When the curtain rises at Hilton Head Christian academy (HHCA), the audiences do, too! The acting acumen and musical productions keep getting better and better. The growing popularity of the HHCA Arts Program is a direct correlation to the enthusiasm Michelle McElroy, last year’s teacher of the year, has ignited in the students. Michelle stepped into her new role as theater director last year after directing Cinderella and assisting the former theater director and mentor, Rhonda Stones, with the 2014 production of Annie. Her passion for theater is contagious, and frankly, all in the details, as evidenced by her personal investment to each and every show. She gives equal attention to casting, direction and production and her shows are known for beautiful sets, costumes, choreography, music and talent.

The mission of 100 Red Apron Women is to recruit 100 women to make up a special donor group for the purpose of empowering women and their families to work toward self-reliance and independence.

I’m turning 65 in a few months and getting close to retiring. My ex is also turning 65, and as far as I know, he’s still working. I would like to file for my ex-spouse’s Social Security benefits but don’t really want to talk to him about it. Does he have to be involved? 

A question that coaches love to ask is “What would you do if you felt no fear?” Fear has many roots. You may be afraid of failing, being judged, feeling embarrassed, losing ground . . . or even of success.

Out with the old; in with the new. It’s time to do a closet sweep before a new fashion season is upon us. As the crisp cool days of fall begin to seep in, and before you hit the stores to stock your wardrobe for the holidays, take a hard look at what’s in your closet now. Then start getting organized. 

If you’ve ever been the recipient of a random act of kindness, then you understand how a simple gesture can go a long way. 

The theme for this month's issue is “Be Innovative.” Coincidentally, one of the most thrilling 
events for innovators is also this month. Geekend is bringing a bonanza of cutting edge innovators to our neighborhood for the second year. Watch out California! There’s a new kid on the block 
and the high-tech landscape might just be moving to the Lowcountry.

The staff at Pink magazine mirrors our readers in many ways.  We span decades, with people in their 20s through 60s. We come from the North and South.  We have different habits, interests, passions and opinions. We are married, single and newly engaged. Yet, we are all interested in improving our world and ourselves—individually and as we carry out our magazine’s mission: empower, inform, encourage and invoke thought. This month, each staff member selected a book she found valuable and worth recommending to others. The selections are as diverse as our staff and readers. We feel sure there is something here for you:

Domestic violence is a serious and potentially lethal epidemic that continues to grow as the local population increases. South Carolina currently ranks 2nd in the nation for the rate of women murdered by men (Violence Policy Center 2014) and Beaufort County ranks 10^th in the state for the number of victims reporting domestic violence incidents (SLED 2012). CODA is the only organization serving Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties that provide comprehensive services to adult and child survivors of domestic abuse.

The Wheel of Life is a tool and exercise used by coaches, therapists and retreat leaders the world over to enable individuals to instantly see where there life is at this moment. The purpose is to create a graphic view of the areas that are giving you satisfaction and areas that might need attention. The shape of the new wheel you create can instantly indicate how bumpy or smooth your life feels right now. 

Can you imagine jumping out of bed every morning, anxious to get to work, and leaving work at the end of the day with your battery fully charged, because you love what you are doing?  It is estimated that less than a third of employees nationwide actually feel this way. The rest are buying time, experiencing frustration or working hard and feeling unfulfilled.

Every day I drive by a beautiful new assisted living complex under construction close to where I live. As beautiful as this place is, it's become a daily reminder to me for how difficult it can be to talk to aging parents about their health and future needs.

I love paddling Walter, my well-worn, 17-foot foot Solstice, and not just because it’s an inspiring upper body workout. In less than a minute, kayaking transports me into the silence, the rhythm of the waves, one stroke on my right, another on my left, over and over, inhaling, exhaling, sometimes repeating the mantra, sometimes sending my breath to a tight spot on my torso that’s begging 
for attention.

It’s back in the saddle again. Time to round up those fresh jeans and head into a new season of denim—a favorite in our wardrobes, year after year. The stars of this season’s fashion rodeo lineup are extra relaxed, playing like a modern Western with more options than ever. Here are some ways you can ride high and get in the denim spirit right now:

Flying down the beach in her purple and pink cape, 9-year-old Chloe Bredeson’s energy and spirit just might defy gravity. Her ability to soar through life is just one of the superpowers that has earned her the nickname Super Chloe.

Go big and go bold. It’s the mantra of jewelry designers everywhere this year. The bigger the bauble the better. From pearls to pendants, jewelry is once again making a big fashion statement—popping up not only on celebrities strutting their multimillion-dollar sparklers on the red carpets, but in the accessory wardrobes of women who are scoring great finds from local artisans and vintage flea markets.

I saw the funniest sign recently. But it wasn’t funny for long because I started to think about it. It read, “Everything happens for a reason, sometimes the reason is you’re stupid and make bad decisions.”

Take a minute to think about a frustrating relationship you have with someone. 
Your frustration probably stems from the other person not meeting your expectations, which may or may not have been shared with the person. In fact, most expectations are not explicitly communicated because the holder assumes they are self-evident—any reasonable person would hold these expectations. Therefore, too often we learn about the expectations of others and the importance of these expectations when we fail to meet them. Here (right) are some examples that may sound familiar... 

Platelets are bloods little particles that help create blood clots when necessary. Platelets also contain many Growth Factors, which we can use for rejuvenation purposes.

While out celebrating one night, I found myself sitting around a table at a local restaurant with seven beautiful, strong, self-confident women who serve on a non-profit board of directors with me. We were enjoying a fun night for a change and the conversation immediately turned to men—their habits, new family roles, relationships, all the normal issues a woman encounters whether she is married, engaged, dating or single. As we delved into one scenario, a friend exclaimed, “You need to read this book Why Men Love Bitches. It changed my life.” 

Spouses, children, siblings and BFFs are not the only creatures who don’t respond positively to the negative vibes of a yeller. 

Graduating from college is one of life's most thrilling events. Finishing my degree, walking the aisle and receiving a fancy document in a leather-bound case remains one of the high points of my life. 

I want to tell you three real-life stories to make one big point about the mind-body connection. It's real. It's not waiting to be proven some day—it has been proven, with scientific rigor, time and time again. Your mind and body are communicating with each other right now, inside you, hormonally, chemically, energetically, whether you're aware of it or not.

Here’s the deal (no pun intended).  I know something about spending money and not much about saving it. The areas in my life that are extreme have nothing to do with couponing. I’ve been guilty of standing in the grocery line, huffing and rolling my eyes, while a sweet thrifty lady painstakingly un-crumpled her wad of coupons—one by one—and laid them before the equally annoyed cashier. Long ago, I watched my mother doggedly paste S&H Green Stamps into her savings book and determined I would live a coupon free life.  However, aren’t the things we most strenuously resist the very things we need to surrender to? I’ve realized what’s crazy is not being “smart” about saving money. I decided to investigate couponing with an open mind.

Dr. Amit Sood—professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine—grew up and went to medical school in Bhopal, India. Throughout his medical training, he writes, he experienced “the scourge of poverty, malnutrition and disease,” which created tremendous suffering in his country.

Dear Carrie: For the past three years, my 29-year-old daughter has been working for a good company that offers a 401(k), but she still hasn’t started to contribute. She says she can’t afford it. How can I persuade her to get going?

You are sitting in a meeting, much like many other meetings you have attended. The topic is important and the participants are highly regarded. You leave the meeting without saying a word. Why?

You know what to do in a medical emergency, but do you know what to do when faced with a big fat financial crisis?