Grab some honey and your best friend, because Winnie the Pooh may be returning to the big screen. As Pooh says, “It isn’t much good having anything exciting, if you can’t share it with somebody”, so here we go: After the success of bringing beloved childhood characters like Paddington Bear and Peter Rabbit to life on the silver screen, Hollywood has set its eyes on the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood....
As businesses across America shutter amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the hospitality industry has been hit especially hard. With restaurants closing or limiting themselves only to takeout nationwide, many individuals—from chefs to bar-backs—are out of work. During these dark times, many are doing what they can to step up and help these members of our communities. One such figure inspiring us with her kindness is James Beard award-winning Raleigh chef, Ashley Christensen, proprietor of AC Restaurants....
Before technicolor string lights, glittery garlands, and artificial flocked trees, Christmas decorations were made from materials we found around the house. In early America, fruits, foraged greenery, and other natural supplies were used for decking the halls. Before the days of electricity and big-box stores selling shiny ornaments by the dozen, do-it-yourself decorating was the go-to way for dressing up a home for the holidays. Clove-studded oranges (also called pomanders) are one of our favorite old-fashioned Christmas traditions....
There’s no end to what Disney Imagineers will do to keep the “The Most Magical Place on Earth” well, magical. You’ve probably never realized (because that’s the point!) that the less-than-pretty parts of Disney theme parks, like trash cans, administrative buildings, fences and even backstage areas, are all painted the same lackluster shade of green. Nicknamed “Go Away Green” or “No-See-Um-Green,” this gray-green shade is meant to help ugly things blend in with the landscaping....
Since Southern Living declared Chicken Bog one of the best dishes to bring to a friend, I’ve been making the one-pot wonder of comfort food a lot – a lot. And now that making chicken bog is in my regular Sunday recipe rotation, I’ve been playing with the standard bog recipe. It’s become a dependable base for some interesting ingredient experiments. Try them and find out: Dump In The Peas Rice based chicken bog may satisfy the insides, but it dulls the eyes....
Erin and Ben Napier continue to use their powers for good. In a January 2021 episode of Home Town, the design duo went out of their single-family comfort zone to help a couple turn an old house into a nonprofit transitional home for women called Dwell. The clients, Lisa and Mike Cochran, tasked the Napiers with transforming the rundown house into a comfortable and happy place for women to rebuild themselves following hard times....
A flat top grill combines the best elements of a griddle and a traditional grill. The surface is flat, like a griddle, so you can cook everything from homemade pancakes to Creole burgers to finely chopped vegetables, but you can also heat pots and pans on top of it (Texas Chili, anyone?). Flat top grills are perfect for cooking large meals since the heating elements run lengthwise, heating the entire surface, maximizing your cooking space....
If there’s one thing Southerners know, it’s that you should always, always, always send a thank-you note. And it’s never too early to start teaching your children to do the same. Even so, schooling little ones in the art of the thank you can be trickier than you might imagine. We tapped Birmingham, Alabama, etiquette teacher Amy Rainer (@etiquettewithamy) for her expert advice. Before getting into the nuts and bolts of the thank-you note itself, Rainer says that it’s helpful to explain to your child the purpose of writing one in the first place....
We love Nicole Kidman. We love Keith Urban. But we really, really love this couple together. Like sweet tea with a porch or a record player with a Willie Nelson vinyl spinning, some things just pair together like a bee to honey. Of late, Nicole Kidman has been making the media rounds in support of her upcoming HBO series with co-star Hugh Grant, The Undoing. And earlier this week, as she appeared for a virtual check-in alongside Grant on Extra, her prankster hubby Urban decided it would be the perfect moment to unexpectedly drop in for an unplanned appearance....
Known for its high-quality cast iron and stunning stoneware, Le Creuset is a staple among home cooks. The brand is constantly launching new colors, seasonal collections, and kitchen accessories. Its newest product release is a trivet with a unique feature that sets it apart from anything else on the market. The Le Creuset Magnetic Wooden Trivet is a clever product that makes it easy to transfer cast iron pans from oven to table....
The Mississippi River water level was low enough to expose a decaying piece of naval history in St. Louis this week. The USS Inaugural, a minesweeper used in WWII, was a National Historic Landmark before it broke free of its moorings during historic flooding in August 1993. When, according to the National Park Service (NPS), “the ship suffered a breach in its hull, took on water, and rolled on its side....
If you’re looking for an excuse to play hooky, don’t forget that science has proven that a day at the beach is downright good for you. Last year, researchers from New Zealand and Michigan teamed up on a study that revealed that exposure to “visible blue spaces” (read: the Gulf Coast on a nice day) can lower “psychological distress”. To reach the conclusion that undoubtedly caused a thousand “sick” days, the researchers mapped the New Zealand city of Wellington and then compared the country’s health records with ocean views and those people who spent time watching the ocean waves were generally less stressed out....
Have you ever found yourself in the kitchen, rice-less, wondering if you can substitute orzo in a favorite recipe? Or vice-versa? It can be tempting, sure—they’re the same shape! They look so similar! They’re both grain-based? Pause right there. Rice and orzo share characteristics, but the two foods are not identical. Anyone who tells you orzo and rice are one and the same needs a quick lesson in grains and pastas....
Staying at someone else’s home is a great honor and should be treated as so by respecting their space and property. Proper house guest etiquette means showing appreciation to your host during and after your visit. Those who do good manners will most likely reward you with a second invitation to stay, which is always a friendly request. Remember you are a guest, whether related to the host or not and act how you would want anyone staying in your home to behave....
You put a lot of time and love into baking your family’s favorite cakes. Whether a moist and tender chocolate cake for a birthday celebration or a velvety-textured pound cake topped with fresh fruit for a neighborhood potluck, you work hard to correctly measure, sift, blend, and stir so that the finished product will inspire praise (and requests for the recipe). Don’t let all that hard work go to waste by allowing the cake to dry out....
Keep an eye on Estelle Colored Glass, y’all. One of the hottest new glassware companies in the country, this buzzy South Carolina upstart draws on Southern hospitality, timeless style, and a one-of-a-kind grandma. Founder Stephanie Hall credits her love for colored glass to her grandmother Estelle, an amazing cook and skilled entertainer whose friends and family knew as “Big Mama.” Hall accompanied her on weekly antiquing trips around Charleston when she was a child....
I used to always dread having to use foundation or sunscreen on sweltering hot summer days, although the latter is a non-negotiable step for any woman’s skincare routine. Formulas I’ve tried in the past have left my face feeling oily and sticky, leaving me with a caked-on look by the end of the day. Lucky for me, that changed the second I used Tarte’s BB Tinted Primer with Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen (BUY IT: $37; sephora....
This year, from April 18th to the 26th it’s National Park Week. As we all remain safely at home in light of the coronavirus pandemic, we’re missing the joy of wandering through these natural wonders. But just because we’re at home doesn’t mean we can’t experience some of these magnificent splendors from afar. Yesterday, we were excited to learn about the website g.co/nationalparks, a Google Arts & Culture project developed in collaboration with National Park Service, that brings some of the excitement of national parks to our screens....
Are you heading to the North Carolina Smokies? You don’t want to miss Waynesville, North Carolina. Asheville is this town’s nearby neighbor and may get a lot more buzz, but Waynesville is brimming with art galleries, natural splendors, and a humming culinary scene. Here are some ways to make the most of your time in this charming small town. Where to Shop Shop Main Street Whether you’re in the market for antiques, art, or clothing, Waynesville has an eclectic mix of independently-owned stores to please any visitor....
Our favorite neighborhood bookstores keep our reading lists full all year long. They’re our go-to places for reading recommendations, literary conversations, and close-knit, book-loving communities. When you can’t visit your favorite shop, there are still ways to support them—and shop their shelves—from a distance. In addition to buying books, we’ve found a few other ways to contribute to the local shops we love. We’re all looking forward to browsing our favorite bookstores in person again, but in the meantime…...
