BY LAURA L. SMITH Sabbath. I knew that word back in Sunday school, but I never thought about what it meant to practice it. And, yes, Sabbath takes practice, but once you get the hang of it, it’s like riding a bike in a field. Freeing. Peaceful. Restorative. Fun. For decades my idea of Sabbath was going to church on Sundays. But Sabbath is more than that. God didn’t create the Sabbath because he needed a rest. He’s God. He doesn’t get tired. God asks us to take a day off every

Meet this months LM pet club members! Clawsie, Winston, Biscuit, Pork Chop, Pumpkin, Poupette, Love Bug & Gus Gus. We love when our readers share their furry friends with us! To join the club, visit LivingMagazine.net/pet-club. Send your pet’s name, your name, your address, and a clear photo of your pet. They might just turn up in a future issue of Living!

Everything's Better in Texas, Including These Fruits, Vegetables, and nuts By Sydni Ellis Texas is known for its relentless summer heat, but it has been known to frost and snow on occasion, too. For gardeners, it can seem impossible to know what to grow in these conditions. It must withstand extreme heat and random freezes as well to survive here. Luckily, plenty of fruits and vegetables grow extremely well in Texas. In fact, in 2021, Texas was listed as the state with the mo

Leading Plastic Surgeries Over the Last Five Years By Annette Brooks Almost anyone who longs to correct or enhance something about their physical appearance can do so today with plastic surgery if they’re a good candidate. Benefits include improved self-confidence and looking as rested and vibrant on the outside as you feel on the inside. According to the American Plastic Surgery Society’s 2020 Plastic Surgery Statics report, more than 2.3 million cosmetic surgical procedures

Supporting Homegrown Honey Producers By Mimi Greenwood Knight Since the “pollinator panic” first began in the early 2000s, Texas beekeepers have stepped up to do their part and help in the worldwide honeybee shortage. Longtime beekeepers took on the role of educators, getting the word out about the dramatic drop in bee populations and the importance of honey bees and other pollinators to life on this planet. As apiaries across the globe reported losses of 30 to 70% of their b

Noteworthy Texas Facts and Traditions By Audrey Sellers Texas Taste Buds According to 2022 Taste Atlas data, these are the most popular foods in Texas: Fajitas Chili con carne Texas-style barbecue Breakfast tacos Texas sheet cake Brisket sandwiches Chili cheese fries Central Texas-style barbecue Corn dogs Texas toast Bottoms Up Mariano Martinez invented the frozen margarita machine in Texas in 1971. State Animals of Texas Small mammal: Nine-banded armadillo Large mammal: Texa

Legendary Texas Halls and Honky-Tonks By Christina Garcia It takes time to attain legendary status, and Texas dance halls have roots going back to the turn of the 21st century. Their closely related siblings, honky-tonks, get the designation through a dedicated country-western attitude. Here are a few fun facts as you head out to two-step at the best dance halls and honky-tonks in the Lone Star State. Gilley’s, Pasadena A modern-day honky-tonk in Houston named after country s

KID-FRIENDLY MAKEOVER WITH A MASCULINE EDGE INTERIOR DESIGN: TRIBE DESIGN GROUP ARCHITECT: CLINT PEARSON, SYMMETRY ARCHITECTS BUILDER: STUART MCILYAR, MCILYAR CONSTRUCTION PHOTOGRAPHER: JILL BROUSSARD TRADITION MEETS MODERN // Guests are greeted with a modern concrete walkway and an all-glass front door flanked by large windows. To the right of the entry, adorned with a floor-length custom mirror, is a fresh, accessible music room complete with a grand piano, daybed, Kelly We

TEXAS MOVIE LANDMARKS YOU’LL LOVE EVEN IF YOU DIDN’T SEE THE FILM BY CHRISTINA GARCIA THE ALAMO It’s an open secret — some films about Texas are shot elsewhere. Texas movies filmed here are less common, but that doesn’t mean they don’t make up a long list. Big-screen-worthy locations from well-known movies span the Lone Star State from east to west, so we came up with a handful of suggestions to help you see Texas through a whole new lens. Big country and rugged scenery get t

GET YOUR TASTEBUDS BUZZING WITH NATURE’S SWEET TREAT BY MELISSA TATE EASY CHOCOLATE PUDDING WITH HONEY RASPBERRY COMPOTE SERVES: 6 | PREP: 15 MIN. | COOK: 8 MIN. | COOL: 20 MIN. | TOTAL: 43 MIN. INGREDIENTS: 1/3 cup flour | ¾ cup sugar | ¼ tsp salt | ¼ cup cocoa | ¾ cup water | 1 cup milk | 4 egg yolks | 1 tsp. vanilla | 1 Tbsp. butter | ½ cup raspberry compote | 2 Tbsp. honey DIRECTIONS: COMBINE flour, sugar, salt, and cocoa in a heavy saucepan. MIX well, then move to the co