March 2017

From the moment Heather Miles took the stage as a third grader, she was mesmerized. “My first part was small – I was a sheep – but I still remember it being the most exciting thing in the world to me,” says the co-founder and artistic director of Broken Leg…

It started with an Instagram post of two sisters on Sibling Day. They were smiling and happy. Before long, though, the comments appeared: hahaha these @#$% losers – your sister needs to be really helped LMFAO! IM ACTUALLY DIEING LOL IKR The older sister, fifteen, responded to the harsh commentary,…

We see them on TV, hear them on the radio, and keep up with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The RVA broadcast scene has proven to be a stepping stone for many media personalities, but we’re thankful for the ones who brighten our days and call Richmond home!  …

After dinner, it’s music time in my house. Sometimes we move the furniture and dance crazily, sometimes the hand drums get played, sometimes we sing together, and sometimes we play the piano. And sometimes, let’s be real, we forget. As I’m a musician, it is true that my kids get…

Dad, I want to go to Diamonds Direct.” “Why?” “Because I need a crystal to make a lightsaber.” The engine of any Jedi’s sword is a special gemstone that bottles The Force and turns it into a beam of lethal light. So in Levon’s 5-year-old brain, Diamonds Direct is a…

I can hardly wait for March 12 – that’s the day we’ll spring forward, and for one day, I will be perfectly willing to give up an hour of precious sleep for a good cause. Who doesn’t love more daylight in the evening?! More time to bike, enjoy dinner on…

Is preschool too young to start talking to your children about money? It depends. Most 3-year-olds should be ready to start learning simple vocabulary and basic economic lessons, like If you want to buy something, you have to pay for it with money, or, If you work, then you can…

Many of us have memories – some fond, some awkward – of those times when our parents sat us down to discuss sex and sexuality. For some, information from these moments was expanded on through formal education during our middle and high school sexual education classes. Many children enjoy the…

In 1913, a theater opened in Jackson Ward that would become the center of African American arts and entertainment in Richmond for the next fifty years. In an officially segregated Richmond, the Hippodrome Theater was one of only a few venues to accommodate the city’s black population. Jackson Ward, known as…

When it comes to fashion, color can be a door to your personality. It reflects individualism and lets you stand out from the crowd. This also applies to your home! When you paint your front door a vibrant, high-gloss color, it adds curb appeal. Did you know that it can…

Are your children among the roughly 600,000 in Virginia who have health insurance through FAMIS or FAMIS Plus?* These are Virginia’s names for the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid, respectively. Or are you among the thousands of Virginia families who purchased a family health insurance plan through…

With winter’s chill still lingering, your ears may be ringing with the echo of “I’m bored!” from the kids. Fill these pre-spring days by encouraging your kids to try a new medium – like pastels. Some parents avoid this medium, which seems daunting, but is actually easy to use and…

As our parents age and begin to worry about losing their homes due to possible future nursing home expenses, they frequently think about deeding their homes to their adult children, feeling that this protects them. However, there are other and more effective ways to plan. Often, the home is the…

How do I help my kids with homework? They are eight and eleven, and at the same elementary school. They truly don’t have that much homework, but it’s a constant struggle at our house.   This is such a good question, and great timing as the distractions of spring are…

Demetrius was thirteen when his spinal cord was injured and his legs were paralyzed in a tragic accident. He spent eighteen months in the hospital, and from there, was placed in the foster care system. With much determination and the support of a loving foster mother, he became the first…

Take a deep breath – a really deep breath with an exhale that makes you say, “Aah!” Deep breaths and fresh air can do a body good. However, the reality is fresh air is not available for all kids. Nationwide, between 2011 and 2012, the CDC reported that two out…

Vegetable and Egg Fried Rice Heat a large skillet or wok over medium high heat. Remove from heat, and coat with cooking spray. Return the skillet to the burner, and add 2 lightly beaten eggs, turning the pan to coat it with a thin layer of eggs. Cook 30 seconds,…