Lifestyle Britt Patterson Lifestyle Britt Patterson

Mulberry Lane Play Café: A New Haven for Parents and Kids in Del Ray

Located in the heart of Del Ray at 2016 Mount Vernon Avenue, Mulberry Lane Play Café is redefining family spaces by blending imaginative play for kids with opportunities for parents to relax, connect, or work—all under one roof. Described as “Balanced Family Fun, Your New BFF,” this innovative café is quickly becoming a favorite for local families.

Read More
Lifestyle, Style Rainbow Kirby Lifestyle, Style Rainbow Kirby

Street Style: Meet Jade Kim Trusso of Nothing in Between

I asked her about the business she was opening in Old Town. Her confidence and calm was something that instantly put me at ease. As she shared her journey, she felt like one of my girlfriends – and we had just met. This was going to be her third location, she was already a seasoned entrepreneur. Even a slight delay here or there wasn’t going to stop her momentum.

Read More
Events Elizabeth Todd Events Elizabeth Todd

Small Business Saturday in Old Town: Gift With Purchase

Since Alexandria is what I consider the best collection of independent retailers around, this Small Business Saturday, a group of over a dozen stores have collaborated to do a day of gifts with purchase. Stop in, shop and get a little gift from us. Just a thank you for shopping small this holiday season and helping us keep the doors to our shops open another year!

Read More
Home & Design, Lifestyle Amy Rutherford Home & Design, Lifestyle Amy Rutherford

6 Realistic Tips for Traveling with Kids This Holiday Season

If traveling and being with family fills you with joy and is what you need this year, then here are a few tips to make it easy. You don’t have to do it alone. If you’re traveling with a partner, they should share the load. I’m talking to you, Moms. It is not your job to manage everything and make everyone happy. A partnership means they fully participate.

Read More
Beauty Maria Elizabeth Beauty Maria Elizabeth

My Full Circle Moment

Every now and then, life brings you a “full circle moment” – a chance to reconnect with the people who helped shape your journey. Recently, I experienced one of those moments when I welcomed Ruth Roche, one of my biggest influences from my early years in cosmetology, to Salon deZEN. Ruth, a seven-time NAHA winner (basically the Oscars of hair), made a massive impact on me back in cosmetology school.

Read More
Style Elizabeth Todd Style Elizabeth Todd

The Hive Staff Picks: Favorite Bags

Since merging stores it seems like we have a ton of bags in stock. We kept all the purse lines from The Shoe Hive and moved them into 315 Cameron. As a result, it’s hard to miss our bag selection when you walk in the door. Since we’re hosting our Think Rolyn Trunk Show this week, I thought it might be nice to share all the great bags we carry.

Read More
Lifestyle Alexandria Stylebook Lifestyle Alexandria Stylebook

What We’re Loving: Thanksgiving Traditions

Thanksgiving arrives next week, officially kicking off the holiday season. We all hold dear our traditions and ways of sharing our gratitude. It may be a turkey trot in the morning, Friendsgiving, dinner out at a local restaurant, hosting family from out-of-town or traveling to visit loved ones. We asked our contributors to share their Thanksgiving traditions and a few also shared their favorite dish.

Read More
Lifestyle Ally Kirkpatrick Lifestyle Ally Kirkpatrick

Things That are Bringing Me Joy This Week

My new nose piercing. (Two, actually - septum and nostril, ouch.) I went to Creative Chaos on the suggestion of our booksellers and highly recommend it. I’ve been heartbroken about the recent disregard shown for a woman’s bodily autonomy, so I felt like making a choice about my own was fitting. We’re thinking of having a tattoo and piercing popup in the bookstore in the New Year, because why not? Books + body art, let’s make it a thing. 

Read More
Lifestyle Danielle Romanetti Lifestyle Danielle Romanetti

“Craftivism”: The Art of Craft and Activism

It’s an election year, so it felt like a good time to talk about “craftivisim,” a term that was coined in 2014 but describes something that has existed for centuries. In 2014, Betsy Greer coined the term “Craftivism.” In her book, Greer gave a name to the intersection of craft and activism, looking at places where crafters and artists want their work to contribute to the greater good, spark conversation, and signal their activism to the wider world. 

Read More
Home & Design Amanda Mertins Home & Design Amanda Mertins

Why Wait? Mark Seasonal Home Fixes Off Your List!

We all live with little necessary home repairs. Whether it’s a leaky faucet, broken fence, missing trim, holes in drywall – well you get the picture. Most of the time we let these things go until we decide it’s time to sell our house. We get everything repaired, replaced, painted and then wonder why we didn’t do it sooner!

Read More
Lifestyle Kendall Rife Lifestyle Kendall Rife

Is Your Holiday Party Tax Deductible? & Other Year-End Tax Implications

November is the perfect time to do two things when it comes to your finances, especially if you own a business – catch up on your bookkeeping and file your Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report! We are nearing the end of the year and many people find themselves lost in a whirlwind of backlogged bookkeeping. Now is a great time to either get it up to date yourself or hire a bookkeeper to get you caught up for the year so you aren’t stressed out come tax time.

Read More
Style Ali Hellmuth Style Ali Hellmuth

Shop Like a Pro: American in Paris Edition

I wandered into AIP when it first reopened. Alex greeted me and sold me one of the best swimsuits I’ve ever owned. I’d never seen anything like it and I’ve  never seen anyone with it. That’s the kind of boutique American in Paris is. She finds all sorts of cool unique pieces for the store while traveling the world. This women’s boutique is more than just a shop—it’s a vibe.

Read More
Style Elizabeth Todd Style Elizabeth Todd

Think Rolyn: The Perfect Holiday Gift

Think Rolyn’s crossbody bags and sling bags are a favorite – especially for travel. They are the perfect size, they are weather resistant and the zippers and pockets are in all the right places. I use the wingman all the time when I go to NYC for work or away for a weekend. You can throw so much stuff in it and after owning it for five years, it looks like new!

Read More
Lifestyle Katelin Moomau, Esq. Lifestyle Katelin Moomau, Esq.

What is a ‘Sperm Baby’ and Who Holds Legal Obligation?

Watching Love is Blind DC as a family law attorney made me cringe over and over again. The thing that bothered me most in terms of legal misconceptions was everyone referring to a “sperm baby” as if it was someone’s legal child. I also personally found the term incredibly offensive. So, let’s go over some basics.

Read More
Style Elizabeth Todd Style Elizabeth Todd

Ann Mashburn: 3 Pants, Styled

My Libby’s List this past week featured the Ann Mashburn Funnel Neck sweater. It’s a favorite of mine and my top pick for the trunk show. If I had to suggest a second item that is a must-buy buy, it would be a pull on pant. Pull-on pants are definitely having a moment right now, and Ann was in early on the trend. I asked Madeline to style each version to show their versatility.

Read More
Home & Design Lisa Soboleski Home & Design Lisa Soboleski

December is Coming: Pick Up Your Advent Calendars!

With December on the horizon, we’d like to show you the Advent calendars we have this year! So many creative, fun, and tasty ways to countdown to Christmas. We have several options that all double as darling decorations and a few that have extra special surprises inside, some edible and some that will last for years to come.

Read More
Lifestyle Britt Patterson Lifestyle Britt Patterson

40 Questions With Jamie Fortin, Founder of Friends To Lovers Bookstore

"I wanted a name that captured the charm of a romance bookstore. There are so many cute bookstore names out there—Meet Cute could have been an option, but it was taken in San Diego. I wanted something that invites the idea of friendship, like going to a book club with your friends. When you think of love and friendship, that's the vibe I wanted to create for this space."

Read More