Same-Sex Marriage Battle Continues

Keisha McDonnough Virtue
12 Sep 2014
no comments

Despite a Florida law defining marriage as a union between a man and woman, the battle over the definition of marriage continues to be fought in Florida and throughout the nation. In April of this year Key West bartenders, Aaron Huntsman and William B Jones – who have been a couple for 11 years – sued Monroe County for a marriage license. Similarly, same-sex couples along with LGBT advocacy group, Equality Florida Institute, sued the Miami-Dade County for the right to marry. The gay marriage battle in Florida is being mirrored across the entire nation. In fact in 2013, the […]

-Read More

Hepzibah House: A Safe Haven for Survivors of Sex Trafficking

Keisha McDonnough Virtue
1 Jul 2014
no comments

Imagine for a moment a young girl, 13 years old. Imagine she’s walking home from school when she is suddenly pulled violently off of the street into a van where she is chloroformed and shackled. Imagine she wakes up in the back room of a warehouse on a dirty, stinking mattress, chained with a group of other girls. Imagine she is forced, through systematic abuse and drug doping, to perform unspeakable acts against her will, repeatedly, to those who are willing to pay for it. Imagine her bruised and broken body and soul with hope extinguished by the relentless brutality […]

-Read More

The Gauntt Family: A Story of Love and Faith

Keisha McDonnough Virtue
5 May 2014
no comments

“God doesn’t call the qualified; he qualifies the called.” When we think of doing something as difficult and as life-changing as foster care or adoption, often our immediate reaction is to dissociate — to conceive that only a special type of person could do it, that the qualification is necessarily near perfection and having everything in order. Basically, it takes a saint. But what does it really take, and what does it really mean? Meet the Gauntt family. John Gauntt is a pastor at Calvary Chapel with the Eikon Ministry. His wife, Kate, is a stay-at-home mom. Together, with Kate’s […]

-Read More

Five Excellent Local Restaurants

Keisha McDonnough Virtue
4 Mar 2014
no comments

McDonalds. Chipotle. Subway. Cheesecake Factory. Without a doubt, chain restaurants abound in our casual sun-drenched tri-county locale. However, there comes a time (that time is now, in case you’re wondering) to step away from the Happy Meal and enjoy really good cuisine served in a place without plastic chairs. Grab your Google maps, ladies and gentlemen. Here are five superb local restaurants worthy of your pocketbook and your time: Best Burger — The Office Tired from a long workweek and looking for a place to grab a burger, relax, and maybe squeeze in a little people-watching? Then head to The Office […]

-Read More

Five Excellent Local Restaurants

Keisha McDonnough Virtue
25 Feb 2014
no comments

McDonalds. Chipotle. Subway. Cheesecake Factory. Without a doubt, chain restaurants abound in our casual sun-drenched tri-county locale. However, there comes a time (that time is now, in case you’re wondering) to step away from the Happy Meal and enjoy really good cuisine served in a place without plastic chairs. Grab your Google maps, ladies and gentlemen. Here are five superb local restaurants worthy of your pocketbook and your time: Best Burger — The Office Tired from a long workweek and looking for a place to grab a burger, relax, and maybe squeeze in a little people-watching? Then head to The Office […]

-Read More

How to Dress to Impress on Your Job Interview

Keisha McDonnough Virtue
5 Feb 2014
no comments
interview

First impressions last. Perhaps never is this truer than with job interviews. How you dress and present yourself is crucial to whether or not you get the job or even move forward in the interview process. Here are some pointers to help you make the best first impression: Context is key When deciding what to wear, always dress for context. Take into consideration the culture of the company you are interviewing with and dress accordingly. Is it a formal company where employees typically wear suits everyday? Or is it a casual, creative environment where everyone wears jeans and a T-shirt? […]

-Read More

Six Must-See Destinations

Keisha McDonnough Virtue
10 Jan 2014
no comments

Have you been dreaming of the trip of a lifetime? Is 2014 the year you are going to finally make that dream a reality? Here are some absolute must-see destinations for you to consider! For beach bums: Negril Take a journey with me, along a meandering coastal road, dotted with almond trees, small homes, and tantalizing glimpses of clear blue ocean. As you disembark, what you see before you is almost beyond description; powdery white sand and breathtakingly clear turquoise water gently caressing the shore. You wade in the warm current and wiggle your toes. Twenty feet out, you are […]

-Read More

Christmas Gift Giving Ideas

Keisha McDonnough Virtue
4 Dec 2013
no comments

Christmas is a wonderful time of year! It’s the time of year we celebrate the greatest gift of all – Jesus. And since it’s also the time when we give gifts to those we love – or like – the season can be very stressful. Here are a few suggestions for giving gifts this Christmas that will hopefully help make this season bright: First, always make an effort to bless those who can’t give back: the hungry, needy and less fortunate. Keep your eyes and ears open for those around you who may be going through a hard time, be […]

-Read More

If Looks Could Kill

Keisha McDonnough Virtue
7 Nov 2013
no comments

Have you ever jokingly said that a beautiful dress or gorgeous pair of skinny jeans was “to die for”? Apparently, that statement isn’t far from the truth. Earlier this year, an apparel factory in Bangladesh collapsed, killing almost 1,300 workers and seriously injuring countless others. This factory was responsible for producing “fast fashion” clothing, featured in stores such as H&M and Zara. The lure of fast fashion is being able to buy trendy, attractive clothes at a fraction of the price of high-end stores. However, with the question of worker safety and labor conditions rising so drastically to the forefront […]

-Read More

Fall Fashion Guide

Keisha McDonnough Virtue
1 Oct 2013
no comments

Ah, fall! The first crisp chill in the air, the sunset hues of falling leaves and the whiff of pumpkin-scented everything! But wait, this is Florida. And while the temperatures are cooling from sizzling 100s to balmy 80s, there is no need to reach for heavy fabrics just yet. We can still, however, look attractive and pulled-together as we embrace the season. Fall style is all about polish, sophistication and classic comfort. Here are this fall’s top seven trends for ladies and gentlemen. For ladies: 1. Bold outerwear For jackets and – on the rare occasion – coats, go big […]

-Read More