The Grandma Mystique
What is it? This Grandma Thing? I’d heard other women talk about how amazing it was to be a grandmother, and, when they talked about their grandchildren, they seemed completely,...
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Memorial Day
Marines in dress uniform lead the parade Senior citizens seek shelter in the shade Scouts march in step along with high school bands City officials greet the public in the...
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Shooting Down Fear
Fear of the unknown can be quite the compelling catalyst. It is easy to put a feeling on the top shelf, pushed as far back as it can go, in...
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Whatcha Gonna Name the Baby?
If I had a quarter for every time I was asked this question, I could have paid for my child’s college education. Names are interesting. Southerners love to unearth the...
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Finding the Perfect Dress | Shopping Local for Generations
The perfect dress was waiting for me in a small boutique in Aiken. Caroline’s should have been the first place I looked, but I live in Charleston. I spent an...
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The Joy of Journaling
Journaling has long been a way for humans to validate their experiences, concerns, and hopes. It gives the writer a feeling of meaningful achievement in creating a permanent record of...
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Be Self-Confident
“My mother said to me, ‘If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope.” Instead I was a painter,...
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The Case for Chocolate
How is it mothers always know what’s going on behind their backs, especially when it’s something naughty? I loved sugar as a small child. When no one was looking, I’d...
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Taking Action
“Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long,you miss them.” ~ William Arthur Ward This year has me wondering — is there more? More to life perhaps? More I...
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Dogs Riding in Cars
I suspect it may be the reason most dogs keep us around. We can drive cars … and trucks and motorhomes and motorcycles. And, as a result, we can seemingly...
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Why I Love Daffodils
There is something magical about daffodils. The mere shape of the flower seems to trumpet the arrival of spring, announcing something new and exciting. Imagine March in the Lowcountry with...
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Letter From The Editor | These Boots Are Made For Walkin’
“These boots are made for walkin’” Lee Hazlewood, as recorded by Nancy Sinatra I try not to offend anyone. Doesn’t make me feel good, and I’m certain it doesn’t make...
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Be Conscientious
“Infuse your life with action. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs,...
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Make Your Own Luck
Learn to B-Positive Have you ever wondered whether some folks are just flat-out lucky? Perhaps there are some who are wired differently? Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you...
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More Power To Your Elbows
It’s more British than American. And it likely originated as a toast. The phrase “more power to your elbows” meant you lifted your comrades up to continued good fortune, with...
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How to Say the Hard Things
Have you ever been in a situation where you are not sure how to say what needs to be said? Sometimes it’s sympathy for the loss of a loved one...
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Letter From the Editor
The dialogue took place in church, in late August 2019, just before the service began. Ladonna and I had become closer friends in the month before, and she seemed a...
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Don’t Get It Twisted | Untwist the Love
Let’s not get it twisted. When it comes to matters of the heart, one word tells the story — that word is love. If you are living in this world...
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For the Love of Your Dog
It surprised me when I realized I haven’t put a lot of thought into how my dog’s collar and leash fit him. It makes me wonder what else I take...
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Romance in the Rural South
Humor is everywhere — you just have to keep your eyes and ears open. As I have always said, you can’t make this stuff up. I was speaking in a...
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Scraps of Love
It is a rather small scrap of simple cotton cloth. It is faded cream in color with a pattern of soft blue leaves printed across it. And it is fastened...
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A Dialogue with Singer Songwriter: Chris Ndeti
Recently, Bella Magazine caught up with Chris Ndeti for a round of 5 questions. Who were some of your musical heroes and influences growing up? Do you find elements of...
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A Case for Self-Love
Loving yourself unapologetically is the greatest thing you can do for another. Reread that sentence slowly. If everyone acted in soul-aligned, self-loving ways, what beauty could we create together? What...
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Be in Love with Life
The “Amore” Issue! I love Love. I drive my daughters crazy with this notion. But it is true. “The Rose” was the very first song I can recall memorizing. I...
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Five Ways to Live the Paris Lifestyle Anywhere
Ma Vie En Rose by Buck Jones She doesn’t come into our little café but once a week, but when she does, oh my. It’s her smile that grabs your...
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Happy ‘Taughts’ for New Beginnings
Excerpt from Rhinestones on My Flip-Flops My daughter, Caroline, loved watching Peter Pan when she was a little girl. She was glued to the television and loved every minute of...
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All The Little Foxes
It made me think of the wasted opportunities that are lost to little foxes of “doubt” — about stories never written, journeys never taken, loves never known, truths never told...
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Thank you, 2020
OK, OK — I know what the title looks like, but hear me out. Trust me — I was cursing 2020 just as much as the next person a couple...
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