Style + Beauty

European Charm in Leesburg

Mon Chouchou Baby & Child blends luxury children’s fashion with a boutique experience worth savoring. Article by Beth Rasin Nestled above Goosecup Coffee on Leesburg’s vibrant King Street, Mon Chouchou Baby & Child Boutique is more than an upscale children’s clothing store; it’s a love letter to childhood, community, and thoughtful design. Opened in January by Beth Bullard and Scott Rottmann, who bring backgrounds in healthcare and finance, the store has quickly become a bright spot in...

Education

Teaching With Love

Simpson Middle School's Washington Post Teacher of the Year says building relationships is the key Photography by Mary Lanaghan/MJL Studios Several decades before she was a Washington Post 2025 Teacher of the Year, J. Lupton Simpson educator Kimberly Poole was a marketing major with dreams of a corporate career. But even then, she felt tugged toward a different calling. “I was always teaching,” said Poole, a Simpson alumna herself. “I taught Sunday school, I taught swim lessons, I coached...

Life + Culture

A Pawfect Match

Canines & Kitties Rescue in Chantilly helps families find the right pet—and the right start Article and Photography by When Crystal Wood and Kim Larimer co-founded Canines & Kitties Rescue in 2022, between them they had already spent decades volunteering with other organizations. But they saw a need and an opportunity to do more.  Today, the all-volunteer nonprofit they established in Chantilly places adoptable dogs and cats with carefully matched individuals and families. One key to their...

Life + Culture

Mobile Hope Opens Doors for At-Risk Youth

Helping kids on their journey from homelessness to self-sufficiency Article by Beth Rasin | Photography by Courtesy of Mobile Hope At first glance, the new Graffiti & Silk thrift store on Mobile Hope’s Leesburg campus looks like something out of a design magazine: a chandelier made of paintbrushes, a moped staged as a beauty bar, and clothing racks created from vintage doors. But each of these pieces, designed and produced by the unhoused teens Mobile Hope serves, tells a deeper story of hope...

Life + Culture

Steeplechasing, Frame by Frame

Article by Melinda Gipson In the rolling countryside of Virginia, where horse racing and hunting are a way of life, one photographer has spent decades capturing the heart and soul of steeplechase racing. Douglas Lees, a photographer and son of a former Master of Warrenton Hunt, has documented more than five decades of equestrian history, preserving moments of grace, power, and frequent drama on the racecourse. Much of the action and pageantry has centered around the Virginia Gold Cup, which...

Life + Culture

Grow Outside!

TimberNook Loudoun County brings kids outdoors to learn life skills, build confidence, and work together. Photography by Courtesy of TimberNook Children today spend more time indoors than ever before, and the consequences are showing up in their development. Pediatric occupational therapist Rebekah Highlander says she has seen the impact firsthand in mental and physical health declines. That realization led Highlander to TimberNook, a nature-based program for children that promotes child-led...

Sports + Recreation

Hit the Trail

Explore the many opportunities to get outside close to home. Article by Beth Rasin | Photography by Photos courtesy of Erin Gifford When the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, many people who’d previously spent little to no time hiking headed from the metro DC region to outdoor opportunities in Shenandoah National Park and the surrounding area. Erin Gifford of Ashburn was one of those. She’d enjoyed a few hikes before, but during the pandemic, she ventured all over to places she’d never known about...

Sports + Recreation

Long On Fun

The scenic Washington & Old Dominion Trail offers enjoyable side stops and healthy fun. Article by Glenye Oakford | Photography by NOVA Parks A paved ribbon of parkland running through some of Northern Virginia’s busiest neighborhoods and greenest countryside, the Washington & Old Dominion Trail—known to many as the W&OD—is more than just a trail. It’s a place to move, connect, and explore. At 45 miles long and just 100 feet wide, it's also affectionately called “Virginia's skinniest park.” ...

Home + Design

Their Mission: Rejuvenate Your Land

Veterans LLC can increase your property value—and your joy Article and Photography by If you’ve got a patch of land that’s overgrown, unusable, or just not living up to its potential, you’re not alone. Did you ever wonder what would it take to reclaim that land and make it something useful, beautiful, and even valuable? That’s where Veterans Land Rescue LLC comes in. Based in Lovettsville, Va., and led by Marine Corps veteran Dave Andersen, the company specializes in land...

Real Estate

Leesburg Real Estate Trends

J.C. Silvey of Compass Real Estate explains where the market is—and where it’s headed. Article by Beth Rasin | Photography by Photos courtesy of JC Silvey If you’ve been interested in the Leesburg real estate scene—whether house-hunting, selling, or simply watching from the sidelines—you probably noticed the early spring buyer activity, with homes flying off the market as early as February. “It’s definitely a seller’s market,” said JC Silvey, a local real estate expert, who’s seen houses draw...