When she was four years old, Mikaila Ulmer, the young CEO of Me & the Bees Lemonade, experienced two bee stings in just one week. “Naturally, I didn’t enjoy the bee stings at all, and I became scared of bees,” Ulmer, now 15, recalls on her website. “But then after doing some research about them, I became fascinated and learned all about what they do for me and our ecosystem.”...
“A porch should be an extension of the garden,” says builder Frank Craige. “It should flow into the landscape when you look out.” Homeowners Brian Lyman and Leigh Ledbetter called on both Frank and his wife Rachel (the duo behind Oxford & Company) when it came time to give their 1930s cottage in Homewood, Alabama, a face-lift. “We wanted the renovation to capture the original character and simplicity of our home,” says Brian....
I grew up in North Alabama, where I believe traditional pulled pork barbecue is at its very best. A special night out at a restaurant didn’t mean going to a fine steak house or even to a nice seafood place. It meant going to Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, where the sweet aroma of hickory smoke was in the air. After leaving home to go to college in Nashville, I quickly became homesick for the barbecue that I grew up eating....
There’s no end to the joy we get from uncovering the latest viral kitchen hacks. While some are more useful than others, the latest TikTok trick is one that we know will be used on the regular. It involves none other than pantry staple tomato paste. Tomato paste is often called on to impart concentrated tomato flavor in dishes, while also acting as binding agent in soups and stews. Tomato paste is primarily sold in either cans or tubes, the latter typically featuring a double concentration....
In case you’ve never heard of Ranch Water, the Texas-famous cocktail is basically like a fizzy tequila soda made with a super heavy hand of lime juice and Topo Chico. It’s easily the most-ordered drink at any bar or watering hole throughout the Lone Star State, and it has since become quite the hot trend over the summer throughout the South and beyond. Can we blame anyone? It’s refreshing as all get-out and super easy to make at home....
Now is an ideal time to try air plants (Tillandsia sp.). These easy tropicals love warmth, air, and regular moisture. Foliage can be fine-textured or thick and comes in greens, silvers, pinks, and reds. Leaves often blush before tiny flowers appear in purples, pinks, or reds. In the wild, air plants grow on trees and rocks, absorbing moisture through their leaves. The romantic Spanish moss that hangs from the branches of live oaks in the Coastal South is actually an air plant....
It’s hard to argue with Bob Dylan’s maximalist endorsement: “Everything in New Orleans is a good idea.” But if you’re planning to visit the Crescent City, it does pay to be intentional about your travel timing. The best advice for getting the most out of your stay? Think about your priorities and schedule your trip accordingly. Read on for recommendations on avoiding hurricane season, beating the heat, and navigating Mardi Gras....
Growing up, it was always a special occasion when you were allowed to order a Shirley Temple at the restaurant. You could see the bubbly, bright-red glass coming from a mile away, and it somehow felt like you were breaking the rules, even though the concoction only consists of Sprite, grenadine, and a cocktail stem stocked with maraschino cherries that would double as a snack. (It has often been associated with 1930s child actress Shirley Temple Black, but she’s denied any connection to the creation of the recipe....
Summers in the South can be uncomfortable to say the least. With such high temperatures and relentless humidity, you may need some additional cooling tools, even if you have central air conditioning. The best way to beat the heat is by investing in a powerful fan to cool spaces like your living room, bedroom, home office, and garage. We found an oscillating fan that has energy-saving features—and it’s currently 20 percent off....
Progress is being made on the new and improved The Red Bar. One of our favorite beach haunts will be back, and better than ever. Just a year ago, on February 13, 2019, we heard the terrible news that this most beloved Grayton Beach establishment had perished in a terrible fire. Thankfully the fire broke early in the morning when no one was inside, but while no human life was lost, the building was beyond repair....
Luana and Ted Frois’ petite beach cottage in Mississippi survived Hurricane Camille in 1969 and then Hurricane Katrina in 2005, so they feel especially passionate about carrying their 1,200-square-foot home into the future while sustaining its historic roots. “Pass Christian’s old houses are treasures, and they’re a part of our culture here—setting the tone of timeless beauty and simple coastal sophistication,” says Louana. “I know preserving the homes and keeping them how they should be has helped to save the town itself....
I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect vintage deviled egg plate for some time now. It might seem a bit superfluous but, to any Southern hostess, these platters seem to be a right of passage of sorts. They’re charming, nostalgic, and just plain useful. With a flat platter one runs the risk of having those little beauties topple and turn smearing their delicious filling all over. It’s a Southern tragedy, to be sure....
The decorations are up, the lights are dimmed, and the table is set. The only thing missing from this picture? A glorious dessert finale, in the form of cake. Here at Southern Living, we believe that no occasion is complete without a stunning cake. Whether you opt for a towering layer cake or a crowd-pleasing sheet cake, there is a cake to suit every gathering. Something about having a cake on the table just says, “party....
To boil an egg, you just need an egg, a pot, some water, and a little bit of salt or vinegar. Simple, right? It is, until you try it and your egg ends up underdone, overdone, or cracked. One mistake that can easily lead to a subpar hard boiled egg? Boiling it straight from the fridge. That’s right, boiling your eggs while they’re still cold will lead to disappointment and ruin your deviled eggs and egg salad sandwiches....
Olivia Newman read Where the Crawdads Sing in two days. “Like so many readers, I was just completely absorbed in Kya’s story,” the director recently told Southern Living. Newman, who helmed the movie adaptation alongside producers Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neudstadter, admitted to feeling “enormous responsibility” to Delia Owens’ beloved book. Her dedication to the storyline is perhaps most evident in the meticulous recreation of Kya’s shack. “It was really important to us that we get Kya’s shack right,” Newman said....
When it comes to Southern romance, it’s no secret that choosing the right words is important. Crafting the perfect romantic message and expressing how much you care about someone may be difficult, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. Making your love known to that special someone is one of those little things that not just keep relationships alive, but also helps them flourish. If you need a dash of inspiration, explore these short and long love messages in a variety of formats, including quotes from notable authors, text messages, love letters, Southern love poems, and more....
If you couldn’t get enough of vintage-inspired ceramic Christmas trees over the holidays, you’re in luck. This year, we’ve noticed a new decor trend bubbling up for Valentine’s Day that will also remind you of grandma’s favorite decorations: pink ceramic trees. Similar to the nostalgia-inducing ceramic trees you might have recently packed away until next year, pink ceramic trees feature sparkling lights and a classic pine tree silhouette. The only difference is that instead of green or white trees, these are pink, making them perfect for Valentine’s Day....
Whether you’re moving into a new home, decluttering your space, or just need to restock your medicine cabinet with the essentials for everyday living, be sure to choose compact items that deliver necessary results. From sunscreen to pain relievers, here are the five essentials to stock up on, recommended by Dr. Jaclyn Tomsic, an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Ohio’s Center for Oral, Facial, and Implant Surgery based in Cleveland, Ohio:...
We may have to put up with mosquitoes and suffocating heat in the summer, but there’s no denying that our temperate winters are one of the South’s greatest selling points. Small outdoor gatherings are a comfortable possibility year-round: Cozy bonfires take the place of summertime barbecues, and ice-cold beers are swapped for hot festive sippers. But even with our mild temperatures, there are still ways to make cold-weather backyard get-togethers even more comfortable for your guests....
Netflix original series Virgin River is the captivating, comforting kind of show that is so good you almost want to savor one episode every other week or so just to make the show last longer. Well, until you throw caution to the wind and treat yourself to a Virgin River weekend-long marathon to knock off seasons one and two of the streaming sensation. The show lays on the Hallmark tropes heavy, but during these strange and uncertain days, we are A-OK with a little corniness, a little predictable scandal, and a whole lot of intertwining love stories, not to mention the jaw-dropping scenery of the small fictional town of Virgin River (the show was actually filmed in Vancouver and the surrounding areas....
