December 2011

Stop. Relax. Breathe. For many of us, the stresses of the holidays ramped up at Halloween and haven’t loosened their grip. Too often we focus on all that needs to get done between now and the New Year, instead of on the spirit, beauty, and joys of the season. Are…

Richmonders rejoice! We’re just two hours from our world-class national capital and a vast selection of entertainment options. There’s no better time to enjoy its plays and parades, light shows, and musical performances than when the city is alive in the spirit of the season and splendidly decorated for the…

To this day, my son will watch me as I raise a vodka martini to my lips and say, “Mom, you realize you are killing off your brain cells every time you do that?” He’s 30, but he learned this from the DARE program when he was in elementary school.…

Yes, yes. We know, we know. Here we are again, right on schedule. Time again for our one-size-fits-all, here-we-are, look-at-us, oh-how-wonderful-we’ve-been-this-year, annual holiday letter. We submit it to you on perfect paper stock, and we have chosen just the right decorative font. Plus we’ve tucked your letter into a most…

There was a stretch a while back when my husband and I had grown so incredibly busy – me with small children mostly, him with trying to grow a small business – that the idea of couple time seemed ludicrous and yeah, even a little pointless. Put your relationship first.…

I swear we just hid Easter eggs in the backyard last week! I may be a bit behind, but this issue of RFM is brimming with holiday cheer. There is so much to do in Richmond (and beyond) this month, and we’re bringing you lots of great ways to celebrate…

Do you remember when you were a kid? It seemed as if every single day of December crept by in slow motion. One Christmas when I was ten, I had made a huge Advent calendar out of two sheets of poster board and decorated it with Peanuts characters. My mama…

1. Cinnamon Almonds Preheat oven to 250° F. In a large bowl, whisk an egg-white and 1 tsp water until very foamy. Add 4 cups of raw almonds and stir to coat. In a small bowl, mix ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, and ¼ tsp salt. Mix sugar…

Once upon a Christmas time, thousands of people drove into the heart of Richmond to visit the downtown Miller & Rhoads department store. Some said its window displays rivaled those of Macy’s in New York City. Many a youngster had to be dragged away from the store’s iconic electric train…

Let the season inspire you! Display your creation at home, or delight someone special with a homemade gift.   What you need: • Construction paper, craft paper, stiff giftwrap, magazine pages • Pencil, glue or tape, scissors, needle • A cup, about 4 inches in diameter • Wire hanger •…

Tis the season – not only for the holidays, but for congestion, runny nose, cough, and fevers. Preventive measures and a few simple products in your medicine cabinet will make what could be your little one’s first cold and flu season more comfortable. First, parents and caregivers: It’s not too…

Q: I’m a single mother of a son, 9, and a daughter, 6. I never seem to have enough of anything – time, money, sleep. Help!? A: Parenting is the hardest job there is, and when you are doing it on your own, it is especially demanding. It sounds like…

One of my best mom friends, Brooke, is a mompreneur. She might not think of it that way, because the bulk of her time is focused on caring for her family, but she is. Before getting married and having a child, Brooke purchased a couple of houses in Roanoke and…