Thanksgiving arrives next week, officially kicking off the holiday season. We all hold dear our traditions and ways of sharing our gratitude. It may be a turkey trot in the morning, Friendsgiving, dinner out at a local restaurant, hosting family from out-of-town or traveling to visit loved ones. We asked our contributors to share their Thanksgiving traditions and a few also shared their favorite dish.

Thanksgiving is all about family, gratitude, and, of course, food! But who says the menu has to be traditional? If you're ready to break away from turkey and stuffing, here’s a list of unique, mouth-watering dishes that will make this Thanksgiving unforgettable.

My new nose piercing. (Two, actually - septum and nostril, ouch.) I went to Creative Chaos on the suggestion of our booksellers and highly recommend it. I’ve been heartbroken about the recent disregard shown for a woman’s bodily autonomy, so I felt like making a choice about my own was fitting. We’re thinking of having a tattoo and piercing popup in the bookstore in the New Year, because why not? Books + body art, let’s make it a thing. 

It’s an election year, so it felt like a good time to talk about “craftivisim,” a term that was coined in 2014 but describes something that has existed for centuries. In 2014, Betsy Greer coined the term “Craftivism.” In her book, Greer gave a name to the intersection of craft and activism, looking at places where crafters and artists want their work to contribute to the greater good, spark conversation, and signal their activism to the wider world. 

November is the perfect time to do two things when it comes to your finances, especially if you own a business – catch up on your bookkeeping and file your Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report! We are nearing the end of the year and many people find themselves lost in a whirlwind of backlogged bookkeeping. Now is a great time to either get it up to date yourself or hire a bookkeeper to get you caught up for the year so you aren’t stressed out come tax time.

Watching Love is Blind DC as a family law attorney made me cringe over and over again. The thing that bothered me most in terms of legal misconceptions was everyone referring to a “sperm baby” as if it was someone’s legal child. I also personally found the term incredibly offensive. So, let’s go over some basics.

"I wanted a name that captured the charm of a romance bookstore. There are so many cute bookstore names out there—Meet Cute could have been an option, but it was taken in San Diego. I wanted something that invites the idea of friendship, like going to a book club with your friends. When you think of love and friendship, that's the vibe I wanted to create for this space."

One of the things I often think about at Alexandria Classical Christian Academy is what level of independence is appropriate to give children. Especially, when our top responsibility is to keep children safe. It’s because of this commitment that we’ve approached the two matters with a bit of independent thinking in the current school landscape: technology and outdoor time. 

One of the hardest things for a young artist is finding your own voice. I wanted drama in my work—and life, as it happened, provided plenty. Going through a divorce was that pivotal moment, opening a well of raw emotion. During this time, I painted a series of self-portraits from a mirror, capturing a pain that pushed me deeper into myself than I’d ever been.

“I’m not an extrovert, I had to develop it, I was the bookworm, the youngest in a big, boisterous family,” says Stephanie Woodland Kelly. “I have five brothers and a sister. When I got to college I had to learn how to develop those skills. I’m glad there were no mobile phones back then. The mistakes I made…it wasn’t a big deal.” 

After more than 20 years of photo adventuring on the go, I am beyond excited to have a physical space of my own! It was my heart’s desire to open my photography studio in Alexandria at 7946 Fort Hunt Road. The launch of the studio coincided perfectly with a major family milestone—we signed the lease on the very day of my husband's retirement from the US Navy after 26 years of service.

The Family First Law Group has some new faces to share. We’re joining forces with Natalie Page and the Life & Estate Law Planning Center! We’re so excited to have a new partner coming onboard and with so much amazing experience with life planning. We also have a new associate, Ford Morrison!

As Thanksgiving looms for the Sandwich Generation, many of us find ourselves not just celebrating with our families, but also navigating the complexities of change for aging parents. This Thanksgiving, consider using the occasion to have meaningful conversations with your parents. Here are some topics and tips to guide your discussions, making the most of this special time together.

I first met Ana at an evening event at American in Paris. Her long, shiny black hair caught my eye and I enviously asked if it was naturally straight or if she had to blow dry, flatiron and put a ton of product in it like me. She smiled and said “blow dryer,” but I knew that she was just born lucky with great hair. When Renée and I arrived for her Street Style shoot, we knew she needed little direction, she carries herself with incredible style and grace.

As the seasons change, so do the trends in wedding planning. I've found it surprising that these past few years, at my restaurant, Hummingbird, winter weddings have emerged as the new choice for couples looking to create a unique and enchanting celebration. Scanning through photos shared by outstanding photographers, I found some compelling reasons why winter weddings are becoming the new, hot thing.

I’ve been trying to tell people that there are more single women than ever before. Finally, this statistic is popping up all over: 45% of women 25-44 are projected to be single by 2030. Read that again. This reflects how our world has shifted socioeconomically, and legally. So what does the Sheconomy mean for us ladies legally?

We probably get a question about meal deductions every single day. In this post we cover a few of the most common, like: Can I write off my morning coffee? Do I need to keep receipts for my business meals? Wait, are meals only 50% deductible or 100% deductible? When it comes to business deductions, the FIRST question you need to ask yourself is: Is this an ordinary and necessary expense for conducting my business?

Year after year, students auditioned for the team with little to no dance experience, feeling discouraged after the first day and not returning. Those who did come back, despite their uncertainty, often grew to become some of the strongest dancers on the team. Gennifer knew that these students needed a supportive environment and access to arts education, which led her to create ArtSpireVa. 

When I ask Tristan what he’s really enjoyed learning about the jewelry business he says it's the mystery of estate jewelry. He says it’s one of the most popular and browsed upon cases – because everything inside is so unique. He also loves the possibilities that come with redesigning pieces and family heirlooms, so that future generations can wear a piece of their family history.

My friend Michele of Meant To Be Calligraphy and I have been sitting on a big secret for over a year.  Last year about this time – actually, it was the day of Doggie Trick or Treat! – we closed Penny Post for the day and Michele taught a private brush lettering class for Love Is Blind’s (now favorite) couple, Taylor and Garrett. You can see it all unfold in Episode 10 (around the 21 min. mark) of this season!