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The open floor plan first gained popularity by combining the kitchen, living, and dining areas into one cohesive space. Now the open concept is making its way into full baths with wet rooms, a spa-like renovation that supports a wellness-based design. In its simplest form, a wet room is what it sounds like, which is a room designed to get wet. Specifically, a wet room does not have a separation between the shower and the rest of the bathroom floor....

Almost nothing stood. Where the awful winds bore down, massive oaks, 100 years old, were shoved over like stems of grass, and great pines, as big around as 55-gallon drums, snapped like sticks. Church sanctuaries, built on the Rock of Ages, tumbled into random piles of brick. Houses, echoing with the footfalls of generations, came apart, and blew away like paper. Whole communities, carefully planned, splintered into chaos. Restaurants and supermarkets, gas stations and corner stores, all disintegrated, glass storefronts scattered like diamonds on black asphalt....

As the saying does, “Heavens to Betsy,” I couldn’t believe what my local big box store was offering this week to innocent homeowners. Pots of pink evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa). Chances are you’re familiar with this pretty native wildflower, but until now, you didn’t know its name. Vast sweeps of this flower bloom each spring on roadsides, banks, and fields. Legions of fragrant, pink, two-inch flowers stand atop 12-inch stems with a weird, four-parted style in the center of each blossom, which always reminds me of a satellite dish....

The best thing about Southern cooking—the kind that we’d watch go on in our grandmother’s kitchen—is that we’re not ashamed to use a store-bought shortcut to bolster up an entire recipe. Evaporated milk, crumbled Ritz crackers, rotisserie chicken, canned tomatoes, just to name a few. Put simply, the Southern cooks that came before us knew that there was little a box of gelatin and jar of Duke’s mayo couldn’t do....

Once upon a time, when you first moved into your home, you likely decorated exactly to your taste. Perhaps you attempted a timeless look with the goal of remaining stylish for years to come, or maybe you surrounded yourself with the latest trends of the time, hoping that they would stick. No matter your best intentions, the fact remains that styles change, as do our tastes. What was once standard, or even the height of home fashion, may now seem antiquated....

Thawing or defrosting chicken requires you to warm the frozen meat until it’s no longer frozen. However, heat is the enemy in this situation. That’s right—you really don’t want to use heat of any type to thaw chicken. (A microwave can be used, but more on that later.) Instead, you want to put the chicken in safe situations that are warmer than a freezer, but still plenty cool enough to avoid bacterial growth....

So you bought a jar of cream of tartar, now what? Maybe it was for that one time you made snickerdoodles, but now it just takes up space on your spice rack. Don’t just let it slowly lose potency in the back of the pantry, put it to good use! The acidic powder is good for more than just cookies and meringues. Not unlike baking soda, it has uses beyond baking, from cleaning to homemade playdough....

I know a lot about garden centers. I worked at a big one before Southern Living convinced me to move to Alabama and become a living legend. I waited on customers, unloaded trucks, and passed around a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon with the other guys selling cut Christmas trees out in 34-degree weather in the rain. In paying my dues, I learned why some nurseries thrive as others fold. Based on our survey results, you value the same qualities I do, awarding Tallahassee Nurseries the top honor....

Whether shopping at The Pig, Publix, or stopping at the gas station, there are some snacks you just won’t find outside the South. On road trips, the go-to might be boiled peanuts and Coke or anything from Buc-ee’s, but at home or the office, Southerners have pantries and refrigerators stocked with local treats and beloved favorites. Sweet, salty, and tangy, these Southern snacks are our editors’ top picks. Wickles Pickles These pickles come from Dadeville, Alabama, and were a secret family recipe until 1998, when brothers Trey and Will Simms transformed their grandma’s pickles into a national brand....

Lilly Pulitzer sales never fail to disappoint. The brand marks down its iconic brightly colored, patterned pieces for just about every occasion, whether it’s the start of a new season or a national holiday. And these deals make the stylish apparel and accessories so much more attainable. Lilly Pulitzer just launched its Summer Sale leading up to the Fourth of July. Unlike the long, lazy summer months ahead, this savings event only lasts two days, so you’ll have to act quickly to stock up on all of the dresses, rompers, and swimwear available at a fraction of their usual prices....

Wearing a long-sleeve button-down shirt and denim overalls—his usual choice of workout attire—Lloyd Black smiled for the camera. Ashley Seaman, the general manager of Anytime Fitness in Semmes, Alabama, was happy to take a photo of the 91-year-old for the fitness center’s Facebook page. Every month she selects a member “who is showing a lot of progress and dedication” for a little extra recognition. Seaman told AL.com that Black, the gym’s oldest member, was an obvious choice for January’s Member of the Month....

Andrew Zimmern knows food. And while he could talk to you ’til the cows come home about epicurean delights, today he wants to shift our attention to food waste. A dire issue, Zimmern recently partnered with grocery store chain Aldi to raise awareness about the problem and share some of his top tips for reducing food waste. Below, he revealed his top tips with us — and we think they’re all game-changers worth following....

The Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, recently experienced an all-female guard change for the first time in its nearly 100-year history last month. “On a recent Autumn morning at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in @ArlingtonNatl, history was made,” the Third U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, shared on Twitter Friday. “For the first time in the 84-year vigil, on the 30770th day of continuous guarding, an all-female guard change occurred with the 38th Sergeant of the Guard....

There’s nothing like the taste of a ripe, juicy tomatowith all that summertime flavor. If you’re a fan of the fleshy fruit, yes tomatoes are technically a fruit, or you’re growing tomato plants in your garden this spring, there are a few things to know when it comes to letting your dog have a taste. “Tomatoes in moderation are not toxic for dogs,” says Dr. Joanna Woodnutt a veterinarian at BreedAdvisor, a breed guide project on the care and ownership of dogs....

One of our favorite things about Dolly Parton is her candor, particularly when it comes to her beauty secrets. Now, after decades in the spotlight, the country legend is more forthcoming than ever about what it takes to maintain her signature, over-the-top appearance. Parton has always been open about her love affair with wigs, but, as she’ll be the first to tell you, they’re not just for show. In a video interview with CMT, the songstress confirmed that her wigs also serve a practical purpose....

Ready or not, the holidays are just around the corner. This year, more and more of us will be getting back to gathering with friends and family to celebrate. As you plan your menus, chef and TV personality Carla Hall has some great tips if you are expecting some folks who are dairy free, vegetarian, or vegan to help you create a great meal that will ensure no one leaves the table still hungry....

Next time you sink your teeth into a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich consider what makes it so good. Sure, the buttered bun is perfection, and the hand-breaded chicken always a delight, but those dill pickle chips really take the sandwich to another level. So what’s the backstory behind these tantalizing pickles? In a post on the company blog, The Chicken Wire, fans of the Chick get a chance to learn just that....

I recently came across an article on the web that demonstrates why Grumpy is your one reliable, unimpeachable source of gardening info. The story, posted on the website of a lifestyle magazine I’ll call Great Housekeeping, began with this headline: “Why You Should Never Plant A Butterfly Bush Again.” Huh? Isn’t butterfly bush great for butterflies and hummingbirds? Isn’t it one of our more popular summer-flowering shrubs? Isn’t it easy to grow?...

As Southerners, it’s our filial duty to report on any and all things Dolly Parton. And while Christmas may still be a long ways away, we were excited to learn that the Smoky Mountain Songbird is releasing a Christmas musical for Netflix later this year, titled Christmas on the Square. Considering we’ve already watched every episode (twice) in Dolly Parton’s latest Netflix release, Heartstrings, an eight-episode collection which looks at some of the stories behind the songwriter’s beloved tunes—with plenty of Parton melodies you’ll recognize throughout—we’re definitely grateful we’ve got another Parton flick on the horizon....

Well, if Dolly Parton says it’s okay to leave your Christmas decorations up in January, then we’re not going to argue with the country star. In a November podcast episode of “Cody Cast with Cody Alan,” Parton opens up to the podcast host about why she keeps her Christmas decorations on display in January, more specifically, until January 19. “I put up my Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving,” Parton shared....