How utterly amazing would it be to unconditionally love yourself the way your pet loves you?
An Island Love Story
Most tourists come to the Island looking for a week of relaxation. Morgan Richardson (nee Ladd) found a lifelong love.
A Tale of Modern Romance: Online Dating App leads to Lowcountry Dream Wedding
About seven years ago, Hayley Edwards, who was born and raised on Hilton Head Island, was working at a law firm in Columbia, S.C. Stephen Pournaras was a third-year medical student at the University...
Editor’s Note: February 2023
How to Not Die Alone … but also DOGS! Ever since I made the conscious decision to choose knowledge (reading books) over murder (podcasts like Dateline), I’ve been cruising through a plethora of...
5 Ways Pets Make Us Better Humans
Whether they are furry, feathery, scaly or hairless, pets groom us to be better humans. “Animals are fascinating, engaging and entertaining. But as companions, they connect with us on a deeper...
A SPAW Experience Like None Other
Red Rover is an uber-clean facility staffed with well-trained professionals who oversee daily PlayCare, overnight boarding, bathing, grooming and an array of a la cart “spaw” services.
Ordained by Pod: The Lowcountry’s resident ace reporter and her trusty producer took a moment away from their ultra-popular podcast to tie the knot.
Mandy Matney and David Moses have never tended to follow tradition. The most obvious example would be the way they parlayed Matney’s extensive reporting into the Murdaugh family into a smash hit...
From Fizzle to Sizzle: Rev up the romance with regular dates
Close your eyes and remember what it was like when you first fell in love. You were constantly plotting ways to spend time with your person. It hardly mattered where you were or what you were doing....
Driven: The great American love story between classic cars and the men who drive them
Love drives us crazy. What draws us or makes our eyes light up and why is the great unanswerable question, whether that’s a person, a song, a place—or one particular car, made one year, in one...
Giving “Paws” for Furry Friendships: Hilton Head Humane Association praises volunteers, recruits more
“It’s all about the animals!” said Iris, pet adopter turned volunteer and now a full-fledged employee at Hilton Head Humane Association (HHH). “Puppy dog kisses and kitty cat purrs are big rewards...
Deep Roots, High Ambitions: Lola Campbell
Mention the name Campbell in the Lowcountry, and you are likely to hear stories—stories of Hilton Head Island’s rich history, stories of community, of kindness, generosity, and hard work. And it is...
Lowcountry Mompreneurs 2022
“When you have kids, making time to do what fulfills you, be it career or otherwise, is not selfish it’s self-care.” “I’ve learned that every working mom is Superwoman.” “Shout out to working moms. You’re doing your best, even when you think you’re at your worst.”
More Zen: Namaste Spa opens second location at Marriott’s Grande Ocean Resort
Namaste Spa’s first location at Marriott’s Barony Beach Club has always been one of Hilton Head Island’s most luxurious retreats, offering clients a certain level of well-appointed service. Soon,...
Motherless on Mother’s Day
It was a warm summer day in June, and I was high on wedding plans. With less than 48 hours until my walk down the aisle to say “I do” to the love of my life, I got the call that would shake the...
Love Never Divides…It Only Multiplies
Life Lessons from a mother who’s figured out love’s perfect equation
Friendship: Love that Lasts
Most adults have a broad circle of acquaintances and a much smaller circle of close friends—you know, the ones who would drop everything to drive us to the airport or the hospital; the ones who show...
Line in the Sand: Mother’s Day Edition
By The Kaufman Boys Not that long ago, Courtney decided once again to come out of retirement and present me with a gift: another opportunity to squabble with her on the printed page. I always...
Motherly Love
Years ago, I used to joke that I was no one’s mother except the cat’s. That statement is no joke in that I have not carried a child in my womb, although I now have two stepdaughters, four grandsons...
Egan + Ella: Spring Styles for any occasion!
Afton, Mary and Heather of Egan + Ella model their newest spring arrivals in Old Town Bluffton. From music festivals to weddings, this store has options and accessories to help you standout with style.
In Beaufort with Birdie James
Styled by Kaila Jeffcoat + Michelle Taylor
Modeled by Caroline Molloy
Hair & Makeup by True Beauty by Joanna Marie
Photography by M.Kat
Special thanks to Harden Creative
Bachelors and Bachelorettes: Where are they now?
As we hear up to bring back CH2’s Bachelor of the Year contest and party in 2022, our thoughts wandered to our past candidates. So, for this February month of LOVE, we figured we would check in on some of our former Bachelor & Bachelorettes, to see how they found “their lobster,” (this is a Friends reference for the pop-culture deficient) when they knew she was “the one,” and what they think they key to a happy marriage is.
Walter Czura: Hilton Head Island businessman steps into motion picture industry
Hilton Head Island businessman Walter Czura has stepped into the movie industry with his first feature length, independent film, Sherman’s March to the Sea, a historical drama which premiered recently at the Poison Peach Film Festival 2022 in Augusta, Ga.
Bring Back That Loving Feeling: A guide to building intimacy
If you have been married or in a committed partnership longer than a minute, you know that coupledom isn’t all kisses and cuddles. Sometimes it is grocery lists, broken water pipes, mortgage payments, and knee replacements. Sharing life means sharing it all—joys, sorrows, challenges, heartaches, temptations, and the mundane.
But for most of us who are in long-term relationships, it’s not enough to simply survive. We want our partnerships to thrive, and to do so requires intimacy.
Getting Back in Touch: The return of the hug
On the Friday after Thanksgiving 2018 (pre-pandemic) my mother-in-law celebrated her ninety-seventh birthday. So, while most everyone else was out searching for Black Friday deals, our family gathered at a nursing home in Lyons, Georgia to honor her and show her some love.
Merry & Bright: These local events and people are spreading Christmas cheer in the Lowcountry
There isn’t a more festive time in the Lowcountry than right now. Immediately after Halloween, Hilton Head Island and Bluffton explode with festivals, parades and holiday happenings that are sure to melt even the coldest Grinch heart. On the following pages, we share a few of our favorite things to do this time of year and tip our hats to the people behind the festivities.
Christmas Traditions
If your thoughts fast-forward to Christmas right about the time the last trick or treater retreats, you are not alone. November 1 seems to be the universal go button for all things ho-ho-holiday. But it isn’t the 55 days of Christmas carols that make our spirits bright; it is the traditions passed down, from generation to generation, that warm our hearts like chestnuts roasting on an … well, you get it.
Wilting Rose: Questions hover around the future of a historic mansion that has been a part of Bluffton’s history for centuries.
In many ways, the history of Rose Hill Mansion is the history of Bluffton itself. Resting at the center of what once was a thriving plantation, it was built by Dr. John Kirk, whose family name...
On Inspiration and Art with Katie Moore Howson
Article by Courtney Hampson
Art That Doesn’t Match the Sofa: Get to know Robin Ross and just say no to boring beige
There are two ways of seeing the world: the average way and the artists’ way. To the average person, a tarnished silver pot is just that: a tarnished silver pot—an object that maybe sits on a table...
Ashley Hahn: Elevating Us with Art
Art can elevate the artist and the viewer alike. In his book Concerning the Spiritual in Art, Wassily Kandinsky wrote, “The spiritual life, to which art belongs and of which she is one of the...
The Art of the Matter: Meet the Lowcountry locals who are keeping life colorful for the rest of us
Art is everywhere. And if you know where to find it, you will.
Tailgate Cocktails
Disclaimer: Other than being the proud owner of the “@ieatandrun” Instagram handle, I have no formal training in food or beverage, unless you count calories consumed and/or SEC tailgates attended. The latter, I have learned, does qualify you as a professional eater and drinker.
C2 Fashion: Transitional Style at Wexford on the Green
Styled by Hunter Kostylo, Modeled by Caroline Molloy of Halo Talent Agency, Home courtesy of Dunes Real Estate and Cindy Creamer
A Road Trip for Foodies: Johns Island restaurants worth the drive
If you’re anything like me, you’ll joyfully make the drive to another coastal town just to check out what it offers to do, see, and eat. Johns Island, South Carolina, one of the Charleston metro’s...
Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival: Celebrate island style
Foodies, connoisseurs, and philanthropists, mark your calendars! The Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival is coming to the island Sept. 14-18, 2021.
Six Chefs, Six Journeys to Living a Dream
They are the architects and maestros behind some of the most beloved eateries in the Lowcountry. They usually talk with their taste buds, but we got some of your favorite chefs to step out of the kitchen and tell the story of why they love what they do.
Brunch Spots You May Never Think About… But You Should
Ask almost anybody about brunch and they’ll rave about the Stuffed French Toast at Palmetto Bay Sunrise Café, the Signature Quiche and espresso at the French Bakery, and the Benedicts or Crepes at Skillets Café & Grill. Oh, and if pancakes are your jam, then Stacks is your go-to, while others in the brunch game can’t resist the True Country Breakfast at Plantation Café and Deli. Some locals and tourists prefer a morning drive over to Old Town Bluffton for the coffee and baked goods at The Corner Perk or the Hangover Cure or omelets at the Squat ’n’ Gobble.
Whisper Creek Spa: Your destination for the ultimate bliss
Nobody said life on Earth would be easy. Some days, it seems that the very air is charged with invisible stress ions that try our patience, tense our necks, wrinkle our faces and ravage our bodies. Have you ever wanted to stop the world and get off? Now you can at Whisper Creek Spa.
Pretty Darn Gets “Casual”: Behind the scenes of a cinematic showcase of island talent
Were it not for the cameras, it could be mistaken for any other night on Hilton Head Island. While locals and tourists milled about the long dock at the end of Simmons Road, drinks from Up the Creek Pub in hand, the first tendrils of sunset streaked pink against the sky’s lustrous orange tint. Broad Creek sparkled in its brilliance. A heron warily eyed the outgoing tide, preying on the minnows that darted between waves.
Harvesting Heritage : Take a tour of the biggest tourist attraction in Sea Pines you’ve never visited
Trends and plants are both perennial things. They blossom and mature, are harvested, and then lay dormant until the season returns.
Lowcountry Zen: Namaste Spa offers serenity, space, and specialized service
Since they opened in 2015, Hilton Head’s locally owned and operated Namaste Spa, located at Marriott’s Barony Beach Club, has always been considered a luxurious retreat, offering clients a certain level of well-appointed service. Recently, however, the spa has undergone a complete makeover, and as one would expect from a boutique spa housed inside one of the island’s most prestigious resorts, the transformation is a huge success. Now, more than ever, locals and visitors alike are enjoying Namaste’s upgraded serenity, space, and specialized service.
Harbourfest 2021: The Return was Legendary
It is a three-decade-long-and-running tradition, the most popular multi-week summer event on Hilton Head Island. Named a “Top 20 Event” by the Southeastern Tourism Society and a “Best of Southern Fests” by South Magazine, generations of families continue to plan vacations around it.
Passing Along Financial Literacy Could be Your Most Valuable Legacy
I’ve had the pleasure of working with a number of young investors, and it’s been exciting to see them learn the investing basics, and importantly, become successful savers and investors.
The Journey I Could Never Have Scripted
I didn’t fit in much as a kid. I was as comfortable playing point guard as I was playing Dungeons and Dragons, and thusly, neither the jocks nor the nerds knew what to make of me. So, they both picked on me, and I was an easy mark because I let them see they got to me.
A Pair Born in the Air: Georgia doctor and Bluffton salesman forge friendship over love of flight
“When I’m in the air, it just takes my breath away every time. I’m proud to have earned this convenience—to be able to fly to Atlanta in an hour, to Florida in 90 minutes, to dream up a trip and just get in and fly.”
Over Yonder and Back Again: My life in Southern cities
Growing up, my immediate family did not seem overwhelmingly Southern. We were Catholic, after all, and we never cooked traditional Southern food at home, preferring Lebanese, our ethnic cuisine. We also did not plant window boxes full of flowers or sit on the porch at twilight, drinking sweet tea with lemon slices. Being young and unaware for the most part about what “Southern” even meant, I had to rely on the stereotypes I gleaned from pop culture—that is, until the day I left South Carolina and lived in a few other cities in the South.
Working from Home: What happens when you give an Interior Designer a chance to create her own home from the ground up? You get this Oldfield Masterpiece
As one of the principals of Blue Palm Interiors, Holly Blocker is no stranger to making a good home look great. Having moved down from Kentucky three years ago, she has quickly become an expert in the peccadillos of the traditional Lowcountry style: the subdued color palette, the natural textures, the clean lines.
In-Flight Fashion: Looks to Leave Your House In
Special thanks to Dr. Rusty Harrington, Lawson and Maximilian Lowrey for hosting us.
Hair & Make-up by True Beauty by Joanna Marie
Clothing Modeled by Caroline Molloy & Maximillian Lowrey
Styled by Kaila Jeffcoat
Editor’s Note: June 2021
My dad called me last week to remind me that when I was little, I had a pet rock. His name was Carlos, and I adopted him on one of the many camping trips my family would take with an abundance of...
Got $100 and an Hour to Spare? Join 100 Men Who Care and discover a simple but powerful opportunity to make a difference right here at home
What can you buy for $100? The answer might depend on where you shop. But for many of us, $100 slips through our fingers fairly quickly, and we often have little to show for it. What would that same $100 do for a local charity? What would $10,000 do for that same organization?