From the Heart

By Lisa Marie Burwell

Each year for the past several years, we’ve dedicated an issue to goodness and the commendable and noteworthy things people are doing to help others. As a positive person by nature, I try to find the silver lining in most situations. This year has been no exception, even amid the many challenges that there were to face. The adage “accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative” has never seemed more relevant.

From the onset, the very heart of VIE was to publish stories that are uplifting, inspirational, hopeful, and meaningful—and you will find a plethora of stories like that in this issue. In reminiscing, I fondly recall how VIE was our love letter to our readers, and I still feel that way today. I find it such a blessing to have been able to publish VIE these past thirteen years. That is a long time, and I’ve been able to watch the magazine grow just like everyone else has. It’s truly been a journey and a collaborative endeavor with our team, our advertising partners, our readers, and the amazing people whose stories we’ve been able to tell. For those who have entrusted their dreams, hearts, charitable causes, joys, heartaches, art, and talents with us, we thank you.

The seasons of life ebb and flow, and we find ourselves evolving to new heights. I’m happy to announce that our inaugural coffee-table book, HOME: Inspirations for Home and Life by VIE, will be here just in time for Christmas, the season of gift giving and celebration with family and friends. HOME is an extension of the magazine in that the heart of the book is still our love letter to the Northwest Florida coastal area that we call home. In the pages of the book, we showcase many of our advertising partners, from architects, artists, and interior designers to chefs, restaurants, and artisans. But mostly, the book embodies the spirit of this place from “COLA 2 COLA”—Apalachicola to Pensacola. We are blessed to live and work in paradise, and we wanted to extol its beauty in a legacy book that will stand the test of time. Since it’s an extension of the VIE life and brand, you will also see some of our favorite and most memorable experiences, including epic photo shoots and events. And, of course, our beaches will almost certainly take center stage. The book is both an homage to our area and a journal of these past thirteen years through the eyes of our VIE team.

We can’t wait to share it with you.

To Life!

—Lisa Marie
CEO/Editor-in-Chief

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