This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.

This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Roxy Rose, a Pomeranian who is new to the area.

Here is what Roxy Rose’s owner, Noelle, had to say about her:

Roxy Rose (aka Foxy Roxy) is a full breed Pomeranian and new to the Reston area. She is 3 months old this week, and the only dog to her parents Noelle & Andy.

Roxy loves the outdoor scene of Reston, and is eager now that spring is in the air and the flowers are in bloom to start hitting the many trails of Reston to start exploring and making new friends.

On the weekends you can find Roxy Rose at the local North Point shopping center Starbucks enjoying a Puppachino and rocking her latest new posh puppy outfit. You can also follow her adventures on Instagram @roxyrosefromreston!

This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Contact Anna at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook and Twitter.

As we adjust to losing an hour, many are enjoying mother nature’s extra hour of natural light outside.

Now if we could just capture the sun and bring that light inside somehow? Thankfully, the Romans in the 13th century BC figured out that if they placed unglazed openings in their roofs, it allowed the sun to come in during the daytime.

Through years of innovation and creativity adding the right type of windows can maximize the amount of natural light in your kitchen or bathroom. So, what are our top picks of windows that offer most natural light?

Picture Windows —  If you want your home to have a large open feeling and a great view, we recommend picture windows with no grids.

Picture windows come in contemporary and modern designs. The one drawback is they do not open, so if you love views, sunlight, and fresh air from all your windows, keep reading some of the other options.

Double Hung Windows — The double hung window is considered the most classic. They are made to be easy to open, even while leaning over a counter to do it. They come in a variety of grid styles.

Garden Windows — Do you like to grow your fresh herbs? Alternatively, do you want to show off the work of your green thumb? The Garden Window may be for you. It bumps out so it can display your favorite greenery and gives you extra light from the roof of the window.

Casement Windows — If you love fresh air and can not get enough of it, these windows are for you. The best part about casement windows you can open them as wide as you want because they open outwards, which allows you not to lose any space in your kitchen.

Bay Windows — If you love a bit of sunlight while you are enjoying your morning coffee, the bay window is for you. It brings in lots of light into a kitchen or breakfast area. If they are placed low enough, they can have bench seating below it.

Built-in Window Treatments — Not all of us have the best views, but still want to enjoy sunlight, while having privacy at the end of the day. The best options are to use windows that have built-in window shades.

You can lower these from the top to give you the privacy you want while keeping the sunlight from the top. Having the shade built into the window will eliminate the shade from getting dirty and worn out.

***Please note your window selection may not comply with your HOA regulations, so always check with them first before deciding on the right window for your home.

This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.

Meet Avalanche, a Great Pyrenees available for adoption locally.

Here is what his friends at Safe Haven Puppy Rescue have to say about him:

This is Avalanche, a gorgeous Great Pyrenees boy who is just approaching two years old and weighs in at about 105 pounds. He’s a sweet and gentle giant though, loving and affectionate and even well behaved with very small dogs like our office JRT.

This stunning dog (and his sister Winter by the way) would love nothing better than a family of his own so he can share his oversize store of love. We’re confident that either of these two beautiful dogs will make great companions for their adopters.

Unusually attractive dogs like Avalanche go fast, so please send your application on in pronto so you don’t miss out. He is up to date on all shots and dewormings, has been neutered and carries an adoption fee of $349 which includes his micro chip.

This extremely friendly fella is going to bring lots of joy to some lucky adopters, so don’t delay.

Are you and Avalanche a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.

Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?

Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.

Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.

This is a sponsored post from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. For a more complete picture of home sales in your neighborhood, contact her on Reston Real Estate.

Urban planning and architectural students study Reston, VA for a reason — some of Reston’s early designs were groundbreaking.

Hickory Cluster, the first development in Reston, is one. Designed by the famous architect Charles Goodman, they represent why Goodman’s early designs changed the way developments were planned.

Architectural historian Elizabeth Jo Lample noted in Housing Washington, “The appeal of living in a Goodman house is enormous to those who share his avant-garde spirit, plus his ideals for openness, engagement with nature and liberal social values… To those who are fortunate enough to obtain them, his dwellings feel like highly livable works of art, glazed conduits to the natural world.”

One of Goodman’s trademarks is the way he used the land.

In Hickory Cluster, he arranged groups of townhouses around intricately paved terraces, which in turn are leveled into a wooded hilltop. Overlooking Lake Anne Village Center, the Hickory Cluster townhomes features sharp changes in the rooflines, varying sizes and contrasting textures.

The homes come in a variety of designs with 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms, rooftop terraces, balconies, playrooms, private studies, family rooms and recreation rooms.

The cluster backs up to Reston Association path and is just a short walk to Lake Anne, Reston Town Center and Lake Anne Elementary School. The Reston Station, Silver Line Metrorail, is a five minute drive and Dulles International Airport is within 15 minutes by car.

Charles Goodman also designed Hollin Hills, a single family home development in Alexandria VA. For an up close look at Hollin Hills be sure to check out the Hollin Hills House and Garden Tour this April 28th.

Like Hickory Cluster these homes have stood the test of time with spaces that feel just as relevant today as they did more than 50 years ago.

Visit the Hickory Cluster website to learn more about this historic, and beautiful, Reston community.

The most booked restaurant in the Nation on Open Table is opening their latest restaurant at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station.

Founding Farmers Reston has something for everyone.

Their full-service restaurant and bar is open seven days a week serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and a decadent Farmers Market Buffet Brunch on weekends. The restaurant’s beautiful design, comfortable spaces and original art are worth the trip alone. Reserve your table today.

You could also stop by their Founding Farmers First Bake Café, located within the restaurant, for freshly-made Grab & Go goodies.

• Get your day going with a quick and healthy breakfast.
• Quench your thirst with a farm health fresh-pressed juice.
• Grab a dozen donuts and a carton of their specialty-roasted Compass Coffee to share with everyone at the office.
• Enjoy an afternoon treat with a fresh-baked cookie or their house-churned ice cream.

As a farmer-owned restaurant, almost all of Founding Farmers food and drink – even the Founding Spirits, made in their DC distillery and used in their cocktails – is made from scratch, using high-quality ingredients from American family farms.

Make your way over to Reston Station to see all that Founding Farmers has to offer.

Written by Mina Fies, Synergy Design & Construction

The #1 complaint I hear from homeowners is that their previous project took much longer than expected.

Working in the design and construction industry for years, I believe one of the biggest mistakes renovation companies make is not providing a clear timeline and plan to homeowners before construction begins.

Here’s a few questions to ask potential remodeling companies to ensure they’ve got the ability (and capacity) to get your project completed on-time:

• What is a “typical” project size for your company?
• How often do you take on projects like mine?
• How many projects do you have going on at one time?
• Do you provide a timeline for completion of my project?
• How will you ensure my project will come in on time and on budget?

Our featured renovation this month is a clean-lined, modern Reston kitchen. Our clients had exacting standards and an eye for details and they chose us because we provided them a clear pathway to the finish line (which we call our Renovation Roadmap™).

We use it to help make all design selections and provide the exact costs and construction timeline and — the best bit — this eliminates unexpected costs, delays and frustration!

We love helping homeowners like you, even if you don’t pick us as your remodeling partner. Download your free Renovation Roadmap brochure and receive monthly tools and tips on everything design and renovation.

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John V. Berry and Kimberly H. Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Plaza America in Reston that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

While it is not always possible to avoid litigation in employment cases, resolving an employment dispute without litigation, if possible, is strongly recommended and should be considered by both employees and employers.

We have represented both employees and employers and the benefits of resolution usually far outweigh the lengthy litigation process. Some benefits to consider include:

1. Avoid Extended Litigation: We have had employment cases in extended litigation that take between three to six years in the court process.

When going into an employment case, an employee and employer should consider whether it makes sense to litigate these types of cases over such a potentially long period of time.

Usually, employees do not want to have such a long period of uncertainty to their career, and an employer does not want to spend $50,000 to $100,000 (or more) litigating an employment case. Employers can also have similar uncertainties about staffing while a case is pending.

2. Limiting Costs: Extended litigation can cost a lot of money for both employees and employers.

Employees usually pay for these fees out of pocket and employers either pay these fees out of pocket or through increased premiums in their use of insurance defense policies.

Some of our most satisfied clients are those who have decided to resolve their disputes early in the process and save themselves money. They may reach a compromise that is not perfect, but sometimes it is far better than the result of the litigation.

3. No Stress from Discovery: Because we have taken a number of depositions over the years of managers, witnesses and employees, we can tell you that going through the discovery process can take a stressful toll on both employers and employees.

The former employee often undergoes a high level of stress in telling his or her story to an opposing attorney who is looking to disprove their account through questioning.

For employers, it is no better because managers also get stressed about telling the truth while being loyal to the company. Managers also tend to be far less productive at work when they’re under this type of stress.

For both sides, discovery also means going back through emails (sometime work, sometimes personal emails) and other documents and producing them to the other side. Read More

This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Contact Anna at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook and Twitter.

What is it about spring that we are ready to shed the old and have a bit more space, a clean slate if you would?

Most start to think about their “big” spring cleaning as we dream of warmer weather with light breezes and sunny days. As a kitchen designer, I am often brought in this time of year to help create spaces that allow me to help homeowners to declutter and minimize their small kitchen spaces into something that can stay cleaned out year round.

Unlike a home organizer, I look at a home and help homeowners “declutter” or “spring clean” with the types of cabinet choices there are out there. Adding cabinet spaces that have built-in organization capabilities help keep from “disorganization” happening throughout the year, allowing you to more time to go out and enjoy the spring weather.

They are four main ways that help your kitchen clutter-free.

1. Pull-out storage — Did you know you can add 50% more storage from adding pull-out cabinetry? Other benefits of pull-out cabinetry are they are a great way to keep clutter off your counters because they help organize your small items. Another bonus, they are better on your body as you age, because they put everything at your fingertips.

2. Cleaning Caddy — We all keep our cleaning things under our sinks, but running back and forth, because you could only hold the paper towels and Windex, but forgot the toilet cleaner? Can take the extra time you would instead be doing something else. Adding a cleaning cabinet caddy that rolls out and you can carry with everything you need to clean the perfect answer to cut down the trips for missing cleaning items.

3. Drawer Dividers — People love drawers, yet when it’s an empty drawer with no additional organization tools, it can be hard to place things in them without everything moving every time you open or close it. We suggest drawers with dividers, so its easier to keep the dishes in lower cabinets. These are great for kids and people with different abilities to be able to reach what they need.

Read More

This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.

Meet Merry, a domestic short hair tabby kitten available for adoption locally.

Here is what her friends at Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society have to say about her:

Merry is just one of the most adorable kittens! She adores spending time cuddling with her humans. She also is queen of playing and loves joining her sister at playtime. Come meet this sweetheart. Merry is about 4 months old.

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John V. Berry and Kimberly H. Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Plaza America in Reston that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

The U.S. Women’s Hockey Team not only just won Olympic Gold, but significantly advanced the equal pay argument for all women.

Their victory and Gold Medal ended a difficult year on and off the ice for the team. They worked together despite almost losing their positions on the team in a hard fight for equal pay before the most recent Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

In March 2017, about twelve months before the Olympics, the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team threatened to sit out of the Ice Hockey Federation World Championship unless USA Hockey agreed to treat them the same as the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team. The female hockey players sought equal treatment in comparison to the men’s team. Specifically, the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team sought the same salary, equipment, staff, travel, per diems and media publicity as the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team.

It is hard to believe that the dispute lasted nearly a year, but the U.S. Women’s Team won. They were awarded up to $70,000 a year in salary (up from $6,000). USA Hockey also agreed that the women’s hockey team would receive the same travel stipends and accommodations as the men’s hockey team, along with better marketing and media efforts.

In our practice involving equal pay, we are seeing more women employees challenging and demanding equal pay for equal work.

In April of 2016, we wrote about a similar challenge that was advanced by the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team, despite the fact that they had already won the World Cup in 2015.

The combined efforts of the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and U.S. Women’s Soccer Team illustrate the fact that collective action and success by women can be key to eliminating egregious pay disparities for the same work. Their efforts also have a direct and positive impact on all other types of employment and equal pay disputes.

We represent employees in Equal Pay matters. If you need assistance, please contact our office at (703) 668-0070 or at www.berrylegal.com to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook.

Like most people, you probably have set all sorts of goals for 2018.

Do these goals include: putting a plan in place for who will care for your minor children if you and your spouse passes away? Who will make financial and health care decisions for you if you become incapacitated? Who will receive your property in the event of your death?

If you believe planning for your family’s protection is important, perhaps the most important goal for 2018 should be to create an estate plan.

A basic estate plan typically includes a will or trust, and power of attorney for property management, financial decisions and health care.

Why is an estate plan important? Because if you do not make these decisions yourself they will be made for you by a court.

Why do you need a will? A will accomplishes three main objectives:

1. To name a guardian for your minor children if both you and your spouse die. What decision could be more important that who will care for your child and manage his or her finances? Enough said.
2. To name an executor of your estate to collect your assets, pay your debts and distribute your assets to your beneficiaries. The executor is someone you trust that is competent to carry out your wishes when you are gone. If your estate includes a business, your executor can also operate the business until the estate is settled. Without a will, the probate court will appoint an administrator, and the poor soul will have to guess his or her way through probate.
3. To specify the people or charitable organizations that you want to receive your assets. In the absence of a will, your assets will be divided between your surviving relatives (this includes your spouse, children, step-children, parents and siblings) according to state law. This means the state dictates who will receive your property and in what proportion.

A will also gives you control over when your children will receive your assets.

If you die without a will, a court must appoint and supervise a guardian to manage any property your minor child receives from your estate, retirement account or life insurance policy, until the child turns 18. Wouldn’t you want to prevent the undesirable outcome of your child receiving a lump sum inheritance at age 18?

By setting up a trust in your will to hold your child’s share of the estate you ensure proper management of the funds you worked so hard to leave them until they reach a more mature age.

Why do you need a power of attorney?

What happens if you become incapacitated? Do you want your loved ones to have to ask a judge to name someone to manage your financial affairs? Wouldn’t you rather pre-designate that person and make sure they are prepared for this responsibility?

With a general (or “durable”) power of attorney, you name an agent to manage your property and financial affairs if you become incapacitated. A health care power of attorney appoints an agent to make health care decisions for you if you cannot act for yourself.

A spouse can make decisions regarding jointly held property absent a power of attorney; otherwise a court must appoint a guardian of your property to access your accounts to pay your bills, and make decisions regarding living arrangements and medical care.

Be proactive in 2018. Contact us to set up a consultation and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your family.

This is a sponsored post from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. For a more complete picture of home sales in your neighborhood, contact her on Reston Real Estate.

Reston is one of those places where people buy a home and then live in it for 50 years.

While many houses on the market in Reston have been renovated, at least in the last 15 years, chances are you’ll fall in love with a home that needs some work. Since fixer uppers tend to sell for less than a renovated home, the thought of buying one is attractive.

I help clients work through the pros and cons of buying a fixer upper every day, and here’s what I tell them.

Buying a fixer upper

First, you need to be honest about how much of a project you can take on. If you really don’t have the time or desire to do the work yourself, don’t buy a house based on doing the work yourself. That’s a good way to end up living another 15 years with a kitchen from 1970.

Before you buy, try to get an estimate of how much the renovations will cost you. Talk to friends who have done similar renovations. Or try this free estimator (it’s basic, but it’s a place to start). You may find that they add up to the difference between the fixer upper and a renovated home. Of course, for someone who’d like to have work done exactly how they’d like it, that might not matter.

When to consider a fixer upper

• You’ve always wanted a specific type of kitchen, bathroom, deck, etc. (maybe you dream of Viking appliances and granite counters). This is a great opportunity to spend a little less on the purchase of your home and funnel that extra money into getting what you really want.
• When the repairs are actually very superficial. It can be hard to imagine how wonderful your living room is if it’s painted a color you hate or has unappealing wall paper. But paint is a simple fix and it will change the look of your whole house.
• When the structure is good, and things just need an overhaul. If the kitchen layout works for you and the cabinets are in good condition, getting new appliances, counters and painting is easy… and well worth the effort to freshen the house.
• If this is your dream house in your dream neighborhood. If you really love this house, then you should live in it!

Know when to walk away (or at least consider it)

There are some fixer upper scenarios that you really shouldn’t take on.

• A bad roof or ancient heating/air conditioning systems: Both of these are very expensive repairs. If the house you want needs a new ones, negotiate that into your price.
• Foundation issues:If you’ve got a bad foundation, it is very time consuming to fix it. Your home inspection will turn up any problems and if it does, consider very carefully if you love the house enough to deal with the headache.
• Old electrical systems: Older homes can have faulty wiring and electrical panels that could pose a risk of electrical fire. Your home inspection will reveal whether this is an issue to consider.

My advice: avoid structural issues that will cause you headaches for years — and may make it difficult to sell your house later. But other than that, if you really are handy or you have a great contractor, fixer uppers are a great investment.

See more at: http://allrestonrealestate.com/blog/#sthash.7Gi37GGz.dpuf

This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Contact Anna at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook and Twitter.

Did you know that February is not only the month of love but National Family Baking Month? What a fun way to spend the last two of the coldest months of winter, in your house with the sweet aromas of cinnamon rolls in the air.

We have compiled a list of the top 3 essentials to help get you and your family baking together without breaking the bank. And we also found a fantastic recipe link to how to make your version of Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls at the end of the article.

Mixing Bowls — An essential to baking is the correct mixing bowls. Mixing bowls come in a variety of materials, such as glass, ceramic, copper, plastic and stainless steel.

Glass and ceramic bowls can be pretty and double as serving dishes, but they are easily breakable. Copper is the most beautiful, but usually the most expensive. Plastic is durable but tends to absorb odors. Stainless steel is the most durable and cost-effective. We love Cuisinart and suggest Cuisinart CTG-00-SMB Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls with Lids, Set of 3.

Rolling Pins — What is it about a rolling pin, that brings back happy memories of someone baking during your childhood? Of course, like mixing bowls, there is more than one type.

The first rolling pin we think of is the traditional wood rolling pin, as it is the most commonly known. The second rolling pin is the marble rolling pin; these are great for thinning out doughs that usually break easily with a wood rolling pin.

The third type of well-known rolling pin is the french rolling pin. Unlike the traditional and marble rolling pin, they do not have the wood panels connected to them. These are great for your little ones as they do not have to grasp the sides of rolling pin, but can use the bottom of their hands to glide the rolling pin across the dough.

One of our favorites is Sugar Maple French Style Rolling Pin: Tapered Solid Wood Design. Hand Crafted in the USA. By Top Notch Kitchenware!

Hand Mixers — If your family is new to baking, starting out with a high-end top stand mixer may not be the best place to start on your mixing journey.

So, instead, we recommend starting with something that will get the job done, a hand mixer. Hand mixers like stand mixers can come in a variety of different styles for different types of mixing. For instance, hand mixers can come with beaters, whisks or dough hooks.

You can get hand mixers with just the beaters or with all three. We recommend the VonShef 250W 6 Speed Hand Mixer with Stand and 5 Accessories Includes 2 Dough Hooks, 2 Beaters & 1 Whisk plus Turbo Function and Handy Stand — stylish red design that has everything to start your baking journey.

Now for the best part of this article, how to make your own Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls. It’s called the Clone of a Cinnabon and it’s from one of our favorite sites Allrecipes.com. Happy Baking!

(This content uses referral links.)