In this week’s episode, Sid Evans, editor-in-chief of Southern Living Magazine, talks to country music legend Reba McEntire about growing up on her family’s Oklahoma cattle ranch, her new career-spanning box set, and how she regained her passion for singing after the loss of her mother. Season 2, Episode 26: November 30, 2021 Get to Know Reba McEntire There’s an elite few in country music who are recognizable just by their first name....
With prices too good to miss from top brands like Vera Bradley, Levi’s, Lucky Brand, Hanes, and more, now is the time to stock up on elevated basics and practical accessories that will help get us through the holiday season. Hanes EcoSmart Crew Sweatshirt, Starting at $8.75 (orig. $18) Levi’s Straight Leg Jean, $47.70 (orig. $79.50) Ewedoos Yoga Pants with Pockets, $22.99 (orig. $35.99) Kasper Stretch Crepe Column Skirt, $31.05 (orig....
So you weren’t a fan of this past year? We feel you. But through these tough times amidst the coronavirus pandemic, it’s been a valuable lesson for many of us in finding whatever good we can—and celebrities certainly aren’t exempt from this learning experience. In a recent interview with his record label, Big Machine Label Group, country star Thomas Rhett shared what meaningful takeaway he’s learned from this year of hardships:...
In this week’s episode, Sid Evans talks to Vince Gill about his childhood in Oklahoma City, why certain foods remind him of certain family members, and his moving tribute to the late Merle Haggard. Plus, how his versatile talents have allowed him to make his mark in bluegrass, country music, and rock and roll. Episode 21: Nov 3, 2020 Having grown up in Oklahoma City, Vince Gill has a resume that’s as acclaimed and diverse as they come....
Ice cream is a humble, yet essential element of any holiday dessert spread. Is that slice of warm apple pie really complete without a scoop of vanilla ice cream? While it’s crucial to have a basic pint to complement your elaborate pies and cakes (you can’t go wrong with our favorite vanilla), we also like to spice things up with a festive seasonal pint. Flavors like pumpkin pie and peppermint will bring a bit of holiday flair to your freezer and help you stay in the spirit all season long....
What would you say if your hairstylist said: “Tell me what the hair of your dreams would be like.” Would it have more volume? More color refraction? More natural curl definition? All these enhancements and more are possible thanks to German hairstylist Frank Brormann’s new, patented tool: The Calligraphy Pen. Despite its similarity in name, the Calligraphy Pen is, in fact, not something you write with, but a breakthrough haircutting tool that’s creating major buzz in the industry....
How do we love thee, hydrangea? Let us count the ways. Your bountiful showy blossoms, your vibrant green foliage, your dependable growing habits, your ability to boost curb appeal throughout the year. There’s nothing not to love about the South’s favorite flowering shrub. The secret to hydrangeas’ crowd-pleasing nature might be the different shapes of flowers available for gardeners—like the popular ‘Limelight’ variety’s conical blooms or the French hydrangeas’ famous mophead shape—or the range of bloom colors on the market—like the rosy-pink ‘Vanilla Strawberry’ or violet ‘Let’s Dance Rave’ selections....
There are as many types of Thanksgiving dressing (what some of us call stuffing, no matter whether it cooks inside the turkey or in a baking dish) as there are hometowns and families. That being said, many Southern dressing recipes are built on a foundation of cornbread. Here are a few pointers on making cornbread dressing that’s memorable for all the best reasons. Tip #1: Use Stale Cornbread If there is ever a time when we want our cornbread to be at least one day old and stale, it’s when we’re making dressing....
“Just take those old records off the shelf / I’ll sit and listen to ’em by myself…” Today’s music may not have the same soul, but little Blake Shelton was all about that old time rock and roll. Such is the case as we learned thanks to a hilarious new interview with Blake Shelton on The Kelly Clarkson Show. On the NBC talk show, Shelton recalls performing in pageants while he was growing up in Oklahoma....
For decades, Steve Hartman has introduced us all to everyday Americans helping their neighbors, lending a hand, and making a difference. Whether on his award-winning series “On the Road,” on CBS Evening News or in his newer recurring segment on CBS Mornings, “Kindness 101,” Hartman has dedicated much of his career to showing us all that when we look for it, the world is really full of so much goodness. On December 28, Hartman brings these stories to primetime in The Gift: Kindness Goes Viral With Steve Hartman that will air both on CBS and then also be streaming on Paramount +....
In the almost 10 years that Sarah and Tom Bricker have been covering all things Disney World, the Central Florida couple has become deeply invested in the hardworking men and women who keep the magic alive at the Most Magical Place on Earth. So, when news broke last week that Disney parks were laying-off 28,000 American workers, the husband-and-wife duo behind DisneyTouristBlog.com sprang into action. The Brickers, who have been offering advice to Disney World travelers since 2011, turned to their online audience....
We’ve all been there. It’s a weeknight, the kids have soccer practice and piano lessons (on different sides of town, of course), and there’s an overflowing laundry basket calling your name. In between it all, you just want to whip up a deliciously quick bowl of pasta for an easy family meal. You go to strain the pot, and you’re stuck with a steamy pile of sticky, stuck-together pasta. What went wrong?...
It was a crisp fall morning. I woke up on the couch of my host, a charming older couple, as I had recently arrived from India. The aroma of Folgers coffee, homemade blueberry pancakes, fried bacon, and eggs filled the air in the small townhouse. I instantly gravitated to the pancakes. Never before had I seen such soft delicate cakes with dollops of whipped butter and sweet maple syrup. Dessert for breakfast?...
Over the holidays, we’re always looking for fun ways to create new memories with the family. One of the easiest, most rewarding holiday activities? Cookie decorating. Cookie decorating is a fun activity in which the whole family can participate. Plus, it leaves you with a surplus of treats to fill your cookie tins. With a bit of flour, a few supplies, and festive sprinkles, your merry crew will be ready to add a new tradition to the holiday line-up....
There’s nothing like a pot of homemade soup, especially on a chilly day. Not only is it delicious, but if you make a big batch, you can freeze and store soup for easy meals down the road. Sounds perfect, right? It is, until you take a taste and discover you’ve added too much salt to the pot, rendering it inedible. Don’t throw away that soup just yet, though. It’s easy to fix an oversalted soup....
Peonies are a spring garden staple. Southerners usually expect the shrubs to come alive with pops of pastel petals around Mother’s Day. Disclaimer: These beauty queens are anything but low-maintenance. Planting peonies require planning and patience. While you can plant many spring-blooming flowers in beds after the last frost of the season, you should wait to plant peonies way ahead of time in the fall. (Peonies won’t tolerate procrastinating gardeners. For the last-minute spring planters, don’t sleep on these showstoppers....
Before glittery slime was all the rage, there was gak. The quasi-solid, quasi-liquid goop is a sneaky fun lesson in chemistry, and even though it takes less than five minutes to make, it will entertain your kids for hours on end. It’s super stretchy and malleable, and if rolled up into a ball, it can bounce! Gak only requires four ingredients (though you may have to make a quick trip to the store to pick up Borax if that’s not something you usually keep on hand) and comes together without ever turning on the stove....
I’ve been dealing with a mess of curls, semi-unsuccessfully, for most of my life. It’s only been a recent swap in my beauty routine that has me paying attention to the products, shampoos, conditioners, and gels that actually do my hair favors, rather than create frizz in the Southern humidity. When it comes to shopping for products, you really have to rely on other curly girls’ reviews to make sure that you’re picking something that’ll work....
And they’re off! Scientists and local officials are celebrating a major “conservation success” that played out on the shores of the Magnolia Beach in Calhoun County, Texas, this week. A nest containing approximately 45 critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle eggs was discovered mid-hatch on Monday, allowing experts to assist them on their perilous journey to the water. It’s the first time in recorded history that a sea turtle has nested on Magnolia Beach, let along the precious Kemp’s ridley....
We’re Southerners. We don’t like being told we’re making our sweet tea totally wrong. While we hate to be the bearers of bad news: We’re making our sweet tea totally wrong. You may have never considered your Instant Pot an ally in the beverage department, but the handy machine brews a stellar batch of sweet tea. As The Kitchn recently revealed, brewing your sweet tea in this common household appliance is indeed a superior way to make the Southern staple....
