And you will too. It’s hard not to with all the bells and whistles I saw. Think of your fanciest friend’s walk-in closet. Then add a studio apartment surrounding that. Now that…is a closet. A beautiful, wonderful, amazing closet that I will have one day. The guys behind this masterpiece took 5 years to develop their own design system. And it has stuck ever since. Keeping clients happy is something Larry Nordseth and Jim Yates have done for over 20 years. Having been in the industry a while, they saw a shift in what their clients wanted. They realized they wanted to start their own business to adapt. Don’t let the name fool you, though. Closets are just one design specialty. They’re expertise has expanded to laundry room designs, dream garages, and beautiful home offices. It may have started with closets, but Larry and Jim are in the business of maximizing space. The result is two-fold: the designs are both functional and beautiful. Without all the plastic bins and Ikea (Sorry, Ikea, but we’re grown-upping now). Check out your dream closet, office & garage here: www.capitolclosetdesign.net/. P.S. Don’t drool too much.

As a full-grown adult child, I’m always looking for the next fun thing to do. TopGolf, pop-up parties, adult game zones & laser-tagging…I’ve done a lot. But the latest experience? Like nothing I have ever seen before in my life. Forget my niece’s birthday! I wanna have my birthday party here. There’s Ninja Warrior course, black-light climbing wall, and a high ropes course. That’s not it, though. Turn around and you see endless trampolines, a parkour course, and a battle beam with a foam pit. I’ve been told the battle beam is great for couples therapy (ha!). ZavaZone in Sterling is changing the entertainment game. Let’s call it Funner-Tainment. Co-Owners Josh Oboler and Joe Henry are the minds behind this indoor mega-adventure center. They’re two dads who’d been to one too many “family fun” birthday parties at other venues. They were bored. Tired. Over the nickel and diming for such a lackluster experience. After some whining from Josh while he was at one of these events, they made a choice. Since no one else had created a place to cover all interests and age-ranges, they would. And the fun hasn’t stopped since. Don’t be surprised if you see the kids in one section and their grandparents playing in another. Insider Exclusive: There may or may not be laser-tag involved soon (sign me up!). Visit www.zavazone.com to find out more and plan your next shindig.

Aliyah Dastour is used to doing the interviewing, not being interviewed. And I’m the one that got to put her in the hot-seat. She’s well-known in the community for her incredible project, the Loudoun 100. The goal of that project: highlight unsung heroes in the area. After all the nominations were in, she interviewed each and every one of these people to get their story. Yes, 100 people. With pictures, video, the works. That’s a huge project to take on. Turns out, the idea was one of Aliyah’s brain children she hadn’t brought to life yet. On the back-burner for too long, she challenged herself to complete it. Why? Because photography isn’t her real passion, people are. And she was on a mission to meet amazing people doing great things in the community. Aliyah knew the community needed to meet these people too. Check out who’s on the list at www.alimondphotography.com/loudoun100/. Be sure to check out Aliyah’s latest program to help businesses grow their brand: www.facebook.com/brandandconvert/

Think back to the worst public speaker you’ve ever seen. The one you felt bad for. That poor guy that made you cringe as you watched them crash. And burn. Yep, the one you pity clapped for. What might have helped? Maybe some training or coaching public speaking? Now, let’s think back to you (or a friend, if you’ve never experienced this). Ever think about why you didn’t get the promotion? Why the other colleague did? It could be a lack of readiness or planning to the career path. Whatever the case, there’s help for these situations. A Career Coach could have changed the course in all these situations. One coach helping clients move forward in their careers is Julie Mendez. She started JSM Career Coaching to help clients in find fulfilling work that matches their unique talents. Once called “a career coach with street smarts”, Julie’s approach is honest and tailored to each person. She knows there’s no one-size-fits all approach in helping people navigate their career. Learn more about Career Coaching, Julie, and her upcoming workshops at: www.jsmcareercoaching.com/ or www.linkedin.com/in/juliemendez/

Who knew…Floatation Therapy = Less Anxiety? Cryotherapy = More Energy + Less Pain? WHY didn’t I know about these options?! Answer: There’s only one place around Northern VA that provides them. Talk about not knowing what to expect. Walking into RxR3 recovery lounge felt like being in a space station. With lots of cool toys I shouldn’t touch by myself. There’s even that oxygen-mask that Olympian, Sean White (Yes, the flying tomato) used to train. But, RxR3 isn’t just for super-athletic people trying to be more athletic. Or sports junkies recovering from a tough workout. It serves people with all sorts of goals. Like those with chronic pain or low energy levels. The biggest surprise for me? Some of these therapies can help with mental illness, like anxiety and depression. The key to the growing success of this place? The owner, Tip Hipp, is dedicated to helping people. Seriously, he admitted he has an innate “Superhero” characteristic. He really loves to help people become the best version of themselves. Why is he so passionate about the benefits of these therapies? Tim has Lyme Disease himself. He’s seen the positive results of these treatments for disease management first-hand. And knew others could improve their health too. Some of the services offered: Kaatsu (google it!), Live02 Adaptive Contrast™, Compression Therapy, Cryotherapy, Infrared Sauna, and Whole Body Vibration. Find out more about these therapies and the benefits at: www.rxr3pro.com

Walking in to Occoquan Bay Performance, I thought it was just another gym. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Yes, there are unique workouts, individualized training, awesome group classes, etc. The difference? One room, one guy, and an idea. This room at OBP is the future of fitness. Why? It’s dedicated to live, online group sessions. Nick Mann is changing the way we work out. And throwing our excuses out the window. Traffic? Time? You don’t have to drive now, so yes, you have time. No equipment? Not necessary. Sorry, the excuses have run out. These online sessions aren’t where you simply watch and replicate. The interactive approach online keeps people accountable. The excuse of not having enough time to get to the gym, traffic, etc is now officially out the window. (Dammit. I’ll be online soon…Thanks, Nick.) What’s the coolest part? I could get my best friend in FLORIDA to sign up, and we could work out together online. Or my co-workers on the west coast. Connecting us with our peoples through fitness? Damn. Social interaction & human connectivity wins again (ex: Facebook, anyone?)! Fun Fact: Nick also has a video series for Dining Out Healthy in NOVA. He hits popular restaurants and gives advice on what options are good. No more skipping out on social eating (or screwing up your hard work so far…). Keep up with Nick on his Facebook page and obpgym.com.

More often than not, when we read “Estate Sale”, what do we usually think? Somebody died. An elder relative has passed away and there’s a lot of stuff left behind. Old stuff. Which can give some us (me) the heebie-jeebies about checking one out. Turns out, it’s quite the opposite. Apparently Northern VA is a hot-spot for Snow-Birds. What’s that now? People who retire to Florida. Whose stuff from NOVA doesn’t match the beachy, retired-vibe. Plus, paying for all that stuff to move? Ugh. No wonder people pay someone else to sell their stuff. We’re not talking yard-sale, goodwill rejects. The stuff people amass? Oh my gawd. And in Virginia too – land of history. Where your sh*t must say “Yes, I worked soo hard for this beautiful mahogany dresser. And that dining room table that seats 16. Now…I’ma sell it ALL to drink a Mai Thai. On the beach. Bye, y’all!” The point is, there’s some really cool stuff out there that sells for a deal. So who’s the local expert on this? Doneen Hoffman of Estate Professional Services. Doneen’s recommendation for who should be watching sales like this? Well, everyone. But who might really benefit? 1) Couples furnishing their first apartment or home. 2) Parents sending their kids off the college. 3) Young professionals settling in to the area. Keep tabs on upcoming sales at www.facebook.com/EstateProfessionalServices/

Yes, one of the perks of my job is getting to try the products or services. And this…I will return for (the Abide Blonde ale is where its at). Why is it so good? Behind Brew Republic Bierworks, is a Brew-baby legacy that knows beer. Seriously, her Dad helped grow the Yuengling brand to where it is today. While she was always in the brewing world, Amy was more interested in Politics than beer. It wasn’t until her Dad passed away that the concept for Brew Republic Bierworks was born. With some encouragement and advice from the owner of Yuengling, Amy knew this was the next right path. She set out to create a brewery that was A) About the beer and B) About the people making & drinking it. As a second home away from home, Amy set out to create a place where the staff and patrons love to be. Given the crowd at 12pm on a Friday, I’d say it’s working. Insider Tip: Book a Brew-Tour and see how your favorite drink it made. Catch more of the story on an upcoming podcast episode! Drinkin’ Tip: Try the Patriot 212. You can thank me later. Check out upcoming events, specials, and more at https://brewrepublic.beer/

Stevie Wonder once said “Music, at its essence, is what gives us memories. And the longer a song has existed in our lives, the more memories we have of it.” Think about it. That first love you ever felt. And the song that came with it. The couple’s first dance at a wedding. The song you and your best friends dance to in the car (while everyone’s watching). The Daddy-Daughter Dance (Cue the happy tears). We all remember these once-in-a-lifetime moments. The songs are what make everything. The feeling. The emotion. The meaning of that moment. Music is a powerful memory-maker. Which is why Romin Zandi does what he does. Making great events better with the right music. At 24 years old, Romin has a maturity and motivation not many folks his age do. It was beyond impressive and is a clear factor in how he’s been successful. His passion for people was clear in his explanation of consultations with clients. The key to a successful event? He said, “Asking the right questions to truly get to know my clients.” Sure, he could throw on a typical wedding playlist pulled of the web, but it wouldn’t be personal to that couple. Or a standard dance party mix. But Romin knows the tailored approach to music selection is what makes an event wonderful. To learn more or book him for your next event, visit http://zandientertainment.com/

At CrossFit Prominent, family is first. In everything. From business decisions, planning, to ownership. Damien & Caroline Madison, alongside Pamela & Kodi Smith, are bringing family and fitness together in a unique way. These two power couples (and in-laws) decided to open a CrossFit gym. Together. Talk about a family affair. Background: Pamela & Kodi have 4 children. Damien & Caroline are the new parents on the block (congrats, you two!). So these guys know the balance between work, family, and working out can be tough. Which is why CrossFit Prominent is brilliant. They’re making it easier for families to get fit, together. Here, parents can train while their kids are exercising nearby. The Prominent Athletes program trains youngsters to get faster, stronger and more agile. Teaching kids from 8-18, the program is helping them understand how to get better. And the hard work it takes to get there. For adults, are you a CrossFit Newb? No worries, there’s a class for that so you don’t have to embarrass yourself. Insider Tip: The Spring Sports season is near! And Prominent Athlete sessions are starting to fill up. Find out more information on the programs offered at www.crossfitprominent.com