Heather Elias, thirtysomething from Salisbury, MD

I found Heather on Twitter in my random searches for LoCo stuff to do. Between her smile and the photography on her website (well, one of many!) I knew she was perfect for LoCoWomen.com. After learing more about Heather, I realized she’s a woman after my own heart. It was great getting to “know” you, Heather, and I hope to speak more with you in the future!

Do you own a website?

LoCoMusings.com is my thoughts on real estate and life in Loudoun County. LoCoMarketStats.com contains my analysis of real estate market statistics for Loudoun, and AshburnMarketStats.com, LeesburgMarketStats.com (and soon to be SterlingMarketStats.com) drill that down to the town and zip code level.

Tell me about your immediate family.

I’ve been married to my husband Mike for almost 14 years, he’s the PGA golf professional at Westpark Golf Club in Leesburg. We have four kids, twins Wil and Erika (11), Madeline (6), and Natalie (5). Pets? LOL a menagerie: cats Frodo and Dallas, a parakeet, and a gecko. (editor’s note: I don’t own a gecko, yet, but I’ve got the rest of the menagerie and kids (including twins!)… not that I’m keeping score)

What makes you a LoCoWoman?

This has been my home since 1999, and while I’m not a native LoCo’er, this is *home*. I love it here…Loudoun is in my heart now.

What are you famous for?

Doing everything, all at once…Mom to four, own my own business, travel across the country to speak to Realtors on using social media, volunteering, etc…  (editor’s note: I may have found my long-lost twin)

What is your “style,” or what defines your motivation in life

I really want to drink from the firehose. So much that I want to do, to experience, to see. Life is too short to be afraid to live it.

Where in LoCo do you love to spend your time?

Western Loudoun…I love driving the back roads, the view from the Highlands at Round Hill, the way the sun looks setting over the hills…

What do you do when you are not sleeping?

Work too much, play when I can, and goof off with my kids every chance I get

Describe your perfect meal.

My kids and my husband and I at the dinner table, a meal that everyone is enjoying, and lots of good conversation

Describe your best friend.

He makes me laugh, keeps me honest, finishes my sentences for me…and I never have to explain myself. He just ‘gets it’.

If you were to march in D.C. for a cause, what would the cause be? What kind of shoes would you wear and why?

I am not a march on DC kind of girl, for any cause. I’m more of a strap on the power heels and get in the face of a decisionmaker kind of girl. (editor’s note: I can get behind that!)

What is your passion in life?

Living each stinking minute because it could easily be my last.

Are you the same person you were five years ago?

Yes, and no. Five years ago I was just starting my business, and getting my legs under me. Now, I’ve grown into it and with that has come confidence and contentment.

What is the last thing you did just for you?

Went to Vegas with my best girlfriend and spent three days soaking up the sun next to the pool at the Four Seasons, drinking frozen margaritas and doing lots of nothing.

Favorite entertainment?

Music, music, music. Everything but jazz. I read books whenever I have time (I have a decent hardback collection these days). Movies here and there. Watch lots of sports, especially football.

What is your greatest accomplishment?

Beyond my kids, I take a great amount of pride in the business that I’ve built; there is so much more that I want to accomplish with it.

What is the best thing about being a woman?

Never really thought about it, I just enjoy being me. But the experience of carrying my children and growing them inside of me was pretty damn cool..

Describe yourself as a superhero, including super powers, your costume, etc.

Hah! I get teased a lot about being a cape wearing supermom, so my powers are definitely crisscrossing LoCo in a single bound while juggling sports equipment and yakking real estate on a cell phone at the same time. I would very much love to have an invisible jet. (editor’s note:  funny, I get teased a lot about wearing crocs.)

What do you do that is “out of the box” or “breaking the mold?”

My real estate business is driven by my online marketing and social media efforts; there aren’t too many Realtors that make a living like that. (Yet) (editor’s note: webgrrls!)

How do you see your retirement?

I don’t sit still well, so if I ever decide that I don’t want to work anymore (not likely) I imagine we’ll spend a lot of time travelling.

How do you get physical?

Chasing my kids around. I do try to work out at Ida Lee at least twice a week; but I enjoy playing catch with my daughters too.

Heather, thank you for answering our questions. We love your photos on LoCoMusings and we welcome you to contribute over here at LoCoWomen.com anytime!

Tonia has been living in Loudoun County for seven years, raising her family and studying healing arts such as reiki and shamanism. Currently living in Leesburg, she has found her search for health and wellness a benefit to not only her family, but to the community beyond.

Tell us your name, age and where you are from originally.

Tonia B., 42 years old and originally from Alliance, Ohio

Do you own a website?

Calmingwinds is a place where I showcase my jewelry and share my ideas of how to give to yourself in a positive manner.

Tell us about your immediate family.

My family consists of my husband, Karl, who is my perfect partner in life.  He offers every woman’s dream; he puts his family first but also doesn’t mind helping with the household chores.  In addition, I have four boys ranging in ages from six to twelve and included in our home we have my Mother who joined us a little over a year ago but still living life well working at the local hospital and buzzing the town in her convertable bug.

What makes you a LoCoWoman?

I became a LoCo Woman in September 2002 after returning from living in Kiev, Ukraine for a couple years.  I’ve come to love Loudoun County and continue to strive to learn all the special places the county has to offer.

What are you famous for?

All over the world you will find women wearing my jewelry designs. In addition, I strive to live life with compassion for others and give my family options on how to handle medical issues.  I’m a Reiki Practitioner and when time permits, I study Shamanic Medicine and we will explore alternative methods of healing before jumping in the car to run to the doctor’s office.(editor’s note: she is also the most amazing hostess, ever)

What is your “style,” or what defines your motivation in life?

My style is “Mothering Chic,” which is finding something casual, clean and comfortable.

What is your favorite quote and/or mantra?

“Take the time to give that last kiss.”  Its my own quote because you never know if it will be the last time you see that person. Life is a journey and it should never be taken for granted.

Where in LoCo do you love to spend your time?

There are several places you can find me: often I may be found hiking Morven Park looking for milky quartz; some Friday nights you can locate me in Esoterica enjoying the drum circle and when I can sneak an extra fifteen minutes I love to enjoy a hot chocolate at Greenbriar coffee shop.  Actually all these places are located in Leesburg, Virginia. But, my favorite time is spent in my own back yard swinging while viewing my flower gardens.

What do you do when you are not sleeping?

Depends on the day and hour.  Through out the day I wear several hats. Mothering being my primary responsibility but I consider myself a jewelry designer, volunteer, tour guide to visitors, future Food Network host (just kidding) and a book critic.

Describe your perfect meal.

My perfect meal is simply a nice loaf of bread, cheese and fruit.

Are you spiritual, religious, neither or indefinable?

I would define myself as spiritual.

Describe your best friend.

Defining one person as my best friend would be difficult as there are several women in my life who I feel as though tzsshey are my spiritual sisters.  One is quite the hippy chic who won’t touch meat and will drop everything to answer my most ridiculous questions (editor’s note: damn, you’re lucky! hahaha!), another is a gardener who is put on this earth to be a guardian of the animals and gardens; and yet another can be found tracking down terrorists.  What’s best about these women is I accept them for who they are and they in return allow me to live as I am and understand my imperfections and who don’t hesitate to provide a brutely honest answer when asked.

If you were to march in D.C. for a cause, what would the cause be? What kind of shoes would you wear and why?

Most definitely would be wearing my Crocs as they are very comfortable and when I’m finished I can throw them in the wash and they will look like new.  There would be a number of causes, the first being to bring attention to children with learning disabilities. Another would be having clean water for all communities whether it be here in one of our own States or another struggling community in another country.  Water is our essential and it’s one of the few resources every human being and animal needs to survive.  However plentiful, it needs to be clean and this is an issue that needs to still be addressed by the United Nations because there are many countries still trying to provide this basic need to their people. Lastly, I would be marching for health choices.  Health is an important topic in my eyes and we should have every opportunity to make choices that fit our own lifestyle.

What is your passion in life?

Finding alternative paths of healing is very important to me.  I believe there will come a day when larger groups will be faced to return to the basics of healing.  Before there was aspirin there was a natural solution but today it’s far easier to go to the drug store for that quick bottle.  Cures, in my opinion, can be found in nature. It just takes a little time and energy to find what will work for you.

Are you the same person you were five years ago?

No, I consider myself stronger and have more knowledge to make better decisions.  In the end I would say I have grown up a lot in the last five years and I am enjoying life a little less seriously.

What is the last thing you did just for you?

I did a Native American Sweat in a sweat lodge.  Not only did it cleanse my body and mind but if challenged me beyond anything I’ve ever done in my life.

Favorite entertainment?

Most definately books and music.

What is your greatest accomplishment?

Most recent accomplishment would be becoming a Reiki Master and using the skills I’ve learned and developing the opportunities to share it with others.

How do you describe yourself politically?

One who definately has opinions but prefers not to speak about them very often.  My husband is political enough for the both of us.

What is the best thing about being a woman?

You have choices, far more than men I believe.  But, the best thing I believe in being a woman is the ability to give birth and to know your totally responsible for the living being that is inside of us for nine months.

Describe yourself as a superhero.

I would live in a crystal cave and would move through time by becoming an animal.  Animals have this ability to know how to use all their senses and only take from nature what is needed for that moment of survival.  So, by day night I would be this beautiful woman living in her energized cave and by day I would turn into my favorite animal to go explore a particular part of the world.

What do you do that is “out of the box” or “breaking the mold?”

I talk to the animals.  It’s my belief that we can communicate with animals if we would take the time to learn their manner of sharing.  Ted Andrews is famous for understanding this ability and has inspired me with his books “Animal Speak and Animal Wise”.

How do you see your retirement? How old will you be, where will you live, what will you do?

You will find me barefoot and running along the beach or some form of water somewhere.  However, I also believe it’s a state of mind and can be started long before your actually moved/and no longer working.

How do you get physical?

Often my work out is running around chasing four boys but I also like to go rock hunting so you may see me hiking some hill around Virginia and I also work out daily at Curves in Leesburg.

Get personal with some LoCoWomen at meetup.com! Dinners, coffee, activism, spirituality and even a few play dates for the moms kids! Join us for titillating conversation, community involvement and a whole lot of fun that only a LoCo Woman can appreciate! Do you jive with the vibe?

I am your host, locogrrl, and you can find me in the center of Loudoun County, carrying a pirate purse (and I’m not afraid to use it! Arrrr!) . I am a freelance computer geek, writer, student and mother, among other things. I have lived in LoCo since 2003 and while the traffic is horrible, it a pretty decent place to call “home.”

A while back, I saw someone had abbreviated “Loudoun County” as “LoCo,” probably as a way of further separating us from the NoVa (Northern Virginia) populations in Arlington, Fairfax,  Stafford and Prince William counties, or, because we’re a little loco. Crazy. Unhinged. Some day, there could be a rumble, a multi-county competition to reign supreme over the whole of Northern Virginia… and my money is on the crazy county. LoCo, represent!

The women of LoCo are diverse, smart, sassy, intelligent, fun and fascinating. We hail from all over the world. Some of us stay at home with kids, some of us plan monthly protests in DC. Each of us has a story, and that’s where LoCoWomen comes in, bringing us all together under the convenient vehicle of the Internet.

As with all women, LoCoWomen.com will be continually evolving. Its just an idea, a hobby, and its direction depends a lot on its readers. We welcome your comments, suggestions, complaints and kudos. Let’s get crazy, ladies!