Milestones, like holidays, are a reason for friends and family to gather. This past summer, in honor of my mother’s seventieth birthday, sixteen members of my family traveled to Italy, our Motherland. Renting a Tuscan villa and visiting the city my mother’s family had emigrated from had been two items…

When Richmond hosted the UCI Road World Championships in 2015, fans came from far and near to cheer on cycling teams from around the globe. Crystal Trent, a special education teacher from Glen Allen, and her 14-year-old daughter, Emily (above), were among them. Inspired by Emily’s dad, who had been…

Being a mother is a lifelong adventure with rewards that can’t be measured. This month, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, we asked three Richmond women to share their thoughts on the wonderful, dutiful, and sometimes stressful juggling act that is motherhood. Lisa Freiman “It’s intense to juggle schedules and family.”…

Don’t you just love a big family wedding? “Absolutely!” says my nephew, when the minister asks if he takes this woman to be his lawfully wedded wife. His answer is loud and clear, and the entire assembly chuckles softly and smiles broadly at his optimism. My nephew is named after…

Bad parent confession: We have never visited New York City as a family. Full disclosure: This bothers me more than it does my husband. With three children separated in age by six years, top to bottom, taking a bite out of the NYC apple felt like more than I could…

Now don’t you go laughing. I picked these out myself. And I think I look pretty good in them, too. The casual fit, the no-nonsense cut, the dapper shade of blue. Just because I’m a man of a certain age doesn’t mean I still don’t have it going on. But…

Egg and Greens Bowl 2 to 3 teaspoons avocado oil or olive oil 2 to 3 eggs 1/4 cup chopped red onion 2 to 3 cups baby greens (spinach, kale, or your favorite green) 1/2 cup roasted cauliflower or roasted sweet potatoes 1/3 avocado, sliced Microgreens Fresh dill Sea salt…

Collagraphs are handmade printing plates – usually assembled on cardboard – made from artfully arranged materials. Artists varnish the collagraph plates and let them dry. Then they ink them, and press paper to the surface to create a print. Let’s give it a shot! What you need: • Cardboard (the…

Things disappear when my 13-year-old son’s friend visits our house, and I don’t know how to handle it. I am convinced this boy is stealing things from our home. I’m talking about little things, but it only happens when he is visiting. He and my son are very good friends.…

“Mommy, that man on the corner is homeless. Can we help him?” It is common for children to be curious about homelessness and panhandlers, as it can be hard to imagine that someone does not have a permanent place to live, regular access to meals, or a steady income. Many…

Strawberry and Asparagus Salad Wash 5 ounces of spinach, and place in a large family-style bowl. Cut 6 spears of the asparagus into 1-in pieces, slice 1 cup strawberries, chop 2 tablespoons cilantro, and measure out ¼ cup pine nuts. In a small skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon…

No matter how on top of things you are, even the best-laid plans can go off the rails. And when they do, things can get a little chaotic. Almost everyone has felt disorganized sometimes. While tough times like dealing with an illness, a loss, or living through a renovation are…

In the days when it wasn’t considered proper to work or earn money, widowhood or other circumstances in which men weren’t in the picture might have forced women to choose between survival and respectability. In the years after the Civil War, the large number of widows prompted twenty-one women from…

Creating a garden that attracts pollinators is beneficial for the ecosystem and fun for families. Plus, few things are as rewarding as watching a butterfly light on a flower or a bumblebee lumber from blossom to blossom. Pollinators require specific elements in the landscape to thrive. The basic needs are…

Late one Tuesday afternoon, in a stuffy committee room filled with lobbyists and legislators on the ninth floor of the General Assembly building, an enthusiastic voice rang out: “Woo-hoo for the bill!” Needless to say, this is not the type of testimony the budget-writing legislators are used to hearing. But…