Living

I’m a big fan of connections, and what keeps people in your life. My oldest friend still lives in New York state, where we met when I was nine.

Golfers daydream of making a hole-in-one. I don’t play often, but claim two. Alas, neither hole exists today.

Konnichiwa, Japanophiles. Get ready to celebrate the culture and people of the Land of the Rising sun during JapanFest, Sept. 15-16.

Finally blessed with a turbocharger, the Mazda6 is quick, comfortable, well-equipped and quieter inside than a library. Plus, unlike standard car doors that close with an undignified whack, the Mazda6’s close with an aristocratic whump.

My friend recently called asking for an old photo of us for her student’s school bulletin. I went through the one box I have. Nothing. While digging through the mass digital moments on Facebook, I realized that although I’m a photo enthusiast, my memories were not captured in print.

If I had a dollar for every time I forgot my headphones on my way to the airport, I could finally go on that luxe vacation I’ve always had my eye on. That’s why when I stepped into my Uber and noticed the Cargo vending machine, I freaked out.

Summer’s hot, ice cream’s cool and sampling over 100 flavors of frozen treats will make you drool during Miss Mary’s Ice Cream Crankin’ event.

I sank into the low-slung cockpit of the Toyota 86 expecting an athletic, but timid, coupe. After all, it starts below $27k and boasts only 205 horsepower, or just two more than a base Camry.

I gave up coffee a year and a half ago. The caffeine struggle was real. I got to the other side realizing I missed the ritual. The quiet time in the morning, the warmth of the glass in my hands, the comfort before the day gets started.

Since 2012, the American market share for sedans has plummeted from 38 percent to below 25 percent, while SUV/crossovers’ share has rocketed from 32 percent to 50 percent. Automakers are scaling back sedan production, and Ford has discontinued them altogether.

Are you having a stressful day at work that just doesn’t seem to end? We have one simple cure for you: Just smile. Spiritual leaders, psychologists and neuroscientists agree that a simple act of smiling can change your attitude and the world around you.

After 18 years in downtown Atlanta, our office moved to Grant Park. Since arriving three years ago, we’ve fallen in love with the quaint, charming neighborhood and all its offerings.

Drive down Ponce and it’s hard to ignore the newly reopened Hotel Clermont. What was once a shuttered relic of the past is now the place to be for travelers and locals.

I’ve been on competitive sports teams all my life. And one thing remained the same: my anxiety was always high. I was constantly nervous about making bad plays or letting my team down.

In 2011, my daughter Sally discovered a baby squirrel had fallen from a backyard tree. Hoping the mother squirrel would eventually repossess her offspring, Sally carefully secured it on a towel on her deck behind a baby gate.

We’ve all heard of sports cars; they’re fast and exciting, often involving a slight sacrifice to practicality. What, then, separates them from the pinnacle of motoring: the “supercar”?

While I like my friends and family far too much to inflict my singing voice on them, others with a bit more talent can have a blast with the Karaoke Microphone from EverythingTechGear.

Four years ago this week I adopted my furkid, Morton B. Murphy – a 60-pound golden retriever with droopy eyes and a quirky personality. We found each other after the sudden loss of my first golden, Sherman.

When a friend called last month to inform me of their parent’s death, I knew the other reason he was calling. After sharing condolences, I offered to write the obituary, something I’ve done for many friends‘ families.

I’m frequently asked by more affluent friends, “What car should I get? My budget is $100,000, and there are too many choices.” Oh, the problems I wish I had.

I’m not good at asking for help. It’s never come easy. I was raised to be independent, work hard and be self-sufficient.

No matter where you’re spending the summer, we’ve got a list of the best books to transport you into a new world:

As the name implies, Land Rovers are like yachts for the land: roomy, opulent and expensive to own. JD Power gave Land Rover a concerning 2 out of 5 in initial quality, so if their offerings trail the competition in dependability and build, why are sales surging?

Have you been to a sunflower farm? I went last year. I’m obsessed with sunflowers. Heck, my first and only tattoo is a sunflower music note.

It’s already July, but there’s still time for families to get out and away from those screens (yes, you’ll have fun without them). Some fun ideas for everyone include:

In summer, the last of the convertibles have arisen from hibernation to zip around town with gleeful owners behind the wheel. You may be tempted to join them, but is now the right time to indulge in your droptop fantasies?

Stephen Ochs, former Falcons player Garrett Reynolds, and their trusty canines are making Fetch work. Guests are encouraged to sit and stay for good times at the newly opened Dog Park/Bar.

Though practical and popular, crossovers don’t exactly ooze manliness like trucks or SUVs. Captain America wouldn’t arrive to battle in a Subaru Outback, nor would John Wick hunt Russians in a Honda CR-V.

Scrolling through filtered feeds of perfect Instagram posts can cause anxiety. For hyper-connected millennials, the struggle is real – trying to maintain the illusion of an “Insta-perfect” personal brand, fueled by comparisons to other highly curated feeds.

My father worked in aviation, so growing up we were constantly around planes. When I was 10 years old, I got in trouble and had to go to work with Dad.