Belmont Bows' Valentine Cupcakes Net Nearly $1,500

Middle school students donned chefs hats and baked on behalf of those in need.

The Bows for Belmont Ridge, a group of sixth grade students at Belmont Ridge Middle School who like to find ways to help fellow students in need, raised nearly $1,500 with a Valentine's Day fundraiser. They began their project during Christmas when they learned of three Belmont Ridge families who were in need of assistance. The girls came up with the idea to go door to door and offer to decorate mailboxes with holiday decor to raise money for the families.  “After they surpassed their goal of $1,000, raising $1,639 in December, they realized that they wanted to do more”, said Tracy Bongianino, parent organizer for the Bows. “The parent liaison at school thought we would raise about $50 when we set out on our first fundraiser,” said Alyssa …

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A Discerning Eye

Married Without the Children

It is possible to have a romantic Valentine's Day without involving the kids or guilt.

I just finished writing cards for the kids at my son's daycare. It’s a big ordeal with candy, doilies, or cartoon characters. God help me if I forget a card for one of my son’s classmates. But, pointless pieces of paper destined to litter our cars are not the point of this holiday. Today is that special day of the year devoted to romantic love and togetherness. Today is the day to ditch the kids and cozy up with the spouse. The Ashburn area is happy to assist in this goal. If you didn't take advantage of this past weekend's Parents Escape Night or Kids’ Night at the Museum, there is still an opportunity to drop off the kids at Fast Break Fun Night on Friday. Or, save the cost of child care and meet your significant other for a nice lunch …

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Valentine’s Treats that Won’t Bump up the Scale

The candy laden holiday doesn't have to be a diet disaster.

The weekend of indulgent romantic dinners, chocolate truffles and heart-shaped confections is about to begin. This may be the season of sweets but that doesn’t mean it has to be a diet disaster. Here are a few tips to make Valentine’s Day sweet without feeling too guilty. Dark Chocolate Lovers Rejoice! In a recent report released by the Chemistry Central Journal, dark chocolate provides equal or greater heart benefits than fruit juice. The study stated that the cocoa beans used to make dark chocolate should be considered a “super fruit” because they provide more antioxidants per gram than blueberries, pomegranates and cranberries. Not all chocolate is made equally: the higher the cacao percent, the healthier the choice. Romantic Dinner The…

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The Great Escape

Try a Valentine's Escape

Take your sweetheart to Brambleton this weekend for a little romance.

Try a Romantic Weekend at Brambleton Town Center as Valentine's Day approaches.  On Friday, Feb. 11, and Saturday, Feb. 12, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. there will be plenty of activities to help couples keep the romance alive. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, musical entertainment including an a capella group, complimentary flowers, deals and discounts at participating retailers, champagne and strawberries at Misguided Angels, and dinner specials at participating restaurants.

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