Meet Desmond and Sawyer, Reston residents since March 2014 and this week’s Reston Pets of the Week.

Here is what their owners have to say about them.

Desmond and Sawyer, based on our favorite characters from the TV show Lost, are twin brothers we welcomed into our home in March 2014.

We met Swayer first at a rescue event, and went on to their foster home to meet them together and spend some time with them. We fell in love, a week later, they had moved in with us and we are so happy they are part of our lives.

Desmond and Sawyer are 19-month-old gray tabbies. Both know to play fetch, and it’s the cutest thing when they bring the ball for us to throw. Our friends and family are always so surprised, cats who can fetch! Desmond loves playing fetch pretty much all day long; Sawyer only plays very late at night. Sometimes we wake up and there are multiple balls on our bed.

Desmond is the outgoing, affectionate one, he has yet to meet someone he doesn’t like. Sawyer is more selective, but a sweetheart. They both spend lots of time together, playing, sleeping, watching for squirrels, chipmunks and birds in the backyard. One of their favorite thing is sitting watching all the going-ons from the windows or our front door.

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 by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

Chanukah begins today, and Christmas and New Year’s Eve will be here very soon too.

With everything going on this time of year, many sellers opt to wait until well into the new year to list their home. Some believe summer is the best time to sell, and others simply don’t want to interrupt their favorite holiday traditions.

Selling at this time of year can actually be very beneficial to the seller. I recently came across an article on Realtor.com that discussed 10 reasons why you can sell your home during the holidays. There are three points in particular that I like.

1. More international buyers

The number of home buyers from other countries has increased dramatically — especially in Reston. These buyers don’t observe the same calendar of events as most Americans.

2. Seller competition is lighter during the holidays

There are plenty of buyers out there right now. But with sellers reluctant to list their homes during the holidays, there is a shortage of inventory. Take advantage of that.

3. You don’t have to forgo holiday decorating or take phone calls during the holiday feast.

You can set boundaries about when you show your house (and even set up blackout dates), and decorations don’t turn off most buyers. But having your house listed means it will be on the website, and during the holidays the number of online searches soars. This means your house will be viewed virtually, and that’s a good thing.

Read the article for more insights as to why this is a great time of year to sell your home. Or call me and I can help you get ready.

Or call me and I can help you get ready.

 This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

Just 10 properties went from PENDING to SOLD this past week in Reston. Not a surprise as we roll into the height of the holiday season.

The average days on market for this group was a whopping 85! The home on the market for the longest period was on for 186 days before securing a contract, while the house on the market for the least amount of time was under contract in just seven days.

It is important to note that the house with 186 days on the market also only sold for 88 percent of its original list price. Listing your home high because “you’re not in a hurry” rarely results in the payoff the seller plans. In general, the longer your home is on the market the greater drop in price it will take to get it sold.

Here are the houses that sold this past week.

1715 BLUE FLINT COURT. 3BR, 3.5 BA. List Price: $549,999. Sold Price: $540,000. Seller Subsidy: $5,000.

11651 STONEVIEW SQ #2-B. 2BR, 2BA. List Price: $179,900. Sold Price: $178,500. Seller Subsidy: $3,570.

1401 GREENMONT CT. 3BR, 2.5BA. List Price: $419,000. Sold Price: $418,000. Seller Subsidy: $9,850.

1536 NORTHGATE SQ #32A. 1BR, 1BA. List Price: $210,000. Sold Price: $210,000. Seller Subsidy: $5,500.

11032 THRUSH RIDGE RD. 4BR, 3.5 BA. List Price: $684,900. Sold Price: $670,000 Seller Subsidy: $0.

1654 BARNSTEAD DR. 3BR, 1FB, 2 HB. List Price: $347,900. Sold Price: $349,000. Seller Subsidy: $9,000.

1162 MEADOWLOOK CT. 5BR 4.5BA. List Price: $1,067,000. Sold Price: $1,032,000. Seller Subsidy: $0.

11632 DEER FOREST RD. 4BR, 3.5 BA. List Price: $699,900. Sold Price: $689,500. Seller Subsidy: $0.

11739D SUMMERCHASE CIR #1739-D. 1BR, 1BA. List Price: $189,900. Sold Price: $189,000. Seller Subsidy: $5,000.

1447 WATERFRONT RD. 5BR, 4BR. List Price: $975,500. Sold Price: $965,000. Seller Subsidy: $0.

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Reston Town Center that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement, and private sector employee matters. They write biweekly on RestonNow.

Job seekers who have a criminal history usually get passed over by potential employers after they check the box on the job application indicating that they have a prior criminal record. Many jurisdictions are now changing laws to prevent employers from requiring such disclosures before hiring.

This change is known as “ban the box.” So far, 13 states and numerous counties and municipalities have enacted such laws to give second chances to individuals with prior criminal records.

In the past eight months, the District of Columbia, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County have passed versions of “ban the box” laws that restrict, in varying degrees, required disclosures regarding prior criminal convictions when applying for employment.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has not yet enacted a version of “ban the box” statewide, but a number of jurisdictions such as Alexandria, Richmond, Newport News, and Norfolk have passed local laws prohibiting the disclosure of criminal history for many types of public employment.

In the District of Columbia, the D.C. Council passed a sweeping law that offers some of the strongest protections thus far. The Fair Criminal Record Screening Act forbids a covered employer from ever requiring an applicant to disclose or reveal an arrest or a criminal accusation that did not result in a conviction or is not pending in court.

A covered employer may seek information about an applicant’s previous criminal convictions only after it has provided a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. The employer cannot rescind the offer unless it can justify the withdrawal for a legitimate business reason based on the following factors:  1) time elapsed since the offense, 2) types of duties and responsibilities of the position sought, 3) age of the employee at the time of offense, 4) the seriousness of the offense, 5) evidence of rehabilitation since the offense, and 6) the bearing of the criminal offense for which the person was convicted will have on the person’s fitness or ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position sought.

If the employer does not follow the rules properly, the applicant can file a complaint with the D.C. Office of Human Rights and the employer may be subject to sanctions.

In the state of Maryland, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County have similar but varying new laws that attempt to make it easier for individuals with a prior criminal record to make a fresh start.

Too often, a mistake made by an individual in high school or college prevents him or her from moving ahead with his or her career even decades later.  These new laws attempt to help level the playing field for otherwise qualified individuals by giving them a fair chance to compete for jobs.

Our law firm represents and advises individuals and private sector employers on employment-related matters. If you need legal 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 at www.facebook.com/BerryBerryPllc.

This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.

As cat parents, keeping our feline friends happy and healthy is a top priority. And we know that good health starts with proper nutrition and a well-balanced diet. But a trip to the pet store can leave us baffled by a dizzying array of choices. “Organic” vs. “all-natural.” “Chicken meal” vs. “chicken products.”

So many different brands and choices with varying protein and nutrition – how can you know what’s best?

Fortunately, there are ways to cut through the fluff of nutrition labels. For starters, the most important thing to look for is the protein content. Remember, cats are carnivorous. Though carbohydrates can be a good source of short-term energy, a feline’s diet should primarily consist of protein-rich foods like chicken, beef, or seafood. But how do you figure out how protein or carbohydrates a food actually has?

Begin by examining the first three ingredients listed on the label. Most pet food companies list the ingredients based on their weight, starting with the heaviest. If protein-rich foods appear near the top of the list, you’re in good shape.

Be warned, however, that water weight can make the rankings misleading in some cases. Chicken, for example, often contains a high percentage of water, which obviously lowers the protein content. This also affects the concentrations of protein in wet and dry foods. The moisture content in the former may be as high as 80 percent, whereas dry food may be as low as 10 percent. So just remember a protein concentration of 8 percent means different things in wet and dry foods.

The next thing to look for is any guarantees or certifications regarding the nutritional content.

For example, check if the label mentions a mandatory guarantee analysis. This ensures that the food contains the labeled percentages of crude protein, fat, fiber and moisture. Don’t be put off by the term “crude,” though. It simply refers to how the product is tested. Another thing to look for is a statement on the packaging that reads: “[Brand name] is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the [Association of American Feeding Control Officials] AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for [life stage/age of cat].”

Read More

Have you entered Reston Now’s Gift Local Contest?

The holidays are a time for giving, and we’re giving you a weekly chance to win some great gifts from local businesses this month. Keep them for yourself or gift them to a friend, coworker or family member.

To enter the contest, free of charge, all you need to do is sign up for our daily email newsletter. The newsletter delivers Reston Now headlines to your inbox on weekday (and some weekend) afternoons. No spam, we promise.

If you’re one of our more than 1,000 existing newsletter subscribers, you’re automatically eligible to win. See our official contest rules for an alternate means of entry and other sweepstakes details.

We’ll conduct a drawing every Friday through the end of December. Today’s drawing — there’s still a few more hours to enter — will feature prizes from

• Adult Sonicare Toothbrush from Reston Serenity Smiles
• Personal Training Session from Storm Fitness 
• Gift certificate to Ted’s Bulletin restaurant from Berry & Berry, PLLC

Future prizes for the Dec. 19 and 26 drawings include:

• Apple iPad Air 16GB from RestonNow.com
• One month of free swim lessons from Goldfish Swim School
• $109 gift card for artisan flower arrangements from Bloompop
• Exercise class from The Harrison Apartments
• $150 donation to Cornerstones on your behalf from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate
• Gift card for artisan flower arrangements from Bloompop
• Two seats on a public winery tour from Reston Limousine

Please join us in supporting these and other local businesses when making your holiday shopping plans and New Year’s resolutions.

Photo: Ted’s Bulletin at Reston Town Center

This is a sponsored article from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

There were 15 new listings that hit the market this week; total active listings are 230.

People always worry about listing at this time of year. It is true that the market is slower during the holiday season,there are always serious buyers in the hunt — just not as many.

Here are a few of the new listings.

11296 FAIRWIND WAY. 3BR 2.5BA. $495,000

12001 MARKET ST #441. 2BR, 2.5BA. $549,900

2405 RED MAPLE LN. 4BR, 2.5BA. $675,000

2069 ROYAL FERN CT #12B. 2BR, 1BA $219,900

12185 ABINGTON HALL PL #204. 2BR, 2BA. $420,000

11401O GATE HILL PL #75 2BR, 2BA. $360,000

This is a sponsored column by Cindy Beyer, ASID,NCIDQ. Beyer is a Reston-based interior designer and Reston Now Best Reston Business Award winner. Find her online at www.CindyLBeyer.com.

Happy Holidays to all.  By now we are well into the holiday decorating season and after decorating three trees, I thought I’d pass on to you some tips on tree trimming from a designer’s point of view.

To start, I use a pre-lit artificial tree. I prefer an artificial over a real one for many reasons. First, the ornaments stay safe and in place instead of rolling off fragile limbs thus eliminating breakage. Second, the tree never droops. But most of all, we are preserving nature by going with an artificial tree.

I purchased my most recent tree from Balsam Hill, but most places sell pre-lit trees. When choosing your tree, it is important to calculate the bottom diameter as well as the total height (don’t forget the tree topper in your overall height). The bigger the tree, the wider the base.  My ceiling height called for a taller tree, but I did not have the necessary floor space, so I opted for a slim or skinny tree, which is less wide at the bottom.

I also use outlet wireless remotes on my tree, eliminating the need to crawl under the tree to plug it in and out. Wireless plugs are also a great way to plug in all of your other holiday lights inside as well as outside.

A good tip is to label the remotes to the plugs so you are not searching around for the correct remote every time you want to turn it on and off. When I pack up the tree after the holidays, I put all of the plugs, remotes and extension cords in the same storage container.

The first ornament I hang on my pre-lit tree are simple glass balls. I usually use about 6-8 dozen of three similar colors (my tree tends to fall in the bronze, cream and gold hues). The balls serve as a good source of shimmer and color, as well as filler at an affordable price. These can be plain or glittered and any shape or size.  A good tip is to hang the smaller balls near the top of the tree — and don’t forget to hang them inside as well. Standing back from the tree occasionally will help you to determine where you need the balls placed.

Next, I unpack all other ornaments and sort them out on big towels on my table. This way I am able to pick and choose as I go along. It is always fun to unwrap each ornament and remember where you purchased it or who gave it to you. I pick a few and put them in a basket to climb the ladder to hang. This helps save your legs. Trust me, you will thank yourself the next morning.

Don’t forget to hide the pickle ornament. According to tradition, the pickle is the last ornament to hang on the tree. The first child to find it in the morning gets an extra gift from Santa. Actually, there are two stories about the origin of the pickle ornament.  It’s worth a Google.

For the finishing touches, I add feathers and plumes as well as artificial fruit, magnolia blossoms, and glittery stars. Bows are also a good and inexpensive addition to your tree as well. I am always looking for new and different pieces for my trees. The possibilities are endless. Be creative and have fun!

If you would like more tree trimming or design tips feel free to email me at [email protected].

Meet Buster, a new resident of The Metropolitan at Reston Town Center and this week’s Reston Pet of the Week.

Here is what his owner Rich has to say about him.

This is Buster. He’ll be four months old on Dec. 13.

I adopted him from A Forever Home in Fairfax. They say someone tried to drown his litter in West Virginia.

Buster is a spaniel mix. Most say he looks like a beagle or a Jack Russell. He’s got the sweetest personality and  wants to play with every person and dog we meet.

We live at The Metropolitan at RTC. I wouldn’t suggest raising a puppy in a building with elevators and random sounds a lot, but Buster loves all the people and dogs he meets every day.

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. 

When you’re driving down Lawyers Road in South Reston, it is easy to forget that you are in the midst of increasingly urban Reston.

This twisting, winding, hilly and tree-lined state road embodies the beauty of Northern Virginia. The few homes with a Lawyers Road address sit well off the street, surrounded by woods (and the occasional horse paddock).

There are several charming streets that house tight-knit communities of people who take pride in their neighborhood. Among them: November Lane, Steeplechase, Myrtle Lane, Charlestown, and more.

Each street has it’s own style and community feel and range from small “starter” homes to larger estates. What they all have in common is natural beauty and friendly neighbors. Each neighborhood has easy access to Reston’s walking paths, making it perfect for families that enjoy the outdoors.

Not too many years ago, Lawyers Road was the primary way to get from Reston to Vienna and Fairfax. In fact, in fact the road leads straight to the county courthouse, so that may give you a clue to how it got its name. It’s still the fastest and and most scenic way to get to old town Vienna.

But that’s only if you choose to leave Reston. Lawyers intersects with Twin Branches, making it a quick jaunt to Lake Audubon, Lake Thoreau, and South Lakes Village Center. Or jump on Soapstone for a quick trip to the Walker Nature Education Center and South Lakes High School. It also ends at Reston Parkway at Fox Mill Center.

If you’re looking for a community of single-family homes that is in Reston, but slightly removed from the hustle and bustle, look at the areas on or near Lawyers Road.

This is a sponsored post from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. 

There were 18 properties that went from PENDING to SOLD this past week in Reston. The total number of homes for sale is 239, which leave us with about a 3 1/2-month’s supply.

The number of days it takes to get a property sold is at a high of 53 — that’s a lot of mornings to wake up and leave your house show room perfect! You can expect it to take a little longer to sell a property during the holiday season, but if you’re still sitting after 30 days it might be time to ask your agent for a new set of sales comparables to make sure your home is priced right.

Here are a few of the homes that sold in the last week.

1112 LAKESPRAY WAY. 3BR, 3.5BA. List Price: $729,000. Sold Price: $650,000. Seller Subsidy: $0

11412 FIELDSTONE LANE. 5BR, 4.5BA. List Price: $1,049,000. Sold Price: $880,000. Seller Subsidy: $0

12165 TRYTON WAY. 4BR, 2FB, 2 HB. List Price: $750,000. Sold Price: $750,000 Seller Subsidy: $6,000

12004 TALIESIN PLACE #14. 1BR, 1BA. List Price:$269,900. Sold Price: $251,900. Seller Subsidy: $3,000

1658 BACHAN COURT. 3BR, 2.5BA. List Price: $485,000. Sold Price: $469,000. Seller Subsidy: $1,500

10845 WELBURY COURT. 5BR, 4BA. List Price: $850,000. Sold Price: $846,500. Seller Subsidy: $0

This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now

As cat parents, we’ve all been there. Your veterinarian prescribes oral medication for your kitty, and you leave the clinic happy that your feline friend is getting some much-needed treatment.

On the way home, however, you start to wonder how you are going to get the pills or drops in your cat. You remember your past experiences: the food left uneaten after medications have been mixed in or sprinkled on top, the wrestling matches and the gooey pills spit up on the floor, the time spent trying to coax your kitty out of its hiding place when it’s time for its medication. You wonder if there’s an easier way.

Fortunately, there is! Getting cats to take pills or drops will never be hiccup-free, of course, but there are a lot of things you can do to make the whole process smoother and less stressful for you both. For starters, you can try to train you kitty to be more receptive to taking its medication. Here are some relatively easy steps to take:

First, talk to your veterinarian or pharmacist about whether the medication can be compounded into a flavored liquid or even chewable flavored treats. Flavors usually include chicken, tuna, or beef.

Encourage your cat to sit in a place that it likes, such as on a favorite blanket or near its food dish. To do this, give it one of its favorite treats when it approaches one of its spots. Before long, it will to those places every time you get near. Read More

Have you entered Reston Now’s Gift Local Contest?

The holidays are a time for giving, and we’re giving you a weekly chance to win some great gifts from local businesses this month. Keep them for yourself or gift them to a friend, coworker or family member.

To enter the contest, free of charge, all you need to do is sign up for our daily email newsletter. The newsletter delivers Reston Now headlines to your inbox on weekday (and some weekend) afternoons. No spam, we promise.

If you’re one of our more than 1,000 existing newsletter subscribers, you’re automatically eligible to win. See our official contest rules for an alternate means of entry and other sweepstakes details.

We’ll conduct a drawing every Friday through the end of December. The first prize drawing is Dec. 5 — today — and there are still a few more hours to enter. Today’s prizes are:

• Gift certificate for food at Kalypso’s Sports Tavern – $50 value
• Gift card to Michael’s from Cindy Beyer Design – $50 value
• Free feline exam from Just Cats Clinic – $75 value

Future prizes for the Dec. 12 , 19 and 26 include:

• Apple iPad Air 16GB from RestonNow.com
• Adult Sonicare toothbrush from Reston Serenity Smiles
• Personal training session from Storm Fitness
• One month of free swim lessons from Goldfish Swim School
• $109 gift card for artisan flower arrangements from Bloompop
• Exercise class from The Harrison Apartments
• $150 donation to Cornerstones on your behalf from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate

Please join us in supporting these and other local businesses when making your holiday shopping plans and New Year’s resolutions.

This is a sponsored column by Jessica Storm, ACSM Health/Fitness Specialist and NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist. 

All bodies have different bottom shapes. I’ll bet you didn’t know that your butt could most likely be classified into one of these four basic shapes: V, Round, Square or Heart. And if we want to get even more specific within those categories, we could also have these types: Flat, Saggy, Small and Ample bottoms.

For the sake of this article I will be focusing on the latter categories.

Of course, most of the exercises I describe below will be great for your booty regardless of its shape/size. However, like any good workout program, if you really want to start seeing some fine-tuned results, then your exercises really need to be customized according to your butt shape and type.

Generalized exercise programs can be great for someone getting started without any contraindications, but if you want to really see results you need to get customized.

I customize my clients’ programs based on a thorough assessment of their particular body type and goals they want to reach. This is how I am then able to sculpt their assets into the best shape possible. I show them the appropriate exercises for their bodies in order to get stellar results. Run-of-the-mill exercise tapes and programs are just too general to deliver the results that my clients wish to achieve.

So, what is your booty shape?

• Flat: You have trouble building the muscles up in your buttock area and overall find you have a “flat” shape.
• Saggy: Your bottom droops or sags; does not feel “lifted” in your pants.
• Small: You tend to lose weight or muscle in this area first and have trouble “filling out” your pants.
• Ample: Your bottom is round and large and you tend to put on weight or muscle in this area very easily.

Now that you have determined your booty shape, here are some exercises to target those buns.

Flat Butt Prescription: These exercises will help to perk up the muscles in your bottom area and fill/lift.

1. Bridges and/or single leg bridges
2. Curtsy Lunges
3. Donkey Kicks on hands and knees
4. Step ups (using chair, bench or plyo box)
5. Side step squat with resistance band

Saggy Butt Prescription: These exercises will lift your bottom and create more definition between the hamstring/gluteus area to lessen the droopy effect.

1. Walking Lunges and/or Step back lunges
2. Stability ball hamstring curls
3. Explosive jump squats
4. Romanian Dead Lifts or single leg pickups
5. Fire hydrants

Small Butt Prescription: These exercises will help to fill out your bottom area by focusing on working all the muscles of the gluteus to create definition.

1. Goblet Squats
2. Side Lunges
3. Bird/Dog
4. Box Jumps and/or explosive lunges

Ample Butt Prescription: These exercises will help to keep your bottom toned while not adding additional bulk in the gluteus area.

1. Plié Squat
2. Ball straight leg hamstring lift
3. Leg Circles
4. Side lying left lifts

Always remember that it’s best to get clear on where you fall on the spectrum. If you want to see outstanding results, then you will need to  do multiple exercises that target your specific shape.

If you’re confused about what butt shape you have, then go ahead and do them all for a major booty blast workout! Any exercise is better than no exercise — and all of these exercises put together can still be fantastic booty shapers regardless of your shape and size!

Jessica Storm is the owner of Storm Fitness — A Personal Training and Nutrition Company based in Reston. Her company has been serving the Northern Virginia area for over a decade and has received numerous recognition for the life-changing results it has delivered to clients. Read more at www.StormFitness.com.