It’s always such a gift to be included in an exhibit with other artists. There's a sense of community, creativity and appreciation for each other and our life’s passion. When Carrie Garland, a dear friend and owner of Nepenthe Art Gallery, approached me about being in the More Moments of Art exhibit at George Washington’s River Farm, I was beyond excited.

As a small business owner for more than 21 years there is one thing I know for sure, the only reason we’re still around is because of our amazing customers. The women who have supported us and kept our doors open for the last two decades have become our friends and we know a going-out-of-business sign would have been hung in our door many years ago if it weren’t for their loyalty. So stop by this weekend and grab some treats, special discounts, prizes and extra loyalty points to go towards your future purchases.

When Dr. Rina Bansal, President of Inova Alexandria Hospital and SVP of Inova Health Systems, joins us, she’s a vision in blue. She exudes confidence and rocks thick, high heels with ease – but I do notice the comfy pair of Rothy’s loafers nearby. “Burnout in healthcare is a huge problem,” she shares. “We want our people working in an environment focused on their wellbeing, as well as the patients.”

How much time, energy, and money are you willing or able to invest in expressing yourself through your hair—whether that’s color, cuts, or styling? For clients returning to office life or needing more streamlined appointments, we now have options like 10-minute permanent color processing to cover silver strands. You can have your hair cut and colored in about an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. Did you even know that was possible?

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been on a tariff international press tour. Toys have been the biggest topic, but I get to speak about how it affects all our local businesses. I have been interviewed twice and those stories appeared on ABC World News and Good Morning America and NBC Washington and NBC Nightly News. This is clearly a complicated global issue that is getting a lot of attention. I want to bring it to the local level and give it a bit of context.

What’s that old axiom – if you want something done, do it yourself? The retailers in Old Town started Plaid Friday, The Alexandria Sidewalk Sale, The Alexandria Warehouse Sale and Alexandria Stylebook, and now we are adding a new spring event to the mix: The Old Town Spring Fling. There are 30 stores that are participating and each one has a special event or trunk show they’re hosting.

This basement renovation is part of a full-home project with a dynamic family that lives, hosts, and celebrates with intention. Their home is a revolving door of energy—kids, neighbors, colleagues, and book club friends—and this lower level was designed to keep up with it all while reflecting their fearless love of color and thoughtful design.

Situated along the most prestigious street in Old Town Alexandria—within one of the nation's most historic and desirable neighborhoods—River Row comprises six newly constructed, LEED Silver-certified residences. Each four-level home offers a rare combination of timeless architecture, innovative engineering, and a premier location—with no HOA or condominium fees.

In art, as in life, the idea of starting over often feels like failure. A false line. A bad decision. A misstep. Something to be hidden or corrected, preferably without anyone noticing. But what if we reframe erasure, not as a sign of weakness or regret, but as a deliberate, even powerful creative act? What if starting over is not the undoing of progress but an essential part of the process itself?

In the world of interior design and retail curation, finding truly one-of-a-kind pieces is like striking gold. For many designers and store owners, like Patina Polished Living, the challenge lies not in spotting what’s beautiful—but in finding what no one else has. Sourcing unique pieces isn’t as easy as it once was. Markets are saturated with reproductions and look-alikes. What our clients and customers crave are those unexpected gems.

When it comes to thriving through perimenopause and beyond, we often focus on hormones, hot flashes, and the occasional mood swing that could take down a small village. But there’s one topic that deserves more of the spotlight: strength training, especially when it comes to protecting your spine.

Getting yourself to the gym is a huge positive step toward better health and a stronger you. However, navigating the gym itself can be intimidating and deflating – especially when you get started. So I’m sharing three things that I recommend to all of my clients when they’re working on getting more comfortable at the gym.

When it comes to what brands we carry at The Hive, the decisions aren’t always easy. It’s a bit of a puzzle that we put together in advance of each season. The brand Closed sent so many great styles, both denim and great pants, along with some cute shirting and sweaters. It’s a great brand and we’re hoping we can get enough support for it to keep it on our shelves long-term. Come check it out!

When I catch up with Drew, he’s walking Honey, his one-year-old Goldendoodle. I can hear the wind whipping as he shares, “I don’t get a lot of free moments…dog walks are how I destress. Otherwise, I distract myself with work and that’s like kicking the can down the road.” So he walks and talks to get out and grab some air. Understood, because he is head-down, working, working, as an entrepreneur and new business owner of Old House Provisions in Old Town. 

When we opened Eries Interiors last September, our vision was clear: to create a warm, inviting space filled with original art and truly special pieces that make a house feel like home. Whether it's a set of vintage coupe glasses that reminds you of your grandmother’s Sunday suppers, or a hand thrown ceramic bowl that elevates your everyday salad—we want our items to have a story and for you to make them part of yours.

We all remember the sarcastic line from Miranda Priestley in The Devil Wears Prada: “Florals?... for spring? Groundbreaking.” Spring is all about floral dresses, regardless of year. We realized we were missing them because we were missing a customer-favorite line: Banjanan. It has been a few years since we had the line and we’re excited to bring it back. It’s a female-owned brand, which we love to support.

Martha Carucci, Executive Director of the National Breast Center Foundation, is always on the move. In the course of 24 hours, I bumped into her twice – at the Spring2ACTion kickoff event and at The Chamber ALX’s Coffee & Connections. Martha is the type of person that you can instantly open up to, and within minutes I found myself sharing how rattled I was by a friend’s recent diagnosis.

There’s something so special about Easter—it’s a holiday that calls for pastels, florals, and a little extra fabulousness! Whether you're dressing the whole family in coordinated outfits, planning a stunning solo look, or hosting with a tablescape that feels like something straight out of a dream, this Easter is the time to bring back the joy of getting dressed up.

Sometimes I wonder why of all the cool clothes to wear, I prefer a t-shirt, everyday. While I could go on about all of the t-shirts I love and how I think it’s important to have a large variety of shapes, weights and colors – you need to go on your own t-shirt journey. It’s a very specific and personal thing. What I will share is how to style a t-shirt in ways that maybe you hadn’t considered. 

It’s no secret that stress affects more than just your mood—it can impact your skin, sleep, and yes, even your hair. If you’ve been noticing more strands in your brush or your ponytail isn’t quite as thick as it used to be, stress-related hair loss might be to blame. The good news? You’re not alone, and Salon deZEN has some expert-backed tips to help you bounce back to healthier, fuller hair.