The Woodbridge VA Blog

May 18, Vintage Family Recipes

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:36:29 GMT

Vintage Family Recipes From Our Personal Cookbook

May 17, What We're Talking About Today...

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:18:49 GMT

We go through so much interesting content every day - on a variety of topics - that we thought we'd share the *gems* with everyone. Feel free to join in the conversion, leave a comment or simply +1 the article.

Looking for a "South of the Border" taste? Try the Garlic Beef Enchiladas Recipe
Used to be lots of monarch butterflies in our Woodbridge garden. No more. You too can Help save the Monarch butterfly

May 14, Gardening in Woodbridge VA

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:45:29 GMT

Our gardening success is the result of selecting plants best suited for this region of Virginia.

May 13, Best Family Beach Vacations | Living In Woodbridge VA

Sun, 13 May 2012 15:47:02 GMT

Planning the best family beach vacations both near and far.

May 9, Homemade Bread And Butter Pickles

Wed, 09 May 2012 15:33:08 GMT

Here is our family's vintage farmers market recipe for homemade bread and butter pickles.

May 7, Best Caribbean Food

Mon, 07 May 2012 13:32:45 GMT

Best Caribbean Food I can see it now...the best Caribbean food and colorful, fruity drinks decorated with pineapple slices and topped with little paper

May 5, Dandelion Greens

Sat, 05 May 2012 21:30:25 GMT

Dandelion Greens If you can find a recipe for sautéed dandelion greens on the Epicurious® website then you know there is more to these greens than health

May 3, Healthy Cookware In The Kitchen

Thu, 03 May 2012 17:04:55 GMT

Selecting healthy cookware for all your cooking needs.

Apr 24, Hay Fever

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:53:36 GMT

Hay Fever Do you suffer from hay fever and seasonal allergies? Would it not be grand to be free of allergy symptoms with natural or home remedies? Who

Apr 23, Limousine Service | Living In Woodbridge VA

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:52:21 GMT

Limousine service and resources for the Woodbridge, VA area.

Apr 17, Discovery On Her Last Flight

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:41:22 GMT

There are no words to describe this image...except to stand in wonderment and imagine not only where Discovery has traveled but also the many miles covered and then to watch her gracefully fly by, for just a few more miles. Photo taken standing on the shores of the Potomac at Mount Vernon. God Speed Discovery. Photo copyright © Living In Woodbridge VA

Apr 12, The Woodbridge VA Blog

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:53:57 GMT

It's the Woodbridge Va Blog - Check here for website updates.

Apr 11, Gardening "Things To Do"

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:16:27 GMT

Did you sign up for the "Saturday in the Garden" at the Teaching Garden in Bristow? It's this Saturday, April 14th, and the weather is going to be beautiful. It promises to be partly cloudy with temperatures in the mid-seventies. Perfect for a lesson in "pruning the un-prunables" - boy do we have some of those in our yard. They will also cover the topic of " Great Soils and Great Harvests". Don't forget the children's program which is all about making seed balls to plant at home. Programs for children run concurrently with each Saturday In The Garden program. Did you know that this Saturday (at Lowe's in Smoketown Plaza) you can also ask a Master Gardener your gardening questions? They will also be available to answer questions at the Dale City Farmer's Market on April 15th and at the Manassas City's Farmer's Market on April 21. Lowe's is located at 13720 Smoketown Road, in Woodbridge, VA 22192. Their telephone number is (703)586-4000. De Ashtonon

Apr 10, To Do Lists

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:58:33 GMT

Ever had a day when your to-do lists catch up with you? Today is the day for me. To celebrate several family birthdays, we spent the Easter holiday in the shadow of the Big Apple. As Murphy's Law would have it, all website things which were not supposed to go wrong - did - just as were ready to drive north. A smooth and orderly transfer from one hosting system to another developed several major glitches which took days to resolve. The gremlins were obviously hard at work since late March but we hope to have everything back on track as we make our way through April. Multi-tasking calls for lists and every so often, the lists come back to bite...making you aware of all the tasks you did not complete or have yet to tackle such as the re-build of the website. We realize it is not cool to say "Pardon Our Dust" while we make a few changes, but that is just what we're going to say as we begin a complete re-design of the Living In Woodbridge Va site. The process is experiencing some delay but we plan on making it as painless as possible. In the mean time, we will continue to respond to a variety visitor questions on topics such as tuition fees at a local private school, relocation to the Woodbridge, suggestions for wedding venues, where to find the best products and recipe swaps - just to name a few. De Ashtonon

Apr 8, The Prince William Academy | Woodbridge VA

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 11:52:57 GMT

Voted Best of Woodbridge for two years in a row, Prince William Academy offers programs from preschool through 8th grade. Even preschoolers are exposed to foreign languages.

Apr 4, Mestey Films Productions

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:27:26 GMT

Mestey Films Productions They are rolling out the red carpet at Mestey Films Productions. It's showtime! Wondering what to do this coming June 10, 2012?

Mar 31, Potomac Town Center | Living In Woodbridge VA

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:03:30 GMT

Retailers and restaurants coming to Potomac Town Center

Mar 27, Things To Do | Living in Woodbridge, VA

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 23:07:36 GMT

Community events, things to do and places to see in and around Woodbridge, Virginia .

Mar 19, Springtime is just around the corner...

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:47:26 GMT

Spring has sprung. In fact, it is just a few hours away. Unlike last year, when we tired of the steely grey skies and the non-stop rain, this spring, we actually need some measureable rain to give all the plants a good kick start. With all the warm temperatures we've experienced in the past weeks, it is hard to imagine that this is the last day of winter and that Spring will officially take over tomorrow. Thanks to beautiful weather and incredibly warm temperatures, we spent some quality time in the yard this past weekend. Everything in the garden is way ahead of schedule so let's hope it does not snow for Easter. The crocuses are done but the daffodils are in full bloom, the oaks shed their remaining leaves, tree buds are bursting and there is a noticeable haze of pale green on all the trees. Birds are chirping and the tree frogs are back. Chickadees and eastern bluebirds are vying for the same birdhouse. What a sight! Look forward to seeing who finally lays claim to the property. Our "Spring" header photo [cherry blossoms] for Living In Woodbridge VA was contributed by a talented local photographer. Have you been taking photos of the Virginia Bluebells or other early Spring wonders? Your "scenic" photo can become next month's header. If you are interested, drop us a line and we'll provide dimensions for either the website or blog header graphic. The header would be attributed with a copyright notice and link back to your blog or website URL. It's also time for the Easter Bunny to make an apperance at Potomac Mills Mall. The Easter Bunny is available from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays and from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays, from March 15 until April 7, in the Fashion Court (Near Off Broadway Shoes) at Potomac Mills Mall.

Mar 17, A New Look for Living In Woodbridge VA

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:20:23 GMT

In early February, we were selected to beta test the new BB2 system. Bottom line? It works like magic. It's so slick we may have to relegate HTML coding to the proverbial back burner. We realize it is not cool to say "Pardon OUr Dust" while we renovate, but that is just what we're going to say as we begin a complete re-design of the Living In Woodbridge Va site. In fact, we are going to let the new system do most of the behind the scenes work. We have the BAM! In the mean time, we will continue to respond to a variety visitor questions on topics such as relocation to the Woodbridge, Virginia area, local wedding venues, where to find the best products and recipe swaps - just to name a few.

Mar 7, Mushroom Medley Risotto

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:26:19 GMT

Mushroom Medley Risotto Our recipe for Mushroom Medley Risotto is based on Great-Grandmother's basic French country style risotto. Ingredients for Mushroom

Jan 18, Chinese Restaurants | Living In Woodbridge VA

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:58:23 GMT

Dine in or take out...Woodbridge, VA has a fine selection of Chinese restaurants offering Cantonese, Hunan and Szechuan cuisines.

Jan 10, Potomac Mills Mall | Living In Woodbridge VA

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:03:08 GMT

Potomac Mills Mall is paradise for bargain shopping...if you know where and when to shop.

Jan 3, Chicken Soup For Colds

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:49:30 GMT

A belated Happy New Year to all our readers! We do not make a habit of all becoming sick over the holidays but this year those nasty little virus bugs threw us for a loop and we may have broken the record for the total number of family members who fell ill to full blown head colds, nagging coughs and sniffles and the dreaded flu. While all these illnesses slowed us down, sometimes to a crawl, it certainly did not prevent us from celebrating. Let's say that it was done in a rather subdued way but we did ring in the new year with the traditional bubbly. We usually turn to chicken soup to lift our spirits and generally make us feel better when under the weather. In fact, we have cured serious laryngitis with a "potent" chicken soup. In any case, a bowl of hot soup will make you feel better just about any time during cold temperatures. But... Does chicken soup for colds really work to chase away the yucky feeling of being sick? Has it worked for you?

Dec 16, Linguine With Scallops | Living In Woodbridge VA

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:26:37 GMT

Ever had fresh linguine with scallops? Coquille Saint Jacques a la parisienne makes the perfect shellfish comfort food..

Dec 4, Fresh Turkeys For Holiday Meals

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 19:23:13 GMT

Fresh turkeys from Wegmans take center stage on your Thanksgiving or Christmas table. Explore the different types of fresh turkeys available at your local supermarket.

Nov 24, Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:44:24 GMT

From our Home to Yours... Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving Day and a joyful Holiday season to come. P.S. With one foot here and one foot "over there", Turkey Day would not be complete in this family without a re-reading of our favorite Art Buchwald piece: A La Recherche Du Temps Perdue. It is just as funny today as it was when we first read it back in the '50s.

Nov 22, A Pumpkin Pie For Thanksgiving

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:19:18 GMT

Now you know it would not be Thanksgiving without a pumpkin pie on the table... Some of our favorite recipes, including those for pumpkin pie were found in newspapers, magazines and coupon inserts. Over the years, we've found dozens of pumpkin pie recipes posted by various manufacturers such as Libby's© or Carnation©. This recipe comes from the November 10, 1991 issue of Parade Magazine. Pumpkin pie is always a welcome addition to Fall family gatherings, and of course the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. This particular variation on the traditional pumpkin pie recipe seemed yummy when we first found the recipe and still is on the list of requests for Turkey Day. Several of the little people are now grown men who are still serious pumpkin pie devotees. In our family, there is always room at the dessert table for yet another variation on pumpkin pie.

Sensational Double Layer Pumpkin Pie

1 (3 oz.) package of Philadelphia Brand® cream cheese, softened.

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon cold half and half, milk or cream.

1 tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 cups thawed Cool Whip® whipped topping

1 Keebler® Ready-Crust® graham cracker pie crust (6 oz.)

2 packages (4 serving size) JELL-O® Vanilla flavor instant pudding and pie filling

1 can (16 oz.) pumpkin, canned

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves. Spices, particularly those we tend to use only once or twice a year, have a definite shelf life so buy fresh spices if needed - it makes a world of difference in the flavor.

Nov 17, Living In Woodbridge VA Rail Services

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:12:41 GMT

Are you getting a "No Such URL" return while searching our website for Rail Services information? During the past week, we've been consolidating portions of information throughout our website. As a result, the information found on several smaller individual pages has been added to established pages on the same topic. Before hitting the delete button on any page, we make sure that all the information found on a specific topic has been moved and is easily found on its new platform. Yesterday, the Rail Services information was incorporated into the commuting page.

Nov 7, Recipes for Pre Made Meals

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:41:38 GMT

We're moving right along with preparation of our pre made meals. On Saturday, we prepared the Mediterranean Chicken and this morning, we prepared the Beef Short Ribs. The recipes need proofreading and related photo galleries need captions We need one more photo...a "finished" platter of Beef Short Ribs in red wine and tomato sauce.

While the pot is simmering, we'll edit the recipes!

Nov 6, Fruitcake Recipes | Living In Woodbridge VA

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 19:32:16 GMT

Try our fruitcake recipes for a traditional holiday dessert table.

Nov 4, Vickys Cleaning Services

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 23:52:15 GMT

The Vicky's Cleaning Services is a quality company among the many companies. We provide customers with cleaner, healthier homes through the use of environmentally

Oct 27, Homemade Chinese Soup | Living In Woodbridge VA

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:12:52 GMT

Rich and flavorful, Chinese soup restaurant favorites are quick and easy to prepare at home with a minimum of ingredients.

Oct 11, Passion Parties™

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:22:51 GMT

Hear of these new home style parties? They are a definite twist on the home based business. This is not your mama's Tupperware© party nor the Pampered Chef© parties which were so popular a while back. It does not even come close to being a Party Lites© evening with the girls - several of which we've hosted in the past couple years. These are "ladies only" Passion Parties®. Featured in The New York Times, covered by NBC Today, and Good Morning America, they have also received coverage in a long list of magazines and newspapers. Passion Parties® is an organization which donates substantial amounts of money to worthy causes and charities supporting women and children.

Oct 7, Soup's On!

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:19:39 GMT

Chinese soup that is... With the temps gradually dipping down into "feels like soup" weather, we thought it would be fun to see which international soups rank high on everyone's list of favorites. Nothing says comfort food more than a rich soup full of fresh vegetables like a Minestrone topped with freshly grated parmesan, homemade chicken 'n noodles, a beef and barley or a fish ciopinno. Any fans of Pepper Pot? Let's start in Woodbridge, Virginia but set off on a global tour of your favorite soups. This week, let's go Chinese, Peking Pork Soup is on our menu tonight (recipe to follow) but nothing says you cannot nominate your favorite soup...and the best Chinese restaurant in Woodbridge. Is it Egg Flower or maybe Hot and Sour soup? Ok - Which Woodbridge, Virginia Chinese restaurant has the best soup menu selection? Which restaurant do you have on speed dial?

Take a second to participate in our poll and watch the results pop up instantly after you hit the "cast your vote" button. And the winner is...

Sep 19, Typical German Food | Living In Woodbridge VA

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 23:09:24 GMT

Kartoffelsalat und wurst - Can authentic German specialties be found in the Woodbridge, Virginia area? Where to find typical German food and groceries in the Woodbridge Virginia area.

Sep 9, Designated Driver Services | Living In Woodbridge VA

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:35:23 GMT

Don't drink and drive - Find your ride with local designated driver services.

Sep 6, Increase Your Frugality at Home Comment

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:52:33 GMT

This morning, we received a comment for the article "5 Ways To Increase Your Frugality At Home" written by Nathan Richardson. It is not a problem to post anonymously or even choose not to include an email or location. Unfortunately, we had to add a title to the comment in order to post it. We enjoy reading all your comments but without at least a title, it is difficult for us to guess at the topic which inspired the comment. Read the new comment associated with Nathan's article on Frugality at Home. Post your comment!

Sep 4, Find Local Garage Sales | Living In Woodbridge VA

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 14:54:56 GMT

Find local garage sales and super deals at Woodbridge, VA neighborhood yard and rummage sales.

Aug 27, What Did You Do On Your Summer Vacation?

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:29:12 GMT

We are all familiar with the phrases “Batten down the hatches” and “board up the windows” and even skedaddle. A mandatory coastal evacuation has cut short this year’s beach vacation. It is the second time a weather event has affected our summer holiday. Although we have experienced ocean front accommodations in gale force winds, it was an uneasy feeling to see the waves build up and gnaw away at the dunes, considering how close we were to the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, a later trip to the same location revealed staggering damage to the beach and the dunes. The churning waves had washed away the beach and created a vertical 6-foot drop from the dunes to a new beach level. Irene is a storm of a different ilk. Nothing to mess around with when you are sitting at barely 3 feet above sea level, separated from the ocean by a single dune and on a half mile wide spit of sand. They came door to door telling us to get out. Therefore, we packed up along with everyone else and headed back to Woodbridge. This past week is one for the record books. Over the years, we have personally experienced some serious quakes elsewhere in the world. Although we were not in Virginia at the time, Tuesday’s tremor was clearly an earthquake of some magnitude and it brought back waves of unease, albeit much weaker than what we had experienced decades earlier. Nonetheless, it is rare when in the span of a few days, as Woodbridge residents, we experience a substantial earthquake while enjoying beach time in another state and then come home to tropical storm weather spawned by a hurricane. That gives us just enough time to check the house for unseen structural damage. It also makes for a unique and memorable vacation with plenty of hands on learning experiences – a crash course in geology and meteorology. Monday’s water cooler chat will have a singular theme and teachers will have no problem when school starts next week with the familiar “What did you do on your summer vacation?” writing assignment.

Aug 14, A Peach Gingerbread Cake

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 13:41:01 GMT

Wow...amazing how a week, or two, can fly by. Where have we been? Under the weather, taking the kids to summer camp, discovering long lost cousins through genealogy contacts, continuing in our de-cluttering efforts, catching up on odds and ends, and preparing for another fall production schedule. Part of the family is at the cottage, and some took off for the beach this morning. Maybe we should follow? Anyway...on Saturday, I decided it was high time to get back into the kitchen and prepare Margaret's gingerbread cake. Actually, it is an adaptation of her original recipe.

Aug 14, Gingerbread Cake Recipes | Living In Woodbridge VA

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 13:37:18 GMT

Old fashioned gingerbread cake 1s an easy dessert and a family favorite. Top it with fresh whipped cream.

Aug 4, Search For A Compatible Local Teacher

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:07:36 GMT

Finally! The answer to a yearly dilemma: how to give the new teacher a "student" snapshot of the child Parents: help the new teacher start off on the right foot with your child and teachers for your kids. Teachers: Understand their personality and connect with potential students.

Jul 28, Frozen Pie Recipes | Living In Woodbridge VA

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:56:04 GMT

Remember the frozen pie recipes from the 80's? They're back!.

Jul 20, Try It Local!

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 20:12:10 GMT

Definitely time to buy a lottery ticket, because today is your lucky day. We've just discovered the hottest, upcoming thing in Prince William. Try It Local is all about keeping it local and getting killer deals at your favorite places.

Jul 20, The Battle of Bull Run - The First Manassas

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:09:10 GMT

Everyone ready for the 150th anniverysay reenactment of the First Manassas this sizzling weekend? It has always been stifling hot and humid for this event. As a spectator, be aware that you need plenty of fluids and a way to keep cool. We don't want any re-occurence of the 140th Anniversary weather related "casualties" in the ranks of both reenactors and spectators which resulted from the sweltering July heat of 2001. We had similar weather that year, though not as well forecast, so event planners did not have as many safety resources in place. We've been stepping back in time for 10 years now. It literally takes a few days to prepare all the accoutrements of another era. With a few hours to go, the First Sergeant's gear has been collected and is ready to go. The "A" tent, bed roll, canteens, tin messplate with cup, kepi with havlock (which have been selling like hot cakes),Richmond Depot shell jacket, trousers and as many shirts as needed to stay dry. Mother has been busy sewing new and larger muslin pokesacks to hold a goodly supply of hard tack and jerky. Must not forget to clean the lantern and gather a supply of candles. We are prepared for the sesquicentennial anniversary of the Battle of Bull Run.

Jul 3, Brownie Fruit Bars | Living In Woodbridge VA

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 12:55:59 GMT

Try our brownie fruit bars for a variation on the traditional brownie.

Jul 1, Monitor Your Social Media

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:20:28 GMT

An interesting read... When it comes to business, social media is either an all around winner or a time consuming task. Are you LinkedIn? We are. How about Facebooked or Twittered? Let Rebecca tell you how to monitor your social media in 10 minutes a day.

Jun 27, A Chocoholic's Guide To The Best Brownie Recipes

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:14:16 GMT

Do you have a favorite brownie recipe? Care to share? Chocolate is the flavor of choice for nearly every member of this family. It does not matter if it comes in the form of cake, cookies, brownies, trifle or mousse. This page is reserved for all our best brownie recipes.

Jun 13, Moving With Pets Can Be Easy

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:14:48 GMT

Moving With Pets Can Be Easy Many people keep pets, and these beloved companions become vital parts of our lives. Some people choose larger, free roaming