industry as well as continuing the modeling her grandmother encouraged her to pursue as a child.

Like all holidays, Campbell embraces the New Year season and the clean slate if offers.

“I love holidays, and for me the New Year is a chance to reflect upon and celebrate all the things that have happened in the previous year – both big and small. I don’t typically make resolutions, but instead I try to give myself a new set of goals at the beginning of each month – like reading a book or trying a new recipe,” Campbell said.

“Growing up, my family spent a lot of time together in the kitchen as my grandparents cooked, and the kitchen has remained my happy place ever since. I like to recreate that time now by cooking with my friends. I also like camping and being outdoors any chance that I get,” said the Daphne resident, who spends a lot of time in Pensacola.

“I enjoy going to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos baseball games and Pensacola Ice Flyers hockey games,” she said.

Campbell also enjoys a cultural fix and a shop full of history.

“I really like music, dancing, ballet and going to concerts. When I’m not working, I like to spend my time at antique stores and flea markets, adding to my vinyl collection, or reading a good book.”

Shopping list: This cream satin cowl neck slip dress by Endless Rose, $70, and vegan fur jacket by Sadie & Sage, $80, combine to create monochromatic magic!

Photos by Kate Treick Photography

Shopping list: This duo in classic black and white with a touch of sparkle is the perfect party look for welcoming 2023. Sequin cinched top, $70, and black skort are both by Endless Rose.

Shopping list: Fuschia is leading the way in a rush of deep vibrant colors dominating fashion now. Get festive in this velvet bodysuit by Day + Moon, $46. Pair it with another big trend, faux leather, showing up here in fun, functional shorts by TCEC, $48.

About the location: Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Rd., Pensacola; 850476-0380; scenichills.com.

Clothes compliments of: Drift Boutique, 960 E. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola; 850-332-5126; driftboutiquepensacola.com.

Hair & Makeup: Hair by Marcia Jackson of Naturally Royal Hair by Marcia Jackson, Envision Hair Studio, Daphne, AL; 251-607-1904. Makeup by Carrie Majors of Carrie Majors Beauty LLC; CarrieMajorsBeauty.com.

Model Compliments of:

Izon Models & Talent LLC, 301 N. Barcelona St., Suite E, Pensacola; 850-433-2099; izonmodels.com.

Photo by Kate Treick Photography

stylingthe shoot

Photography: Kate Treick / Fashion styling: Allison McCrory

Where to shop: Drift Boutique

Gorjana earrings, $45.

G. Stella earrings, $24.

G. Stella earrings, $24.

Coastal Grit necklace, $46.

G. Stella earrings, $19.

Vintage

Matisse shoes, $140.

Shu Shop shoes, $64.

G.

Haute

Stella bracelet, $32. Brumate wine cup, $24.99.

Havana sneakers, $140.

Shore bag, $52.

GIVE GOOD FACE

Medical spa services more popular than ever

By Leslie Peck

It is no secret that medical spa treatments are on the rise in the past decade.

There are many reasons women and men are booking regular spa appointments to ensure they put their best face forward. The increasing work from home environment has many professionals rethinking their close-up appearance while on camera. Social media has also created a boom in how we view and present ourselves to the public as online images have become our yellow pages to peers, colleagues and the general public.

Although there are many things we can do from home, there are certain services you definitely need a professional’s expertise. New med spas are opening each year and most of them are booked weeks out with the following services. If you haven’t ventured into the world of medical spa treatments, it’s never too late to start.

What are the best services to book and why? Here are some of the top appointments to get on your schedule in 2023.

Leslie Peck is a local makeup artist, aesthetician and lash artist with almost two decades of experience. She has worked 11 seasons of NYC Fashion Week as well as several beauty shoots while living in New York City. Leslie also has experience in TV, film, print and celebrity makeup in Los Angeles. She specializes in bridal makeup, skincare education and was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal in 2007.

1FACIALS

Facials are so much more than a fluffy spa service with steam, hot towels and cucumbers on your eyes. Facials should be a staple in your schedule the same as getting your teeth cleaned. Think of your routine facials as a customized, deep clean for your face. Great add-ons for any facial are microdermabrasion, dermaplane or a hydration facial.

• Microdermabrasion. Using a slightly rough instrument to glide over the skin, microdermabrasion removes dead skin and cleanses pores to gently resurface the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and age spots.

• Dermaplane. This is the best facial to create a buttery, smooth, glowing appearance to the skin. A blade is used to exfoliate, clean the pores and remove dead skin along with all of the vellus hairs on the face which allows product to go deeper into the pores. Dermaplane will not cause the hair on the face to grow back any different than it was originally.

• Hydration Facial. This is a non-invasive treatment for removing black heads and resurfacing the skin while pushing hydrating ingredients into to the layers of the dermis

2MICRONEEDLING

This treatment involves tiny skin pricks to cause the skin to produce extra collagen to repair the newly damaged skin. This speeds up cellular rejuvenation, which can smooth fine lines and wrinkles as well as help with age spots, sun damage and other concerns. Typically, multiple sessions are necessary for best results.

3PHOTOREJUVENATION OR IPL

Consult with your medical aesthetician or dermatologist about scheduling an IPL. It is good for most skin types but there are a few exceptions. This treatment only takes about 15 to 20 minutes, has minimal pain and typically has great results after one to three treatments. There isn’t much downtime, but you do have to be careful with sun exposure soon after an IPL.

Photo by Getty Images

4PEELS

Consult a medical aesthetician to find the best peel for your skin. A series of peels may be necessary over a few months to achieve the desired results. The most common peels range from light to medium to deep.

• Light. An alpha-hydroxy acid peel is quick and has little to no downtime. This peel goes only into the top layer of skin and is safe for all skin types. The AHA peel is great for rejuvenating, clearing mild blemishes and brightening the skin.

• Medium. Glycolic or trichloroacetic acid are used to go into the middle layers of the skin to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, precancerous skin growths and keratosis. This peel takes 30 to 45 minutes and may require oral pain medication to help with discomfort. A medium peel may have up to a week of downtime.

• Deep. Phenols are the chemicals used in deep peels, which are the most complicated of all the peels. This type of peel may require general anesthesia, IV pain killers and can take 60 to 90 minutes. There will be several days of downtime, but the results will be the most dramatic. This peel is best done under the care of your dermatologist.

5HAIR REMOVAL

Getting rid of unwanted hair is one of the top services in the spa industry today. These options include waxing, sugaring, electrolysis and laser hair removal. Most hair removal treatments have little to no downtime, however, side effects can include red, irritated or sometimes slightly swollen skin. Electrolysis and laser hair removal may cause skin discoloration on certain skin tones or with sun exposure too close to treatments. Skin discoloration can be temporary or permanent.

• Waxing. Wax is a very common

way to remove hair on the face and body. It is great for anyone that does not have sensitive skin and is not using Accutane, Differin, Retinol, Glycolic Acid, Salisylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide. Waxing has great results but always let your service provider know what medications and treatment you are using to avoid damaged skin.

• Sugaring. This is the most organic form of hair removal and best for all types of skin. Sugar is a paste made of water, sugar and lemon. It is safe for anyone to use on any part of the body. The results typically last longer than waxing because the direction the hair is pulled is more likely to get the hair from the root. This is best for sensitive skin.

• Electrolysis and Laser. Both of these treatment have a higher rate of permanent hair removal with multiple treatments. It is best to make sure to see someone that is certified in these types of hair removal.

BOTOX AND FILLERS

Botox and fillers are a great way revive a youthful appearance and temporarily smooth lines and wrinkles.

• Botox. Botox is an injectable used to temporarily relax the muscles that cause wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes. This can be used to prevent wrinkles and to smooth out existing wrinkles. There is very little to no downtime and only takes a few minutes for the service. Typically, you would need to get Botox every three to six months to maintain the desired look.

• Fillers. Fillers can be used in various areas of the face to plump and smooth lines. Unlike Botox, fillers can last longer – a few months and in some cases, a few years. Fillers may cause bruising, bleeding and swelling and typically hurt more than Botox.

Photos by Kate Treick Photography

New space, clean state

indoor comforts into an outdoor space

By Bradley “Beej” Davis, Jr.

There’s a joke about Pensacola weather: we have summer and we have not-summer.

Sure, the “not-summer” can include some pretty spectacular conditions, hence our adoration for outdoor festivals. But it can also include some pretty chilly weather, which sometimes makes you just want to hibernate at home, perhaps by a cozy fire. What if we could have the best of both worlds? A warm refuge with outdoor ambiance. John and Silvia Switzer have done just that with their waterfront home on Pensacola Bay.

“Humans should be connected to nature,” Silvia said. “I think people forget that we’re living with nature.”

When the couple deconstructed the original 1902 Elizabethan structure on the property to build their current home, they had a clean slate. While the home itself hosts a number of custom features, the Switzers were deliberate in using components from the original house. One of the components was a mantle for the outdoor fireplace that is the centerpiece to the environmentally-friendly backyard, including an eco-pool and an organic garden, even down to the pest control. Natural yards need some upkeep, naturally, but Silvia explained it’s good for the mind, body and soul.

“It’s good for your mental health. Sure, it takes a little bit of taking care of, but it’s therapeutic.”

She added that the milder weather in the fall and winter makes it easier to maintain. And speaking of this time of year, the sun sets at the perfect point for optimal bay views. Experiencing a little “not-summer” weather? Click on the gas fireplace, lounge with a blanket or a book or maybe invite over some family and friends for wine and s’mores. Or simply lounge in a chaise and reflect on your 2023 goals and resolutions and the exciting things on your clean slate.

Repurposing

Fighting human

Trafficking in Northwest Florida

By Magi Thomley Williams

Human trafficking has gained a lot of attention recently, but it has been going on a long time. Most of us believe it doesn’t exist in our neighborhoods, but we are wrong; human trafficking is pervasive and well hidden in Northwest Florida communities.

Trafficking has many faces:

• A young man enlisted in the U.S. military is afraid he will be discharged because of compromising photos taken of him without his knowledge. He is blackmailed for almost all his monthly income by someone he has never even met except on the internet.

• A young girl is enticed into a relationship on social media by someone who befriends her and gives her expensive purses and jewelry. That person then threatens that he will harm her younger sister if the girl doesn’t provide nude photos demanded of her.

• A woman has no other option except to perform sex acts for money so she can provide food, clothing and shelter for her children.

• A teenager whose family sends him from South America to take a promised job in the

U.S. When he arrives, he learns that he must pay $250,000 for his freedom by turning over 90 percent of his weekly minimum wage paycheck to his abductor.

• A child must steal from local retailers and sell drugs to schoolmates in order for a relative to allow her to continue sleeping in his home when she has nowhere else to go.

All of these are real examples of human trafficking right here in Northwest Florida. Shocking, right?

Sergeant Jason Comans, who leads the Missing Persons Unit of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, identifies and intervenes on behalf of kids who are at risk to become trafficked. He shares that he works with numerous agencies, including Department of Children and Families, Gulf Coast Kid’s House, Call to Rescue, Escambia Search and Rescue and multiple faith-based agencies to provide the best outcomes for victims. Sergeant Comans’s task force investigates perpetrators through information sharing, intelligence sharing and arrests when appropriate.

Community organizations like NISSI, Magdalene’s House, Gulf Coast Kid’s House and others provide resources to the victims to

“Law enforcement gets the perpetrator off the street. Prosecutors put them in jail for as long as possible. Service providers help make the victim whole again. We really need funding – a community response of pouring into service providers and nonprofits, wherever their needs are. That is where victims get their healing.”

— Gretchen Busbee, victims witness specialist for the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida

help victims with their recovery and restoration. Officers have received training on how to interact with victims and recognize when they are stealing or selling themselves because they are being coerced and to understand that the victim may not have a choice in using drugs or engaging in other criminal activities.

Often, teens are drawn into trafficking through social media. Abusers find teens who need something, who are lonely, who need money, who need affirmation. They fill the gap, then set the hook. Teens become afraid or embarrassed to tell a parent, or they may feel they are protecting their family or a younger sibling from threats made by the perpetrator.

Residents in our area are fighting back against sex and labor trafficking. Real estate professionals Terry Mahoney and Lindy Hurd came together to create an annual Human Trafficking Summit in Northwest Florida. Attendees hear how to spot the signs of a human trafficking

victim, real stories of rescue and redemption, the reality of what human trafficking is and how close it is to home.

Sara LaFevers, president and CEO of the NISSI Project, reports that Network of Immediate Services for Survivors International provides immediate care for victims up to seven days and works with a network of aftercare longterm providers for victims of human trafficking. Reportedly, ninety percent of the time a victim is arrested for stealing, drug abuse or other crimes.

“Sometimes a survivor is given a list of resources or a hotel voucher,” LaFevers said. “The trauma a person experiences limits them to mental and emotional states at the age where the abuse started. You can’t expect a twelveor fourteen-year-old to navigate life. To have people come alongside them to help them navigate resources will be a game changer.”

NISSI is unique in the entire state of Florida and is being looked at as a pilot for potential expansion

throughout the state.

Magdalene’s Gifts and Gatherings is a gift shop with profits going to fund care for those who have been trafficked. The shop is now located in what once was a massage parlor where women were trafficked. The massage parlor was raided in 2019 and the business owner was convicted, paving the way for the space to be repurposed. Nearby residents were shocked to learn that they had been driving past the building daily, ignorant to the abuse.

“It was a God thing – the incident triggered something in people’s hearts. We didn’t know the scope of human and sex trafficking,” Josie Cotti of Magdalene’s House said.

The same building that was trafficking victims now helps provide revenue for Magdalene’s House, a place for victim recovery. Magdalene’s House offers counseling to help make victims whole after their abuse and resources for women who need to move out of the area for their safety.

LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS

• Set Free Refuge, 850-463-5191, setfreerefuge.org

• Pensacola Dream Center, 850-6070453, pensacoladreamcenter.org

• FavorHouse, 850-434-1177, favorhouse.org

• Magdalene’s House, 850-3848169, magdalenes.org

• Saving Grace Women’s Home, 833-472-2335, savinggracewh.com

RE-ENTRY PROGRAMS

• Change Unchained, 855-262-2228, changeunchained.com

• Bright Bridge Ministries, 850-9128383, brightbridgemnistries.org

NON-RESIDENTIAL SURVIVOR SERVICES

• Set Free Refuge, 850-463-5191, setfreerefuge.org

• Health and Hope Clinic, 850-4794456, healthandhopeclinic.org

• The NISSI Project, 850-206-8107, thenissiproject.org

• Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, 850-436-9373, escambiaso.com

• Children’s Home Society, 850-2662700, chsfl.org

• Gulf Coast Kid’s House, 850-5955800, gulfcoastkidshouse.org

• Ministry Village at Olive Baptist Church, 850-473-4466, ministryvillage.org

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• National Human Trafficking Hotline, 888-373-7888

• University of West Florida Annual Human Trafficking Summit: “Online Exploitation & Staying Safe.” 6 p. m., Jan. 19. For more information: facebook.com/ events/1193600844555884

WARNING SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

• Appearing malnourished.

• Showing signs of physical injuries and abuse.

• Avoiding eye contact, social interaction and authority figures/ law enforcement.

• Seeming to adhere to scripted or rehearsed responses in social interaction.

• Lacking official identification documents.

• Minors with unexplained expensive designer items or electronics.

Photos by Kate Treick Photography

TOP: Sara LaFevers, president and CEO of the NISSI Project, reports that Network of Immediate Services for Survivors International provides immediate care for victims up to seven days and works with a network of aftercare long-term providers for victims of human trafficking. ABOVE: Stacey Kostevicki is the executive director of Gulf Coast Kid’s House which houses multiple agencies involved in investigating, prosecuting and treating child victims of trafficking.

Each person is unique and their journey to find peace and healing is like a puzzle. Gretchen Busbee is a victims witness specialist for the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida.

“We can’t do the same thing for every single victim,” Busbee said. “It’s wonderful that so many people want to help, but not everyone is qualified, or ready. We don’t want to revictimize someone or put them through a program that isn’t suited to them.”

And then there are the perpetrators of the abuse. There is a misconception that not enough is done for victims by prosecutors, or there is an assumption that the victim always wants to be rescued. Some victims take a long time to be ready to leave the abuse, or they may never be ready.

While it’s hard to understand, victims may be in love with their abusers or may have found a level of security, even comfort, in knowing what is expected of them and what

they can expect in return. Life outside those parameters may be even more terrifying than the life they experience at the hands of a trafficker. For these and other reasons, it’s difficult to get a conviction for trafficking. Alternatively, prosecutors have more success convicting and incarcerating traffickers for other crimes effectively ending the trafficking activities.

How can you help?

Learn to recognize signs of trafficking and report those to law enforcement. Don’t engage perpetrators or try to intervene as that might endanger the victim.

Make requests for services for victims to any of the local service providers. They work closely with each other to offer the best fit for someone who needs help.

Support the fight against human trafficking by donating to local nonprofit organizations providing services to victims. Shop at Magdalene’s Gifts

and Gatherings and support events like Brunch and Bubbles and Fashioned 4 More that raise funds and awareness for service providers.

Volunteer for tasks that fit your skill set and training. Most people aren’t suited to counseling or direct services to victims but may volunteer at events or provide services such as housekeeping, maintenance, groundskeeping or meals for facilities and service providers.

“Law enforcement gets the perpetrator off the street. Prosecutors put them in jail for as long as possible. Service providers help make the victim whole again. We really need funding – a community response of pouring into service providers and nonprofits, wherever their needs are. That is where victims get their healing,” Busbee said.

To abusers, Cotti said, “We see you. We know you are here. We are not going to stop until you are not.”

To victims, she said, “We hear you, we know. We are here to help and bring change.”

Deb Atchison and Josie Cotti of Magdalene’s House in Gulf Breeze. There is also a gift shop with profits going to fund care for those who have been trafficked. The shop is now located in what once was a massage parlor where women were trafficked.

Photos by Kate Treick Photography

High flying fun with The Ladies ofAERO

By Kelly MacLeod

Imagine planning a trip and not having to worry about the extra hours spent getting to the airport, standing in line at security and waiting to board your flight, then once your board you have to sit on the plane waiting for everyone else to board and then for the plane to taxi, and then you’re stuck in your uncomfortable seat for hours and then you finally land and have to taxi to the gate, wait to get off the plane and journey through that airport – you probably have to ride on a train – deal with getting to a car and maybe, possibly, you finally get to your final destination.

The Ladies of Aero: Lisa White, operations manager; Shaundra Gibbs, flight coordinator; Wendy Smith, owner; Denise Roesle, flight coordinator; Joyce Kinter, chief financial officer.

Photo by Kate Treick Photography

A heart for CHILDREN

Wendy Smith has a big heart that she shares, even when it hurts.When she learned about Covenant Care’s My Wish program and had the opportunity to help a 13-yearold boy battling cancer who just wanted to see the movie “The Batman” in a movie theater, Wendy helped Covenant Care rally the community to dress up in costumes and welcome the oncology patient to the rented-out theater in Gulf Breeze. She has also become engaged with Rally Pensacola, an organization that raises funds to support families with children fighting cancer and for childhood cancer research. When a battle is lost, her heart breaks.

“My husband tells me, ‘Wendy, you have to protect your heart.’ But I can’t just turn away. Once I get involved, I’m involved. I think the way I protect myself is I love harder, I love the people around me harder.”

It’s exhausting. Now imagine parking right next to the hanger door, walking through an open, friendly waiting area and then right out the door you are mere steps from the plane. You walk up the steps to the plane and choose any of the comfy, plush seats with the few other people on the plane –whom you know because they are your friends or family and you booked this private charter to fly together. Sounds delightful, doesn’t it?

Wendy Smith and her husband Joel have created this amazing experience – along with their team – at Aero Air Charter.

EARLY LIFE TRANSITION

Wendy didn’t speak English when she moved with her family from Puerto Rico to Pensacola when she was 11 years old.

“This was a tremendous culture shock for me,” she said. “I couldn’t even speak English and since I didn’t know the language kids used to think I was deaf and mute. Everything was hard about that transition here.”

She picked up the language quickly, though, and went on to graduate from Washington High School and the University of West Florida. Like many people who grew up in Pensacola in the 80s and 90s, she couldn’t wait to leave. But, she also always felt the pull back.

Wendy graduated from UWF with a psychology degree and assumed she would need to go on and get her masters degree. Her mother had another suggestion for her.

“My mom asked me one day, ‘well what are you going to do after you graduate?’ And I said, ‘I have to get my

masters.’”

Her mother suggested she consider being a flight attendant.

“That never crossed my mind even though I always wanted to travel, and so I did it. I thought I was gonna do it for two years, I ended up doing it for 10 years. I moved to Boston for one year and then I moved to New York for nine years,” Wendy said.

She had family in New York and was able to live with them while she traveled for work and traveled back and forth to Pensacola because she was dating her husband Joel who had started a small business that eventually became AppRiver.

Wendy and Joel first met in high school, dated off and on for 10 years and have now been married for 21 years and have two sons, ages 14 and 19.

NEXT STAGE TRANSITION

After flying Aero as customers, the Smiths were approached about purchasing the business. At first, Wendy was hesitant.

“We dug in and did our research and the more we dug in, the more we realized it was a diamond in the rough,” Wendy said.

They bought the business, rebranded and purchased and updated another plane. They now have three planes, including one that Wendy calls “J Lo” because it is “sexy.”

When the pandemic hit, Aero worked on relationships.

“COVID gave us gave us the opportunity to build relationships with aviation brokers, which is about 95 percent of our business. They are extremely important because a broker is not going to put their passengers that they’ve had for years on just any carrier. So it gave us the opportunity to build relationships with them and for them to get to know us and trust us,” Wendy said. “And the ladies on our team are the reasons why – even

though everything is over the phone or online, their personalities come through. They’re so genuine that people feel that and that has made a tremendous difference – I’m super proud of them.”

THE LADIES OF AERO – THE A TEAM

When you walk into Aero, you feel the good vibes – and that can’t be manufactured. The team knows how to have fun while working hard.

“There is a time when we do laugh, but when we need to get down to work, we are focused straight ahead,” said flight coordinator Denise Roesle.

“It’s all focus and safety-conscious and getting the job done, but it’s also light-hearted for the most part. It’s important that you are happy when you come to work,” said operations manager Lisa White.

The team gets rewarded with some perks such as travel, lunches and a really nice Christmas party. But it’s the day-to-day that keeps them happy. The team sees the Smiths as having the right balance of engagement but also trusting their team.

“They are proactive but hands off, that’s what I really, really like,” Roesle said. “They ask how we are doing and if they can help with anything, which is

good.”

And the team knows that the Smiths care.

“When they ask how we are doing, I feel like they sincerely care what the answer is. They are not asking ‘how you are doing’ just to pass the time, they sincerely care,” White agreed. “Joel says he surrounds himself with A players and A players bring other A players to the game. He says that we form the A Team.”

The team grew through association. Each person was brought on by someone else on the team who knew them and worked with them. They were all connected somehow, including the pilots and other members of operations and maintenance.

Wendy encourages a focus on experience for the Aero customers – she wants them to experience an elevated, boutique flight experience.

“She gives us wonderful feedback that helps us be better,” White said while also describing that part of getting to participate in perks like travel is so that the team can experience what they are selling. “They want us to experience what we are selling. When we traveled to New York I quickly realized the biggest benefit that private travel gives you is the time saved. It was amazing.”

Pensacola-based Aero Air Charter offers an elevated flight experience and can fly anywhere in the continental U.S., as well as Puerto Rico and the Carribean.

Photos by Kate Treick Photography

The Dog Stop

PROVIDES ONE-STOP CARE AND RESOURCES FOR YOUR PET

By Magi Thomley Williams

When Jodi Gup saw a gap in services for animals in the community, she quite simply found a way to fill it. Well, maybe the journey wasn’t as easy as that. The Dog Stop, located at 1175 Gulf Breeze Parkway, opened in June of 2020 – in the middle of a pandemic.

Gup moved back to the Gulf Breeze area from Washington, D. C., 10 years ago and found that jobs matching her skillset, interests and passions were hard to find. Gup’s background is in senior fundraising positions in the field of higher education; she worked with private research universities engaged with national and international clients.

Gup had a newborn and wanted to spend more time with her daughter while still being professionally challenged. After taking a few positions that weren’t a perfect fit, Gup’s career coach suggested she consider raising funds for herself rather than other organizations by starting her own business.

Gup quickly realized she wanted to work with a franchise offering a good model, infrastructure and a team to rely on. She also wanted to work with animals. Gup connected with a franchise consultant which led to her relationship with The Dog Stop franchises.

The Dog Stop is an indoor/outdoor dog care facility offering dog grooming, dog daycare, dog boarding, dog training, in-home services and a pet retail store. Facilities promote healthy and happy dogs through socialization, physical exercise, mental stimulation, professional grooming and a holistic retail approach. The dog boarding – or STAYcations – include all-day play, individualized care and private suites.

Gup has no regrets about leaving corporate work.

“No day is the same with animals,” Gup said.

She has more time with her daughter, which was her No. 1 goal. She can go to dinner with friends or go to the gym; flexibility in her calendar allows her to enjoy life more and be more engaged in community activities.

Gup transferred her management skills to The Dog Stop

where she relies heavily on her team of eighteen to run daily operations. The shop opens at 6 a.m. to care for boarding dogs, then at 7 a.m. day care and grooming dogs begin to arrive.

“It’s so much fun to see animals that come in shy who just blossom when they are being socialized with other dogs,” Gup said. “We also have a retail side, so it’s been a lot of fun educating our community on animal nutrition, whether it’s just everyday limited ingredient or food and supplements that are specific to that dog’s needs because he or she has a health issue.”

While owning a pet care franchise may seem a world away from a senior level fundraising position in Washington, D. C., Gup feels that she honed her skills through her years in corporate work. She appreciates all the learning opportunities through the years, and they serve her well in her entrepreneurial venture.

“Don’t shy away from following your passions. Passions can change depending on where you are in your life. Owning a business was not my passion at 30, it is now.”

She also recommends learning to manage and learning to communicate, in both written and verbal forms – and to take constructive feedback.

“Learn to raise money, it has gotten me so far in my career. Learn to read balance sheets; you don’t need business school to be business savvy.”

Despite challenges brought on by COVID-19, surprising zoning restrictions and unexpected high costs of labor, she wouldn’t change a thing about her journey to business ownership.

Gup expressed appreciation to Nemours Children’s Specialty Care in Pensacola where she learned and practiced many skills she continues to use in service to the community and in her business. Gup is also grateful to the many families in Gulf Breeze and beyond who entrust their pet’s care to her team.

Magi Thomley Williams is a corporate consultant, writer, speaker and trainer at Thomley Consulting. She can be reached at Magi@ThomleyConsulting.com.

The Dog Stop, owned by Jodi Gup, is located at 1175 Gulf Breeze Parkway in Gulf Breeze. For more information, call 850-565-5335, email gulfbreeze@thedogstop.com or visit thedogstop.com.

Photos by Kate Treick Photography

Little hearts need big

Big Brothers Big Sisters recruiting new mentors

By Allison McCrory

Two hundred West Florida children are waiting for mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida.

“We don’t have a hard time finding kids but we struggle finding mentors,” said Amber Cassart, marketing and communications specialist at the agency.

And while being a mentor results in big dividends, it doesn’t require a large time investment.

“A common misunderstanding is that becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister is a time constraint and big commitment,” Cassart said.

In fact, mentors, also known as Bigs, are only asked to meet with their mentees (Littles) twice a month and contact them weekly. Of course, more time together is welcome but not essential.

January is National Mentoring Month and the agency is working hard to recruit new Bigs in Florida’s western-most four-county area. Events and social media are both planned to find mentors who could influence the 200 children to live their best lives.

There is no disputing the data on the power of mentoring, explained Cassart.

“Through an independent study we know that when our Littles meet regularly with their Big, they are: more confident of their performance in school, get along better with their family, 1/3 less likely to hit someone, 27 percent less likely to begin using alcohol, 52 percent less likely to skip school, 37 percent less likely to skip a class, 46

EXPERIENCE A

MY

LOT FROM A LITTLE

Life was at a painful crossroads. In 2010, my only living sibling and his son, my nephew, died unexpectedly. My mother, independent just a few years before, was living with me yet debilitated following complications from a broken hip.

In a few years’ time, my life split into before and after. The mother who had always been the caretaker now needed care from me, and I was suddenly an only child and the leader of our family.

If life has taught me anything, it’s that the best way to heal is to give.

So, desperate for joy, I surfed the web and found mentoring. With my husband reluctantly on board, we began spending every Saturday afternoon with our “Littles,” a girl in kindergarten and her brother, a first grader.

Our first outing was the downtown Pensacola Christmas parade. Stacey barely said a word while her older brother Jonah was the spokesman for both of them as we caught trinkets and munched on Subway sandwiches. But week by week, she relaxed, and so did I.

Our Saturday afternoons included simple outdoor activities like a picnic and play in the park or when spring arrived, the pool or beach. Beautifully, wonderfully, these kids loved the simple things – the shapes of clouds, the intricacies of rocks. Car rides were filled with “guess the animal” games, ’lots of laughter and sometimes silence. Eventually my Little and I, comfortable and interested in girly activities, spent our outings without the guys.

We skated, played with animals at the pet store, bowled, played tennis, camped, visited a theme park, attended baseball games, went to movies, worked on Girl Scout badges, cooked, practiced for the county spelling bee, practiced for the volleyball team, checked out library books and collected prizes for summer reading, created art and ate a lot of frozen yogurt. During the pandemic, I dropped groceries on her porch and we cooked via FaceTime. We even traveled to Dollywood!

With my two children in college and starting careers, I relished moments with children again, feeling the familiar pride while watching musical performances and sporting events – drinking in the laughter during silly moments. I was a big Big winner. The life and joy and smiles were a healing payoff in return for a few hours each week. Even on weeks when spending the afternoon with my Little seemed impractical, we met anyway. And the feeling after our meeting was always the same: a full heart.

Now my Little is not that little. She’s a responsible, funny, considerate, bright car- and dog-owning working young woman with a goal to get her own apartment in the next year. After a recent birthday lunch we hugged, she flashed her beautiful smile and said, “It was good to see you.”

And just like that, I was the winner with that familiar full heart.

— Allison McCrory

percent less likely than their peers to start illegal drugs.”

The benefits continue into college and beyond.

“Findings indicate that our mentoring programs help break cycles linked to poverty. Alumni were 75 percent more likely than non-alumni to have received a four-year college degree. Alumni were 39 percent more likely than non-alumni to have current household incomes of $75,000 or higher,” Cassart noted.

support of a caseworker communicat ing with them and their Little’s parent. And there are customizable options for what mentoring looks like for every match. Matches can be school-based or community-based when mentors pick the child up from home and share

activities within the community. Duos can opt to mentor together.

“In school-based matches, many volunteers visit on their way into work, during their lunch hour or perhaps during a long break during the day. Some

Anyone interested in becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister can visit bbbsnwfl.org or call 850433-5437 for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties; 850-664-5437 for Okaloosa and Walton counties and 850-763-5437 for Bay County inquiries.

profile

Tracie Hodson

Advocating for domestic violence victims feeds the FavorHouse Director’s soul

By Allison McCrory

When Tracie Hodson took over the helm of FavorHouse of Northwest Florida, it was like returning home.

“I am the daughter of a survivor,” explained Hodson, who, unlike many children of abused parents, fortunately did not grow up witnessing the emotional and physical abuse.

Yet the effect was so profound when she discovered the ugly truth at age 22 that it forged her life mission.

About to graduate college, Hodson sent her mother, who lived 2,200 miles away, a plane ticket to attend her graduation and her sister’s high school graduation, just days apart. Her mother flew to her daughters’ celebrations, never returning to Arizona.

For the first time Hodson’s mother revealed her isolated, beaten-down life to her daughters. Her abuser inflicted physical abuse that once resulted in a trip to the emergency room due to injuries from a baseball bat. And there was the more insidious emotional abuse. In triangulating abuser fashion, the abuser used her daughters as tools against her, telling her they did not want to see her. Like a wild animal, separating and isolating made his prey more vulnerable.

When Hodson discovered the ugly

secret at age 22, her life mission was crystal clear. And she was irate.

“Even though I wasn’t there to experience it, like some of the kids do that are coming through our programs, and I was in my ’20s when I learned about it, it still had such a deep and profound impact that somebody thought they had the right to treat my mother that way, that they thought they had the right to use my sister and me as a weapon.”

A PATH TO HER CALLING

That fire to strengthen the vulnerable continually simmered as Hodson worked other non-profit jobs throughout her career. But domestic violence advocacy is the siren song that kept calling her back.

Her early years in the non-profit world were at a retirement community as well as a women’s and children’s program. She poured herself into an Indiana

Photo by Kate Treick Photography

domestic violence shelter, working 50- and 60-hour weeks leading a capital campaign that tripled the shelter’s capacity.

Exhausted, she bowed out of social service briefly to work for a theater. Then one frigid day in 2018, her husband out of town, Hodson was sitting home alone in Indiana when an epiphany struck.

“We had three days of negative 50 degrees. So, I called him up and he was in Las Vegas or something – it was sunny, it was 70 wherever he was and I’m like, well it’s frigid here. I was sitting in front of the fireplace, I had three blankets on, I had the dogs with me, I had the heat turned up, frozen water pipes, it was awful. So, I told him, ‘I don’t know why I’m here. Our kids are graduated, you’re on the road.’ I told him, ‘next job offer I get, I’m out.’”

And many job applications later, she was! WSRE hired Hodson as their director of development and she moved into the Lillian, AL, home purchased from her grandparents years before. She worked at WSRE from 2019 until June when she replaced long-time FavorHouse executive director Sue Hand, who passed away a year before.

While she enjoyed her job leading fundraising for honest, accurate news programming as well as excellent children’s shows and more, there was always a missing piece.

“I liked what I did but I realized that for all that I liked I was missing something. I’ve dedicated my career to the non-profit world. I have been either in the fundraising aspect and/or the executive management aspect since I graduated college. I have provided services for older adults, I have provided services for pregnant women and babies, I have provided services for domestic violence victims and of course public television.”

Despite the worthiness of the causes, Hodson’s life mission was still calling.

“When I stopped doing social services, there’s a difference in the way my soul feels. When I come to work

and I know what I did today made a difference and that it’s directly helping to change, save, make a difference in somebody’s life, the social worker in me was really struggling with not having that direct connection.”

RETURNING HOME

So stepping back into domestic violence advocacy was answering a call for a problem much more common than most realize.

With one in three people harmed by intimate partner abuse and one in four experiencing severe physical abuse, Hodson pointed out that it is statistically impossible to not know an abuse victim.

Healing from the confusion that someone professing love is an abuser is a process.

“A victim will leave seven to nine times before they leave for good, statistically. And so it’s not unusual for someone to come through our program and leave for a while and then come back. But each time they come back we give them different help because they’re in a different spot in their journey.”

The joy of her job is witnessing new life emerging from destruction.

“When you finally see somebody when they came in, they were broken and they were at the end of their rope and they felt like they had no choices, and when you start to watch them grow,” she said. “I get to see the woman who came in here the first time a complete and total mess and then each time she comes to see the counselor she’s a little stronger and she’s putting pieces together.”

Those kinds of rebirths are Hodson’s payoff for answering her life’s calling.

“This environment, this job, this mission, in particular, I feel led and like this is supposed to be my job, not FavorHouse specifically, but being an advocate for domestic violence victims.I tell a lot of people, you can run from what God wants you to do but he’s going to find a way to get you back into that anyway so you might as well embrace it.”

“This environment, this job, this mission, in particular, I feel led and like this is supposed to be my job, not FavorHouse specifically, but being an advocate for domestic violence victims.I tell a lot of people, you can run from what God wants you to do but he’s going to find a way to get you back into that anyway so you might as well embrace it.”

— Tracie Hodson

Photo by Kate Treick Photography

food & drink

DINNER DOLDRUMS

Is it time to change your routine?

By Liz Biggs

To cook, or not to cook, that is the question. Followed by the even more difficult question – what to cook?

Menu planning and grocery shopping can be time consuming and tedious. And not very gratifying when your family says, “Not spaghetti again!”

Maybe it’s time to shake up your weekly meal planning routine and try something new and different.

HOME CHEF

East Hill resident Brenda Mader loves to cook. She used to start from scratch every night, but to break up the routine, about five years ago she started having Home Chef meal kits delivered two to three times per week.

“Their weekly menu is varied and diverse,” Mader said. “It’s pretty easy to eat healthy with these meal kits: low carb, heart healthy, gluten free and meatless options are available. The produce is always fresh and high quality, and the meats and fish are excellent, too. You can also be very indulgent with some of the meals, too. I have gotten great ideas on what to make for dinner parties based on a meal for two that arrived for me and my husband.”

According to Mader, the Home Chef app is easy to use if you want to skip a week or change a meal if what’s been pre-selected isn’t what you want.

Some of her favorite meals are: Scallop Lemon Parmesan Risotto, the Korean Fried Chicken with Edamame Rice and any of their lettuce wraps.

GREEN CHEF

Pensacola Beach resident Katy Thompson has three Green Chef meal kits delivered per week and skips every other week.

“In general, I like using these meal kits because as a single person living alone, I find that I waste food as the quantity of what I need to buy versus what I need for cooking is vastly different, so it spoils,” Thompson said. “Also, I like the idea of cooking rather than warming up, but not having to overthink recipes. And I love having leftovers for lunch the next day.”

She likes the low carb options and feels the cooking steps are a bit simpler than some of the other meal kit delivery services she has tried.

HELLOFRESH

Eric Biggs, a Pensacola native who lives and works in Houston, has subscribed to HelloFresh for two years because it is convenient and keeps him out of the grocery store.

“Every Sunday I receive a neatly packed box on my doorstep with exactly what I want, and boom, my fridge is stocked for the week,” Biggs said.

He likes the varied choices and simple instructions.

“It is easy to cook something that I would have never made from scratch for myself, such as curry, ramen and shawarma. Over time, I have learned techniques that have made me a more cultured and capable cook.”

Before HelloFresh, he would buy ingredients to prepare meals and eat the same thing throughout the week.

“Plain and boring – no razzle dazzle. No mushroom cream sauce over steak and potatoes, no apple rosemary pan sauce

over pork chops, no ‘with a kick.’ This service elevates every meal to make cooking interesting and delicious,” Biggs added.

CLEAN EATZ

The meal kit companies listed above are not local. If you are looking to love it local, Clean Eatz is your go-to meal plan place. Located at 800 Navy Boulevard, all meals are made in store.

“Where health food meets fast food,” is how owner Sam

Photos by Kate Treick Photography

Owner Sam Poppell says Clean Eatz is “where health food meets fast food.”

Poppell describes Clean Eatz.

Poppell started out as a customer and loved it so much he ended up buying the store. He has lost 172 pounds by sticking to the Clean Eatz meal plan. His amazing before and after photos can be seen on the website.

“Clean Eatz is ideal for someone who has not necessarily eaten healthy before but wants to make a positive change –like I can’t keep eating French fries all the time, I need some healthier options,” Poppell said.

Clean Eatz is a dine-in café featuring a menu that includes burgers, wraps, bowls, flatbreads, sides and smoothies. Inside the café is an impressive freezer case that houses the Grab ‘N’ Go meals. These individually portioned meals can be heated in the microwave, stove or oven. Meals should be stored in the freezer and come with a six-month shelf life. The Grab ‘N’ Go freezer case has 70 different selections including these favorites: Philly Cheese Steak Pasta, Salsa Verde Chicken Fajitas, Pot Roast and Pineapple Chicken.

In addition to the café and Grab ‘N’ Go selections, Clean Eatz offers a weekly meal plan with no subscription, no obligation and no minimum order. Six fresh meals are available every week. The menus can be viewed and orders can be placed online. Meals can be picked up between Sunday and Tuesday. If meals are not eaten by Friday, they can be frozen. Meals are priced between $6 and $10, depending on how many are ordered. Price break information is available online. Some meal plan favorites are the Queso Beef Bowl, Bourbon Chicken Mac & Cheese, Kickin’ BBQ Baked Shrimp and Chicken Spaghetti.

APPLE MARKET

If you can’t make it over to the West side, David Apple always has dinner cooked for you on the East side of town. Located on Scenic Highway, the Apple Market deli serves up delicious homemade comfort food seven days a week.

To cook, or not to cook? With all these options, it’s a tough decision!

My Green Chef EXPERIENCE

To help me write this story, I subscribed to Green Chef for three weeks. My daughter loved coming home to find a package on our doorstep – it was like a big present. Some of the recipes had a lot of steps, but nothing we couldn’t handle. The food quality, flavor and presentation were excellent. The meals were delicious and portions were generous. I learned what to do with dates, fennel and lacinato kale and I especially loved the soups!

But I cancelled. Why? It’s expensive. When the introductory promo code deal expired, I couldn’t justify the cost. Convenience is the reason most people subscribe, but I have a Publix less than a mile away and I go there at least twice a week anyway. Also, I learned the hard way that you have to select your meals a week in advance. I missed the meal selection deadline and got auto-shipped pork and shrimp meals.

But mostly, I don’t like following directions or recipes. I’m more of a creative cook and like to wing it.

I may subscribe again at a later date to shake things up, but for now it’s back to Mom’s spaghetti on Mondays.

— Liz Biggs

RESULTS

By Leah Seacrest

Setting your sights on a clean slate while creating new goals for a fresh year is tough. Commitment to new habits takes shear will and a huge dose of motivation. Therefore, for change to be sustainable and considered a success, it must be gradual and achievable.

A study examining New Year’s change attempts conducted by researchers at the University of Scranton found that 23 percent of people quit their resolution after just one week. And only 19 percent of individuals are actually able to stick to their goals long term (two years, in the case of the study).

Smaller goals that are easier to achieve just might stick more easily. You simply need to do more than you do now to see a change that is significant and worthwhile.

So, if a full hour working out seems daunting, strategize to fit in 20 minutes, three or four days a week. After all, something is absolutely better than nothing. You may not achieve a ripped physique earned by hours at the gym, but you will make improvements towards better overall health and wellness.

Start by incorporating this simple 20-minute workout three times a week. Make it a non-negotiable appointment with yourself on your calendar!

Leah Seacrest is a seasoned fitness industry veteran with 30 years of experience teaching individual and group fitness. Leah is passionate about inspiring people to move and she contributes as a writer for Bella Magazine, coowns REGYMEN Fitness Pensacola and is corporate vice president of REGYMEN Fitness. Leah is also an ambassador for YOLO Board and Garden of Life. She is a mother of three and loves spending time on the water paddleboarding and hanging out with her family.

LUNGES

• Start in a standing position with feet under hips, holding dumbbells.

• Step forward or backward with one leg, lower your hips until both knees are bent at about a 90-degree angle.

• Step back to starting position.

• Repeat using other leg, rotating to the other side.

Photos by Kate Treick Photography

Exercises modeled by Trisha Green.

SQUAT

• Start in a standing position with feet outside of hips and toes turned slightly outward.

• Holding dumbbells, squat down as low as possible.

• Return to starting position.

• Keep your chest lifted throughout the movement and midsection braced.

SIT UPS (top)

• Begin by lying on the ground, knees bent, weight at your chest.

• Perform a sit up.

• Return to the starting position.

PUSHUPS

• Start in a plank position.

• Arms should be straight, shoulders over wrists.

• Bend elbows and lower your upper body slowly.

• Press up with your arms as you return to starting position.

BENT-OVER ROWS

• Start in a standing position, hinged at the hip with dumbbells in hand.

• Holding the dumbbells in hand, pull back leading with the elbow upwards, keeping your arm close to your side.

• Lower the dumbbell back to start.

Kick off 2023 with a clean financial slate

By Bradley “Beej” Davis

Just a few weeks ago, we were retrieving holiday cards from the mailbox. Now, those season greetings and family updates have been replaced by credit card bills and 2022 tax documents making many of us ponder our financial plans for the new year.

“I think the beginning of the year is a popular time for people to look at their investments because it’s tax season and they start getting their year-end statements,” said Alicia Ahern, financial advisor for Ameriprise Financial.

Ahern said in addition to squirreling away those documents, it’s a great time of year to evaluate your financial health with a somewhat clean slate. The question is, what does that look like for individuals? Does everyone even need a financial advisor? One thing to note is financial health and planning aren’t relegated only to the wealthy.

“I think everybody needs to take a look at their financial health,” said Ahern. She added this can be anything from making sure you have a will or a power of attorney. Financial health should even be considered after death.

There are several questions people often ask themselves – or should be asking.

“‘Do I need life insurance? What happens if I die? What happens to my family?’ I don’t think it’s a venue for ultra-wealthy people, and it’s always interesting to me that people who accumulate assets aren’t necessarily wealthy people,” Ahern said.

Naturally, everyone’s financial

position is unique. Some are blessed with family support, some started with nothing and worked diligently to lift themselves up to a different socio-economic status. Some are gig workers who may need some assistance organizing 1099s. However, there is one common thread to how we view money and finances: upbringing.

“Money is psychological to a certain degree. It’s in your head,” Ahern said. “It’s how you were raised. It’s how your parents spent money, it’s what they worried about. All of that filters down.”

Unfortunately, and too often, just growing up in a certain household situation doesn’t necessarily prepare you for the complexities of investing and planning for retirement.

“I do believe that in high school we should be teaching finance. We expect to come out of college, get a job and manage a 401(k) with absolutely no knowledge or experience,” she said.

It’s also no secret that the earlier one plans her or his financial future, it’s most often advantageous to have time on your side. It also doesn’t hurt to have someone you trust with your investments.

“Who do you trust? Are you getting ancillary advice? That’s just a clientadvisor relationship,” said Ahern. We’re all familiar with the adage “a rising tide lifts all boats,” and it’s the same with that aforementioned professional relationship. “It’s not about me making money, but you want your client to succeed because that’s how you succeed.”

So, it’s the new year, and we’re faced with our clean slate and 12 months of

rate changes, market shifts and even the political landscape. While these factors are always going to play a role in how we plan, it’s crucial we get guidance to anticipate those ups and downs.

“I say this to my clients, and I don’t mean to be facetious, but I’ve seen the movie before and I know how it ends. I’m 37 years into this business, we know how the movie ends, we just don’t know how long the movie is,” Ahern said. And it’s proper planning that ensures the movie doesn’t end badly. “I’m always looking at a year from now because that’s really how you should invest. When you’re investing money, you don’t know what happens on day one. It could go up, it could go down, it could

be flat.”

Ahern also stated that the government’s role also plays a hand in determining the state of your investments, notwithstanding of how it’s invested.

“I also recognize that the Federal Reserve is an appointed board and they have total control of the monetary policy, and so the government really has no control over that, and people don’t realize that,” she said. “Government sets fiscal policy; The Federal Reserve does monetary policy. Two entirely different things.”

Regardless of any and all of these dynamic factors, financial planning truly boils down to money in and money out.

What are your expenses? Do you have an emergency fund? Are you diversified enough? It’s not always about how much money you make: it’s about how much money you keep. After a thorough assessment of your financial position, it’s then just a matter of creating and working towards a goal. These are the sails for a ship that can navigate inevitable turbulent conditions.

“First of all, you have to assess your risk tolerance,” said Ahern, adding that your timeframe and setting realistic goals are key pieces to the puzzle. “And if those things are in place, you can survive a downturn because you will have been managing what you have without emotion towards that goal.”

It can be argued that there are three pillars to maintaining a healthy community: physical health, mental health and financial health. When our community is healthy, everyone benefits. When wiping clean that slate with resolutions for 2023, remember financial planning can help everyone be healthy and happy.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of a financial advising professional. Do not use this information as the sole basis for investment decisions; it is not intended as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual investor.

Alicia Ahern of Ameriprise Financial says January is a great time of year to evaluate your financial health with a clean slate.

Photos by Kate Treick Photography

Are you being tracked?

By Leah Seacrest

Look down at your wrist and chances are you’ve got on a device that’s tracking something. Whether as simple as your steps and calories burned or a device with more intricate data such as heart rate or sleep, you just may be one of five Americans that own a smartwatch or wearable fitness tracker according to a Pew Research Center survey.

Only a few years ago, early smartwatches seemed like mere extensions of our phones. Now, they have become much more sophisticated in the data they deliver making them a stand-alone, must-have device.

Wearable technology is the top fitness trend for 2022, according to a survey of 4,500 health and fitness professionals by the American College of Sports Medicine. Today’s devices are comprehensive gadgets capable of measuring blood oxygen saturation, monitoring sleep quality and taking ECG readings from the wrist, among other metrics. Consumers now have more access than ever to data related to their overall well-being. They have the ability to connect with others through their fitness gadget’s communities for extra motivation. Also, the ability to manually record additional information about themselves and their lifestyles create a fuller picture of one’s goals and progress, allowing people to tweak habits to more positive ones. As a result, fitness tracker companies amass a wealth of data on users that can be used for further health research.

All of this information begs the question – what do I do with all this data? Insurmountable volume of analytics without proper context can be paralyzing. It’s important when focusing on certain metrics to do your research on what you are tracking. Building proper goals and learning your standard health data daily will give you a foundation in which to track progress or irregularities in your metrics. These insights give a higher sense of awareness when things seem a little off. The medical community surely sees the potential that fitness devices hold for detecting more advanced metrics that can play a role in preventive care.

Regardless, if you are simply tracking the number of steps you take a day or your readiness score for a strenuous workout, fitness tracking devices are here to stay. Whether you’re a workout junkie, goal setter or a health-minded individual, a fitness tracker can be a great investment. They offer a fun way to set goals, track pertinent health data and nudge us towards positive changes to a better self.

When asked what and why

a tracking device, several local fitness device enthusiasts responded:

• “I love the Apple Watch ECG feature, the heart rate during workout and the recovery feature. I have a heart condition I had surgery to repair in May and that is mostly why I pay attention to it. I make sure HR (heart rate) doesn’t get too high and comes down in good time following workouts.”

— Maci Herman

• “I have the new Pixel Watch with Fitbit. The things I pay closest attention to are minutes active a day, steps and how many days a week I am meeting my goals. I pay attention to heart rate, too, because it tells me how I am managing my stress throughout the day.”

—

Ryan Wiggins

• “(I wear a) Garmin. I pay the most attention to steps and intensity minutes. I use GPS when I’m biking for distance and speed.”

— Dottie Phetteplace

• “I wear a Whoop. Quality of sleep – I do not sleep enough!”

—

Melea McFall

• “I use a Garmin to track my time of the month, sleep quality and workouts. I love that it connects with other apps where I can get a good idea if I’m hitting my daily goals and pinpoint if there’s anything irregular going on.”

— Mary Smith

they use

worth the trip

30A girls weekend

By Magi Thomley Williams

Shoulder seasons on the beach are the best!

While I’m grateful for every tourist and the dollars they bring to the coast, there’s just something about the calm before and after tourist season that gives my soul peace and joy. I also cherish the time I spend with my girl tribe resting, relaxing, enjoying food, wine and good times. Girls’ beach trips are food for my soul.

Six friends and I set off in November for the beaches of 30A. If you don’t know, 30A is the highway that runs between Panama City Beach and Destin. The area includes several beach communities including Rosemary Beach, Seaside, Aly’s Beach and Santa Rosa Beach.

We arrived on a Friday afternoon and chatted over drinks and snacks on the beachside deck of our condo on Blue Mountain Boulevard before venturing out to dinner at Fish Out of Water on the golf cart we rented from 30A Golf Cart Rentals. I won’t tell you how I know this, but law enforcement frowns on using golf carts on bike paths – keep to the roadway!

Fish Out of Water offers stunning beachside sunsets, a package store in the lobby and hallways filled with scenes created by local artists keep guests occupied while they wait to be seated. The cocktails and food were superb, and the sunset from our deck-side table was a gift. One of our favorites from the cocktail menu was the Liftoff. Crafted from Tito’s Vodka, St. Germain, Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice, and Prosecco, the Liftoff was the perfect way to start our evening out. The shrimp tacos were one of our favorite dishes, while everything we ordered was delicious and generously portioned.

Redd’s Pub was our final stop of the evening where we enjoyed live entertainment from the John Galt Dance Band. Redd’s is a self-described dive bar hidden behind a gas station on 30A. Drive slowly or you will miss it.

We snagged some selfies with the life-size cardboard cutout replicas of such notables as Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley, and mugged with funky sunglasses, fun boas and distinctive head gear. Redd’s welcoming owner, Redd Vizard (who prefers “just Redd”), “sings and slings” as she serves as

bartender and songstress from behind the bar.

Saturday morning, we woke to perfect weather for an eyeopening walk along the beach and then brunch at Blue Mabel Smokehouse & Provisions. Smokehouse Bloody Marys and bottomless house champagne served with assorted juices were a hit. Chicken & Biscuits, Brisket Hash with famous Blue Mabel Burnt Ends, herb-roasted potatoes, peppers, onions and melted fontina finished with two eggs prepared your way. Croque Mabel was another yummy choice made of brioche toast, creamy bechamel, gruyere cheese, sliced, smoked brisket and topped with sunny-side up eggs.

After browsing through the mindboggling number of shops along the 30A stretch, we were thirsty. Fortunately, Red Bar – a 30A landmark – was right on the way. Trevor and Jesse are experienced barkeeps with lots of unique cocktails to offer up, including a Stress Reliever or a Lemoncello ’tini, or they are more than happy to fill a mug with a cold beer of your choice. The clientele at Red Bar is just as eclectic as the décor – bikers, professionals, locals and tourists all find a common, easy sense of place at the bar.

Saturday night was a highlight of the trip for all of us. We scheduled a sunset beach bonfire with Shorefires30a. The team at Shorefires30a took care of all the details. The owners, Ron and Shelly Harris, secured the required permit and delivered chairs, a firepit, music of our choosing, plenty of firewood, a table for our food and drink, trash can and cleanup. All we had to do was show up and enjoy the sunset by the fire.

Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar was our final stop for the evening. The restaurant gets the odd name from the legendary fishing reef off the coast. Offerings include raw oysters and other coastal cuisine, live music, southern hospitality and amazing views of the beaches. Our crew feasted on oysters –raw and grilled – and crab bisque while we enjoyed the cool evening breeze.

Sunday morning gave us one last opportunity for a beach stroll and coffee on the deck before returning to reality. Shoulder seasons on the beach with a girl tribe are the best. If you don’t have a tribe, get you one. Then get out there and enjoy a girls’ weekend on the beach before the tourists return!

TOP: The sunsets on 30A never disappoint. MIDDLE: Bloody Mary and Croque Mabel from Blue Mabel; firepit set up by Shorefires30a. BOTTOM: Blue Mabel Smokehouse & Provisions is a hit for brunch, Bloody Marys and bottomless house champagne served with assorted juices.

out&about

Pensacola Opera’s MODA Fashion Show

On Nov. 3 the Pensacola Opera held the MODA fashion event at Vinyl Music Hall. Professional models walked the runway in fashions curated by Julia Ussery of Scout Boutique. The proceeds from this event will continue to fund Pensacola Opera’s mission of producing professional opera productions, free community events and opera-related educational programming. The models, featured on pages 58-61, are: Alison Goetz, An Hayward, Annakate Fowler, Britney Bright, Brittini Price, Courtney Conner, Daniella Silva, Estefany Silva, Kailey Lincke, Kira Benton, Lonni Moorer, Macey Hicks, Maegan Kramer, Mary Tempesta, Samantha Burke, Sandra Saladrigas, Tasha Bronson, Tilani Dissanayke.

Photos by Kate Treick Photography

EVAN JORDAN, CHRISTIE COLEMAN, KRISTIE GREENHUT, LAURA RUSSELL, ELLY TIDWELL

PEGGY BUTLER, TERI LEVIN, ROBIN ZIMMERN, KIM WILSON

PHILLIP AND MICHELLE SALZMAN

ANDREA KRIEGER AND JAN MILLER

BRYAN AND COURTNEY FITZSIMMONS

TISH CHILDS, ANNE FRECHETTE AND MELANIE CURTIS

ANA LAURA FLEITAS AND JENNY NOONAN

out&about

Soirée in Paris Celebrity Poker Tournament

On Nov. 18 Court of De Luna was transformed into a night in Paris for a philanthroparty. Pamela Bolado, founder of local nonprofit Mission Wonder Women Foundation, hosted the organization’s inaugural fundraiser. The night included poker, great food and entertainment, shopping, a silent auction and French crêpes. All proceeds raised will fund Mission Wonder Women’s Economic Entrepreneurship Program for survivors of sex trafficking. Other local non-profits in attendance were The Secret Place Home, The Pensacola Dream Center, The NISSI Project and Magdalene’s.

Photos by Lakesha Davis

SARAH MERCED, ANA RODRIGUEZ, MADELINE PENDLEY, DORA OMERICAO, MIKE PAPANTONIO, LIRA NDREU, LUCA CUPI, CALE DAY

ALICIA TAPPAN, PAMELA BOLADO, CLAIRE MONTGOMERY

KIMBERLY WATSON, JO RICH

NORMA GARCIA, WHITNEY ADAMS

LAURA ELLIS, VIRGINIA CLARK

NANCY & BILLY CLARK

SABRINA SHAW, YASMIN OWERA, NANCY CLARK

TOM PACE & ANGIE KENNEDY MADRINA CIANO, ROB MARIANO, KATHY PETERSON

MADELINE & ZACH PENDLEY

PAMELA & MATT BOLADO

People remember how you make them feel her perspective

I’ve heard it said that people don’t always remember your name, but they always remember how you made them feel. It has taken me almost a lifetime to find this to be true.

My husband and I recently attended his 40th high school reunion. A man walked in and slowly made his way over to me. I hadn’t seen him in years but we used to be close. The first thing out of his mouth was not hello – it was a reference to something I said to him decades ago.

I hadn’t meant to be unkind all those years ago. I suppose I had less of a filter back then and blurted out some semiconstructive criticism. It was late, I had one drink too many – we all have our excuses for being unkind, don’t we? He seemed to take it well. He’s a thick-skinned kind of a guy so I never gave it a second thought.

But I hate that the words I said so long ago are what he remembers most about me. I hate that I made him feel small. No matter how big someone is, unkind words can make them feel small.

I was caught off guard that night at the reunion and didn’t know what to say. He’s a popular guy so I didn’t get much of a chance to say anything at all. Or maybe I just couldn’t muster up the courage to face him. Isn’t it so much easier to avoid confrontation and pretend everything will work itself out? Lalala – that’s how I’ve lived most of my life. Back in my corporate career days, I always made my sales quotas but I got

a bad performance review for not following up with an irate customer. I just couldn’t pick up the phone and deal with him. My inability to handle conflict almost cost me my job. Lucky for me, my old friend attended the reunion festivities on the following day. I gritted my teeth, took a deep breath and made a point to look him in the eye and apologize for the words I said to him years ago. He made light of it and jokingly said he’s survived much harsher criticism. He’s not just a regular Joe so I know that to be true. Even so, I was thankful to have the opportunity to make things right between us.

We all have regrets – things we have said or done that we wish we could take back or do over. Unfortunately, sometimes we never get the chance to apologize or make amends. But sometimes, the chance walks right in the door. If chance walks in your door, will you find the courage to rise to the occasion, speak up and make peace? Or will you risk regret and feel bad about it for the rest of your life?

It took almost a lifetime – and a high school reunion – for me to learn an important life lesson. Use your words to lift people up, not tear them down; don’t make anyone feel small. No matter how many years go by, people will always remember how you made them feel. And when chance walks in the door and presents the opportunity to make amends, speak now or forever hold your peace.

Liz Biggs is a Pensacola native and mother of four. Once upon a time, she had a high-pressure career but now she has a pension and is a freelance writer for Bella Magazine. Liz enjoys music, dancing, tennis and travel and tries to find humor in everything.