My cover was blown from the very beginning. I dropped my daughter off at preschool and was showered and dressed with my (fake, shhh) pearls on instead of looking like I had just rolled out of bed. The staff knew I had something to do, and that was so true.

This morning, I was invited to attend a BNI. Trust me, I'm 100% positive it wasn't because I am a stay-at-home mommy, although, these groups should strongly consider having a goal of inviting five sahm's to each meeting because we sure know how to spend our hubby's money and we are great at supporting services. For example, I met Tom Boley of Red Oak Hollow Lathe Works who is a master woodworker and now has me pining over a new staircase. He held up a custom whittled baluster that I know would turn my cookie cutter staircase into a wow piece. It has me thinking that my dream of rod iron is so old school.

If your child gets injured I am sure you know exactly where to go. You know where the nearest hospital is, you know exactly how to get there, and you even know how long it will take you to drive there. But what if your beloved pet is the one in need of emergency care? Do you know who to call, where to go? What if it is after hours and your vet’s office is closed?

Animal Emergency Critical Care, a partner practice of the LifeCentre, is Loudoun County’s only full-service veterinary 24 hr emergency, critical care, and specialty service. We had the privilege to tour their facility across from the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets and were very impressed with what they have to offer. In the event of a sudden pet emergency, illness or trauma, you can turn to them for superior and comprehensive care, diagnostics, monitoring and therapy 24 hours a day, every single day of the year. Your pet’s health and comfort is their number one priority.

Northern Virginia business owners Leah Fried Sedwick and her mom, Barbara Fried, are founders and owners of Olde Towne Pet Resort — an expansive, upscale pet resort catering to metro area pet owners in search of quality accommodations for their beloved canines and felines. This savvy, motherdaughter duo has come together to grow their pet resort business beyond its original, Springfield, Virginia roots.

AFTER SIX SUCCESSFUL years in business, Urban Retreat owner Cynthia Schneider finds herself taking more time to enjoy the color gray, admire streamlined furniture styles and better cater to her legion of devoted customers and store fans.

It was 5:00 pm'ish somewhere in Southern California as Urban Retreat chic furniture store owner Cynthia Schneider pulled over to take my call. "I'm so sorry to do this (interview) over the phone while in the car," Schneider lamented. “No apologies required,” I shared. I was grateful for the time to connect and believed Schneider's own customers would be just as grateful to know she spent most of her day furniture shopping on the West coast exclusively with them in mind. Based in Reston, Urban Retreat is a "wholesale retail furniture warehouse offering low-cost, custom made residential furniture."

IF YOU’RE LOOKING for a break from the heat of summer, consider stopping by King Pinz in Leesburg for a few hours to relax and unwind.

Located in the Village at Leesburg Shopping Center (behind Wegmans), King Pinz breathes a breath of fresh air into preconceived notions of the smoky and outdated bowling alleys of yesterday. King Pinz meshes an interactive bowling experience with an atmosphere tailored to fit everyone’s needs. Catering to its customers clearly shows in its upscale decor, family-friendly activities and menu.

ONCE FELLOW CO-WORKERS, boutique owners Carol White and Kim Hutchings spent years trying to find the perfect job. Their search for career utopia ended with the launch of their Brambleton-based, fashion-forward women’s clothing store aptly named Misguided Angels.

Ever heard of the Fashion District in Los Angeles? Nikki B., an Ashburn-based Yelp.com reviewer, reports that the Brambleton-based Misguided Angels boutique reminds her of just that. “I’m not a fan of boutiques, but I have to admit this one grows on me,” states Nikki about the shop. “This store is definitely on the edgy and trendier side. It reminds me of the LA Garment District.”

WOLFTRAP NATIONAL PARK for the performing arts plays host to a wide selection of artists from all genres...

The complex, which includes indoor and outdoor venues, sits atop a 130-acre lot in the heart of Vienna, and consists of the Filene Center, named after Catherine Filene Shouse, who donated the land to the government in 1966, The Barns at Wolftrap and The Children’s Theater in the Woods. For nearly five decades Wolftrap has been our nation’s first and only national park specifically designed for the performing arts, and is a landmark location for local metro area residents.

“Will you come to my party?” While some women count down the days to a night out, glass of wine, and a reason to shop—many sometimes think: Yeah, It’ll only cost me one hundred bucks and a booking to shut my newfound consultant up.

Gone are the days of the Tupperware lady and Longaberger Basket woman that would randomly make an appearance for a party. Today, one can attend a party for almost anything—food, clothing, accessories, candles, kitchen supplies, scrapbooking materials, make-up, and even sex toys. Nothing seems to be off limits, causing many women to add girl’s night out parties as part of a monthly budget, or taking the other approach and making a cheat sheet of reasons why you are suddenly busy on a Thursday night.