My friends over at Kid Trips made this great list of things to do to this summer for kids - but hey, adults need ideas too! Check it out - I think I can knock out more than half of them :)

I was honored to be invited by The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner to host a Blogger Night Out Event for local social media influencers and their +1s. It was great to connect with old friends and meet and see new faces too! In the world of social media, you can never know too many people!

Iman, the marketing director, graciously invited us into Entyse Bar and Lounge for a spectacular night of networking, laughter, and of course, food and beverage. I have to admit that Vincent, the wine director, had us all feeling quite fine with his luscious assortment of vinos (my new favorite is the White Haven Sauvignon Blanc - try it, you won't be disappointed!).

The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner is not just a swanky hotel for out of town guests - they offer so much more! For example: there are classes for kids in the kitchen, manicure and martini events for women, and sushi nights every Thursday!

Check out the pics below of the night out - Special thanks to The Ritz-Carlton for hosting! 

don't forget to swing by South Moon Under's GRAND OPENING PARTY @ Mosaic District on November 13 from 6-9!

Meaghan is a DC area nativewho is absolutely in love with the city. She's been lucky enough to do her fair share of traveling across the world, but is always giddy with excitement to see DC's monuments right before landing back at home. Meghan is also quite the die-hard Redskins fan, which has been trying, to say the least. 

Meghan is a fashion and style maven. "I've always been interested in personal style & fashion - I really came into my own when I went off to school in the midwest. I went to a fairly liberal school & found that I was able to express my personal style more than I had ever been able to before."

Meaghan has a 2 year old rescue pup that she adores, she's fairly obsessed with mac & cheese, & she never met a sparkle she didn't like!

How did you first become involved in with blogging?
I've been following blogs for as long as I can remember. I much prefer them to magazines as they are continually making drastic changes, are updated more frequently, & are much more personal than anything a magazine can offer.  Intimately knowing my passion for fashion & witnessing firsthand the evolution of my personal style over the past few years, my best friend suggested that I create my own style blog. At the time, I was still trying to land my dream job and focusing time & energy on a creative aspect of my life that I really enjoyed seemed like a brilliant idea. District Sparkle was born. 

Tell me about some of the people you’ve met while working on your blog?
Blogging has created an unbeileveable amount of opportunities to meet new people.  I have been fortunate enough to meet some absolutely stellar women & men during the lifespan of my blog. I am continually impressed by the openness & friendliness of my blogging community: The people that I have met helped me make my non-profit's, G.L.A.M., Inaugural Fashion Event a huge success & I am so grateful to have made these bonds.

What do you do when you aren’t working on your blog?
Even though I've been here for 25 years, I very much enjoying exploring my city & discovering new things it has to offer. My pup & I are always jogging in new areas & checking out new scenes. 

I also very much enjoy brunches with blogging friends & afternoons of bargain hunting :)

What websites do you visit every day? 
CNN - a must for work & to stay up on important worldy issues
Suri's Burn Book - I check in here, daily, for a good laugh
Pinterest - Obv.
The Daybook & Rockstar Diaries - I get my daily dose of cuteness from these native DC bloggers. It should be a crime for babies to be this cute.

What is your favorite drink – and where can you find it in Northern Virginia? 
I'm a simple girl when it comes to drinks. I'm happy with a gin fizz that can be made at any restaraunt or bar.

What book do you casually put out on your coffee table to impress visitors? 
My 800 page biography of Nelson Mandela...I've gotten to the second chapter. Impressed?

What are your top 3 favorite people/places/things in Northern Virginia? 
Tysons. Judge me all you want, but that sucker's got everything you need in one place. It also brings back great memories of high school movie nights with friends. 

What is your goal for retirement?
This is such an important question for young women today. My goal for retirement is pretty simple - to be able to live comfortably & travel whenever & wherever. I think the path to getting to that retirement is the tricky part. My suggestion to anyone interested in seriously planning for retirement is to max out on your retirement nest egg each year. I find it's WAY easier to make monthly contributions to accompish this than to try & scrounge up funds at the very end.  Also, head over to your bank & chat with a representative about your options & what is best for you & your lifestyle.

Do you have any advice for women who would like to start their own blog?   
If blogging is something that you are interested in then go for it. Shoot for the stars. Whether it be fashion, fitness, culinary - do it. There are a few important things to consider before going live, but if blogging is something that you have a passion for then get after it. After you make the commitment, think about how many times a week you will blog & stay true to it. Think about your platform, design, & overall feel of your blog. What message are you trying to get across? Why do you want people to visit your blog? All important questions to ask yourself before you pour your heart & soul into your blog.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I'm a working mom with two silly boys, Xander (age 3) and Noah (age 1). I spend my work days helping children with their speech, language, voice and swallowing disorders. The real fun happens when I'm at home with the boys, chasing them around and pretending to be a super hero. I blog about their silly antics at Simply Stavish.  There you will also find the weekly speech and language feature, Words In the Sand, where I teach parents how to grow their child's speech, language and feeding development through everyday moments.

In addition to blogging, I have a bit of a yarn addiction, which I feed by wiping out the boring boy clothes syndrome one sweater at a time. I loves to decorate her house, including Xander's superhero theme room and Noah's owl nursery .

How did you first become involved in blogging?
I first started blogging in June 2008, when I became pregnant with my first son as a way to keep a virtual scrapbook of his pregnancy, birth story and then growth and development.  I mainly started it as a way for friends and family to see updated photos.  Since then my blog has become a creative outlet for myself and a way to give back to others.  It has also inspired me to become a better photographer, as I
learn how to shoot in manual with my Nikon.

Tell me about some of the people you’ve met while working on your blog?
I have met so many amazing ladies through blogging.  Friends who I'm sure will remain friends for a very long time.  I am so happy that I met my closest local friend Heather of Sugar N Spice Life (http://www.sugarnspicelife.blogspot.com/) who lives just 5 miles from me .  We met through blogging about building a house through Ryan Homes.  Just this past summer, I had an amazing time meeting in real life many of the bloggers I have been following for quite some time. I also was able to meet more local DC bloggers, which was a blast.

What do you do when you aren’t working on your blog?
I love to knit and dabble in sewing.

What web sites do you visit every day?
Many of the blogs I follow through bloglovin.  It is the easiest way to stay on top of the blogs you want to follow.  Other than that I visit hootsuite for twitter, Facebook, and pinterest.

What is your favorite drink – and where can you find it in Northern Virginia? 
My favorite drink is sweet tea which is hard to find anywhere in the DC area.  Well, you can find it but it's not the best quality.  :)  This summer we figured out the perfect recipe to make the best sweet tea.

What book do you casually put out on your coffee table to impress visitors?
We have a huge ottoman that serves as the coffee table but it's more of a place for the boys to play these days.  I don't recall ever putting books on it.  They would for sure get destroyed if I did.

What are your top 3 favorite people/places/things in Northern Virginia?
Shopping:  Tyson's Corner Mall. Place to hang for the day:  Old Town, Alexandria (so many great shops, restaurants, a fantastic  playground, and a great place to shoot candid photos of the boys). Favorite Indoor activity with the boys:  The Soft Playroom at the Chinquapin Rec Center.

What is your goal for retirement?
Oh geesh I wish I could retire right now.  I would much rather be at home with the boys than working.  I hope to retire around 60 though.

Do you have any advice for women who would like to start their own blog? 
Just do it!  There is a fantastic blogging community!  Find your tribe of people who are starting up a blog the same time you are and learn together.  Don't be afraid to ask establish bloggers questions. Also get out there in real life. Go to conferences to make connections and learn.  Blogging is constantly changing and a great community!

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I moved down to the DC Metro area in 2003 when I got engaged and worked as an elementary school teacher.  After having my second child in 2009, I was able to stay home.  I love reading, the outdoors, good food, issues in education, and am trying to get back into exercise. 

How did you first become involved in with blogging?
A friend suggested that I create a website since I always seemed to be on top of local happenings.  One night I was experiencing insomnia and actually sat down and did it!  I am embarrassed of the product that I put out back then.  I was clueless about web design, html, and blogging.  I have learned a lot, and it has been a whirlwind year!

Tell me about some of the people you’ve met while working on your blog?
I have met amazing people.  It is fun to get invited to press events and meet celebrities like Tia Mowry and John Walsh, but my favorite people are honestly the local entrepreneurs.  Andrea Khoury of novahousewives.com has been an inspiration, and I loved working with her on a charity fundraiser called NoVA Live back in February. (Isn't she too sweet to mention me?)  I am also inspired by the work ethic and drive of Denise Stern from Let Mommy Sleep.  Honestly, this area is filled with talented and dedicated people.  There are too many great ones I have met this year to name!  

What do you do when you aren’t working on your blog?
My boys keep me insanely busy.  I never want to lose focus that my family is the most important thing in my life, and my kids are growing so quickly!  Besides my blog, I write the online family feature articles for Northern Virginia Magazine.  I am also the chair of a local charity, Mission Sleep and am involved in fundraising for my youngest son's preschool.  

What websites do you visit every day? 
Facebook...it's an addiction.

What is your favorite drink – and where can you find it in Northern Virginia? 
I love the drinks at Monza in Old Town Manassas.  They have an impressive martini menu, and my favorite is called the Sonic Bitch Slap.  If I'm doing beer, I love Guinness at the Auld Shebeen in Fairfax City.  The Irish music is so fun, and it makes a great, casual date night.  

What book do you casually put out on your coffee table to impress visitors? 
My coffee table is actually cluttered with kids' books right now.  We read them while we're waiting for dinner to cook.  

What are your top 3 favorite places in Northern Virginia? 
*Old Town Alexandria.  To me there is nothing more fun that going to the farmers' market there, experiencing all the unique stores and restaurants, and hanging out down by the waterfront.  
*The Fairfax County Park system.  There is nothing like it where I grew up in New York.  It is amazing to me that we can visit farms, nature centers, spraygrounds, and beautiful lakes for free.  Plus they have great free entertainment series and family programs, and the Parktakes classes are really affordable. 
*Cox Farms.  My whole family comes to celebrate my son's birthday there, and we always have a blast.  My sister and I laugh so hard on the hayride that people stare at us, and the kids are amazed by all the slides and activities.  

What is your goal for retirement?
I want a beach involved, and I want to spoil my grandkids as "payback."  Karma!  

Do you have any advice for women who would like to start their own blog?  
Exercise instead!  (I am not kidding.) 

Tell us a little about yourself?
I am a mother to four - two boys and two girls, ranging in age from 13 years to 15 months. My husband is a supportive, albeit sports-obsessed, P.E. teacher. Together we are raising our noisy brood in Annandale, VA. After my second child was born in 2006, I decided to leave my job in public relations/communications and stay home, but I still needed to earn an income. This is when I opened my home-based daycare and discovered that there is an amazing secret society that forms when you put a few toddlers and preschoolers together.  I love what I do, even though it isn’t always easy balancing everything.

How did you first become involved in with blogging?
I started my blog Tiny Steps Mommy in March 2012 as an outlet to express my thoughts and keep my writing skills fresh. I have always loved writing. It is my passion. Yet for many years I put it on the back burner because I didn’t think I had the time. I'm so happy I took that leap and made the time. I don't even miss the sleep or daily TV time.

Tell us about some of the people you’ve met while working on your blog?
Along the way I discovered an amazing community of women and mothers living in the Washington, DC area who either have blogs or small businesses. I am in awe of these people who work so hard to balance their families with their passion and commitment to building a community and giving back. I have learned many lessons from the entrepreneurial spirit and positive uplifting attitudes of these women. It keeps me wanting to grow and build on what I started.

What do you do when you aren’t working on your blog?
Five days a week I run a home-based daycare for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Sometimes I forget what it's like to have real adult conversations, but I love the energy the children bring to my home. Weekends are usually filled with my kids' sports and social calendars, which is why my husband and I try to carve out occasional nights out without the kids. And about twice a year we go on weekend trips away without the children (so important). In my downtime, I like watching cheesy movies, reading, and shopping at Target by myself late at night (yes, I am so lame that I count this as a past-time).

What websites do you visit every day?
I am a Facebook junkie, so that is usually first. Then I visit CNN.com and WashingtonPost.com for my news fix. I obsessively visit WJLA for weather updates. BlogHer.com is a must to read the latest discussions from real people on hot topics.  I am also always checking out my favorite local sites for community events, deals, and just for fun. Here are my favorites, other than NovaHousewives.com of course, www.SuperNOVAMommy.com, www.DCMetroMom.com, www.BeltwayBargainMom.com, www.WiredMomma.com, www.aparentinamerica.com,  and www.WashingtonFamily.com.

What is your favorite drink – and where can you find it in Northern Virginia?
Alcoholic- I love the White Cosmo served at Cava Mezze Restaurant in Arlington
Non-Alcoholic - I can drink a Chai Latte anytime. I like to get mine from Caribou Coffee in the Kings Park shopping center in Springfield. 

What book do you casually put out on your coffee table to impress visitors?
I don't usually have coffee table books (or anything really) out because of the children, but I do enjoy creating old school photo albums/scrapbooks and have been known to leave them out to reminisce with family or friends.

What are your top 3 favorite people/places/things in Northern Virginia?
In no particular order:
1 - My family loves the seasonal events/traditions like visiting Cox Farm during their Fall Festival, Bull Run for their Festival of Lights during Christmas time, and the City of Fairfax Parade on the Fourth of July.
2- Visiting Great Falls Park always feels like an adventure for us. We like to climb the rocks, hike down the path, and just gaze in awe at the rushing water and scenic views.
3 - For date night my husband and I enjoy going to Shirlington Village to eat dinner (we love just about all the restaurants there - especially Aladdin's Eatery) and then watch an indie flick at the theater.  

What is your goal for retirement?
I often feel like I'm living moment to moment, so that is hard to answer right now, but my husband and I love the beach, so as long as we get to spend as much time as possible there I'll be happy.

Do you have any advice for women who would like to start their own blog?
Just do it. Pick up your proverbial pen and start writing. Put yourself out there and do not be afraid to let people know what you are doing. You can work out your blog design as you go. You can worry about SEO later. Nothing has to happen overnight. Take your time, be true to your own voice, and make connections.
I discovered that most bloggers (and there are tons out there) are extremely supportive and welcoming. If you reach out and make a connection, you will be surprised to see how far it can take you.

Tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Kristina Schnack Kotlus, and I live in Woodbridge, Virginia with my awesome husband and 3 great kids, who I home educate using a classical model.  I have a degree in Comparative Religion and used to work as a Children's Minister.  I am a Prince William County native- I grew up here and only left for college before coming back! I like pink, sparkles, iced tea, and reading. 

How did you first become involved in with blogging?
I used to keep a calendar of events for friends in a mommy group, and since I'm a true local, I always knew about various places around the area.  A friend encouraged me to make the information accessible to everyone, so PwcMoms.blogspot.com was born.  It took off, and now, thanks to some work from my web guru/husband, it's now just PwcMoms.com

Tell me about some of the people you’ve met while working on your blog?
We've had so much fun meeting people! Since my children are home schooled, they come everywhere with me and we've had a blast meeting everyone from local business owners at places like Swim Kids to local media moguls like Rebecca Barnes from Prince William Living to fun personalities like the Ringmaster at Ringling Brothers or Elmo.  My favorites, though, are the local business owners who are also moms.  Their ability to juggle family, children's activities, and a business is such an inspiration to me. 

What do you do when you aren’t working on your blog?
My kids take up a lot of my time. They play hockey and football and are year-round swimmers.  My daughter just took up figure skating, and the boys are in art, piano, and scouts.  I really love entertaining, so I'm always cooking up a storm for dinners or hosting game nights, and I've been really trying to convince myself I love running.  I ran the Cherry Blossom 10 miler in April and I'm doing some local 5k's while I decide on my next race.  I'm slow, but I love the feeling of accomplishment when I finish! My whole family is local, too, so we enjoy boating and camping with them, as well.

What websites do you visit every day?
Proverbs31.org for my morning devotion, PotomacLocal.com, Google News, Twitter, InsideNova.com, and Facebook.  Unfortunately, writing/interviewing, school and our family doesn't let me read as many blogs as I'd like! I have a few homeschool blogs that I love, but I don't visit them very often, either!

What is your favorite drink – and where can you find it in Northern Virginia?
I actually don't drink very often! I'm fun enough on my own ;) But, at our last MamaMafia dinner at Manzo/Carmellos, I definitely loved their martini menu.  All of it.

What book do you casually put out on your coffee table to impress visitors?
I'll admit to casually throwing down a scrapbook or two, but other than that our coffee table usually prominently features Ranger Rick and Cobblestone!

What are your top 3 favorite people/places/things in Northern Virginia?
Person- Delegate Rich Anderson.  When my son (at age 5) wanted to get involved in politics, he didn't laugh me out of his office when I showed up to volunteer with a 5 year old in a suit, a 3 year old asleep in a stroller, and an infant in my arms.  He's also so kind about my website and sent me a congratulations card when I won Blogger of the Year from Northern Virginia Magazine and when I broke 2,000 Facebook fans, even though I'm sure he doesn't read my site often!
Place- Historic Occoquan.  This was hard for me, because there are so many great places out there! We love the Workhouse Arts Center, Potomac Overlook Park, Mount Vernon, and more, but Occoquan is such fun to walk with a few girlfriends!! I worked at Touch of Gold for awhile and just really fell in love with all the great local merchants.  Walking around to shop and then grabbing a sandwich or cupcake and sitting in the gazebo by the water is a great way to spend a weekend!
Thing- Art Lessons at Edgemoor Art Studio.  This isn't your typical arts and crafts lesson, Ruth Johnsen really teaches these kids art using classical concepts and artists while still leaving room for imagination.  I spend $180 a month on lessons for my kids and would cut out just about anything else before letting these go. 

What is your goal for retirement?
This question sounds like it would require some kind of foresight or planning.  I'm going to skip it on principle. In a previous interview, I said that I love my community and love telling its stories.  As long as I can keep doing that and being happy, I hope there will be a place in my life for my website.  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Do you have any advice for women who would like to start their own blog?  
Learn to knit.  It's way less drama.

I had the best time at the BlogHer conference in NYC over the weekend! Leave it to me to wait until 3 days before the conference to actually decide that I was going, buy a ticket, find a roommate, and make travel plans. Luckily enough, Hersheys and Walmart sponsored travel to and from DC - and Sarah was in the market for a roommate. It all came together at the very last second and I am so glad I took the plunge to actually attend with almost 6,000 other women!

BlogHer is basically like Disney World for women bloggers - but with no rides, just brands, and A LOT of caffeine and cocktails. The conference kicked off with a PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS from Barack Obama! How cool is that? Regardless of your political views, you have to admit that it is pretty cool that the president is acknowledging the industry of women/mommy bloggers.

From Trojan to RetailMeNot to Pfizer, there was something for everyone in the expo hall. My luck was in full swing as I got invites to private events with Verizon, Hasbro, McDonalds, NaughtyMonkey, CVS, and Starbucks. I lunched with keynotes from Martha Stewart (who totally makes you forget she's a convicted felon) and Katie Couric, had NY pizza and drinks with PR reps, and accumulated a ton of swag. All of the razzle and dazzle was great, but the best part of all was making new and partying with old friends. Whether it was a meetup at the hotel bar, lounging in the hotel room, or sharing a uterus pillow on the bus ride home - I created and strengthened bonds with ladies who I respect and admire.

I'll definitely be back for Chicago in 2013!

Meaghan, the fashion blogger behind District Sparkle, invited me to her fashion event [runway show & sample sale] last Thursday in Dupont DC @ The Hillyer Art Space. (yes, the same night as the John Walsh/Cox event at National Press Club - Thank goodness they were only 1.8 miles apart!) The event featured new designers, contemporary clothing boutiques, vintage shops, and local Etsy designers.

If you simply take a look at Meaghan's blog, her love of labels comes as no surprise, but her passion for advocating for children just might. For the past 2 years she has been a CASA [Court Appointed Special Advocate] for a lovely young woman in the DC area foster care system. In order to advocate for children on a much larger scale, Meaghan formed G.L.A.M. [Giving Labels A Meaning] where we can give labels a meaning by bringing awareness to these organizations and donate the generated revenue to child advocacy programs. The G.L.A.M. event celebrated CASA of DC's 10 year anniversary!
 
CASA of DC is a 100% community-driven organization that works hard so children in foster care spend less time in the system, find permanent homes faster and get the life-changing services they need.

Check out more pics of the event from DistrictSparklle!