The holidays can be an emotional time for many families, and last year around Thanksgiving, my boyfriend and I had an all-out, drag-out battle that threatened the state of our relationship. It wasn’t about finances, infidelity, or even that time he didn’t order me a piece of coconut cake made by a James Beard Award-winning pastry chef at dinner (I don’t hold grudges, though). No, this was a war over the humble potato....
Did you stock up on a lot of cream cheese when it was on sale and now you realize you’re not going to use it all before it hits the expiration date? Or maybe you planned on making a cheesecake, purchased all the ingredients, but other things came up that took priority over your baking plans—and now you don’t have enough time to make the cheesecake before the cream cheese expires?...
With family, friends, and co-workers spread all over the country, I’ve attended my fair share of virtual events this year. From birthday parties and bridal showers to college reunions and engagement celebrations, we’ve all raised a few glasses to our computer screens over the last few months. While nothing beats catching up with your loved ones, there’s something special about a completely digital gathering that brings back the sensation of touring a beloved city....
Somewhere in the South, maybe under a very big rock, lives a person who doesn’t like Dolly Parton. You would have to not like sunshine. I love Dolly. You can find the definition of our story in the dictionary under words like “unrequited.” I have never written a fan letter before, mostly because I knew that my mean girl cousins would have made fun of me for it, but I am old now and no longer care....
We’ve long known Erin Napier has a way with words. From the beautiful prose in the book she wrote with husband Ben, Make Something Good Today, to the way she describes her love for her hubby, Laurel’s leading lady sure knows how to tug at our heartstrings. This Saturday, June, 6, on the 76th anniversary of D-Day, which marks the Allied forces invading Normandy and ultimately obtaining victory over Nazi-occupied France, Napier shared a touching tribute to her grandfather who was on the frontlines of battle....
With traditional summer camps closed amid the coronavirus pandemic, one Texas organization has come up with a unique way for young girls to grow and learn from home. Girls Empowerment Network recently rolled out Spark Kits, a “magical and safe” way for girls in the 3rd – 8th grade to have some fun and stay connected this summer. These miniature summer camps in a box provide girls with 25 self-guided and collaborative activities, daily virtual access to Girls Empowerment Network’ girl experts, and other girls her age....
No one would have expected that when Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton got married, they would be upstaged at their own wedding. Yet, that’s just what happened thanks to Stefani’s sons and a heartfelt Bible reading. The couple, who began dating in 2015 after meeting as coaches on the NBC singing competition The Voice, were married at Shelton’s Oklahoma ranch on July 3. The wedding was an intimate ceremony held in a special chapel that Shelton had built on his land....
Home Base: Tampa, by way of AtlantaOccupation: Actor and comedianWhat’s on His Plate: The 40th anniversary of TV’s Saturday Night Live (NBC) and being a first-time dad after the recent birth of his baby girl, GeorgiaThe Real Kenan: “I am very quiet. Not shy, just more so observant of the situation.” Working at SNL is incredible. It’s all surreal. I walk past the headshot wall every day. Eventually I get to mine, and it’s just mind-boggling....
On the list of my favorite smells of all time, there’s no Chanel No. 5. Not even a hint of Miss Dior can be found. For me it’s all about that musty, dusty fragrance of an old book—the more beige and crispy those page edges, the better. It doesn’t take a bibliophile to know what I’m talking about. If you happen upon one of these treasures, whether on a grandparent’s bookshelf, tucked away in a box in the attic, or at your local library, you know you’ve happened upon a true gem....
It’s a moment most girls dream of, but just seconds after she was crowned her high school’s homecoming queen, Nyla Covington gave up her tiara. Onlookers reported having chills as they watched the senior at Forrest County Agricultural High School in Brooklyn, Mississippi, remove the coveted crown and place it on the head of her friend and classmate Brittany Walters. Brittany’s mother, A.J. Walters, an employee at the high school, had died from cancer just hours earlier....
It seems that the South has lost a culinary giant in 80-year-old Katy Lynn McDonald. A kind and generous woman who juggled roles as a Cub Scout den mother, Girl Scout mom, and hospital “dietary professional” throughout her otherwise ordinary life, McDonald’s children shared the news of her December 14th passing in a hilarious and heartwarming obituary that would make any Southern woman proud. According to her family, the mother-of-four from Peachtree City, Georgia, was a “studied cook of the old Southern school” whose “remarkable” chicken and dumplin’ recipe was “simply the best” and whose cornbread was “untouchable....
Grandfather Mountain State Park’s rugged backcountry isn’t for the faint of heart. Hikers traversing the craggy topography ascend a series of rigorous trails, scrambling over rock faces and climbing up cliffs via ladders to get to the highest point: Calloway Peak. At 5,946 feet of elevation, you’ve reached the catbird seat of the mountain. At your perch on the escarpment, take in dramatic panoramic vistas of the Piedmont’s rolling hills below and the Blue Ridge’s smoky amethyst peaks kissing the horizon....
Now is the time to plan your spring menus, and we have a condiment recipe that will brighten up all those lunchtime meals and dinner dishes. The condiment is our fan-favorite Herbed Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, and oh, what a dressing it is. It’s simple to put together, sure, but it’s also creamy and flavorful and packs a delicious punch. It’s a perfect addition to a leafy green salad, and it can also serve as a dip....
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to finally order a new outdoor grill or redecorate your patio, this is it. Even though the holiday isn’t until May 31, Walmart’s Memorial Day Sale is already here—and the deals are actually so good this year. There are major discounts on everything from kitchen essentials to patio furniture, so you won’t want to miss out. Since we know how long it can take to comb through the retailer’s sale section and figure out what to buy, we scrolled through thousands of deals just so you can easily see which ones are worth taking advantage of....
The 56th Academy of Country Music Awards yesterday evening have left us a bit distracted today. There’s been red carpet looks to analyze and Maren Morris’ and Ryan Hurd’s stunning “Chasing After You” performance to dissect. Eric Church’s rousing “Bunch Of Nothing” rendition to watch again and again. Celebrating Mickey Guyton’s historic post as the first Black woman to host the event. Luke Bryan’s Entertainer of the Year win. And so much more....
Fortunately, for the countless Texans still dealing with the aftermath of last month’s deadly winter storm, spring is just around the bend. And in Texas, that means bluebonnets. Fields and fields of bluebonnets, dousing the state’s roadways in shades of purple and blue. But what does a historic deep-freeze mean for the beloved wildflower? Is there still hope for them this year? Take a deep breath, because Texas horticulturists say yes....
Do you feel naked if you leave the house without your watch on? That’s how I feel when there are no lemons in my kitchen. A big white porcelain bowl sits on my kitchen counter with the sole purpose of holding lemons. When the bowl is empty, something just seems off. The lemons are as constant as the magnets on the refrigerator, the container of wooden spoons and cooking tools, the little dish of salt that sits next to the stovetop....
Surely my fellow Gen Z-ers will cower with me in fear at the thought of balancing a checkbook. This is one thing I can file away under “never learned how to do” along with changing a tire, ironing, lighting a real match, and host of other things that might make you gasp. The checkbook lives in my childhood memories as something “for the grown-ups.” At my parents’ house, it was always the little leather, rectangular book buried in a nondescript place on my father’s desk....
The last time I had worked this hard for a meal of baked chicken, I was helping my Uncle John dig a well. But this current venture seemed like such a good idea, at first. “Want to go to Johnny’s Restaurant?” my friend Jake Reiss asked me one day. Visions of stewed green beans and tomatoes swam through my mind. I swear I could smell the meatloaf—spiked with a little barbecue sauce—and could almost feel the hot cornbread crumble in my fingers....
It’s time for a road trip, and the destination should be Knoxville. This Tennessee city is sometimes overshadowed by its louder neighbors, but those who know it absolutely love it. With outdoor attractions aplenty, Knoxville is the perfect spot for a weekend getaway all year round: It’s also an easy drive from Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Plus, it’s just a stone’s throw from the Blue Ridge Mountains and several National forests—so shouldn’t you plan a trip to Knoxville today?...
