Apps

Any writer can tell you that taking a writing project from start to finish requires a seemingly endless system of steps and tasks. However, one of the best things to emerge from the computer age is sophisticated software designed specifically for writers. I’ve researched and tested the best resources to take you through your entire writing process—from brainstorming, to outlining, to writing, to editing—so you can finally banish writer’s block and master your story’s organization.

One of my favorite things since I moved to Las Vegas is starting my day by sipping coffee on my patio as the sun rises, surrounded by thriving flowers and herbs, while a small fountain burbles in the background, and hummingbirds whizz to and from the feeder so quickly they’re gone before I can even catch a good look. My second favorite thing is sitting on the patio enjoying the evening breeze sipping wine with my husband or friends with the perfect lighting and background music to set the mood. The only thing that could make it better is if it all happened with little to no effort from me. That’s why this spring, I decided to extend my smart home to the outdoors and turn my patio into a tech-powered haven for pollinators and people alike.

I turned 72 this year and have been enjoying photography for close to 50 years. I started with a Pentax 35mm film camera and while taking photos of my children one day in the living room with a wonderful light coming in my south window, I captured several images that were accidentally extraordinary. With that experience, I was hooked. Fast forward 30–40 years, and now I enjoy an incredibly rich universe of photographic capabilities I can carry around in my pocket.

What sets the best Procreate drawings apart from others is the use of brushes! There are many websites where you can download free Procreate brushes that can enhance your art and improve your drawing process. I'm excited to share my favorite Procreate brushes with you, and I'll teach you how to download them too!

If you own an iPhone, you've undoubtedly seen ads for word games promising to raise your IQ and keep your mind as alert as a twenty-year-old's. While I can't guarantee that, I have found the five best word games in terms of app quality, enjoyability, and perfect levels of challenge. Download these to help you relax on your sofa while giving your mind a little workout.

Apple is slowly rolling out plans to let you add your driver's license to your Apple Wallet, and use your iPhone to present your ID at TSA checkpoints. Let's learn how to add your driver's license to your Apple Wallet.

Not a lot of people know that Apple bundles its services into a monthly subscription called Apple One. There are three options, including Apple One Premier, which includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and even 2TB of iCloud+ that can be shared with up to five other people. I'll teach you how to get it!

The Apple Watch has a comprehensive built-in sleep tracker that can analyze your sleep graph, create a healthy bedtime routine, and even monitor your nightly heart rate, body temperature, breathing rate, etc. If you want to dive even deeper into sleep tracking, I’ll introduce you to paid and free third-party apps that use artificial intelligence to help track, analyze, and improve your sleeping habits.