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Hundreds of panicked shoppers where inside an Austin-area H-E-B when everything went dark on Tuesday afternoon. “All of a sudden the power goes out, and you hear curse words and people sighing,” Shelby Lasker, who was stocking up on much-needed supplies amid a severe winter storm, recalled to Austin360. That’s when employees at the H-E-B Plus in Leander made a decision that left some shoppers teary-eyed. “They allowed people to continue to shop for another 10-15 minutes after the power went out and then let everyone leave the store without so much as a single dollar being asked for from the hundreds of people leaving the store,” another customer, Tim Hennessy, recalled in a viral Facebook post....

If you’ve been around a salon—scratch that—if you’ve been around a group of two or more women who color their hair, chances are you’ve heard the term “balayage.” This trendy hair coloring technique has taken the world by storm and rightly so. Its hallmark lived-in color is a dream for upkeep and for fooling everyone into thinking you came by those sun-kissed highlights naturally. Whether you’re already a fan or planning on taking the balayage plunge, this guide to anything and everything balayage is here to breakdown the technique....

Greensboro came about as a retirement and second home lake and golf community formed by those who were looking to take a quick getaway from the big city of Atlanta. Over the past two decades, though, a boom in vacation rentals and new businesses has attracted younger families from all over the country to settle in Greensboro. Still, the city has a remote feeling, with lots of outdoor recreation spaces centered around Lake Oconee, six championship golf courses, and many campgrounds....

Frittatas are one of those beautiful food hybrids that are acceptable to eat any time of day. On the culinary spectrum between omelets and quiches, frittatas are fluffy, eggy, and can be filled with whatever you choose. Many reserve frittatas for breakfast and brunch, but they’re perfectly delicious at lunch and dinner. Whatever time of day and ingredients you choose, however, there is one mistake you must never make when cooking them....

The grandkids have a packed summer schedule. Between sports practices and summer camps, the weeks will fly by before they know it. But not at Grandma’s house. Summer camp at Grandma and Grandpa’s place is a week (or two!) of slowing down, spending time together, and having fun. Camp Director Grandma, are you ready? Plan a week the grandkids will never forget with a little help from these tips. Avoid homesickness....

Bakers make it look so easy, but we’ve all been there, desperately trying to grip a greasy, sticky piping bag. If you’ve ever wondered how to fill a pastry bag cleanly with no hassle, we’ve got the tips and tricks to make it a painless process. The best part? There’s no special equipment needed. And while you might be tempted to use a zip-top bag, reusable or disposable piping bags do a much better job....

Extra mashed potatoes? Lucky you. Cold leftover mashed potatoes can be reheated right back to their former hot, creamy, and smooth state. But you can’t just stick them in the microwave and hope for the best. Mashed potatoes, like other starchy dishes that are made with dairy (think: creamy casseroles, macaroni and cheese, scalloped potatoes), can develop a dry, gluey texture when reheated for too long, or at a temperature that’s too high....

After being unable to gather for more than a year, Mother’s Day 2021 was a very special day for my family. I was thrilled when my aunt asked if my husband and I could bring dessert to the brunch she was hosting for the occasion. I know my grandmother isn’t picky and would eat anything I showed up with, but I wanted to really nail this one. I went straight to my parents to see what my grandmother’s absolute favorite dessert is and was determined to make it myself, though I’m a novice (at best) baker....

When you need a break from all those holiday-themed TV shows on your Netflix queue (The Great British Baking Show: Holidays, Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas, and Home for Christmas, to name a few on our list) how about switching gears to Christmas movies? Yup, we’re nodding our heads—especially this year. But what flick should we watch first? Do we go for a beloved classic or try something new? Rom com?...

What’s minty and citrusy and perfect all over? Joanna Gaines’ go-to lemon pie recipe of course. The HGTV star’s new cookbook, Magnolia Table, came out this week and she was kind enough to share some recipes with us. “I remember early on in my marriage a friend of mine shared this simple recipe with me, and I couldn’t believe how delicious it was for the little amount of work it required,” Gaines comments....

A Lexington restaurant has taken a big step in building a more inclusive community. In October 2021, Ramsey’s Diner became the city’s first dementia-friendly restaurant. Their staff successfully completed training provided by community organization Dementia Friendly Lexington on how to recognize and care for customers with dementia. The Ramsey’s staff celebrated the certification by partnering with Dementia Friendly Lexington to host the city’s first Dementia-Friendly Restaurant Night at their Zandale location....

It’s hard for Luke Bryan to put into words how much his Farm Tour means to him. But the country hitmaker came close during a recent media event, describing the annual event as “spiritual.” For more than a decade, Bryan has partnered with farms across America to transform harvest fields into concert venues to raise funds and awareness for the country’s backbone: farmers. “There’s always a lot of nostalgia about Farm Tour,” Bryan said per Taste of Country....

Let’s be honest, for those of us living the work-from-home life, things might feel a little monotonous. We’re not saying you need to do a complete redesign, but if you’re tired of the same old workspace, infusing it with some color (or changing up your current colors) might give it some zest. Did you know that colors impact your mood in different ways? Atlanta-based interior designer Beth Kooby finds that color theory is one way to have some fun with a space....

As the people of Florida face food insecurity at unprecedented levels, Publix has announced that it is working with six of the state’s largest food banks to distribute 1.3 million pounds of food. A staggering 2.7 million people in Florida—1 in 8—are currently struggling with hunger, with food banks reporting as much as a 300 to 400% increase in demand ahead of the holidays. This new six-week effort will supply food banks with donations of essentials like pasta, canned vegetables, canned beans, cereal, and boxed potatoes....

Be still our Southern hearts! A series based on Fried Green Tomatoes starring Reba McEntire is reportedly in the works at NBC. Reba and Fried Green Tomatoes? Pinch us, please! The show, from the one-and-only Norman Lear, is a modern-day take on the award-winning movie and New York Times bestseller. According to Variety, the hour-long drama will explore the lives of descendants from the original work, A.K.A. one of the most beloved Southern tales of all time....

Reba McEntire is working on a new book! This week, the Queen of Country announced a “beautiful, full-color” lifestyle book with Harper Celebrate, a gift book imprint of HarperCollins Focus, set to release in fall 2023. The currently untitled book will reportedly feature personal stories, food and cocktail recipes, and lifestyle tips “that range from hosting to packing a suitcase.” According to a news release, each chapter will focus on a theme from her some of her most-loved songs: grit, family legacy, curiosity, and prioritizing the things that matter most....

South Carolina Aquarium has added two adorable new creatures to its downtown Charleston facility. The pair of North American River Otters have joined the aquarium’s resident senior otter duo, Ace and Stono (18- and 17-years-old, respectively). The South Carolina Aquarium animal care team had been working on adding two new family members to their bevy through a Species Survival Plan (SSP) program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019....

This article originally appeared on Real Simple Things You Can Put in the Dishwasher Baseball caps can get bent in the washing machine but hold their shape in the dishwasher. Don’t wash them with dishes; food can get trapped in the cloth. Action figures and other small toys can ride in a mesh lingerie bag on the top rack (but don’t wash Barbie or she’ll have a horrible hair day)....

That’s a whole lot of fish! Professional spearfisher and Youtuber Braden Sherron landed a whopper fish off Texas’ Gulf Coast earlier this month. Sherron reportedly caught a 137-pound Cubera snapper spearfishing off Port Aransas back on June 3. The Port Aransas Fishermans Wharf shared photos of the “monster” fish on Facebook Friday. “Shout out to Braden Sherron with this pending Texas and WORLD RECORD BREAKING CUBERA SNAPPER!” the wharf wrote. “We are so thankful he chose Port Aransas Fisherman’s Wharf to weigh and take pictures of this monster of a Cubera Snapper!...

Turkey is the ultimate Thanksgiving entrée, but it’s also a favorite in sandwiches, casseroles, soups, and more. Fortunately, you don’t need to roast an entire bird or host a big dinner to enjoy it. Whether you prefer roasting, frying, braising, grilling, smoking, or even cooking in a slow cooker or Instant Pot, you’ll find that turkey is a surprisingly versatile choice. Rick Rodgers, cooking instructor and author of Thanksgiving 101 has cooked more than his fair share of turkeys in every way imaginable....