Living

As Apple’s mobile revenues continue to decrease in proportion, the question comes to mind – what’s next?

In this day and age, one thing is clear: We’re surrounded by plastic. While recycling can help reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills and waterways, there are many other options for making the switch to more sustainable items and reducing plastic use in your life.

I hadn’t seen a $2 bill for years when I noticed schoolmate Rip Black tipping with them. Having loved them since attending its 1976 re-introduction, I adopted Rip’s paean to Mr. Jefferson, tipping with them since. I gave one to an Uber driver recently – he stared at it, announcing, “This one’s going in the wallet!”

Houston’s beer scene is about to get even better. Multiple breweries have recently announced plans to either open for the first time or expand. Here are three openings worth keeping an eye on:

Resonance Consultancy ranked Houston No. 11 in its 2019 America’s Best Cities report. Houston edged out Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, which ranked 13th, 17th and 27th, respectively.

The top five destinations in the country for millennials are in. And according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent American Community Survey, Houston is one of them.

Last April, the Houston Zoo announced its “Keeping Our World Wild” centennial fundraising campaign, which is bringing several multi-species habitats to the zoo by 2022. The first major construction project of the campaign, the Katherine G. McGovern Texas Wetlands, opens May 24, just in time for Memorial Day.

Lately, safety concerns related to ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft have increased. These apps offer so much convenience, but they also demand extra responsibilities. Remember these safety tips:

Tucked away on a farm road near Startzville is a European-style winery owned by Lewis Dickson and California winemaker Tony Coturri.

With its recent opening at Kirby Collection, the Jianna Jewelers team is excited to help customers achieve the perfect spring look. The jewels it stocks are ethically sourced from responsible mines and specially handcrafted for each design.

Earth Day is upon us. Around the globe, people will join together on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection and join sustainability efforts.

WalletHub has named Houston the most diverse city in the US after tallying the scores across the five major diversity categories for 501 of the largest cities across 13 metrics. The Bayou City wasn’t the only Texas city to be named. Dallas is No. 5 and Arlington No. 9.

Already home to four high-speed, wedgie-inducing thrill rides, the Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston is adding a fourth this year, set to open in June. The multi-million-dollar Infinity Racer requires riders to lie down on their stomachs head first and zoom down the 696-foot-long, 75-foot-tall enclosed spiral slide to a splash zone below.

“You can’t get there from here.” That was pretty much the answer if you wanted to get from one side of Mason Park to the other. The 104-acre park was bisected by Brays Bayou.

Tired of mowing his grass, John Milkovisch began laying mosaic pieces, rocks and metal in concrete in his backyard in Houston in 1968. After the yard was covered, he turned to the exterior of his home.

Occasionally making yourself inaccessible is essential to boosting focus. A survey found that always being reachable – checking emails during off days, scrolling through social media, responding to texts 24/7 – is associated with higher stress levels. This is known as “continuous partial attention,” a state of alertness largely driven by FOMO.

Houston’s own Buffalo Bayou Park has been selected as the location for an international traveling art exhibition.

Knockout style has touched down in Houston. No matter what style athletes are looking for, they will find their perfect (boxing) match at Savarese Fight Fit, Houston’s state-of-the-art boxing gym. It gets an A+ for its classes, professional trainers and also for its retail offerings.

Throw your hat in the ring, and get ready for the 9th annual Habitat for Horses Barnraiser on Saturday, November 9, at Henkel Hall in Round Top. Saddle up and bid on auction items such as the Napping House in Nantucket, a Cabo San Lucas vacation home and dining packages from Lulu’s, Mandito’s and POPI Burger.

In between Houston’s hustle and bustle are sweet escapes where you can enjoy fresh air.

Luscious blueberries with just the right amount of sweetness and a flaky crust – it may have been the most delicious blueberry pie I’d ever had.

I’m not sure I’m passionate enough about anything to dedicate my entire home to it. But two men in Houston did, resulting in the Beer Can House and The Orange Show.

It’s the perfect time of year to refresh your home and, lucky for you, there are tons of simple tips and tricks to help you this season. Smelly sink? Crush lemon rinds in your garbage disposal and follow with cold water to dispel odors.

Ethically sourced jewelry retailer Jianna Jewelers has announced its new space at Houston’s luxury Kirby Collection. Jianna, founded in 1986 in Mumbai, prides itself on being transparent while providing handcrafted gemstones from responsible mines in Australia, Africa, Canada and Russia.

Flowers are blooming, and so is your wardrobe. Donae Cangelosi Chramosta, owner of Houston’s The Vintage Contessa, lends her expertise for curating the perfect spring outfit for any occasion.

When Six Flags reopens for the summer season on May 4, a new name will be just one of many changes for the water park.

We’ve all heard the saying “for every minute of anger you lose 60 seconds of happiness,” but maybe we should change that to “you lose another degree of financial health.”

Do you want to be a better listener? Here is an advanced practice drill. Listen to someone you really disagree with. It should not be a challenge to find someone in today’s political climate.

Before the days of GPS I sat in the passenger seat with a map unfolded on my lap.. I’ve always been a big fan of maps and have happily adjusted to Waze. And I’ve been known to enjoy an adult beverage. So how fun is it that the two are combined on the Map Engraved Barware collection from Uncommon Green?

This February, the Galveston Bay Foundation teamed up with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, hosting a volunteer-led crab trap removal event. Over 100 derelict crab traps were removed from the area, alongside the rescue of a native diamondback terrapin turtle.