About four years ago, I found myself completely drained. I was juggling the intense demands of raising a young child while navigating a high-stress job during COVID. Now, when anxiety arises I’ve learned how powerful it is to pause, breathe, and reflect on what truly matters. Reconnecting with my values has been a game-changer, offering a sense of grounding and empowerment that I strive to pass along to the women I work with.

Trigger warning: this article contains personal details of pregnancy loss.

The first time, they called it a “chemical.” A chemical? I had a positive pregnancy test, which for me was so much more than just that — I had calculated the expected due date, wondered the baby’s gender, even added a few more names to the ever-growing list on my phone’s notepad. It was hard moving forward, but we did. We always did. 

With chlorine, sun and salt water no longer wreaking havoc on our manicures, we’re all in for rocking some new nail looks this fall. Our hands are an extension of our daily look/vibe/mood and keep us feeling polished (pun intended) during the fall madness. While we’ve been out and about in Old Town, we couldn’t help but notice the vast range of shades and styles displayed on our friends’ hands. So we asked our contributors to share the fall hues they’re loving:

The temps are cooling and those beautiful autumn days are coming. While fall is full of festivals, apple picking and harvests, we do love to squeeze in a day trip to a winery or two…or more. We asked our contributors to share their faves within driving distance of Alexandria.

For many women, this sense of mental overstimulation is particularly pronounced, affecting their daily lives, mental health, and overall well-being. It’s like trying to juggle flaming torches while walking on a tightrope—except the torches are actually emails, chores, and endless “what’s for dinner?” queries.

While we commonly see celebs sharing what’s in their purse – we prefer to know what’s in the bag you’re toting to the pool and beach, because we inevitably always forget something! So we asked our contributors to share what’s stowed in theirs.

While we've been cruising around Old Town – walking, shopping, attending openings – we’ve also been checking out each other’s nails. We asked our contributors to share the summer hues they’re loving; see if any of these shades work for you.

Beyond the baby showers and Instagram-worthy moments lies a complex reality—a reality where many mothers struggle with feelings of anxiety, depression, inadequacy and overwhelm.

As someone who has navigated years of infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss, and as a therapist helping others through similar struggles, I understand the overwhelming impact it can have on your life.