The Lone Star State is home to the unparalleled photojournalistic talent of Jeremy Lock, a retired United States Air Force (USAF) Master Sergeant Combat Photojournalist with 22 years of service.

It was a great equalizer. If a man could work hard enough and get lucky enough, oil could turn a pauper into a prince, literally overnight. Long before Houston and Dallas were big Texas cities, and well before sustenance was no further than the local H-E-B, Texans were roughing it out on the frontier, trying to make a living any way they could.

Sometimes the thing that makes someone unstoppable is simply their inability to stop. According to award-winning Hollywood director Robert Rodriguez that is exactly how his career began. As a child, Rodriguez never dreamed of being famous. He was just a kid having fun with his father's video camera, at least until he saw John Carpenter's science-fiction thriller Escape from New York at age 12. From that day on, he was determined to be a movie director.

Growing wildflowers has become a passion and a business for Basecamp Farms owner, Georgia Monroe. At her growing wildflower farm near Navasota, she hosts community events such as U-pick extravaganzas, with future plans of a bouquet club subscription, wreath-making classes, and flower bar parties. An event center is in the plans for the future, as well!

Inside Books Project has been providing reading materials to Texas inmates for 20 years, but the Austin-based organization is the only one in Texas to put books directly into the hands of about 25,000 inmates every year.

To say that Maggie, a gangly black-and-white Great Dane, is man's best friend would be an understatement. Darcy Maloney, of Wall, Texas, spends nearly every waking moment (and most sleeping ones) with the 6-year-old dog, who, for the past year, has worked day in and day out as her service pet.

How would it feel to find a go-to boutique with the perfect gift for everyone on your list? Luckily, that place exists at Sweet and Southern Finds in Taylor, less than than an hour’s drive to the northeast side of Austin. This boutique/bakery duo is at the corner of 6th and Main Street.

There is nothing else quite like Jazz, TX in San Antonio, a classy, modern speakeasy-style jazz club located in the cellar of the Bottling House (now a food hall) at the historic Pearl Brewery. You might think a jazz club of this caliber is only for those who remember those bygone days of the crooners and big bands, but it is not.

It is no secret that Texans are proud of their state. After all, space exploration has deep roots in Houston, Big Bend is an outdoor-enthusiast’s paradise, and of course, you can never forget the Alamo. Yet, there are some lesser known places in Texas that are definitely worth bragging about, such as its stunningly beautiful national wildlife refuges.

Prior to the mid-1900s, documents, artifacts, and gifts of state associated with a particular presidency belonged to the president himself. Many left the White House with the president, while others were destroyed or shared (somewhat unceremoniously and arbitrarily) with libraries or historical societies. It was not until Franklin D. Roosevelt chose to consign his presidential papers and effects to the American people that the United States government created laws to protect these valuable historical pieces.

Travelers to the South Texas coastal areas of the Rio Grande Valley frequently spot people wearing unseasonably warm, long pants and long-sleeved shirts. To top it off they have pairs of binoculars dangling around their necks and are toting bottles of water, bug spray, sunscreen, and ear-marked copies of The Sibley Guide to Birds. South Texas is a hot-spot for bird watching in Texas.

The most memorable stocking stuffers are rarely extravagant or expensive, but rather small, simple gifts that make people laugh or challenge their minds...without requiring batteries or an Internet connection. These twelve vintage stocking stuffers fall into that category - classics that will never go out of style.

In 1994, when gallery owner Keri Blackman and John Davis started Gallery Night, a small collection of open houses designed to celebrate and spotlight local artists, they "didn't even know what we were doing," admitted Blackman, an Alpine gallery owner. In the years that followed, Gallery Night evolved, changed its name to Alpine Artwalk, garnered recognition across the state, and eventually exploded into an annual city staple that is now the city's largest event of the year.

Many fondly remember their first live performance of The Nutcracker ballet, and can likely recall what year it was, who they were with, and where they saw it. Something as wonderful as this can leave such an impactful, lasting impression. Luckily, there are performances throughout the Lone Star State this time of year; creating an everlasting memory with the treat of a timeless, classical ballet has never been easier.

If your taste in art is eclectic, then The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), is an ideal place for a visit! Located in the heart of the impressive downtown museum district, displays range from ancient Shang Dynasty artifacts to Western scenes by Frederick Remington to cubist paintings by Pablo Picasso.