Carolina Girl - Charleston

Online Magazine

a n i l o r a l C r i G Articles: Buy Local A One Tank Trip Profiting From The Green Movement

www.CarolinaGirl.sc

$ Priceless $

Contents From The Editor

5

Commerical Real Estate - Renting In Today’s Market

11

Neighborhoods

13

Bunker Shot Perfection

16

Rings

18

Staycations - Discover Something Close To Home

19

Bags

20

Zodiac

22

Moving Beyond Your Divorce

23

Hair

24

Beds

26

Earrings

28

Lamps

30

10 Reasons To Plant Trees...Now!

31

Weddings

32

How To Set A Table

33

Clemson

34

Shoes

36

Necklaces

38

How To Make Grits

40

Collages

42

About North Charleston

43

Cars

44

Dogs

46

Time To Refinace or Buy!?

47

Food

48

Can You Find The Gorget?

49

USC

52

A One Tank Trip

51

South Carolina Wedding & Event Planners: Career Outlook

53

Carolina Girl Gear

57

Health Dangers of Losing Weight To Fast

58

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 3

From The Editor Buy Local Promoting local business is as simple as having other company’s business cards or brochures posted on a board in your store. In an effort to promote your area, we are distributing decals that say “Check us out at www.CarolinaGirl.sc,” in hopes that local shoppers will visit the site to find local restaurants, clothing, specials, coupons and more. We are doing our part, so please join us, and promote your local merchants, and everyone will benefit!

Buy

Top Ten reasons to Think Local Local - Be Local – Help Local Businesses

1. Buy Local -- Support yourself and Lexington. Many studies have revealed when you buy from an independent, locally owned business in the your own area, rather than a nationally owned businesses, considerably more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses. Local businesses continue to strengthen the economic base of the local community. These include case studies showing that local owned businesses generate a premium in enhanced economic impact to the community and our tax base.

2.Support Local Area Community Groups:

Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller Lexington area business owners than they do from large companies.

3. Keep Your Area Unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun -- all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind local businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character. Local tourism businesses also benefit. “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.” ~ Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust.

4. Reduce Environmental Impact: Locally owned businesses in your area can make more local purchases requiring less transportation. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

5. Create Additional Jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in the community, provide the most jobs to local residents. 6. Receive Better Service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products and services they offer, and take more time to get to know customers. Cont. next page www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 5

Visit www.Barter.sc

And See Why Business Owners Love To Barter

Click & Point To Join Carolina Barter Exchange Now! A proud member of www.Only.sc which includes:

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Carolina Barter

EXCHANGE

(843)760-0002

Fax:(843)760-0003

[email protected]

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 6

From the editor - Continued

7.invest

in your Community: Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, and they are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.

8. put your taxes to Good use: Local businesses require a relatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering your area. 9. Buy What you Want, not What BiG advertisinG BudGets Want you to Buy: A South Carolina marketplace comprised of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the longterm. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products and services based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, promises a much broader range of product choices.

10. promote LoCaL prosperity: An escalating body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character. Larry Local Editor in Chief

a n i l o r a C Girl CeO Dennis Stewart EDITOR IN CHIEF Larry Local CReATIVe DIReCTOR Daniel Holliday ART DIReCTOR Amy Coats WeB DeVeLOPeRS Allen Bayless Matthew Coats ACCOUNTING Marie Bentley ADMINISTRATION & MARKETING Vivi Morillo Angie Woods

carolina media carolina media SERVICES

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Copyright © 2009 Carolina Media Services. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. 3290 Ashley Phosphate Road Charleston, SC 29418 Toll Free: (866)532-4725 Fax: (866)542-4725 [email protected] www.CarolinaGirl.sc

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Commercial Real Estate – Renting in Today’s Market First make sure that the area you have chosen is right for your intended business. If you plan on expanding, take that into consideration. Do you need to be close to an expressway, or the local airport? Before you decide, think ahead, because you may be getting into a long term commitment. Make sure that any space you’re considering is big enough for both your current needs, and your foreseeable growth. Be realistic and never over-commit. Do your homework beforehand. Investigate traffic patterns; tour the area and building. Find out who the previous tenant was, and why the business left. Learn

what kinds of marketing the location does in support of its tenants (if any) and whether cooperative marketing funds are available to you. Weigh the benefits of guaranteed foot traffic at a mall location against premium rent. Some malls require that all tenants stay open during mall hours, and pay for common area usage as well as the store’s own space and upkeep. Stores may also be asked to pay a percentage of sales to the mall. Identify your closest competitors. Also check out neighboring businesses with an eye for complementary products or services. If you are locating in a mall, check the lease agreement for any guaranteed protection against competition. Evaluate whether the physical location and space is a good fit with your product line. Do you need a large, bright space or is an office warehouse sufficient?

Investigate any restrictions on signage. Signs are vitally important to retail businesses, yet many landlords decide on what a store can and cannot do. The rules may be even stricter in a mall, which closely monitors its physical appearance. Negotiate the terms of your lease aggressively. Think about consulting a realtor that is familiar with the area. Never accept wording that’s confusing or that leaves you wondering who is liable for what. Ask for the right of first refusal on adjacent space in case you need to expand. Negotiate for free improvements, free rent, and other incentives before signing your lease. Hire a real estate attorney who not only specializes in lease negotiations, but knows your area and, preferably, has dealt with your kind of business before. A lease negotiation can cover tens, if not hundreds, of terms, and you want someone in your corner who has seen it all before. Know who is responsible for maintaining the heating, air-conditioning and other systems, as well as keeping up the parking lot and building exterior. This can be critical in older buildings. Who pays for the utilities and trash pick-up? The time has probably never been better to start a new venture if you have a business that is not being adversely affected by this economy. Just make sure you get the right location……

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 11

www.LocalTraffic.sc South Carolina’s #1 Live Local Traffic Website

Click & Point To See Traffic Now! A proud member of www.Only.sc which includes:

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[email protected]

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 12

neiGhBorhoods 1. Neighborhoods are where we all grew up a long time ago. Today, because of golf courses, shopping areas, subdivisions, jobs, schools, and a transient society, a neighborhood means different things to different folks. 2. Neighborhoods can be as small as a dozen or so houses, and be as many as thousands of homes. 3. Neighborhoods are common, and perhaps close to universal, since most people in urbanized areas would probably consider themselves to be living in one. 4. Neighborhoods are convenient, and always accessible, since you are already in your neighborhood when you walk out your door. 5. Successful neighborhood action frequently requires little specialized technical skill, and often little or no money. Action may call for an investment of time, but material costs are often low.

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6. With neighborhood action, compared to activity on larger scales, results are more likely to be visible and quickly forthcoming. The streets are generally cleaner; the crosswalks are painted; the trees are planted; a festival draws a crowd. 7. Visible and swift results are indicators of success; and since success is reinforcing, the probability of subsequent neighborhood action is increased. 8. Because neighborhood action usually involves others, such actions create or strengthen connections and relationships with other neighbors, leading in turn to a variety of potentially positive effects, often hard to predict. 9. Over and above these community advantages, neighborhood activity may simply be enjoyable and fun for those taking part. But in addition to these benefits, considerable research indicates that strong and cohesive neighborhoods and communities are linked –quite possibly causally linked – to decreases in crime, better outcomes for children, and improved physical and mental health. The social support that a strong neighborhood may provide can serve as a buffer against various forms of adversity. Sometimes a neighborhood isn’t a neighborhood until an event occurs, which draws people together, to become “neighbors”.

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 14

Bunker Shot Perfection: Blast Your Way to a Better Golf Score Bunker shots can be daunting but it’s really all in your head! Use these simple techniques the next time you’re in the bunker and blast your way to a better score. Golf ScoreFirst, don’t change your swing. Use the loft of the club and your back swing to determine your distance. Of course this will take some practice so you know how to shorten your backswing to get the distance you need. You use your back swing to adjust your distance because you always want to accelerate through

the ball. You never want to the club head to decelerate. Also open the club face if needed to decrease the distance the ball will travel. Use the “bounce” on the club to launch the ball out of the sand. Don’t worry too much about the definition of bounce but try this the next time in the practice sand trap. Take your sand wedge and swing at the sand. Vary the angle the club hits the sand. When you bring the club down steeply you’ll take a lot of sand and leave a large “divot” in the sand. Decrease the angle that you strike the sand until you can feel the club almost bounce off the sand. Feeling that is more important than the actual definition of bounce. The key is to have this bounce feel when hitting the ball out of the sand. Open the club face and aim slightly right with an open stance with the ball forward in your stance, slightly off of your left heel for right handed golfers. When you swing follow the line

of your feet. Keep the weight on your left foot and don’t try to lift the ball, let the club do the work; trust me the club will lift the ball. Hit about 1 inch behind the ball. The key is to get sand between the club face and the ball. This is where that bounce comes in to play. Also, expect more roll on the ball when faced with a down hill lie in the bunker because the ball won’t get as much spin and tend to roll quite a bit. Use and practice these techniques to get yourself off the beach and onto the green. For more helpful tips, advice, or to add some Golf Tips and Suggestions of your own - you are invited to visit the South Carolina Golfers Blog at www.Golf.sc/Blog/

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 16

Rich and rare were the gems she wore, And a bright gold ring on her hand she bore. Thomas Moore

Staycations – Discover Something Close to Home Because of the economy, and the possibility of the return of high gas prices, you may decide to make this year summer a stay at home vacation or as it is now being called -- a staycation. So you get on the internet and search out some not so distant and inexpensive attractions you and your family can discover and enjoy. The State of South Carolina has hundreds of unique and fascinating areas filled with history, fun and enjoyment, that there is sure to be something for everyone in your family.

Here

are some ideas:

Everyone

has friends with

homes other places in

South Carolina.

The next time they go out of town, offer them your services to check their mail, keep the dog, and house sit in a different city. Not only are you doing a favor, you are giving yourself and your family the opportunity to see another area of the State, that you may never have seen. This could be within 50 miles of where you live right now and you’ll have enjoyed a little staycation from your everyday grind. Folks that live in Greenville can go up in the Hills. If you live near the water, ask a friend that lives on the water, or in a golf community.

Learn to little.

experiment a

If you have never gone fishing, try it. South Carolina has some of the best fresh and salt water fishing in the country. Have you ever done any backpacking? The hills in the western part of the State are wonderful for all day or half day backpacking adventures. You can also experiment by doing things like surfing, canoeing, camping, hunting, and even bird watching.

Try

a

Bed

and

Breakfast.

You may be surprised how much you can learn by staying in a B&B because the people running the home generally love to share their knowledge, and they are never shy about telling you about their experiences. This is especially good in areas where there is a lot of history. The B&B may also have many tours lined up for the residents, so you may want to ask in advance.

Try

and many of us would be surprised to learn about some of the history in the towns where they live. Whether you go on a ghost tour, or a plantation tour, there will be something that you can learn about our forefathers.

Take a trip to our Capital, Columbia. Whether or not the Government is in session, you can learn a lot about one of the first States in the Union, and visit the Museums, The Capital Building, and the University of South Carolina. You may be able to catch a Football or Basketball game with the Gamecocks. No matter what you do, a Staycation is still an opportunity to be with your family and enjoy some of the best restaurants in the South. Whether you like seafood or steak, South Carolina has such a variety that you will always be able to find a great assortment of places to dine, for reasonable prices.

going on tours.

The tour industry in South Carolina is a very large industry,

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 19

She had the loaded handbag of someone who camps out and seldom goes home, or who imagines life must be full of emergencies.

Visit www.Weather.sc

To Get your Local & State Weather

Click & Point To See Lowcountry Weather Now! A proud member of www.Only.sc which includes:

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South Carolina’s Internet (843)760-0002

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[email protected]

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 21

“We need not feel ashamed of flirting with the zodiac. The zodiac is well worth flirting with.” D.H. Lawrence

Moving Beyond Your Divorce The most powerful stumbling block to moving beyond a divorce into a new life is the inability to accept your new reality. Acceptance is the hardest part of the divorce recovery process, and requires total honesty, courage and the willingness to let go of the life that no longer exists. Without that acceptance, we cannot move forward and create a new life. How do you learn acceptance? How do you move forward? How long should it take? Should you do it alone?

1) It’s

about you.

2) Get

One of the most powerful lessons in your life is the knowledge that you have control over one person and one person only…yourself. If you are looking outside of yourself to move forward, you won’t. You can’t change, nor do you have power anyone, but yourself. So turn inward and do the work on yourself and you will be able to effect dramatic and positive changes in your life. Being a victim means giving away all of your control and power. If you continue to blame someone else for your situation, then you are powerless to do anything about it because your choice to absolve yourself of any responsibility. So stop trying to change your ex, this is about YOU!

support.

If you think you can do this all by yourself ,you may be in for a big surprise. Getting support in any challenging endeavor leads to more success. Whether you choose a divorce support group, a therapist, a member of the clergy or a Life Coach, just do it. If you think that you have to handle life’s challenges on your own because somehow you equate support with weakness, it is not. It is the first step to move onward with your life.

3) Feelings,

facts and

interpretations.

The toughest part of a divorce is to get through the initial stages of a loss (assuming you believe it is a loss) that includes denial, grief, anger, depression and whatever else you might be feeling early in the divorce process. These

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 23

Life is an endless struggle full of frustrations and challenges, but eventually you find a hair stylist you like.

“The bed has become a place of luxury to me! I would not exchange it for all the thrones in the world” Napoleon Bonaparte

emotions are all natural and necessary states that you may experience. They are the norm versus the exception. There must be an ending before a new beginning. Remember, that there is a difference between experiencing an emotional state. Again, get support. Next you may need help to examine your situation, and separate the facts from your belief or interpretation, which may not be reality.

4) Take

responsibility for

your marriage, divorce and life.

It is always easy to blame someone else. Being honest requires one to accept

something that they want to believe is otherwise. You must first set aside your ego, and look at your life for what it actually is, and not what you wanted it to be. This is the only way to accept full responsibility for your life. Responsibility is power and the freedom to choose what you, granting you the power to take control of you new life.

5) Learn

forgiveness.

It may take time, but you will learn to forgive. You will eventually forgive your ex, his relatives and friends, and more importantly, yourself. Forgiveness will take a big load off your shoulders, and allow you to use your energy for positive things. This does not mean that

you condone bad behavior, it simply means you forgive. If you separate the person from the behavior it becomes much easier to forgive.

6) Make

your own

conscious decisions.

Making your own conscious decisions based in free choice means that you are not letting your past, or your emotional wounds, or your interpretations of reality, or others, control your new life. Conscious living allows for incredible freedom and the ability to create extraordinary changes in your new life.

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 27

And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 29

Be a lamp unto yourself. Buddha

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 31

I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the Ages of this world alone Arwen (Fellowship of The Ring, 2001)

hoW

to set a

taBLe As a lady of the Carolina’s, small shows of simple grace and etiquette should become as second nature to you. Now, this isn’t saying that you have to run out immediately and have visiting cards printed, or go buy a sterling silver tea set, but having knowledge of little things like place settings means a lot to locals and ultimately, shows that you truly care for and respect the civility which is the heart of South Carolina. Even at an informal dinner, it’s a good idea to create a centerpiece. This can be a week-long labor of love or, in most cases, a small setting thrown together about five minutes before the guests arrive. A few snippings from the juniper tree for frilly greenery and aromatic scent, a handful of

flowers arranged in a low bowl or small vase, a couple strategically placed pieces of fruit and a candle or two and your centerpiece is complete. A bouquet of flowers from the local florist or, better yet, a nearby farm, would also work, but no matter what, the point is that you have one. Another little pointer: don’t make the centerpiece taller than eye level. Guests would like to be able to see each other when they speak and it could mess up a lovely arrangement if you’re having to part the sunflowers every time you want to ask a question. As for your silverware, if you have sterling silver, use it. Even, and especially, if it’s your great grandmother’s set that’s been passed down for generations. She never intended for you to keep it wrapped up in crumbling bags of velvet. Silverware and formal china, however pretty and expensive, were meant to be used and this

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 33

When Clemson players rub that rock and run down the hill, its the most exciting 25 seconds in college football.

Visit www.Jobs.sc To Find Your Dream Job!

Click & Point To See Jobs Now! A proud member of www.Only.sc which includes:

www.Radio.sc www.LocalTraffic.sc www.Classifieds.sc www.Barter.sc www.News.sc www.Weather.sc Contact your www.Only.sc Representative today to be a part of www.Jobs.sc.

South Carolina’s Internet (843)760-0002

Fax:(843)760-0003

[email protected]

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 35

Shoes are like friends, you can never have too many! www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 36

is a great time to show them off. Even if you don’t have formal silverware, though, the point is to have the place settings properly arranged and in the end, no one will really care what the silverware looked like as long as there’s plenty of food and wine. With the dinner plate as the center, silverware should be placed in line, an inch from the edge of the table, and arranged from the outside – in, in order of use. On the right, salad fork (smaller fork), appetizer utensil (or another small fork or none at all if you aren’t having an appetizer between salad, soup and dinner), then dinner fork (your biggest fork) closest to the plate. On the left, soup spoon, spreading knife for the bread and the dinner knife closest to the plate. Be sure to turn the blade of the knives toward the plate, as an outwardly turned knife is a symbol of aggression toward the other diners (don’t you love these quaint little old world idiosyncrasies?). The dessert fork and spoon for after dinner tea or coffee should go across

the top of the dinner plate, with the tines of the fork facing right and the bowl of the spoon facing left. Napkins should be folded either as simply or ornately as you like, and placed in the center of the dinner plate. Glasses are also placed an inch above the knives and in order of use starting from the far right: white wine, red wine, dessert wine and water tumbler. Dinner should be served from the kitchen and ideally, placed on each diner’s plate by the server/host instead of passing bowls and dishes around. If it is Thanksgiving at Grandma’s, none of the above applies.

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 37

“My husband gave me a necklace. It’s fake. I requested fake. Maybe I’m paranoid, but in this day and age, I don’t want something around my neck that’s worth more than my head.” Rita Rudner

www.News.sc

Local, State & National News 24/7

Click & Point To See Lowcountry News Now! A proud member of www.Only.sc which includes:

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South Carolina’s Internet (843)760-0002

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[email protected]

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 39

How

to make

grits By now, you should know that grits are not only the starch of choice in South Carolina, it’s also the acronym for “Girls Raised in the South”; so if you don’t have your recipe down by now, it’s time to get boiling. Proper grits do not come in an easy to open, plastic-lined paper packet. As My Cousin Vinny put it, “Real grits take at least 20 minutes to cook”. In fact, they take a couple hours, but it’s worth every simmering second.

So get rid of the Quaker Instant Grits and mosey on down to the rice isle. Grits can usually be found either here or in the baking isle. If you’re lucky enough to live near a locally produce market or farmer’s market, 99% of the time you’ll find more than enough grits in stock. Some local favorites include Anson Mills grits and Charleston’s Favorite Stone Ground Grits. Now that you have the dry goods, make sure you have some fresh chicken stock, milk, cream and butter. Oh yes, you’re making these the way God intended. Measure out your dry grits (1 cup of dry grits makes roughly 2 servings) and clean them by placing them in a bowl and filling the bowl with water until the water is an inch or so above the grits. Skim off the chaff and drain. Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be completely dry, just get it as close as possible. Now, dump the wet grits into a pot and pour

in twice as much chicken stock as grits. Bring this to a boil, then reduce to medium-low. Now add equal portions cream and milk up to 2 and ½ times the amount of grits. So, if I was making this recipe for two, I would have used 1 cup dry grits, 2 ½ cups chicken stock, 1 ¾ cups cream and 1 ¾ cups milk. Add salt and pepper to taste, then sit back and let it simmer. The longer the grits simmer, the richer they’ll be. Typical time is 20-30 minutes, but some of the best grits sit for an hour to two hours at low to medium-low heat, just soaking up that cream and milk. Right before you serve the grits up, stir in a healthy pat of butter and, if you’re feeling a little wild, grate a handful of parmesan or cheddar cheese over the top. Play with and perfect this dish to your liking. The recipe is purposefully simple for the sole reason that it’s up to each southern girl to come up with her own special twist on this Southern Classic.

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 41

The things taught in schools and colleges are not an education, but the means to an education. www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 42

aBout north CharLeston The city of North Charleston sits on the boarder of Charleston and Dorchester counties. North Charleston’s has almost quadrupled in population since it’s conception on June 12, 1972, encompassing over 73 square miles. With a population of over 85,000, North Charleston is the third largest city in South Carolina. Until the Civil War, what is now North Charleston, consisted of primarily of plantations. The turn of the 20th century brought a boom of industry to the North Area, with the opening of E.P. Burton Lumber Company and the Navy Shipyard. In 1912, a group of Charleston business men laid out the Park Circle area. Much of Park Circle still adheres to the original 1912 plan. This thriving city is home to the North Charleston Coliseum, Performing Arts Center, & Convention Center. This complex is home to the South Carolina

Stingrays, an ECHL minor league hockey team, and is a major hub of cultural events and conventions for the Tri-county area. North Charleston’s climate has resulted in some of the most beautiful communities in the area. Several major developers have entered the market over the past several years with a huge selection of new housing. With exceptional choices for the first time buyer, to top executive homes and homesites, these sprawling neighborhoods offer a wide range of amenities including golf, fishing, tennis, playgrounds, nearby schools, day care, shopping, dining and recreational opportunities. As part of the area’s boom, many developers have integrated fitness centers and jogging trails into the communities. Parks and Community centers also add to the beauty of these carefully planned neighborhoods. North Charleston is home to several highly acclaimed “magnet” schools, including Garrett Academy of Technology, Charleston County School of the Arts, and The Academic Magnet High School. The city is also home to many well know colleges inclueding, Trident Technical College and Charleston Southern University.

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 43

If all the cars in America were placed end to end on a long hill, some fool would try to pass them

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.

rate with the tax advantages of a mortgage, and you have an incredibly cheap way to build wealth, but you better act now.

time to reFinanCe Buy !?

or

Right now, mortgage rates are at their lowest level since 1971. Think about that. Twenty-five years ago, homeowners were paying as much as 18% on a 30-year fixed. Today it’s just a little over 5%.Combine that

Real estate guru Barbara Corcoran has already seen a tremendous surge in refinance applications – more than triple the average – and the number of people getting approved is astronomically higher as well, she says. But that doesn’t mean the low rates are a panacea for the ills of the housing market. It is only once home prices start to go up that we will finally see a light at the end of tunnel, Corcoran says. Until that happens, we are still going to have to crawl out of this mess. “[Low interest rates are] a not a lifesaver,” Corcoran says. “This is just a helping hand.”

David Kittle, chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, has this advice to homeowners looking to refinance: Do it. Don’t get greedy searching for another quarter-point. Lock in rates now. He is seeing applications soar over 125% just since Thanksgiving due to the low rates. Of course, you should only refinance if it saves you at least 3/8 on the rate and if you plan on staying in your home for at least four years, Kittle says. Along with good credit, proof of income and money by means of a down payment or equity in the home, there are certain things every homeowner needs regardless of interest rate levels.

www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 47

Food is our common ground, a universal experience. James Beard

Can

you find

the gorget? The South Carolina State flag is immediately recognizable to native Carolinians, and if you’re spending some time out-of-State, it will probably bring a tear to your eye to see it whizzing by on a bumper sticker or rippling in the soft blue sky of a native license plate. Most folks, however, consistently confuse our flag for a simple representation of a moonlit palm tree. The truth it, the sliver of crescent suspended in the upper left hand corner is not a moon phase: it’s a piece of ornamental armour known as a “gorget”. A holdover from the days of knights in shining armour, the gorget was originally used to protect the throat and block blows from non-projectile weapons such as swords. Since the gorget originally rested

around the throat, the shape was that of a crescent. In formal armour, the gorget was placed beneath the breastplate and backplate set and supported the weight of the armour. They were often equipped with straps in order to attach some of the heavier armours. By the Renaissance, the gorgets had already achieved an ornamental status and by the American Revolution, it could be seen hanging from delicate chains and ribbons around the throats of officers, signifying their rank. The first South Carolina flag, designed in 1765, displayed the dark blue of the American troops’ uniforms and a large crescent with the word “Liberty” written within it. While most historians agree that the crescent is the representation of the gorget, which was also worn as a symbol on the caps of American soldiers, there is some argument that the symbol could also stand

for the river bend on which Charleston sits (the crescent was a common symbol used by early American settlements when their Town rested on the curve of a river), or it was a borrowed symbol from the crest of the Bull family, one of Charleston’s early settlers. The palmetto tree on today’s flag was not included until January 28, 1861, the day of South Carolina’s secession from the Union. The palmetto tree represents the defense of Fort Moultrie from British attack, as the Fort itself was made of palmetto logs: an unexpectedly brilliant construction, as the logs of the palmetto tree are incredibly resilient and absorbed the enemy cannon fire like a sponge. Either way we have a pretty cool state flag, and gorget is hard to pronounce!

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Do You Feel Cocky?

A One Tank Trip Got the vacation blues? South Carolina abounds with destinations you can visit on one tank of gas…trips that showcase the Palmetto State’s beauty without busting your budget. What a rich, exotic place South Carolina is. One of the original American Colonies, the state has an abundance of historical sites that bring our nation’s past to vivid life. The outdoors lover can enjoy a variety of activities such as kayaking, hiking, saltwater

fishing, even scuba diving in the company of alligators. The state’s culture has been shaped by its European, African and Caribbean settlers, as evidenced especially by the food, which is some of the most delicious we’ll ever have the pleasure of eating.

Aiken Do you like horses, the City of Aiken is your destination. Explore the Thoroughbred Hall of Fame & Racing Museum; the facility presents the history of thoroughbred racing, spanning more than a century. Admission is free. Also in Aiken, is the DuPont Planetarium, located

on the grounds of the University of South Carolina. The 30-foot dome has fully-automated, stateof-the-art projection systems; an observatory is also on hand, featuring a variety of powerful telescopes for stargazing purposes. Downtown Aiken is filled with southern charm. The restaurants, antique shops, and local stores will fill anyone’s afternoon.

Greenwood Continuing on your trip and take Highway 19 towards Greenwood. On the way you will pass by the Ninety-Six National Historic Site, where two battles of the

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Revolutionary War were fought and where settlers braved harsh winters and Indians to stake their claim. Now, visitors can experience it for themselves in the original Star Fort, built in 1781, the Stockade Fort and siege trenches, or by strolling through the original town sites of Cambridge and Ninety-Six. This historic site is a fascinating look at the way things were when our nation was in its infancy. Well worth the time to explore! Get back on Highway 19, and continue on to the US-25 which leads you to Greenwood. This town, with its fresh air and sunny skies is a great place to pull over and enjoy some of the many outdoor activities to

be found here. The Heritage Trail is a 2-mile paved path, perfect for walking, jogging, or biking. Lake Greenwood is a fine place to break out the rod and reel and try your luck with the catch of the day. By night, you can dine at any one of the myriad of fine restaurants, which showcase cuisines from Europe, the Caribbean, or good oldfashioned American steak and potatoes.

Clemson Get back on the US-25, and merge with the US-178 to Clemson. (Thirty miles later via the US-123 and you are in Greenville). Both cities offer

more opportunities for fishing, golfing and fine dining. In Clemson, you should take a day to enjoy the natural wonders of Paris Mountain, with its 1200-acre grounds, majestic, monument-like peak, and the Sulphur Springs hiking trail which makes for an excellent workout. Truly, South Carolina offers visitors a chance to enjoy the modern age while giving us a glimpse into our nation’s past; it’s the perfect place to enjoy the best of all possible worlds for just One Tank of Gas!

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South Carolina Wedding & Event Planners: Career Outlook Can you imagine a more exciting career than being the person who helps to plan a couple’s happiest day together and makes them lasting memories for the rest of their life? Or planning a Corporate Event for some of the largest companies in South Carolina. The best part is you are creating an event that you do not have to pay for. If you are interested in a career as a wedding or event planner, read on to discover general description, educational requirements, and your job outlook information.

expertise. Wedding planners oversee and are responsible for much of the work of the wedding from beginning to end, but the couple is still involved. Wedding directors take care of the entire wedding event, which affords the couple getting married to only focus on getting married. Wedding directors sometimes usually attend the wedding to make sure the day goes exactly as planned. If it rains on the day of an outdoor wedding, the wedding director will have an alternate plan already in place. Wedding planners, specifically, perform a variety of tasks. They make appointments with clients and vendors, provide gown options, provide wedding theme options, and plan for the unforeseen among other things. The business side of wedding planning involves staying within

your budget, and making sure the vendors get paid. Wedding planners who handle all aspects of the event are mostly self-employed working both part-time and full-time. However, special event centers, wineries, hotels, and other hospitality facilities also offer employment opportunities. Wedding planners must also write contracts and be efficient marketers of their business. The best wedding planner in South Carolina must get their name known, and can only handle a certain amount of weddings in any given time. An event planner does the same basic tasks as the wedding planner, but the event will dictate what is different. A big corporate event may require several sound and video

Wedding and Event Planner Job Description Wedding or Event planners, as the name implies, handle many or all of the details of setting up a wedding or other event from coordinating the caterers to directing the dinners. The term wedding planner is a classification of how involved the person is with their clients’ wedding. There are two other classifications which are wedding consultants and wedding directors. Wedding consultants allow couples to plan the wedding and offer only their advice and www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 54

systems. A golf tournament may require many sponsors being adequately recognized. Whatever the event, having alternative plans when things go not as planned is the mark of a good planner. This means that you must have a long list of suppliers and people in the service industries that can stand in when problems arise.

Educational Requirements for Wedding & Event Planners There are no federal, state, or local laws requiring wedding or event planners to have anything other than a business license. Very few colleges/universities offer degrees or certificates in wedding and planning. Online schools offer training; however, carefully research the online school prior to paying any fees or signing up for classes. The best schooling is the College of OJT ( On the Job Training). Working for a wedding or event planner and learning from the ground up is the only way to truly learn the business. Certification is increasingly becoming sought after because clients want to make sure their special day is handled by a professional.

Job Outlook for Wedding & Event Planners Wedding and event planning in South Carolina is a growing field with more and more opportunities. Creating a profitable business is a slow process. Attracting clientele takes time, but there is always plenty of work for good planners. www.CarolinaGirl.sc Online Magazine | 2009 55

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Get Your Carolina Girl Gear!

Health Dangers Of Losing Weight Too Fast When you want to lose weight, you do not want to lose the weight as quickly as you can. Many women have tried to lose too much weight too fast, only to have to resort to fad diets and other dangerous methods of dieting. And while you may reach you goal as far as the amount of weight loss, you probably didn’t realize that you could be harming your body at the same time. Losing weight too quickly is just as bad for your body as having the extra pounds in the first place. There are several problems that could occur by shedding more than one to two pounds per week.

Dehydration In many fad diets, you are restricting the foods that you eat. Some diets limit the carbohydrates that you eat. In doing do, your body excretes water, which makes it seem like you are losing weight. But even if you were to replace this water, your body would be heading into an improper electrolyte balance. Dehydration can lead to headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and even fainting. In extreme cases, you might also have troubles with your heart function. When you are on a diet that contains anything that causes you to lose water weight, you are harming your body.

Weakened Immune System Without the proper nutrients, your body’s immune system will be weakened. You will find that you aren’t able to fight off minor infections or colds. Your body needs fuel in order to keep itself strong and to keep the white blood cell production up. You also need the right nutrition in order to keep your skin cells intact. When they aren’t as strong, they can’t fend off germ attackers as well. And this takes more than just a good supplement – it takes real food.

burning machine instead of a fat burning machine. Since the body needs fuel to survive, it is more likely to turn to the easier source of energy – your muscles – before it turns to your fat cells. As you lose muscle, your metabolism goes down, causing your body to need even fewer calories to survive. When you lose enough muscle, your metabolism can be so slow that any time you eat, you will be gaining weight – and it will be in the form of fat, making you even flabbier than you were before you dieted.

Slower Metabolism

Malnourishment

As you lose weight too quickly, you will also notice that when you regain the weight, you end up gaining more than you lost. This is due to the fact that you turned your body into a muscle

When you limit the type of foods and the amounts of foods that you eat, you are limiting the amount of nutrients your body can take in. Even taking a vitamin supplement is not

enough to bolster your body’s supplies. You need to make sure you are eating a balances diet that contains foods from all of the major food groups – proteins or meats, dairy, vegetables, whole grains, and fruits. This will ensure that your body is getting what it needs.

Weight Gain When you starve yourself or you lose weight too quickly, you’re bound to become hungry again. And since you probably lost the weight on an extreme diet, you will eventually regain the weight that you lost. Why is that? When you lose weight too quickly, you aren’t necessarily learning how to properly feed your body for the long term. This process results in a short term gain, but none of your bad habits have changed. In addition, you will find that your body realizes that it has lost weight too quickly, so it tries to make you hungry enough to eat more and more until you have regained the weight.

Stretch Marks Though stretch marks are not the most important thing that happens when you lose weight too quickly, they can be very troublesome. When you lose weight, your body can not keep up with the shrinking parts of your body, thus you see stretch marks. These are generally found on the hips, breasts, and stomach in women. And the bad news is that these stretch marks never completely disappear, though they can fade with time.

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Final Words

A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous. Coco Chanel (1883-1971)

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