September 2018

Starting your own business takes resilience, creativity, and hard work – especially when your business is all about working the land! What can make it or break it is a firm commitment to the concept, labor that’s free (at first), and family support. The kind of support that keeps your…

As morning co-anchor for NBC12, Sarah Bloom is used to getting up hours before the sun peeks over the horizon. She’s usually at work around three-thirty in the morning. But right now, it’s not her job at the station that is demanding her attention during the wee hours of the…

As a true South of the James girl (shout-out to Chester!), I have long appreciated the history that Petersburg – just a short drive down I-95 from Richmond – has to offer. Known for its pivotal Civil War battles, visiting history buffs can have their fill of its historical richness.…

When you’re pregnant, a very large share of your energy is expended getting ready for the baby: doing nursery things, choosing a pediatrician, lining up childcare, and maybe – if you have the time and resources – taking classes about labor and delivery, breastfeeding, and baby care. Of course, this…

by Tarah and Damon Harris Going into business with anyone is risky. But when that business partner is your spouse, there is a whole new level of risk. No matter the business, happiness in your home life must be a constant bottom-line goal. I’ve been married to my husband for…

It’s not an exact science. There is no formal certification. But I can tell you that the path to my current status as duly recognized poopologist was long and arduous, requiring years of study, an abundance of patience, and also a hard-earned tolerance for all-out grossness that will stay with…

Raise your hand if you failed to accomplish all of your summer bucket list items! Yeah, me too. You know what they say about the road to… well, you know. The summer starts off slowly enough, but boy, by the time the Fourth of July rolls around, it seems like…

In May of 1927, Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo flight across the ocean. The 3,500-mile trip from Long Island to Paris – made without radar or radio – took him thirty-three and a half hours. Later that year, on a flying tour of the United States, his seventieth stop…

Last month, I marked the twentieth year of my career in medicine. In 1998, I moved to Richmond to enroll at what was then known as the Medical College of Virginia. In addition to the name of Virginia’s renowned medical school, many other things have changed. Topics that hardly received…

Since the early 2010s, screen use has increased significantly with the rise of smartphones and similar digital tech that enables easy access to entertainment media, such as the Internet, social media, video games, and online movies and videos. Because of the portability of these devices and their addictive qualities, their use…

Have you ever wondered how the federal government decides to divide funds among the states for institutions and crucial programs that help children live healthy, happy lives? To allocate funds to programs like Head Start, public schools, health insurance coverage, and nutrition, complex formulas are used that depend on knowing…

Does your investment strategy primarily consist of listening to that guy at your kid’s game who brags loudly about his genius stock picks? Let’s face it – there is something undeniably appealing about the idea of picking individual stocks and striking it rich. I mean, who doesn’t like to daydream…

Until recently, when China stopped accepting certain commodities such as mixed paper because of what they deemed poor quality, the country was the largest importer of recyclable material in the world. In fact, nearly all of the paper and cardboard collected in Central Virginia for recycling was marketed to paper…

Kids love making music and making music-makers! Here’s a simple project with staying power that might make a fun gift for friends and cousins. What you need: • Jar lid • Rubber bands • Duct tape • Scissors • Wide popsicle stick • Washi tape (similar to masking tape)  …

Two years ago, the Starke family was living in Singapore, and mom Arpie and the kids, Mary Mac and Thomas, were visiting friends and family back in their hometown of Richmond for the summer. Keen Starke remained in Singapore for work, but traveled back to RVA for a few weeks…

Since our first breath at birth, most of us have taken for granted that our breathing is normal and healthy. However, how we breathe can have significant consequences for our health, including dental disease, poor sleep, and, where our children are concerned, changes in the growth and development of the…

Reaching into your pantry and grabbing an old jar of dried herbs to top off that special dish you created can quickly muddle your mood. When you opt for fresh herbs, you boost your positive cooking energy and your nutrient intake while adding tons of flavor. The good news is…