Gulf Coast, AL May 2026

In May, We Honor the Women Who Inspire Us.

May is our Ladies Issue, and it’s one I look forward to every year. It’s a chance to celebrate the women who shape our community in meaningful, lasting ways; through leadership, service, creativity, and heart. Along the Gulf Coast, we are surrounded by women who are building businesses, supporting others, and showing up every day with purpose and passion. We are truly fortunate to live in a community filled with such incredible women: business owners, leaders, and volunteers who make this place so special.

This month, we are honored to feature Linda Tucker, a true volunteer extraor dinaire and a shining beacon in our community. Her dedication, generosity, and unwavering spirit remind us just how powerful it is to give back and lift others up. We also spend time with Yolanda Johnson, whose impact reaches both near and far. A true community and business cheerleader, she is also a respected small business expert on the state level, continually creating opportunities, offering guidance, and championing growth for others.

From there, we step into a world of natural beauty and creativity with A Flower Box, where Ava and Amanda are redefining floral design and event planning. Their fresh, distinctive style is bringing a new level of artistry to celebrations across our community, proving that details truly do make the moment.

We also check in with Nikki McNabb Aesthetics, where skincare meets confidence. Nikki shares how certain chemical peels are not only safe for the summer months but can help you achieve that radiant, healthy glow; because glowing skin is always in style.

Adding a touch of beauty you can sip, Josie Taylor of Caffeinatrix created a Hibiscus Rose Latté for this issue, blending creativity, flavor, and artistry into one unforgettable beverage.

This issue is a celebration of strength, beauty, resilience, and influence. It’s about women supporting women, building something meaningful, and invest ing in themselves and those around them. I hope these stories inspire you as much as they’ve inspired me.

Here’s to the women who lead, create, serve, and shine…today and every day.

Thank you for inviting us into your homes and into your hearts.   Love local. Live local. Spend local. Until next month…

May 2026

PUBLISHER

Ashley Roberts | ashley.roberts@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Lillian Norris | lillian.taylor@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Nikki McNab Aesthetics

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kasey Etheridge- K.E. Photography, A Flower Box, Michelle Howard Photography, C-Shelz Photography, Caffeinatrix-Josie Taylor

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe

LAYOUT DESIGNER Andi Foster

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Marina Campbell

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.

Tough Builds for Tough Water Marine Construction Built to Last

At Weeks Bay Marine, we are committed to delivering exceptional services and expert care, specializing in all marine construction and repair needs. Our expertise extends beyond marine construction to include land development, dredging, demolition services, boat salvage, and tree and sod installation, and seawall construction.

city scene

1, 2, 4: Red-White-&-Bloom was the theme for OB Garden Club’s Game Day and Salad Fundraiser. 3: Annette Mitchell and Tim Harry at Red-White-&-Bloom. Celebratung the 250th birthday of America. 5: Pat Dupré and Mitzi Alemond at OB Garden Club’s Game Day and Salad Fundraiser. 6: Air-Pro Services held their ribbon-cutting at CABC. Welcome to the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber. 7: Air-Pro Services held their ribbon-cutting at CABC. Pictured: Sheerie and Ren Lawson with Jenny Summerville.

8: Jonathan Young and his mentor Lex

arrive at the Survivor 50 watch party. 9: Ribbon cutting with CABC for Allier Gulf Shores. A beautiful new lifestyle community. 10: Bill and Casey Buckner at the Survivor 50 viewing event, supporting our hometown hero! 11: The Wharf Boat & Yacht show is always a well-attended crowd pleaser. 12: The 34th Orange Beach Seafood Festival and Car Show is always a great family event. 13: Jimmy Harrell placed 1st place in the Hot Rod Division and won Best-in-Show. Congratulations, Jimmy! 14: Our hometown hero, Jonathan Young expressing gratitude, for his hometown fans at the premiere.

15, 17, 18: Expect Excellence produced another amazing musical, with Frozen delighting audiences both young and old. 16: The entire talented cast and crew of Expect Excellence’s Frozen. 19: Tally Streets (little Elsa) with Elsa, played by Elizabeth Rayfield. Great show! 20: Gulf-ShoresPower-Sports had a tremendous show. We stopped by to check out their vast selection. 21: Jake Clemons, technical director and sound engineer wiring a mic, for this amazing musical performance.

Orange Beach Church’s Easter edition of Bunco for Jesus. We had so much fun! 23: Our table was full of winners: Jenny Summerville-Candice MartinezTara FitzSimons-and-Ashley Roberts. We are so appreciative. 24, 25: The-Sapphire-Soirée celebrated the 45th year of our Coastal Alabama Business Chamber and it’s loyal members. 26: Gulf Coast City Lifestyle was awarded 2025 Best Small Business Award. Thank you so much! 27: The Sapphire Soirée

YO JOHNSON: Community Steward

Cultivating creativity and lasting impact

ARTICLE BY LILLIAN NORRIS PHOTOGRAPHY BY J.D. SWIGER - SWIGER STUDIO

Yolanda Devine “Yo” Johnson is the kind of person whose presence you feel before you see her: energetic, warmly outgoing and perpet ually ready to help. A fifth‑generation Baldwin County native who has called the Gulf Coast home for decades, Yo wears many hats; business advisor, volunteer leader, community advocate, artist, wife, and grandmother and somehow makes each role look effortless.

Professionally, Yo dedicates herself to strengthening local econ omies and helping entrepreneurs build durable enterprises. In her role advising small businesses, she guides owners through practical challenges, financial clarity, licensing and compliance, access to capital, and building systems that support growth and resilience. Her approach is hands‑on and solution oriented: she meets people where they are, helps them understand the path forward, and con nects them to resources that turn ideas into sustainable operations.

Yo’s impact is felt across a wide spectrum of community life. She serves on multiple boards and committees, volunteers with educa tional and philanthropic efforts, and regularly steps into civic ini tiatives that strengthen the region. Whether teaching a workshop, mentoring a new business owner, or helping organize community fundraising, she brings the same blend of competence, compassion and enthusiasm. Neighbors and business owners alike describe her as a trusted advisor whose timely counsel has helped businesses survive disasters, access funding, and adapt to changing markets.

Education and lifelong learning are central to Yo’s philosophy. Her academic background and continued professional development inform her work, but it’s her gift for relationship‑build ing and community connection that amplifies her effectiveness. She translates technical concepts into actionable plans and emphasizes practical financial literacy so families and busi nesses can make confident choices. That focus on empowering others, teaching skills that lead to independence and stability, is a throughline in everything she does.

Art and creativity offer Yo balance and renewal. Her paintings; playful, coastal interpretations rather than precise realism, reflect a love for light, color and the Gulf spirit. Painting is more than a hobby; it’s a form of restoration that helps her cope with stress and stay centered amid a busy schedule. For Yo, the creative practice complements the civic: both are acts of giv ing, whether offering beauty or practical help.

Resilience is a hallmark of Yo’s life. Through her faith, she has weathered personal and community hardships. In those moments, she demonstrated the steadiness and resourcefulness she encourages in others: assess the damage, mobilize help, apply for assistance when needed, and rebuild with purpose. Her leadership during such times is quietly powerful, less about headlines and more about steady, per sistent work that helps neighbors recover.

Faith, Family and roots ground Yo. Married for more than three decades, she delights in simple coastal plea sures, time with her husband and grandchildren, riding a bicycle along shorelines, and afternoons spent in the sand. Her treasured possessions are the images and heirlooms that tie generations together; her greatest fear is someone missing heaven. Those priorities shape her civic stance: policies and programs that elevate dig nity, ensure opportunity, and foster value based com munity engagement are what she champions.

People often remark on Yo’s warmth; what she calls being “aggressively friendly.” That openness, com bined with firm convictions of faith, personal respon sibility and civic participation, makes her a connector in every sense: she introduces people to resources, encourages volunteerism, and inspires others to take part in the communal life of the coast. Her motto; love of people and their successful participation in life, captures her belief that community strength grows when everyone experiences the love of God.

There’s no single headline that can contain the breadth of Yolanda Devine Johnson’s contributions. She is counselor and cheerleader, artist and activist, neighbor and navigator, someone who shows up, lis tens, and equips others to succeed. Her life is a study in sustained, humble service: a reminder that a well‑lived life is measured not by accolades but by the countless small acts that build a stronger, kinder community. In Baldwin County, that measure is impossible to miss.

Yolanda Devine “Yo” Johnson

Yolanda Devine “Yo” Johnson is a fifth‑generation Baldwin County native whose energetic, warm presence fuels civic life along the Gulf Coast. A business advisor, volunteer leader, artist, wife and grandmother, Yo strengthens local economies by guiding entrepreneurs on finance, licensing, access to capital and sustainable systems. She serves on boards, teaches workshops, mentors owners through disasters and market shifts, and connects people to practical resources. An advocate for financial literacy and lifelong learning, she translates technical concepts into actionable plans. Painting provides renewal playful coastal works that reflect her love of light. Known for being “aggressively friendly,” Yo’s steady, hands‑on leadership inspires resilience, participation and community stewardship in Baldwin County promoting dignity, opportunity, and connection.

NIKKI MCNAB AESTHETICS

In a beach town like ours, glowing skin isn’t seasonal. It’s year round. But when it comes to chemical peels, many people still believe they should be saved for winter.

Let’s clear that up.

Chemical peels are not off limits in the summer. They simply require a more intentional approach.

Rethinking Summer Skin: Why Chemical Peels Don’t Have to Wait

ARTICLE BY NIKKI MCNAB AESTHETICS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHELLE HOWARD PHOTOGRAPHY

After a peel, your skin is more sensitive to the sun, which is where the hesitation comes from. Without proper care, there is a higher risk of irritation or unwanted pigmentation. But that doesn’t mean you have to avoid peels altogether. It means stay ing consistent and understanding how to protect your skin.

And honestly, that applies no matter the season.

IT’S ABOUT SMART SUN

Living along the Gulf Coast, avoiding the sun isn’t realistic. The goal is learning how to protect your skin while still enjoy ing your lifestyle.

That means wearing a broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher every single day, applying enough to fully protect the skin, and reapplying every one to two hours when you’re outside. It also means using additional protection like hats, sunglasses, and seeking shade when possible.

Sunscreen isn’t optional. It’s part of the treatment.

When clients commit to this level of protection, it com pletely changes what is possible for their skin, even during the summer months.

NOT ALL PEELS ARE CREATED EQUAL

One of the biggest misconceptions is that all chemical peels are aggressive, leave you peeling for days, and require you to stay indoors.

In reality, there’s a wide range.

Some peels are very superficial and designed to gently exfo liate, brighten, and maintain overall skin health with little to no downtime. These are ideal for the summer and can help keep skin clear, smooth, and glowing.

Others are more corrective and go deeper, targeting con cerns like acne, pigmentation, and texture. These can still be performed in the summer when appropriate, but they require a higher level of commitment to aftercare and sun protection.

The key is choosing the right peel for your skin and your lifestyle.

CONSISTENCY OVER SEASONALITY

Waiting until fall to address skin concerns often leads to starting over each year.

A more effective approach is maintaining your skin year round with a plan that supports both correction and prevention. Chemical peels can play a role in that plan when used appropri ately and spaced correctly.

With the right guidance, they can help keep skin balanced, clear, and glowing without having to pause for an entire season.

After 13 years of treating skin, one thing is clear. The best results don’t come from doing the most aggressive treatments all at once. They come from doing the right treatments consis tently and supporting them with proper home care.

A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

Here along the Gulf Coast, most of us aren’t skipping beach days, boat rides, or time outside. And you don’t have to in order to take care of your skin.

But it does require being honest about your habits.

If you know you won’t reapply sunscreen, that matters. If you spend long hours in direct sun, that matters too. Your skincare plan should reflect your real life, not an ideal version of it.

When treatments are chosen with your lifestyle in mind, results become not only achievable, but sustainable.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Chemical peels in the summer aren’t dangerous. They’re sim ply misunderstood.

With the right approach, the right peel, and a commitment to sun protection, they can be a safe and effective part of your skincare routine, even in the middle of a Gulf Coast summer.

Because healthy skin doesn’t have a season.

Nikki is a Licensed Master Esthetician with 10+ years helping clients achieve radiant skin. She specializes in corrective, results-driven treatments including dermaplaning, chemical peels, and waxing, tailoring care to individual needs. Passionate and up-to-date with trends, Nikki always ensures effective, enjoyable skincare using the latest products and guidance.

Acne-Targeted Facials to clear and calm your skin

CO2LIFT Pro for deep hydration & a collagen boost

Customized Chemical Peels for that next-level glow

Luxurious Dermaplaning Facials to reveal silky-smooth skin

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A Flower Box: Friends, Flowers, Forward

AMANDA & AVA’S BOUTIQUE BLOOMS INTO FULL-SERVICE EVENT DESIGN

Amanda and Ava, co‑owners of A Flower Box, are more than busi ness partners they’re best friends turned entrepreneurial power duo. Ava launched the shop in 2011; Amanda later bought in as a 50/50 partner, and together they’ve expanded the company from a neighborhood florist into a full‑service event studio. Their signature blend of floral artistry, thoughtful rentals and on‑site event planning keeps clients returning and referrals flowing.

The workshop hums year‑round: designers arranging bou quets, team members prepping rental inventory, and planners

sketching layouts for weddings, corporate gatherings and milestone celebrations. A Flower Box offers client‑focused packages that combine blooms with curated tabletop pieces, linens and custom signage, simplifying the planning process for busy hosts. Their approach balances creativity with logis tics, beautiful compositions that stand up to a long service day and seamless coordination that lets clients enjoy the moment. Culture matters as much as craft. Amanda and Ava priori tize building an inclusive team that reflects their community.

Amanda and Ava, co‑owners of A Flower Box, are more than business partners they’re best friends turned entrepreneurial power duo.

Staff are cross‑trained across design, instal lation and client services so every project benefits from shared expertise. Local vendors and venues are integral partners, and the owners emphasize sustainability when possible.

Outside the studio, Amanda and Ava are known for their camaraderie: they love planning events and, famously, eating sushi together; Ichiban has a booth with their name on it. That bond translates to business chemistry; quick decisions, shared instincts and the confidence to try fresh concepts that keep the brand evolving.

As A Flower Box grows, the duo remains hands‑on, mentoring young designers and refining service offerings. Their trajectory shows how friendship, complementary skills and a client‑first mindset can bloom into a thriving business rooted in creativity and community.

A Flower Box

A Flower Box is led by Ava and Amanda, a creative partnership that blends Ava’s award‑winning floral design with Amanda’s impeccable eye for detail and organization. Together they have grown a neighbor hood florist into a full‑service event studio, specializing in weddings, corporate events and milestone celebrations. Their offerings include custom floral design, curated event rentals, and comprehensive planning packages that pair blooms with tabletop pieces, linens and custom signage to simplify the process for busy hosts.

The studio’s cross‑trained team manages every step from ini tial concept and design to installation and breakdown, ensuring consistency and care across each event. The owners emphasize inclusivity, nurture local vendor partnerships, and practice sus tainability by sourcing seasonal blooms and repurposing arrange ments when possible. Known for thoughtful communication and a calm, organized approach, Ava and Amanda focus on creating memorable, stress‑free experiences for clients and their guests.

Serving the Greater Foley area, A Flower Box is located at 365357424 Coopers Landing Rd W, Foley, AL. Hours: Monday–Friday 9 AM–5 PM; Saturday 10 AM–2 PM. Contact: (251) 207‑1414 info@aflowerbox.com.

HIBISCUS Rose Latté

A refreshing floral iced espresso latte layered with hibiscus, rose, and creamy cold foam.

ARTICLE BY JOSIE TAYLOR, CEO OF CAFFEINATRIX

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

CAFFEINATRIX

The Hibiscus Rose Latte brings together espresso, hibiscus, and rose in a beautifully balanced iced beverage. Made with our Ethiopia Sidama coffee, whole milk, and a house made floral syrup, it’s shaken for a smooth texture and topped with airy cold foam. Garnished with crushed dried rose petals on the rim, it’s an elegant, fragrant beverage designed to be recreated at home.

DIRECTIONS

:

Step One:

Begin by brewing two shots of espresso using a bright, fruit forward coffee such as the Caffeinatrix® Ethiopia Sidama. Its sub tle fruity floral profile and tea like quali ties complement this latte’s botanicals.

Step Two:

In a shaker, combine one ounce of hibis cus rose simple syrup with eight ounces of whole milk. Add a small scoop of ice, then shake well. This step chills your latte while creating a light, smooth texture that blends the flavors evenly.

Step Three:

Fill a glass with fresh ice and strain the shaken mixture over it. The result should be a soft blush toned base.

Step Four:

Gently pour the freshly brewed espresso over the milk mixture. Allow it to settle naturally to create a subtle layered effect before serving.

Step Five:

To prepare the cold foam, combine three tablespoons of milk, two tablespoons of heavy cream, and one tablespoon of hibis cus rose syrup. Froth until the mixture becomes light and airy, then spoon it care fully over your latte.

Step Six:

For a final touch, lightly press crushed dried rose petals along one side of the rim of your glass. This adds a delicate fragrance that enhances the overall experience.

Step Seven:

Next Step... enjoy!

ARTICLE BY KALI KASORZYK

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

BECKY HILLYARD

From Side Hustle to Style Empire

The power of taste, trust, and the courage to “just start.”

She didn’t have a business plan, a media budget, or even a name anyone could pronounce. What Becky Hillyard had was taste, a young family, and the instinct to just start. Today, her lifestyle brand Cella Jane commands an audience the size of Vogue’s, she’s nine collections strong with Splendid, and she’s built it all while raising three kids — refusing to sacrifice one for the other. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Becky shares what it really takes to build a brand, a career, and a life you love. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full conversation.

Q: WHEN DID YOU KNOW CELLA JANE WAS MORE THAN A HOBBY?

A: Two moments. Women started emailing me saying they bought something I recommended and felt amazing — asking me to help them find a dress for a wedding. That felt incredible. Then I looked at my affiliate numbers for one month and realized I could cover our mortgage. I thought, I can actually do this. I never set out to build a business. I started it because I genuinely loved it.

Q: WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST RISK YOU EVER TOOK WITH THE BRAND?

A: Designing my own collection. It’s easy to point at items on a website and say I love these. But to create something from scratch, put your name on it, and wait to see if people connect with it — that’s terrifying. I had an incredible partner in Splendid, and women loved the pieces. It was the biggest risk and the biggest accomplishment.

Q: HOW HAS INFLUENCER MARKETING CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED?

A: When I started, brands didn’t know whether to take it seriously. Now it’s a legitimate line item in their marketing budgets — sometimes bigger than TV. Because what we’ve built is trust. People trust a real recommendation from someone they follow far more than a commercial. There’s no question about it now.

Q: YOU’RE A MOM OF THREE RUNNING A FULL BRAND. WHAT DOES YOUR DAY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?

A: I try to get up at five and not hit snooze — that first hour before the house wakes up is the most productive, most peaceful hour of my day. Then it’s all hands on deck with the kids and school drop-off. After that I work — planning content, connecting with my team, editing. After pickup, the day shifts completely and it’s all about them. I’ve learned to protect both halves fiercely, because both matter.

Q: WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BUILD SOMETHING OF THEIR OWN BUT KEEPS WAITING?

A: Don’t wait. Don’t wait for the perfect camera, the right strategy, or enough followers. We find every excuse to stay comfortable. Just start, be consistent, and be authentically yourself. The right people will find you — and they’ll stay.

This conversation is just the beginning. Becky goes deeper on the risks that almost stopped her, the design process behind her latest Splendid collection, and what she’d tell her 2012 self today. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle Podcast.

“Trust is the only metric that actually compounds.”

— Becky Hillyard

MRS. LINDA TUCKER, Our Hero

A LIFETIME OF TEACHING AND SERVICE

If a community had a heartbeat, Linda Tucker would be one of its steady rhythms. Known affectionately as “Ms. Linda,” she moves through Orange Beach with the easy authority of someone who shows up: tending plants on a shaded porch, arrang ing donations, greeting neighbors, and quietly knitting a community together.

“Everyone wants to be like Ms. Linda. She is involved in anything that is every thing. She is my hero and I hope to be just like her,” says publisher Ashley Roberts.

A teacher and coach by vocation, Linda spent roughly three decades guid ing young athletes and students from the late 1960s into the late 1990s. Her commitment earned formal recogni tion from Silver Creek High School for nearly 30 years of athletic coaching and mentorship. For Linda, coaching was never merely about sport; it was about bridging the gap between girls’ every day realities and their dreams, instilling perseverance, discipline and belief so players could reach beyond expectation.

Generations of former students recall her steady presence: a mentor who demanded effort, rewarded courage and celebrated incremental growth. She taught fundamentals of the game and, more impor tantly, life lessons, resilience in loss, the value of teamwork and how to stand tall under pressure. Her persistence and faith in young people helped open doors to college, scholarships and lifelong friend ships. The women she coached often credit her as the catalyst for confidence and achievement.

Linda’s civic footprint extends far beyond school fields. She is actively involved with the Orange Beach Garden Club, Friends of the Library and Martha Missions, and she plays an integral role with the Orange Beach Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. These com mitments reflect a core conviction: a good life is a useful life. Wherever a need appears, Linda steps forward, teaching workshops, organizing drives, supporting first responders, and qui etly ensuring the com munity’s fabric holds.

There is intimate warmth to her gener osity. In her cozy home, filled with antique plates, vintage books and framed photographs, Linda points to images of her late husband, a community ad opted son, and friends who shaped her journey. Plants spill from windowsills; cats patrol their leafy realm. She speaks about them with tenderness, and the small rituals of watering, feeding and tending reveal how she sustains herself while sustaining others.

their boat into town and chose it for its salt air and neighborly pace. Those early days live on in cherished snapshots; sand, sun and the slow work of building a life together. That life included weath ering storms both literal and figurative. Linda out lived her partner and navigated loss with the same steady resolve she urged in her athletes: assess, regroup, persevere.

Humility is central to her appeal. Linda doesn’t seek accolades; she prefers steady influence. People admire her because she earns it; day after day, by showing up and doing the work that makes community possible. She connects people to opportunity, memo ries to meaning, and young ambition to adult achievement. Her leadership is rela tional and consistent rather than theatri cal, and that steady devotion has quietly shaped the character of many lives.

It’s important to do the things that bring you joy daily, do a little bit of something every day!

To follow Ms. Linda’s example is to accept a simple blueprint for civic life: commit to oth ers, cultivate joy in small things, teach patiently, and persist when the path is hard. She reminds us that last ing impact often comes from routine acts of care rather than grand gestures. For those who aspire to her steadiness, the message is plain: plant roots, nurture people, keep showing up and maybe keep a cat or two for company.

Her arrival in Orange Beach has a seaside romance: she and her late husband once sailed

Ms. Linda Tucker is our hero: a luminous, steady presence whose life invites us all to live larger for the good of our neighbors.