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I Am Modern Magazine for Northern Virginia Moms Offering Advice, Blogs, Beauty and Restaurant Reviews, Community,Forums
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iammodernn o r t h e r n v i r g i n i a | s P r i n g ’ 0 9 i a m m o d e r n . c o m
Meet
IAMTeam
$4.99 US Retail Complimentary Copy
Adriana Escalante CAldEron
with Dr. OzInner Beauty
Exclusive Interview
fashion tips!
top 10 trends for your home in spring A RestAuRAnt with Panache The Villian from
Project Runway
BeAutiful smiles, endless possiBilities.. .
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C O N T R I B U TO R S
4 IAMMODERN.COM
murAt Aksu is no stranger to Journalism. He worked for Playboy (writing articles) in his younger years. Hanging around town, he is known as “Gastronome Magnifique” and a restaurant expert. In his long career as an executive traveling to the best cities in the world, he has become an expert in identifying great restaurants and not so great ones. He lives with his wife and two children in Ashburn.
trAcey pArent is a single modern-mom of two boys and one foster daughter. She is the President of the Loudoun Foundation, a local community organization that provides musical enrichment programs for children. She is also the founder of the Loudoun Summer Music Fest, a community concert-series that takes place at Belmont Country Club in the Summer. Like most modern moms she has no free-time for herself so finding time to date has been like finding water in the Sahara...but she remains hopeful that when a moment presents itself, so will Mr. Right.
nAtAlie JoBity, an image/wardrobe consultant and CEO of Élan Image Management LLC, an image consulting firm serving the DC Metro area, coaches women on how to look their best
by helping them discover, define and project their own unique signature style and an image that positions them for success. Visit her website and blog at www.ElanImageManagement.com. You can contact her by e-mail: [email protected].
michAel VonAl is an artist whose primary medium is photography. He cut his teeth in the rough and rugged world of photography in Los Angeles over twenty years ago, and is now actively pursuing his art in the DC metropolitan area. Michael is best known for his captivating portrait work, which showcases his uncanny ability to capture decisive moments, expressions, and the emotional complexities of his subjects. You can hire him for your photo needs and contact him by calling 571.484.3286
VAl cAVAlheri, mother of Devon 15 and Dylan 21, is a writer/photographer living in South Riding. Her photography has been featured in both newspapers and magazines and she is sought after as an events photographer. She continues to write, most recently freelancing for the Washington Post.
IAMMODERN.COM 5
dr. ZAchAry cAsAGrAnde is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, a distinction held by less than 25% of orthodontists. A Northern Virginia native, he graduated from James Madison University, and received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, magna cum laude, from the Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Casagrande also earned a Master of Science degree and a degree in Orthodontics from the Medical College of Virginia. During his time at MCV, he received grants from Pfizer for work on his master’s thesis. He remains a part of the Medical College of Virginia as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthodontics. He currently resides in Loudoun County with wife Gena and children.
dr. richArd mendelsohn enjoys working with patients of all ages on a multitude of foot and ankle ailments. Widely recognized as a specialist in the treatment of sports and dance injuries, he is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and also is certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. In addition, he is a Fellow of the American Society of Podiatric Dermatology and is a member of the American Podiatric
Medical Association.Dr. Mendelsohn received his undergraduate degree from Emory University in Atlanta and earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Philadelphia’s Temple University School of in 1985. He completed his general podiatric residency at the Cambridge Hospital in Cambridge, Mass., (an affiliate of the Harvard Medical School) and a surgical residency at the Joslin Foot Clinic in Boston.Married with three children, Dr. Mendelsohn is a rabid hockey fan and also loves football. He is among the many Washingtonians who dream of seeing professional baseball find a home in the Washington area as well.
hope kAtZ GiBBs is an award-winning freelance writer living in Clifton, VA. Her articles have appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today, The Miami Herald, the Costco Connection, Working Mother, and dozens of other national publications (www.hopegibbs.com). In 2008, she founded Inkandescent Public Relations, a PR, Media Relations, Publications, Marketing company that helps women-owned businesses (and some cool men) get the visibility they need. For more visit www.inkandescentpr.com.
6 IAMMODERN.COM
Strange sounds. Strange smells. Strange people. A trip to the hospital can beespecially intimidating for children. That’s why Inova Loudoun Hospital provides achild-friendly emergency department specially designed to put our youngestpatients at ease. Children can watch videos, play games, read books or watch TV.It’s more like home. And our experienced pediatric staff is specially trained tounderstand the unique needs of children, like using smaller equipment for smallerbodies. If a hospital stay is required, we’ll continue to provide a warm and caringatmosphere in our pediatric inpatient unit. Inova Loudoun Hospital is committedto your child’s health and well-being. We’ll treat your child like one of our own.
Quality Care Close to Homewww.inova.org/ilh
We’rekid-friendly.
INOVA HEALTH SYSTEM IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
iammodern
IAMMODERN.COM 7
Published Quarterly by Modern Mom Media Cor-poration, 43300-116 Southern Walk Plaza #810 Broadlands, VA 20148, Phone: 703-728-9009 postmAster: Modern Mom Media, 43300-116 Southern Walk Plaza #810 Broadlands, VA 20148Application to Mail at Periodical Postage Rates is Pending at VA and addititonal mailing of-fices. Articles are accepted only in an electronic format. Copyright 2007-2009 by Modern Mom Media. All rights reserved. No part of this pub-lication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher. Modern Mom Media does not en-dorse the view and perceptions of contributors or advertisers. Printed in the U.S.A. Attention retAilers!To carry I Am Modern Magazine in your loca-tion, email [email protected] or call 703-728-9009.
modern mom media43300-116 Southern Walk Plaza #810Broadlands, VA 20148
703-728-9009 phone 571-333-9772 fax [email protected] www.IAMMODERN.cOM
foundinG puBlisher HULYA AkSU
AdVertisinGAccount executiVeskARINA MCkEELAURA GILLNANCY SHEEHYkAREN HORTONAMY BARRAJ
Art And desiGnSITkI kAZANCICreative Edge Design Studio
weBsite TUBA ACERZogox.com
684 modern contriButors meet the contributors
12 mod home top 10 trends for your
home
14 modern pregnant and fabulous
16 modern fabulous toes for fabulous
spring
18 meet i Am modern teAm
20 the desiGn teAm
22 the foundinG modern mom
26 the influencer
28 modern heAlth building your immune
system
30 modern recipe houston’s spinach dip
36 modern BiZ
4040 coVer mom adriana escalante calderon
50 exclusiVe interView with dr. oz
56 eAt our words
64 editor’s picks
66 modern life before your new BF meets
the kids
68 modern mom wendy pepper: not such a
villian
74 pre-school Bliss
80 modern in VA veramar vineyard
iammodern
As the New Year begins, our country is
experiencing some trying economic
times. Neighbors, family, and friends
are tightening their budgets and spend-
ing wisely. It is important to continue to seek proper
medical and dental care, and not neglect our health.
Orthodontic treatment enhances esthetics, but also
provides many functional and health improvements
in most cases. Pediatric and adolescent treatment
can include growth modification of the facial bones
and jaws in order to reduce or eliminate the chance
for future surgery or tooth extraction. Adult orthodon-
tics can greatly improve periodontal (gum) and den-
tal health. The theory that a healthy mouth equals a
healthy body is no longer just a saying as the Ameri-
can Heart Association has linked gum disease and
dental health with cardiovascular health.
Orthodontic treatment is a lifetime investment that
most offices make quite affordable. Despite the lack
of full or even partial insurance coverage, there are
many flexible options available. Our office offers three
different methods of paying for treatment: Option A,
or “payment in full” results in the patient receiving
a courtesy “filing fee discount” off of the treatment
fee. Option B is our in-office payment plan. There is
no finance charge, just a down payment followed by
low monthly payments. Option C is an in-office pay-
ment plan with a lower down payment and higher
monthly payments. Payment plans are flexible and
orthodontic care should still be on your list. Call today
to schedule a free consultation to customize the best
plan for you and your family.
Braces: an affordable Investment
Zachary A. Casagrande, DDS, MSBoard Certified OrthodontistFaculty, Medical College of VirginiaOrthodontics for Children and Adults
22855 Brambleton Plaza, Suite 200 Ashburn, VA 20148 www.ashburnsmiles.com | 703.327.1718
8 IAMMODERN.COM
call today
to schedule
10 IAMMODERN.COM
C O N T R I B U TO R S
10 IAMMODERN.COM
Bill mckee father of two beautiful girls ages 2 and 5, is a sales engineer by day, and reverse food engineer by hobby. This man loves the kitchen and there is no recipe he is afraid to try. In fact, most get doctored-upbefore reaching the plate. His passion started during his college years after spending a summer in Cincinnati with his chef aunt. His love for the kitchen has grown and his lucky wife gets to sit back and relax while he makes the most delicious meals for family and friends.
suZAn meredith has been married to Todd Meredith for 17 years. They are both entrepreneurs. He has a political fundraising business Morgan, Meredith and Associates. They have two girls, Emily, 14 and Savannah, 9 and Buttercup, their parakeet. They live in Ashburn.
Jennifer mAnGum has 4 children, 3 boys and 1 girl, ranging in ages from 4 to 15 and a very active Boston terrier named Hershey. Jennifer is originally from Massachusetts. Her family has lived in Northern Virginia since 2000. She also helps her husband with his film production company, Cold Spark Films. Their first feature movie “The Adventures of Food Boy” starring Lucas Grabeel (from High School Musical) is highlighted in our Editor’s Picks in this issue.
Both ladies have been working together at Redecorate Today since 2006 and are both Certified Interior Refiners. Redecorate Today 571-333-0222, www.redecorate-today.com
rosAnnA AkhAVAn-merheBi born and raised in Northern Virginia has a Persian background. She attended George Mason University and graduated in 2001. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in political science all the while participating in extracurricular activities such as Art, Dance, Journalism, and creative writing. She always had a passion for writing and has been writing as a freelance writer for various publications since 2003. She is also interested in writing a novel. She is a new mother and has a 9 month old son that means the world to her. Rosanna loves to write and feels it comes naturally to her. In addition to writing she also teaches dance and feels both dance and writing are great ways of self-expression.
Beyond recycled: I Am Modern only utilizes FSC certified paper, a form of independent certification, which recognizes that the paper used, comes from traceable and sustainable sources from well-managed forests.
Caringly Creating Beautiful SmileS...morgan Orthodontics specializes
in clear (ceramic braces), invisalign, iBraces (braces behind your teeth)
and traditional metal braces.
Call to schedule a free consultation703-723-5900
Saturday appOintmentS availaBle | aCCeptS all majOr inSuranCeS
dr. Kelly morgan, dmd, mS, pC - morgan Orthodontics19420 golf vista plaza, Suite 120, lansdowne, va 20176
email: [email protected]
nOW Open in lanSdOWne
dr. Kelly morgana board certified, Harvard trained OrtHOdOntiSt is now accepting new patients.
IAMMODERN.COM 11 IAMMODERN.COM 11
Remodeled Spaces Designed for Your Family
Award Winning Solution Based
Innovative Design
www.SunDesignInc.com 703.425.5588
cArolyn e. nimmo-weBBer has worked as an internationally recognized educator, speaker, and spa consultant for over a decade. A licensed Massage Therapist, Carolyn has worked in medical offices, chiropractic offices, and owned her own therapy
clinic. She is a published author, creating and writing industry specific books and magazine articles. Her latest success is the creation and ownership of Le Papillon Day Resort in Winchester, Virginia. Carolyn continues to excel as an accomplished industry leader and visionary.
12 IAMMODERN.COM
M O D H O M E
j|DusT BOwl
colors this year will take on a dusty
hue, color with a smoky look.
k| lOOk uP
decorate the ceiling – also known as
“vertical scaping.” Designers and consumers
are starting to incorporate ceilings into the
design plans.
l|EvEryThing’s COming uP
rOsEs the predominant flowers for
2009 are roses–look around you’ll see them
everywhere.
m|hOT nEw COlOr Pair
camel & maroon
n| OrganiC
leaf motifs and other nature elements
in fabric and wallpaper
o|warm mETal
bronze and patina metals
p|lOvE ThE OuTDOOrs
implement more comfortable
furnishings for the outdoors, including new
lighting solutions
q|FEmininE Flair
look for the herringbone, tweed, and
other men’s suiting fabrics in lots of design
elements
r|auThEnTiC mEETs mODErn
distressed pieces paired with modern
accents will create a current look
s|unDErsTaTED luxury
a bedroom spa retreat to get away
from it all
To get your decorating questions answered go to www.iammodern.com Click Ask Guru
Trends for Your Home in spring
TOP 10
b y S u z A N M E R E D I t h A N DJ E N N I f E R M A N g u M
IAMMODERN.COM 13
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P R E G N A N T
The belly gradually expands, breasts get larger, ankles get swollen, skin changes, weight gain occurs and even the most confident woman
can be alarmed by the challenges of dress-ing her new body. Rest assured though, as daunting as it may seem to still look styl-ish and be fabulous while pregnant, it is absolutely possible once you accept your new body and learn a few new tricks. Use these 10 fashion tips to guide you in the right direction as you build your pregnancy wardrobe.
1. Do create the illusion of a waist as the tummy expands. Tops/dresses that tie in the back are waist enhancing as are those with princess seaming (vertical contoured seaming on the sides of a shirt/dress) that contour to the body and highlight the waist. Empire waisted tops and dresses (horizontal seaming right below the bust) are also fan-tastic —as they bypass the waist altogether and flow nicely over the belly. If you wear an empire waisted top, try wearing it with cool/funky maternity slacks or jeans that make you look more Diva than Dowdy.
2. Do try flowy black pants that have a wide elastic waist band. A pregnancy wardrobe staple for sure!
3. Do draw the eye away from your belly and towards your face as much as possible, try wrap style tops/dresses which are very figure enhancing (Halle Berry rocked this style during her pregnancy). In fact, show-ing as much skin near your collar bone and upper torso is flattering to pregnant woman as it draws the eye to the face. So V neck tops/dresses are particularly flattering. Ac-cessorize profusely to draw attention away from your wide middle and to your neck up.
4. Do try dressing to look slimmer/taller when pregnant-- wear darker colors on top and strategic prints that give the illusion of a more streamlined frame—any vertical line or pattern will be elongating to your upper body. Prints are a great way to distract from a tummy bulge.
5. Do use strategic layering. Layering T’s under jackets or cardigans is a great look that is comfortable and that helps make the figure look more proportional.
6. Do wear stylish and comfortable shoes and heels if you can still manage. They help you feel sexy and fashionable even though your body may say otherwise.
7. Do get manis and pedis routinely so you
Pregnancy is an amazing time in a woman’s life. Her body readjusts itself for the growing life inside of her and her hormones are on overdrive to supply all the nutrients she and her baby needs. For many women, the changes to their body can be initially shocking, but your style doesn’t have to suffer.
pregnant and fabulous!
b y N A t A l I E J O b I t y
IAMMODERN.COM 15
have pretty hands and feet regardless. Get facials and massages, your eyebrows waxed and your hair styled (without chemi-cals) and anything that makes you feel more beautiful.
8. Don’t hide that you’re pregnant, flaunt it! Don’t wear baggy shirts and matronly dresses; show off your larger breasts, your arms & that belly! Embrace the changes in your body and work to enhance the attri-butes you do have.
9. Don’t try to wear the same clothes you wore pre-pregnancy and think no one will notice. They will and your look will not be flattering.
10. Don’t use your pregnancy as an ex-cuse not to care about how you look. Many women have their best hair and skin while pregnant—maximize these benefits! So step out everyday like the magnificent, beautiful, pregnant woman that you are!
nOva rEsOurCEsTry these local stores• Periwinkle – Alexandria• Hysteria – Alexandria• My Sister’s Closet – Vienna• Gossip on 23rd – Arlington
10 fashion
tips!
16 IAMMODERN.COM
B E AU T Y
1SOAK your feet in warm
water with either Epson salts
or herbal mixtures for at least
10 minutes.
2REMOVE thickened, dead
skin build up (also known
as calluses) around the pre-
soaked heels, balls and sides
of the feet with a pumice
stone or foot file. Dr. Mendel-
sohn warns not to use a razor
as it removes too much skin
and can easily cause infection
or permanent damage to the
skin if used incorrectly.
3SCRUB using an exfoliating
cream on the soles, sides and
tops of the feet to eliminate
dry, flaky winter skin.
4APPLY and massage a healthy
amount of emollient enriched
skin lotion all over your feet to
hydrate the skin and increase
circulation.
5APPLY nail polish to the toe-
nails only if the nail is healthy.
Remove polish regularly to let
the nail bed breathe.
for a fabulous spring
6WRAP your entire foot with
cellophane at bedtime. The
cellophane will act as a make-
shift sauna by locking in mois-
ture.
7CLIP toenails with a straight
edge toenail clipper to just
above the top of each toe to
ensure nails do not become
curved or rounded in the cor-
ners.
8PRACTICE good foot hygiene,
including daily washing of the
feet with soap and water, dry-
ing feet carefully, particularly
between the toes.
9INSPECT your sandals or flip
flops from the previous year.
Discard any that appear too
worn.
10TREAT yourself to a foot facial
with Silkpeel microdermabra-
sion to remove any remaining
dry calluses skin and see your
podiatrist for unresolved prob-
lems.
fabulous toesTOP 10
w I t h D R . R I c h A R D S . M E N D E l S O h N
Pam and Kristi are hands-down the first people I call when I am doing any business regarding real estate, period.Tracey Parent, PresidentLoudoun Summer Music Fest, Loudoun Foundation
Contact us today forinformation on General Market Trends, Neighborhood Sales and Listings, or Investment Opportunities
PAM JONES kRISTI STAVROU
Pam Jones and Kristi StavrouYo u r D y n a m i c R e a l E s t a t e Te a m
C o nt a c t i n f o r m at i o nPam – phone 703-726-3405, email [email protected]
Kristi – phone 703-726-5112, email [email protected]
“
“
OfficialGuru
iammodern.com
ask your questions
18 IAMMODERN.COM
The Team introducing
IAMMODERN.COM 19
The Team While it may take a village for some publications, it takes a handful of very talented and hard working people to make our magazine come alive in each issue and daily on our website. From concept to finish, we dedicate ourselves to providing you with the best magazine for Northern VA moms.
hulya Aksu, founderNancy Sheehy, Account ExecutiveVal cavalheri, Photographer, writer and Newsletter EditorSitki Kazanci, graphic DesignerKarina McKee, Account ExecutiveAmy barraj, Account Executive, Event coordinatorMichael Vonal, PhotographerMurat Aksu, eat our words Editor, blogger, Evil genius on Social Media
Not picturedMichelle Vonal, Distribution coordinatorlaura gill, Account ExecutiveKaren horton, Account Executivetuba Acer, web Administrator
20 IAMMODERN.COM
The Design TeamYou like the look of the magazine, well you need to get to know
the creative team. Without great graphic design and page layouts,
courtesy of Sitki Kazanci, the beautiful pictures of our gorgeous
moms that adorn the pages of our glossy, courtesy of Michael Vonal
and Val Cavalheri, we just wouldn’t be Modern….
sitki kazanci is a senior of magazine publishing
and design with over 25 years of experience.
He is highly sought after, community oriented
and all around a wonderful guy. He lives with
his wife and daughter in McLean.
michael vonal is an ex-Angelino who found
his life path here in Northern VA where he gets
to practice his passion of taking pictures and
capturing magical moment’s in people’s lives.
He lives with his two children and wife in Cen-
treville.
val Cavalheri is no stranger to most of you as
she is also a regular contributor in Washington
Post. She is a mom and understands all dimen-
sions in a women’s life like no other. She lives
with her husband and kids in South Riding.
hulya aksu, Founder.
IAMMODERN.COM 21
“Ultimate Prevention, Restorative Therapy and Personal Aesthetic Care.”
21785 Filigree Court - Ashburn, VirginiaFor further information and directions, please call 703.554.1130
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Rejuvenate Your SkinThe Medical Spa at Nova offers a safe, non-surgical treatment for dark spots, rosacea, broken capillaries and mild sun damage in as few as three sessions. This professional skin treatment does not require any down time and results are seen almost instantly.
Nova’s unique approach, combines medicine, aesthetics, rejuvenation and education to optimize your health. The noninvasive treatments are provided in a relaxing and professional environment with the goal of improving health, appearance and well-being...
22 IAMMODERN.COM
Question: Congratulations on winning the inaugural Entrepreneur of the Year Award. This must be a huge personal accomplish-ment.
answer: This award was given to me but is truly owned by all the creative people that make this magazine a reality every quarter. Our readers, advertisers, contributors, inves-tors, and community made this award hap-pen for us.
Question: Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce is the largest one of its’ kind in Virginia. Why do you think you were selected as the winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award?
answer: All the recognition we received this year invigorates us and at the same time humbles us to work even harder. We believe success does not happen as an accident. Success is the result of very, very, very hard work. We worked hard and put out a great product that filled a need in our community and the community welcomed us.
Question: You are a mom with two very young children. You practically started this business with one baby sitting on your lap while you worked in front of your computer. Did anything suffer in your life this year?
answer: I hear people say women can’t have it all. You can’t be a great mom and
In 2008, I Am Modern Magazine was a double finalist for
Entrepreneur of the Year and Product of the Year categories in
Loudoun Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards. We ended
up winning the Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2008. Following
is a brief interview with our Founder and Publisher, Hulya Aksu.
Founding Modern Mom and Entrepreneur of the Year
24 IAMMODERN.COM
a great business woman. Pure fiction. You can have anything you want in life. You just have to be willing to work very hard, never quit and learn to prioritize early. I made a few mistakes at the beginning, but learned fast. My life is exactly the way I dreamt it would be.
Question: Do you have a mentor?answer: Northern Virginia is full of strong business women and among my advertisers, I found many who were willing to share their wisdom with me, Sharon Inetas, from Flint-stone Marble and Granite stands out as she is one I trust very much. She is a business woman who gets it.
Question: What type of an entrepreneur are you? Do you have any pearls of wisdom? answer: I am a hot-blooded Mediterranean so I tend to jump and learn how to fly on my way down. I crashed many times though. You have to be willing to accept that. You don’t al-ways fly. But when you do, boy, it feels good. My pearls of wisdom? Do the best you can and leave the rest to what is meant to be and accept the outcome. I tried many little busi-nesses until this one stuck. If you only talk about great ideas or start things and never re-ally dedicate your whole self, than you lose. Finally, accept and study your failures as much as your successes.
Question: Do you have anyone in particular you would like to thank that directly contrib-uted to your success?answer: I want to particularly acknowledge my investors, my graphic designer Sitki Ka-zanci for his hard work and wisdom, my fam-ily, my advertisers and last but not least, my husband, Murat Aksu, who is my inspiration and my mirror of truth.
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what on earth is social media? One of my favorite quotes is “If you are not on a social media site, YOU’RE NOT ON THE INTERNET.” So what is social media? Well, a famous social media site, Wikipedia.org, describes it as “... is an umbrella term that defines the various activities that in-tegrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos and audio.” I know, I know you are saying “In English please?” Well in English, social media is people having conversations on-line. Do you realize that what you are holding in
your hand right now is social media? I Am Modern Magazine is the first and only pub-lication in the world that is based on social media.The old way of media was a mono-logue; we turned it into a conversation and it is not only online or in print, it is also in per-son with our social club. Its’ content comes from you, the readers. It is about you, the place you call home (Northern Virginia), the establishments you like to visit and your life-style. We took an old industry product (Print Magazine) and combined it with 21st Cen-tury technology and concept (Reader Gener-ated Content). Welcome to 2009.
Murat Aksu, the social media guru behind the concept of I Am
Modern Magazine.
The Influencer
who is murat aksu?Murat is a 17-year veteran of marketing and new technology. As an executive in new technology business, he used the collective wisdom of crowds to build and market products. During the creation phase of I Am Modern Magazine, Murat helped to cre-ate the social media angle in the magazine that included reader generated content, blogs, forums and more. Murat envisioned that in our new democracy, the voices of the people needed to be heard and social media was the enabler. That is how the idea for the world’s first and only reader generated magazine that is in print, online and in person was born.
IAMMODERN.COM 27
28 IAMMODERN.COM
you can’t feel it or see it. You can’t take its’ pulse or its’ temperature. But out of sight and out of mind, your immune system is quietly
and constantly patrolling your body to detect and destroy infectious microbes. It is your most powerful protector, working tirelessly around the clock to keep you safe. Despite its low-key profile, the immune system is the subject of great attention both in the labo-ratories of prominent scientists and on the shelves of retail stores carrying countless products that purport to boost or support immunity. To be sure, your immune system is a precious asset. It protects you from the ceaseless assaults of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Usually, your immune system is quite effective in warding off disease. But sometimes things go wrong. A bacterium, virus, or other pathogen might make it past your immune defenses and make you sick. This year try these simple tips to keep your immune system in tip-top shape!
j| Get a full night’s sleep. Studies have shown that proper amounts of
sleep can be linked not only improved im-munity, but balanced hormone levels, keep-ing weight down, clear thinking, improved mood, and vibrant healthy skin.
k| Drink plenty of water. This important tip can also be increased by making
a cup of black or green tea, which are high in
antioxidants and polyphenols, both of which help to boost your immune system. Adding lemon to water can also help to maintain the body’s internal “climate” at a pH which sup-ports healthy bacteria instead of the viruses and harmful bacteria which thrive in more acidic environments.
l| Eliminate sugar. I know that this is a tough suggestion to those of us that
are addicts, however research has shown that just 8 tablespoons of sugar (the equiva-lent of just two cans of soda) can weaken your immune system by as much as 40%! Make sure you are reading labels on the foods you eat, sugar can show up in unex-pected places – like canned tomatoes.
m| Nurture yourself. Make time to put yourself back at the top of your prior-
ity list. Spending time in a warm bath, having a facial or massage, or even spending time with a good friend can help to make you feel more connected and less anxious.
n| Get some exercise. Research shows that sedentary people don’t have as
vigorous an immune system as those who exercise. Moderate exercise such as walking can improve immune function.
o| Feed yourself wisely. Science has proven the old adage of you
are what you eat is accurate. Instead of worrying about whether you feed a cold and starve a fever or vice versa, eat up in advance. Think rainbow of colorful
boost your immune system now
A S K G U RU
by carolyn Webber (also a Wellness & serenity Guru on www.iammodern.com)
IAMMODERN.COM 29
deliciousness, with bright greens, reds, purples, and yellows being important for your health and well-being. Research has shown that vegetables containing Diinodolylmethane (DIM), a naturally occurring compound found in Brassica vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and brussel sprouts) contain a potent activator of the immune response system. Berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries) can be rare and pricey this time of year but frozen berries can be just as good. They are sweet little bundles of antioxidants and enzymes that help your body strengthen itself from the inside out. Yellows such as grapefruits, bell peppers, and squash are excellent superfoods, with tremendous amounts of vitamin C. Garlic contains allicin and sulfides, both of which have powerful antibacterial properties. It’s a fantastic immune booster because it increases the efficiency of antibody production and stimulates white blood cells (the ones that fight infection). If all else fails, a colorful plate when skies are gray might cheer up your immune system enough to withstand what lurks on ATM buttons!
p| Supplement your nutrition. When cold and flu season comes calling
it is important to add in supplements that boost your immune system. A good multi-vitamin is essential but beyond that you should consider extra vitamin c, b vitamins, and zinc which have each been proven to help support immune function. Research has shown bee propolis, grapefruit seed extract and elderberry extract to have active ingre-dients that help to protect your cells from harmful invaders. Echinacea Angustifolia has also been shown to help increase certain re-sponses of the immune system. Slippery Elm has been shown to help promote respi-
ratory health. Lastly, Omega-3 fats are also great immune enhancers because they in-crease the activity of phagocytes, the white blood cells that consume bacteria.
q| Eat your yogurt. Studies have shown that one cup daily can reduce sus-
ceptibility to colds by as much as 25%. Choose one low in sugar, and no artificial sweeteners or colors.
r| Eat plenty of protein. Protein is a building block for healthy body and
immune system. Diets low in protein tend to be high in carbohydrates which convert readily to glucose, spiking blood sugar and stressing the pancreas and the immune sys-tem.
s| If you are a smoker, QUIT! If not, STAY AWAY from second and third
hand smoke situations. Research has shown that smoking suppresses immune cells, part of the reason smokers are at risk for lung cancer and respiratory diseases. The good news is that research has also shown, when smokers quit, immune activity begins to im-prove within 30 days.
30 IAMMODERN.COM
in the last issue, we featured a current popular restaurant dish, Bang Bang Shrimp from Bonefish Restaurant. This time, we take a look back at another
family favorite of ours, Houston’s Spinach Artichoke Dip. Before moving to Virginia, we lived in the southwestern desert of Phoenix, Arizona and back then this was one of our favorite restaurants. In fact, this was the very first recipe I ever tried to du-plicate, i.e. reverse engineer.
Many of you may be familiar with Hous-ton’s. This family friendly restaurant serves classic American cuisine in a casual envi-ronment. They have a few locations in the greater DC area as well as locations in most major metropolitan areas. The Spin-ach Artichoke Dip is their signature appe-tizer dish and it is irresistible. Simply put, if you go to Houston’s, it is a must-have dish. As you make your way through the restaurant you’ll see most everyone nosh-ing happily on this appetizer. At Houston’s, it is served with warm tortilla chips but it is just as good with toasted bread rounds or crackers.
reverse Food enGIneer
bill mckee cooks houston’s artichoke spinach dip
M O D E R N R E C I P E
b Thaw and drain water from (2) 10oz
packages of frozen chopped spinach
b Drain 12 oz jar of artichokes and
coarsely chop
b In a small sauce pan—Melt ¼ cup
butter over medium heat
b Add 2 Tbls. minced onion and 2 cloves
crushed garlic; sauté for 3-5 minutes
b Stir in ¼ cup flour and cook for about 1
minute
b Slowly whisk in 2 cups heavy cream,
¼ cup chicken broth and bring to a boil...
Once at boiling- Stir in ½ cup fresh grated pecorino
Romano Cheese, 2 tsp. lemon juice, ½ tsp. hot sauce and ½ tsp. salt
b Continue to stir until cheese has melted.
Remove from heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes.
b Stir ¼ cup sour cream, drained spinach,
and 12 oz of chopped artichokes
b Fold mixture into an oven safe baking
dish—split if desired for multiple servings
b Top dish or dishes with 2/3 cup
white cheddar cheese (CAN BE REFRIGERATED TO BAKE & SERVE LATER)
b Bake in oven at 350 degree, until
mixture is bubbly and cheese is melting
b Serve with appetizer toasts, tortilla chips
or thin cut bread (warmed)
IAMMODERN.COM 31
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I hope you enjoy our take on this classic American dish. Make it ahead of time and bake it right before your guests arrive. It is the perfect appetizer for any party and sure to make a lasting impression on your guests! Additionally, the combination of rich flavors and creaminess may be the best chance you have for getting your chil-dren to eat spinach or artichokes.
The art of creating good cuisine shared with great friends is the cornerstone of our kitchen.
32 IAMMODERN.COM
During one of my recent photo shoots I met a model with the longest eye lashes I have ever seen. At first I thought it was one
of those fake lashes so I didn’t think much of it. When my make up artist started her work on her, we realized they were real. It was just amazing how long her lashes were. She told me that many people thought they were fake as well, and then she explained that they were not this long until 2 months ago. She was using something called NEU LASH. This amazing product actually thick-ens and lengthens your eye lashes. If inter-
ested, check it out at http://neulash.com/. I guess you can only get it online or at Sack’s Fifth Avenue for $150, ouch!
A S K G U RU
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IAMMODERN.COM 33
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All registrations must take place in person, in order to serve you better. Due to operational costs, PSS does not offer refunds, credits, make-ups or transfers under any circumstances. Your registration is your confirmation of your child’s place in our program. Please write down your child’s class day and time at registration.
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imagine: You are invited to your friend’s house for a birthday party and you’re running a little bit late. When you get there, you notice a luxurious robe laid
out with your name on the sofa. The smell of cooking food permeates the house, and you see a chef busily working in the kitchen. You investigate and find a room in the house where you hear calming music and which is lit by candlelight. One of your friends is get-ting a relaxing massage. In another room, another friend is having a pedicure done. Pass one more room and you see yet an-other friend having a facial. You wonder—did a spa come to your friend’s house? You would be right, they did, and they’re known as Indulge Mobile Spa. This upscale, eco-friendly spa brings it all to you—massage table, manicure/pedicure equipment (with a nice selection of nail polish colors), salon quality facial treatments, candles, music, and food. All you do is provide the guests. Party
packages are available and customizable to your group or event.
Recently some staff members of I Am Modern had the opportunity to get a little spoiled by these talented spa professionals. Everyone agreed the massage was heav-enly, the facial relaxing, and the manicure (or pedicure) professional. Highly enjoyed (and recommended) was Chef Chris Yep who made a scrumptious brunch and kept the mimosas flowing. Each of us felt pampered and relaxed at the end of the event (typical events last 3-5 hours).
This is a great concept for groups, friends, families, and businesses. Think of Mother’s Day, birthday celebration, wedding or baby showers, etc. You can select from a menu of services and they offer various enhance-ments which include the personal chef, nanny services, makeup application, spa robes, etc. Check them out at: www.indulge mobilespa.com
This is a great concept for groups, friends, families, and businesses. Think of mother’s day, birthday celebration, wedding or baby showers, etc.
Mobile spa
M O D E R N B E AU T Y
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IAMMODERN.COM 37
P L A T I N U M S P O N S O R E D M E S S A G E
This is a story you can probably relate to.
“I am a 36 year old mother of 2 beautiful
children. They are the light of my life, but
they have changed forever what I used to
consider a beautiful face and body. My husband reas-
sures me that I am still beautiful, but I know he has
to see that my face is more haggard; my breasts are
not as full and sag just a little. And I know he has to
see the stretch marks and modest pooch I have in
my lower belly.”
This is an excerpt from a letter I received from
one of my out-of-state patients. Although she had
to travel to see me, her feelings about her family and
herself describe the vast majority of my patients and
friends who live in Northern Virginia. The bottom line
is that women sacrifice many things for their families;
not the least the appearance of their bodies.
Because of E.C. and the hundreds of other patient,
I have who walk in her shoes, I have developed a con-
cept I like to call the “Mommy Make-Over” to restore
many of the more youthful properties they had before
they become mothers. Some of these women can
be seen on my web-site at www.GotoBeauty.com.
Imagine the possibilities.
• Breast Augmentation and or lift to restore natural
fullness
• Tummy Tuck to restore a flat abdomen and get rid
of stretch marks
• Liposuction to get rid of back fat and saddlebags
• Photofacials to reduce sun damage and fine lines
• Botox to reduce facial wrinkles
• Professional hair styling at Radiance Salon and
Medi-Spa
E.C. received her “Mommy Make-Over” which in-
cluded a breast augmentation and lift, a tummy tuck
and liposuction; she had the following to say: “I am
so glad I had the courage to come in and see you.
Although I knew I wasn’t the only one who felt the
way I did, I simply wasn’t sure what was available to
me. You made me feel comfortable in considering
my options.”
Dr. Chang is board certified by the American Board
of Plastic Surgery.
• Make sure your surgeon is board certified by the
American Board of Plastic Surgery
• Make sure he has operating privileges at local hos-
pitals to do the same procedures
• Make sure he has good and plentiful before and
after pictures
• Make sure he works in an accredited facility
Mommy Make-overs at aesthetica
Before After
IAMMODERN.COM 39
40 IAMMODERN.COM
b y h O P E K A t z g I b b SP h O t O g R A P h S b y M I c h A E l V O N A l
h A I R A N D M A K E u P I S c O u R t E S y O f P I N K K A R M A , S t E R l I N g V A
IAMMODERN.COM 41
Adriana Escalante Calderon
Of course, the Peruvian-born beauty doesn’t realize the wonder woman she is and shrugs off the compliment saying that her life is similar to most women today.
C OV E R M O M
Helping Busy Moms Balance Their Act
42 IAMMODERN.COM
driana Escalante Calderon consid-ers herself a typical modern mom. She has three small children (Alberto, 6, Alejandro, 5, and Valeria, 7 months), a sterling jewelry company called Vaccari that she founded in 2002, and a new venture — a thriving blog, www.themomsbuzz.com, that she writes and sells advertising for.
Of course, the Peruvian-born beauty doesn’t realize the wonder woman she is — and when it’s pointed out shrugs off the compliment saying that her life is similar to most women today.
“We’re all juggling a million things, and everything we do is important to us so we don’t want to give anything up,” Calderon believes. “The goal, then, is to find balance and that’s why I started my blog. We write about things that help busy mothers juggle all the good stuff.”
Recent entries include tips on how to keep kids from having a meltdown to teach-
ing them good manners. She also reviews useful parent and kid-friendly products. The blog, she admits, is also her way to trying to help parents shield children from unwanted interference of today’s popular culture.
“Kids are exposed to so many things they aren’t ready for,” insists Calderon, a native of Lima who lived as a child in Guatemala, Mexico City, and Buenos Aires, and went to college in Paris before getting her MBA at American University in 1995. “My father worked for the World Health Organization so we moved around a lot. Although I was able to see many interesting and different cultures, we were never exposed to some of the things my kids see here in the U.S. To do a good job as a parent, you really have to have your act together.”
Calderon also admits that part of balancing motherhood and work is knowing when and where to draw the line.
“I loved building my jewelry company, for
“We’re all juggling a million things, and everything we do is important to us so we don’t want to give anything up,” Calderon believes. “The goal, then, is to find balance and that’s why I started my blog. We write about things that help busy mothers juggle all the good stuff.”A
IAMMODERN.COM 43
I created my own line of high-end sterling products and designed some of the jewelry myself,” she shares. “But being there for my kids and husband Gustavo was my prior-ity. So I’ve let that company go a bit. It is just a matter of picking my priorities. The blog is a little easier to manage, plus by selling ads it has become highly profitable. Most impor-tantly, though, it helps other moms. I feel like I’m doing exactly what I should be doing right now, and that’s a great feeling.”
How do you define modern motherhood?Modern motherhood is multitasking at its
best. Modern moms are equipped with the
right tools and resources to measure up to
any and every challenge out there. A modern
mom can make it on her own.
How do you differ from your own mother? Our main difference is a generational
difference. Although my mom was a
homemaker with half the academic education
that I received and dedicated her entire life to
her 3 children, she was more laid back, more
accommodating and leaving many personal
interests for a later time in her lifetime,
except, one, sports. She was an amazing
athlete winning international tournaments all
the time.
What would your own mom say about you?
My mom tells me that I am juggler and that I
have the energy of 3 people altogether.
What traits do you admire in other moms?
I admire those moms who are able to keep
their personal interests alive.
What do you detest? I do not really detest
anything. I think it is just a matter of attitude,
approach and focus.
Biggest challenge. My biggest challenge today
is to find a daily peaceful time to be in touch
with my inner spirit and keep on growing it.
Biggest reward. Watching my husband
succeed in his business and my kids grow as
healthy, happy and grateful human beings.
When are you your happiest? I usually wake
up happy and if not, I pretend until I make it.
But, what makes me the happiest is watching
my kids laugh of joy when I am being a clown
and silly. Ok, a new pair of shoes would also
do the trick.
How do you make time for yourself? Ha,
ha! That I can only do if everything goes
as planned, and with kids you never know.
But, I do and it all starts with a personal
commitment to make time for myself.
I block time in my agenda, and try to stick
to it just as I do with my children’s time and
commitments.
Greatest accomplishment. Having a
harmonious family life.
What will be your legacy? I do not really think
of leaving a legacy as much as helping others
in the present moment. Giving is now, not
yesterday or tomorrow.
44 IAMMODERN.COM
A few of her favorite things:Favorite Northern VA Restaurant: Mom Ami
Gabi
Favorite dish: Grilled baby octopus, Peruvian
style.
What are you reading now? “A New Earth”
by Eckhart Tolle, but it is taking me forever
to read it because my reading time is right
before turning the light off in bed, and I am
only able to read a couple of pages at a time
before I call it a day.
Favorite designer. Oooh! I have so many and
it depends on the item.
Favorite beauty item: Eye sunblock by
Clarins.
Best place to visit: The new 7 Wonders.
These are 7 historical landmarks that our
generations are fortunate to be able to visit
unlike the old ones that we could only read
about in books.
One advice for other moms. The fastest way
is the right way and that’s why, it is not what
you achieve in life that counts, but how you
get there.
Amy BArrAJpassion parties independent Consultant
7 0 3 - 5 9 9 - 2 9 4 [email protected]
www.amybarraj.yourpassionconsultant.com
When you are wrapped up in the frenzy of life... it is easy to put romance on the back burner.
Embrace your partner with romantic tips and ideas for a memorable life.
Call Amy to learn more about Passion.
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P L A T I N U M S P O N S O R E D M E S S A G E
The treatment of
stubborn scars
(from trauma,
acne or just
persistent scratching from
hypersensitivity) can often
take many months if not
years to make a noticeable
improvement.
One of Dr. Dima’s “life
defining moments” was during the treatment of her
own facial scar. During the research and testing phase
of new laser technology, Dr. Dima endured a “very
stubborn scar.” It was when she sought an effective
yet natural and hypoallergenic camouflage that Dr.
Dima discovered the accelerated healing of her scar.
As she states: “it was like an overnight miracle.” Dr.
Dima began applying the “miracle” mineral powder
to her patients even immediately after laser or other
cosmetic dermatological procedures to cover the red-
ness and other side effects. Dr. Dima admits that it
was ultimately a combination of both art and science
that was the definitive cure.
“We had tried every mineral brand on the market
and the coverage was ei-
ther unnatural looking or the
loose powder would end up
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very personal desire to cure
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When asked about the advantages of mineral makeup
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cause there are no binders and it’s free of additives
such as mineral oil, talc, perfumes, and preservatives,
Minacles is not just exceptionally beautiful looking it’s
healing for your skin.” Dr. Dima continued “it doesn’t
contain bismuth oxychloride, a byproduct of lead and
copper processing, a huge skin irritant that worsen
conditions such as acne and rosacea.”
She further stated that “even Cleopatra and Nefer-
titi had their cosmetics finely ground from rocks
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Dr. Dima describes Cosminology as a “true labor
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IAMMODERN.COM 47
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Your Neighborhood Pediatrician
what is a Foreclosure sale?When a homeowner is no longer making mort-gage payments the lender will take possession of the property through the Foreclosure pro-cess. Once the lender “owns” the property it is prepared for resale and a real estate company is retained to market the home, negotiate a sale, and close the transaction for the new buyer. Most foreclosure sales are relatively smooth transactions that can occur very quickly and can be a great investment for the purchaser of the home. One caution for the purchaser; make sure you have the opportunity to thor-oughly inspect the property before completing the transaction. A neglected property may be no “bargain” once any defects are discovered.
what is a short sale?A Short Sale occurs when a homeowner can-not sell the property for a price high enough to cover the payoff of the mortgage balance and costs of sale. A large percentage of these homeowners have other assets that can be liq-uidated to offset the shortage but if this is not the case the owner may appeal to the lender to take a “short” payoff amount for the loan. Unfortunately, most lenders have no incentive to take a lower payoff so these transactions rarely work out. Many potential buyers have wasted much time and money attempting to get a “deal” on a home purchase that will likely never be completed.email our Guru at [email protected]
Q: What is the difference between a Foreclosure and short sale?
A S K G U RU
b y P A M E l A J O N E S
IAMMODERN.COM 49
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50 IAMMODERN.COM
with Dr.Oz Exclusive for IAM
Beauty Inside and Out
There are, in fact, scientific standards to beauty. Beauty is purposeful, because it’s how humans have historically communicated who we are to potential mates. Beauty, in fact, is really about your health and happiness.
Dr. Mehmet Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon, a health expert on the Discovery Channel and Oprah Winfrey TV and radio shows and a best-selling author of several books including the YOU: The Owner’s Manual series. Rec-ognized by the media as “America’s doctor,” Dr. Oz can claim one more moniker: The I Am Modern Doc. In this issue, once again, “our own Dr. Oz,” has answered the questions we were dying to know in his own inimitable no-nonsense style.
b y V A l c A V A l h E R I
IAMMODERN.COM 51
52 IAMMODERN.COM
i am modern (iam): In your new book (co-authored with Dr. Michael F. Roizen) YOU: Being Beautiful: The Owner’s Manual to Inner and Outer Beauty, you identify and dis-cuss the three dimensions of beauty: looking beautiful, feeling beautiful and being beauti-
ful. Are you saying there is a close correlation between beauty and health?
Dr. Oz: There are, in fact, sci-entific standards to beauty. Beauty is purposeful, be-cause it’s how humans have historically communicated
who we are to potential mates. Beauty, in fact, is really about your health and happi-ness.(Dr. Oz says it’s all based on a biological genetic code. In looking beautiful the docs
discuss the correlation between self-esteem and health. In feeling beautiful they remind us that beauty means nothing if we have the energy of a slug and tell us how to energize and revitalize our lives. Being beautiful dis-cusses relationships and achieving happi-ness, with the ultimate goal being to have all three levels of beauty working together.)
iam: Many times mothers associate the time they spend on their health and fitness with selfishness or feelings of guilt. How can we overcome this hurdle?
Dr. Oz: The answer to this question is some-what analogous to reaching for your own oxygen first if the plane is having trouble and then helping your kids. If you are not healthy, you cannot take care of others. If that is not enough to get you over the guilt
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Dr. Ozfeelings, then you should also keep in mind that you are a role model for the kids.
iam: So often 8 hours of sleep is impossible and it looks like our skin is the first sign of the lack of rest. Can you recommend some quick pick-me-ups?
Dr. Oz: A lot of Americans sleep deprive themselves during the week and try to make it up on the weekends. But what you’ve got to do is wake up the same time every day, regardless of when you fell asleep the night before. Get into a routine and be able to do that for weeks and weeks on end.
A key to getting a good night’s sleep is a regular schedule: turn lights down 20 min-utes prior to bedtime to allow melatonin lev-els to rise. Keep a cool and dark room and wear loose-fitting clothes.(Dr. Oz also suggests avoiding late-night ex-ercise, alcohol, late night meals, and cutting out any caffeine after noon. If your thoughts keep you awake, keep pen and paper by the bed and jot them down. The average person should be able to fall asleep within 15 to 30 minutes of lying down, he says and if you can’t sleep, get up and do something calm-ing, soothing and meditative. Then try to sleep again.)
iam: During pregnancy most moms find they have a radiant glow, their skin has a luster, their hair is shiny and thick and their nails grow fast and strong. What causes this increase in beauty and how can moms main-tain this glow after giving birth?
Dr. Oz: Increased estrogen allows more blood to reach the skin (and uterus) so women glow. You can maintain healthy lev-els after pregnancy (and throughout your life) by avoiding inflammatory foods. These tend to also accelerate the aging process.
(Dr. Oz recommends that we all follow these guidelines: if it contains flour, sugar (or other sweetener) it will be inflammatory. Sugary and/or starchy foods will not only pack on ex-cess pounds, they will cause wrinkles, sagging skin, and fatigue.)
iam: Let’s talk about menopause.... There are some alternative remedies and one that is a hot topic on our forum discussion boards is Bio-identical Hormone Therapy. What are your thoughts on this topic?
Dr. Oz: I am very supportive of these, but they need to be prescribed by experts who really understand both the benefits and the risks.
iam: In your books you discuss getting more omega 3s by eating more fish for healthy skin and overall health. Are all fish created equal?
Dr. Oz: No, oily fish have more omega 3 fats and best of them all is salmon since they are typically eaten young and therefore there is less time for toxin accumulation. Another good way to get the omega 3s is to get to the source and eat what salmons eat—spirolina algae, which has valuable DHA omega-3s. These can be taken as an alternative in pill form. We recommend taking about 600mg daily.
iam: We’ve often heard our moms say that hair is only sexy on the head and not so much on other body parts. Is it safe to permanently remove body hair with laser?
Dr. Oz: Sure, it’s safe as long as the hair is dark and your skin is light so the laser can eas-ily hit the correct target.
iam: For more ideas, suggestions, and tips on keeping both beautiful and healthy as you age, check out Dr. Oz’s You: The Owner’s Manual series.
54 IAMMODERN.COM
you’re absolutely right. Since the re-
call of cold meds for small children
and the new FDA recommenda-
tions, parents have very little re-
course to treat their sick children.
Most of the problems occured in very small
children who were overdosed with various cold
meds.
The problem we face is that the available
over the counter cough/cold meds work mini-
mally at best. Many of them may even create
unwanted side effects. When looking at the
many cough/cold remedies you will see that
there are four main types of ingredients (decon-
gestant, antihistamine, antitussive, and expec-
torant). You will find a large variety with every
dr. Bill from capital area Pediatrics
A S K G U RU
Q: I am so confused about the types medicine I am no longer allowed to give my children. Is Benadryl safe? What do I give my children without worrying about hurting them? Are there natural alternatives?
IAMMODERN.COM 55
possible combination. In the “old” days I would
have suggested that parents buy single ingredi-
ent meds and treat that specific symptom. But
nowadays, a cold med with a decongestant
and antihistamine is your best bet. Benadryl,
also known as diphenhydramine, is a very good
antihistamine, its’ main drawback is that it will
cause drowsiness. I currently use this type
of med for my daughter when she gets cold
symptoms.
Supportive care in the form of taking plenty
of fluids, vaporizer, and proper positioning help
a little. For very bad cold symptoms, there are
a few prescription cold medications which I
have found to be pretty effective in controlling
symptoms.
The best way to treat colds is to prevent
them. Steps like encouraging good handwash-
ing, using disposable tissues, cover our coughs,
and avoiding contact with sick persons help.
I’m a big proponent of taking vitamin C for the
prevention of colds. Some studies have also
shown that certain forms of zinc (zinc glucon-
ate) might also reduce the duration of colds.
If you find that your child’s symptoms last
for two weeks or more or that they are getting
worse, then a visit to your pediatrician is war-
ranted to rule out any other illness.
Hope this helps.
You can read more of Dr. Bill’s advice on
www.iammodern.com click Ask Guru
56 IAMMODERN.COM
lounge and private dining rooms feature vintage 1940s-textile inspired, custom stenciled walls which evoke the look of silk wall coverings. All of this just a stone throw away from your house and with affordable prices.
The moment you arrive, you are greeted by good looking young people who are not pretentious. Once seated at your table, you are given slices of bread varieties with a delicious Mediterranean creamy garlic dip. The menu offers guests dishes blending French, Italian and Spanish flavors. You have several eating options at Panache. You can keep ordering generously sized tapas dishes until you are full, or you can order few tapas dishes and try one of the delicious entrees. We did the latter and ordered Octopus Terrine, Escalivada Mediter-ranea and Ceviche. Let’s start with our favorite, Escalivada Mediterranea. The presentation of this dish is very impressive. Thinly sliced grilled egg-plants, zucchinis and squash are rolled up like fruit rolls and served on a bed of roasted peppers and tomatoes. This vegetable medley is dressed with tangy house vinaigrette. When you bite into the veggies, you taste and smell the charcoal which takes you back to the Mediterranean. Our second favorite tapas is Ceviche. This is a form of citrus-marinated seafood appetizer that is popular in mainly Latin American countries like Panama, Ec-
Red Velvet, White Leather, Crystal Chandeliers and So City Chic
Panache RestaurantPinnacle Towers South
1753 Pinnacle Drive, McLean
Phone: 703.748.1919
R E V I E w b y M u R A t A K S u
The times when you had to trek down to DC for a stylish restaurant with great food are finally over. Top of the line restaurants are doing the smart thing and coming to suburbs to find their custom-ers. After years of serving discriminating DC cli-ents, Panache Restaurant brought its great menu and beautiful décor to McLean.
Panache’s retro sleek interior is the brainchild of owner Aziz Safi with some help from a local boutique decorative painting company. Brown crocodile skin adorns the wall of the opening foyer and the main dining room is awash in cream leather with accents of dark red with crystal pen-dant chandeliers that add a glow to the space. The
Restaurant Reviews “eat
our
words”
IAMMODERN.COM 57
Restaurant Reviews PanaChe ReStauRant
a taSte of BuRma
RangoLi
BiStRo PaSaRgad
Pei Wei
uador, Peru and Bolivia. Both finfish and shellfish are used; finfish is typically raw while shellfish is typically cooked. Panache’s Ceviche includes scal-lops, cilantro, capers, chopped red onions and to-matoes as well. The dish is served in a bowl with colorful fried tortillas that you can use to spoon out this refreshing Ceviche mix. Octopus Terrine is an interesting looking tapas dish that upon arrival looks like a sushi roll. The bottom layer of the dish is a pesto based sauce mixed with roasted red peppers, mushrooms and flattened Octopus tentacles. The sushi looking part turns out to be a scoop of olive potato salad and beets wrapped with, you guessed it, flattened Octopus. This was my wife’s favorite dish.
As we were getting rather full from the tapas, we decided to split a main course. We left it up to our lovely waitress to pick it and she surprised us with Risotto Frutti di Mare. Risotto to us is one of those dishes that we love eating in restaurants, but never remember to cook at home. Panache’s risotto is served with jumbo sea scallops, gulf shrimp, chopped claims and fresh mussels sau-téed with garlic, basil and white wine. The dish is finally mixed with chef’s signature spicy marinara sauce. Risotto was very creamy, yet not runny. We wondered if chef was influenced by Spanish Paella and New Orleans style Jambalaya dishes.
Risotto Frutti di Mare is now one of our favorites in Northern Virginia. To top it all, we split a Crème Brûlée with a thick crust and tasty vanilla flavored custard. It was so fresh that Crème Brûlée was not even fully cold. We felt like we were eating a freshly made dessert from our mothers’ kitchen. Though we did not try any, Panache also offers a rich list of wines with over 120 different varieties, focused on small production, family-owned es-tates and organic/sustainable wines. Our verdict for Panache, go for lunch, go for drinks and scen-ery and go for dinner. Although the crown is made up of mostly professionals in the area at lunch, moms and kids in tow are definitely welcomed.
Where in the World is Burma and Why haven’t i discovered its’ food Before?
A Taste of Burma126 Edds Lane
Sterling
Phone 703.444.8510
R E V I E w b y M u R A t A K S u
According to Wikipedia “Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar, is the largest country by geo-graphical area in mainland Southeast Asia.” The country is bordered by countries with major cui-sines including India, China, and Thailand. I like Thai, Chinese and Indian foods so how could I have missed Burmese food? How come the only time I hear about Burma in the media, it is about Burmese military junta and not about their beauti-ful culture and food? I hope to change this as I just found out about this great Burmese restau-rant called “A Taste of Burma” in Sterling.
We were greeted by a very friendly owner, Jona Nila Davis. The interior of the restaurant is adorned with beautiful Burmese handmade tap-estries called “Kalagas.” Jona also informed us
58 IAMMODERN.COM
Do you often find yourself wondering what to make for Dinner?It’s a question that can vex us all, and too often we compromise!
Dinner Done can be a healthy, delicious alternative to eating out, not to mention a better value too! Our professional kitchen offers entrees you assemble yourself for later use at home.
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that some of the finely carved tables and lacquer ware that are displayed are from their own family heirlooms. All of the decorations make this place a perfectly cozy Asian restaurant with family and friends. Don’t be overwhelmed with the 100 or so dishes listed in the menu. Just ask Jona for help and she would happily make suggestions.
She suggested we try couple typically Burmese appetizers from the menu, Golden Finger Tempura (By Thee Gyaw) and Fried Yellow Burmese Tofu (Tofu Gyaw). Golden Finger Tempura is crispy fried Opo squash and it is served with chili tama-rind sauce. When I eat Tempura, I usually order shrimp, chicken or some sort of meat. Eating fried vegetable tempura was actually very refreshing. I also tried Fried Yellow Burmese Tofu made of chickpeas and served with chili tamarind sauce. This dish is masterfully presented with sliced yel-low tofu in the shape of small match boxes. I am not a big Tofu eater, but I know that it is better for
me than eating beef, mouton, etc. So now I know that I can live on it if I ever become a vegetarian. For our main dishes, we ordered Ginger Shrimp and Chicken Curry (Kyat Thar Hin). Ginger Shrimp is a traditional stir fried dish with snow peas, shi-take mushrooms, water chestnuts and shrimp in ginger sauce. It is served with white rice and the infusion of ginger into mushrooms and shrimps is invigorating and delectable. Chicken Curry is a simple dish cooked with onion curry sauce and we found it to be lifeless and bland. We don’t know if the cook held off on curry because we looked like we could not handle it, but we did not like it. In the end, we were surprised with two delight-ful desserts. We were served Cream of Wheat Cake (Shwji) that is mixed with coconut cream, al-monds and poppy seeds. It is deliciously textured and sweet. It went great after Ginger Shrimp.The other, Burmese Farluda is a taste and sight you need to experience with rose syrup, milk, ice
IAMMODERN.COM 59
Enjoy a Fire Works pizza in our place or yours. we offer unique appetizers, cool salads, very hot pizza and a nice selection of
beer and wine.Bring the family to Fire Works
201 Harrison street, SE, Leesburg703.779.8400 / fireworkspizza.com703.779.8400 / fireworkspizza.com
Open for lunch and dinner everyday
cream, pudding topped with shredded coconut, far luda noodle and crushed pistachios. Wow! It is rich, flavorful, surprising and wicked all at the same time. I am told that this is one of the most popular desserts in Burma. I can see why.
in indian culture, Rangoli is a colorful decorative art form.
Rangoli24995 Riding Plaza,
South Riding, VA
703-957-4900
R E V I E w b y V A l c A V A l h E R I
Rangoli is also the name of this popular Loudoun Indian restaurant, which uses the art form as a theme. Opened in 2006, the restaurant quickly rose to critical acclaim from being Zagat Rated to finding itself on various favorite lists. For good reason—it has really great food.
Kumar Iyer and Sam Santosh, owners, along with their carefully selected staff just know how
60 IAMMODERN.COM
Voted Best Fine DiningRestaurant 2008
Leesburg Today
Lunch • Dinner • Cafe MenuSunday Brunch
Private RoomsWeddings • Dinners • Lunches
Corporate & Private Events
lightfootrestaurant.com
11 North King StreetHistoric Downtown Leesburg Virginia
703.771.2233
to do it right. From the moment you are greeted at the door until you leave, you are always pam-pered and never rushed. Your water glass is never empty and if you are a returning customer they seem to remember what you enjoyed the last time you were there. But it’s also the food that keeps you coming back.
My family loves Indian food and we’ve been to most of Northern Virginia Indian eateries and typically have the same dishes at each location. My children always ordered Chicken Tikaa (grilled chicken marinated in spicy yogurt based sauce). I’m a vegetarian and ordered Paneer Makhani (rich tomato-based sauce with cheese) and my hus-band is comfortable with anything hot and spicy, preferably shrimp grilled in a tandoor clay oven.
Well, you can get them at Rangoli as well, and they are done to perfection. But here, we’ve taken the plunge and explored other dishes, as well. Chicken Makhani (also known as Butter Chicken), was described by one of my sons as “mom, this is the best chicken I’ve ever had. (Hmmm….. Thanks, son.)” My oldest has become a huge fan of Tandoori chicken (spiced with red chilies and grilled on the bone). I’ve moved on to Channa Masala (tasty combination of chickpeas with shal-lots, tomato, and spices). My husband, no longer orders the same thing, sampling other dishes, but declaring each one as delicious.
We’ve also encountered some items that we’ve never had before. Try their Bhel Puri appetizer, a mix of chopped onions, tomatoes, spices, and rice crispies (yep, the same rice crispies). The breads are unbelievable and you can make a meal just or-dering a couple of different varieties (if you never had an Onion Kulcha, order one next time) and the Mulligatwany Soup (yellow lentils) is always a wonderful precursor for a good meal.
One of the best things you can do to experi-ence this restaurant is to go there during lunch where a wonderful buffet will allow you to do your own taste test. If you’re close by, Rangoli should quickly become one of your favorites. If you’re not, it’s worth the trip. 24995 Riding Plaza, South Riding, VA
One Bite and You’re Hooked!
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Sundays Brunch 10-2Tuesdays – Kids Eat FreeWednesdays – Mom’s Day
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19286 Promenade Drive ◆ Lansdowne Town Center ◆ Call today for Group Reservations Catered Eventswww.TheDockatLansdowne.com ◆ 571.333.4747
Pinnacle Towers South 1753 Pinnacle Drive, McLean, VA 22102703.748.1919 panacherestaurant.com/tysons
ENJOy AN iNFuSiON OF iTALiAN, FRENCH, SPANiSH STyLE TAPAS AND ENTREES DELECTABLE WiNES & LiVELy COCkTAiLS
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Persian food for a quick lunch getaway
Bistro Pasargad11725 Lee Highway
Suite 15-A
Fairfax
Phone: 571.432.0101
R E V I E w b y M u R A t A K S u
I truly enjoy seeing the emergence of second gen-eration ethnic food restaurants in our area. They remain true to the essence of their food origins while experimenting with the way they are or-dered and served in upgraded surroundings. Prior to visiting Bistro Pasargad with my family for a Saturday dinner outing, I looked at available pic-tures on the web. What I saw made me anticipate the visit.
Bistro Pasargad is located off Lee Highway in a strip mall that is oddly perpendicular to the road. As you approach the location, all that you can see is a giant Starbuck’s sign. As we pulled up to the front of the restaurant at around 7PM, we were surprised by the sight of a single fam-ily dining visible through the large glass façade. Determined to eat kebabs we pressed on and en-tered the bistro. It is an extravagantly decorated place that has in its’ center a large fountain pool with pearl blue tiles. Walls are adorned with mold-ings done in a French Carton Plié style. Around the perimeter, you can see a divans covered with
62 IAMMODERN.COM
multi colored shiny satin pillows. All and all, inside of Bistro Pasargad is a great mélange of eastern and western motifs.
As we sat down, we were greeted by a shy waitress who gave us oversized menus. Shortly after, we were served sliced pita bread with a cup of refreshing Turkish Cacik (yogurt mixed with gar-lic and cucumber slices). While placing our order, we contemplated about drinking wine or beer with our meal which was interrupted by our waitress who said, “We don’t serve alcohol in here.” There goes that idea. Apparently, they also don’t serve sparkling water. So we ordered Coke and Sprite and Paneer Sabzi which is usually a good mix of white onion, fresh herbs like cilantro and basil, white feta cheese, etc. Most Persian restaurants in Los Angeles and Atlanta would serve this for free in a large bowl to every table. We were very surprised to see a very small plate served with herbs that looked like they have seen better days
with two thin slices of tomatoes and a small cube of feta cheese smaller than a match box. And for this they charge $4.99?
But I digress we ordered a Barg for my wife, Jujeh for my mother-in-law, chicken for our kids and Barg and chicken kebab for me. All plates were served with a generous amounts of meat rice and grilled tomatoes. Barg is often called the Sultan of Kebabs and it is made with strips of meat made from marinated Filet Mignon, cooked to perfection. Jujeh is bone in Cornishing hen skewered and cooked on open flame broiler that gives its delicious crunchiness. And the Chicken Kebab is made from boneless and skinless breast often marinated with Turmeric. All of the kebabs were tasty, juicy and cooked to perfection. Bistro Pasargad is an above average kebab restaurant that is ideal for lunch time. In my opinion, they have to start serving wine and beer if they want to attract more customers during dinner hours.
IAMMODERN.COM 63
Welcome to the Web 2.0 age of asian diners
Pei WeiVirginia Gateway
Lee Hwy. and Linton Hall Road
Gainesville
Phone 703.753.3880
R E V I E w b y M u R A t A K S u
I don’t know who did it first, but slowly and surely casual dining restaurants are adopting Web 2.0 sim-plicity in designing a food ordering system. What is a Web 2.0 simplicity you ask? Have you been to web sites where all that you see are 3 extra large buttons say “Buy Now”, “Contact Us” and “Sign Up For Newsletter?” That simplicity is the end re-sult of Web 2.0. Give the customer an easy, no brainer access to what he/she wants. Don’t hide your information. Casual dining restaurants are fast incorporating this simplicity into their menus. Chipotle is a good example, so is Aditi Bistro of Vienna, Café Metro in NY and now Pei Wei.
You can find Pei Wei in 5 different locations in Northern Virginia. I tried both Gainesville and Dulles 28 locations. They are both consistent. Comfort-able seating area, all you can drink sodas and for-tune cookies. You order your food are given a number. Display it on your table and one of the friendly waiters will bring your order the table. Here is a review of what we have tried in both lo-cationssalaDs name: Pei Wei Spicy Chicken SaladDescription: Wok seared chicken, assorted let-tuce, Napa cabbage, vegetables, rice sticks, to-mato and lime vinaigrette.verdict: Awesome. Can I have some now? The lime dressing has a perfect balance of spice and sweetness. The salad is crunchy and warm. Veg-gies are balanced, not too bitter not too soggy. Perfect. You can still eat more after this salad, so order it to share.
nOODlEsAll are served with Chicken, Beef, Shrimp or Veg-etables and Tofuname: Lo Mein with ChickenDescription: Rice wine garlic sauce, scallions, onion, bean sprouts, shiitake mushrooms. Carrot and egg noodle. verdict: The noodles are ok. Not too exciting, nothing reinvented. Good and satisfying. name: Japanese Teriyaki Bowl with ChickenDescription: Sweet soy glaze, onion, cabbage, carrot, spinach, scallion, toasted sesame seeds served over white or brown steamed rice.verdict: What a comfort food! Perfect combina-tion of glazed sweetness, vegetables and chicken. You can have the same dish with Beef, Vegeta-bles and Tofu. Writing about this is making me hungry.
signaTurE DishEsAll are served with Chicken, Beef, Shrimp or Veg-etables and Tofuname: Pei Wei Spicy (their version of General Chu) with ChickenDescription: Chile vinegar sauce, scallion, garlic, snap peas, carrot with chicken.verdict: Spicy as the name suggests, this dish is chalked full of fun ingredients and degrees of sourness. It is definitely one of our favorites.name: Thai Coconut Curry with ShrimpDescription: Green curry coconut sauce, ginger, Thai basil, red bell pepper, onion and long beans.verdict: This was our least favorite dish. We or-dered it for my mother-in-law and she probably thought that was intentional.
I crave Pei Wei regularly and I feel guilty for craving chain restaurant food. But who can argue with delicious food?
64 IAMMODERN.COM64 IAMMODERN.COM
RescueGirlres-kyü•gurl \ n:Yoga to the Rescue is an adorable illustrated guide that tackles every girl’s/mom’s dilemma and pain in 7 useful categories, from Sexy to Sanity. User-friendly for yoga beginners, yet challenging enough for yoginis! Great illustrations. The original RescueGirl, Amy Luwis, launched her company in 2004 to inspirit and applaud women. RescueGirl focuses its energy on creating useful, positive products and works with companies that care about making this world a better place. Her award winning gift line is sold online, and through stores including Whole Foods Market. www.rescuegirl.com
E D I TO R ’ S P I C KS
Food Boy Ezra (Lucas Grabeel/High School Musical 1,2 & 3) discovers he has a unique ability to make food appear in his hands. Ezra quickly uses his new super powers to impress his friends and to be-come popular around school for the first time in his life. His life gets turned upside down when he can’t control his gift and turns his high school into a major food fight zone. While coping with his disintegrating life, Ezra must decide whether he will give up the food gift forever or if he will embrace his new identity and be-come Food Boy. This Hollywood hit was written and produced by a NoVA favorite, Marc Mangum (the husband of one of our Favor-ite Gurus, Jennifer Mangum.
Yoga to the Rescue
IAMMODERN.COM 65
Smart Mom Teething Bling®
Made from the same material as many baby teething toys, Smart Mom Teething Bling® jewelry looks great on Moms, Grandmas, Aunts and Caregivers but is safe for curious babies to handle and chew. They use only the highest-quality, phthalate-free, federally approved silicone in their Teething Bling™ line. The material is non-toxic, latex-free, food–safe, even dishwasher-friendly! www.smartmomjewelry.com
IAMMODERN.COM 65
Jambo KidsJamboKids (Jambo is Swahili for Hello) was started by Clara Conti and Richard Rawson, Psy.D. and who live in Great Falls, VA. A few years after they adopted their daughter from China, they wanted to give her stories that inspired and toys to which she could relate to.The idea expanded into a line of multicultural toys and books for all kids.
For families looking for positive, contemporary, authentic, relevant role models for their 3-8 year-old children, JamboKids meets the need head-on with a unique line of ‘round the world adventure storybooks and multicultural dolls that celebrate cultural diversity and promote positive character development. www.jambokids.com
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DO: Break them in slowly on neutral territory.
Start with an early dinner date, not a four- day
vacation. That way if the first impression (on
either side) isn’t a good one, it’s only an hour
or so.
DON’T: Show up on an overnight after a
month of dating with your children and their
sleeping bags in tow...
DON’T: Introduce them to Mr. Third date
because you are “curious to see how he is
with kids”... Get to know him WELL before he
meets your prized possessions.
DO: Keep your expectations low. Relation-
ships develop over time. Something that comes
from a slow cooker is usually better than some-
thing that is flash-fried (unless it comes from
McDonalds and is made of potatoes--)
DO: LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR CHILDREN
SAY. If their wounds are still fresh, be gentle
and don’t force the issue. Date him on your
own time and maybe mention the things you do
so your child can get to know him first through
you and then eventually themselves.
DON’T: Involve your new BF in co-parenting
drama. If it’s THAT bad, it just might not be the
right time to enter into a relationship nonethe-
less involve your children.
DO: Trust your instincts and be cautious in
protecting your children from harm. We all
want to think we have struck gold, been kissed
by the Prince and that this is “the one”, but
many women find out their Prince wasn’t a frog
before, but a snake.
DON’T: Take for granted that your children
need YOU, so getting lost in a relationship
when you have kids IS NOT AN OPTION. BF’s
come and go but your children will always be
there, if you are very very lucky!
Join mypage.iammodern.com today and read
about Tracey’s daily adventures.
For the single moms out there, here are some tips for bringing home your boyfriend to meet your kids.
new BF meets the kids
S I N G L E
b y t R A c E y P A R E N t
Before your
IAMMODERN.COM 67
Whitbeck & Cisneros, P.C. provides experienced, aggressive, and compassionate representation in the areas of law that impact you and your family most.
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at www.iammodern.com ASK GURU. You can reach her at 703-777-1795
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Q: I have been married for over 10 years and sadly it seems we are at the end of our marriage. I am worried though about property settlements since my husband is the primary holder of our assets. Is virginia considered a 50/50 state?
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‘All opinions from Guru experts are based on available and presented in-formation. The expressed opinions are not a substitute for medical, legal or psychological care and should not be viewed as such.’
68 IAMMODERN.COM
Preparing for the interview with Wendy Pepper, finalist of Season 1 of Project Runway, what I found when Googling her name were the
words “talented but a real villain, ferocious and backstabber.” The collections associ-ated with her name carried two distinct sig-natures: luxurious colored fabrics and haute couture eveningwear. So it was with great trepidation that I wondered what I should wear that would look best with the knives I expected in my back. Entering her studio in Middleburg I was prepared for Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada. What
I got was Wendy Pepper. Who within less than one minute made me feel both wel-come and at ease.
Wendy, who was in the midst of sewing her new line, Pony Express (more on that later), spent the better part of our time to-gether discussing the importance of being part of a community. “I believe in working where you live. People can come visit and see what I do and I hire people who live here. I could have gone anywhere after the show. This is where I want to invest and I want people to come here and experience my community. People need to recognize
“I have a real mischievous streak and I don’t really care what I look like. Most women are really self-conscious. I’m not.” “When I went back to the show as myself, [having also shed 40 pounds] people were so shocked that I was ‘normal.’ I try to teach people that they shouldn’t be imprisoned by a certain look.”
deMYsTIFYInG THe vIllaIn oF ProjecT runWaY: Wendy Pepper
M O D E R N M O M
b y V A l c A V A l h E R I
IAMMODERN.COM 69
how powerful the individual business per-son is.” She also expressed her passion for being around women who are ‘in transition’. “I find so many women who have access to everything, except their voice. They’re lis-tening to everybody elses’ needs, which is what we as women do—taking care of your husband and your child or your parents or your boss. I tell them you’re very attuned to being the caretaker but, if you don’t learn how to nurture your own voice you will have a void. So, I try to coax that out of people.”
Throughout our conversation were inter-woven interesting tidbits about her, her life, involvement in Project Runway and sub-sequent involvement in Battle of the Net-work Stars and Celebrity Poke Showdown. “Poker!?” I inquired. Her eyes lit up. “I love poker, I love games, I love to compete.” Oh yeah, that’s right—the backstabber. What about that? I asked her. She admitted that she is extremely competitive and won’t back down. “I do what’s needed in the playing field. But I also made the show work for me.” Oh yeah, did I mention that this reality show character doesn’t own a TV?
Then there is another matter. Her looks. The woman in front of me had not a stitch of makeup, even though she knew we would be taking photos. She looked like… well… normal. However, during the show she had skunky streaky hair, weird makeup, and she wore…. a lab coat. Wendy laughs. The people she spent time with during the show were the makeup artists (who were closer to her age.) They started putting silly makeup on her. “I have a real mischievous streak and I don’t really care what I look like. Most women are really self-conscious. I’m not.” “When I went back to the show as myself, [having also shed 40 pounds] people were so shocked that I was ‘normal.’ I try to teach people that they shouldn’t be imprisoned by
a certain look.”The show changed her, she admits. She
cut out everything that no longer served her, including her marriage. She kept the stuff that worked. Which brings us back to her new collection--Pony Express. I watched her move from one sewing machine to the next adding embellishments and stitches to some pretty awesome clothes that I predict will be on every girl’s must-have list this year. (Check out the I Am Modern website for further info.)
As I was leaving her studio, I remembered the blog I came across on the Bravo TV site: From Nicole who wrote: “OMG! You know how like, mean Wendy Pepper is? She is soooooooo mean. She is my least favorite!” I smiled remembering. No, Nicole, she’s ac-tually not. She’s really “kewl” and I’m so glad to have met her.
70 IAMMODERN.COM
mnoParty the
One of our main goals with our magazine has been to connect moms in person. For those moms in the know, we have been regularly connecting with each other every month in person. At our November MNO (Mother’s Night Off) Party, 800 of you showed up at the Hyatt Regency in Reston. We ate, we drank and we shopped for a cure where the pro-
ceeds were donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. You can attend our monthly parties and find out more about our annual MNO Party by visiting mypage.iammodern.com.
IAMMODERN.COM 71
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VillAGe Green dAy school709 Walker RoadGreat Falls, VA 22066703-759-4049www.villagegreendayschool.com
Village Green Day School strongly believes in developing student minds and reinforc-ing ethical values. They follow the Chinese proverb, “When I hear I forget, when I see I
remember, when I do I learn.” Village Green Day hopes to develop an environment that will help the whole child with an influence from Montessori, Piaget, Gessell, and Erik-son methods. For the preschool age, stu-dents will sing, dance, pretend play, have art lessons, play outside, role-play, and computers. Tuition varies between $880-$15,910 and spend time covers music and movement, computers, art, area field trips, and special guests.
One of the best advice for any parent beginning the pre-school search is to check a variety of schools to see which is right for your child. Visit a class. Ask tons of questions.
b y b R E t t D E N f E l D
Finding a pre-school for your child is an arduous process. Luckily for Northern Vir-ginia parents, there are many options when looking for a preschool for your child. In most cases, however, you will need to overlook the competitiveness. All parents want their children to learn the necessary skills to set the tone for their child’s fu-
ture educational experiences. The best advice for any parent beginning the preschool search is to check a variety of schools to see which one is right for your child. Visit a class. Ask tons of questions. At minimum, know what the teacher/child ratio is, the type of activities done, and the teaching philosophies. The following are just some of what you can find in our neighborhoods. To see the full list of Pre-Schools, visit www.iammodern.com KIDS.
IAMMODERN.COM 75
Offering developmental Play, Music & Art classes from birth to 5 years.
* Valid at participating Play & Music locations only. See your local Play & Music location for other restrictions and details.
CHANTILLYSPRINGFIELD MALLALEXANDRIA703-836-2277
www.ConservatoryBallet.com703.715.8366
2254-L Hunters Woods Plaza Rd.Reston,VA 20191
Program for ages 18months to AdultEnroll Today!
reston montessori school1928 Isaac Newton Square WestReston, VA 20190703-481-2922www.restonmontessori.com
Reston Montessori School welcomes chil-dren 3 months to 9 years old for their many different programs. The Primary program features preschool aged children 3-6 learn-ing from a philosophy based off of Dr. Maria Montessori, Italy’s first female doctor. The philosophy believes that the child should ex-plore, be independent, and learn self-control. The curriculum includes practical life, senso-rial, math, language, science, geography, art, and music. Tuition for the Primary group is $9400 for 8:30am-12:30pm. Tuition for other programs varies between $10,600 and $15,600. A 2.5% discount is available on tu-ition payments submitted in full by Septem-ber 1.
centreVille preschool, inc.13916 Braddock RoadCentreville, VA 20120703-830-5656www.centrevillepreschool.com
Centreville Preschool, Inc. (CPI) focuses its student’s learning in four main areas: physi-cal, intellectual, social, and emotional. The curriculum includes working on motor devel-opment, working on puzzles, circle time to do daily classroom tasks and games that de-velop language, math, and concepts, show n tell, snack, music, and outdoor play. Ages 2 1/2 - 5 are welcome at CPI. The preschool level is ages 3-4 with morning and afternoon programs. At CPI, there is a need for active parent participation, especially in the three and four year old age group. Tuition ranges from $1220-$2230.
76 IAMMODERN.COM
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Call today!–to schedule your free introductory class
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Gymnastics, Cheerleading Dance Classes 4mos-12yrs.
• The premier children’s motor skill development program in the world.• Proven curriculum that builds coordination, balance, rhythm and flexibility.• Parent/child classes for infants and toddlers. 4mos-3yrs.• Classes in Gymnastics, Karate, Sports Skills, Dance, Cheerleading and more for 3 to 12 years of age.• Fun, nurturing environment for children and parents.
*by Entrepreneur Magazine in their January "2008 Franchise 500" issueAshburn • Fairfax • Gainesville
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chesterBrook AcAdemy7541 Virginia Oaks DriveGainesville, VA 20155703-753-8832www.gainesville.chesterbrook academy.com
Chesterbrook Academy believes in individual approach to learning. They believe that some students are auditory, some visual, and some tactile. Children ages 6 weeks to kindergarten age are welcome at Chesterbrook. The pre-school program at Chesterbrook is a strong skills-based curriculum that features circle time, nap time, reading, writing, math, social studies, science, health habits, self-concept, and Spanish introduction. They want to edu-cate cognitively, emotionally, socially, and physically. Parent involvement is welcomed in helping with school parties, field trips, and class. Tuition is $227 per week.
IAMMODERN.COM 77
the nysmith school13625 EDS DriveHerndon, VA 20171703-713-3332www.nysmith.com
The Nysmith School is for a student who is curious, has a sense of humor, likes pat-terns, numbers, words, being creative and original, loves information, aware of other childrens feelings, and loves to learn. The school strives to provide an environment where children can learn to their full poten-tial. The Nysmith School is for gifted children ages 3 to 8th grade who are ready to learn about art, reading, math, science, comput-ers, French, music, and physical education. The preschool program is for ages 3 to 4 where the student teacher ratio is 8:1. Tu-ition for the preschool program is $19,070 and goes from 8:30am to 2:30pm.
become a member of
mypage.iammodern.commeet local moms like you
78 IAMMODERN.COM
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Actingfor YoungPeople &Adults, Inc.
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loudoun country dAy school237 Fairview Street NWLeesburg, VA 20176703-777-3841www.lcds.org
Loudoun Country Day School is for children preschool to 8th grade. LCDS’s preschool has half day and full day junior kindergar-ten options. Loudoun Country Day School strives to educate students to become well rounded, academically, physically, artisti-cally, socially, and emotionally. They focus on communication: reading, writing, speak-ing, and listening, reasoning: math, science,
and computers, culture: history, music, art, drama, and foreign languages. LCDS’s new sixty-nine acre campus will open in Septem-ber 2009. Tuition for half day is $9,900 and junior kindergarten is $13,700 for full day. Fi-nancial Aid options are available for families in need of assistance.
winnie the pooh preschool42507 Mount Hope RoadAshburn, VA 20148703-724-0496www.wtpp.org
Winnie the Pooh Preschool is a not-for-profit preschool that welcomes children ages 2 -5. Their goals are individual acceptance, free-dom within limits, child-sized world, parent participation, and a three- way communica-tion between students, parents, and teach-ers. The curriculum changes every month when classes receive new themes to work on like colors, numbers, shapes, etc. Sub-jects taught are music, art, social exercises, and physical education. As a not-for-profit organization, Winnie the Pooh Preschool does fundraising that involves parents and students alike. Tuition ranges between $130 to $200 per month depending on the age group.
80 IAMMODERN.COM
i’ve always wanted to go wine tasting and for my first time I decided to try Veramar Vineyard, Berryville Virginia. I looked up many vineyards and read
reviews and heard many good things about Veramar Vineyard. I heard that Veramar had beautiful views and well rated wines.
It is said, “like fine wine it gets better with age”. This is also the case and motto of Veramar Vineyard, in fact on their website it says “Like fine wine, we get bet-ter everyday.”
Veramar Vineyard is a 100-acre private es-tate and winery set in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Vineyard is just 55 minutes from the Washington DC area and definitely a “must see” for it’s spectacular
views. The Bogaty Family owns and oper-ates this small and quaint vineyard with a Tuscan ambience.
The family hails from the Italian Alps where even today its’ members still own and operate a small vineyard in Italy. A gen-
eration later, Jim Bogaty decided that it was time to return the family to its roots and in 2000 started a Vineyard here in the
States. Today, three generations of the Bogaty family Della and Jim, along with their son, Justin, and their two daughters, Tiffany and Ashley, carry on the legend, dedicated to continuing the family’s tradition of excel-lence in winemaking.
The vineyard produces 5,000 cases of wine per year, which is a lot of wine for a
Veramar’s Norton red wine received a Gold Medal at the 2006 Indiana International Wine. Their Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc have been noted by French critics as preferred wines over French wines.
veramar vineyard, a must see
M O D E R N I N VA
b y - R O S A N N A A K h A V A N - M E R h E b I
IAMMODERN.COM 81
boutique vineyard. Veramar Vineyard pro-duces Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Caber-net Sauvignon, Vidal Blanc, Bordeaux styled red, Sevyal Blanc, and Norton. Some of their wines have been noted for their excellence in flavor. The Norton, a red wine, received a Gold Medal at the 2006 Indiana International Wine. The Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc have been noted by French critics as pre-ferred wines over French wines. There are many options to give your taste buds and to find the right wine for you at this winery.
After speaking with Jim, I got the sense of why he and his family are so passionate about the vineyard. They really have cre-ated a place where people can come and enjoy wine and spend the day enjoying the scenery. The family oriented events allow adults to enjoy wine while the kids can take part in the fun activities. I asked him why he started the vineyard, he said “I retired from the corporate world and bought this estate
in Clark County and wanted something to do and carry on a tradition of wine making from the old country”. I asked Jim how the vineyard is unique compared to others and he mentioned “We do a lot of events year round so that you can come here with your family.”
In addition to events, the winery averages 20 weddings per year on the estate. Jim says “We had a Miss Virginia, Miss Mary-land and Miss America that had their wed-dings here, but not all at the same time”. I can see why they would have their wed-dings here, the amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountain are mesmerizing. The best part about the vineyard is that one can feel right at home with the hospitality of the family-run business. If you love good wine, wonderful food, and wine education - don’t miss this vineyard. Visit www.iammodern.com for more information and also tell us your favorites.
82 IAMMODERN.COM
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