Meet Tony, a Reston feline who has done a bit of traveling. Here is what his owner Jennifer has to say about him:

This is Tony, he also goes by the names Tee, Orange Roughy, and Comrade Antoine.

He was adopted in 2000 at the age of two from the Humane Society of Madison County, Ohio. He has traveled from Ohio to Virginia to South Asia and back to Virginia.

Last year he had twelve teeth pulled by a local Reston vet and feels much better.

Tony’s hobbies include hanging out on laps and the back of the couch, and mentoring younger cats.  

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.

Reston Now has added some great new gifts to our first Gift Local contest.

We are giving away a $50 gift certificate to Ted’s Bulletin courtesy of Berry & Berry, PLLC, as well as transportation for two on a public winery tour from Reston Limousine.

These prizes are in addition to a host of others, including an Apple iPad Air 16GB, that we will be giving away weekly through Christmas.

To be eligible to win one of our great prizes, you need to sign up for our daily newsletter. Read more about the other prizes, the local businesses participating and the contest’s official rules.

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

I love Thanksgiving. Spending time with my family always fills with me with joy. Then the immediate consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday kind of sully that good feeling.

Not that I don’t love a good deal, but wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy the gratitude and good will of Thanksgiving a little longer? Now that those two shopping days are behind us, we can get back into the holiday spirit with #GivingTuesday.

Giving Tuesday — which is today, Dec. 2 — is a global day dedicated to giving back. Charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

How can you participate? Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Below is a list of some of the more than worthy organizations in Reston and Fairfax County. Choose the ones you want to support, then tell everyone about how you are giving — this is where that hashtag thing really works. Use #GivingTuesday.

Here are some of my favorite places to give:

• Cornerstones: Cornerstones promotes self-sufficiency by providing support and advocacy for those in need of food, shelter, affordable housing, quality childcare, and other human services.
• Let’s Give Back: Let’s Give Back provides GiveBackPacks™ that contain items people may need when their child is admitted to the pediatric ICU. Receiving a GiveBackPack is comforting and helpful to the family in need.
• Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter: More than 5,000 animals, including cats, dogs, small mammals, reptiles and livestock, come to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter each year. The shelter opens its doors — and its heart — to care for each and every animal. But, the shelter can’t do it alone. Through donor and volunteer support, the Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter provides medical care, food, supplies and so much more to help the shelter care for these loving animals.
• Friends of Reston: Friends of Reston supports Reston Association in performing charitable, educational and scientific projects. In addition to raising $1.5M to help fund the Nature House, the organization has an RA Camp Scholarship Program and has organized the Re-energize Reston challenge with Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP).

These are just four of my favorites, but there are hundreds of charities in the area that could use your help. The Great Nonprofits website also lists some lesser-known charities in the area.

Happy holidays!

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

There were 15 Properties went from Pending to Sold this past week. There were 248 active listings, which leaves us with just over four months of housing inventory.

The average Days On Market — the measure of how long it takes to get a house sold — is up to 43.

Sellers can shorten that number by making sure that they’re doing everything they can to be the best priced home for its condition in its category.

Here are a few of the properties that settled in the last week.

• 10992 CLOVER HUNT CT. 4BR, 4.5 BA. List Price: $925,000. Sold Price: $900,000. Seller Subsidy: $0
• 2257 CASTLE ROCK SQ #2B. 2BR, 2 BA. List Price: $179,999. Sold Price: $167,500. Seller Subsidy: $0
• 2012 LAKEWINDS DR. 4BR, 3.5 BA. List Price: $850,000. Sold Price: $825,000. Seller Subsidy: $0
• 1682 BAYFIELD WAY. 2BR, 1.5 BA. List Price; $310,000. Sold Price: $275,000. Seller Subsidy: $0
• 11503 WATERHAVEN CT. 3BR, 3.5 BA. List Price: $590,000. Sold Price: $572,500. Seller Subsidy: $0
• 1812 IVY OAK SQ #1812. 4BR, 2.5 BA. List Price: $375,000. Sold Price: $364,000. Seller Subsidy: $6,900

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.

In this digital age, it seems that almost everyone uses social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or Instagram to communicate with the world whether it is through pictures or writing.

But to what extent, and how often, will security clearance authorities in the future review the social media accounts of security clearance applicants and holders as part of the government’s current upgrades to the security clearance review process?

Trials with Social Media in Clearance Reviews

The Office of the Director for National Intelligence (DNI) is evaluating the possibility of including social media account reviews as part of the security clearance process. According to a number of news sources, the Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive (NCIX) has been tasked to review the feasibility of including social media evaluations as part of the security clearance process. One consideration by the NCIX is whether this type of review is realistic and would be useful.

Ongoing trials of social media review, using volunteers by the DNI, are looking into how such a system would function and whether it would work in the real world. The trial apparently includes a review of all public entries in social media by volunteer security clearance holders. For instance, the trial review includes an online search into publicly available information by a security clearance holder to see if the information gives rise to security concerns. Read More

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.

I am often asked many questions regarding the interior design profession. Here are some of my most frequently asked questions:

How do you charge? I tailor my fees to each client and work within their needs and budget. There are several ways in which I charge for my design. I can charge on an hourly basis billed monthly. This works for the client who does not want to see a larger bill at the end of the job. Another way is to divide the job into three stages, with one-third charged at signing of contract, one-third at completion of the plans, and the last third due upon completion.

The third way is a two part billing structure. Part I : Design and Planning stage and Part II: Implementation.

Can I use my existing furniture? Of course you can. I will take into account all of your favorite pieces in the room and add to as necessary. If you would like all new pieces, even better. We can also recover existing sofas and chairs as well as refinish and repaint or faux existing case goods.

Do you have a common style that you recommend to clients? No. It really depends on the client. I have access to all styles of furniture and furnishings from period, antiques to contemporary sleek lines.

I also believe in mixing different styles in the room. It really depends on the look and piece you wish to use. You will always be in control of what goes in the room. I will present to you many options for furniture, fabrics, drapery treatments and accessories. My clients have the last say on every detail.

How long does the job take? It depends on the project. For example, when ordering furniture directly from the manufacturer, lead times can take as little as three or four weeks or up to 16 weeks. The more exclusive and custom a piece, the longer it takes.

It is important for clients to know the lead times when ordering from manufacturers. Good design and furniture is worth the wait.

What if I don’t want to do the entire job right away, can you work with me a little at a time? Yes. I can work within your schedule. Sometimes it is best to develop a solid design concept and then implement over time. I like to have a lasting relationship with my clients. This enables me to spend time thinking and researching keeping in mind what pieces we will need.

We have a major remodeling project, when should I hire you? As soon as possible for the most successful projects are when I am involved early in the process. I work closely with architects and contractors, and I am comfortable with drawing floor plans as well as understanding the implications of how interiors will be used as it relates to structural and available floor space. All of this adds up to achieving that WOW factor as well as improving the value of your home.

If you have any additional interior design questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].

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

Did you know that cats can develop diabetes? While diabetes mellitus, a disorder of the pancreas, can develop in cats at any age, male cats over the age of 8 are predisposed. The pancreas is composed of two very different types of cells that have very different functions. The first type is the manufacture of enzymes that ensure that food is properly digested. The second type is the production of insulin, one of the body’s most important hormones.

Insulin is critical to the healthy functioning of the body because it regulates blood sugar levels. After a cat eats, its digestive system breaks the food into various nutritional components. At this point, the insulin steps in to transport glucose to the body’s cells. A diabetic cat either cannot produce sufficient amounts of insulin or is not able to utilize it normally to collect glucose. As a result, the kitty’s blood sugar is not properly regulated causing a multitude of health concerns.

How common is diabetes in cats?

Diabetes mellitus is the second most common endocrine disease affecting cats. Approximately one in four hundred cats suffer from some form of the disease. Obesity is a predisposing factor, and diabetes is more commonly seen in middle-aged and older cats. The number of cases is increasing each year due in part to the increase in overweight cats.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

There are four classical signs of diabetes mellitus to watch out for: ravenous eating, weight loss despite the higher food intake, increased water consumption and more frequent urination. If you notice these symptoms, please take your cat to the vet as soon as possible.

Cats that have undiagnosed diabetes can suffer from “diabetic episodes” which can be life threatening. If your cat ever has an unsteady or wobbled gait or collapses, get to an emergency vet or your regular vet immediately — don’t wait! Read More

Check out Rocket, this week’s Reston Pet of the Week.

Here is what Rocket’s owner, Noelle, has to say about him:

Rocket is a 20-year-old rescue boxer from Reston’s Boxer Rescue. My family adopted him and he has brought many smiles to the children’s faces.

Rocket is enjoys cuddling under covers and going for walks around the park. He likes to play catch and with his favorite yellow ball.

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.

Reston is known for its beautiful contemporary homes. About 65 of those homes (and some residential apartment buildings) are courtesy of architect Ken Bonner, who has lived in Reston since 1968.

In fact, Bonner built the first house in Reston. That home was Reston’s first detached single-family house. It still stands today on Stirrup Road. In a Fairfax Times article, Bonner recalls having to transport a portable generator to the building site because there were no power lines yet. This was back in 1964.

The house has been featured in national magazines, and today is still considered a technological marvel for its use of space, natural lighting and energy-conserving design.

A trademark of any Bonner home is using natural sunlight and preserving trees. In the Stirrup Road house, the sun lights the kitchen in the morning, lights the living room as it crosses the sky midday, and then lights the den as it begins to set. The home also is outfitted with several ceiling skylights, making electric lighting unnecessary on most sunny days.

Integrating a human living space into nature in an environmentally sensitive way was Bonner’s  passion. In the 1960s, Reston founder Robert E. Simon Jr. was eager to give Bonner a chance to build throughout Reston with that philosophy in mind.

My first home in Reston was a Bonner home on Buttermilk Lane. It backed up to beautiful, treed lot with a creek at the bottom of the backyard. We kept the walls painted bright white and let the color of the woods in through the wall of windows that ran across the rear of the house. It was a fantastic place to raise our family.

Ken Bonner is just one of the visionary architects who made Reston the unique community it is today. His designs continue to inspire those who believe in Reston’s vision as a place to live, work, and play.

Photo: Bonner home on Peppermint Court in Reston/Credit: Zillow

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

Did you know that your cat can suffer from many of the same eye issues that affect you?

Eye infections caused by bacteria or viruses are very common in cats and can be painful. But with early detection, many eye issues are treatable. When left untreated, simple eye problems can worsen and damage the eye further. If you observe any abnormal eye symptoms, always contact your veterinarian immediately.

How can you tell if your cat has eye troubles?

The first step is to conduct a visual inspection of your cat’s eyes. They should be clear and bright, and the area around the eyeball should be white – be sure to note any reddish or irritation. Your kitty’s pupils should be equal in size. Ensure that the eyes are free from any discharge, especially yellowish or greenish mucous or any sort of thick crustiness. Check eyes for signs of inflammation or any swelling. If any of these symptoms are noted, please contact your veterinarian immediately. Read More

This is a sponsored column by Jessica Storm, ACSM Health/Fitness Specialist and NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist.  Jessica is the owner of Storm Fitness — a personal training and nutrition company based in Reston. Storm Fitness has been servicing the Northern Virginia area for over a decade and has received numerous recognitions for the life-changing results they have delivered to their clients.   Read more about their offerings at www.StormFitness.com

There are ways to whittle your midsection without exercise. Here are six tips to make it happen:

1. Work on Perfecting Your Posture: When my clients come in to see me, the first thing we do is a posture assessment. It’s amazing how our bodies can slump over the minute we get tired. This in turn causes us to disengage our core and overwork certain muscle groups.

When muscles aren’t engaged and working, our bodies certainly aren’t burning calories as efficiently. Not only that, but your belly is going to look a lot bigger than it actually is if you’re hunched over. Try standing up tall, shoulders back and naval to the spine.Think about it often during the day and keep practicing. I often have my clients perform pelvic tilts and other drills to work on their posture. Soon it becomes second nature and they don’t even have to think about it anymore.

2. Make Clean Eating the Majority:  Believe it or not, when it comes to the belly area what you are eating is way more important than the exercises you are performing. Sure, there are boatloads of abdominal exercises (I have mad tricks up my sleeve) to tighten and tone the tummy, but ultimately if you are building muscle with a layer of fat on top you will never “see” your abs. What you might inadvertently be doing is making your pant size even tighter by building up the muscle on top of fat.

Practice clean eating along with the toning exercises and you will start feeling your midsection melt down in no time.

Here are the clean eating basics:

• Eliminate processed, refined foods and sugars.
• Try sticking to whole foods with only one ingredient in them and cook your own foods.
• Work with a professional to get a customized food plan that is right for your body type and to know if you have any food allergies. There are some very healthy foods that might be beneficial for one person and inflammatory for another. 

Read More

Meet Ian and Lucy, a pair of chihuahuas who are this week’s Reston Pets of the Week. Their owner Paul tells us how they came to be “siblings”:

Ian and Lucy are rescues who found their forever home in the North Point section of Reston.

Ian came into our lives nearly three years ago, and was joined by his “little sister” Lucy in September 2013. Although both are chihuahuas, they hav

They have very different temperaments. Ian is obedient, eager to please, and a bit shy. Lucy will march up to anyone, human or canine, and let her opinions be known, a habit we are trying to curtail without breaking her spirit.

Both are very loving and loyal and have an intense dislike of rain and snow — last winter was a bit too much for little Lucy. She is contemplating spending this winter in Florida with her “grandparents.”

Ian and Lucy enjoy walking through the neighborhoods and the trails, taking Long naps together, and watching TV with their humans. Lucy also enjoys tormenting Molly, our 17-year-old longhair cat.

Together they are truly family who have added immeasurable joy to our lives.

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 column by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. 

I love Thanksgiving weekend — there is so much to do and so much fun to be had. I wish it could last longer. If you’re new to Reston, or just want some new ideas about what to do this weekend, here are some of my favorites.

Donate Food to Those in Need

Before the weekend, consider donating food to Cornerstones — a fabulous Reston-based organization that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

The Reston Community Center, Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, and Cornerstones have joined to collect food for the needy. You can drop off non-perishable food and other items from Nov. 1 to 24 at the Reston Community Center’s Hunters Woods and Lake Anne facilities, the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, and a variety of other drop-off points throughout the community. Visit the web page for a list of items they really need and to see dropoff locations.

Dinner Out

If you don’t feel like cooking this Thanksgiving, I suggest visiting Vinifera at the Westin Reston Heights. They are offering a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday buffet for a reasonable price: $49 per adult; $20 per child ages 5-12; and $7 per child ages 5 and under. The restaurant is located at 11750 Sunrise Valley Dr, Call (703) 234-3550 for reservations. For other options, check out this list of Northern VA restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner.

Reston Holiday Parade

An annual tradition on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the Reston Holiday Parade has grown in every way. Macy’s-style balloons, musicians and marching bands, dancers, antique cars, community groups, and more make up this one-of-a-kind, one-hour procession welcoming the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus for the season.

The 2014 Parade Theme — “Home for the Holidays” — invites adults and kids alike to join the fun to celebrate home, family, and freedom! Come early to get your free sleigh bells. The fun starts at 11:00 a.m. at Reston Town Center.

Tree Lighting and Sing Along

After you have warmed up from your morning at the Holiday Parade, come back to the Reston Town Center for the annual tree lighting and sing along at 6 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive in a horse-drawn carriage to magically light up the huge Christmas tree in Fountain Square. After that is a traditional holiday sing along led by The Reston Chorale and brass quintet.

From 6:30 until 10 pm, horse-drawn carriage rides are available, embarking from outside of Talbots on Market Street. All proceeds benefit local charities.

Shop for Gifts from the Heart

Shop at the annual “Gifts from the HeART” from Dec. 1 to Jan. 5 to benefit Cornerstones. Sales of original works of two- and three- dimensional art in many mediums including watercolor, oil, acrylic, clay, mixed media, photography, and fiber are available–and make great gifts. Come to the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne and find the perfect gift!

That should do it — after all, you need plenty of time to lounge around and visit with your family and friends!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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

There were 13 properties that went from Pending to Sold this past week. The October month end numbers are out — Reston real estate continues to move towards a very strong 2014.

Here are a few of the properties that settled this past week:

1632 AUTUMNWOOD DR. 4BR, 2.5 BA SFH. List Price, $689,000. Sold Price, $679,000.

1144 ROUND PEBBLE LN. 5BR, 4.5 BA SFH. List Price $998,900 Sold Price $950,000.

2020 BEACON HEIGHTS DR. 3BR, 3 FB/2HB TH. Listed Price, $960,000. Sold Price, $960,000.

2354 GENERATION DR. 3BR 2FB/2HB TH. Listed Price, $390,000. Sold Price, $380,000. Seller Subsidy, $500.

1617 GREENBRIAR CT. 3BR, 2.5 BA TH. Listed Price. $590,000. Sold Price, $590,000. Seller Subsidy, $7,050.

1650 PARKCREST CIR #301. 2BR 1.5 BA Condo. Listed Price, $250,000. Sold Price, $250,000, Seller Subsidy, $4,000.