October 2010

This year, the Blue Ridge Parkway marks its seventy-fifth anniversary. Generations of visitors have made annual fall pilgrimages along this scenic 470-mile span to view the changing colors of the autumn leaves. The Parkway’s beauty is only one aspect of its allure. From north to south, Virginia’s section of the…

There were twice as many parents as teenagers in the room, light streaming through a Palladian window at one end. We were huddled with our kids, coaching them to the last minute on what questions to ask the alumni liaison about how to get into the University of Virginia. It…

Party planning is in my blood. My mother was a mastermind who could bring any theme to life. Luau. Hoedown. Olympics. When I turned five, she transformed our house into Oz, complete with a yellow brick road. My grandmother even joined in the festivities, sewing a Dorothy costume for me…

It’s been forty years since I last laid eyes on him. Now here he is, tumbling out from between the pages of an old book I’ve brought down from the attic. Untouched and undisturbed all this time, my old Bart Starr football trading card shows the great Green Bay Packers…

I come from quiet stock. Subsequently, my children are, well, quiet kids. They raise the occasional ruckus, but like their mom before them they are encouraged to raise it outside - on the field of play, for example. They don’t “run through the house,” and the saying “boys will be…

A few years back, we were so completely consumed with life – attending back-to-school nights, planning Halloween costumes, working on a parenting magazine, managing a myriad of important fall commitments – that we just forgot about our wedding anniversary. It wasn’t even a blip on the radar. “Hmmm,” my husband…

I am so excited that it’s October. There are tons of fun fall things to do all month long – AND it’s Richmond Family Magazine’s anniversary! You know, even though we’ve been doing this for a while now, I still find it hard to believe that Miss “I’m Never Having…

Whose birthday is it anyway? Get the kids involved in treat prep and suddenly, everyone’s having more fun. When you think about it, isn’t getting ready for the big day the best part?   What you need: Box cake mix, plus ingredients to prepare mix 1 can vanilla frosting Chewy…

Joanie Bache says nearly half of the city of Richmond’s elementary school summer students reported having no books at home last year “What happens when a kindergartener can’t speak in complete sentences, identify colors, or show the self-control needed to listen to a story?” asks Bache, executive program director for…

1. Pork Tenderloin with Caramelized Apples Combine ¼ cup Dijon mustard, 2 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tsp dried rosemary, ½ tsp salt and a dash of pepper in a bowl. Brush over 1 lb trimmed pork tenderloin. Place on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 425°F for…

Q: Can you recommend a good discipline strategy for 10-year-olds? A: Yes, in one word: consequences.When parents are first trying to diffuse temper tantrums and other toddler and preschool misbehavior, the positive language of “choice” is very effective. With an older child, that same language of “choice” becomes natural and…

Last year’s outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus resulted in the first flu pandemic in over 40 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 33 flu-related deaths a day occurred from the spread of this highly contagious virus, with the majority of the deaths occurring…