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Rhododendrons and azaleas are arguably one of the Southern gardener’s favorite shrubs. Many people think of them as entirely different plants, but they both belong to the genus Rhododendron, which comprises more than 800 species and 10,000 named selections. Even to the untrained eye, one difference between the two groups is noticeable: azaleas generally have much smaller leaves. From a technical standpoint, azalea blooms are typically funnel-shaped and have five stamens, while rhododendron flowers are bell-shaped and have ten or more stamens....

Jennifer Garner has long been one of our favorite leading ladies. She’s wowed us in films like 13 Going on 30, Juno, and Dallas Buyers Club, and we’ve watched every season of Alias–twice. But behind the scenes, the West Virginia native has harnessed her prominent platform for good. For over a decade, Garner has partnered with Save the Children, a global nonprofit dedicated to the health, education, and protection of children....

Well, they finally made me mad. I don’t mind when they tell me that the way I talk is adorable. I don’t mind when they tell me, for the hundredth time, “That’s not the way we do it up North.” I don’t even mind when they say our football teams are overrated, compared to Michigan and Notre Dame, which hasn’t won a National Championship since practically the Hoover administration. But when they start running down the tomato sandwich, that’s all I can take....

Some of us consider a big, sizzling ham as essential to the Easter table as turkey is to the Thanksgiving feast. When it comes to cooking a large ham, or any celebratory entrée, we want the best possible outcome, which is why some cooks insist on brining a fresh ham to ensure it turns out juicy and flavorful. Some cooks up the Southern quotient by using classic sweet tea in place of water in a wet brine....

BUY IT: Starting at $27.99 (orig. $39.99); amazon.com These Hotel Collection Pillows are exactly as great they claim to be, according to shoppers. They provide the same level of comfort and support as other brands that cost hundreds, delivering the same qualities at an affordable price (one reviewer even noted it helped his neck pain better than Tempur-Pedic). The secret is the gel inside, which allows you to sleep in any position (back, side, stomach) as it conforms to your unique shape....

Just like carrot cake needs cream cheese frosting and iced tea needs sugar, your face of makeup needs a setting spray. Think about it: Doing your makeup without properly prepping it to last a full day is just setting it up for failure—especially when the sweltering heat of summer hits. BUY IT: $9; amazon.com Made with vegan and cruelty-free ingredients, the spray is formulated to lock in your makeup for up to 16 hours “without a crease or smudge in sight,” according to the brand....

Trader Joe’s sure has a way of rolling off our tongues (and making our stomachs growl). But who, exactly, is Joe, and how did the popular supermarket get its name? Let’s solve the first mystery. The “Joe” in “Trader Joe’s” is named after Joe Coulombe, the founder of the company. “In 1958, Coulombe launched a small chain of convenience stores in the Greater Los Angeles area called Pronto Market, but after realizing that competition from a burgeoning chain called 7-Eleven would likely drive it into the ground, he decided to introduce a new concept: The Tiki trend was in full-swing, so in 1967 he opened the first Trader Joe’s, a play on the name of popular Tiki restaurant chain Trader Vic’s,” explains Dan Myers on The Daily Meal in an article on the history of Trader Joe’s....

Attention job seekers! HGTV dream team Ben and Erin Napier are now hiring for their charming retail store, Laurel Mercantile. “Are you hardworking, driven and passionate about American-made, heirloom quality goods and the revitalization of small-town America and the makers’ movement?” the store’s online career page asks. “Do you have a nostalgic heart for history? You might be a perfect fit for our team.” According to their website, Laurel Mercantile is currently hiring retail sales staff, shipping and receiving staff, and a part-time Assistant Product Photographer....

Today at Southern Living, we’re celebrating the release of our “Biscuits & Jam” podcast episode featuring the one, the only, the inimitable Loretta Lynn. Born in Butcher Holler, Kentucky, Lynn catapulted into the country music spotlight in the 1960s and has stayed in it ever since. In the episode, we caught up with the musical great on cathead biscuits, her childhood in Kentucky, penning her mega-hit “Coal Miner’s Daughter” — “When it comes to writing a song, I write about me a lot” — women in the music industry, and her new album Still Woman Enough....

It doesn’t get much more romantic than Wild Dunes Resort, a beachfront resort on Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Right outside of Charleston, this idyllic barrier island makes for quite the backdrop for a proposal. Now, the resort is upping the ante by introducing new proposal planning services in partnership with Propose Charleston. The local proposal planning service makes popping the question worry-free, and dare we say it, fun. “Let our proposal specialists set everything up for you so all you have to do is ask, and all your significant other has to do is say, ‘Yes!...

Talented? Yes. Charismatic? Yes. Handsome? Yes, indeed. There are so many reasons to adore Matthew McConaughey, and our Southern hearts leap with joy every time the Hollywood movie star’s name is mentioned. Whether you admire him for his funny and adorable films, like How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, or his more dramatic performances, such as Dallas Buyers Club, there is no shortage of Matthew McConaughey fans out there....

We all know cast-iron is great for cooking on the stovetop and in the oven, but your hardest working pan is just as useful outside of the kitchen. The next time you fire up the grill, grab your trusty cast-iron skillet—here are four ways to put it to good use. Sear burgers and steaks like a pro Yes, you can make great burgers the traditional way—by cooking the patties on a hot grill....

Sharing well-wishes to friends and loved ones is one of the many joys of a Southern Christmas. Whether you want to show someone how much they’re cherished or extend the spirit of the season to far away loved ones, a well-written message can be the perfect way to tell someone you care. Whether you’re looking for a funny greeting, a religious greeting, or a greeting for a specific recipient, we’ve included Christmas greetings to fit every need on this list....

For many Southerners, the garage is a storage area where everything from Christmas decorations to ages-old soccer gear is thrown into a corner and enveloped by clutter. While Southerners may not use their garages as car parking, since the region is not prone to below-freezing winters, it doesn’t hurt to be able to fit your car in the garage in case a snow storm does strike. But where do you even begin when you finally decide to re-organize your cluttered garage space?...

Fanny packs have swiftly become one of the most coveted accessories of the year. They’re compact, versatile, and hold our essentials while keeping us hands-free. There are a lot of fab designer options available, but you don’t have to blow your budget to join in on the trend. We scoured the major retailer’s site to find eight fabulous, budget-friendly belt bag options that will polish off your fall and winter wardrobe....

As with many milestones in the South, the arrival of a baby is an occasion for celebration. And as with any big Southern celebration, there are plenty of p’s and q’s to mind. Here, we’ve wrangled answers to your thorniest shower etiquette questions. Who Hosts the Baby Shower? Once upon a time, it was considered an absolute no-no for the grandmother-to-be to host a shower for her daughter or daughter-in-law. While baby showers are typically hosted by close friends, coworkers, or non-immediate family members, like aunts, cousins, or sisters-in-law, certain circumstances allow for the grandmother-to-be to host the baby shower....

Baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato leek soup, potato salad—as a side dish or a comforting main, potatoes fit neatly into nearly every meal of the day. But what happens if you go to the pantry, grab several potatoes, and notice they’re shriveled? Can you eat these wrinkled potatoes? The answer isn’t positive. You’re going to want to scratch all your potato meal ideas or only use the ones that aren’t wrinkled because potatoes that are shriveled aren’t okay to eat....

Spring is officially here, which means plenty of cute new additions to the Outer Banks’ most famous herd of wild horses. The Corolla Wild Horse Fund (CWHF) revealed on Facebook this week that the Corolla herd has welcomed two new foals so far this year. While the first foal has stuck to the marsh and out of human view, the second, an energetic filly named Billie, is already keeping herd managers on their toes....

Dierks Bentley made a seven-year-old cancer warrior named Myla Brickner smile from ear to ear with a special serenade last week. The country star was performing at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Friday when he spotted a little girl in the front row. The girl, Myla, was holding a sign referencing lyrics from his 2015 hit “Riser.” “Kicking Cancer’s Butt! It is just a MOUNTAIN,” the sign read. “So, I’m here LIVING because I’m a RISER....

You’ve probably heard of the Dead Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. They may even be on your travel bucket list, but have you ever heard of The Lost Sea? The Lost Sea, located in the eastern Tennessee town of Sweetwater, is America’s largest underground lake, and it’s open to visitors year-round. The Lost Sea is part of Craighead Caverns, a massive network of caves that runs from Sweetwater all the way to the neighboring town of Madisonville....