Travel

The Passport Mistakes That Cancel Luxury Trips — And How to Avoid Them

When planning international travel, most travelers do a quick check to confirm their passport hasn’t expired—and move on. Unfortunately, that single step is often not enough.In today’s era of biometric entry systems and automated border controls, the passport may seem like a formality. In reality, it remains one of the most critical—and frequently overlooked—elements of international travel planning. Small details, missed early, can result in denied boarding, missed cruise embarkations, or...

Local Services

Hopeful Hearts MinistryWalks Survivors

Guiding adults from silence toward renewed strength Article by Rori Ortiz | Photography by Christa McCourt At the heart of Hopeful Hearts Ministry is a woman who understands how deeply early experiences can shape how someone moves through life. Shannon McGraw Carr's work eventually led her to international speaking engagements, where she shared her story of overcoming to rebuilding and learning to thrive again. With each event, something unexpected happened. Adults quietly approached her...

Health + Wellness

Three Generations, from Space City to Dentistry

Dr. Stellenwerf serves the community, carrying local families’ legacy forward while building a modern practice all her own. Article by Rori Ortiz | Photography by Francie Baltazar Stonestreet Stellenwerf Dental is a new practice in Lake Houston, but its orbit stretches further than its opening date. For Dr. Stellenwerf, dentistry is not just a profession. It is a continuation of service woven through her family for generations. She is part of a lineage of Houstonians who gave their work, their...

Fitness

Vessel Pilates: Love your body, as it is...

Inside the mindful movement studio, empowering women to reclaim their strength and grow towards acceptance at every stage of life. Article by Rori Ortiz | Photography by Natalie Lindberg, Chelsea Shafer, @jessicasowyrda Jessica Sowyrda, Owner and instructor of Vessel Pilates in Kingwood, never planned to open a studio. She remembers being a young mother with three toddlers, looking for a place to decompress where she could truly move and heal without having to choose between childcare and her...