formal growth

It’s no secret that Texans love anything that’s, well, from Texas. Beyond Buc-ee’s, Whataburger, and Tex-Mex queso, Texans have overflowing hometown pride for H-E-B. The grocery store chain is not only known for giving back to others and being the undeniable favorite amongst Lone Star groceries, but also for its impressive selection of products, in-house prepared foods, and specialty items that you’d probably only find on the aisles of Texas. The San Antonio-based chain vows to deliver convenience and quality at a wallet-conscious price, which might be why it’s forged such a loyal constituency since its founding over 100 years ago....

It’s been a busy few weeks of streaming. Between new Christmas movies and specials and season four of The Crown on Netflix, we’ve hardly come up for air. Except to watch season two of Virgin River, of course. After a captivating first season, the folks of fictional Virgin River, California, we’ve binged the new, drama-filled season and fallen even harder for everybody’s favorite small town bar owner, Jack, played by Martin Henderson....

Bissell IconPet Cordless Hand Vacuum Want to give someone (or yourself) the gift of a clean home? Go ahead and click “purchase” on the Bissell IconPet Cordless Hand Vacuum. The compact vacuum comes with a tangle-free brush to loosen and lift pet hair and embedded dirt from even the deepest rugs. Plus, the device can convert into a handheld and high-reach vacuum to help you clean hard-to-reach places with ease....

A fun day on the water ended with a life-saving mission for Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert last week. Gabbert was jet-skiing in Tampa’s Hillsborough Bay with his brothers on Thursday when he heard “a faint noise” nearby. “I just remember looking to the West and seeing it almost looked like a crew boat in the water that had broken up in about four pieces, and I vaguely remember seeing like two yellow life jackets, so I was like, ‘All right we gotta go check this out,’” he said at a news conference....

All dressed up to make a classic, elegant impact is a perfect description for this same space in a decidedly different color palette. Here, the sun shines with light, bright shades of yellow and variations of ivory, chosen from distinct colors in the room’s central painting, which is flanked by mirrored sconces. “This is more of a formal atmosphere created with tone-on-tone colors,” says Mary Leigh. “As you can see, lighter shades can be just as dramatic as darker ones....

With this year’s Kentucky Derby looking a bit different amid the coronavirus pandemic, Churchill Downs is going above and beyond to make sure that spectators still get to experience the pageantry of the first Saturday in May—albeit at home… and in September. This week, the storied racetrack announced the official menus of the 146th Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. And, for the people watching from home, Churchill Downs’ Executive Chef David Danielson also created an accompanying at-home Derby menu, featuring unique, easy-to-make versions of the dishes he prepares for the racetrack’s dining rooms....

We’ll say it: If you’re only pairing plants together for design purposes, you’re missing an opportunity. While juxtaposing plants of different colors, textures, and sizes can create visual interest in your garden, the art of companion planting isn’t just for looks; it has more potential than that. For one, companion planting can help you make the most of your garden. Pairing plants that thrive in similar conditions and planting them in close proximity to each other can make your garden more efficient....

From vibrant poke bowls loaded with ahi tuna, rice, and dried seaweed to sushi served over hand-balled vinegared rice, raw fish dishes are a delicious staple of coastal cuisine. Another raw fish entrée you have probably seen on menus: Ceviche, pronounced “seh-vee-chay” and sometimes spelled as seviche or cebiche. Here we’ll explain this dish’s South American history, flavorful ingredients, and essential tips for making ceviche at home. Find out more about this citrus-marinated seafood dish hailing from Peru and unique recipes to try....

Hayley Arcenaux has already lived an extraordinary life. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her leg at only 10 years old. After over a year of chemotherapy and multiple surgeries at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, she not only survived cancer, but was able to keep her leg. Today, Arcenaux is 29 years old and working as a physician’s assistant in the hospital that saved her life....

Our hearts are heavy this week and our prayers directed to South Florida in the aftermath of the building collapse in Surfside, Florida, just outside of Miami. In the early hours of Thursday morning, Champlain Towers South, a portion of a high-rise condo building on the beach in Surfside, Florida suddenly collapsed. Emergency response crews arrived immediately, pulling those they could to safety and have worked tirelessly for the last three days straight in attempt to find survivors in the rubble....

“That’s such a Southern thing.” We’ve all heard it and know it can describe countless things. Two of those undeniably Southern things are double names and monograms. Southerners will find an excuse to monogram just about anything, even items as small or mundane as napkins or house slippers. Maybe you’re looking to buy a baby gift for a double-named infant or a wedding gift for a double-named bride. Choosing a monogram style and font is already confusing, so you shouldn’t worry about which letters will fit or how they will appear....

If anyone can do it, it’s Matthew McConaughey. The actor, philanthropist, and all-around A+-kinda guy never ceases to amaze us with his humor, his inspiring words, his kind heart. One day, might he consider amazing us with his political leadership? While that day is still a far-fetched dream, McConaughey recently sat down on The Hugh Hewitt Show to catch up on his new memoir, Greenlights. Towards the end of the conversation, host Hugh Hewitt inquires, “you’re kind of center-right in the view of people, you could be governor of Texas....

Last week, Ree Drummond virtually checked in from her Pawhuska, Oklahoma, ranch with Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie on the TODAY show—and we sure are hungry now. During the segment, Drummond walked viewers through her shortcut ravioli dinner and the glorious dessert that is blackberry icebox cake. But even more than the tantalizing recipes, we were intrigued by what Drummond had to share about how filming of her hit Food Network show, The Pioneer Woman, has continued during the coronavirus pandemic....

“My parents still have no electricity and just got running water. Their roof ripped completely off. The devastation across the bayou is incomprehensible. But it’s home.” Melissa M. Martin, who founded lauded New Orleans restaurant Mosquito Supper Club, understands why her parents returned to their ravaged hometown of Chauvin after evacuating from Hurricane Ida’s unwavering Category 4 wrath on August 30th. Chauvin is a tight knit bayou hamlet in Terrebonne Parish....

Lindsey Russell, a Walmart employee in Morristown, Tennessee, was on a break earlier this month when she heard what sounded like an animal yelling near the front of the store. As she approached the vending machines she realized it was a kitten meowing from inside the Pepsi machine. “I tried all through my lunch and my last break to get her,” Russell told WVLT. “I tried recruiting coworkers to help me get her, and none of us could do it....

Looking to rent a car? Try Uber. That’s right, the ride-sharing giant is expanding its offerings to include both car rental bookings, and also car rental bookings with valet service, so the car gets delivered directly to you. As revealed in a recent announcement in Uber’s newsroom, Uber Rent is now available nationwide in the U.S.. In the Uber app, you can now “easily book a rental car from Avis, Budget, Hertz and dozens of other providers....

Let’s face it: Quality cookware will always be worth the splurge. And with Americans visiting restaurants less than ever due to COVID-19, having a durable set of kitchen supplies at home has become even more crucial. When we came across 360 Cookware’s line of stainless steel tools, we knew, in good conscience, that we couldn’t keep it a secret. One under-the-radar feature makes its pots and pans rise above the crowd, and right now, they’re all on sale for 20 percent off with the code LOVE20....

What’s your first thought while watching an episode of HGTV’s Home Town? If you’re anything like us, it’s that Ben and Erin Napier are the sweetest couple. And your second thought? Ours is something along the lines of oh my gosh, can we get that couch, and that side table, and that rug, and those vases for our house? Admittedly, we’ve often wondered if people whose homes get transformed on the hit HGTV series get to keep all the dreamy furniture and home accessories featured on their episode or if it’s just for Reveal Day on television....

With postcard-worthy vineyard views, a slew of charming small towns, and a burgeoning food and wine scene, it’s easy to forget that Loudoun County, Virginia is just one hour from our nation’s bustling capital. While Loudoun County offers plenty to do year-round—be it shopping or savoring farm-to-table cuisine—fall is arguably the best season to visit this dynamic destination. During this time, visitors can expect stunning fall foliage, ample outdoor activities, and fun-filled seasonal events....

While they range in purpose and style, what all of the products have in common is a huge number of favorable customer reviews. Many have well over 10,000 five-star ratings, so you can feel good about adding the well-vetted items to your virtual cart. Dash Deluxe Rapid Egg Cooker Whether you like your eggs deviled, poached, or in an omelette, this nifty device with nearly 4,000 positive reviews makes cooking them so much easier....