On This Day In History…

• 1979: Margaret Thatcher becomes Great Britain’s first female Prime Minister.

• 2016: International Wild Koala Day is celebrated for the first time.

We're pretty good about protecting our skin before heading outside in summer, but hair tends to get skipped entirely. UV rays break down the proteins in your hair over time, leading to dryness, frizz, and brittleness, and lighter hair is especially vulnerable since it has less natural melanin to act as a buffer.

Chlorine is the other big one. It dissolves the fats that coat and protect the hair shaft, weakens protein bonds, and can cause real breakage over a summer of regular swimming. Applying a hair oil or leave-in conditioner before getting in the pool creates a barrier that significantly reduces the damage, and a few drops after washing helps restore moisture and shine that the sun and water strip away.

A few simple habits go a long way: wear a wide-brimmed hat during peak sun hours, rinse your hair immediately after swimming, and follow up with a swimmers' shampoo and a deep conditioner to restore moisture. If you color your hair, hold off on going lighter right before a beach trip since bleached hair is significantly more susceptible to both UV and chlorine damage.

Meet Rae, a sweet princess with a perfectly balanced personality.

By day, she’s all about rest and relaxation. By night, she’s up making everyone laugh. Nicknamed the “Sour Patch Kid,” Rae brings a mix of feisty energy and total sweetness, always knowing exactly what she wants.

From sipping ice-cold water out of her Yeti to sneaking into laundry baskets and hiding behind shower curtains, Rae keeps things fun. And when the day winds down, she’s right where she belongs, tucked in as the little spoon in her Austin home.

That feeling that dogs are part of the family runs deeper than it seems. New research shows dogs have been living alongside humans for at least 15,800 years. That’s long before farming even existed! In fact, some of the earliest evidence comes from dogs buried alongside humans, suggesting this bond was already meaningful back then.

Researchers studied ancient remains across Europe and Western Asia and found that early dogs were surprisingly similar to each other, even across distant regions. That points to humans sharing or traveling with dogs between communities. These weren’t just animals living nearby. Dogs were already part of daily life, moving and evolving alongside people.

What stands out most is how they were treated. Some dogs were buried with the same care as humans. It suggests these relationships weren’t just practical. They were emotional, too.

Even thousands of years ago, dogs may have been valued not just for what they could do, but for how they made people feel. They offered the same kind of companionship, comfort, and connection that still defines the bond between human and dog today.

Sustainable swaps don’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, it often works better to start small with just one or two items you use every day. Think a water bottle you actually like carrying, a tote that stays in your bag, or a coffee cup that doesn’t leak all over your morning.

The key is choosing things that feel easy and enjoyable to use. When something fits into your routine without effort, it tends to stick. You’re not forcing a new habit. You’re just making a slightly better choice, over and over again.

Here are a few simple reusables that tend to work well in everyday life:

• A water bottle you enjoy carrying

• A reusable coffee cup that doesn’t leak

• A foldable tote bag that lives in your bag or car

• Reusable grocery bags you keep by the door

• A set of utensils for on-the-go meals

• A food container for leftovers or takeout

• A reusable straw (if you’ll actually use it)

• Cloth napkins for home or packed lunches

It’s also okay if your setup isn’t perfect. Maybe you forget your tote sometimes or grab a disposable cup on a busy day. That’s part of it. The goal isn’t to get everything right, it’s to make reusables feel like the default more often than not, and to build from there.

• 👂 Simple ways to become a better listener

• 🐦 Cat chirps at birds like it’s having a full conversation

• 🦷 This teeth whitening kit has a 100% success rate

• 🥪 Subway launches its first ever value menu

• 🦮 Golden retriever won’t start day without snuggles

• 🥞 Plant-based banana walnut pancakes to try

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