Tag Archives: Guest Post

Guest Blogger: Black Beard RVA

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Today’s guest post is from Black Beard RVA, and he’s got a few things to say on the topic of facial hair. Checkout his blog, and welcome him into Virginia Bloggers!

If anyone has Netflix, they may have seen a documentary recently called Mansome, a semi-mocumentary which takes a humorous approach to male grooming.  With causes like No Shave November, and a societal craze over mustaches, it’s no surprise that there is a growing trend of facial hair for guys.

Then, there is bearding.

Until I saw Whisker Wars on IFC, I had no idea there were regional beard leagues, much less international competitions for growing facial hair. Even with a little scruff, I eagerly joined the Richmond Beard League and wanted to document everything about it.

beard league

My goal is to do product reviews, give my take on different events, and also give commentary on things like facial hair in corporate america.  After doing a lot of research and reading some books, I wanted to combine the best of the best in one place so someone starting out can get tips, or a seasoned beardsmen can read, reply, etc.

About me: 27 year old living in Glen Allen, VA with my wife of 6 months and 2 dogs.  I work for ‘the man’ at a large bank, and most of my friends have no clue about bearding, so it is really fun to get a new take on things.

I would love guest bloggers, guys, girls, pros and cons about facial hair.  It’s an odd topic, but once you have a longer beard, everyone comes up to talk to you about it like you are in your third trimester.

Thanks all!
-J

Interested in getting involved in the facial hair community of VA? Check out this event in April!

2013MABSC Teaser Poster

Protein Pancakes from The Classy Bee

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photo 1Hello all of my fellow fabulous Virginia Bloggers! I’m Bethany, a goofy health and wellness blogger over at The Classy Bee, swing on by my little bloggy blog and introduce yourself! I love bloggy friends! (Seriously…you make my world go round.) I’m so happy to bring you a delish protein pancake recipe I swiped from my boyfriend…shhh don’t tell him.

I don’t know what I like more, dating someone who eats healthy or dating someone who loves to cook. Matt makes me these awesome protein pancakes for breakfast all the time, and I thought I would be generous and share his recipe.

Matt's Protein Pancakes

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I housed every single one of these guys.

Enjoy! They’re super tasty and the almonds satisfy the crunch cravings! Let me know if you give ‘em a whirl, and I hope to hear from you all soon :)

Best,

Bethany

Guest Post: Ashley @ Attempts at Domestication

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Today’s guest post is from Ashley @ Attemps at Domestication. She’s got some great ideas for sprucing up your space, so definitely check out her blog. And if you didn’t get a chance to peek at our event announcements in Richmond and NoVA, be sure to check those as well!

My husband and I love entertaining, but our small kitchen table was just not cutting it for both our space and our hosting abilities.

dining-room

We decided that instead of searching for the perfect table and spending a ton of money, we would just build our own table. The project was surprisingly simple and turned out way better, and more inexpensive than we imagined, plus we absolutely love the table!

kitchen table5

When we first started this project we did a whole lot of research on how best to go about building our own table. My major source of inspiration was Michelle’s kitchen table  but her’s was not quite big enough for Jesse and I’s plans for our space. However, Michelle got her plans from Ana White’s blog so that is where we went searching for plans for our own table. We found that her Rustic Table plans best matched what we were looking for, but my husband, being the detailed person that he is didn’t just want to take her measurements and run with them. So we taped off the floor around our old table to decide how large we wanted our own table to be.

diy farmhouse table

Then we went to Lowe’s with our measurements and got all of the supplies we needed. My husband had the day after we bought all of the supplies off work, so he started working without me. But he was a good little blogger husband and remembered to take some pictures. He basically followed Ana White’s plans to a T. Until it got to the legs. Ana White used 2×4′s for her legs, but we decided we liked the look of chunkier 4×4 legs instead. Hubby also did things in a different order, like attaching the legs to the apron before attaching the table top.

diy farmhouse table4

This did make everything way easier when it came to painting, no tape needed! We also stained the bottoms and sides of the tabletop boards before attaching them to the apron.

diy farmhouse table6

After the top was attached I stained the top side and applied about 3-4 coats of Matte polyurethane. I like the matte finish because it doesn’t add any sheen and makes things look even more rustic; however, we’ll have to add a regular coat of poly as well because the matte is too soft for something that will see such rough use over the years.

kitchen table3

And now for what you’re all wondering about, how much did this project cost us?

  •         Wood – $86
  •         Stain (Dark Walnut) – $7.77
  •         Paint (Olympic Snow Storm) – $11.97
  •         Polyurethane (Rustoleum Matte finish) – $11.93
  •         If that is all we needed to buy then our total would have been: $117.67

But my husband decided that he needed a new drill and we accidentally ruined our brushes and had to buy more, plus we were out of sand paper. We actually ended up still spending just a little over $300, which is still WAY cheaper than we would have paid for a table anywhere else.

kitchen table6

The chairs are also new purchases, but after I sold our old table and chairs for $80 these chairs ended up only costing us $10. When the weather gets warm again I plan on spray painting them all solid white.

kitchen table8

What do you guys think?

DIY Project from Alyson of Richmond Real Estate Mom

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The holidays might be over, but this wreath project could done with some ivy or spring flowers! Check out the awesome decoration that Alyson put together! 

Hello fellow Virginia bloggers! I am so happy to have discovered this blog and community for all things blogging in good ole VA!

I write the blog Richmond Real Estate Mom. I feature posts on a variety of topics including the current housing market, interior design and staging, thrifting, easy DIY projects, a weekly menu planner, and motherhood.

I recently saw this letter wreath on Pinterest and decided to give it a whirl. I have always loved the ones seen in Ballard Designs but didn’t want to spend the money.

Pinterest

I got my letter at Hobby Lobby. They were around $12 but I had a 40% off coupon so I paid a little over $7. Then the garland was 50% off at Hobby Lobby and I bought it 15 feet long.

At first I started wrapping it all the way around and it was too cumbersome and I quickly ran out of garland. So I started doing the front only and zigzagging it around the S. I used my glue gun and staple gun to hold it in place.

Then I decided to hang it on my back storm door and so the back would be visible when leaving our house.  I went back with some cheap Dollar Tree garland (one package was the exact right amount) and glued it to the back of the S.

I attached it with ribbon also found at Hobby Lobby.

Enjoy,

Alyson @ Richmond Real Estate Mom

Guest Blogger: A T-Shirt and Pearls

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Hi there! I am Sarah from over at A T-Shirt and Pearls. A T-Shirt and Pearls is a collection of my musings on fashion, decorating, cooking, entertaining, and life in general. I have a little something for everyone, so stop on by and check things out. Hopefully you’ll find something you like and stay awhile. You can also link up with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest via my blog.

I live with my husband, Britt, in Richmond, VA. We met while attending Randolph-Macon College and decided to stick around. It was an amazing decision and we love our little home and life in the suburbs of Richmond.

While I have you here, I wanted to share an upcoming event that is happening right near my Alma Mater, in the quaint little town of Ashland, VA. The event is called Deck the Halls and is taking place on Sunday, December 2 from 11-4. I am so super excited for this event and have already gathered a group of girlfriends to go with me. I hope some of you will join us there!

Deck the Halls is a fundraiser for Hilliard House. Hilliard House provides housing and supportive services for homeless women and children (up to age 18) for a stay of up to one year. Their mission is to provide support and services to these families in order to build their capacity to go out and live productively in the community (information from hilliardhouse.org). So, in a nutshell, this event is for a really good cause. I encourage you to check out their website to learn more about their programs and ways you can volunteer.

Deck the Halls is an outdoor event on a historic farm in Ashland. The cost of your ticket allows you to make as many fresh Christmas decorations as you can carry! {I have had two third floor apartments in my life and I have learned how to carry a lot, like bags from my fingertips to shoulders…two trips are for weaklings. So, I plan to make and carry a lot of good Christmas decorations!} They will provide you with a variety of fresh cut greenery: pine, cedar, hemlock, fraser fir, holly, nandina, boxwood and more and all of the greenery is from local farms! They will also have bows, wreath forms, wire, clippers, gloves, and anything else you need for your wreath making adventures. There will be garden club volunteers there to help you with your creations incase you are not very crafty, which I am not. While you are there you can visit the warm and cozy Big Red Barn for holiday treats, cocoa, and live music. There will also be pre-made greens and other goodies for sale.

The cost for all of this is only $25 (!!!) but get your tickets now because after Thanksgiving the ticket price increases to $30. Still a good deal, but why not save yourself $5?! For all of the details on this event and to purchase your tickets you can click here. You can also visit the Facebook page for Deck the Halls here.

This will be my first time at Deck the Halls and I am excited to fill my home with the smell of fresh greens all while helping a great organization. Make sure to check back on my blog because I will be posting pictures of the event and all of my goodies I create…hopefully they will be worthy of sharing and not a hot mess! See you soon!

Sarah @ A T-Shirt and Pearls

Guest Post: Dogs of Richmond

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Hey everyone, Paws up! My name is Conor, but you can call me Conor, and I “blog” at DogsofRichmond. This is a one stop shop for pictures of local pups, doggie events around town, and some scattering of my sporadic life. My recent life has been anything but scheduled. I moved to Virginia a year and half ago from Ohio, started a career, bought a house, and have picked up and dropped almost every hobby possible. The only constant thing in my life has been being a dog-owner and dog-lover.

Liz from IHeartVegetables actually got me started blogging about this passion and it’s given me excuses to run around taking photos of cuties to share with everyone! Regardless of how awkward that makes me look…

My posts are 60% about dogs I run into during my weekend adventures in Virginia. They are 20% events in the area including costume contests, dog meetups, and even human-activities. The last 30% of the blog is filled with weird life events or adventures I think are funny but are probably just socially embarrassing. Did I mention I’m great at math?

If you like cats, that’s cool. I own a gray tabby who happens to be a wizard. However, Dogs of Richmond probably isn’t for you. If you secretly are a dog-person, no fear! You can browse the blog in a private tab and no one will ever know (Shift+N in Chrome). I won’t tell the cats.

In the time I’m not blogging about, talking about, or photographing dogs I’m usually sleeping or playing video games. There are other skills I consider myself proficient in: Tree-climbing, hair-flipping, planking, owling, slaying dragons, sleeping through my alarm clock, drinking an excessive amount of white mochas, and putting clothes on ALL BY MYSELF! :D

Feel free to stop by Dogs of Richmond, but wipe your feet and paws first, I just mopped. If you’re a Social Media junkie like myself, you can stay looped in with Dogs and my crazy mind on Tumblr, Twitter, & Instagram @DogsofRichmond!

Guest Post: Have the World on a String

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Hey there from Have the World on a String! I’m a travel-junkie and can’t get enough of exploring. You’ll find me all around the globe, but a lot of the time, I’m just exploring our backyard. Virginia is a gorgeous state with so much to offer!

Autumn is my favorite season, for the crisp air, sweet pies, holidays spent with family, and the colors. The explosions of reds, purples and oranges are such a reminder that there is beauty in change and natural expression in things coming to an end. On one of the first fall Sundays, there is nothing more appropriate to do than trek out to the Shenandoah valley to do a little apple pickin’.

Escaping the city

Autumn has, in fact, arrived.

About an hour west of DC, we found ourselves on back roads, over train tracks and gazing at the mountains in the distance. Stribling Orchard welcomed us (and, pretty much the entire population of northern Virginia) with their apple orchards in peak gleaning form.

Welcome!

A little orchard ambiance

They had about 10 different types of apples for picking – some to eat, some to bake. Granny Smith’s, Rome, Golden Delicious, Jonathan’s… apples I didn’t even know existed! Many trees had been picked around the bottoms, so we went for the big ones, just out of our reach.

Granny Smith’s are the best pick for this lady!

Enter our apple pickin’ picker. As I exclaimed about an hour into our trip, it was one massive picker! And pick apples, it did. It was a wobbly thing. I really wanted to take off running and javelin throw that sucker through the trees.

Check out this bad boy!

Going after the red delicious!

Wandering through the orchard, we had time to catch up on our lives and our plans. And what we were baking these babies into. Muffins, pies, turnovers galore. We had already worked up an appetite, so of course we chowed down on some gourmet eats outside of the barn and general store at the orchard.

On the menu, a hearty veggie chili on a bed of white rice. So much more delicious than my super healthy, barley/whole wheat grain, cheese-less chili at home.

sooo good I even ignored the styrofoam!

Once I was sufficiently warmed by this gooey deliciousness, it was time for an even more appropriate treat. Apple Turnover!! Do you know, this was my first ever apple turnover? Sure, I’ve had apple pie, apple strudel, etc…but never in my memory did I enjoy this flaky, buttery goodness.

And it’s portable!

As much as I’d like to think I’m going to bake my loot into a delicious apple turnover or some other version of a baked good, I know what will really happen. One at a time, they will be smothered in peanut butter and devoured as a 3pm snack. I’m just not.a.baker.

2.5 pounds for all that effort!

Prepare yourself to be peanut buttered!

Happy fall, ya’ll.

5 Tips for New Runners via Neon Blonde Runner

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Greetings to my fellow Virginia friends!!  My name is Katherine and I’m a 3 time marathon runner with a personal best time of 3:26.  I’ve had a fast and furious love affair with running and I am super excited to report that I just registered for my first Boston Marathon in spring 2013.  I blog about my running adventures, travels, and life in Richmond Virginia over at Neon Blonde Runner.

The goal of my blog is to inspire others to dream big and shoot for the stars with their goals.  I just ran my first road race in 2010 and at that time I would have never dreamed about qualifying for the Boston Marathon, but you never know what you’re capable of until you try.  So that’s why I want to give each of you 5 simple tips for getting you started with running…so that you can take off, make it your own and discover what you’re capable of too.

You may recognize me from the October 2012 issue of Outside Magazine! My photo was featured in the article that named Richmond the Best River Town in the nation

 

 

5 Simple Tips for New Runners

1)  When you’re starting out, don’t focus on speed.  Instead, just run based on time—for example, decide that you’re going to spend 20 minutes jogging and just set out and relax.  Focus on enjoying yourself and getting a “feel” for it.  I didn’t start to pay attention to speed or pace until I’d been casually jogging for almost a year.  This will take the pressure off of it all.  This is your “me” time, your time to clear you head.  You can gradually increase the length of your runs when you feel comfortable with what you’re already doing.

Once you get into it, running can feel as relaxing as a siesta on the beach

 

2)  Run with a buddy or a group!  You’d be surprised at how much this makes a difference.  If you know that you’re going to meet someone for a jog, it’ll be much easier to head out the door.

Running with Tappan at the Color Me Rad 5K

 

3)  Remember that the hardest part of running is getting out the door.  Not many people get super excited before heading out for a jog…but once you get started, the feeling is pretty darn incredible and you won’t regret it.  Schedule a time to go running ahead of time and stick with it—I prefer running before work, otherwise it just will NOT get done.

4)  Go to a running store to get fitted for a pair of shoes.  Running in the right shoes is super important and can help prevent any injuries!  Sources recommend that you replace your shoes ever 200-300 miles.

5)  Track your progress and stick with it for at least a month before you decide to stop running.  Keep a little calendar where you write down how long you ran each day.  Or you can record your progress in an online running diary, such as Daily Mile or the runner’s world training log.  If you stick with it for a month and still don’t enjoy running, then maybe running’s just not your thing…but I doubt that will be the case because you’ll notice such incredible changes in your life, both mentally and physically.

Running is simple, pure, and has added so much joy to my life.  Its benefits will seep into all other parts of your life.

So give it a try!  I am always happy to try to pull new converts along with me!  So if you live in Richmond, let me know and I’ll tell you about some great local running groups.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions:

-e-mail- NeonBlondeRunner @ gmail . com

-twitter- NeonRunnerKat

-Instagram @NeonBlondeRunner

Are you a runner and have some tips to add?  Please let us know in the comments below!

 

Guest Blogger: Caught On A Whim

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Hi!  My name is Erica and I blog over at Caught On A Whim.  In my blog I share my adventures in puppy raising, crafting, travels, recipes and more.  Here is one of our recent adventures in Virginia…

My husband and I decided to spend some of our time off this year on a staycation at home.  Maybe that doesn’t sound too exciting offhand, but a staycation doesn’t have to be a ‘bore’cation.  You just have to spice it up by being creative.  We decided to be local tourists by visiting local attractions, trying new restaurants and seeing Virginia with fresh new eyes.  One of our favorite day trips was to the Chateau Morrisette Winery.

The winery itself is a magnificent building which was built completely from reclaimed wood.  The architecture is stunning.
The views are nothing short of ahhhmazing!  Who doesn’t love the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains?  We also ate at the winery’s restaurant, which has tasty gourmet food and even more breathtaking views on the expansive patio.  Plus, there is no shortage events and festivals to attend throughout the year.
Now, this is where the magic (aka wine tasting) happens.  It was fun to have the chance to taste multiple wines in a row.  I never get to do that on my own, because opening 10 bottles of wine at home is just a wee bit too expensive.
It was also fun to take a tour the winery.  On the tour we got a chance to learn the history and to also see how the wine was made.  Who doesn’t love a good wine with a paw print stamp of approval?
And of course, don’t go home empty handed.  Be sure to take home a few of your favorite bottles of wine from the tasting and check out the gift shop for fun trinkets like this buzzy wine stopper that I couldn’t resist bringing home.

Even the ride out to the winery is worth the trip.  All you have to do to get there is go for a little joyride on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  You might even make it to the winery eventually, after you are able to pull yourself away from the views you’ll encounter on the drive to get there…

Have you guys been to Chateau Morrisette? Care to share any other wineries in Virginia (or beyond) you’ve enjoyed visiting?  

Guest Blogger: Eating Appalachia

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Hi fellow VA bloggers—so fantastic to join you all in celebrating Virginia! I’m Jes of Eating Appalachia and I hail from Roanoke down in the southwestern corner Virginia. Originally from Atlanta, I made my home here after earning my MFA at Hollins University in Poetry (I was in it for the money…wink wink) and falling in love with the mountains, local produce, and a fantastic fellow who goes by G here on the internet. My blog centers on food (hence the “eating!”) and features vegan recipes and omni restaurant reviews from around the world. I guess you could say I live to eat—and now I’m even making a little bit of a living off it. Can’t beat that!

Introduction aside, today I’ve decided to share with you all a recipe that incorporates everything I stand for food-wise (fresh local produce, booze, and preservation)—Strawberry Bourbon Brown Sugar Preserves. While strawberries are now a bit out of season, this is definitely a recipe to hold onto for next year or one to make with some of the strawberries you might have frozen. And what beats a recipe with bourbon? (I swear, if you can put liquor in it, chances are I’ve already made it or it’s on my list!)

A few years ago I jumped on the canning train and even worked for an entrepreneur who opened a small local foods restaurant & store here in Roanoke. While the business venture didn’t pan out in the end, the time that I spent culling through boxes and boxes of fruits and vegetables, slicing & seasoning, and standing over giant pots of boiling water instilled what I think will be a life-long infatuation with fresh food preservation. It’s amazing all the different ways you can pickle and preserve. If you’re looking for a good place to learn how to can, check out the blog Food in Jars or the book Canning for a New Generation–love them both.

This particular recipe focuses on the sweeter side of preserved food and is a great way to honor the late spring’s bounty. While I love strawberry jam, I found myself wanting to make a more updated version of the classic recipe. A quick Google search left me wondering why on earth no one else had thought to add bourbon to strawberry preserves—seems like a no-brainer, right? So I decided to run with it. The resulting preserves are light and tart with a mellow, caramel-oak backtone, perfect to serve on freshly baked biscuits. While not overtly boozy, the bourbon adds a nice warmth to the preserves and gives them just a little more depth than you’d normally find in strawberry jam. Light. Sweet. Tart. Dark. These preserves pack a lot of differing flavors that definitely complement each other—Southern to the core with a bit of Appalachian flair.

Strawberry Bourbon Brown Sugar Preserves

  • 6 c Crushed strawberries (about 1.5 quarts whole)
  • 3 tbsp Low or no-sugar pectin (I used Ball’s)
  • 2/3 c Bourbon
  • 1 c Brown Sugar
  • Jars & lids for canning
  • Canning supplies

In a medium stock pot, combine the crushed strawberries and pectin. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.

Add brown sugar and bourbon. Return to a full rolling boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

If canning, process in a hot water bath per these instructions for 10 minutes to fully preserve and seal.

Makes 2 ½ pints.

 

Virginia Love,

Jes of Eating Appalachia