March 2014

Nancy Thomas of Richmond will never forget the look on her 3-year-old daughter’s face when she saw the IMAX version of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Science Museum of Virginia back in 2001. “The animation seemed to come alive all around us and the sound filled the room, too.…

When they take up lodging on our kids’ heads, lice don’t just gross us out. They wage an all-out assault on our confidence as parents. Because I had been informed about lice in various kindergarten classrooms at our neighborhood school, I was vigilant about checking my little one’s head daily.…

We’ve all heard that life upon the wicked stage is a difficult career, full of rejection, brief highs, and lots of blood, sweat, and tears. Getting into a college bachelor of fine arts (BFA) theatre program is no different. My daughter is a freshman majoring in musical theatre at NYU.…

No? Oh, come on! Hasn’t it been fun pretending we live in Minnesota, with what seems like one snowstorm after another? Heck, the folks living in the seriously snowy states have surely been laughing at us again this year. What wouldn’t have made them stop to pick up an extra…

A movie can leave a mark, that’s for sure. It can affect you profoundly, make you laugh, cry, or in the worst possible circumstance, leave you thinking, Welp! That’s fifty bucks and two hours I’ll never, ever get back. Okay, maybe that’s just my take. But most of us agree…

A typical morning, I press snooze when my alarm goes off – three times – and rush into the shower only to be interrupted by a child who no longer likes the clothes we picked out last night and instead wants to wear pants he’s outgrown and his favorite shirt,…

How long has it been? Twenty years? Well, it’s great to see you again after all this time. And look, here’s a corner table that’s got our name on it. Yes, life is good, and the kids are growing up fast. Ballet, basketball, school projects, and math problems just as…

Students and CIEE host siblings enjoyed a holiday get-together, no doubt celebrating traditions from around the world. At right, Jean and Tom Anderson (front) orchestrated a family reunion of sorts with Ludvik, Simon, and Malte in Prague. ____________________ When Jean Anderson of Midlothian talks about her children, she says she…

Let’s talk helmets. The latest U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission survey shows only about half of all bicycle riders regularly wear helmets. Each year about 350,000 children are injured in bicycle crashes. This makes bicycle-related injuries higher than any other sport. Head injuries are one of the most common. Helmets…

Q: I have been divorced for several years and have two children, six and nine. They live with me during the week and with their father most weekends. I have been dating Chris for three months. We usually see each other on the weekends when my children are with their…

Many of the women we read about and admire are those who have conquered personal fears. By first facing, then boldly overcoming their fears, they were able to take their service, passion, and philanthropy to new heights. Apprehension continues to hinder some women today, including fear of financial matters. Not…

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya Brown 16 oz sliced sausage in saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 stalks chopped celery, 1 chopped medium yellow onion, 1 chopped bell pepper and sauté until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in 1½ lb cooked chicken, 32 oz chicken broth, 1½ cups long…

Start your art with this photo-transferring strategy and go for a big finish by adding your own unique elements. What you need: • Acrylic gel medium (we use Liquitex gel medium in heavy gloss, but any clear acrylic medium works) • Brush, dish or tray of water • Medium-weight paper,…

Beautiful, intelligent, and social, with simple needs – birds can be ideal pets for all these reasons. Birds are relatively easy to care for and adaptable, but their behaviors are less familiar to most of us than those of the dogs and cats many of us keep as pets. Spotting…