june
Greenville, SC
free!
skirt!is
www.skirt.com
YES! YES! YES!
YES! I’ll be the first to say “I’m sorry”
when I’m wrong. YES! Make it two
scoops of chocolate. YES! I’ll stop resisting
change. YES! Let’s go skinny dipping.
YES! I promise to read the instructions
first next time. YES! I’ll up the ante.
YES! Leftover cold pizza for breakfast.
YES! Bring on blind dates, speed dates,
The Online Dates. YES! More vegetables, please. YES! More
caresses, please. YES! I’ll break up with
sugar. YES! I’ll risk heartbreak. YES! I’d
rather be a Venus Flytrap than a shrinking
violet. YES! I won’t take “no” for an answer.
YES! I’ll take pleasure walks as well as power
walks. YES! I’ll find magic in the mundane.
YES! I’ll try not to be so well-behaved.
W h a t ’s o n y o u r Y E S ! L i s t ? Cover copy by Nikki Hardin, Art by Trina Dalziel
“I only have ‘yes’ men around me. Who needs ‘no’ men?” Mae West
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Publisher
Nikki Hardin editor@skirt.com National Art Director
Caitilin McPhillips caitilin.mcphillips@skirt.com National Editor
Margaret Pilarski margaret.pilarski@skirt.com Greenville Editor
Sheril Bennett Turner sheril.turner@skirt.com Sales Executives
Kathryn Barmore 864.525.9596 kathryn.barmore@skirt.com Denise Nelson 864.551.7295 denise.nelson@independentmail.com Graphic Designers
Shelli H. Rutland Shearer Wludyka Photographers
John Fowler 864.380.9332 promoimaging.com Susan Gray 864.201.8395 susangrayphotographer.com Sheril Bennett Turner
Sales: 864.551.7295 FAX: 864.260.1350
skirt! is all about women... their work, play, families, creativity, style, health and wealth, bodies and souls. skirt! is an attitude...spirited, independent, outspoken, serious, playful and irreverent,
Essays and Profiles
sometimes controversial,
Please Don’t Feed the Narcissists
always passionate.
Stacy Appel..................................................................................... 10
Calendar Submissions
Roar
Send information or mail to sheril.turner@skirt.com, or mail to skirt! Greenville, 1708-C Augusta St. #335 Greenville, SC 29605.
Jen Wittes Rognerud................................................................ 14
Letters to the Editor
Profile: Adina Estes
Always in Bloom.......................................................................... 16
All letters must include the writer’s name and city/state.
Profile: Brenda M. Owen
Writers & Artists
Wedding Woman....................................................................... 18
Our guidelines are available online at skirt.com. Submit artwork or essays via e-mail to submissions@skirt.com.
Profile: Hannah Rainwater
Bridal Bargainista.......................................................................... 20 You Can’t Go Home (to Economy) Again
skirt! is published monthly and distributed free throughout the greater Greenville area. skirt! reserves the right to refuse to sell space for any advertisement the staff deems inappropriate for the publication. Unsolicited manuscripts must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Letters to the editor are welcome, but may be edited due to space limitations. Press releases must be received by the 1st of the month for the following month’s issue. All content of this magazine, including without limitation the design, advertisements, art, photos and editorial content, as well as the selection, coordination and arrangement thereof, is Copyright © 2011, Morris Publishing Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this magazine may be copied or reprinted without the express written permission of the publisher. SKIRT!® is a registered trademark of Morris Publishing Group, LLC.
Women make more than 85% of all purchasing decisions.
Amy Vansant................................................................................... 24 Shimmy
Nadine Karel.................................................................................. 27 No Uncertain Terms
Women spend almost 2 of every 3 healthcare dollars.
Stephanie Hunt ........................................................................... 28
Features
From the Publisher/Editor and Letters.............................6 Women control 2/3 of the nation’s disposable income.
Calendar.............................................................................................. 7 Don’t Miss.......................................................................................... 8 Skirt of the Month........................................................................ 9
Women influence 80% of all car sales.
F-Word.............................................................................................. 13 He’s So Original with Kevin Fort......................................22 June Survival Guide.................................................................... 25 skirt! Loves................................................................................... 26 skirt! Says....................................................................................... 30 Blooms Day.................................................................................... 31 Meet... Christine Faust.............................................................. 32 Browse............................................................................................... 33 Planet Nikki..................................................................................... 34 skirt! Finder.................................................................................. 35
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Ju n e 2 0 1 1
The Yes! Issue
This month,
make every “yes” an unconditional double-dip, skinny-dip, party-mix approach to life.
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Letters
Cover Artist Trina Dalziel is based in London but wishes she lived in a forest. Since the age of six she has dreamed of being an illustrator. Trina grew up in the north of Scotland and studied
Keena Hutchens Winston-Salem, NC
at Maidstone College of Art in Kent, England, and has lived as an au pair in Copenhagen, Paris and Helsinki. Most of her work is first hand drawn with pens, brushes and inks and then completed in Illustrator.
can come from exhibitions, films and books, but also by “trying to walk slowly and look
work at lillarogers.com and trinadalziel.com.
Hi Sheril, Just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for the great article on me in the May issue of skirt!...it’s great! I’ve sent it over to a few friends :) Cindy Youssef Greenville, SC
Inspiration, for Trina,
at things.” See more of Trina’s
I have to respectfully disagree with the quote from Erica Jong on the F-Word page [May 2011]. Although I don’t have kids, I do have a few friends who are at least partially into attachment parenting, and I can say from my experience that they are independent and intelligent women who have taken the time to do their own research in order to decide for themselves what is right for them and their child(ren). I would argue that no lifestyle choice is inherently antifeminist; it only becomes so when women lose the right to make their own choice and when the choices they do make lead to disparagement from others, whether that be Pat Robertson or Erica Jong.
Sheril, I got the May issue of skirt! yesterday and I absolutely love the content. Thank you so much, it is a real pleasure to know you!
From the Publisher
the Yes! issue When an introvert says YES to an event, committee or party, please understand that she might be doing that to please you. She wants you to like her and she honestly believes the world will end before she has to make good on that yes. As the time draws nearer, she will begin scheming to find a way to get out of it. Sprained ankle? Stomach virus? Hiding in the house on Halloween with the lights out? I’ve used them all. It’s a process that resembles a wild animal trying to chew its own leg off in order to escape a trap. I’m getting better at being honest. I hate committee meetings and would be a lousy board member, so no thank you. I don’t like eating tiny food while standing up, so please count me out on that political fundraiser. I’ll send a check and stay home with a big plate of spaghetti. In those cases, NO is my reasonable, righteous line in the sand, but at others it’s just a cowardly lion. A way to keep myself in a snug, familiar niche. That’s when I have to say YES to trapeze lessons, to a dinner party where I know I’ll be intimidated by the accomplishments of the other guests, to a public appearance that could make me look like a fool. I always say an adamant NO to writing a book because I’m so afraid I have nothing to say. But what do I have to lose if I’m the only one to know about it? Saying no is my way of avoiding the possibility of failure, so I might whisper a tiny yes to myself and see what happens. Maybe YES is all it takes to prime the pump, turn the ignition, tease a smoldering desire into a roaring fire.
Nikki
publisher@skirt.com
Anna Matusz Greenville, SC
Sheril, I just wanted you to know that I thought that my He’s So Original article in the May issue looked great! I’m glad I was talked into doing it. Thanks. Ted Volskay Greenville, SC
From the Editor Twice I said yes. Twice I was a June bride. My second marriage on June 8, 1996 was a memorable occasion, celebrated romantically every year…until 1998. That year, full-blown pregnant but not due for another six weeks, as I dressed for our anniversary dinner I went into early labor. Now each year on June 8, instead of enjoying a romantic dinner for two, my husband and I are usually blowing up balloons for the children’s birthday party on June 9. For those of you who have recently said yes, to marriage that is, this month you’ll meet a witty wedding planner with a big heart, plus you’ll discover what our three wonderful women wedding specialists do to make Upstate brides blissful. Or, if saying yes to the shoes is more your thing, our June He’s So Original man is no dummy, especially when it comes to heels. This June, come with us as we march down the aisle—or just enjoy the front row seat we’ve reserved just for you—as we say yes, no and maybe, baby.
Sheril oui
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sheril.turner@skirt.com
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A local fav, sample over 100 wines from around the world at the 11th Annual International Wine Street Festival on Trade in Greer. All proceeds go to the Make-aWish Foundation of SC. thecazbah.com/events
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New York and D.C. have been doing it for years, Greenville guys, it’s time to grab your high heels and run for charity at the Men’s High Heel Race to benefit the American Diabetes Association’s Greenville chapter. go-greenevents.com/highheel
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Hit a homerun for NAMI and help fight the stigma that surrounds mental illness! This year’s NAMI 5K Walk for the Mind of America will begin and end at Fluor Field, followed by a Greenville Drive baseball game. namigreenvillesc.org
Legend 2. Herbie Hancock transcends limitations and genres including jazz, bebop, R&B, electro funk and classical, all while maintaining his unmistakable voice. peacecenter.org
Be a Survivor 11. This Survival Skills Workshop kicks off with Emergency Nutrition/ Edible Plants and includes Fire Making/Shelter Building and Basic First Aid. chimneyrockpark.com
Family Fun 3-4. The Swamp Rabbit Festival & BBQ Cook-Off includes a storytelling festival, a BBQ contest and a children’s art festival. trilliumartscentre.org
Moo 15-19. With plenty of family fun, the Mighty Moo Festival in Cowpens celebrates the history and honors the vets and crew of the USS Cowpens CVL 25 and CG63. cowpensmightymoo. com
Musical Greats 7-8. Don’t miss Josh Groban on Tuesday and Rush and their Time Machine Tour 2011 on Wednesday at the BI-LO Center. bilocenter.com
Community 17-18. The 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration will celebrate African American freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures. greenvillerec.com
A Must See 9-25. A touching and human comedy about a formidable retired woman, don’t miss Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks: A comedy by Richard Alfieri. centrestage.org
Surprise Dad 17. Calling all kids 5 and under! Come make something special for your special dad for Father’s Day at the Children’s Museum! tcmupstate.org
Run With It! 11. Walkers and runners of all ages, unite in support of adoption by participating in Run Walk Adopt in Greenville. nightlight.org/5k/
Wake Up 11. The Simpsonville Sunrise Run includes an 8K and 1/4 mile Kiddie Kaper with portions of the proceeds to benefit Leukemia and Lymphoma research. simpsonvillerun.com
Recycling Twist
FREE! 17-23. Meet the people and Ideas That Changed America at the Chautauqua Festival 2011—including 20 different interactive theater performances. greenville chautauqua.org
25-26. Don’t miss the Upcycled Living Fair & Market in Greer, the first event in the Upstate to spotlight amazing re-purposed creations! upcycledlivingfair.com
National Iced Tea Month • Candy Month • Gay Pride Month • Flag Day • International Clothesline Week • National Camping Month
National Dairy Month • Skyscraper Month • National Rose Month • International Picnic Day • Black Music Month • National Smile Month skirt.com
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“...nonprofit that helps adults break out of poverty through education.
25 Get Your ’70s Dance Duds On for Disco Rock the night away at the 2nd Annual ’70s Disco Fever fundraiser at Larkin’s Sawmill at North Main on Saturday, June 25 from 8pm to midnight. Don’t miss this groovy evening featuring disco music, delicious food and drink, a silent auction, dance contests plus a contest for best cool attire! Proceeds benefit Michael’s Way, a nonprofit that helps adults break out of poverty through education. Tickets are $40/person or $75/couple and are available online at michaelswayupstate.org or by calling 864.241.0972.
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Traci Daberko is an illustrator and graphic designer in Seattle, WA. See her work at daberkodesign.com.
Skirt by Betsey Johnson Saige Consignment Boutique 221 Pelham Rd., Greenville saigeconsignment.com
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Most importantly, dear graduate of any age, believe in your own eccentric genius. Play hooky from the nonsense the rest of the world so desperately wishes to enroll you in and find your own nonsense, which will always be twice as rewarding. Stacy Appel
P
erched on the slopes of Rutherford Hill, the Auberge du Soleil resort is surrounded by a 33-acre olive grove, and boasts panoramic views of the Napa Valley as well as the gastronomic delights of a Michelin-rated restaurant. In fact, Auberge du Soleil, or “Inn of the Sun,” was a spectacular place to play hooky on my final day of school. I was invited by my friend Bea’s mother for a lunch there with just the two of them, and since it coincided with the date of my college graduation, I skipped the formal school ceremony in order to join them. At the time, this made perfect sense to me, as the meal I was treated to, including wine, tax and tip, would cost nearly as much as college tuition, and promised to be a lot more fun than parading around in a cap and gown with people I barely knew. The extravagance of this private celebration struck me as a fitting finale to the effort I’d put in, though Bea and her mother, unaware of my calendar conflict, assumed we were simply having a nice meal in the country. I never attended my high school ceremony either, so I suppose skipping Graduation Day was getting to be sort of a habit with me. I did like the official diploma they sent in the mail, but I was already a college freshman by then, thanks to early admission, and it seemed awkward and anticlimatic to hitchhike home for a day in an attempt to rejoin the class to whom I’d already said a dramatic goodbye. But I’ve always wondered what I missed. Living near a large university means that on a given few days in June, the streets above the U.C. campus are choked with long lines of about-to-be-grads or just-grads, and stores do a brisk business in tasseled cards and diploma frames and personalized keepsakes to mark the occasion. I never got any of this loot, just a massive student loan bill that took years to pay off. Most of all I miss having had the benefit of listening to an inspiring commencement speaker, some famous or radiant thinker who might have better prepared me for real life with brilliant, worldly advice. Winston Churchill, who spoke at Harrow School, implored the grads, “Never give in.” Steve Jobs bade Stanford students to have the courage to follow their hearts and intuition. Author J.K. Rowling urged Harvard graduates to value the gift of adversity, and musician Neil Diamond sang “Louie, Louie” to the graduating class of NYU, which just had to be electrifying, since everyone cheered and danced. I wish I had been been there, too. And Craigslist founder Craig Newmark told students, “Enjoy your life.” If only I had heard that on Graduation Day, my whole life might have been different—but alas, I was eating lunch in the wine country, without benefit of sound counsel. Possibly others are completing their education this year and, for the best of reasons, might be forced to skip their own graduation ceremony, just as I did.
Perhaps they, too, long for a last few tidbits of wisdom or at least an assortment of practical tips from an expert, lest they venture into the world unprepared for the complexities that lie ahead. I can only offer a morsel or two gleaned from my own experience, the things I really wish I had known when I started my post-grad life: Beware of Mapquest. Especially on frontage roads or when traveling to a hotel, when Mapquest routes will invariably call a driveway by a street name and have you back on the freeway when you meant to turn into a parking lot. Do not save packets of soy sauce, mustard, hot sauce and mayonnaise from restaurants. They will accumulate in your kitchen drawers and cabinets, you will forget to use them, and then they will either harden or burst open and create a sticky mess. Buy your own condiments. If your life is even a moderate success, you will not have the luxury of ironing more than once in a blue moon; therefore, do not buy linen clothing or anything with pleats. Even if you are extremely short on time, do not under any circumstances shave only one leg, intending to finish the other tomorrow. If a friend sits you down and says, “I’d like to share something with you, okay?” run for your life. Same with, “May I be perfectly honest?” Do not remove dirty sheets from your bed when you are exhausted. You will not have the energy to find the clean sheets and remake the bed, and will end up sleeping on the mattress pad with an itchy blanket over you, or else putting the dirty bottom sheet back on the bed. Do not pass a police car in traffic. Never describe a pleasure or a habit as “my one indulgence.” Nature doesn’t like this statement and you will automatically turn out to be a liar. Do not spend more on your hair stylist than on your therapist. If you find a therapist who also does hair, count your blessings. Never make your hair stylist angry while she is cutting or coloring your hair. Refuse to live your life by Committee. Sleep is more important than almost anything else except having fun. Dancing is more important than eating or working. Never ask anyone if you look fat, especially if the other person looks fat. Read poetry instead of murder mysteries before bed. Don’t drive drunk, text drunk, dial drunk, accept marriage proposals drunk or write in your journal drunk. Record your dreams. Keep confidences. Don’t feed the narcissists. Most importantly, dear graduate of any age, believe in your own eccentric genius. Play hooky from the nonsense the rest of the world so desperately wishes to enroll you in and find your own nonsense, which will always be twice as rewarding. Give yourself an A-plus when you deserve one. Have a great time or a bad time, but don’t fake it. Take naps. Floss. Brood, then eat something wonderful. Invent your own cure for a broken heart, and tell your friends. Practice saying no to what doesn’t fit in your life. It’s like weeding through a closet of clothes you’ve outgrown—in the very back, just behind the itchy old letter sweater or the faded prom dress, is a resounding “Yes!” you didn’t even know was there.
Stacy Appel is an award-winning writer in California whose work has been featured in the Chicago Tribune and other publications. She has also written for National Public Radio and is a contributor to the book You Know You’re a Writer When…. Contact Stacy at WordWork101@aol.com. 10
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The
Yes!
Issue
Say “yes”
to joining the circus, or at least to taking trapeze lessons.
skirt.com
Junew2011greenville
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The
Say “yes”
to running a marathon, or at least to trying a 5K.
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Yes!
Issue
f-word [ Feminism Free-For-All ]
Rape FISHNETS
Get out your fishnets! SlutWalks are sweeping the country and going world-wide as women turn out to protest the stereotype that dressing “provocatively” incites rape. SlutWalk organizers hope that the movement creates a global dialogue in which women feel comfortable discussing sexual assault without fear of blame.
Just the Facts. Amy Myers, a NJ high school student, has challenged Rep. Michele Bachmann to
FEMINIST FATHERS
This month, say thank you to the feminist fathers who coached your teams, encouraged you to be independent, believed in girl power and campaigned for Hillary.
a public debate on U.S. history and the Constitution. In her letter to Bachmann, she wrote, “As a typical high school student, I have found quite a few of your statements regarding The Constitution of the United States, the quality of public school education and general U.S. civics matters
Jane Pratt, founder of
to be factually incorrect, inaccurately applied or
legendary
grossly distorted.” Show Amy your support by joining her Facebook page.
Sassy
and
magazines Jane,
has
launched a website for women called xoJane. com. “Similar to Sassy and Jane, the overall philosophy will be bringing women together and not pitting them against each other,” Pratt says. “We’re creating a place where it’s OK to be selfish and not to figure out how to please your hus-
FUNDING
In May, H.R. 3, the “No Taxpayer Funding For Abortion Act,” passed the House with unanimous Republican support. Most pro-choice organizations say it goes far beyond the government’s current prohibitions on abortion funding and actually raises taxes on women who seek abortion coverage in their private insurance plans. stopthewaronwomen.com
band or boss or parents or whatever.” skirt.com
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I just needed one animal moment.
Jen Wittes Rognerud
I
n the second trimester of my second pregnancy, I felt what I can only describe as a thud of a realization. I would birth my second child at home. The decision came suddenly, like a bee sting or an unexpected double dog dare. I bounced the idea off a few close friends and relatives. Some of them called me crazy. Some referred to my plan as “an attempt,” as if a mid-labor ambulance ride were inevitable. Most forced the word “brave” from tight lips, unable to hide the terror in their eyes. Contrary to popular belief, women who birth naturally don’t do so to “show off.” I didn’t choose home birth for bravery or bragging rights. I didn’t do it to prove a point. Although I do question the standard of birth in America, I didn’t pick an alternative in protest of hospitals. I didn’t do it for religious reasons, and I didn’t do it for granola-girl street cred. I didn’t decide to do this for any reason at all. I woke up one morning and despite my attempts at rationalization, my maternal instincts came barging in with a new plan. Thud. Naturally, I had moments of doubt. I thought up worst-case scenarios. I blistered in the heat of uncomfortable silences and confused expressions. I heard, at deafening volume, the unspoken word on the lips of so many of my peers. Freak. Fortunately, the night my water broke, the doubt turned to determination; the nagging instinct became excitation. I lived in New York at the time. On the night of my son’s birth, our Poughkeepsie neighborhood was littered with snow banks, glowing like golden icebergs in the honey of the street lamps. There had been a surprise St. Patrick’s Day blizzard, an inappropriate belch at the end of a wonderfully warm winter. Throughout both of my pregnancies, Matt joked that he was going to start a club called “Poor Cold Husbands of America.” When pregnant, I throw the windows open in 30-degree weather. I dip the AC to 65. This night was no exception to the raging hormonal furnace. Matt was shivering, looking longingly at our cozy colonial each time we passed, as I ushered him up and down our street in a long, exaggerated pace. We were outside because I desperately wanted to walk. Luckily, that big thud of a decision had set things up so that I could do so. I could do whatever I wanted, and I energetically and obnoxiously ate up this sense of freedom and power. Beneath the ice and snow I could smell the green. I could taste spring. I was like one of those animals in Bambi—heightened senses, hormones thumping, babies brewing. I was an earthy glow worm, or some sort of tangle-haired woodland nymph. Me. Little Los Angeles-born, lipstick-wearing, spider-fearing me. Per the instructions of the official home birth bible, Ina May’s Guide to
Childbirth, we kissed through the early contractions. Not only did it dull the pain to near nothing, it was like I had never kissed before. Even though I was so big my coat wouldn’t button, even though I was wearing pajama pants soaked with amniotic fluid, even though my Poor Cold Husband of America was miserable, reluctant and embarrassed, I felt fantastic! I was a birthing genius! I was a powerful lioness, a sex kitten, a mother. It’s a moment I crave when life gets over-scheduled, hectic, and so rigorously routine—feeling wild yet in control, tasting spring—womanhood by design. I remember Matt’s lips, like soft butter or warm liquor—grounding, tranquilizing, mine. They had never felt that way before and they would, sadly, never feel that way again. As we strolled slowly, we looked up at the guest room window, where the midwives were laying out their inventory, preparing for the baby’s arrival. It hit me, walking that lonely street—before long I’d meet my Nolan, a boy so important for one I’d never seen. His sugar hung in the air like a heavy sigh, like the long walk between abstraction and bloody, screaming reality. We spent those last quiet minutes trying to hash out a middle name, throwing around crazy ideas like Hunter, Sailor, and Winter. Three weeks later, we would finally settle on James. Eventually it was time to face the music and transition and that inexplicably sweet and humbling pain—a pain so profound and otherworldly, it’s able to make you forget that anything else exists. Within an hour I would go from powerful lioness to desperate dog, sex kitten to touchy feral cat. And through it all I would walk through my house, room to room, shadowed by the father of my children; tearing off clothing and hiding in dark corners, stepping into the shower and out, clinging to the midwives and then pushing them away. It was my dance, my spring fever, my decision to stop in my tracks and crouch on hands and knees, pushing on the hardwood floor. As a professional doula, I am intrinsically a natural birth advocate. That said, I also encourage a woman’s right to choice in birth. Some feel safer in a hospital, some feel safer at home. Both options are totally cool with me. The only slightly opinionated thought I have about the whole thing is that some women don’t know all the options, they aren’t given many choices, and they are unaware of their incredible power. We walk around so painfully unaware of our animal selves. The unknown reason behind my initial thud was clear to me only after my son’s arrival. I just needed one animal moment. Little California girl, reality TV junkie, frothy-coffee-drinking brat needed just a little room to roar. As far as bragging rights? No, I didn’t birth at home to one up the women who prefer an epidural. I didn’t feel the pain to show off. I felt the pain to feel. And while I won’t brag about going drug-free, I might puff up a bit about making a choice. That’s the hard part, isn’t it? Going against the grain, getting it done, untying the inner beast and releasing a shy but triumphant voice. I may be just a little bit proud of all that.
Jen Wittes Rognerud is a freelance writer and postpartum doula living in Minneapolis. She blogs at yearwithout.net. 14
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The
Yes!
Issue
This month, Sayevery “yes” make “yes”
to an scaling Half Dome, unconditional or at least to trying the double-dip, skinny-dip, local climbing wall. party mix approach to life.
skirt.com
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They Do!
Adina Estes | Always in Bloom Even as a young child Adina had an affinity for flowers, but it wasn’t until she was planning her own wedding over 20 years ago that she decided to become a floral designer. “I consulted with a florist who actually told me she wouldn’t order what I wanted because she thought I wouldn’t like the flowers I had chosen. I ended up doing the flowers myself the day of my wedding—something I do not recommend.” Today, as the owner of Frilly Bloomers Florals, this creative gal makes floral fantasies come true all over the Upstate. Specializing in weddings, Adina also offers a ceremony concierge service, preferred vendor suggestions, unique rental items and, for out of town or super busy clients, Skype consultations. “My goal is to keep doing what I’m doing so that someday I can pay my awesome crew what they are worth!” she laughs. Read more at greenville.skirt.com. Photo by John Fowler at Carolina Florist Supply
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Consignment Chic Smart fashionistas know how to save money and still look fabulous!
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Augusta Road ds Newest Home Consignm ment Store
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864-616-6649
We Buy Estates
Consign 2118 Augusta St., Greenville & Design 864-236-5570 (next to McDonald’s)
Mon.-Fri. 10-6: Saturday 10-4
www.ConsignmentStoreGreenvilleSC.com
AIM77218
Interested in advertising your Consignment/ Resale Business on this page? Call Denise Nelson at 864.551.7295 or email denise.nelson@independentmail.com AIM77041
Always Buying Appraisal Services Available www.shinolaantiques.com AIM77068
emnants R Anttiqu que Mall, Upsc scaale al Thriftt & Co Conssig signm ment en Shhopp
Proceeds go to help Shalom House Ministries Dealer Space and Showcases Available. 10-6 everyday except Wednesday and Sunday 300 South Main St, Anderson, SC
864-226-1002
AIM77415
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They Do!
Brenda M. Owen | Wedding Woman A wedding officiant and ordained minister, Brenda is best known in three states (SC, NC and GA) as the Wedding Woman because of her beautiful, romantic and memorable ceremonies. “I love when I send the couple their ceremony and they tell me it made them cry.” Whether it’s traveling to a venue of the couple’s choosing, or overseeing an elopement for two on the lake, Brenda’s goal is to personalize the wedding to suit the couple’s needs. “Often couples can’t afford or they don’t want a big wedding, but I try to give all of my couples a nice wedding ceremony centered around their love for each other, one that they can look back on with fond memories. For just a little more money, they can have the wedding ceremony they want instead of an impersonal, courthouse quickie. Uh, no offense, Your Honor!” Read more at greenville.skirt.com. Photo by Susan Gray Photography
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presents
S only Y A
presented by Steven Batts of
6999
$
Free Appraisal For A Cash Offer OnYour Car!
Lunches and snacks provided
DAY 2
DAY 1
This full day event is a must for all embroiderers. These classes will enrich all aspects of your embroidery knowledge; from running machines, to editing and digitizing designs, to understanding software and how to turn your hobby into a business so you can own more TOYS!
$89 value
Sign up by June 25 and receive FREE EVENT PACK DVD.
July 8 & 9, 2011
9:00am-5:00pm both days
Location:
History of Embroidery Embroidery and Digitizing Secrets Uncovered Understanding Software How to Make Lots of Money with Embroidery
1004-C W Georgia Road Simpsonville, SC 29680
Call to register: 864-962-5353
Don’t want the hassle of selling your car yourself, or have you received a trade-in offer that was below your expectations? Call Rizan Automotive today. We will give you a free, written cash offer with no strings attached.
This main event will give you the opportunity to see step-by-step, how specialty embroidery techniques are done. All the techniques you will learn will come together to build a beautiful finished piece. Toys and Tools Demonstrations Stabilizer Basics Running Lace Cutwork Designs Fringe Puffy Foam Using Metallic Threads PLUS - Receive the complete lesson plan and embroidery files on CD to try at home
Let Rizan Automotive look out for you. We will inspect the used car or truck you want to buy and give you an honest, 3rd party assessment of what you are buying. Inspection fees are only $40.00 per car.
NEW! Adorable You! Software Made Easy Software demo
www.mariettasquiltandsew.com
We’re on
Facebook!
www.rizanglobal.com • (864) 991-1719
AIM77128
FREE DVD
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2D
Embroidery Education
Looking to sell your car or purchase a used car?
Collection We Offer: Full Interior Design Services Custom Window and Bedding Treatments Home Accessories Printing services for all Stationery and Note cards Gifts For All Occasions Bridal Registries Gift Certificates
Let us orchestrate your dream.
Store Hours
M-F 10:00 am to 6:00 pm • Sat -10:00 am to 5:00 pm • 864-239-3999
27 S. Pleasantburg Drive Suite 150 • Greenville, SC 29607
www.jpcollection.net
For the perfect products for your kitchen
We’re on
Facebook!
or bath, stop by a Ferguson showroom. It’s where you’ll find the largest range of quality brands, a symphony of ideas,
THE HE UPSTATE PSTATE’S NEWEST EWEST CULINAR ULINARY SEENSATION NSATION
and trained consultants to help orchestrate your dream. Come see why Ferguson is recommended by professional contractors and designers everywhere.
e Palmetto Palm Pa lmet lm etto et to Olive Oli live ve Oil Oil difference dif iffe fere fe renc re nce nc e fo Come in today and taste the for yourself. Over fifty of the freshest, 100% 100 00% Ex Extra Vi Virgin Olive Oli Oil O Oils il and aged Balsamic Vinegars from around the world.
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575 Woodruff Road
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Mon–Fri 10am–6pm & Sat 10am–5pm
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Visit us online at palmettooliveoilco.com
Schedule your bridal shower with us
2247 Augusta Street Greenville 864.298.0304
(864) 288-0281
FERGUSON.COM AIM77393
© 2011 Ferguson Enterprises, Inc All Rights Reserved
AIM77316
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They Do!
Hannah Rainwater | Bridal Bargainista Because of her passion for volunteer work, when Hannah graduated from North Greenville in 2008, she considered working for or starting her own non-profit organization. Then the idea of a consignment store came to mind. “I opened Style You Consignment because it’s the type of business that is beneficial to everyone.” Tucked away in O’Neal Village in Greer, Style You carries everything from casual to formal wear with plenty of accessories to match, but they are also known for their large selection of wedding dresses, offering brides the opportunity to schedule appointments to find the perfect gown—at the perfect price—for their special day. “I love what I do,” Hannah says, “It’s not just a job, it’s an opportunity to be a part of the lives of those who walk through the door. When a bride steps in front of the mirror and says, ‘This is the dress,’ that’s priceless.” Read more at greenville.skirt.com. Photo by John Fowler
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Grape& Grains Your Location for Beer/Wine Supplies!
Make Your Own Wine w/ Custom Labels
Enjoy Free WiFi with a Glass of Wine
104 Mauldin Rd, Ste. A (Between Augusta Rd & S. Pleasantburg Rd)
Greenville, SC 29605
(864) 940-2938 grapeandgrains.com
AIM76987
On Saturdays, your mini-moe can enjoy an entrée from the Kids Menu for just 99¢ with the purchase of an adult entrée. Bring in or mention you saw this ad in Skirt! and we’ll even throw in a free iced tea.
Located at
6005 Wade Hampton Blvd. Taylors, SC 29687 • (864) 848-2885 AIM77018
Did you know Moe’s caters? Let us take care of the food at your next party so you can have fun with your guests!
Every day’s a celebration at your Brighton Heart Store! (864) 882-0500 Follow Us on Facebook
“especially for you”
Ladies Apparel
263 Market Street • Dogwood Plaza • Seneca Monday thru Friday 10-6 • Saturday 9-5 www.Emilysespeciallyforyou.com AIM77016
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He’s So Original
Kevin Fort Is Not Just Window Dressing. As co-owner, with wife, Joyce, of Ecy Shoes n’ Chic in downtown Greenville, Kevin is completely comfortable amidst fashionable women’s shoes and accessories. “I bring strength in finance, organization and strategic planning, plus provide the ‘men’s perspective’ when it comes to product selection.” Aptly enough, this shoe-loving couple support programs like Little Steps of Greenville and the American Diabetes Association’s Greenville Chapter, sponsoring the Run A Mile In Her Shoes Men’s High Heel Race on June 12th. “A very significant thing I’m passionate about related to our business,” Kevin says, “is that both my wife and I enjoy it together. We have an equal amount of blood, sweat, and tears invested.” What do you love about skirt!? “I really like the unique concept of capturing men in skirts.” How do you feel wearing a skirt? “I tried to channel the feeling into inspirado…. The whole time I was thinking to myself, how can I turn this into the next big thing in men’s fashion?” Photo by John Fowler
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Take Care of Your
Mind, Body, & Soul From aromatherapy to facials, pilates to yoga, do something special just for you!
Traditional Japanese Reiki Center & Sanctuary from the every day world • • • • • •
Private Sessions Personalized Wellness Plans CertifiedTraining Programs Homeopathic Vitamins + Remedies Organic Health & Beauty Products Isotonic Supplements
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FAMILY HAIR CARE
Botanicals Meditation Music Unique Gifts Custom Gift Baskets Gift Certificates FREE Consultations
Haircut 1/2 Off with any Full Color Service
With coupon. Not valid with any other offer. Expires 6/30/11
1004 W. GEORGIA ROAD (located in the Bloom Shopping Center) Walk-Ins Welcome
Fi rs t S e s s i o n i s Fre e ! O v e r c o m e s t r e s s , a n x i e t y, depression, panic attacks
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To Schedule Call: 864-770-3576 www.thewindinstitute.com
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Monday - Friday • 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
*Evening, Night or Weekend Appointments MAY be Available. After Hour Rates will apply.
www.veronicanco.com
Men’s and Boy’s Haircuts
With coupon. Not valid with any other offer. Expires 6/30/11
A $10 Value with Any Service
With coupon. Not valid with any other offer. Expires 6/30/11
Healthy Hair is Always in Style Tired of the summer frizz?!
Keratin Products work on all hair types. Call to set up a free consultations We carry L’anza, Pureology & Kenra Products Booth space available
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PSYCHIC READINGS ur Ask about o $10 Special
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Advice on all matters of: Life. Love. Health.
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1440 Pelham Rd, Suite P Pelham Oaks Shopping Center Greenville, SC 29615 • 864-458-9909
AIM77154
If you would like to advertise on this page or are interested in more information contact
Denise Nelson 551-7295
Denise.Nelson@independentmail.com
(864)386-2680
AIM77153
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Just when I thought we won the Cold War, here comes Southwest and its communist seating policy.
I
Amy Vansant
blame AirTran. My husband, Mike, and I booked tickets for a vacation through AirTran. It seemed like a harmless thing to do at the time. When we checked in online later, a window popped up asking if we’d like to upgrade to business class for $39. “Say yes!” urged my husband. “But, why?” I asked. I didn’t see the point of spending extra money just so we could be the first people to hit the side of the mountain. “Come on... it’s vacation!” So, I agreed. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was quite possibly the dumbest thing I’d done since agreeing to help Mike re-do our bathroom. Every couple who has ever done a home improvement project together knows the “D” in DIY stands for “Divorce.” Thanks to our fancy upgrade, when the time came to board our flight, we got on first. Boarding before everyone else was nice, though a little bit of a waste. Over the years, we’d perfected the art of rushing to the gate half a millisecond after our seat group was called, while still appearing to the casual observer to be strolling like lovers on a relaxing walk through the park. You might remember us from the Sydney Olympics; we Gold Medaled in Speed Sauntering. Not everyone can knock an old lady down and step on a kid’s teddy bear on the way to the gate and not look like a Pamplona bull doing it. Now our skills were completely unnecessary. First on the plane, I was greeted by row after row of empty overhead bins. I heard angels singing. There would be no wild-eyed, neck-craning effort to try and find the last overhead spot to stow my carry-on bag. No standing in the aisle with my face in the armpit of a guy trying to get his bag up there. No patiently waiting, while the lady holding up the line neatly folded her newspaper and did everything but build a nest before sitting down and clearing the way for the rest of us to get to our seats. In fact, no one in economy had even boarded yet when the flight attendant asked if we’d like a juice or free cocktail. We stared at her with wide-eyed wonder, like she’d just handed us an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-HundredShot Range Model Air Rifle on Christmas Day. “We can get a free cocktail?” I asked. “Before anyone else is even sitting down?” asked Mike in a conspiratorial whisper, thinking the flight attendant had just gone rogue. He didn’t want the captain to find out before the drinks arrived. The flight attendant just nodded and awaited our order.
And that’s when I knew I’d lost Mike forever. We had screwdrivers in our hands before the first general boarding passenger even stepped foot on the bouncing gangplank leading to the plane. “We’ve got drinks before anyone has even boarded!” said Mike, his voice quivering with boundless joy. I hadn’t seen him that happy since the minute before, when he looked left and right and didn’t see his knees on either side of his ears. Business class had the space that someone built like a six-foot-two space alien needed. The glint in Mike’s eyes illuminated the whole plane. Business class had become a magical place where cocktail rivers flowed peacefully into roomy pretzel forests (no peanuts since the allergic people ruined that for everyone). This particular flight had an unruly pack of spring breakers in the back, so obnoxious that the captain actually announced that if they didn’t calm down, he would “turn this plane right around!” When one of the amateur drunks tried to come forward and use the business-class bathroom, our bulldog of a flight attendant sent him packing to the back with a deft point of her bony finger. I think I heard Mike giggle. The flight attendant went on to regale us with tales of her 20 years protecting business-class passengers from the rabble in the back, like a battle-worn sergeant sharing war stories. I think Mike was in love. That flight attendant could have had him with the promise of life-long business class seating and a bag of salted snacks. What a hussy. Mike, that is. In my business, I often put other people’s expenses on my credit card. I get reimbursed by my clients and I get airline miles. This means, using the points, we flew everywhere for free. Not anymore. Not since the day I agreed to upgrade. From that moment on, Mike would never again fly economy. It was a very dramatic ceremony; he put one hand on his heart and one hand in the air and swore that never again would he sit anywhere near a screaming baby. He thinks in business class, if a baby screams, the flight attendant just politely asks it to stop, and it does. I didn’t have the heart to tell him first-class babies cry, too. Now I have two problems. First, AirTran sold to Southwest, which has no first/business class. We may have just lost the best upgrade trick out there. Just when I thought we won the Cold War, here comes Southwest and its communist seating policy. Second, it takes a lot more points to fly first class on airlines that don’t have upgrade tricks. Now I am completely out of points, and we’re grounded for the foreseeable future. It’s not like we can actually afford to buy firstclass tickets. I wonder if I can pay my mortgage with plastic.
Amy Vansant is a writer, blogger (kidfreeliving.com), professional nerd, and shameless Labradoodle mommy. 24
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June survival guide Alexander McQueen at the Met A Summer Solstice Party Bernardo Jingle Bell Sandals Bad Teacher Roadtrips Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach Kiddie Pools Homemade Gazpacho Art Lessons Kate Spade Things We Love ebook
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Charlotte Frame Shoulder Bag Cynthia Rowley cynthiarowley.com
WeLove!
Lolita and Eva Hand Painted Jug
Garden Fountain Shinola 19 Mohawk Dr. Greenville 864.235.5055
Denise Sales Executive
Sprout Home sprouthome.stores. yahoo.net
White Braided Cuff Bracelet Go Fish 612 S. Main St. Greenville 864. 250.0200
Sheril Editor
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Caitilin skirt! Art Director
This year, I am saying “yes” to everything. I have a few limits, but I still have seven months to go, so there’s no telling what I’ll agree to next.
Nadine Karel
“Shimmy!” our instructor shouted. We tried to follow along: 20 women, aged anywhere from 18 to 60, shaking and twisting and jiggling every possible body part except the ones we were suppose to be moving. Our dance instructor, Theresa, stood in the middle of the circle, revolving slowly around, critiquing each hip shake and belly wiggle. A sly smile crept onto her face, a glint appeared in her eye. She threw her head back. “SHIMMY!!!!!” she bellowed. There was frightening movement in the room. Dozens of hip scarves with coins of silver and gold flew out in all directions as we shimmied and shook as if our lives depended on it. I snaked my arms and Niled my hands, all the while trying to cast a seductive net with the downward turn of my eyes (a look my instructor likened to a glare). So I didn’t quite have the seduction part down, but my shimmy was improving. Still, I was far from mastering the art of belly dancing. Belly dancing! Me, Nadine, the girl who can’t dance. Friends have teased me about my awkward dance moves for years. In fact, when I dance, I move everything but my hips, and here I am in a belly dancing class, where somehow I am expected to learn how to move just my hips. How in the world did I get here? I ask myself this question during every class. Easy. I said “yes.” This year, I am saying “yes” to everything. I have a few limits, but I still have seven months to go, so there’s no telling what I’ll agree to next. Some of the things I do make me nervous. Some push me past the limits of my comfort zone. Some are things I’ve wanted to do for years, but never have. And it all started with David. Here’s the short, simple, neatly packaged story of David and me: He was my boyfriend for five years. We loved each other. We broke up. A year later he was diagnosed with cancer. Six weeks later, he died. I’m not writing the story of David’s illness or of my grief, but it’s impossible to separate my life right now from what happened to David. And the story of what happened is not, of course, a simple one. For all intents and purposes, David was my ex-boyfriend when he got sick, but that is not the term that I would have picked to describe what we were to each other. He was still the man I loved. He was still my best friend. David was still the person I talked to every day, still the one I’d eat sushi and watch The Office with. Our relationship had changed, but it never ended. And so when David called me last October from a hospital bed, his brain riddled with tumors, I ran back to his side and stayed there for the next six weeks, not letting go of him until he took his last breath.
I’ve had some big experiences in my life but nothing that I would consider life-changing until David’s death. In the hour after David died, I sat alone in a small room in the hospice center, staring out the window as the setting sun illuminated the city’s skyscrapers. I felt deeply and significantly changed. I was 30 years old, and one of the most important people in my life had just died in my arms. I knew that my world was different. I had changed, and yet, on the surface, so much was the same. I still had to live my day-to-day life. Go to work. Cook dinner. Pay the bills. Hang out with friends. Carry on. People say “Life is short” all the time. Carpe diem had always been one of my favorite phrases. I thought I understood what it all meant, but I really didn’t. Until David died, I had always lived as if I had all the time in the world. So much that I wanted to do could wait for another time—a time when I had more money, or more energy, or more courage, or more guts, or...whatever. All these years I thought I had been living, when actually I had been putting off my life. And that’s when I decided to say “yes” and do the things that I had always been too scared to do, or things that I thought I didn’t have time for. I didn’t go off the deep end and start living by anyone else’s rules; I recognized my limits. I know that I’m never going to jump out of an airplane or make out with a stranger or trek through Asia solo. Those things aren’t me, and I’m perfectly okay with that. But there is a difference between knowing myself and what I don’t want to do, versus knowing myself and the things that I’m too scared to do. I kicked off the year by doing a polar bear plunge. At 8am on January 1st, I was diving into the (somewhat) icy waters of Bermuda. I was on a trip with David’s family; the day before, we had scattered his ashes into the ocean. The polar bear plunge was a chance—if only for a moment—to be with David again. But more importantly, diving into a cold ocean woke me up. It made me feel alive. I had been surrounded by death for months, and now I wanted to focus on life. So I signed up for the belly dancing class. I started a blog. I dressed to the nines for an Oscars party. I talked to a therapist. I helped a neighbor. I’m saying “yes” to opportunities as they come up, but I’ve also compiled a list of things that I want to do, things like: wear a bikini; pay for someone’s toll; pick strawberries. Some of this is “little stuff,” but I’m finding that often it’s the little stuff that makes up most of life. So I’ve thrown caution to the wind. I don my hip scarf and shake my belly, and the frantic jingle of the gold coins makes me laugh. David would think I was being ridiculous, but he would also be proud of me. Proud, because I’m not doing these things for him, I’m doing them for me. I’m saying yes, I’m having fun, and I’m living my life.
Nadine Karel is a drug and alcohol counselor living in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Visit her blog, deenie12.wordpress.com, to read about her year of saying “yes.” skirt.com
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I’m learning, the hard way, that saying Yes to life sometimes sounds like No.
Stephanie Hunt
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No Uncertain Terms
“Yes Ma’am” was the rule when I was growing up. “Yes Ma’am”—the unequivocal, ever-ready reply when answering my mother or grandmother, teacher or aunt—a swift, usually chipper, verbal nod. Talking back was not an option, at least not audibly. When I was really pissed off, the “Ma’am” became sassy punctuation, a spoken right hook, my tongue a balled fist pushing against my bottom teeth. “Yes. MA’AM!” I’d huff, then stomp off or slam the door. My combustible temper and polished manners all rolled up in one not-so-polite mouthful. It was not until college, when I met kids from all over the country, that I realized Yes Ma’am/No Ma’am and Yes Sir/No Sir, were not part of the universal English lexicon. It had never occurred to me that this was a Southern colloquialism, and that in fact saying “Yes Ma’am” counted as “talking back” in some families, that “Ma’am” could be considered pejorative rather than showing respect. Though I’ve been a mother myself for 18 years, and an old-fashioned enforcer of inherited “Yes Ma’am” protocol, I catch myself still replying “Yes Ma’am” when talking with my mom. It’s an ingrained, unconscious response. It’s like getting an automatic reply on email, except instead of saying “Out of Office” it acknowledges: “I’m still the daughter,” “I still defer to you; I’m still trying to please you.” That is, until the point where the tables turn, the point when, as of late, this daughter and her sisters have to say “no.” No, Mom, you cannot stay at home alone any more, we have to tell my fiercely independent mother, a woman who has trekked bravely, solo, through rocky domestic and professional terrain and back again, a woman who craves solitude, who could give Amelia Earhart a run for her money (except for the fact that Mom hates to fly). No, Mom, it’s not sufficient to have piecemeal sitters here and there when Lou Gehrig’s disease is now calling the shots. When muscles have gone on strike and your larynx has long since been silenced, when your arms can no longer hoist you up from a chair and your feet and calves are reduced to useless, stubborn sinew. No, Mom, 24-hour care is no longer a down-the-road “maybe.” We need it, you need it, now. No, she answers in weak, ragged, but still elegant cursive, no, she pecks out in email messages, her only ways of communicating. No, not yet, she insists, dreading with all her gutsy might the loss of independence, the sacrificing of her beloved solitude, the bitter sentence that this entails. No, Mom, we counter, the “Ma’am” swallowed in choked-up throats. No, we can’t abide by your wishes. We’re so deeply sorry, but this is how it is, we reply, our tears not detectible in the email inbox. But while my decision does not waver, my heart does. I’ve come to believe the “no” in the phrase “no uncertain terms” is a misnomer; it’s wishful thinking. I am a maelstrom of uncertainty. As a mother delivering post-prom party edicts or establishing hard-and-fast “No Texting While Driving” rules, my “no” is forthright, my threatened “or else!” adamant, my limits absolutely clear. I am Mama Moses with my stern stone tablet. As a daughter, I find myself on shakier ground. As daughter I am better at obeying than dictating. I have no “or else!” to leverage; it’s easier to acquiesce. But I am certain of one thing: that the underside of No is almost always a Yes. The No is the hard, protective shell of a whelk; Yes is turning it over to find its translucent orangey-pink inner sheen, the color of newness, vulnerability, of promise. The glossy smoothness you want to run your finger over. No is shaking your head back and forth, only to gently shimmy your heart more open. Our “no,” our insistence on around-the-clock care, says this in the affirmative: Yes, we are scared and concerned. Yes, we love you and want you to be safe and well cared for. Yes, we have our limits, we are frazzled and need the comfort of knowing someone is there for you. Yes, this disease sucks, really sucks, but Yes, too, this is life, in all its uncertain turns and unfair terms. This is the hand we are dealt, and yes—I mean Yes Ma’am— we accept it. No Ma’am, we won’t fight any longer, not with you, not with our conscience, not against this disease. I’m learning, the hard way, that saying Yes to life sometimes sounds like No. It may mean closing doors rather than opening them. “Yes” is not always a bright and buoyant Oprah moment, it may not lead to self-improvement, self-empowerment or the burnishing of our tarnished souls. Saying “yes” may instead lead to sorrow and emptiness, to harsh and unhappy truth. Grief is this kind of yes, the closing of a door. And yet there is, even here, an opening. Stephanie Hunt, a Charleston-based freelance writer, is in awe of her mother and all those who struggle with ALS or other debilitating diseases and their caretakers. She and a friend reflect on this journey at alifestill.com. skirt.com
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SKIRT! SAY S: Meditation is drug-free medication.
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skirt.com
Field of Flowers Fragrance and Body Lotion Philosophy philosophy.com
BloomsDay
Shelly Jelly Sandals by Lilly Pulitzer
Po Campo Loop Pannier Bike Bag Pedal Clinic 651 S. Main St. Greenville 864.242.2442
Fashionista Blooms The Embassy Flowers & Nature’s Gifts 1922 Augusta St. Greenville 864.282.8600
Pink Bee 105 Augusta St. Greenville 864.271.4332
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Meet Favorite Restaurant: Bin 112
Christine Faust, of Christine Faust Events, Greenville’s party planner extraordinaire who gives back by helping Weddings for Warriors provide free weddings for active duty military personnel.
Favorite TV Show: Bethenny Ever After
Dream Vacation: Italian Countryside
My Handbag: JJ Cole Diaper Bag
My Workout: 13 lb Baby Bicep Curls
Where You’ll Find Me On Friday Nights: Wedding Rehearsals My Guilty Pleasure: Chocolate Pound Cake from Coffee to a Tea My Muse: Fans of Anthropologie Where I Shop Locally: Kudzu Three People I Want at My Dream Dinner: Planner for the Royal Wedding, Diane von Furstenberg
Photo by John Fowler
and my Mamaw What We’d Eat: Chicken Piccata with Linguine Favorite Feminist: My Great Aunt Gladys Pyle (1st woman Senator in South Dakota)
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June
Make If you are a committed DIYer, visit ana-white for free step-bystep instructions on building your own furniture. ana-white.com
Visit Traveling and hoping to get a taste of local life? Stay out of the big box hotels by connecting on Airbnb. The site allows you to both find and list places for short term rental. Single bedrooms, entire houses, yachts and even a VW Camper Van are up for grabs in 10,741 cities around the world. airbnb.com
Books we are enjoying
Focus Get distracted often? Set yourself a time limit for browsing eBay or work 30 minutes straight with Tick Tock Timer. The simple webpage allows you to set the timer for any length of time and will gong when time’s up. ticktocktimer.com
Caleb’s Crossing Geraldine Brooks Nikki Hardin Publisher, skirt!
Create Austin Kleon is a self-described visual thinker and the author of Blackout Poems. His list called “How to Steal like an Artist (And 9 Other Things Nobody Told Me)” has creative juice you’ll want to steal. austinkleon.com The Bride’s Ritual Guide: Look Inside to Find Yourself Cornelia Powell Sheril Bennett Turner Editor
Learn Think only Apple geeks create apps? Think again! AppsBar is totally free to use and it can take as little as
Books published by skirt!
20 minutes to customize your app. Once it’s approved, your app can be shared with the world. Go forth and create! appsbar.com
Blogfiles
Confessions of a Tarot Reader Jane Stern
Erniebufflo.wordpress.com
Modern Love, NYTimes.com
Iwillteachyoutoberich.com
“Testeria. (n) An un-
“People had warned me
“I looked at the essay
controllable outburst of
that wedding planning
prompt. ‘If you could have
masculine self aggrandize-
would be stressful, but
dinner with anyone, living
ment, often characterized
I had always viewed that
or dead, who would it be
by stunts intended to prove
variety of suffering as a
and why?’ Classic prompt.
one’s manhood, or in other
glut of privilege, like a
So I started thinking.
words, the size of one’s
high tax bracket. Now I
Nelson Mandela? President
balls. Bob appeared to have
felt my anxiety deepen.”
Clinton? And then I got it:
a sudden attack of testeria
Kathryn Kefauver Goldberg
Chris Rock.”
when he said “Hold my beer and watch this,” and headed for the roof. Related forms: testerical.”
Paper Dollhouse Dr. Lisa M. Masterson
Music we love Tamer Animals Other Lives skirt.com
Junew2011greenville
33
planetnikki [ a visual journal ]
In the orthopedist’s waiting room, I suddenly realized everyone, including me, was wearing some sort of cast or appliance on one or more of their limbs. Our wounds were right out there in the world,
visible to all.
I started wondering what it would be like if we had the power to peer into strangers’ lives and hearts and see all the emotional traumas they had sustained
over a lifetime.
The window
cleaner on the corner who doesn’t have the money to take his mother to the doctor. The waitress at your favorite restaurant who never reveals she
lost her only child
a long time ago.
The child who still remembers waking up and you weren’t there. We are all stitched up and patched together and sent back out into the world after every major or minor psychic surgery, limping along, doing our healing mostly in private. Wouldn’t it be a relief if we could wear a warning that said “My heart is broken so please handle with care” in the same way we make allowances for someone crossing the road
The skirt! Postcard Show last month inspired my London friend and me to make and mail weekly postcards to each other. For my first one, I cut up a linoleum block print I’d made and wrote a “Summer is...” list on the message side.
www.tokyobayinc.com
Just when everyone started relying on phones for the time, I wanted a watch for the first time in my life. And then a second one...like this funky, frivolous yellow item by Tokyo Bay. And I’m still late all the time.
on crutches?
Copy-editing puts me in a zen zone, while writing puts me in a mental war zone. I loved working on the manuscript for Forty Beads by my friend Carolyn Evans because it induced a state of flow instead of fear. I became addicted to Grazia magazine while I was staying in London this winter and miss my fix.
Nikki Hardin is the founder and publisher of skirt! magazine. She blogs at fridaville.com. 34
Junew2011greenville
skirt.com
I covet the porcelain wing pendant that’s handmade in Germany by famed Nymphenburg Porzellan. Maybe because it reminds me of Wings of Desire.
®
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skirt! Greenville is distributed to more than 250 locations in the Upstate! Augusta Road Area Augusta Place Salon Bella Bridesmaid Consign and Design CurvesMedical Plaza Foxfire Gallery & Kitchen Gage’s Labels L’s on Augusta Moppets Mug & Muffin Muse Shoe Studio Panera Bread Roots Sassy Schlotzsky’s Deli Scratch Strictly Nails Ten Thousand Villages The Pink Monogram Ultra Tan Congaree Road Area 5 Guys Burgers and Fries Baby Impressions Ultrasound Bogari Furniture Duke Sandwich Company Fried Green Tomatoes Magnolia’s Bridal McAlister’s Deli Sports Club Trade Route
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Don’t buy cheap clothes. Buy good clothes, cheap... Greenville’s designer consignment boutique.
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