Don’t Let These Common Skin Conditions Grind You Down

Having any kind of injury or health issue can be a challenging time. Catching a virus or just feeling generally under the weather doesn’t just affect our physical health. It can also throw our mental state into disarray, and you could end up feeling self-conscious or embarrassed about whatever it is that’s ailing you. No situation is more relevant to this as when you have a clearly visible condition; specifically, one that is one your face. Most of us experience a rash or other form of skin condition at least once in our lives – usually something like chicken pox when we are a child, despite the many vaccinations that are now available. But there are some facial skin conditions that as well as being pretty painful, can also cause you a lot of emotional distress. After all, a rash on your arms, back or even neck can be fairly easy to hide. A sore or rash on your face, less so. However, staying cooped up inside for the duration of your illness or infection isn’t always very nice, and if you are actually well enough to leave the house, your skin condition shouldn’t stop you. To get you feeling less self-conscious, here are a few tips on managing some of the most common skin ailments, and how to get your skin back to its normal healthy self.

Acne

You may think that acne is something that just affects hormonal teenagers. But in reality, it is something that can follow adults around for many years as well. Chronic acne can be incredibly distressing, and it can completely destroy a person’s self-confidence. Additionally, depending on the severity of the acne, it can also be quite a painful condition. If this sounds like the level that your acne is at, ditch the drugstore products and seek help from a professional doctor. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is also vital for helping to combat acne.


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Cold sores

Cold sores/fever blisters are painful red sores that can appear anywhere on the face, but most commonly on the lips. They are caused by the herpes simplex virus which is highly contagious, and they can be very painful as well as unsightly. Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure, but they usually go away within a week or so. But, if you think you have a fever blister, there are various things you can do to calm the inflammation at home. Be mindful that cold sores are often mistaken for canker sores, so if you are unsure always seek help from a professional.

Dermatitis

There’s nothing that’s more annoying than itchy skin, and if you live with dermatitis, you will know this only too well. This is a condition that is often mistaken for psoriasis, due to its similar-looking symptoms of scaly, flaky skin. Many people find that their dermatitis makes them quite self-conscious, but there are ways to ease its impact on your life. Use gentle bathing products and always protect your skin from the sun. Using prescribed anti-fungal products is also said to help lessen the appearance of dermatitis in many patients.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales – GO SEE IT!

If you love the Pirates of the Caribbean adventures as much as I do you can NOT miss this movie. Disney knows how to bring the pirate life alive! I’ve been waiting for this movie for years. Whatever happened to Will Turner and the Flying Dutchman? What about the last time we saw Elizabeth Swann with their son what’s happened to them? I guess you will have to watch and see 🙂

Everyone’s favorite pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow returns in this non-stop epic adventure to find the legendary Trident of Poseidon, with deadly ghost sailors hot on his trail.

Captain Jack Sparrow never ceases to amaze me. He always finds his way into some type of rum induced trouble. Always taking you on an amazing pirate adventure with plenty of laughs along the way.  

This time he finds himself being chased by his old archenemy the ghostly Captain Salazar and his crew of ghostly sailors that have escaped from the Devil’s Triangle. Captain Salazar has a strong hatred towards our beloved Jack Sparrow and wishes to seek revenge for himself and his whole crew. In order to survive this tragic situation he must find the Trident of Poseidon, that has been said to not exist. To do this Jack Sparrow must make some rattled alliances, a beautiful and smart astronomer and a strong willed young man from the British Navy.  We also get to see some old friends in this film including the ferocious Captain Hector Barbossa and the ever loyal Joshamee Gibbs.

The real-life action can be a little scary if you have tiny ones but I think this is still a great family film. Join Captain Jack Sparrow on this ghostly pirate adventure this weekend. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales opens in Theaters this Friday May 26th. Make sure you stay after the credits 😉

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Outdoor Fun in Leesburg

Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park
Hike winding nature trails and explore wooded areas at Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park in Leesburg, Virginia. This out-of-the-way park is home to several historic buildings, and a cast of wild native plants and wildlife. Climb to the overlook to take in a scenic vista of the Potomac River.
Evergreen Sportsplex
Whether you’re looking for a challenge on one of the 13 ropes course elements or just want to fly on one of their four zip lines or scale up our two rock walls, the Adventure Park offers a fun, rewarding and convenient experience for friends, family, coworkers, clients and groups of all ages!

Leesburg Animal Park
The Leesburg Animal Park is a family-owned and operated business that opened in March of 2000. The Park has many animal residents that you can meet, pet and feed. Enter the “Contact Area” to roam around with farm animals such as goats, sheep and llamas. Jump onto a Wagon Ride, take a Pony Ride or join a Live Animal Show! They offer an up-close animal experience that you won’t get at a larger zoo.
Live Animal Shows at 11:45am, 1:45pm & 3:45pm with Pony Rides, Animal Petting & Feeding Area, Camel Rides (select weekends), Wagon Rides, 3-level indoor Jungle Play Zone for kids, Discovery Room arts & crafts, games & toys! 
Exotic Animal Exhibits: Lemurs, Sloth, Kookaburras, Reptiles, African Serval Cats, White-handed Gibbons, Camels, African-Crested Porcupines, Coatimundi, Patagonian Cavi, Zebras!

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Dulles Chrysler Jeep Dodge.

Morven Park
Morven Park is located in Leesburg, Virginia, in the heart of Horse Country and just a short drive from Washington, D.C.  As our community has grown, Morven Park has become the “Central Park” of our region attracting nearly 200,000 visitors every year. Whether participating in our highly competitive equestrian events, touring our three museums, picnicking, hiking, playing on our athletic fields, or just absorbing the beauty of the woodlands, mountain ridge, historic buildings, and formal gardens, visitors who come here fall in love with Morven Park. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on your donations to preserve our historic and natural resources, and to keep our gates open to the public year-round.

Historic White Ferry
Historic White’s Ferry is the last of 100 ferries that used to operate on the Potomac River. This ferry, named after the confederate Civil War General Jubal A. Early, connects Whites Ferry Road in Montgomery County, Maryland with a road by the same name in Loudoun County, Virginia. The cars line up on what looks like a boat ramp and drive down onto the ferry. Once loaded, the ferry follows a wire cable to the other side of the Potomac.

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The Best Wineries in Leesburg Virigina

A foodie tour while out of town can be one of the best parts of a vacation. There’s so much that Leesburg offers when it comes to restaurants and wineries you may want to bring those extra stretchy pants for the ride home.

Stone Tower Winery
Wine & Cheese Tasting
Start your tour with some bubbly and a look through the winery’s production facility and barrel chai. They’ll explain their approach to artisanal winemaking and offer an up-close look at all the necessary elements and equipment for creating fine wines. Then enjoy a guided tasting through the current vintages, highlighted by select cheese pairings.


Zephaniah Farm Vineyard
Zephaniah Farm Vineyard offers vineyard tours that are held between 11 a.m. and 1 pm. where they discuss the growth of the vines throughout the season and the influence of the weather – there’s a lunch special for just $15 that includes the farm-grown wine as well as farm-raised, grass-fed beef with a veggie.
Fabbioli Cellars
Fabbioli Cellars is a small, family owned and operated vineyard and winery. They focus on growing and making high quality wines using traditional methods and 21st century knowledge. A standard tasting consists of 7 fine wines perfectly paired with small gourmet food bites. Tastings are seated, and conducted by a wine server who provides a fun, educational overview of their wines over a course of 15-20 minutes, for a truly unique and great tasting experience.

Casanel Vineyards
Established in October of 2008 Casanel Vineyards and Winery is a family-owned and operated business. Our main focus centers on our passion not only for grape growing, but also for whinemaking, emphasizing the way they produce their craft wine. Each grape is nurtured on the vine, artfully crafted in our cellar, and then finally hand-bottled and hand-labeled before their wine makes its way to your glass. They pride themselves on providing a truly unique experience in their tasting room, one that is reflected in their quiet, ambiance and tranquil setting admist the Catoctin Ridge and educational approach to tasting.

This post is sponsored by Dulles Kia.

The Vineyard & Winery at Lost Creek
The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek is a 50-acre boutique farm winery with 16-acres of vineyard nestled in the rolling hills of Northern Virginia between historic Route 15 and the Potomac River, Lost Creek Winery is a scenic destination and boutique winery that offers high-quality Virginia wines paired with an array of delectable culinary offerings in a casual atmosphere. The Tasting Bar is an ideal experience for first-time visitors seeking to get to know Lost Creek. Discover the high-quality 100% Virginia wines during the guided tasting of six of their wines. The tasting takes place at their tasting bar and features current releases of their Estate & Bordeaux blend collection.

Vanish Brewery
When Jonathan Staples launched Black Hops Farm in 2014 the goal was to provide local hops to Virginia’s thriving alcohol industry. This would not only support the beverage industry but also local agriculture by promoting further hop farming. With an emphasis on hops it was a no brainer that a brewery belonged on the farm. Thus, Vanish Farmwoods Brewery was born! Vanish resides on the 53 acre Black Hops Farm in beautiful Lucketts, Va. With the use of local ingredients we focus on bringing you beer that is plant to pint and seed to sip. We offer up to 20 beers on tap at a time in our massive Taproom. We boast plenty of outdoor space with scenic views as well as options for private events both big and small. Come see us and don’t miss out on our Mega Flight of 12 tasters!

 

 

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Summer Festivals in Richmond

Dominion Riverrock
Browns Island  – May 19 – 21st
The annual Dominion Riverrock in Richmond, Virginia, is a celebration of river life, outdoor sports and eclectic music. The three-day extravaganza features adventure races, 5k runs, rock climbing competitions, stand up paddleboard endurance challenges and kayaking contests in addition to musical performances from nationally touring bluegrass, roots, rock and alternative acts. Past performers include Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Matisyahu, Soulive and Robert Randolph and the Family Band.

Cotopaxi Questiral Adventure
Gateway Park – May 19 – 20
Comfort zones cease to exist when you take part in a Questival race. Otherwise, it’s not really an adventure, is it? Cotopaxi’s Questival Tour journeys all around the United States and Canada, bringing high-octane action in the form of outdoor challenges. In their respective cities, Teams of 2 to 6 people will compete in a multitude of stimulating activities that will inspire teamwork, friendship and a newfound sense of adventure.

Innsbrook After Hours 2017
Glen Allen, VA – May 20th
When the first concert ends, don’t be sad. There are still over 20 to go—not in one night, of course. Innsbrook After Hours is a series of concerts taking place over the course of a handful of months. But it includes more than 20 concerts and provides an eclectic mix of genres played by well-known musicians.

This post is sponsored by Pearson Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram.

Virginia Renaissance Faire
Spotsylvania Courthouse – May 20-21, May 27-28, June 3-4, June 10-11
Virginia Renaissance Faire is all about providing an interactive family fun fest focused on history and the arts. And the faire achieves just that. It features street theater, period activities and a cast of costuemd characters to bring history to life in an exciting way. Everywhere you turn, you’ll find demonstrations, hands-on activities, artisans, crafters and tons of street performers of all kinds. While the street performers draw people in, the delicious period and modern foods are one of the main attractions.

Pocahontas Premieres
Amphitheater at Pocahontas State Park – weekends all summer
Sure, you can talk to trees, random animals in the woods and dudes with the most generic name in the world, but you’re crazy and probably at the wrong festival. Pocahontas Premieres brings you upbeat party and dance music, a local Virginian symphony, beach music and plenty more to accommodate your entire summer experience.

Ashland Strawberry Faire
Randolph-Macon College – June 3rd
The Faire is a strong community affair just in time for the strawberry harvest. The family-oriented faire is stuffed with activities ranging from live music all the way to a strawberry pageant. Local vendors, businesses and non-profit booths are peppered throughout the faire to tie the community together even more.

Broad Appetit
Historic Broad St – June 4th
See what the city’s best restaurants have to offer. Each local eatery converges in one spot to serve you delicious food. To wash down your meal are plenty of local and regional wines and brews. You can also catch some good tunes and learn how to make your own delicious dish with the help of chef demonstrations.

Stone Soul Music & Food Festival
Classic Ampitheater at Strawberry Hill = June 10th
f you’re a fan of hip hop and R&B, you’ll be hard pressed to find anything wrong with the Stone Soul Music & Food Festival in Richmond, Virginia. The festival features of a barrage of performances from national hip hop, R&B, inspiration and soul artists. It also features an assortment of soul food restaurants on site.
Kingsfest 2017
Kings Dominion – June 22 -24
There’s no shortage of thrills to be had at Kings Dominion, and they’ve found yet another way to make you scream at the top of your lungs. Alongside its wildest roller coasters, a slew of popular music artists will play a solid show to rev your pulse up. KingsFest features a primarily Christian lineup, so make sure to send up a prayer for all the God-given talent before they grace the stage.

Richmond Jazz Festival
Maymont – August 2017
Good music at a quality venue is hard to come by for some people. That’s a struggle that baffles the Richmond Jazz Festival. After you enjoy the scenic surroundings, world-class jazz music from an extensive lineup of great musicians, mouth-watering food from the region and good times with friends, your new struggle will be finding another music festival that tops this.

Our Lady of Lourdes Filipino Festival
Our Lady of Lourdes Church – August 11 – 12
A unique culture is deserving a unique and authentic festival. Our Lady of Lourdes Filipino Festival is the unique and authentic experience you crave that’s dedicated to Filipino culture. You and all of the guests will be treated to mouth-watering Filipino food, live music and Filipino dancing to bring the culture alive in Henrico, Virginia. In addition, the Race ‘N’ Roll 5K precedes the Filipino Festival so you’ll have the energy to engage with this colorful culture.

Carytown Watermelon Festival
Cary St – August 2017
The Carytown Watermelon Festival offers a mishmash of summer family fun. Of course, there’s plenty of ice-cold watermelon ready for the eating, but that’s just one aspect of the party, which attracts over 100,000 visitors. Live music fills the air, more than 100 exhibitors dot the grounds and a kids’ area adds to the excitement.

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