Skirt June/July 2015

C h a r l e s t o n , s C

e s C a p e t h e o r d i n a r y

J U n e / J U l y

f r e e

“Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun.”

Randy Pausch

Summer feels like a deep breath after a

long sprint. Time to slow down, time for

vacation, time for toes in the sand, time

just for the sake of time. The weather

goes from warm to insufferably hot. The

drinks are on ice, the nights are longer,

and the music gets louder. We dance in

our bare feet. There’s a reason why we all

have summer playlists on iTunes and the

lyrics from summers past in our heads —

the boys of summer, summer loving, the

summer of ‘69, summer breeze makes

us feel fine, and we fall in love with

the lazy, crazy days of summer. But for

now, the possibilities are as endless as

the days, time stops on summer nights,

and worries just seem to disappear.

Toss the SPF into your beach bag, turn

off the AC, roll down the windows

and sing along to your summer playlist.

Destination: anywhere you can smell salt

and sand. You have the whole day ahead

of you. Sunset starts at 8:30 p.m. sharp.

Let’s catch a front row seat. We’ll bring

the party and meet you there.

Cover art: ali douglass

a U g U s t a , a i k e n & e v a n s

www.skirt.com june/july 2015 3

4 june/july 2015 www.skirt.com

february2015

It’s officially summer now, and time for us all to come out of hibernation.

Whether it’s eating outside or sitting around the pool, summertime seems to

draw us all closer together - in proximity, at the very least. This month, we’re

highlighting local women who are working hard to bring people together,

this summer and all the time. Whether it’s yoga, creative cooperation or

giving kids a place where they are wanted and needed, the women in this

issue put a premium on community. I hope that they will encourage you

to find a new community of your own to dig into and be a part of, to both

give and receive. If there’s one thing we could use more of in our overly-

mobile, connected society, it’s true togetherness.

Gracie Shepherd

[email protected]

SKIRT! THIS MONTH

june/july2015

Cover Art: If you’re an artist

and would like to submit your work, please send

a link or low res artwork to [email protected].

The ENDLESS SUMMER

Issue

“The bad news is time flies. The

good news is you’re the pilot.”

Michael Altshuler

Foundernikki hardin

Creative Director Caitilin Mcphillips

[email protected]

Market Managerashlee griggs duren

[email protected]

Contributing Editor gracie shepherd

[email protected]

Sales Directorlisa dorn

[email protected]

Sales Executivesdoressa hawes

[email protected]

lisa taylor [email protected]

Maidi McMurtrie thompson [email protected]

Mary porter vann [email protected]

CirculationMargaret ranew

[email protected]

PhotographyJon Michael sullivan

Advertisingsales: 706.823.3702

Fax: 706.823.6061 1.800.622.6358

skirt! is published monthly and distributed free throughout

the greater Augusta, Aiken & Evans area. skirt! reserves the right to refuse to sell space for

any advertisement the staff deems inappropriate for the publication.

all content of this magazine, including without limitation the

design, advertisements, art, photos and editorial content, as well as the selection, coordination and

arrangement thereof, is Copyright © 2015, Morris publishing group,

llC. all rights reserved. no portion of this magazine may be copied or

reprinted without the express written permission of the publisher.

skirt!® is a registered trademark of Morris publishing group, llC.

FeaturesWhile Lying Down On The Job Martha Tolles ......................................................8

A Home Of Our Own Sandra Roth.....................................................15

Swimming Lesson Carole Rothstein ...........................................21

In thIs IssueLetter from the Editor ...................................4

He’s So Original ...............................................9

Product .............................................................14

Skirt of the Month .........................................25

Meet ..................................................................26

LIke to see your ad In skIrt! MagazIne? 706.823.3702






february2015february2015

Pho

to b

y J.

M. S

ulliv

an

Richard and his wife Zoom opened TLC Medical Centre, Inc. in 2003, originally specializing in pediatric care. It wasn’t something Richard had

necessarily seen in his future, but since 2003 the business has done nothing but grow, expanding from the original 600 square foot location to

the current location on Silver Bluff Road, which is more than 5,000 square feet. “We are blessed with a really nice group of patients,” Richard

says. While Zoom, a pharmacist, handles the clinical side of things, Richard focuses on equipment and understanding insurance policy. As an Aiken

native, he loves that his business is a part of the thriving local economy. “I love the folks who move here and like Aiken the way Aiken is, and

allow for Aiken to thrive,” he says. Having worked for other people and for himself, he says he much prefers the latter. “I prefer being able to

impact peoples’ lives directly instead of indirectly,” he says. “In the small business, when you meet with your wife and she approves, the board

has met.”

june/july2015

He’s So Original | Richard Heaton

dear

Don’t knock the weather; nine-tenths of the

people couldn’t start a conversation

if it didn’t change once in a while.”

Kin Hubbard

I know it might seem like a lot to ask, but can

summer stay forever? It lasts from mid-April to

mid-October anyway, and it seems silly to take

a break and make us get out our rainboots and

our North Face jackets for such a short amount

of time.

Here is what we propose year-round:

Sunshine only. Quit it with the threat of snow,

pollen, rain, and chilly nights. Life is short and

Southern girls deserve better.

Pool days every day. We’ll take two style

magazines, one romance novel, the latest issue

of skirt! Magazine, one tube of sunscreen, one

strawberry daiquiri with two shots of rum, and

the brightest pairs of �ip-�ops in all the land.

You can �nd us by the deep end.

Weekend picnics in the park. All it takes is

a patch of grass and tracking down the nearest

food truck via roaminghunger.com. Current

craving: stuffed French toast paired with a

coconut yogurt parfait from the Little Blue

Brunch Truck. Just add mimosas disguised in a

coffee cup. (Hot winter drinks: stay away.)

Hibiscus and other blooms. Who says you

can only get sun-kissed skin seaside? We’ll swap

our beach chairs for a watering can and soak up

the rays in the garden. It’s a jungle out there;

no fall leaves allowed.

Backyard barbecues. Hamburgers: check.

Tofu dogs: check. Tiki torches, mood music, and

good company spilling across the lawn: check,

check, check.

Outdoor concerts. Music is better when it’s

live and under the summer stars and time seems

as endless as the day. What, we’ve been here for

eight hours?

Coffee on the front porch. It always seems

to last an eternity on these wonderful warm

summer mornings. Add a slow moving fan,

a lazy cat, a wind chime that is not even thinking

about moving and lots of overstuffed pillows. We

believe in a thing called “slowing down.” Is it too

early for cocktails?


“I’m glad it’s finally hot enough

to complain about how hot it is.”

Unknown

Don’t knock the weather; nine-tenths of the

people couldn’t start a conversation

if it didn’t change once in a while.”

Kin Hubbard



february2015summerREADS

! romance? humor? history? Thriller?summer reads you’ll

The Heart of the Revolution: The Buddha’s Radical Teachings of Forgiveness, Compassion, and Kindness by Noah Levine. A dose of “om” in a punk rock package to get your zen on without leaving the comfort of your Kindle.

VJ: The Unplugged Adventures of MTV’s First Wave by Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter, and Martha Quinn is an inside look at the “glory days” of MTV (when MTV still played music videos). Enjoy the �ashback!

Charleston’s one and only Sue Monk Kidd knocks it out of the park again with her latest, The Invention of Wings. It’s a �ctional account of the story of the Grimke sisters and so very deserving of the accolades.

One Kick by Chelsea Cain.The author of popular crime novel series (beginning with Heartsick) just came out with her �rst in a new series with tough female protagonist Kick Lannigan. It’s like candy for your brain.

The Vacationers by Emma Straub follows a highly dysfunctional family on their summer vacation and is particularly satisfying because it makes our families look so very normal by comparison.

We watch documentaries and movies about them because psychopaths are fascinating (from a distance), and so is Jon Ronson’s latest non�ction book, The Psychopath Test.

Uganda Be Kidding Me by Chelsea Handler. The queen of irreverent humor wrote another LOL-fest, this time about traveling the world. Perfect when you need to lighten up from travel stress.

The Work, by Wes Moore. If you’re revving up for your day, you might as well rev up for your life. Moore shares the stories of diverse, mod-ern change-makers and how they created their purposes in the world.

Gonzo Girl by Cheryl Della Pi-etra, inspired by the author’s real-life experience as Hunter S. Thompson’s assistant, doesn’t come out until late July, but we’ve already pre-ordered!

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann is an over-the-top classic about three showbiz girls clawing their way to the top and hitting bottom in New York City. Better than “Housewives” (of anywhere)!

If I Stay by Gayle Forman is a young adult novel about dif�cult choices. If you loved The Fault in Our Stars, this one’s for you.

Dr. Christiane Northrup’s lat-est, Goddesses Never Age: The Secret Prescription for Radiance, Vitality, and Well-Being, is �lled with tools and inspiration for bringing vitality and vibrancy into your own ageless years.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. If you missed this classic in college, it’s a great nightstand read in small doses for surreal dreams.

Ever wonder what it would be like to be married to one of the most proli�c writers of the 20th century who is also a famous alcoholic and woman-izer? Neither have we, but Mrs. Hemingway by Naomi Wood is a can’t-put-it-down read.

If you can’t let it go, let it be short! Seth Godin’s The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) is full of great tips for goals, and you can read it in about an hour. Have a margarita.

BEST BOOK FOR SKIPPING DAILY MEDITATION:

BEST BOOK TO FEED YOUR 80S NOSTALGIA:

BEST BOOK IF YOU’RE A LOCAL:

BEST BOOK TO READ IN ONE SITTING:

BEST BOOK FOR YOUR BEACH BAG.

BEST BOOK FOR AMATEUR PSYCHOLOGISTS:

BEST BOOK FOR LONG FLIGHTS:

BEST BOOK FOR THAT SECOND CUP OF COFFEE:

BEST BOOK FOR POP CULTURE JUNKIES:

BEST BOOK TO DITCH REALITY TV FOR:

BEST BOOK WHEN YOU NEED A GOOD CRY:

BEST BOOK FOR YOUR INNER GODDESS:

BEST BOOK TO READ BEFORE BED:

BEST BOOK FOR LITERARY LOVERS:

BEST BOOK FOR YOUR INNER WORKAHOLIC:


february2015

NEST Ocean Mist & Sea Salt liquid soapNandina Home & Design

158 Laurens Street SW, Aiken 803.649.0616

SeeDesign toteOne.

453 Highland Avenue, Augusta706.869.2254

Endless Loves

Oka-B “Georgina” sandalThe Swank Company

403 Furys Ferry Road, Martinez706.432.9282

got 5 minutes?

this portable, propane-fueled pizza oven,

pizzeria pronto, preheats in 10 minutes to 700 degrees

and bakes flawless pizzas with bubbly toppings

and a crisp crust.

amazon.com

june/july2015

What’s on our perfect summer pizza?Ready-to-go pizza crust.Extra-virgin olive oilBlack olivesFresh mozzarellaThinly sliced tomatoesTorn basil leaves

And last but not least!Salt, pepper and arugula


loved roaming through the malls. We knew every mall within a �fty-mile radius. We even drove to the largest mall in the world in Canada. Actually, it was the perfect life for kids. We kept our clothes and other necessities in a small storage unit. And for dinner it was McDonald’s, Burger King and Del Taco. It was our summer of complete freedom, no utility bills, no chores, and no worries. It was our summer sacri�ce.

The car was crowded and messy, but those were small dilemmas for a single mother of �ve kids who had so much

to look forward to. At night, under the stars, we’d talk about our new home. “I want a swimming pool.” “I

want a big yard.” “I hope the kids who live next to us are nice.” “Do we get to walk to school?”

“Can we have a TV in our rooms?” “I want my own room.” “You have to share; there are too many of us.” “Where is the new baby gonna sleep?” The questions were never ending and I loved it because it was our dream, something we all wanted, something worth making a sacri�ce for.

Then, three months after we had moved into the old Toyota Celica, the time came.

We �nally had saved the money we needed to purchase a home, and our little girl just

turning four months old could come home. She was doing �ne in her foster home, we

visited her weekly, but I couldn’t wait to bring her to her forever

home.We picked a two-story

home with a huge yard for the kids to run and four bedrooms, one downstairs for me. There was a huge enclosed patio, which would

become the playroom for the next 10 years, and a huge

�replace. The money we had left was wisely spent on a swing set with

a fort, a rock climbing area, a monkey bar, and three different kinds of swings. Made of

wood, it could not be destroyed, even by my most rambunctious kid. And it stood proud until the last kid was out the door.

Our baby came home and settled into the one home she would know for her entire life. Eventually she was the last kid at home, so she was able to claim two of the bedrooms as her own, one for her clothes and one for sleeping.

Today I look back and wonder, was it such a big sacri�ce living in the car? The kids loved their hot summer days with the world as their front room, and still talk and laugh about it. Now after raising a total of six kids alone, and watching them grow up in a home of their own, I have to say: If I get nothing else in this life I will have been given enough.

woman will do anything to better her life and the lives of her children. We’re like bears or lions when it comes to protecting our children and keeping them safe, warm and fed. That’s why moving my �ve children, aged �ve to 17, into a car for the summer of 1994 didn’t seem like too much. The nights were warm and the days hot, and a perfect time to better my life and that of my children.

We didn’t pick that summer, it just happened. I was tired of renting; I wanted my children to have more. Wanted them to experience living without the constant worry of when we would have to move hanging over their heads. I wanted to paint their rooms bright blues and pinks, even black.I didn’t want to worry whenever one of them accidentally punched a hole in the wall, which happened a lot. I wanted to focus on my kids, not on the hassles of being a renter. So I made the decision to move the family into my 1982 Toyota Celica until we could save up enough money to buy a home. It’s impossible to save money when it’s all going into rent. Now I could save the rent money until we had enough.

Then something happened, something unexpected. While living in the car, I received a call from Social Services telling me that the sister of the two boys I had adopted years earlier needed a home. Of course I couldn’t refuse to take her, and I couldn’t tell Social Services we lived, temporarily, in a car, so I told them I would be thrilled to make her a part of our family, but we were in the process of �nding and buying a house and so would need a few months. Social Services agreed that as soon as we were settled in our new home I would take the sister of my two sons.

For the next three months, I visited her at the emergency foster home she had been placed in. She was adorable and I couldn’t wait to bring her home.

As for the other kids, thank God it was summer. I worked a night shift and so was able to sneak them into the facility after the evening shift left. They stayed snug on those warm, muggy nights until I could bring them into my workplace. I never got caught, and ended up working there 35 years; long after my kids were secret guests. They still remember it as their summer at work with mommy.

Our days were spent under the warm summer sun, all day, every day. It was a kid’s dream, they loved it. We did a lot together those few homeless months. We went on extended camp outs in the mountains, �shing, swimming at lakes, or just spending luxurious days at every park in the city. The kids

A Home of Our OwnSandra Roth

Our days were spent under the warm summer sun,

all day, every day. It was a kid’s dream, they loved it.”

“Today I look back and wonder, was it such a big sacrifice living in

the car?”

T A

Sandra Roth is the single

mother of six children.

She works for the State of

California in forensics mental

health. Her hobbies include

exploring mines and taking her

jeep off-road, and hiking.


70 june/july 2015 skirt!magazine16 june/july 2015 www.skirt.com

skirt!magazine june/july 2015 71

WAKE UP. SEIZE THE DAY. GO TO BED. REPEAT.



Pho

to b

y J.

M. S

ulliv

an

Within the creative industry, increasingly easy access to technology over the past several years has enabled many photographers, graphic

designers and the like to work for themselves - abolishing the idea of coworkers as the norm. Although the independence of self-employment

can be empowering, it can also be isolating. Lauren is a wedding photographer based out of Augusta, and found herself wishing that there was

a way for her to easily connect with other local creatives. “It can be really competitive out there,” she says. This spring, Lauren began a branch

of #TuesdaysTogether, a national effort through the Rising Tide Society to get creatives in communities all over the world to meet in order

to prioritize friendship and togetherness over fears of competition. Already, the response in the CSRA has been strong, with people coming

from as far as three hours away. “People have been super receptive,” she says. “I think we all just desire to connect with someone, to share

wins and mourn losses.” #TuesdaysTogether meets the first Tuesday of every month, and more information can be found on Facebook at the

TuesdaysTogether - Augusta, GA page.

june/july2015

Lauren Carnes | Community Over Competition


february2015

Pho

to b

y J.

M. S

ulliv

an

Moniqua Acosta | Space to Share

It’s been a little more than a year since Moniqua opened Space Yoga Studio on Monte Sano Avenue, and already she has reinvented the way

she shares yoga with the community. Originally, Moniqua opened Space as a small, traditional yoga studio specializing in anti-gravity practices

and swing yoga. She still offers those classes and more, but has now transitioned into a donation-based model that allows practitioners to pay

as much or as little as they want for a class. “Originally, yoga was not meant to be something you paid for - it’s a service,” she says. So far, the

concept has been met with great success, not only financially but has also increased the studio’s reach and attendance. “More people are willing

to come, and people are coming more often,” she says. Moniqua sees the Space community as much more than just customers, and has created

events to enrich that community such as her upcoming GirlPOWER summer camp, where girls ages 10-16 will learn about topics including

meditation and nutrition, listen to guest speakers, create scrapbooks and crafts, and of course yoga.

june/july2015



Pho

to b

y J.

M. S

ulliv

an

Although having fun is a big part of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the CSRA, Kim has loftier goals (and has met them) for the six locations in

the Augusta area. She’s been with the Boys and Girls Clubs since 2008, when she came on as a part-time finance director, and now serves as

executive director over the entire area. “We try to address the whole child,” she says. “It’s not just after-school homework help or a fun place

for kids to be.” They focus on helping kids build good habits in academics, healthy lifestyle and character/citizenship. For the past six years, the

Boys and Girls Clubs have had a 100 percent graduation rate for their high school seniors, have had no teen pregnancies and no first time entries

into the juvenile justice system. Nationally, 57 percent of Boys and Girls Clubs alumni say that their involvement in club saved their life. “I feel

like if you can save even one life, you’re doing good work,” Kim says.

june/july2015

Kim Evans | Doing Good Work






Soho453 Highland AvenueAugusta706.738.6884

WHEREWill Your Skirt

take younext?

I dreamed I packed my skirt, my bathing

suit, my flip-flops, and flew off to a place

where summer never ends.


february2015

Pho

to b

y J.

M. S

ulliv

an

Always, always trust your gut feeling. Take time to pamper yourself occasionally. Take advice from elders – they have been there and done that many times over.

Katie Duncan

sIx of my fAvorITe ThIngs:sIx worDs ThAT DescrIbe me:

1. Travel Junkie

2. marketing Pro

3. Avid reader

4. runner

5. cat Lover

6. shoe Addict

1. running

2. Kayaking

3. my two cats

4. A rare filet

5. gerber Daisies

6. macaroons

2015Ju

ne-

July

Vice President of Marketing Family Y of Greater Augusta


Documents

Skirt June/July 2015