By Donna Daugherty,  Hiring a professional designer is something to consider if you’re building a home, you’ve just purchased a home, or if your home needs a much-needed update or refresh. They can help you make smart decisions on how to maximize your budget and create the perfect finishing touches that make your home a real showcase. Whether you don’t know how to begin to decorate your home, you have an idea but need help tying pieces together, or you simply haven’t the time to execute your personal style because of your busy schedule, utilizing a designer just makes sense! Here are five reasons why you should consider working with a designer: 1: Save You Money – It might sound funny that hiring someone to help you decorate your home would save you money since you have the additional fee of the designer, however, a designer can help you avoid costly mistakes and help you maximize the value of your home. When planning design, you need to think about textures, materials, cohesion, architecture, cost, durability, space efficiency, scalability, functionality, layout and so many more considerations. Especially when selling your home – interior design is essential when listing your home. It can help boost buyer appeal and set your home above the competition. 2: Professional Assessment – A designer can give you a professional assessment of your situation, that will lead to a solid plan of action. The order of things in a design plan is key in determining what... Read More

  By Maurice Stouse,  Financial Advisor and Branch Manager   Many researchers and writers have often reflected on a topic known as behavioral finance (BF). Quite simply it is what impact do personal cognitive biases have when making investing decisions. It is an important concept to consider as ultimately investment decisions are made based upon what we believe, learn, hope and fear. Our biases tend to limit our ability to make purely rational decisions. Media can influence these biases. While there are multiple biases investors should be aware of (lest they make poor investment and financial decisions), we will focus on three very common ones. Let’s explore them. Confirmation bias is first among these. We are all prone to confirmation bias. It impacts professionals as well as individual investors. Essentially, confirmation bias means seeing or hearing a story or reading information that confirms what we already believe and placing a high degree of value in it. Next is loss aversion or myopic loss aversion. This happens when investors fear losses more than they get pleasure from market gains. In other words, investors are far more likely to give higher priority to avoiding losses than making money. Thirdly, is something called herding (or bandwagon effect). Herd behavior is when people mimic the financial behaviors of most of the herd. Herding is notorious in the stock market as the cause of dramatic rallies and sell-offs. It can create asset bubbles; think of the tech bubble in the late 90s or the housing... Read More

  Join the Cultural Arts Alliance on Wednesday, May 11th for an evening to benefit the Underwater Museum of Art (UMA). The annual Under The Sea UMA Fundraiser takes place at Grand Park in the heart of Grand Boulevard in South Walton, Florida from 6 – 9PM. Guests are invited to view several of the UMA sculptures, enjoy a full cash bar with specialty cocktails, meet and greet with the artists, and taste featured items from popular area restaurants and celebrated chefs. Purchase tickets and learn more: https://www.culturalartsalliance.com/event-details/under-the-sea-2 Enjoy live musical entertainment from opening act Stormfolk followed by headliners, The Cleverlys! The Cleverlys are a one-of-a-kind comedy/music blend. They tour nationally, performing at music venues, PAC’S, and some of the nation’s largest festivals like Stagecoach, Telluride, CMA Music Fest and even The Grand Ole Opry. The UMA is a presentation of the CAA’s ‘Art in Public Spaces’ program in partnership with South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) with the purpose to create marine habitat and expand fishery populations while providing enhanced creative, cultural, economic and educational opportunities for the benefit, education and enjoyment of residents, students and visitors in South Walton. Visit www.culturalartsalliance.com for more information. The post Underwater Museum of Art  Annual Fundraiser May 11th appeared first on South Walton Life | 30A News, Events and Community Information.   Read More

  By Stephenie Craig, LCSW A few months ago, I found my brain scattered, tired, and generally tense. When I slowed to reflect I realized I was carrying stress outside my awareness. Juggling work, home, parenting, relationships, life transitions, emails, texts, news, professional research, social media, etc. was overwhelming my brain. These activities weren’t unhealthy, but the output of my life was out of balance. I took a social media break and noticed quickly I felt better. That break has become a more permanent practice as I’ve remembered that what we put in, our life input, significantly impacts how we show up daily in life, our life output. Do you ever find yourself trying to make an external change and it just isn’t working? Maybe you’re trying to reduce stress, increase joy, improve a relationship, or live less overwhelmed. You may keep trying to make adjustments to the output of your life without slowing down to consider how the input might need to be adjusted. In reality, true change happens from the inside out. In our fast, achievement-focused, entertainment-hungry culture, it’s easy to become desensitized to anxiety-inducing input available daily. You wake up to news, social media, political commentary. You are inundated with messaging about how you aren’t enough, you need to be better, you need to have more. You are told who is right, who you should be against, what you should fear, what you should know, and how the world is going to hell in a handbasket. It’s... Read More

  By David Holland, “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’” “‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” (Luke 10:38-42, NIV) Mothers serve and provide the loving environment that empowers a life worth living. Thank God for the mothers who give themselves faithfully to their families, jobs, homes, and provide stability in a chaotic world. But Moms, when is it time to stop and focus on Christ? Jesus shows us the key to balancing love and service. Most moms swing between serving and nurturing. Jesus speaks to this common human contradiction. Martha was doing all the work. Yet Mary gets the commendation. It seems so unfair until you look at it more closely. Martha had invited Jesus into her home and was bustling about making the preparations, but inside her head criticism brewed. “Why do I have to do all the work? Why doesn’t lazy ole Mary help around here?... Read More

  By Kirk McCarley, As the parent of adult children, one of the disciplines I’ve tried to stick to has been refraining from giving advice.  Without doubt I’ve fallen short of that aspiration at times. I have shared with my son, daughter, and their respective spouses that one of the greatest gifts they can give is the act of asking for advice.  On those occasions where advice is sought interestingly, my responses are often rhetorical, where the first comment is to ask them, “what do you think you should do?” I aim to also say, “thank you for asking for my opinion.”  To be viewed as a sage of wise counsel and thought is of highest esteem. Years ago, I worked for a mayor in a small community, an elected official.  There was another office holder in a somewhat complementary agency who was garnering a reputation as being outspoken, surly, and often rude.  It was vital that the two officials enjoy a compatible working relationship for the sake of not only their respective jurisdictions, but in serving the public well. The mayor shared his story. “I invited him to lunch.  Once seated, as expected he went through a laundry list of things that he found disagreeable:  road and bridge issues, law enforcement, and intergovernmental relations.  His complaints could be wearisome, but again I was accustomed to his laments.  Amid his soap box, came a sigh and a pause.  He hesitated, turned towards me and asked why he was not achieving... Read More

  By Victoria Ostrosky Being married is a good thing and being single is a good thing.  As the Apostle Paul said, whether you’re married or single is good.  Serving God and living for Him is the most important thing. For older adults, in Christian circles, being single can be a little difficult.  It seems that most church functions are geared toward married couples.  Unless, of course, you’re a teen-ager or young adult. Which can be a deterrent for some.  Who wants to show up and sit by themselves or feel like they have nothing to contribute in a group of married couples? Andrew Farmer, originally from Jacksonville, has lived in the Destin area for about 11 years.  He was raised in a Christian home with a praying mom.  As Andrew says, “you can never outrun a praying mom.”  For some years he was into partying and drugs and alcohol.  But Jesus got ahold of him, and he’s been sober for 3 years.  “Once you eliminate those things, you have more room for Jesus.” Andrew admits that it’s tough being single.  He has a wonderful 12 year-old son whom he loves and focuses on.  But being in your mid-thirties and single means he can get lonely, especially on weekends.  So, Andrew has learned to find more ways to serve to not only fill up the time, but immerse himself in a Godly environment to assist in his spiritual growth. “I know God has someone for me.  I pray for my... Read More

  Pickle’s, located at 2236 East County Hwy. 30A, is celebrating three decades in business at their original Seaside Central Square location. Founded in 1993 by Bill and Heavenly Dawson, of The Dawson Group, Pickle’s began with only 48 square feet and a limited menu consisting of hotdogs, beer, and pickles. The locally owned and operated eatery quickly became famous for their burgers and hand-spun milkshakes. Throughout the years, Pickle’s has become an unofficial landmark in the Seaside community and is one of the few establishments that has remained in the same location along Seaside Square. In 2023, 30A’s® Hot Spot Awards named Pickle’s the Hottest Spot for Burgers. After 32 years in business, the Dawsons sold their company consisting of the five notable Seaside restaurants, including Dawson’s Yogurt, It’s Heavenly Shortcakes and Ice Cream, Pickle’s, The Shrimp Shack, and Wild Bill’s Beach Dogs, to Clark and Ashley Beecher of Houston, Texas. Since the acquisition, the Beechers along with their local operating partners Baron and Courtney Fields, have remained true to the roots of The Dawson Group while also incorporating innovative systems, additional menu items, modern concepts, and merchandise to each of the restaurants, including Pickle’s. They have developed a new brand identity for Pickle’s that remains true to its history yet shines a new light on the retro diner that appeals to a younger audience as well as their long-time customers. “As Texans, there were a lot of special dishes that we loved and wanted to bring to 30A,”... Read More

  May 6 Jazz on the Lawn @ Seaside Amphitheater Enjoy an afternoon of LIVE jazz in the Seaside Amphitheater on Saturday, May 6th from 1 – 7PM. Jazz on the Lawn features a full lineup on jazz musicians ready to entertain the whole family. Bring a chair or blanket, snacks and drinks, and enjoy the show. Free and open to all ages. Jazz on the Lawn artists include: La’Roy Bodiford, Ramblin’ Roses, Dharma Beats, Kenny Cohen, Kayonne Riley’s Implications, Michael Levine Band. Seaside Amphitheater, 25 Central Square, Seaside. Tuesdays, May 9, 16, 23, 30   Casey Kearney Band @ Red Fish Taco                                                                             Rock out to live music featuring Casey Kearney Band every Tuesday in the Garden Room at Red Fish Taco from 6 – 9PM. Tuesdays | 6 – 9PM. Red Fish Taco, 2052 W County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach. May 12 Brandi Carlile’s Mothership Weekend Brandi Carlile’s Mothership Weekend will be held at Seascape Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida May 12 -14. Brandi Carlile invites you and yours to celebrate Mother’s Day in a whole new way – with a 3-day music vacation in Miramar Beach, Fl. Enjoy curated activities, unforgettable adventures, and plenty of relaxing beach time during the day before you cozy up together in your reserved Cove... Read More