Two teams will fight to bring home the Lombardi Trophy this Sunday.

It’s Super Bowl week – the perfect time to begin a blog about America’s favorite past time, football. From early August to the first week of February, friends gather around their televisions on Sunday ready to scream, yell, cry, and jump around like maniacs for their team. The love that football fanatics feel towards their teams is incomparable to any other emotion. Strangers become the best of friends when spotted wearing the same jersey, and close friendships are put to the test in the unfortunate situation where their teams must face each other.

Football in America is like the weather. Need to make small talk with your boss? Bring up the scores from the games on Sunday. Feel an awkward silence approaching on a date with a new person? Just ask who their team is and the conversation will start flowing.

For the most loyal football fans, weekdays during the regular 16-week season drag by as game day approaches. The fate of each team is waiting to be determined, and another win or loss puts them one step closer or further from their goal of making the playoffs.

Once the playoffs begin, elimination round is in effect, and fans get a lot more serious about their teams. A loss in the playoffs means your season is over. It is common to hear a lot of “we’ll get ‘em next year’s” during this time, while fans sullenly discuss which team they’ll have to hop on the bandwagon for throughout the remainder of the season (although they make it perfectly clear that they are only rooting for the “name of winning team” because their team didn’t make it.)

For the teams that prevailed through the playoffs, each week has resulted with a sigh of relief from the fans. When Monday morning arrives players start preparing for the upcoming week on the field, while fans prepare themselves for another week of built-up nerves, party planning, and of course bragging about their team to anyone who will listen. Two teams finally remain after a long, hard-fought season full of sweet victories and heart-breaking defeats, and will represent their cities in the Super Bowl.

This year, these two teams are the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers. The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New York Jets in the AFC (American Football Conference) Championship on Sunday, Jan. 23. The Steelers have a 12-4 record this season and are ranked #1 defense in 2010.

The Packers defeated the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 23 in the NFC (National Football Conference) Championship. The Packers have a 10-6 record, and fall just behind the Steelers as the 2^nd best defense of 2010.

There is no doubt from the fans, coaches, or analysts that this will be a close game. An nfl.com poll shows that the Packers are favored over the Steelers 53% over 47%.

Green Bay has been to four Super Bowls and won three of them, the last one in 1998 with a loss to the Denver Broncos.

Pittsburgh has been to seven Super Bowls with six wins, the last one only two years ago in 2009.

This Sunday’s showdown of the Terrible Towels vs. the Cheeseheads will determine who will go down in history as the winners of Super Bowl 45.

Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA). Current Masters student in Multimedia Journalism program. Graduation 2011.
  
Employment History:
  
New River Voice, Radford, VA
Photography & Graphics Intern, Spring 2010
Writing feature stories, creating multimedia projects, creating online ads, logos, and images for various companies.

Silhouette Literary & Arts Magazine, Blacksburg, VA
Photography Editor, 2008-present
Edit photography for magazine; contact artists, design spreads and layout.
  
SMK Photography, Blacksburg, VA
Independent Media Consultant, Fall 2008
Created usable pieces of media including brochures, news releases, feature articles, print advertisements, and backgrounders for client.
 
The Journey, Leesburg, VA
Yearbook Editor, 2005-2006
Performed copy writing, editing, caption writing, layout and spread design. Photographed sporting events.
  
Skills:
  
-Broad experience with software including Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, iMovie, Audacity, and Dreamweaver.
-Online journalism experience via social media sites such as Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Blogger, etc.
-Strong media writing skills.

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Next time you find yourself out and about in North Highland Park, remember to lock your car doors behind you.
Several Richmond neighborhoods have seen drastic increases in burglary rates in the past year. North Highland Park, Randolph, and Northern & Southern Barton Heights had the highest property crime increases since 2009.
According to Richmond resident Roy Rogers, who lives near North Highland Park, a large concentration of gang and drug activity in the area could be to blame for the high crime rates.
“It’s just not a good area to be in at night, especially not alone,” said Rogers.
Rogers has lived in the area for two years, and has seen firsthand how much the area has suffered from criminal activity.
“My next door neighbors car was broken into last week, his $400 GPS was stolen, not to mention the window shattered on his car,” said Rogers. “I’m just trying to be careful and not let it happen to me,” he said.
For Randolph resident Stephen Redman, crime at his doorstep is no stranger. Redman, like many college students, rides a bike to and from campus on a daily basis. One morning in June of this year, however, that was not the case.
“I always left it out on the front porch, and when I came out that morning it was gone,” said Redman. “It was a pretty old bike so I wasn’t that worried about it, I was more pissed about having to walk all the way to work and get yelled at for being late,” he said.
Redman is one of thousands of college students who move to the Richmond area with little or no experience of inner-city crime. Students who have grown up in suburban areas with low property crime rates may not think twice about leaving their car unlocked or leaving their belongings out on the porch.
“I had just moved to the Randolph area a few months before that. My bike was so old and beat up I didn’t think anyone would even think it was worth stealing. I guess I was wrong,” said Redman.
The Randolph area, located less than a mile away from VCU’s Monroe Park Campus, is home to many blue-collar families. Because of it’s convenient location, many college students choose to live there as well.
Property crimes in the Randolph area this year have already doubled since 2009. Residents are encouraged to keep their cars locked, keep all valuables indoors, and make sure all windows and doors are locked at all times.
Surprisingly, the neighborhood with the highest recorded amount of burglaries in both 2009 and 2010 was the Fan. The Fan is a large neighborhood, stretching from Belvidere St. to Boulevard, populated heavily by college students.
With a total of 90 reported burglaries in 2009, and 62 so far this year, the Fan surpasses all other Richmond neighborhoods in total property crimes.
Three-year Fan resident Brittany Smoot has had her share of items stolen while living in the Fan.
Smoot lives in the center of the Fan, on Lombardy St. Having lived there for three years, she has learned how to keep her belongings out of the hands of thieves.
“When I first moved here I had CD’s stolen out of my car, shoes stolen off my deck…it happened all the time,” said Smoot.
“I wasn’t used to having to lock my car at all times, even if I was just running inside to get something. Now I know better and I know what people will do,” she said.
Despite the high levels of property crime, the Fan is still considered a relatively “safe” place for students to live.
“I wouldn’t want to move anywhere else,” said Smoot. “You just have to be smart and not careless. You can’t be naïve when you’re living in the city,” she said.

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LEESBURG, Va.– The arrival of spring brings warm weather, clear skies and a fresh chance to welcome new beginnings. As the weather grows warmer, it also causes booms in the flower industry, DJ rentals and the overbooking of hair and make-up artists. By the end of May, summer wedding season is in full force.
Summer weddings have their own pro’s and con’s in the intricate process that planning a wedding entails. With the obvious appeal of nice weather and aesthetically pleasing photo opportunities – outdoor weddings offer an environment perfect for making that special day even more beautiful.
The Birkby House in Leesburg, Va., is a popular location for outdoor weddings in the summer months. Manager Mary-Louise Torrey coordinates 2-3 weddings a week during the summertime, mostly in the busy of months of May and October.
“People choose this location because of its charm and elegance. We have the beautiful garden with lots of green scenery. There’s much more personality than a random hotel,” says Torrey.
However, certain things must be taken into consideration when planning any outdoor event. For instance, there is always the everlasting chance of rain.
Bride-to-be Jessica Rossie plans her big day for early June, hoping for sunny weather and a comfortable climate.
“I wanted to be able to enjoy nice weather on my wedding day. I’m glad that it’s nice outside…as long as it doesn’t rain!” says Rossie.
Arrangements should be made for tents or alternative indoor locations that can be used in the case of a last-minute weather emergency.
While warm weather is usually desired for wedding day, too much of a good thing can be a problem. Hundreds of people in sticky suits and dresses baking in 90 degree weather makes for unhappy guests and a stressed out bride. If an outdoor wedding in the sweaty months of the summer is an absolute must, there are cute ways to keep guests cool and content.
Passing out mini fans, moist towels and cold water bottles ensure that guests will not be dying of heat exhaustion while watching the ceremony. A fan or some form of shelter from the sun also allows the bride to be comfortable and able to focus on the happiest day of her life, rather than dealing with dozens of sweaty and irritated family and friends.
“I’m just glad the bridal suite is air conditioned!” says Rossie.
Weather conditions aside, other important wedding party decisions must be made with seasonal circumstances in mind, such as hair and make-up styles.
Summer colors are light and bright, while weddings in the colder months are darker and richer.
“I chose tangerine orange because it’s very vibrant and bold and reflects my personality. It’s also perfect for the season,” says Rossie.
Summer weddings also call for up-do’s and lightweight make-up, to avoid sweaty tangles and runny faces.
Hairdresser at Mane Improvements Hair Salon in Leesburg, Va., Robin Armstrong does hair for bridal parties throughout the year.
“I’d say early summer and the fall are definitely the most popular wedding seasons,” says Armstrong. “During the summer you get a lot of up-do’s because no one wants to be hot and sticky on their wedding day,” she says.
Make-up styles also vary depending on the time of year. Heavy, dark colors are much too dramatic for a daytime, outdoor wedding. Light colors such as pink or light blue are common for summertime weddings, along with a light foundation that will not run or get shiny in the heat.
Make-up artist Christine Donovan has done bridal make-up for five years, and has experience with both summer and winter weddings.
“Obviously summer weddings use lighter colors, but you also want the face to feel lighter since you’ll be outside for a long period of time,” says Donovan. “We use streak-free foundations and powdery eye-shadows rather than heavy liquids for a fresh feel that lasts all day,” she says.

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