Today's snowquester may have been an over hyped bust in terms of snow accumulation but it's a reminder that though it is March and spring is  technically close (come on daylight savings!), winter isn't over yet.  To that end, on nasty days like this when I feel stuck inside (whether I really am or not) and cabin fever-ish, my mind wanders more than normal to the creature comfort foods that tend to have a warming effect on my soul and result in the kind of fullness accompanied by total content.  One of my favorites in this category is SHWARMA!  I want it and I will have it....as soon as I've worked up the motivation to leave the warmth of indoors and brave the slush and ick this faux blizzard brought with it.  

For any who've never heard of or

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During the Winter months most people just want to hibernate inside until Spring, myself included! Walking around Downtown Silver Spring last weekend, I noticed an abundance of activities on offer to occupy the long Winter days. Here are my top 5 recommendations! For more activity ideas in Silver Spring, visit the community webstite.

Ice Skating at Veterans Plaza

The ice skating rink at Veterans Plaza is an annual Winter attraction the whole family can enjoy. It is open rain, hail, snow or shine until 10pm weeknights and until 11pm Friday and Saturday. Skate rental is just $3, with admission starting from $7 for kids. The rink is also available for private hire. What a great venue for your kid's next birthday party! More information can be found

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If you’re reading this I hope you have something sweet to cure that sweet tooth of yours. This week I am shining the spotlight on a local business located right here in Silver Spring called Velatis. Velatis is extremely well known for their amazing, mouth watering caramels. Their variety of caramels includes everything from Vanilla Sugary Plain to Chocolate Chewy Marshmallow, Sea Salt Caramels and Rocky Road flavor, a personal favorite being the Vanilla Chewy Plain! Velatis also makes all kinds of goodies including Brownies, fudge and delicious melt in your mouth old fashion chocolate. What I found interesting that is sold at Velatis is the Ice Cream Toppings.  These Ice Cream Toppings can either be bought in small chucks of the caramel flavor of your

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Wouldn't it be nice if winter was a perpetual, idyllic Norman Rockwell scene? If it were, I wouldn't grumble about it's onset and length so much.  Alas, it is not. Winter in the northern hemisphere, especially around Silver Spring really means harsh wind, dreary rain, slush, waning daylight and illnesses aplenty. Blargh!  

I tend to go into full on hibernation mode during these months but do my best to keep a positive attitude about it.  How you ask?  I take this time to catch up on many 'to-do' lists (movies, books, things around the house), enjoy the break from my otherwise hectic social schedule and BEST of all, use the time to go on cooking and eating adventures! In my book, there is no better way to chase away the winter blues than diving

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In addition to working full time on the Pure Energy design team, Cara Hunt also works part time as the Education Coordinator and a screen printing instructor at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, so this week I would like to highlight this wonderful non-profit art organisation and fill you in on the creative happenings there.

Located in downtown Silver Spring, Pyramid Atlantic offers programs in print making, paper making and book arts. If you have not been into Pyramid before, I highly recommend stopping by for a peek inside next time you are in the area.

Founded in 1981, Pyramid has expanded over the years, moving into bigger locations to accommodate the growing demand for more workshops and studios, which now include a paper mill, print shop, screen

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How often do you find yourself doing exactly what you love? Today I visited a little shop located in the heart of the antique district of Kensington, Maryland called Gala Artisan Jewelry & Gifts. At Gala you will find the most upbeat sales staff you’ll ever meet. Wonder why they’re so upbeat? Because every person on staff is doing exactly what they love to do, they are all artists. This shop sells everything from jewelry to pottery, art glass to  fun filled accessories, as well as scarfs and trendy purses. Certainly the place to go to get your one of a kind fashionable items! 

The two owners of Gala, Linda Blackbourn (Linda Blackbourn Jewelry) and Barbara Catrett (Tulip Tree Designs Jewelry), were determined to take their artistic passion to the

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CALL TO ACTION: The Haunted Garden REALLY needs your help and support to stay alive for next year’s Halloween season!! 11 families have written to the County Council in the hopes of preventing this fantastic neighborhood event from occurring in the future. They claim that the Haunted Garden is a commercial event (even though it is a free community event open to all) and that the location is unsafe for visitors. 

If you would like to visit the Haunted Garden next year, we need your support! Please take a few minutes to express your support for this family event, by doing one or all of the following:

- Write a short letter (Montgomery County Council, 100 Maryland Avenue • Rockville, MD 20850)
- Email the County Council (please cc

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The HAUNTED GARDEN 2012

The Haunted Garden 2012 has come to a close! Unfortunately, Hurricane Sandy forced our hand to close the Haunted Garden after only 2 nights, but what an amazing 2 nights it was! Thank you to everyone for visiting and enjoying The Haunted Garden. We appreciate not only your support but your smiles and screams as well! Thank you to Montgomery County Parks for all their hard work making our event safe for the community. A very special thank you to all of the actors, pumpkin carvers, neighbors and  crew members that helped us setup and load out before the storm. We appreciate it more than you know. 

Thanks to those who donated to A Wider Circle!If you didn't get the chance to donate please do visit www.awidercircle.org

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The Haunted Garden is back for 2012! Thanks to everyone who visited last year! It was an absolute blast and we are thrilled so many attended and enjoyed it! We are currently  preparing for an opening night of October 26th 2012!!

The Haunted Garden is an elaborate Halloween Yard Haunt located in Silver Spring, MD - less than 1/4 mile from 495 and directly off Colesville Rd. 

Summon your courage and prepare to walk through the darkness of the Haunted Garden - filled with animated props, live actors, theatrical lighting and special effects! Come face to face with your fears! 

Created by Pure Energy Real Estate, produced by Donna Kerr, designed and directed by the dark and twisted mind of Rania Peet - The Haunted Garden is open to all ages and…

Montgomery County Humane Society has teamed up with the ASPCA Rachel Ray $100K Challenge, in which 50 animal shelters nationwide are aiming to adopt out 300 more dogs and cats this year than they did in the same three months last year. Shelters who achieve this goal have the opportunity to earn grant funding to put towards aiding animals in need.

As dog and cat lovers, the Pure Energy team think this is a challenge worth getting on board with! If you have been thinking about adopting a furry friend, this may be the right time to do so. This Friday, Saturday and Sunday the MCHS will be extending their open hours and waiving all adoption fees!

More information including opening hours and what you may need to take with you can be found here. Complete

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