Mark walked into my life when I was a naïve, sheltered 20-year-old. He was exciting. He was daring. And he introduced me to unchartered waters. Abusive people can always identify the vulnerabilities in others that allow them to move in and take control. Mark found my feelings of missing something from life and a need […]
By Sarah Jones When I started as a victim advocate with the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence, it never occurred to me that my advocacy would extend to working with abusers. What I quickly came to realize was that promoting victim safety and moving toward our ultimate goals of reducing and eventually ending future violence […]
Red flags. So many red flags. I saw them but chose to ignore them. He studied me like a book and learned my likes, dislikes and traumas. He then used that information to create the person I believed was my soulmate. He was “saving me” from an already bad place and blinding me with his […]
My name is Sharita Cook, and I am the mother of seven beautiful children, which includes five sons and two daughters. I am the eldest daughter of Larry and Janis Burks. My parents were hard workers. There were five of us altogether, two brothers and two sisters. My mother was a chef, and also a […]
By Dr. Olivia Hightower We are making advancements every year in breast cancer treatment. Patients are being cured at a higher rate, and even those whose cancer is detected at later stages are living longer, as chemotherapy options are improving. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, excluding skin cancers. About one […]
By Debbie Batia Area rugs always have had a prominent place in homes and office spaces, whether for their practical function of protecting floors or for aesthetic reasons. Of course, we all know and remember our grandmothers’ beautiful area rugs that kept her wood floors in great condition and provided warmth throughout the winter. Over […]
At one time, backsplash was purely practical, and its sole purpose was to protect walls from messes. Today, we treat backsplash as the essential design element it is. Whether you’re looking to update your kitchen or give it more character, backsplash is a relatively simple, inexpensive investment that can make a dramatic difference. Need help […]
By Debbie Batia How do we describe the last 12-15 months in the world of home furnishings and interior design? To sum it up in one word — amazing! While most businesses that rely on the public visiting or shopping have been in a slump, the interior design industry has exploded with new business, new […]
Lilian Gollott was born in Toluca, Mexico, but considers herself a Southern woman. A Coast resident for 28 years, she has adopted the culture wholeheartedly — including Mardi Gras balls, fall festivals, fishing and, of course, the food. Being a mother and enjoying time with her son, Shawn Miguel, is where Gollott finds the most […]
BEFORE MY TRANSFORMATION Four years ago, I had a totally different life. I was overweight and suffered from horrible migraine headaches and high cholesterol/ triglycerides. I had no energy or stamina. At age 64, I thought my life was over — and talk about a rut! I was living a grave existence with no hope […]
