By Sherry Nicely

Maridav/Shutterstock

Over the years my clients have sometimes taken the summer off from their normal fitness routine because they say they are more active during the summer. When I’ve questioned them further about exactly what kind of activities they would take part in, sadly, they weren’t very active. I’d hear “cookouts”, “pool parties” or “the beach.” Too often, it seems we are really just more social in the summer, not necessarily more active.  

Here’s my take on the old saying. The summer is a chance to really take your fitness and nutrition up a notch or two.  Since we are more social, how about you grab a neighbor and go for a walk or a jog around the neighborhood? Do you have a yard or live near a park? Get a few friends together and play a game of Frisbee. Not only is it fun, it’s great exercise. With the extra hours of daylight I’m sure Fido would love to have an extra-long walk as well. Just keep on keeping on! 

I don’t want to leave out the nutrition factor. As of May 1, most of the local farmer markets have opened up. Put on a good pair of tennis shoes, grab a handful of reusable grocery bags and walk to the nearest farmers market to stock up on fresh fruits and veggies.   

Come on Northern Virginia, Let’s “Keep on keeping on!!!”

Sherry Nicely is a NASM-certified Personal Trainer & Owner of Fitness Together Fairfax. Find her and her local Fitness Together colleagues at www.ftcustomfitness.com and follow them on Facebook to get their health tips and fitness news www.facebook.com/FTCustomFitness

May 2012

By Hilary Adleberg

Photography by Francis Tatem

Calvert Rejuvenations
$$$ 485 Carlisle Drive, Herndon; 571-323-1088; calvertrejuvenations.com

An unexpected oasis hidden in the center of a business complex, Calvert Rejuvenations promises quality relaxation. Don’t be discouraged by the office park ambiance. Continue straight into SugarOak Office Retreat, and upon the first steps into the spa, all doubts and stresses are eased.

The spa has been open four years but was recently renovated in July and August of 2011. An expansion was completed last fall, introducing a larger reception and retail area as well as additional treatment rooms. The extension allowed for more room to display products for sale and, in turn, increased the number of product lines carried.

Among the most popular lines are Image, a results-oriented brand that offers an organic collection as well as a partially natural collection of skincare products. Owner Calvert Thompson caters to every personality offering robes, scarves and blankets unmatchable in softness for her luxury-loving customers, a broad selection of brightly colored eye glitter for the flirtatious patron, a chic earring collection from an artist Thompson particularly enjoys herself, slippers handmade in Europe for the eclectic consumer, and cupcake-shaped bath fizzies for the playful customer.

With five expert massage therapists on staff, massages are one of the most sought after treatments at Calvert Rejuvenations. The signature facial and waxing, both bikini and Brazilian, are also customer favorites. The facilities readily accommodate parties with two couples massage rooms and a relaxation room that looks to be the perfect stress-relieving sanctuary. Though nail care is not typically offered at Calvert Rejuvenations, customers do have the option of requesting the services of an on-call manicurist or makeup artist.

The newest addition to the spa is the “Sound Table,” as Thompson calls it. A client lies down on a massage table, cocooned in blankets, wearing headphones. A pad nestled underneath the client vibrates with the bass of the music. The device is intended to delicately massage the body’s muscles to rest.

Even the spa’s restroom, fully stocked with high-end products and a remote-controlled, heated seat, illustrates that the spa takes care of clients from top to bottom.

Popular Treatments
Massage, Signature Facial, Waxing

Facilities: 6 dual-purpose treatment rooms
Brands: Image, SkinCeuticals, BioElements
Gratuity: Can charge gratuity on card
Parking: Located in an office park, available spots in front
Groups: Welcome

Photography by Jonny Meyer

Toka Salon & Day Spa
$$ 4907 Brennan Park Drive, Alexandria; 703-370-5133; tokasalon.com

Toka Salon & Day Spa opened its fourth location a little more than a year ago in Alexandria and is a perfect retreat for a spa party with close friends. Situated right next to Brennan Park, the spa is set in a quaint neighborhood of quiet boutiques and homes. In this type of suburban setup one may assume parking would be an issue, but on the contrary; spots are plentiful around the area.

The spa’s appearance alone is revitalizing with big, open windows inviting an abundance of sunlight that energetically bounces off its pristinely white walls. The interior is pure and seemingly limitless due to the windowed walls that extend throughout the entire entrance area. The salon section is located to the left of the reception desk, and the spa treatment rooms occupy the right half of the building.

Owner Teresa Yurt describes the business ratio as 50-percent salon and 50-percent full-service spa. The nail room, equipped with multiple manicure and pedicure stations, leads to the shower massage room. The shower massage is a unique treatment available only at the Alexandria location. A wet treatment, like the body polish, for example, employs 15 shower heads hanging over a massage table. The client lies on the massage bed and has the choice of a sugar or salt scrub with different scents including vanilla, rose, champagne and lavender. After the scrub is complete, the shower—which can be adjusted to preferred pressure level—rinses off the residue and dead skin. A light body butter massage completes the relaxing, indulgent experience.

Toka welcomes group parties with the stipulation that they are scheduled ahead of time. Yurt explains that the bathrooms and nail area are intentionally designed to accommodate larger groups. There is even a portable bar so that customers can admire their manicure as their freshly styled fingers clasp a Champagne flute.

Popular Treatments
Massage, Manicure/Pedicure, Facial

Facilities: Nail room, massage room equipped for shower massage, facial room, 2 handicapped-accessible bathrooms
Brands: Dermologica, OPI
Gratuity: Can’t charge gratuity on card
Parking: City parking for free
Groups: Welcome

Tranquility Day Spa & Salon
$$$ 15125 Washington St., Suite 304, Haymarket; 571-248-4150; tranquilitydayspa.com

About five years ago, owners Gloria and Wayne Harding decided to uproot their business in Manassas and move it to Haymarket. An extremely hospitable environment and staff makes Tranquility Day Spa & Salon feel more like a home than a business operation. The Haymarket facilities were constructed with customer convenience in mind.

Special sound-proof sheeting, for example, that continues up through the ceiling engulfs the massage room walls so the customer can feel completely at peace. Flowers are delivered weekly from a local florist who is also neighbors with the Hardings. Food, including homemade chicken salad, cheese and crackers, fresh fruit and Tranquility’s signature cupcakes baked downstairs at Cupcake Heaven and Café, is available to all customers. The second Monday of the month Gloria hosts a community coffee time at the spa to unite the community spiritually.

The entrance opens to the reception desks, beauty bar and retail area. The beauty bar caters to spa parties or individual clients, and offers time-conscious treatments including makeup application, mini manis, eyebrow waxing and even a few free services like bang trims. A doorway separates the full-service salon, which was recently refurbished in March and April. The door past reception leads to the spa.

The three components of the business seem to be intentionally divided because in each section the ambiance changes slightly. The spa is dark yet comforting. The massage beds are made up of seven layers including a heating pad and egg crate mattress pad. I-Pods with customizable playlists are available in every massage room.

The sleep lounge is a new and unique feature at Tranquility, a small room equipped with two lounge sofas for resting before, after or between treatments. Proving the space is a big hit, one customer even proposed to his girlfriend there.

Popular Treatments
Tranquility Signature Massage, Facial and Spa Pedicure

Facilities: 2 facial rooms, 2 massage rooms, nail room (with 2 manicure and 2 pedicure stations), sleep lounge
Brands: Dermalogica, Image, OPI
Gratuity: Can’t charge gratuity on card
Parking: Large parking lot on main level
Groups: Welcome

Photography by Francis Tatem

Dansk Day Spa
$$ 212 A Commerce St., Occoquan; 703-492-1991; danksdayspa.com

Located in historic Occoquan, Dansk began as a massage clinic and expanded its list of services to offer a broad selection of wellness-related and non-invasive cosmetic treatments. The spa continues to grow with the community. As times change, Dansk looks for new advancements in the industry. It is their goal to offer the latest treatments at the best, most results-oriented quality of service. The spa’s interior is equipped with plenty of rooms to accommodate several clients comfortably.

This spa not only offers all the typical services expected at a day spa—massage, facials, nails—but also provides an expansive list of specific massage options, holistic care and cosmetic treatments that cover an impressive breadth of client needs. Dansk offers permanent makeup and other cosmetic services including teeth whitening, Botox and eyelash extensions. A licensed physician comes into the spa every Friday to apply Botox and permanent makeup treatments.

Dansk also offers holistic care. Card readings are available at $85 for a 50-minute session aimed at clarifying personal past and present circumstances to allow the client to more easily move forward in the future. Spiritual life coaching is offered to customers that wish to better their skills in communication and conflict resolution. More commonly known treatments like reflexology are also offered as part of the holistic care category of services.

Dansk caters to those in search of more unique treatment practices. Whether looking to improve your physical appearance or internal state of health, Dansk Day Spa has the right service for everyone.

Popular Treatments
Massage, Permanent Makeup Application, Eyelash Extensions

Facilities: 5 massage rooms (2 massage rooms cater to couples), 4 facial rooms, permanent makeup room, nail room
Brands: Yon Ka, B. Kamins, Hylunia, Prolana Nails
Gratuity: Can charge gratuity on card
Parking: Somewhat limited street parking
Groups: Welcome

Photography by Jonny Meyer

Bellavie Day Spa
$$$ 6801 Whittier Ave., Suite 100, McLean; 703-761-4060; bellaviespa.com

If you’re in search of a franchised spa, this is not the place. Having just opened its doors last September, Bellavie has a small staff of Kalsang Dolma, massage therapist, and Lesvia Robinson, aesthetician, determined to treat every client’s needs. Both Dolma and Robinson offer such personalized work that it transforms new customers into loyal, longstanding clients. Consider Bellavie the place to go for a truly customized experience in a low-key and peaceful atmosphere.

The spa itself is buried in an anonymous cubicle of brick, located on the ground floor of a three-story office building. The only signage that identifies Bellavie’s presence in the office building is a small white yard sign with the bolded words “Bellavie Day Spa Now Open.” But don’t underestimate this spa for its lack of marketing. Once inside Suite 100, the scents from herb-infused oils—used for massage services—waft into the waiting area, which is actually more like an elegant family room than it is the lobby of a business operation. The spa facilities are perfectly substantial with the exact amount of necessary space and décor, not designed to merely appear relaxing but to actually exceed the customer’s service expectations.

Bellavie offers massages, facials and waxing. Dolma delivers massage treatments employing scents, ideals and rituals originating from India. Robinson has been perfecting her facial services for the past 20 years at various local spas. Robinson, the owner, met Dolma while working at Med Spa of Virginia. After gaining years of experience at various spas, Dolma and Robinson decided to combine forces to create a spa experience like no other.

Popular Treatments
Deep Tissue Massage, Signature Facial, Abbayanga Massage

Facilities: Massage room, 2 facial rooms, no nails
Brands: Yon Ka Paris, Institut Esthederm
Gratuity: Can charge on card
Parking: City parking for free
Groups: Welcome

Courtesy of Landsdowne Resort

Spa Minerale
$$$ Lansdowne Resort, 4050 Woodbridge Parkway, Leesburg; 703-729-4036; lansdowneresort.com/spa

Even if you are not in close proximity to this spa, it is worth a visit. Spa Minerale is beautifully designed and offers a handful of luxurious amenities to clients. Tucked into the back left corner of Lansdowne Resort, the spa is surprisingly large. Though it seems to be a very soothing, solitary escape, Spa Minerale also offers an accommodating atmosphere for groups.

The nail salon, a large space surrounded by windows, fits four pedicure stations and four manicure stations. The large locker room introduces the spa’s color palette of soft purple, subtle orange hues and natural green tones. Amid the aesthetically pleasing and modernly functional design, the locker room also offers changing areas, showers, a dry sauna, a steam room, a hot tub and plenty of privacy. There are also lounge rooms for women, men and couples that are exquisitely decorated. All lounge rooms offer refreshments including water, tea, mixed nuts and fruits. Use of the resort’s indoor pool and fitness center is also included for spa guests.

A selection of upscale, exclusive skincare and cosmetic lines are available, too, including an in-house brand of products with scents inspired by dogwood and other plants indigenous to Virginia.

Popular Treatments
Swedish Massage, European Facial, Spa Manicures and Pedicures

Facilities: Nail room (4 manicure and 4 pedicure stations), steam room, sauna, hot tub, locker room, women’s lounge, men’s lounge, couples lounge, fitness room
Brands: Sothys, MD Skin Formulations, Moroccanoil, MOR Cosmetics, OPI
Gratuity: Can charge on card
Parking: Large parking lot in front
Groups: Welcome

The Spa at Equinox
$$$ 8065 Leesburg Pike, Vienna; 703-790-6193; equinox.com/classic/Spa

Nestled in the Equinox sports club across from Tysons Corner Center, the spa at Equinox provides treatments customized to complement any fitness regimen. A health- and wellness-minded spa, Equinox welcomes all customers no matter their athletic ability. That being said, there are some perks that moreso benefit athletes. This spa is a perfect refuge for a gym enthusiast looking for a bit of relaxation after a workout.

Before treatments, the masseuse consults with the client’s personal trainer to tailor the massage service in an effort to amplify performance and speed up recovery time. With the purchase of any spa service, clients are entitled to a full day’s use of all the facilities that the sports club offers, including the children’s playroom, exercise equipment, group classes and lap pool. The locker room—also available to spa clients—has a steam room, showers, plenty of changing space and hair dryers.

A must: the spa’s luxe facials.

Popular Treatments
Deep Tissue or Sports Massage, Signature Facials, Reflexology

Facilities: Skincare room and 3 massage rooms (one of which caters to couples), steam room, locker room, fitness center
Brands: SkinCeunticals, Kiehl’s
Gratuity: Can charge gratuity on card
Parking: Spa validates 2 ½-hour parking at garage across street
Groups: Welcome

Photography by Jonathan Timmes

Comfort and Joy Wellness Spa
$$ 9514A Main St., Fairfax; 703-425-8800; comfortjoy.com

Offering only 100-percent organic products and treatments, Comfort & Joy Wellness Spa is perfectly suited for the environmentally conscious consumer or woman looking for a little worry-free prenatal pampering.

Located in the Turnpike Plaza shopping center off Pickett Road, the spa aims to “help people feel good from the inside out,” explains manager Kim Beth of the spa’s ideology.

Immediately entering the spa, customers are greeted with lulling melodies and a vast assortment of natural products. Inviting aromas mix with tranquil tunes to subtly serenade customers as they browse the two front rooms of shelves stocked with a wide selection of all-natural teas, organic dietary supplements and other skincare and wellness products. The product lines offered contain no chemicals or synthetic ingredients.

In terms of standout services, Comfort & Joy offers a natural seaweed wrap—at $120 for a 60-minute treatment—performed with authentic seaweed and 100-percent real seaweed scent. The chemical-free EcoColors Natural Hair Color treatments are popular with pregnant women, and start at $65 for roots only. Animal lovers also appreciate that the spa offers only one type of nail polish, Spa Ritual, a vegan brand that does not test on animals.

The spa’s treatment rooms line the sides of a somewhat narrow hallway. Massage rooms are connected to each other and can be opened for couples massage or closed to accommodate more clients. The newest addition is an infrared sauna, priced at $25 for 20 minutes. The infrared sauna shares the “same concept of a regular sauna—to calm inflammation in painful areas—but doesn’t dehydrate the skin because it’s not saturating it with water,” explains owner, Julie Smalfelt.

A single room that contains two manicure stations and two pedicure chairs offers privacy for those looking for some seclusion along with serenity. The rooms designated for facial treatments promise tranquility as well. The estheticians mix products in a butler’s pantry, away from clients, so as not to disrupt the relaxing experience.

Continuing down the corridor there is a seated living room that housees organic tea and books about spa treatments. Hair stations are at the end.

Popular Treatments
Swedish or Deep Tissue Massage, Microdermabrasion

Facilities: 4 massage rooms, shower area, 2 mani/pedi stations in separate room
Brands: Ecolors hair coloring, Suki Naturals and Epicurensuki
Gratuity: Can’t charge gratuity on card
Parking: Large strip mall parking lot in front
Groups: Couples welcome

(May 2012)

by Natalie Kaar & Hilary Adleberg

Lace Georgia Dress, Top Shop, us.topshop.com, $96

Watercolor Petals Cup & Saucer, Anthropologie, anthropologie.com, $18

Tea Forté Iced Tea Pitcher System, Nordstrom, shop.nordstrom. com,$30

“Cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery,” Anthropologie, anthropologie.com, $18.95

Report Shoes, Kathryn Flats, Macy’s, macys.com, $75

Classic Macarons, Dean & Deluca, deandeluca.com, $48

Horizontal Kite Necklace, Top Shop, us.topshop.com, $20

Photography By: Marshall Johnson / The President Wears Prada
Styling By: The Bloggers themselves

spicy candy DC

On Katya (top) Shirt: Free People blouse, $118, South Moon Under; Shorts: Free People crochet shorts, $88, South Moon Under; Purse: Butterfly bag, $85, Pretty People; Sunglasses: MARC by Marc Jacobs, $99, Shoe Hive; Belt: Ada belt, $68, South Moon Under; On Carlis (bottom) Blazer: Nanette Lepore blazer, $398, Periwinkle; Dress: Liz Roberts dress, $36, Pretty People; Shoes: Alexander Wang open-toe booties, $264.95, Current Boutique; Sunglasses: John Lennon round glasses, $10, Pretty People

What is something your blog brings to readers that no other fashion blog does?
CS: “It’s hard to find style blogs that are composed of two people, never the less two girls who have been best friends for over 17 years! I think people can feel how well we get along and how much balance and uniqueness we both bring to the table.”

One thing, fashion-wise, you couldn’t live without:
CS: “My vintage Dior blazer. When I have nothing to wear, it always saves me and makes an OK outfit look pretty darn good!”

A trend you wish more people in this area would embrace:
KA: “A more relaxed, urban, effortless style.”

It’s Saturday, where are you hanging out in NoVA?
KA: “During the day you will probably find me grabbing a cup of the best coffee in town at Misha’s while working on an outfit post with the BFF, catching up with an old friend over lunch at Miyagi Sushi (baked sushi, yum!), or taking a day trip to a local VA winery (my favorite is Chrysalis Wineries outside Middleburg). At night I really love the Clarendon area for dinner and drinks, and Las Tapas in Old Town for some dancing—Ricardo Marlow’s flamenco band is incredible and so much fun to dance to!”

What do want to get across to your followers?
KA: “We want our readers to feel inspired by what we photograph, discover and share on our blog. We work really hard to bring fresh and visually stimulating content to our readers while simultaneously focusing on all the awesomeness our metro area has to offer. We’re determined to help put the DMV on the map for its amazing and unique style!”

What are your favorite places to eat in NoVA?
CS: “I have to give it up to Northside Social. We have had at least 10 meetings at that place within the past month. I love the relaxed atmosphere, and they have the best (and most artistic) cappuccinos in town. I also love Mad Fox Brewing Company. They have the best bacon-caramel doughnuts, and it might be the only place that has such dessert, which makes it even more unique!”

On Carlis (left): Robe: Flowered robe, $125, Pretty People; Shirt: Vintage blouse, $24, Pretty People; Pants: J. Brand skinny jeans, $150, South Moon Under; Shoes: Alexander Wang booties, $129.95, Current Boutique; On Katya (right): Jacket: Striped blazer, $36, Pretty People; Jeans: Joe’s Jeans, $158, South Moon Under; Shoes: Diane von Furstenberg heels, $295, Shoe Hive; Bag: CC SKYE bag, $650, Shoe Hive; Bracelets: Gold cuff, $38; Navy cuff with gold, $18; Gold rhinestone, $18; all Pretty People

alejandra

Shirt: Yellow scalloped crop top, $55, LPM Vintage; Skirt: Mario Valentino leather pencil skirt, $124.95 , Current Boutique; Shoes: Pour la Victoire pumps, $250, Shoe Hive; Necklace: Bib necklace, $38, Pretty People; Necklace: Wooden tusk statement ring, $22, Pretty People

What is something your blog brings to readers that no other fashion blog does?
“Fashion in a suburban world. It’s like a how-to for being fashionable in a real-world environment. My blog is all about incorporating the latest trends into something that you would be able to wear out in public.”

What are your favorite places to eat in NoVA?
“I love Havabite Eatery in Fairfax, a cute family-owned Greek and Italian restaurant. You can find me at Tokyo One sushi restaurant in Lorton at least twice a week. My favorite pho places are Viet House in Fairfax and Pho 75 in Arlington.”

A trend you wish more people in this area would embrace?
“I would like to see people embrace colors and patterns. Color blocking is one of my favorite new trends, especially for spring. Color blocking can be easily done. Pair a colored trouser with a complementing colored silk blouse, add a solid belt and shoes, and you’re set! Mixing patterns makes any outfit more interesting. My go-to mixed pattern outfit is a striped crewneck sweater over a plaid button down, colored pants, with a leopard belt; a subtle mix of patterns.”

What are your favorite places to shop in NoVA?
“My newest favorite place is Pretty People! They have the most unique pieces of jewelry and clothing. And their list of consignment designer names is to die for! I’m also an avid J.Crew Fair Oaks shopper. I think they have the best staff, and I love the boutique concept of that location.”

(Main image) Dress: Chloe day dress, $325, Pretty People; Earrings: Figure-eight twisted hoops, $18, Pretty People; Bracelet: Gold cuff, $38, Pretty People

the president wears prada

A trend you wish more people in this area would embrace:
“Mixing bright colors into their daily wardrobe.”

One thing, fashion-wise, you couldn’t live without:
“The vintage keys I’ve collected (one from my aunt’s antique dresser in South America, another from a street fair in New Orleans) and wear on a long chain around my neck.”

What do want to get across to your followers?
“To highlight the hungry, creative and stylish community in the Washington D.C. area that is opening groundbreaking new restaurants and fashionable boutiques, starting clothing lines, creating amazing art and organizing one-of-a-kind events.”

How would you describe your average reader?
“A creative open-minded D.C.-area resident looking for new and exciting things to explore, experience and be connected to. Also, a young DC area resident, often times a transplant, that is excited about the new creative opportunities in the city.”

(Main image) Shirt: Pink Corset, $24, LPM Vintage; Skirt: 1950s black circle skirt, $68, Pretty People; Shoes: Diane von Furstenberg pumps, $280, Shoe Hive; Necklace: Wooden fray bib necklace, $34, Pretty People

On AShley (top) Shirt: Cream top, $55, LPM Vintage; Pants: Jill Sander pants, $99.95, Current Boutique; Shoes: Pour La Victoire flats, $190, Shoe Hive; Bracelet: Gold rhinestone stud bracelet, $42, Pretty People (Middle) Blazer: Black blazer, $, LPM Vintage; Dress: High-low dress, $71, LPM Vintage; Shoes: Sam Edelman slipper flats, $139, Shoe Hive; Belt: YSL leather belt, $175, Pretty People; (Bottom) Skirt: Anne M. Cramer striped skirt, $280, Periwinkle; Top: Crop top, $55, LPM Vintage; Bracelets: Navy leather cuff, $18, Pretty People; Gold cuff with ivory stone, $38, Pretty People; Rhinestone eagle head ring, $32, Pretty People

la petite marmoset

LBVie ashley

What do want to get across to your followers?
KM: “I want to showcase unique vintage pieces in a way that is on trend and modern. I also want them to understand that I am a normal person, and I do encounter funny situations with the crazy things I wear sometimes.”

A trend you would like to see die:

AT: “Not that I despise these things, to each his/her own, but I’m getting tired of seeing trench coats, Longchamp bags and Tory Burch flats, especially when they are all worn together.”

What is something your blog brings to readers that no other fashion blog does?
KM: “I’d like to think that my blog showcases as much of my personality in the writing as it does in photos; I am a big cheeseball and have a thing for puns. Also, I hope that it shows people in the D.C. community that vintage doesn’t have to be dated; it can be redesigned.”

What is something your blog brings to readers that no other fashion blog does?
AT: “My own, ever-changing, semi-chaotic, vintage-inspired, romantic, with some girly-and-a-touch-of-boy personal style.”

What are your favorite places to shop in NoVA:
KM: “Aside from La Petite Marmoset online, Pretty People Vintage, Current Boutique and Shoe Hive; they have some amazing DVF heels.”

What do want to get across to your followers?
AT: “I want my readers to see my blog as inspiration to be themselves, do what they love, and always go after their dreams.”

A trend you wish more people in this area would embrace:
KM: “Hi-low hems! They are a nice alternative to mini skirts and dresses because you can bend over in them and not show your behind. They also make you feel like a sexy flamenco dancer when you’re out and about at night (even if you can’t dance at all)!”

What are your favorite places to eat in NoVA?
AT: ”Totally depends on my frenzied cravings. I love The Fish Market, Eventide, Tagolio’s, Quarterdeck, Guajillo, Urban Thai, Tallula and more.”

On Katherine (main image) Dress: Flower dress, $56.99, LPM Vintage; Shaw: 1970s pink shaw, $45, Pretty People; Shoes: Steve Madden bootie, $149.95, South Moon Under

Behind the Scenes Photos

Photos by Sebastian Marin, www.SebastianMarin.com

Behind the Scenes Video

(April 2012)

By Matt Basheda

Summer is the season of activity—swim, bike, do everything you want to do. But if your confidence is lower than sea level, you might need a boost to get outside. Luckily, there are a ton of simple nonsurgical techniques to eliminate or reduce skin problems of all kinds. The procedures are fast and effective. Whether a genetic condition like psoriasis or just some unwanted hair, multiple treatments exist. These treatments are usually painless. Some are so convenient they can be done during a lunch break. So stop making excuses and get out there.

Acne & Psoriasis
Acne complicates summer skincare. But sun is not the only issue for acne sufferers—acne can be a full-time problem.

For simple acne problems—little bumps that come and go—do not use lathering soaps. Instead, use light salicylic acid washes.

“The problem that most people come into,” says Dr. Lily Talakoub of McLean Dermatology, “is that they overwash their skin. They think it’s oily, and that the oil is what causes the acne, so they wash it to the point that they feel that they’re chapped, and then they put on greasy moisturizers because now they’re too dry.”

But more serious acne requires a doctor’s visit, where several procedures are available.

Microdermabrasion uses a mechanical exfoliator, a system in which small beads scrub the skin so dead skin cells fall off. It runs $100-$150.

Chemical peels can be effective, but risky—peels can scar ethnically dark skin. Visit a doctor you truly trust, a doctor who is fully trained with chemical peels. They generally cost up to $200.

A Jessner’s peel is a lesser-known, but highly effective, type of chemical peel. It penetrates underneath oil glands, and is less risky.

Psoriasis is another common problem; it affects about two percent of America’s population.

Psoriasis is a chronic, genetic skin condition due to a problematic immune system. There is no complete cure.

Typical treatments include topical steroids and Vitamin D creams. Controlled exposure to ultraviolet rays can also be quite effective.

However, if the case is serious, oral medicine may be necessary. The oral medicine suppresses the immune system, so while it can help, it also makes one more susceptible to infections.

Even for those with without skin conditions, sunscreen is essential. Only use sunscreens that protect against every possible harmful UV ray.

Dr. Talakoub recommends two sunscreens: Anthelios or Neutrogena Helioplex. Both are easy to find at stores.

Wrinkles
Botox is the most popular wrinkle-relieving procedure. It relaxes muscles to smooth wrinkles. The procedure is quick—only about five minutes in the office. And best of all, the risk is minimal.

“There’s very little risk,” says Dr. David Berman of Berman Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Care Center. He adds, “There should be no downtime; basically do it and go out and go to the gym or party or do whatever you want.”

Botox’s wrinkle-shirking effects become apparent within four to ten days, and they typically last for about four months. The most commonly treated area is between the eyebrows.

Other approved, though less-known, drugs that offer similar results include Dysport and Xeomin.

Cost depends on quantity. But a typical range is $150-$600.

Facial fillers offer an alternative for wrinkle destruction. Products in this category include Restylane, Radiesse, Juvederm, Perlane and Artefill.

Facial fillers do exactly what they say. If a facial area sags or has many wrinkles, the procedure fills the loose skin to create a younger look. The lines between the nose and mouth are often treated, as are the jowls, cheeks and eye corners.

Facial filling procedures are also fast. Five to 15 minutes is usually all it takes. The price range is typically $350-$600, though it can cost more.

Just as with Botox, the risk is low. The primary side effect is a small bruise at the needle’s entry point. However, the facial fillers can also create lumpiness or bumpiness. As always, visit a doctor you trust for these types of procedures.

Skin Tightening
Thermage is a nonsurgical procedure that tightens skin. Radio waves heat up the deepest layer of skin, called the dermis. The waves do not burn, but the heat contracts the dermis, which leaves your outer layer of skin looking tighter and smoother.

Thermage is not invasive, so recovery is minimal. In fact, no follow-up appointments are necessary. The only doctor visit required is for the procedure itself, which, on average, lasts one to two hours.

However, the results can be inconsistent. The optimal result is an obvious improvement in skin tightness, but Thermage does not always produce dramatic results. Sometimes the skin-tightening is hardly noticeable at all.

But when results occur, they last. The tightening is actually an ongoing process; sometimes tightening continues to improve for as long as six months, and lasts for two years.

Thermage can treat much of the body. Love handles and drooping eyelids are both fair game. Sagging skin, wrinkles, cellulite—all can be treated by Thermage, whether in the face, eyes or body. Suitable body parts include the stomach, knees, legs, arms, hands or buttocks.

The typical price range for a Thermage procedure is $1,000 to $5,000. It is, however, a single-treatment procedure. Most patients to not need repeat treatments.

Spider Veins
Spider veins can be a major source of self-consciousness, especially since they can occur anywhere on the body.

The most common location for spider veins is the legs. They can be treated with either a laser or with injections.

The injection often consists of a hypertonic saline solution, though other chemical options exist.

The important thing to remember, says Dr. Berman, is that “nothing works perfectly.” Legs almost always require multiple treatments for spider veins. Serious varicose veins are a more complicated problem—even genetics play a factor.

Despite the complexity, the risk from treatment is low. Pain is also minimal.

One possible problem following treatment is tissue staining—brown spots that appear at the treatment site. However, tissue staining is uncommon.

Spider veins on the face are always treated with lasers. Typically, only one visit is necessary.

Redness occurs following the treatment. However, the redness should fade away quickly.

Depending on the type of laser used, bruising is also a possibility. It’s much better to visit a doctor with a more reliable laser. The 532 Diolite is the preferred laser. Pain is low even for facial treatments, as is time required.

“These [treatments] are really designed to be done and then you can go to work right away,” says Dr. Berman. However, that said, he adds, “You wouldn’t do it the day you’re getting married.”

Laser Hair Removal
Ridding yourself of your unwanted body hair for the rest of your life is possible and accessible.

Laser treatment removes hair permanently, though it may take a few tries depending on the type of hair that is to be removed. Each person requires between five to eight treatments, at a span of once a month for facial areas and once every six weeks for body hair. However, laser hair removal only works for dark hair. It does not work on blonde or gray hairs.

With laser hair removal, there is little to no pain involved, and each individual treatment is fairly quick. The risk involved is also minimal. “If you go to someone who knows what they’re doing, you shouldn’t have any problems,” says Dr. Berman.

With ethnically dark skin, though, problems can arise. Burns can occur, and be very visable. Additionally, dark-skinned people must use a different type of laser. Several lasers exist. Cynosure is a leading brand, but their laser does not work on dark skin. A YAG laser is the only type that effectively removes hair from dark skin.

The cost for laser hair removal is typically around $1,000, though prices can vary greatly.

WHAT IS THAT?

Microdermabrasion uses a mechanical exfoliator, a system where small beads scrub the skin so dead skin cells fall off.

Jessner’s Peel – a lesser-known, but highly effective chemical peel that penetrates underneath oil glands.

Wrinkle reducers relax muscles to smooth wrinkles, include Botox, Dysport and Xeomin.

Facial Fillers fill loose skin that sags or wrinkles, include Restylane, Radiesse, Juvederm, Perlane and Artefill.

Thermage is a nonsurgical procedure that tightens skin. Radio waves heat up the deepest layer of skin. The waves do not burn, but the heat contracts the dermis, which leaves your outer skin looking tighter and smoother.

Cynosure is a leading hair-removal laser brand, but their laser does not work on dark skin.

YAG is the only type of hair removal laser that effectively removes hair from dark skin.

	Use a light salicylic acid wash—not a lathering soap.	Still having trouble? See a dermatologist.	Dermatologist may suggest microdermabrasion, chemical peel, or Jessner’s peel.
	See a Dermatologist Who may suggest Wrinkle Reducers or facial fillers.	Don’t like needles? talk to your doctor about Thermage.	Thermage can treat your body as well as your face.
	A doctor may suggest Thermage.	Thermage can treat Eyes, face & body. suitable body parts include the stomach, knees, legs, arms, hands or buttocks.
	There are two Treatment options:	Hypertonic saline solution injection, which is used to treat the body;	Or Laser treatment, which can be used to treat the face or body. preferred laser is the 532 diolite.
	Laser treatments remove hair permanently, but it does not work on blond or gray hair.	Yag is the only laser that effectively removes hair from dark skin.	Cynosure is a leading laser brand, but it can only treat light skin.
	Controlled amounts of UV rays can help – always wear suncreeen.	Dermatologist May suggest topical steriods & vitamin D cream.	Still having trouble? Dermatologist may prescribe oral medication.

(April 2012)

By Lindsey Leake

Author’s Note: The names of former gang members in this story have been changed to protect their privacy.

“Mr. Ryan!” a voice calls out above the din of holiday shoppers at Fair Oaks Mall. Fairfax County Gang Prevention Coordinator Ed Ryan looks up to see a young man approaching him. The kid’s face looks familiar, but Ryan can’t recall his name or how the two know each other. They engage in small talk for a few minutes, Ryan carefully listening to the boy’s updates. But it isn’t until the young man proudly rolls up his right sleeve that Ryan finally realizes who he’s talking to.

There’s nothing on A.J.’s arm, but Ryan knows what stood out there just a few years before—one of several gang tattoos.

Ryan was once A.J.’s probation officer, and when he ran into A.J. at the mall in the winter of 2009, he hadn’t seen the young man in roughly three years. Hardly the juvenile delinquent Ryan had known, A.J. shared that he was free of pending charges, no longer court involved and currently enrolled in classes at Northern Virginia Community College. He’d also had his gang tattoos removed, an act that erased the physical traces of a lifestyle A.J. had long since left behind him.

A.J. is one of more than 115 former gang-involved youths who have turned their lives around and had their gang tattoos removed through the Fairfax County Skindeep Tattoo Removal Program. For nearly 14 years the program has worked toward the goal of improving the self-esteem of local, court-involved youth by removing socially stigmatizing and discrediting tattoos. Driven by dedicated volunteer plastic surgeons, supportive law enforcement and government officials, and the determination of young delinquents ready to make a positive change, the Skindeep program gives former criminals a second chance at a successful future.

A Vehicle for Change
In response to a surge in local gang activity in the ‘90s, the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) established a gang investigations unit in 1997. With its inception came a growing understanding of gang activity in the county. Citizens were encouraged to report gang-related incidents. Teachers learned to identify at-risk students. Parents found positive ways to keep their children engaged in extracurricular activities. Adolescents were advised to think twice about choosing peers with whom to associate.

But what of the troubled, often misunderstood, youths who made up these vicious criminal entities? What of their place in society? To a group of innovative government employees in Fairfax County, these delinquents were far from a lost cause.

In the mid-‘90s, even before the gang investigations unit was formally established, members of multiple Fairfax County human service agencies began to brainstorm ways they could facilitate positive social change with respect to local gang culture. In May of 1998, after years of research and planning, their brainchild materialized in the form of the Fairfax County Skindeep Tattoo Removal Program.

A collaborative, inter-agency effort that involves the Fairfax County Departments of Health, Police and Family Services, as well as Fairfax County Public Schools, Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court and the Community Services Board, the Skindeep Tattoo Removal Program provides free laser removal of gang tattoos for court-involved youths who have committed to leaving the gang lifestyle.

“The [youths] are interested in having these stigmatizing tattoos removed so that they can no longer be looking at their former [lives],” says Edwyna Wingo, a retired public health nurse manager who has coordinated the Skindeep program since day one.

Such was the case with Jane, a young reformed gang member in Fairfax County. “I had seven gang tattoos,” Jane says. “Some were in visible areas on my body and very hard to hide at work and other places. I would always wear long-sleeve shirts because I was embarrassed. I also had a tattoo on my hand that was very hard to hide. It [was] hard to explain to any employers or any new people I met.”

Jane began associating with gangs when she was just 13-years old. After being kicked out of middle school and sent to an alternative school, she ended up in the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center (JDC).

“I slowly stopped associating with my friends in my area and spent most of my time hanging out with friends I had met in JDC or alternative school,” Jane says. “I started dating one of the leaders in the gang and soon was around gang members every day … I was in and out of JDC my whole juvenile life.”

As a gang-involved teen, Jane would stay away from home for months at a time. She also broke the law repeatedly without fear of ramification.

“I would drink alcohol, smoke weed, do other recreational drugs … steal and get into fights. I would constantly be looking over my shoulder because I would have warrants out for my arrest,” Jane says. “At the time I was naive and wasn’t worried about any consequences that I may incur.”

By the time Jane hit 17 she had already been charged with four felonies, but she was also finally beginning to realize the impact her actions would have on her future.

“I came close to being sent to a downstate correctional facility. That really gave me a wake-up call,” Jane says, adding that she matured a lot during her final months at the Juvenile Detention Center. “I … realized that behavior was a dead end.”

While at the JDC, Jane received extensive counseling, completed her GED and began taking college courses online. She also attended church services and received advice from religious leaders. Her parents provided emotional support and gave her the confidence to start her life over.

“My parents were always a strong support system for me no matter how many times I had messed up,” Jane says. “They would visit me three times a week religiously.”

After Jane was released from JDC around her 18th birthday, the only thing standing in her way from moving forward with her life were her tattoos.

Though the Skindeep Tattoo Removal Program is a source of support for many of its participants, it was engineered to assist young people with the final stage of gang disassociation rather than serve as a remedial resource throughout their lifestyle transition. All participants must be completely free of gang activity upon entering the program.

“They come to us through various means,” Wingo says of program applicants. “They can be referred to us by school counselors, parole officers, social workers, mental health workers or they can self-refer.”

Disassociated gang members apply to the Skindeep program for many reasons. Some applicants are fueled by a desire to literally erase all reminders of their criminal pasts. For others, who fear being targeted by a rival gang or being lured back into the gangs they fought so hard to escape from, tattoo removal is about safety. And for many young adults with career aspirations, the process is intended to assist with employment—it’s hard enough to land a job in this economy without having incriminating ink on your face and in other highly visible areas.

A recipient of the 1998 Fairfax County Government Team Excellence Award, the Skindeep program is recognized for the tangible results it achieves.

“I think the increased confidence in the youths’ ability to market themselves in the job world has been a strong product of our program,” Wingo says. “We hope that we can reach the [youths who] need our program. We’re here for them [but] they have to reach out to us and want to get their tattoos removed; that’s the big thing.”

Laser Erasure
The Fairfax County Skindeep Tattoo Removal Program is propelled exclusively by government funds, which cover the cost of laser rentals and other medical supplies needed to run the clinic. What would be the program’s biggest expense—hiring plastic surgeons to perform the actual tattoo removal procedure—comes free of charge.

Ex-gang members who qualify to have their tattoos removed are fortunate to receive complimentary care from the program’s surgical staff, comprised of some of the region’s top plastic surgeons who tirelessly volunteer their time and support.

“I appreciate that the plastic surgeons would take time out of their lives to help me and other people like me,” Jane says. “The plastic surgeons are awesome and very conscious of our comfort levels while giving us the shots and lasers.”

Many Skindeep physicians like James French, former chief of plastic surgery at Inova Fairfax Hospital, have been involved with the program from the beginning.

“I volunteered from the very outset; I thought it was a good idea,” says French, who also currently operates at the Center for Plastic Surgery in Annandale.

“It’s just a way that we as plastic surgeons [are] able to help the community, particularly these young men and women,” agrees Haven Barlow, the current chief of plastic surgery at Inova Fairfax Hospital and physician at Barlow Cosmetic Plastic Surgery.

Though modern laser tattoo removal procedures are minimally invasive and relatively simple, it often takes multiple treatments to get rid of a single tattoo. French adds that the ink commonly used in “homemade” gang tattoos is usually unevenly distributed through skin layers, complicating the removal process.

Treatments are given at clinics in six-week intervals, giving the affected area time to heal. For many former gang members who have multiple, extensive tattoos, this means spending anywhere from a few months to several years in the Skindeep program. But this long-term involvement also allows physicians and patients to learn from and bond with one another.

“Talk about seeing a life-changing experience,” Barlow says, reflecting on his 14-year involvement with Skindeep. “Seeing what these kids do and the challenges they have of getting away from the gang activity, and then they go on to get jobs and be productive members of our society … has been really a wonderful result of this program.”

“[In] the end they come upon people [who] really care about them,” French says of his Skindeep patients. “That’s the essence of the clinic. … they find that there are people [who] want to help them.”

Skindeep physicians agree that one of the biggest ways in which the program has evolved since 1998 is the increased number of teens and young adults who are receiving treatment. Dr. Barlow recalls that he and the other volunteer plastic surgeons would treat three or four kids per month when the program got started; now they treat 20 to 30 patients within the same time frame.

“I’ll tell you something,” French says, “These kids [who] we see, they’re not bad kids at all. They made a poor choice in their peer selection, that’s all … I love going to that clinic; they’re just regular kids.”

Hush-Hush
Northern Virginia has long been celebrated as one of the most affluent, educated and diverse regions in the country. It’s also a safe place to live with a comparatively low crime rate, but that doesn’t mean it’s a stranger to organized gang violence.

“There’s always been a faction of gang activity in the region, as there is in every region,” says Ron Haugsdahl, a lieutenant in the FCPD Gang Investigations Unit, adding that gang demographics have evolved considerably in the last several decades.

Though today Northern Virginia gang members represent a myriad of races, nationalities and socioeconomic backgrounds, local gang activity was largely biker-related in the ‘70s, Asian-related in the ‘80s and Hispanic-related in the ‘90s.

Gangs wove their way through the region over time, becoming a staple of suburban crime life. Still, law enforcement agencies were reluctant to acknowledge their presence in otherwise-safe Northern Virginia communities. By the mid-‘90s, gang-involved incidents had become increasingly dangerous and approached rampancy. It was time for the authorities to step in.

“In the ‘90s the violence took off and was more noticeable,” Haugsdahl says. “More high-profile incidents were occurring, and that’s what was catching the public’s eye.”

Make a Change (MAC) Tattoo removal before and after (Courtesy of Gang Response Intervention Team)

The Fairfax County Police Department was the first to face the region’s gang problem head on, establishing a gang investigations unit in 1997.

“The county board funded 10 positions on a temporary basis for one year,” Haugsdahl says of the unit’s early days. “After that year they gave the police department a budget for it, and we had the first [full-time] gang unit in the state in ‘98.”

Offering gang awareness, prevention and intervention programs to the community in addition to suppressing gang activity itself, FCPD’s new unit became a model of success for neighboring jurisdictions that were also ready to admit the prevalence of local gangs.

“There [are] places now that won’t talk about it, won’t acknowledge it,” Haugsdahl says. “So we’re way ahead of the game.”

A Model Program
In 2003, through federal funds appropriated by Congressman Frank Wolf, police jurisdictions throughout the region came together to form the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force (NVRGTF). Including representatives from the Virginia State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in addition to local police departments, NVRGTF promotes gang intervention, prevention and education programs.

“Since 2003 … we have seen a decline in gang activity of 34 percent,” says Arlington County Gang Task Force Coordinator and NVRGTF member Robert “Tito” Vilchez, crediting the task force’s efforts. “I would say that we are a model for the country.”

“I wouldn’t be in this job if we didn’t have a successful turnaround; these kids do a 180,” Vilchez says of gang members who participate in county-funded and NVRGTF-funded programs. “They’re just wonderful.”

Despite the instant success of the Fairfax County Skindeep Tattoo Removal Program, the clinic’s limited space and budget did not allow reformed gang youths outside the boundaries of Fairfax County to receive treatment, even if they met all other program requirements. Representatives from the Prince William County Gang Response Intervention Team (GRIT) sought to provide former gang members in other areas served by the NVRGTF with a tattoo removal program of their own.

In 2007, GRIT chartered the Make a Change (MAC) Tattoo Removal Program, which essentially operates in the same way as the Skindeep program and serves reformed gang members in the counties of Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William, as well as the City of Alexandria.

One key difference between Skindeep and MAC is the age range of patients. Participants in the Skindeep program must be 22 or younger, while MAC admits qualified applicants through age 29. GRIT Coordinator Richard Buchholz says the latter originally had a cutoff age of 22 but was raised to 29 following a significant demand from older reformed gang members seeking tattoo removal. Buchholz adds that the MAC program has recently expanded to serve victims of gang-controlled prostitution.

“We view this as a reward for these young people who have made the hard commitment to leave the gang lifestyle,” Buchholz says of the MAC program. “They just don’t know how to accomplish this [tattoo removal] because they can’t afford it. They’ve made all the other commitments and done everything else they need to leave the gang … that’s why the community’s come together to try to provide that for them.”

A Quiet Triumph
“I have made positive changes in every aspect of my life,” says Jane, who is now in college, working full time and planning to go to law school. “I am so happy for all the support I have had to change my life. I am extremely motivated and realize the bad things that can happen when you go down the wrong path.”

Friday, May 11, marks the 14-year anniversary of the Fairfax County Skindeep Tattoo Removal Program’s first clinic. In its brief history, the program has become one of the longest-running tattoo removal programs of its kind in the country, and has positively impacted the lives of former gang-involved youth, just as its founding members dreamed.

Dr. Andrew Goldberg, another veteran Skindeep physician, believes that’s something to celebrate: “The greatest achievements are the kids. They wanted to do good things; they wanted to change the life track they were on … a lot of the kids have gone on to get their high school diplomas, maybe even college diplomas, and are now worthwhile adults, contributing adults. So that’s the biggest benefit of the whole thing … really the main reason we started it.”

While the Skindeep program has much to be proud of, all parties involved are studying ways in which it can improve. The commitment of volunteer physicians helps keep the program operating within its budget, but that leaves little to no money for advertising. As it stands now, the Skindeep program relies heavily on word-of-mouth advertising among gang members, school resource officers, teachers, probation officers and community members.

“It can always be better to get more involvement,” says Goldberg “I think, unfortunately, a lot of these kids don’t know there’s a way out.”

Though the Fairfax County Skindeep and Make a Change Tattoo Removal Programs may not be widely known, their influence is something that can be observed and measured throughout Northern Virginia communities. The programs have proven that the region’s gang-involved youths are worthy of our investment.

“I think every one of them is remarkable,” Barlow says. “They each have stories to tell that would just stand your hair on end. These are some of the bravest kids I’ve ever come to know.”

(April 2012)

Yuri Arcurs/Shutterstock

by Sherry Nicely 

Are you aware that the kick off to summer is just seven short weeks away?  That’s right, Memorial Day and the unofficial start to summer means beach getaways, dips in the neighborhood pool and, if you’re lucky, time spent on your boat (or with friends on their boat!)

Are you ready to put on that itty bitty bikini, or any swimsuit for that matter?  Let this be your friendly reminder! In those seven short weeks you could shed 7-14 pounds. With a healthy diet and regular exercise you can lose 1.5 to 2 pounds per week.  Wouldn’t that be a great to start off summer feeling healthy and fit? 

So here’s what you do. First, pull out that bathing suit and hang it somewhere you have to see it every day. Second, start every morning with a healthy breakfast.  People who eat breakfast consume less calories throughout the day than people who skip breakfast.  Third, if you don’t have a regular workout routine go for a walk every day or ride a bike. Get moving!  

I’ve always thought seven was a lucky number.  We have seven weeks till the summer unofficially begins, seven weeks to shed at least seven pounds and seven days in a week to take care yourself!

Sherry Nicely is a NASM-certified Personal Trainer & Owner of Fitness Together Fairfax. Find her and her local Fitness Together colleagues at www.ftcustomfitness.com and follow them on Facebook to get their health tips and fitness news www.facebook.com/FTCustomFitness

April 2012

Dmitriy Shironosov/Shutterstock

A current hot topic raised by many parents of young children is the concern about early pubertal development. Nearly every week in my Pediatric Endocrine practice at Kaiser Permanente’s Springfield Medical Center, I am asked whether or not children are indeed starting puberty earlier and, if so, what accounts for the change. Specifically, parents would like to know if there are environmental triggers to avoid or lifestyle recommendations to follow. Recent research in this area has led to some clarification and to further questions about possible influences.

The onset of puberty in boys is marked by early testicular enlargement, occurring traditionally between ages 9 and 13 years. The start of puberty in girls is heralded by the onset of breast development. In the 1960’s, it was thought that puberty occurred in 95 percent of girls between the ages of 8 and 13 years. Newer data published in the 1990’s suggested that both African American girls and, to a lesser extent, Hispanic and Caucasian girls were starting puberty earlier. Breast development was noted in some girls to begin by age 7. However, it is important to note that the age when most girls started menstruation had not changed by a significant degree, according to the 1960’s and 1990’s data.

Further analysis has now suggested that there are many factors which affect the onset of puberty, including:

 • Weight gain during infancy and early childhood

 • The age of onset of the mother’s menstruation

 • Low birth weight

 • History of international adoption

 • Possible exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals

Among the disruptors currently under investigation are polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), phthalates (a plastics softener) and anabolic estrogens used in farm animals. This investigation has led to the recent recommendation to avoid using older baby bottles which contained BPA plastic.

In light of the equally important concern about rising rates of obesity among children, I counsel parents to work with their child’s doctor to monitor weight gain closely, not just in childhood, when it may be too late, but during infancy as well. This is particularly important for formula fed infants who may consume excessive amounts of formula, despite parents’ best intentions. It is important for new parents to learn not to use a formula bottle as a pacifier and for parents of older infants to avoid giving their child more than 32 ounces of formula a day.

If you have questions about your child’s development, it is important to speak with your pediatrician.

C.Michele Christie, MD

Pediatric Endocrinology

Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group

Biography

C. Michele Christie, MD, is a Pediatric Endocrinology provider with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group in theNorthern Virginia service area. Dr. Christie mentors fellow physicians in the Northern Virginia area as well as practicing beside them in Kaiser Permanente’s Springfield Medical Center. In addition, she is a member of the Quality Improvement Committee. Dr. Christie joined the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group in 1989.

Dr. Christie received her undergraduate degree from Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey and her M.D. fromThomas Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Christie completed her pediatric residency at Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee and her pediatric endocrinology fellowship at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville,Virginia. She is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology and is a member of the Pediatric Endocrinology Society.

by Natalie Kaar & Chloe Gould

American Horticultural Society

Stacked Bangles, Gossip on 23rd, www.gossipon23rd.com, $15

Plum Fleur de Lys Double Old-Fashioned Glass, World Market, www.worldmarket.com, $11.96 (set of four)

Diane von Furstenberg ‘Abby’ Flat, Nordstrom, www.shop.nordstrom.com, $175

Vintage Flower Buckle, Lou Lou Boutique, www.loulouboutiques.com, $30

Tory Burch Simone Cardigan, Nordstrom, www.shop.nordstrom.com, $225

Bubble Patent Strap 40mm Watch, Marc Jacobs, www.marcjacobs.com, $250

Maru 16” Round Paper Lantern, Capri Breeze, World Market, www.worldmarket.com, $6.99

Kate Spade New York Cobble Hill Leslie Satchel, Bloomingdale’s, www.bloomingdales.com, $428

Drawing inspiration from one’s life is something many writers do. However, this new local author has a story of her own that is book-worthy.

What started off as a good life being one of eight children came to a crashing halt when Johanna Devon, Haymarket resident and first-time novelist, turned 5-years old. Her father, who owned a coalmine in Cassandra, Pa., left. 

“We went from having a decent life to cutting down our fence for heat,” Devon says. The traumatic experience sent Devon into what she would later see as a downward spiral that was supported by a life of poverty and premature responsibilities she had to assume at a very young age. 

At 14 she began work at a local dry cleaner to help support the family—her paycheck going to pay the rent—and she assumed the mother role at home as her mother worked nights and slept throughout the day.

Yet, even with her responsibilities at home, she knew deep inside that she needed more. She found her niche when she joined the school newspaper in high school. Her junior year she became the co-editor and by her senior year knew this was her calling in life. Devon, along with a handful of others, took the school newspaper to new levels, and people knew her because of it. “I went from a nothing poor kid (who would pad her hole-ridden shoes with cardboard) to people knowing who I was, and I owned it.” She credits this decision to her senior-year English teacher, the late John Koza. “I owe him a lot,” Devon says. “Not only did he encourage me to apply to college but he inspired and challenged me in ways no one ever else had.” 

Devon says the support in her house was nonexistent with her mother only looking to her as her own support system with running the house while she was working, but Devon had found something that made her realize there was more. “I got my confidence,” she says. “I could do something more than cook and clean, and take care of my brothers.” 

Taking a stand for herself and really going against the grain in which she had lived the first 17 years of her life, Devon decided to apply to college—a move that caused much disruption in the household. She was accepted into Pennsylvania State University’s school of journalism, and she immediately ran to tell Koza. 

“He was a stoic man and rarely ever smiled,” Devon recalls. “The day I told him of my acceptance, I got a half smile. Coming from him, that was comparable to getting applause at Carnegie Hall.” 

Unfortunately, Devon did not attend. 

“Back then, there was little or no help in applying for financial aid or student loans,” Devon explains, also mentioning that the guidance counselors at the school were not like they are today. “I was from a poor family; I didn’t know I had options. I had no guidance. So I went from euphoria to dismay.” 

Back to local dry cleaner Devon went—working in the back pressing clothes, returning home to play mom No. 2—but the taste of her own life was still sweet on her lips, and she was not going to give up that easily. 

A couple months into the job, Devon was told about a radiology school—her way out. Since handing over her paycheck for rent was not allowing for any savings, she reached out to her father who was then living in Alabama. 

“I didn’t know this [when he left], but I was dad’s favorite,” Devon recalls of the conversation. “He said, ‘I’ll help you out.’” 

Devon sent her application in, one of 300 applicants, and heard back that she was one of 20 accepted. “I had really good grades in high school, but I was a country bumpkin,” she says. “But there was a personal interview, and I guess they saw a lot of potential in me.” 

With the lack of support when it came to applying for college, Devon did not tell her mother about radiology school. As soon as she turned 18, she was off to the school, a mere 40 miles away. She convinced one of her older brothers to drive her to the school, and she didn’t return home for over a year. 

Devon excelled at the school “because I could be me,” she explains. And a couple of days after radiology school graduation, she convinced her brother to drive her to an interview at Suburban Hospital in Maryland. “I had plans. I was moving on. There was no way I was going back home. I was not going to go back and be in that role of being the mother.” 

With $35 and a suitcase, Devon set off for bigger things. 

“People at the hospital were so kind to me,” she recalls of her beginning days. “They let me live in the nurse’s dorm for practically nothing and gave me vouchers so I could get meals in the cafeteria.” Devon worked the 3-11 shift and within six months saved up enough money to buy a car and rent an apartment. 

Soon came marriage and a child, as did a move to Virginia where she worked at Arlington Hospital (now Virginia Hospital Center) during the time diagnostic ultrasound began to emerge in the field. Georgetown Medical Center was starting a full-time program to train in the field of ultrasound, and Devon applied. “I was surrounded by incredibly smart people; it was an invaluable learning experience,” she recalls, but all the training she received was not enough for what the medical world was about to deal with—HIV/AIDs. 

After her training, Devon took a job as head ultra-sonographer at Greater Southeast Hospital. “It was an incredibly scary time,” Devon explains. 

“It was such an unknown disease back then; many of our patients, who were drug addicts and prostitutes suffered from it. Because of the types of exams we did I was in close contact with patient’s bodily fluids, and the medical community didn’t know the full effects of the disease, or even how it was being spread.” 

During her time at Greater Southeast, Devon had already contracted hepatitis, twice. It wasn’t that the medical staff wasn’t cautious—“we took sanitary precautions, but everything we did was invasive.” And while she loved her job there were certain limits she would not go beyond. 

At first, it was clearly stated on the front of a patient’s chart if they were HIV-positive. But after two summer terms at NIH studying AIDS and working with patients, and a rules change of not relaying HIV patient information on the front and center of a chart, and patients no longer being required to disclose their disease, Devon called it quits. “I had a young child to think about, and the possibility of being around infected patients and not knowing they were was just too great a risk. I was not going to die like that.” 

Devon went a safe route with her next career—real estate. “I was back at square one and starting all over again. I went to school three nights a week and Saturdays—this was before the days of online courses, she laughs. After passing the real estate boards, she signed on with an established group, and currently runs her own business, DHR/Commercial, Land & Residential, in Haymarket. 

Devon found she really enjoyed her newfound career, and writing started to work its way back into her life. But right when her life was beginning to relax, another wrench was thrown into the works—she suffered a series of mini strokes. 

A previously unknown genetic birth defect in her heart was the culprit. One of the strokes was more severe than the others, and it affected the right side of her brain. Reading, writing and comprehension became daily challenges. 

Her next life journey that would bring her back to the passion she felt as a young girl in Pennsylvania became of the essence. 

“As time went by I healed,” Devons says. “I really started to think about writing again. I knew I had been given a second chance. The challenge was to get back to where I was before the stroke. I needed to jumpstart my brain, my creativity and my imagination. Knowing that I wasn’t 100 percent made me even more determined to write a book—any book.” And the beginnings of her debut novel, “What Goes Around,” was born. 

The book started out as a simple love story between a college co-ed and a doctor. But after writing the first 10 chapters, Devon says she thought, “This is so boring!” That’s when Devon started taking mental notes about things going on in everyday life—the hidden domestic struggles those around her were going through, although none, she claims, coming from her own life’s story of hardship. “Something clicked, and I was off and running,” she explains. 

“When I started the book, I didn’t have a plan or an outline. Over time, it evolved into a story about a crazy, abusive husband and a wife who let him get away with it. It’s a far cry from the love story I started out with, but it certainly ended up a lot less ‘boring,’” says Devon. 

Her writing came in fits and starts. “I’d write for a while, and then stop when I grew frustrated. I was writing about a difficult subject.” 

By the summer of 2010, Devon decided that it was time to finish the manuscript, which still needed tweaking. 

“Once I was finished, it took another few months to muster the courage to send the book off to the publisher,” she says. 

While Devon shirks away any parallels between her determination to write and her own struggles to get where she is today, one can see the fighting spirit is apparent. Overcoming many obstacles to live the life she wanted, it is absurd to think she would begin to falter when it came to finishing and sending off the book. 

“It is scary knowing a lot of people will read and review your work. Because once it’s out there … it’s out there. I’m glad I finally hit the send button and completed my journey,” she says with a smile.