Richmond Family Magazine November/December 2025 Cover

In this issue:

In this issue, meet The Holderness Family! Plus, tour Feed More’s new facility and learn how they’re combatting hunger across Central Virginia. Plus, your RVA holiday planner!

Keepin’ It Real with the Holderness Family

University of Virginia (UVA) alum Penn Holderness and his wife Kim are the very definition of authentic, whether they are appearing on The Amazing Race, posting a musical parody on social media, or bantering with one another in a sketch comedy skit. Their combined creativity, talent, and love of family…

Feed More: Spreading Help and Hope

Did you know that more than 165,000 people in Central Virginia are food insecure? That means that many of our neighbors are struggling to access healthy food for themselves and their families. Perhaps they've just been laid off, they’ve become unhoused, or they simply don’t have the funds to buy…

A Holiday Weekend in RVA

Every city has its own way of celebrating the holidays, but Richmond’s traditions are something special. Growing up in Richmond, some of my favorite childhood memories are rooted in holiday traditions – from watching the Richmond Grand Illumination (now RVA Illuminates) and driving around town on a tacky light tour…

Save on Your Winter Heating Bill

Home is certainly where the heart is. And when it’s cold outside, it’s also where the heat is! To keep your home warm, cozy, and comfortable this winter — while keeping an eye on your heating bill — focus on making sure your home is energy efficient. The more heat…

SOUL Aerial's Alice in Wonderland

Travel down the Cirque rabbit hole January 9-11, 2026, at Carpenter Theatre and experience SOUL Aerial’s Alice in Wonderland as never seen before! The full-scale aerial cirque production will take you on Alice's journey through Wonderland and into her deepest dreams, only to wake and realize it was all just a dream. With…

Holiday Magic

As a kid, the holidays were my favorite time of year. Every Thanksgiving, I eagerly arose to watch the Macy’s parade, help my mom bake pies, and answer the phone by saying, “Happy Turkey Day!” Our home was the gathering place for friends and family, and I loved the anticipation…

Coffee With...Sara Moncrieff

Nothing makes me happier than spending quality time visiting with the friends I've made in our community through my work as founder of Richmond Family Magazine, and this friend is truly one of RVA's shining stars. If you haven't met Sara, be sure to come out to one of Puritan…

RFM Bookshelf: Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen

RFM team members share books they have enjoyed. Maybe you will, too! Michelle Icard’s Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen was going to be required reading in our family. We’ve embarked on the path of requisite upper elementary and middle school milestones, and I’ve found that this read offers plenty of…

Living Roots

I was mowing the backyard today, listening to the local Sunday broadcast when several songs came on that reminded me of middle school, specifically jumping off a diving board and wishing I had a girlfriend. The song in particular was by The Thompson Twins. I didn’t know the name of…

Nature Self-Portrait

Materials Wood slab (or paper, cardboard, or the ground) Picnic blanket Bag to collect treasures Scissors Glue stick or liquid glue Small mirror (or a camera on selfie-mode) Nature objects (sticks, rocks, leaves, flowers, etc.) Instructions Put your shoes on, grab a bag for your treasures, and head outside! On…

Wintertime Tales

Little Reindeer to Yours! by Willow GreenIllustrated by Gisela BohórquezAges 0-2 Learn about the life cycle of a reindeer in this adorable rhyming board book. These reindeer don’t fly or have shiny noses, but the illustrations and rhyming scheme will keep your little one entertained. The Big Cheese Presents: Have…

Infant Influenza

Here we go again! It’s the time of year for holiday fun, family time, and, unfortunately in some cases, the flu. If you have a baby joining in the festivities this year, they’re likely to be the center of attention in their adorable holiday best. With that in mind, you’ll…

Shop Safe This Holiday Season

Each year, as shoppers eagerly search for the perfect holiday gifts, scammers devise cunning schemes to exploit the spirit of giving for their own nefarious gains. With the increase in online purchases and charitable donations this time of year, it’s important to stay vigilant against deceitful tactics designed to target…

Spectacles in the Sky

When you look up at the sky this fall and winter, there’s plenty to see: stars, planets, phases of the moon, and more. But with the right timing and knowing what to look for, Virginians can also spot meteor showers throughout the late fall months. These celestial events can be…

Managing the Motherload

As a mom of two and founder of a personal assistant company that helps women and families, I know firsthand that a family’s calendar can make or break your day and your mood. One wrong move – from forgetting picture day to missing a popular camp registration – and the…

Hectic Holidays

Q. The holidays are supposed to be fun, but honestly, I'm stressed out trying to do it all – gifts, family, decorations, baking, outings, school stuff, the whole thing. How do other parents keep it together and actually enjoy this time of year? A. As a parent, you are the…

Worthdays

When 15-year-old Chloe moved to her ninth foster care placement just before the holidays last year, she didn’t expect much. The foster family she was placed with didn’t celebrate holidays, and her November birthday in years prior had quietly passed without acknowledgement. But thanks to Worthdays, a Richmond-based nonprofit, Chloe…

Perfect Party Pairings

Healthy Sweet Potato CasseroleServes 16 Ingredients8 cups sweet potatoes (about 4 large potatoes)1 cup canned coconut milk, light or regular¼ cup maple syrup¼ cup coconut oil, melted1 tablespoon ground flaxseed1 teaspoon vanilla1 teaspoon cinnamon½ teaspoon sea salt½ teaspoon freshly grated or ground nutmeg Toppings:½ cup brown sugar or coconut sugar½…

The Season for Celebrations

The holiday season is once again upon us, but as I type this a couple of weeks before you’ll see it, I’m still in the midst of a different family celebration – my mom’s 90th birthday! The day itself was filled with family and joy and presents and cake and…