Avoiding Jet Lag
Medical experts offer suggestions for those traveling across multiple time zones during the holidays.
Every December, Linda McDonald travels from her Oak Hill home to Stockton, Calif., to visit her family for Christmas. She tries to head west a few days before the holiday, but often leaves on Christmas Eve, and arrives feeling hazy and sluggish.
Quick Relief for Holiday Stress
Simple strategies for bringing down anxiety levels in a hurry.
“Listen to your favorite relaxation music on your iPod as you shop. It can help reduce anxiety in overcrowded shops. Reserve time to relax or meditate at peak times of stress.” — Michelle Walters-Edwards, Marymount University
Cosmetic Dentistry for Children
Whether it’s to replace a tooth that was lost or broken during a hockey game or to create a Hollywood-smile before taking the stage for a school play, pediatric dentists say an increasing number of children are undergoing cosmetic dental procedures.
Norwood Raises Money After Hurricane Sandy
Participants raise more than $4,000 to help purchase books, rugs, easels and bookcases.
More than 200 Norwood School students, parents, teachers and staff members walked the grounds of the school’s Potomac campus earlier this month to raise money for schools devastated by Hurricane Sandy in New York City.
Norwood School Raises Money for Those Affected by Hurricane Sandy
Participants raise more than $4,000 to help purchase books, rugs, easels and bookcases.
More than 200 Norwood School students, parents, teachers and staff members walked the grounds of the school’s Potomac campus earlier this month to raise money for schools devastated by Hurricane Sandy.
Teaching Health and Holiday Culinary Traditions
Nutrition experts say moderation, not deprivation, is the key
The holidays start with a saucepan of mushrooms — usually portabella, crimini or oyster — sautéing in olive oil. Next, sliced onions sizzle in a bath of bubbling butter and wine until they’re caramelized.
Understanding Yoga
Local yogis explain popular styles of yoga.
Joanna Mosely says she can’t tell a downward facing dog from a baby cobra. She belts out a perplexed “huh?” when asked if she knew the difference between Ashtanga and Bikram.
Preventing Holiday Weight Gain
Nutritionists say merriment doesn’t have to lead to bulge.
Festive holidays are filled with sweet treats from eggnog and cider to fruitcake and chocolate bonbons.
Keys to Staying Healthy During the Holiday Season
Finding balance can preserve one’s well-being.
Food, festivities and friends are synonymous with the holidays. However, celebrations can take a toll on your health.
Building a Savings Stockpile on Shoestring Budget
Money experts say it is possible to save, even on a limited income.
Even though Mary Beth Lanvin is employed full-time with a company that offers generous retirement benefits, she can’t afford to contribute to a 401(k).
Avoiding Holiday Debt
Plan now to prevent post-holiday bills.
Festive store displays mean the holiday shopping season is in full swing.
Tips for Year-End Charitable Giving
Financial experts offer suggestions for ensuring one’s donations are well spent.
’Tis the season for giving, and that includes donations to charities.
Teaching Children to Help Prepare Thanksgiving Dinner
Local chefs share tips and culinary traditions.
Susan Limb recalls spending the Thanksgiving days of her childhood in the kitchen with her grandmother, mother and two sisters. The family’s holiday ritual and the smell of a thyme- and butter-dressed turkey roasting in the oven are ingrained in her memory.
Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas: Flowers Not Required
Floral design pros share secrets to creating swoon-worthy centerpieces.
While the turkey is often the star of a Thanksgiving dinner table, a nonedible focal point can play a leading role in creating an elegant dinner table aesthetic. From lush floral arrangements to designs without blooms, three local floral design pros offer ideas for spectacular centerpieces that can be replicated easily at home.
Getting Organized for Thanksgiving
Local experts offer a survival guide.
Jill Mahon is hosting her family for Thanksgiving next week, which is, of course, the kick-off of the holiday season. But for Mahon, the holidays herald an organizational nightmare.
Woodpecker Attack
When Diane Smith moved into her Reston home in 2004, the house, which was built with cedar siding, was in good repair. The siding, she says, “appeared intact and heavily stained.”
An Oasis in Potomac
Home’s addition offers views of expansive backyard.
When the owners of a Potomac home decided that they wanted to expand their living space, their goal was to build a haven for family and friends to gather and enjoy spectacular views of their woodsy backyard.
Gearing Up for Turkey Trots
Fitness experts offer tips for getting in shape.
Before the bird is carved on Turkey Day, Arlington resident Nina Elliot will be hitting the pavement. The mother of two is running in the 7th Annual Arlington Turkey Trot.
Cutting a Rug
Researchers say dancing can improve balance and mental ability in seniors.
Springfield resident Fred Griffin enjoys a good hoe down and takes pleasure in doing a do-si-do. In fact, he has been square dancing since high school.
Racing for Superheroes
Event benefits local nonprofit organizations.
From children wearing superhero capes to costume-clad adults to tots in strollers, participants took to the streets of Arlington last month to raise money for charity as part of the fourth annual Acumen Solutions Race for a Cause 8K and One-Mile Fun Run.
Locals Join All-Star Line-up at Metro Cooking Show
Area specialty food entrepreneurs among the attractions at the 2012 Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show.
When celebrity chefs and Food Network stars were in Washington last weekend for what has become a Super Bowl for foodies (Giada De Laurentiis, Jacques Pepin, Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons and The Chew’s Michael Symon and Carla Hall were just some of the famous faces), some area culinary enthusiasts joined them as well.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You
Mental Health professionals highlight potential health benefits of gratitude.
For many, November ushers in a season of giving thanks, an opportunity to express gratitude, but it can mean even more: some researchers say that Thanksgiving might actually be good for your health.
Using Smart Phone To Get Better Healthcare
New apps and websites designed to make medical visits more efficient.
When Susan Gallagher’s 5-year-old son had an allergic reaction to something he ate at a birthday party, the Reston mother knew she had to get him to an emergency room immediately.
Ghoulish Halloween Cooking
Spooktacular ideas for making halloween treats with children.
Looking to add a bit of sugary fright to Halloween? From swamp juice and mummy pizza to haunted gingerbread houses and spider cupcakes, local culinary experts say ideas for frightful treats abound.
St. Andrew’s Praised for Innovative Educational Approach
National education writer and researcher highlight school’s Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning.
Author, researcher and education blogger Grant Lichtman visited St. Andrew's Episcopal School’s Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning (CTTL) earlier this month as part of a national tour of schools in search of cutting-edge approaches to education.
Local Pastor Celebrates 61 Years in the Ministry
Potomac Presbyterian Church honors its Parish Advisor Emeritus.
Earlier this month, Potomac Presbyterian Church in Potomac, celebrated Miles’ 61 years in the ministry. Miles marked the occasion by giving a sermon titled, “Finding the Elusive Life.”
Joining Celebrity Chefs At Metro Cooking Show
She created sauces using late husband’s recipe to raise money for Lou Gehrig’s Disease research.
Connie Griffith, president and chief executive officer of Gator Ron's Zesty Sauces & Mixes, will showcase the products created by her husband Ron.
Halloween Merriment for Local Children
Marymount's 16th annual HalloweenFest offers an afternoon of trick-or-treating, games and crafts.
Some local children got Halloween treats a few days early thanks to the generosity of students at Marymount University.
Selected for Honors Choir
Group of 131 chosen from more than 600 students from around the state.
An Arlington student was recently selected to join a group of esteemed Virginia vocalists.
Beware: Halloween Can Frighten Small Children
Experts offer suggestions for helping small children who fear Halloween
On Halloween, when many don their scariest attire and head out for an evening of frightful fun, not everyone experiences merriment. Experts say some festivities can overwhelm tiny revelers.
Going Pink During October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Marymount University hosts "Pink Out" to educate young women about breast cancer.
A corner of Arlington turned pink last week in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Marymount University held the first ever "Pink Out MU" day to promote breast cancer awareness and share information on the disease. The Student Health Center encouraged the community to wear pink to show their support for the fight against breast cancer. "A large number of people joined in the sprit and were wearing pink attire or pink ribbons," said Marymount spokeswoman Laurie Callahan.
Learning To Walk in Others’ Shoes
Special Needs Awareness Week at Wayside teaches acceptance and empathy.
“I went into someone's shoes,” said Yoon. “I would feel really frustrated. I'm thankful that I don't have a disability." Yoon’s activities were part of a weeklong Wayside initiative called SNAP (Special Needs Awareness Program), which is aimed at fostering empathy and sensitivity to others in the students.
Marymount To Host 16th Annual HalloweenFest
Students turn campus into Halloween wonderland for local children.
Marymount University students are working to make sure some disadvantaged Arlington children have a festive Halloween. Students are turning the school’s dorms into haunted houses and the gymnasium into a carnival site. Marymount’s 16th annual HalloweenFest is set for Friday, Oct. 26.
Going Pink During October
Marymount University hosts “Pink Out” to educate young women about breast cancer.
A corner of Arlington turned pink last week in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Marymount University held the first ever “Pink Out MU” day to promote breast cancer awareness and share information on the disease.
Creating Path to Financial Stability
Advice for developing and strengthening sound money habits.
Money experts say creating sound financial health requires planning and discipline.
Getting That Linen Closet Organized
Changing seasons offer opportunities to sort sheets and towels.
The thought of sorting through piles of pillowcases and hand towels is enough to send some into hibernation until next spring, but fear not. Local organizing experts are here to help.
A Finishing Touch
Local designers share tips for choosing finishes when remodeling a kitchen.
When remodeling a kitchen, choosing finishes such as countertop materials and paint colors can be daunting for some. Design experts say there are a few guidelines that can simplify the process.
Arrangements To Fall For
Creating bouquets that celebrate the bounty of the season.
Create a field-inspired arrangement by sculpting a pumpkin to use as a vase. “Sometimes we will hollow out a pumpkin, put a liner in it and make an arrangement with mums, pretty fall leaves and millet or bittersweet,” said Evelyn Kinville of the Behnke Florist Shop in Potomac.
Bringing Home Colors of Fall
Late-blooming flowers are exploding with orange, yellow, purple and other vivid shades.
“Fall is a great time to plant,” said Claire Seesman of the Potomac Garden Center in Potomac. “There are a lot of fall blooming perennials: Echinacea (also known as purple cone flowers), ornamental fall grasses, mums, pansies, cabbage and kale are huge right now.”
Protecting One’s Eyes
Medical experts offer safety suggestions during Eye Injury Prevention Month.
Nancy Mahon was cleaning the bathroom of her Herndon home last spring when she noticed that something was going wrong. "My eyes started burning intensely," she said. "They were red and felt like they were on fire." The source of her eye irritation was a chemical that she was using to clean her bathroom. She sought medical care and now uses mild, non-toxic cleaners.
Preparing for Cold and Flu Season
Health care professionals offer advice for staying healthy.
While many of her friends and family members enjoy the cooler temperatures and vibrantly colored leaves that herald the arrival of autumn, Mary O’Brien braces herself. For her, fall and winter mean sniffles, sneezes and frequent trips to the doctor. "I usually catch about four colds between October and April," said the North Potomac, Md., mother of two preschool children. "Between myself, my husband and our kids, it seems like someone always has a runny nose, fever or cough."
Uncorking the Possibilities
Local builders say wine storage options are almost limitless.
From those who sip an occasional glass of Chianti with friends to enthusiastic oenophiles, the notion of owning a wine cellar is fascinating to many people. In fact, a recent U.S. Luxury-Home Market survey by Wine Trends, a wine-consulting firm, showed that 67 percent of respondents were interested in incorporating wine storage into their homes.
Cooking for Children
Local culinary instructor teaches children the art of seasonal cooking.
Andie Nelson is undaunted by the brawn needed to hack through the thick-skin of a butternut squash or chop open a seemingly impenetrable pumpkin. Many of the sous chefs at her side are not fully potty trained, but that is not a deterrent. In fact, this is how the Arlington resident and culinary school owner says hello to fall.
Veteran To Visit Wayside Elementary
Appearance is part of school’s Special Needs Awareness Week.
A Potomac native, former U.S. Army officer and decorated Iraq War veteran will return to the area next week to share a message of acceptance with some local students. Luis Montalván, who sustained both physical and emotional wounds while serving in the military, will speak at Wayside Elementary School in Potomac as part of the school’s Special Needs Awareness Week (SNAP).
Bazaar Yields Middle Eastern Flavor
Volunteers make annual church event possible.
The sun beamed down from an early autumn sky, making a picturesque backdrop for Saints Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church’s 29th annual fall bazaar on Sept. 21-23 in Potomac. The annual event included music, crafts and Middle Eastern food.
Health Initiative Helps Usher In Fall
Marymount kicks-off campaign to boost campus wellness.
Officials at Marymount University in Arlington are using the start of fall to encourage faculty, staff and students to let “all health break loose.” The school kicked-off its “Healthy Monday” campaign earlier this month.
Applying to Private Schools: Starting the Process
As the application period gets underway, local independent school officials offer suggestions.
START SURFING. “I would encourage parents to visit a variety of school websites to get a feel for the wide range of fabulous independent school options available. A comprehensive directory of schools with website information can be found at http://www.independenteducation.org/.” Mimi Mulligan, assistant head and director of admission and enrollment management, Norwood School, Bethesda, Md.
Teaching Youngsters About Money
Experts offer advice on raising financially savvy children.
“No matter how young a child is, they can always learn good money practices,” said Theresia Wansi, an associate professor of finance at Marymount University in Arlington, “What matters in life is not how much money you earn, but how you manage your finances. We hear stories all the time about people who make millions and end up broke.” Potomac, Md., resident Glen Buco, president of West Financial Services, says many financial advisers in his McLean office are also parents who are passing along penny-wise know-how to their children. “When their children receive money, the parents help them develop a budget using a “three bucket system,” said Buco. “One bucket is for saving, one is for spending and one for charity.”
Teen Protects Friend From Speeding Baseball
Boy’s quick action prevented serious injury.
Two Potomac boys returned to school this year with a harrowing story of bravery and friendship. Fourteen-year-old Sam Parven and 11-year-old Donny Campuzano say they were selling pretzels for a vendor at a Bethesda Big Train baseball game this summer when a second baseman hit a line-drive foul ball into the stands.