Create Magical Spring Scenes  Materials  Cardstock, watercolor paper, or other thick paper  Colorful crayons  A white crayon  Watercolor paints, water, and a paintbrush  Paper towel  A placemat to work on  Instructions  1. Draw your design using crayons on paper. It’s quite a challenge to draw with white crayon on white…

What to Do When Your Kid’s Cough Won’t Quit  If your kiddo has a cough they can’t seem to kick, they’re in good company. We see tons of kids in our clinic for chronic cough this time of year.   Why is chronic cough so common?  A chronic cough is typically…

Simple, Tasty Recipes to Enjoy Any Time of Day   Carrot Raisin Muffins  Serves 12  Ingredients  2 cups blanched almond flour  2 tablespoons coconut flour  3 large eggs  ⅓ cup almond milk  ¼ cup honey  ¼ cup coconut sugar or nectar  2 tablespoons melted coconut oil  1 cup grated carrots (about…

Register to Win a Trip to West Virginia's New River Gorge Discover the breathtaking beauty of New River Gorge National Park, a hidden gem nestled in the heart of West Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains. Prize package includes a 2-night stay in an ACE Adventure Resort log cottage (or cabin of equal or lesser…

Despite its chilly title and cover scene, this riveting historical fiction mystery will dig its hooks in no matter the season.   The Frozen River, a New York Times bestseller from author Ariel Lawhon, draws its inspiration from the journals of Martha Ballard, a midwife and healer who blazed a trail…

Building Educational Equity Through Youth Literacy  Bela was having a difficult time at home. They had been struggling with their parents’ recent divorce and often felt unheard, isolated, and invisible. When they started attending Podium’s after-school program, their journey started similarly to the many other children Podium serves. Struggling with…

Three cheers for longer and warmer days to come as we welcome another glorious RVA spring! We finally got some snow this winter, which was fun and so pretty, but boy am I ready for some warmer weather. I just love all of the Richmond traditions that come along with…

Should you reconsider picking up your pup?  My last dog had Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), a condition where the cushioning discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column either bulge or burst (herniate) into the spinal cord space. As she was too old for surgery, we did whatever we could…

How to Support Your Child’s Social Development with Compassion and Patience  Q. My 8-year-old daughter seems to be having a hard time making friends. When I ask about her class, she says she doesn’t really have any friends in it this year. What should I do? Should I step in…

Poetry, Adventure, and the Beauty of Nature  Jungle Babies: A Spring Street Touch and Feel book  by Boxer Books   Illustrated by Lo Cole  Ages 0-3  Touch and feel the adorable baby jungle animals in this stylish, design-led board book.  Let’s Be Bees  by Shawn Harris  Ages 4-8  Father and child…

You’ve seen the ads on TV, heard your friends talking about their wonderful vacation, or maybe you nostalgically remember when your parents took you to “the most magical place on Earth” as a kid. You think to yourself, “I sure would like to take my family to Disney World. But…

Common Scams and How to Avoid Them  When you invest, you’ll find that knowledge is power. The more you know about your investment choices, and who is offering them, the better prepared you’ll be to make good decisions. This diligence can also help protect you against investment scams, which are…

Interior Decorator Leah Walder Helps You Love Your Space  After months of chilly temperatures, snow days, and gray skies, spring brings a welcome sense of a fresh start. It’s an opportunity to find a new walking route, try a recipe using seasonal produce, or swap out your winter wardrobe for…

Goodwill Responds to the Community Needs  For some savvy shoppers, Goodwill is the place to go to fill gaps in their wardrobe or outfit rapidly growing children. They appreciate the half-off sales on the “color of the week,” which corresponds to a garment’s tag, and they enjoy the hunt for…

Jon Lugbill’s Legacy in Richmond In 1993, world champion canoe slalom and Olympic athlete Jon Lugbill became executive director of Sports Backers, a then-fledgling organization with one other staff person and a $137,000 budget.  “When they announced the position, it looked exciting,” he says. “It looked like there was a…

Practical Steps to Manage Your Finances  As life expectancy increases and many adults find it challenging to achieve financial independence, the number of Americans caring for their aging parents continues to rise.   According to the Pew Research Center, more than half of Americans in their 40s have a living parent…

I’ve never been particularly good at anything. Over the years, I’ve given many hobbies, sports, etc. my best shot – tap dancing, cheerleading, basketball, guitar, horseback riding, tennis, beauty pageants, cheerleading again, golf – but none of them ever stuck. While some may see this as a lack of perseverance…

On my 18th birthday, I proudly walked into my high school’s administration office, asked for a form, then filled it out and signed it. The office kept a white copy and handed me back a yellow carbon copy, which I stuck in my wallet and carried with me at all…

Busting Common Oral Health Misconceptions  As a parent, you’ll often hear conflicting advice on how to best care for your child. Whether it’s from family members or online articles, it can be hard to know what information is myth or fact. When it comes to pediatric dentistry, there are several…