As we wrap up 2025, we’re taking a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate the moments that made this year memorable. From personal milestones to business wins and community impact, 2025 reminded us that progress often comes in many forms.

Every December, we press play on the same beloved holiday films, partly for the stories, but just as much for the homes. The twinkling lights in the windows. The staircases made for grand entrances (or dramatic exits). The kitchens where chaos, comfort, and Christmas collide. Long after the final scene fades, it’s often these houses that stay with us, becoming as iconic as the characters themselves.

In my studio, I meet folks who are new to town almost every week. After we chat for a bit, I usually ask them: Did you know how great this town was before you moved here, or did you just luck into it? It’s never a question of whether they like it here, of course they do, the real question is whether they came here because they knew this town was great, or lucked into it?

Shopping for the person who already has it all calls for a different kind of gift—the kind that feels thoughtful, unexpected, and a little unforgettable. This guide is all about experiences, heirloom-worthy pieces, and meaningful luxuries.

Holiday travel with children is stressful, and we frequently receive panicked calls from parents who’ve been stopped and questioned because they don’t have the right paperwork. This holiday season, as you pack gifts and coordinate travel plans, add legal documents to your checklist. It’s one gift to yourself that costs nothing but provides priceless peace of mind.

Shopping for the men in your life can feel impossible, so we pulled together a guide that actually makes it easy. Whether he’s into style, gadgets, travel or the little luxuries he’d never buy for himself, this list has something that’ll make him light up. From practical upgrades to splurge-worthy treats, consider this your go-to cheat sheet for gifts he’ll actually use, appreciate and maybe even brag about later.

Tis the season to shower the people you love with, well, love. And gifts. In this hurried season it can be difficult to wrap your head around what to give someone. Even for me, someone who’s made a living on gift giving. I wanted to share some quick advice that I hope will make things easier for you.

Last week a client stopped by asking if I had anything available for $500 or less. I told her I didn’t—until she pointed to that forgotten stack and asked if she could look through it. That’s when I realized I actually do. She ended up buying two pieces. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to collect one of my studies, this is it.

We’re endlessly inspired by the women in our lives. They are busy, brilliant, generous, and juggling more than most will ever know. Whether she needs rest, rejuvenation, or a little everyday luxury, these gifts deliver something she’ll truly love, and absolutely never re-gift.

Celebrate the season right here in our own backyard! From vintage treasures to handcrafted pastries, world-class art, and the friendliest neighborhood shops around, Hollin Hall has everything you need to make the holidays meaningful—and delightfully local. Meet the people and places that make this community shine.

We've all been there: standing in a store, scrolling through endless products, trying to find the perfect gift for someone who already has everything they need, or a best friend who insists she doesn't want anything. This holiday season, what if you could skip giving anxiety altogether and have confidence that you are giving something meaningful? There’s a wonderfully heartwarming gift that can make a tangible difference in our world:  a donation to a local nonprofit.

One thing I’ve learned: the most powerful tool in the studio isn’t a brush, charcoal, or even perfect light. It’s the ability to walk away. Stepping back isn’t quitting. It’s discipline. And it may be the hardest skill an artist ever learns.

After hosting hundreds of celebrations across the city, I know what truly makes a corporate party a success: warmth, efficiency and a touch of effortless style. This year, let’s rethink the calendar and the clock.

This Thanksgiving, consider starting a conversation that matters. Learn why the holiday table may be the perfect moment to talk with your parents about wills, medical directives, and the documents that protect your family when it counts most.

We tapped two of our local wellness experts, Sara Acheson of Athena Wellness and Jennifer Szymanski of Vitality-Led Health, to share their perspectives on proactive, whole-body care — from supporting patients through cancer treatment to healing chronic skin conditions from within.

I am sure you can imagine that your local wool shop gets a bit giddy when sweater weather finally arrives. This season, we love seeing “high pile” textures in knits at our local boutiques and on runways – lots of fuzz, floof, fringe and fur! Oversized fuzzy and furry garments were all over runways for fall and winter, and Mohair in particular is having its moment again.

Who else can’t believe we’re almost at the end of 2025?! November is the unofficial kickoff for year-end prep here at Moneta Accounting Solutions, and one of the things we’re turning our focus to is 1099s!

Every parent wants their child to succeed. But as the pressure mounts—for full schedules, packed curricula, polished transcripts, and strong test scores—many families are beginning to pause and ask a quieter, more important question this admissions season: What makes a school truly good?

As Margaret O’Meara Douglas transitions into full-time sales, she’s opening up her playbook. Today’s Real Estate Terms 101 dives into the Home Sale Contingency—a powerful tool she’s recently used to guide buyers through selling and purchasing with confidence.

 Meet Stephanie Bibighaus, the new Executive Director at The Alexandria Police Foundation — and a woman who’s turned personal loss into purpose. From her Pentagon days to championing K-9 heroes, Stephanie reminds us that style, service, and heart often go hand in hand.