fRee
feBRUaRy
ChaRLestOn, sC
esCape the ORdInaRy
Close your eyes. Remember the smell of the Valentine’s Day cards we used to get in grade school? And how your heart soared when one of them was from your crush in the second row? We blush just remembering how we used to stare at the back of their head instead of learning how to solve for the x in math class. Now that we’re all grown up, whether we’re with our one true or this one will do, February can sometimes disappoint us. We’ll never tell you to lower your expectations when we know you deserve better. You deserve to be swept off of your feet, have your world rocked, have all the sweet nothings in the world whispered into your ears, kiddo. Let’s go back to simpler times. Homemade
Valentines,
heart-shaped
boxes, trying to predict our future from the sayings on candy conversation hearts: True Love. Amore. Swoon. Only You. Kiss Me. My Pal. In our class, everyone’s Valentine’s mailbox is overflowing. Let us call you sweetheart on your Facebook page and send a “good morning, beautiful” text. If it was 2009, we’d send you a “love you forever” GIF via email. If it was 1999, we’d make you a mix CD of love songs. If it was 1989, we’d hold hands side by side at the roller skating rink. If it was 1979, we’d disco until we dropped. Do the magic that you do to summon your always hopeful inner child. Get out the red construction paper, paste, and glitter. Make something from your heart. This issue comes from ours. And just one more thing: Will you be our Valentine?
Cover art: Kristen solecki
“Love is not about who you live with. It's about who you can't live without” Rafael Ortiz
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ENROLL IN THE BRILLIANT DISTINCTIONS ® REWARDS PROGRAM FOR SAVINGS Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take a medicine that prevents the clotting of your blood (antiplatelet or anticoagulant medicine). KYBELLA® can cause serious side effects, including nerve injury in the jaw (which can cause an uneven smile or facial muscle weakness), or trouble swallowing. The most common side effects of KYBELLA® include swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, redness, and areas of hardness in the treatment area. These are not all of the possible side effects of KYBELLA®. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/safety/MedWatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see Brief Summary of full Prescribing Information on the following page. © 2017 All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. KYB101742_v2 10/16
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NOW YOU SEE IT
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Finding Love Can Be Difficult Let your matchmaker do it!
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Don’t Miss our Center for Women Annual Conference Act • Aspire • Achieve
Thurs, February 25 from 8am-4pm Trident Technical College, Economic Development Complex
Tickets start at $95
Exhibitor opportunities & sponsorship are available! Speakers will present on various topics that encourage and inspire women both personally and professionally. Keynote Speaker, Samantha Ettus Please visit our website for speaker details & more event info
www.c4wconference.org
The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition has been embracing art and the sporting life for 35 years. As a time tested tradition for art collectors, wildlife enthusiasts and generations of loyal attendees, SEWE honors the beauty of both wildlife and nature. Join us for another anticipated edition, where we'll gather the best in show - from world-renowned artists, sculptors and exhibitors to wildly popular entertainers and animal experts. Celebrate the art of tradition this February and welcome SEWE's heritage into your home.
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You could be here! We want to see your moments. Use #IntheMoment2017 and tag us @skirtcharleston on Instagram.
and Legos tarar ts s 7 a 1 e 0 s @ nt2 mome #inthe
Daddy
Be Sweet! Publisher Jenny Dennis jenny.dennis@skirt.com Senior Account Executive Pamela Daniels pamela.daniels@skirt.com Circulation, Marketing & Events Manager Susan Norfleet Contributing Designer Becky Hoppmann Contributing Writer Katie Toussaint Photography Alice Keeney Clifford Pate Fashion & Product Stylist Jeanne A. Everett Advertising Sales: 843.958.0028 Fax: 843.958.0029 sales@skirt.com Regional Vice President of Sales East Region Kristen L. Standish skirt! is published monthly and distributed free throughout the greater Charleston area. skirt! reserves the right to refuse to sell space for any advertisement the staff deems inappropriate for the publication. 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 © 2016, 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. We’re on Social Media! Facebook.com/skirtCharleston Instagram.com/skirtCharleston Twitter.com/skirtCharleston
FEBRuary February, the month we greet with relief (since we’ve
F E At u R E S Let Me Call You Sweetheart........................27 Special Insert The 2017 'I Do' Book...........................................28 We
...............................................................................35
Freshen Up Your Relationship Valerie Nies..................................................................40
seen red heart-shaped boxes and Valentine’s Day candy and gifts since the Christmas stuff went on sale…). Some of us absolutely adore this Hallmark holiday, others enjoy crushing candy hearts into pastel dust on our desks. Whichever category you’re in, there’s something for you in our Sweetheart issue! We have a spread on things we heart so much we almost wanted to keep them to ourselves, profiles of people pairs that we’re sweet
E S S Ay S Heart, Ajar Annie Liza Bergen.....................................................25 Forever Elizabeth Farris ..................................................39 For the Love of Kate Spade Miranda Casanova ..........................................44
on, stories from women with their take on what love means, and our annual “I Do” special section, featuring all things wedding and wedding adjacent (did you know that proposing to your bridesmaids is a thing now? We
in thiS iSSuE Theme ...................................................................21
learned something new!). We hope that you write love
Profiles....................................................22, 33, 34
on your heart this year, share it wide and far. Do us one
Home & Style....................................................46
tiny favor? Call, email, or text someone you haven’t talked to in awhile just to say “I love you.” The one thing we are certain about is that love lights the world. We’ll start with
Calendar ...............................................................50 The Last Page ....................................................54
you, dear reader. We love you. Bigger than the sky.
SK I RT !
C H E C K U S OU T Visit skirt.com to follow our blog and sign up to receive the latest skirt! news and information.
AT S KIRT.C OM ! CA l E n dA
R
skirt!magazine skirt!magazine february februaryw w2017 2017
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Get a leg-up on summer! Varicose Veins are not simply a cosmetic problem. Are you among those that we can help? Schedule your consultation today.
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THE SWEETHEART ISSUE
wherever you go, go with all your
t r a e H Confucius
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sweet on
S TEPHEN ELLIOTT WEBB & GA IL LAN SIN G
Stephen and Gail are an artist and an agent with a love story. They met
as his agent as well as a director at The Sportsman’s Gallery. After 24
at an Italian restaurant in Atlanta. It was Stephen’s 23rd birthday, and,
years of designing together and bouncing every idea off each other in
by midnight, Gail walked up to the bar. It was a set up, but the Atlanta
business and in life, Stephen said, “I respect her opinion beyond words...
girl was instantly intrigued by this Lowcountry native and abstract
it’s important to have a sounding board.” Gail is the go-to for matters of
expressionist artist. They talked for hours and emerged from that
pricing, framing, canvas size, branding and more. Meanwhile, Stephen
conversation as business partners – with a spark of romance. Gail was
brushes out paintings in a style inspired by the likes of Jackson Pollock.
in marketing and sales, and, when she asked Stephen what he wanted to
The pair is planning for art shows this year, including Stephen’s six-
be when he grew up, he said he wanted to launch a company to design
week show at NASA headquarters. “People look at us as a brand I love
and build furniture. So that’s what they did for over a decade, growing
that,” Stephen said.
the business to more than 600 accounts including Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. After selling the business, Stephen swept Gail back to the Lowcountry, where he works as a full-time artist and she works
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Valentine's Day plans for the letter-pressing pair: “There usually tends to be some sort of surprise,” Stephen said.
februaryw w2017 2017 skirt!magazine skirt!magazine february
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Salon ProfeSSionalS now leasing salon studios in
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24
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ANNIE LIZA BERGEN
Annie Liza Bergen finds joy in exploring the infinite number of word combinations that can be written and read. She also eats too much Ferrero Rocher, but reads health magazines at the gym so feels it all balances out in the end.
H E A R T, A J A R “ As with all love stories though, the honeymoon soon came to an end. I found myself unable to zip my jeans and my face broke out in an acne-fueled, teen-like rebellion.”
It was the summer of 1998. All of my friends had internships in law firms and investment firms and other Very Important Places. I was an undecided major with no experience and an artistic bent so I applied to work at a bunch of art studios in New York City. On the cusp of accepting a somewhat dubious position at a soap-making studio, I got a response from an artist in France who needed a summer assistant – she was one of Andy Warhol’s “Underground Superstars.” Well that was it then. I was going to France. And that was the summer that I found love. This isn’t a conventional love story, I’ll admit. The choice of leading man might surprise some, but the only thing anyone has to share is the truth as they have experienced it and this is my truth. I remember when we first met. The artist’s housekeeper took him down from the very top shelf in the pantry. There wasn’t much else up there and I’m sure he was well past his sell-by date. But I didn’t care. He was packaged love such as I had never found before and I was not about to be ageist. He was smooth, but sweet; quiet, but fun. He was never afraid of opening up and was only too happy for you to take more than you gave. He was chocolaty, hazelnutty love-that-could-bebought. Just one spoonful of him made my soul sing and my serotonin do the cha cha in my bloodstream. Compared with the human man (at least in my book at the time) there was very little competition. In theory, Nutella is a type of spread meant for bread, like peanut butter, but in reality, he is everything most women have been looking for in a relationship. And I thankfully had enough wits about me that summer to capitalize on the situation. After our first night together, I began sneaking him out of the cupboard when no one was looking and slinking out to the patio with a spoon. It started innocently enough. Soon however, things began spiraling out of control. I started buying replacement jars and putting them back in the cupboard when no one was looking. I became paranoid someone would notice so I eventually started buying my own supply. I went downstairs to the supermarche and found huge economy-sized jars on sale - buy two, get one free. Perhaps this wasn’t a delicate choice, but it was financially sound and as a lady abroad, I needed to keep an eye on my solvency. We spent a lot of time alone together, Nutella and I. The two of us would sit on the beach all day reading Newsweek (to keep up with happenings States-side), in addition to soul-enhancing tomes like The Grapes of Wrath. We were alone, but we liked it. We liked the peace and quiet. We liked doing pretty much what we wanted to do when we wanted to do it. Like any true and real love, all we needed was each other.
In the evenings, I would sometimes leave him at home for bacchanalian nights on the town. At first he didn’t understand why he couldn’t come, but after a barmate carelessly dumped him in the bin after too many drinks, he agreed it was best he stay behind when I went out. As I weaved home in the wee hours of the morning though, the boulangeries would begin baking their morning bread. Even with a tremendous hangover and questionable digestive ability, I wanted to drop at the baker’s feet and beg to be given the first baguette from his oven so I could run home and let it serve its God-given purpose - as a vehicle for chocolate hazelnut spread. Then I would narrate the story aloud as I walked home through the morning streets of Nice . . . and to avoid a scene, the baker acquiesced and she arrived home triumphant! Carefully placing the hot-from-the-oven baguette aside, she peeled back the foil under Nutella’s lid to reveal his silky sea of heavenly goodness. She noticed a little dimple where the mother machine had cut off his precious allotment. . . I knew I had to stop. I was out of control. I stopped caring about friends. I didn’t care about dating or men. None of it mattered as long as I got my fix of him. I knew the situation was critical when I started staying up really late with him and missing morning appointments. But you need to understand. With Nutella, I always called the shots. You don’t get that with most ordinary relationships. I chose when and for how long each rendezvous would last. I controlled the way in which each meeting ended. And if he ran out of love to give and I got hurt, the wound could easily be mended by the time the morning came and the supermarche opened again. At times I even considered writing home to let my fellow lovelorn American women know that they could finally take heart - I had found the perfect man and there was plenty of him for all. As with all love stories though, the honeymoon soon came to an end. I found myself unable to zip my jeans and my face broke out in an acne-fueled, teen-like rebellion. After much self-loathing and angst, I realized I had to let my love go. This wasn’t healthy. The relationship books told me this wasn’t love anyway - that it was an addiction and I should attend meetings for codependency. I didn’t go to any meetings, but through sheer will-power (and perhaps a little shame) I eventually made it down to just one jar per week –the normal-sized one too, not the economy-sized version to which I had grown accustom. From then on, I recorded in my journal how long I could go between jars, how many people (as oppose to jars) I had socialized with, and how many other types of food I had eaten. I slowly returned to human relationships. After the deepest wounds of loss had healed, I even indulged in a lovely affair with an Englishman. But he left at the end of the summer - and then my heart was ajar once again.
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Beauty in the Details
Unique Gifts • Jewelry • Accessories
Shop Our Amazing Selection Belle Hall Shopping Center 644-O Long Point Road Mount Pleasant 843-388-9433 & @shopzinnia Like us on
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LET ME CALL YOU
t r a e h Sweet
I'm in love with... SWEET TREATS
Sugarfina’s Champagne Bears® are grown up
gummy bears infused with Dom Pérignon Vintage Champagne. These sophisticated bears sparkle in flavors of Brut and Rosé...and they look lovely in a bowl on your coffee table for your next drop-in. Sugarfina.com/shop/baby-champagne-bears/. Charleston-based candy company Sweeteeth Chocolates got its start at Park Circle's EVO Pizzeria by chocolatier Johnny Battles. EVO Pizza is a co-owner and kept Sweeteth local (although they created a cult following across the country). We recommend “Sea is for Caramel”—it’s truly addictive! EvoPizza.com/Sweeteeth.
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I'm in love with... SWEET NOTHINGS
One of our favorite places to
pick up a card that says just the right thing is mac & murphy, located at 74 1/2 Cannon Street in the Cannonborough Elliotborough district downtown Charleston, has the loveliest selection of cards and stationery (and we love supporting our local businesses!). Check out some of their offerings at macandmurphy.com.
SWEET SMELLS
The Camellias are in bloom this
season, so you have the perfect excuse to stop and smell the flowers! The Camellia Walks at Middleton Place are special guided tours focusing on camellias throughout the original gardens as well as the "new" camellia garden of the 1950s. Admire hundreds of varieties, including the 1786 Reine des Fleurs, one of the first camellias planted in America. Ticket includes general admission to Middleton Place. Tours begin at the Garden Market & Nursery and last approximately 1½ hours. Tue, Thu, & Sat, February 7 – March 18 at 11 a.m.
SWEET SPOTS Flowers and chocolate? Yes please. The sprawling gardens at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens on the Ashley River will be the setting for a romantic Valentine Chocolate Walk. Ten chocolate stations in the gardens will offer a variety of tasty treats on Feb. 13-14 as string musicians serenade couples in America’s oldest garden that features an award-winning camellia collection.The chocolate walk will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is free with garden admission. Children under six are free. (Psst, parents...Children on the chocolate walk with their parents will be offered a separate interactive activity in the garden!). MagnoliaPlantation.com. 28 54
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I'm in love with... HOME SWEET HOME
Fill your home with love
and the soft glow of candlelight this month. Whether you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day gift, or just to restock your personal candle collection, there’s something you’ll love here!
Candles that are made in recycled wine bottles and have scents that mimic our favorite grappa blends? Made right here in Charleston at Rewined, find them at the City Market or visit shop-rewined.com to choose your favorites online!
1670 Charlestowne’s first candle collection launched in late 2016 and we fell hard for its exclusive signature Sweetgrass scent, created by world-renowned fragrance designer Frederick Bouchardy of Joya Studio, it embodies the spirit of the Sweetgrass found in the tidal marshland of the Carolina Lowcountry, which has been used for centuries to craft handmade baskets. 1670charlestowne.com/the-collection/. We highly recommend visiting Candlefish at 71 Wentworth St. in Charleston—just for the instore experience. It offers a fragrance library of handmade candles with over 100 fragrances, BYOB candle making workshops, and an amazing selection of candles including favorites and unique finds. Candlefish.com.
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I'm in love with... MY SWEET HEART How can you make your heart happy? Dr. Bhavadharini Ramu at MUSC Health says,
“Get moving! An exercise regimen that is as simple as walking is a good place to start.�
The American Heart Association recommends just 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise three to four times a week. Even brisk walking will do. Try setting your target for 10,000 steps a day! (Source: GoRedForWomen.org)
o l l e H eetheart!
Sw
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UPSCALE HAND-ME-DOWNS AT PLEASING PRICES Register ONLINE to Consign!
EXPERIENCE THE
DIFFERENCE
First-Time Moms Register to SHOP EARLY! Volunteer to be able to SHOP EARLY!
Coming to Mount Pleasant in February. Book your appointment today!
50% OFF
any service at your first visit! * * New clients only, first visit. If used on combo services, discount applied to highest priced service only. Not valid with other offers.
March 9-11
Omar Shrine Convention Center Mt. Pleasant 905 Houston Northcutt Blvd Suite 100 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843.207.4095 waxingthecitymountpleasant
Children’s Clothing & Shoes Books • Toys • Games Equipment • Strollers • and More! FOR EVENT DETAILS, VISIT: www.charlestonrepeats.com
80 41st Ave Isle of Palms 843.886.8980 www.morgancreekgrill.com
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Women’s Health Symposium
Ignite Your Purpose and Spark Your Passion Saturday, February 11, 2017 10AM – 6PM James Island County Park Edisto Hall - 871 Riverland Dr, Charleston, SC 29412
Join Us
for a full day Women’s Workshop for every aspect of your life mind, body, and soul What’s Included: • Entrance to Women’s Holistic Health Symposium • Training from 8 Fabulous Women on Self-Care in Today’s World • Workshop Materials • Delicious Local Catered Healthy Luncheon by Verde • Healthy Snacks and Beverages throughout the day • Swag Bag with lots of Goodies from our speakers, sponsors, and local businesses • Discounts on upcoming events, services, and much more • Networking Opportunity to meet other likeminded women in our community
628 Coleman Blvd. Moultrie Plaza | Mt. Pleasant 843-388-4253 www.henryandeva.com info@henryandeva.com
Investment: $197 At the Door: $249 *** Special Pricing – Be one of the first 75 people to register for only $149*** For More Information & To Purchase Tickets: www.SoulBlossoms.org
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sweet on
INK MEETS PAP ER
INK MEETS PAPER owners, Jamie and Allison Nadeau make physical
the inside, Allison said, “It’s a small amount of time for the tremendous
representations of love. It started with their own love story, meeting
effect that it has.” Now, their press is in a studio of its own and the
as kids in Nashville, getting married after college and settling in
pair operates INK MEETS PAPER together full-time. They’ve seen
Charleston. Allison took a class at Redux for printmaking and fell in
each other through the changes: From childhood to adulthood, from a
love with letterpresses. She knew Jamie, who studied industrial design,
modest start to a business with more than 200 styles in their line that
would love them too. They tracked down a 1,000-pound printing press
sells in more than 300 stores nationally and internationally, to Jamie’s
from a third-generation printer and moved it into their house. They
recent gender transition. It all circles back to one truth. Jamie said, “We
spent a year learning the craft of printing, and their business producing
love each other and we get to make a product that truly, universally
letterpress goods, INK MEETS PAPER, was born. “We needed very
elicits a smile in other people’s lives.”
little equipment to actually produce something super meaningful,” said Jamie, who handles the graphic design, branding and digital aspects
Valentine's Day plans for the letter-pressing pair:
of the business while Allison hones the hand-lettering side. The cards
“Taking time away from work,” Allison said, and Jamie added,
they craft are imprinted with a sentiment on the front, with blank space
“Just being together.”
inside. When customers are prompted to pause, to write something on
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LOWCOUNTRY LOVE LETTERS
Emily Wicke and Angela Gildea are in love with the Lowcountry and
brunch spot, Stereo 8, and Emily’s favorite sandwich shop on the way
are here to help other people call it “home.” They enrolled in a real
to the beach, Mozzo Deli) as well as posts by guest writers. “It’s a more
estate class together a couple of years ago when they were ready to
organic approach for the two of us to sell real estate and to help people
move out of intensive careers and into a more flexible, family friendly
understand the Lowcountry better,” Emily said. Whether working from
field. Now they’re both real estate agents – and an unofficial team --
their office on King Street, out of their own houses or at their favorite
through Dunes Properties while they simultaneously make their way
coffee houses, like Vintage Coffee & Café, the team is working to find
through their first year of motherhood. “This is an adventure we
the right homes in the right communities for clients. Angela said, “We
decided to take together,” Angela said, “and we’ve been supporting each
want other people to fall in love with the Lowcountry as much as we
other ever since.” Angela lives in the Riverland Terrace neighborhood of
have.”
James Island with her husband and daughter, while Emily lives in Mt. Pleasant with her husband and son. Their bridge: A blend of shared and
Valentine’s Day thoughts from the new moms: “It’s really cool to go
private clients, plus their blog, Lowcountry Love Letters. In this online
through these first holidays together,” Angela said.
space, they share their own local loves (like Angela’s favorite newest
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We
We
Lunchbox notes
Reading into the wee hours A long weekend Hand-holding
. .
Happy tears
Belly laughing
Broken-in jeans
.
.
.
. .
.
awake in the morning
.
Theme parties
Charleston sunsets
The Ladles grilled cheese
Fresh Flowers
Sample sales
Bottle service with our BFFs
A new workout playlist
Answered prayers Margaritas
. .
.
.
Popcorn
Being the first one
Clean sheet night
A good dance party
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...BRIGHT tea kettles
We fall for fun, bright tea kettles that brighten any kitchen. Our ginger-lemon hot tea will love it too!
...tourists
Sure, we have to try not to run them over and stop to give friendly directions from time to time, but their dollars support our economy. We love our visitors!
We ...graphically atwood
Our hearts flutter: Dark Horse Comics has acquired Margaret Atwood’s Angel Catbird. Penned by her and illustrated by Johnnie Christmas, the three-book series of graphic novels will begin to roll out in the fall of this year.
...DRY SHAMPOO
Sure, it’s a small thing, but being able to go from yoga to work without a wash and blowout is good for hair health.Try Oscar Blandi dry shampoo at Sephora. com.
...badass women
Badass Shannon Downey created a site to profile the badass women she meets every day. Since we’ve been profiling our own local badass women since 1994, this won our hearts. Check it out at SeriouslyBadassWomen.com.
Speaking of fearless women, and a reminder that February is Black History Month, we honor Rosa Parks with her own words:
“I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” 36 36
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...FEELING LIKE A KID AGAIN
Whether you’re 13 or 30, the Wishes fireworks show at Disney World is so awe inspiring, it will make you believe in magic. Make it a must-see on your next Disney trip!
...la la land
We could go on and on about the love story or the jazz soundtrack for this musical, but we’ll just say: Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Don’t miss this one!
...preppy monograms
On everything, but particularly on these colorful keychains from Mark & Graham. We’ll still lose our keys, but the monogram might make it easier for the finder to locate us! MarkandGraham.com.
...celebrating a forever bond The documentary “Bright Lights: Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher” on HBO, the beautiful story of an imperfect mother-daughter relationship, was due out in March, but HBO released it early due to the deaths of both women. RIP to Princess Leia and Debbie Reynolds.
...THE RETURN OF MUST-SEE TV
“This is Us,” our new fave TV show, makes us cry happy tears (or a good ugly cry) every other episode and we still love it.
...the the perfect cat eye
If we have to put on our reading glasses to do this, what’s the point? Yves Saint Laurent’s 'Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils' Bold Felt Tip Eyeliner Pen makes it easy as pie. Cosbar.com.
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I am Jordan. When I was 11, I found out my mom had breast cancer, so I started making cup holders and raising money to help other women with this disease. So far I’ve raised. $5,741 for the fight against breast caner.
Act. Donate. Get involved. KomenLowcountry.org SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SUSAN G. KOMEN® PARTNERS:
©
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2016 Susan G. Komen®, The Running Ribbon is a registered trademark of Susan G. Komen.
12/20/16 1/23/17 2:53:29 9:28:23 PM AM
E L I Z A B E T H FA R R I S
Elizabeth Farris divides her time between the desert of Arizona and the green bush of New Zealand. She writes short fiction, screenplays, stage plays and essays.
FOREVER “ Over the course of forty years, atoms of gold had washed down the kitchen sinks of five houses.”
I had never been given a diamond before, that universal symbol of commitment and everlasting love. Diamonds are forever, the advertisement claims. But what it doesn’t mention is that the bits of overpriced carbon, the hardest natural substance on earth, are in fact fragile and can be totally destroyed in a fire. The other children in my family have had experiences with diamonds. My twice-married sister upgraded husbands and went from a single solitaire to a massive cluster. The other sister lost her engagement ring before the wedding and wore a resentment-filled plain gold band for the length of her brief marriage. My brother enjoys keeping diamond brokers in business. His wife enjoys variety in what she wears on multiple fingers at the same time. I was shocked when my father pressed a small envelope into my hand. It was sealed, stamped Messenger Mortuary, and Farris was hand lettered on the front. I fingered the circular lump inside it. “You’ve never been given a diamond,” he said, his eyes as swollen and red as mine. I struggled to find appropriate words and he nodded his head. The diamond, we both knew, was immaterial. I slipped the envelope into my purse. It was several days until I was emotionally strong enough to open it up. Several years before, Mom had held out her left hand to me, palm up. “Look at this.” The gold bands on both her wedding and engagement rings had gotten so thin and worn that they had both broken through and developed a tiny gap. “I’ve never taken them off.” Over the course of forty years, atoms of gold had washed down the kitchen sinks of five houses. Others had fallen to the floor and had been vacuumed up, collected in paper bags along with the dust, and were buried in a landfill somewhere. As she spoke, the last remaining escaped atoms of gold might have been circulating in the living room, cast about by the ceiling fan, inhaled by the family members gathered in the room. But her diamond was another thing altogether. The modest stone given to her in 1946, along with a promise, remained intact. “I have to take them off or I might lose them,” she said. Her plan was to have a new ring made, one with her mother’s diamond on it, as well as her own. The new ring was simple, an extra-wide band with three diamonds set in an uninspired straight line. It was not out of place with the multiple polyester skirts she sewed herself from a favorite pattern, her collection of no-frill blouses. And it wasn’t shamed by other jewelry, since she wore nothing else on her hands. In the last years of her life, she rarely wore the ring. Chemotherapy made her fingers swell, and then her lack of appetite made them
shrink. And on the few occasions when she did wear it, it never glimmered in the sun because she was unwilling to be seen outside the house, unable to venture too far from the oxygen tank that kept her alive. Mom’s ashes were put in a brass box. Delivered to the Memorial Garden beside the church. Buried beneath a brass plaque with her name on it, which is polished monthly by the volunteer caretakers. It shines in the desert sun. When Dad found her jewelry box at the back of the closet, he placed it on their bed and the five of us gathered around as it was opened. There was the twenty-year service pin in recognition of her volunteer work at the Desert Botanic Gardens. The medal she had earned in high school for excellence in Latin. Her Pi Beta Phi sorority pin. A badge from Squaw Peak Bowling Lanes with a long row of attached accolades. High Game. Outstanding Series. League Champs. He opened up the bottom drawer and handed me a small suede zippered pouch. “You should have this,” he said. I opened it and found three dull gold rings, each with the backs broken through. One thin plain band was the same size as another that had once grasped a diamond. The third, which had also once held an even smaller diamond, had been made for a thicker finger. My siblings looked on, oblivious to my fascination with the worthless remnants of two marriages. When I got home, I finally opened the envelope from Messenger Mortuary. I held the rings from the zippered pouch against the last ring my mother wore. Two of the diamonds would have fit inside the prongs, but neither would have been able to hold the third diamond, the largest of them all. Not long after I had discovered boys, Mom showed me a khakicolored photograph of a young man in an Army uniform. A man, she said, who she had almost married. His foot was perched on top of a Jeep’s bumper, his head was thrown back in a laugh. “Why didn’t you marry him?” I asked. She gave me nothing but silence as she lined up the photo with the piece of cardboard that had come from the back of a picture frame. She slipped both of them into the yellow wrapper and put it back into her desk drawer. “So that guy might have been my father?” She looked at me and hesitated. “He’s nobody’s father,” she said. And then she left the room, went into the kitchen, and made dinner. The three diamonds on my mother’s ring are the only diamonds I own. I still have an engagement ring left over from a relationship that never resulted in marriage. It has no diamond, only birthstone rubies, set in a sequence that gets smaller and smaller as it radiates out from the center.
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FRESHEN UP YOUR RELATIONSHIP: 7 Ways to Keep the Mystery Alive Va l e r i e N i e s
1. Avoid texting. Find more creative ways to communicate; keep your lover on his toes with handwritten scrolls delivered to his bedroom window via carrier pigeon, invisible ink heart-shaped tattoos that can only be seen under a black light, and secret messages he’ll have to hire a CIA agent to decode. 2. If you must text, occasionally spell words using British English. You’ll create intrigue with messages like: “Let’s chill and watch a marathon of In Living Colour. It’s one of my favourite television programmes!” Raise one eyebrow and smile slyly when he asks “Didn’t you grow up in Tampa?” 3. Some women attempt to make partners jealous by ordering themselves a dozen roses to make it appear that many suitors desire them. Why stop with roses? Order yourself a dozen Harry & David Royal Riviera pears, a dozen circular saws from Home Depot, and a dozen DVDs of classic film The Dirty Dozen. He may never understand you, but he will be in awe that he’s with a mysterious creature who possesses a penchant for gourmet fruit, mad carpentry skills, and an affinity for classic war films. 4. Be a more mysterious mate with unreadable facial expressions. Letting him know your true feelings is a huge relationship killer. Maintain your composure with a straight face, and if that’s too difficult, put a paper Trader Joe’s bag over your head. 5. Captivate his interest by catching him off guard. You could surprise him with tickets to see his favorite basketball team or you could just throw a basketball randomly at his head while the two of you watch Game of Thrones. 6. Shake up your routine. Eating brunch at the same greasy spoon every Sunday morning is boring and does nothing for your romance. Arouse curiosity by traveling outside of your comfort zone. A suggestion: combine your airline miles and take a trip somewhere exotic. Nothing says “Let’s commit to one another” like running away from a panther in the Brazilian rainforest. 7. It feels like a shift forward in a relationship when you share your Google calendars. But it’s also the beginning of monotony. Keep your romance fresh by throwing away your phones. For good. Hey, as long as you’re in Brazil, why not toss your iPhone 7s into the Amazon River, while you bond over avoiding piranhas.
Valerie Nies is a comedian, writer, and breakfast lover living in Austin, Texas. She wants a dog but is afraid of commitment. Read more about Valerie at ValerieCallMe.com.
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Want to sample Charleston’s arts scene? Sign up for quick one-day workshops at Trident Technical College. Enjoy a Literary Tea with writer Cassandra King; make your own artisan handmade soaps; try your hand at making a sweetgrass basket; or explore Lowcountry culture, nature and wildlife. Register Today!
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SUB NO
MIS SIO NS W O PEN !
A skirt! Magazine Event for every Daughter and her Mother
We want to know.
I Am the Woman I Am
Today Because My Mother...‌ We want to know what your mother did to shape the woman you are today. Do you have a passion for serving others because your mom always volunteered in the community? Do you strive to be an amazing mother because you were raised by one too? Do you have an incredible work ethic because you had a single mom who worked two jobs to support your family? No matter what your story is, we want to know! Submissions open Wednesday February 1, 2017 and close on Wednesday March 1, 2017. All submissions must be emailed to submissions@skirt.com with I Am Because in the subject line and must include your first & last name, DOB, mailing address and phone number. Ten finalists will be chosen to participate in a series of special I Am Because events including an invitation only luncheon where we will announce one runner up and and one winner. Prizes will be awarded. Submissions received after the deadline or with missing information will not be considered. Finalists will be contacted directly by skirt! magazine and announced in the April 2017 issue.
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M I R A N D A C A S A N O VA
Miranda Casanova is a 22-year-old college student and motivational speaker. She has written for USA Today and Hello Giggles.
F O R T H E L OV E O F K AT E S PA D E “ I signed up for a creative writing class in community college, and with a little magic and help from a designer handbag, my life changed forever.”
I was supposed to have a twin sister but she passed away at birth. My mom went to a psychic once who told her that my sister died because I was the one “meant to accomplish something bigger” than I could imagine, and that my sister had to stay behind. It’s been two years since my mom relayed the message to me and while knowing this provided me with a new comfort, I still found myself longing for the bond only a sibling could give me. As an only child in a wheelchair, my tendency to feel alone constantly heightened as I hit my late teen years. Then, in the fall of 2013, I signed up for a creative writing class in community college, and with a little magic and help from a designer handbag, my life changed forever. Sleepless, groggy, and slightly grumpy due to the lack of caffeine running through my veins, I parked my bedazzled motor scooter alongside the long desk in the back of the classroom and retrieved that day’s assignment from my backpack. At first, my glance to the left was quick, but upon looking again, my eyes immediately locked with a beautiful black leather Kate Spade purse. I don’t know if it was due to the lack of sleep or the state of delirium I was in, but without thinking, I asked my classmate, Kendra: “Can I take a picture with your bag?” Mind you, I had never spoken to her and the only interactions we had up until my embarrassing question were when she opened up the classroom door for me when I struggled to open it myself. And here I was. I knew nothing about this person other than she was in my class and always seemed to be sleeping in the far corner. Despite my embarrassment, however, I realize that my lack of sleep contributed to blessing me with the greatest “sistership” I could have wished for. After that morning, we bonded over everything: relationships, family, food, and yes, Kate Spade. We sat at lunch tables or in her car with the seats reclined sharing our hopes, our dreams, and our stories of triumph. She spoke of her struggles with her mother’s death and I spoke of the difficulties of being in an abusive relationship. Within a few months, the hole in my heart began to shrink up and I felt the loneliness I had become accustomed to, slowly fade away, day after day. Perhaps the most important and cherished aspect of Kendra and I’s bond is her acceptance of my disability and her unwavering
dedication to making sure I live as normal a life as possible. Even though she will never be able to truly understand my day-today strife as a result of Cerebral Palsy, she is a constant source of strength on the days when everything seems to be too much, and she has told me that I am hers as well. Kendra knows that I am unable to drive, and whenever I am having a less-than-stellar day, she instinctively knows that I require a trip to Taco Bell to unwind. Within an hour, she’s walking in my front door, calling my name in a sing-songy voice. We then converse through tears, laughter or both while devouring a Burrito Supreme, and my frustration melts away. In the last three years, we have cried to each other on the phone countless times, held each other close when we need to be reminded that we are not alone, and the phrase “I love you” has been said at the end of every statement since the first day we met. We have been there for each other through the pep talks, the drunk texts, the heartbreak and happiness, and while we do disagree with each other more often than we’d care to admit, no matter what, we have each other’s backs. I heard someone say to me once that you can only have a “real sibling” by blood and for a while, I held onto that belief and it tore me apart because I knew that if that were the case, I wouldn’t feel a sisterly bond for my entire life. Through my friendship with Kendra, however, I realize how wrong that person was, and how wrong I was for believing it. In the last three years, I have seen what it means to have a sister because I have one in her. She consistently comes through for me when I need her and drops whatever she’s doing if I am in distress or I need help, she has helped me defeat my depression time and time again and she has shown me that there is always happiness and hope if you’re willing to look for it. When I think of who I want to help my future husband propose, who I want to help plan my wedding and be my maid of honor, when I think of who I want beside me in the hospital when I have my first child, and when I think of who I want to name my first child after, I immediately think of Kendra because she’s not just my best friend. She is my sister. The bond that I’ve created with her has withstood some of the most malicious situations and saddest of times, but I am more than certain that there is nothing that can break it, and I am so thankful for that… and of course, for Kate Spade, too.
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Copper Penny
Maris De Hart
Julep
Dandy Boutique
Surround Yourself With Love… Lyndon Leigh
Gwynn's of Mt.Pleasant
Shoes on King
Hausful – for modern spaces Henry & Eva
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Ro Sham Beaux
Hausful – for modern spaces
Gwynn's of Mt.Pleasant
Lyndon Leigh
StyleDwell Bashful
Steven Shell
StyleDwell
Copper Penny
g
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Q&A WITH
skirt! blogger
PRISCILLA BROWN FashionandFishing.com
1 / Why did you start your blog? Fashion and Fishing originally started as a place where I could share my latest sewing creations with friends and family. But I have always loved writing and story telling, so over time the blog has also become a place where I can share my stories of love, life, marriage, the ups and downs of starting a family, the joys of motherhood, and everything else in between. 2 / Fill In the Blank; I Heart__________ ...the sound of my son giggling and the feeling of my husband's beard scratching on my cheek. I hope that when I'm an old and senile, and don't even know my own name, that I will at least remember these two things.
Summer Camp is LIVE February 1st. Register on-line Hurry, our camps sell out fast!
3 / Favorite Quote "The sweet is never quite as sweet without the sour.” 4 / Favorite Love Song "Such Great Heights” - Iron and Wine cover. There's a line that goes: “And I have to speculate, that God himself did make us into corresponding shapes, like puzzle pieces from the clay.” This line always makes me think about how it feels when you get that really great hug from someone you love and everything just clicks. As if that is exactly where you are supposed to be with that exact person at that exact moment. #cheese
IN SEARCH OF A NEW PLACE?
5 / Guilty Pleasure Eating copious amounts of prosciutto. I am the girl at happy hour that while my friends are ordering craft beer and debating on red versus white wine, I am already on my second charcuterie plate and I have no intentions of sharing. 6 / Favorite thing about skirt! magazine I love that the shopping and product section is always wonderfully curated to not only support local businesses, but also give ideas to all different women of different walks of life. To see more of what Priscilla has to say visit skirt.com/blog.
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• Sales and Rentals in the Historic District and BEYOND • 11-A Isabella Street • Charleston • 843-577-3193 • fax 877-241-6941 melaina@pateproperties.com • www.pateproperties.com
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“I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my Sweetheart.” The Lumineers
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“Love recog nizes no b a rri e rs. It j u m p s hurdl es, l eap s fences, p e n e t ra t e s
wal l s to arriv e a t i t s d e st i n a t i o n
10 Release your inner child with the theme of “A Kid at Heart” at the 9th Annual Chase After a Cure Gala, with youth-inspired food, entertainment and auction packages. The event raises money for Chase After a Cure’s work funding research and clinical trials that have the potential to immediately impact the lives of pediatric cancer patients. Chaseafteracure.com/events.
MAY 7 FEBRUARY 10 Elise Testone presents: FOR THE LOVE OF LEGENDS, celebrating the timeless music of Jimi, Janis, Jerry, MJ, JB, Amy, and more. 8 p.m. at the Charleston Music Hall. Tickets at charlestonmusichall.com.
full of h op e .” Maya Angelou
TUESDAYS IN FEBRUARY Learn to Tango! The Charleston Argentine Tango Society offers weekly Argentine tango lessons followed by an hour of dance every Tuesday evening starting at 7:30 p.m. The classes are held at the MUSC Wellness Center at 45 Courtenay Drive. Lessons are free and access to MUSC is just $5 per person. All dancers are welcome – from beginners to those with experience. You do not need a partner to attend!
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FEBRUARY 1-28 Heart & Soul Exhibition 2017 - An exhibit showcasing jewelry & mixed media artwork to cultivate your passions. Wear your gallery selection to Élevé restaurant Valentines weekend (Feb. 10-14) and receive a complimentary Heartini cocktail. (Gallery jewelry must be purchased in the months of January or February 2017 at Grand Bohemian Gallery). Grand Bohemian Gallery at 55 Wentworth Street. Free & Open to the Public. Also, have your portrait painted by artist in residence, Daniel Velasco while you dine at Élevé the evening of February 10th anytime between 7-9pm!
FEBRUARY 11 -12 Lowcountry Irish Fest - This two-day, family-friendly Irish Festival will feature authentic Irish music and food, Irish dancing, children's activities and historical insight. The festival will take place at Omar Shriners Auditorium in Mt. Pleasant, SC. General Admission and VIP tickets are available for purchase online at LowcountryIrishFest.com. Ticket prices range from $20 to $170 depending on the package. Enter the online raffle on the website for a chance to win a trip for two to Ireland in 2017!
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FEBRUARY 11 Bring your appetite to The Johns Island Food Truck Festival, noon to 5 p.m.at the All Seasons Landscape Lot located at 1820 River Road Johns Island. Sample several food trucks, artisan vendors, children's activities, fire pits, live entertainment, full bar and more! Presented by A Snappy Event, Facebook.com/ asnappyevent/.
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Don’t miss Bacon & Bourbon 2017 at the Gaillard Center, 7:30 p.m. Sample unlimited bacon bites and bourbon tasting, enjoy live music, a cigar cabana, bull riding championship, and more. BaconandbourbonSC.com.
SEWE (Southeastern Wildlife Expo, in case you’re not a local!), is back for another year of fun, festivities, exhibits, artists, and a celebration of all things wild in the Lowcountry. Tickets and event schedule at SEWE.com.
FEBRUARY 14 Spend Valentine’s Day with your fur babies at the Puppy Love Brunch, 11 a.m. at the Bay Street Biergarten, 549 E Bay St. Enjoy mimosas and bloodies while your dogs enjoy being outdoors, socializing with other dogs and even some treats provided by us! Best of all, a portion of proceeds from the event will be donated to the LowCountry Animal Rescue. They will be bringing adoptable dogs seeking their forever homes. Come find your true love.
FEBRUARY 18 Be a hero and help a cause by signing up for The Super Run, starting at 8 a.m. at Laurel Hill Park: 1400 N. Hwy.41, Mt. Pleasant. Select your superhero swag, the charity you want to support, and register at thesuperrun.com/ locations/mt.-pleasant-sc-superhero-5k-run/.
FEBRUARY 24 The Charleston Music Hall presents Women & The Rolling Stones, a tribute show to The Rolling Stones featuring some of Charleston’s best female vocalists. Tickets at charlestonmusichall.com.
FEBRUARY 25 If you're considering an affair, we highly recommend one with chocolate. Clear your calendar for The Chocolate Affair, 6:30 - 11 p.m. at the Memminger Auditorium. Black tie optional. This gala event offers gourmet catering and chocolate desserts from Charleston's finest restaurants and specialty shops. An open bar is available and the Reception Menu includes a variety of hors d'oeuvres. The evening also features more than 150 auction items for every budget. Bid items include jewelry, fantasy vacations, furniture, artwork, dinner packages, gifts, and services. Get tickets and more info at TheChocolateAffair.net.
FEBRUARY 25 2nd Annual Brazil Bash – Embrace the Brazilian culture at West Ashley’s 2nd Annual Brazil Bash! Mex 1 will be hosting a party packed with entertainment, live music from Batida 55 and a performance from Charleston’s local Capoeira group. Entry is free, party starts at 6pm. The evening is a fundraiser benefiting the Carioca Capoeira Charleston. In addition to drink specials, Mex 1 will also be raffling off a surfboard with proceeds going to the group. For more information on Carioca Capoeira, or how to support them, visit capoeiracharleston.com/.
FEBRUARY 26 Join us on Kiawah Island in welcoming Seraph Brass, a radiant, charismatic brass quintet made up of America’s top female brass players. 4 p.m. at Church of Our Savior, 4416 Betsy Kerrison Parkway, Johns Island. For more information visit kiawahisland. org/special-events.
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Focus on your financial well-being A workshop series for women Please join us for our workshop series:
FEBRUARY 16, 2017
2017 GOAL & INVESTMENT STRATEGIES PART II
Location Laura Alberts Tasteful Options Island Park Room 891 Island Park Drive Charleston, SC 29492
Speaker and host The French Team Georgia French, CFP® Senior Vice President– Wealth Management
Complimentary lunch will be served.
12:00 noon Ò1:30 p.m.
RSVP Suzanna D’Amaral Senior Client Service Associate 843-856-6629 suzanna.damaral@ubs.com UBS Financial Services Inc. 900 Island Park Drive, Suite 201 Charleston, SC 29492 843-849-1180
ubs.com/team/french This event is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as investment advice or the basis for making any investment decisions. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified finanCial PlannerTM and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. ©UBS 2015. All rights reserved. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC. 7.00_Ad_4.75x7.625_0316_FreG
Explore Charleston’s Parks in a new children’s book from the Charleston Parks Conservancy Meet Parker at the
Sunday, March 5 1:30 to 4:30 pm Hampton Park
Visit CharlestonParksConservancy.org to pre-order your signed copy for pickup at the picnic. Books are $12 each or 2 for $20.
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the last Pa g e
wasn't put in your heart to stay, Love isn't Love until you give it away. Unknown
See you in March for THE WONDER ISSUE!
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2992 Ashley Ashley Phosphate Phosphate •• North North Charleston Charleston •• 2992 843.767.0690 •• GuiltyPleasuresSC.com GuiltyPleasuresSC.com 843.767.0690 at GuiltyPleasures-Charleston GuiltyPleasures-Charleston Follow Follow us us on on at
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Bringing the best medicine closer to you. 843-792-7000
Just down the street, there’s an MUSC Health center that practices disease prevention, promotes wellness, offers urgent care, and after hours treatment. Our internal and family medicine providers and pediatricians all come with the power of a nationally recognized academic medical center. This offers you and your family the most advanced medicine, latest technology, and access to over 700 specialists. Don’t have a primary care doctor? Visit our website to see locations and meet the providers, or call MUSC Health today.
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