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As if Southerners needed another reason to love Coca-Cola—we just discovered the bubbly and refreshing beverage also pulls double duty as a cleaning agent. The Atlanta-based drink and go-to snack companion with peanuts is not just good for gulping down or dredging and coating slices of ham. No, you can actually get more mileage out of a six pack of Coke bottles by using it to clean your toilet. Probably the grossest place to clean in the home is the bathroom, particularly the toilet....

This time of year, that “Anne of Green Gables” quote about being grateful to live in a world where there are Octobers is making the rounds. Agreed. I love an October. Give me all the cider donuts, pumpkin-flavored everything, and an excuse to bust out my Spanx leggings. But, while I’m glad for the changing leaves, cooler temperatures, and anticipation of the festive season to come, I can’t help but be grateful to also live in a place where people still wave to strangers, which is something we have more opportunity to do now that we’re emerging from our air-conditioned oasis for the great outdoors....

Lent is a time of great celebration and anticipation. It’s a six-week period leading to Easter, one of the most treasured holidays for Christians around the world. It’s often understood as a sincere recognition and preparation for the death and resurrection of Jesus. Many great leaders and thinkers have shared their positive thoughts on the practice of lent, and the Bible is full of meaningful verses about the topic. During a time when most people who observe lent are fasting specific meals and food items, these quotes and Bible verses about lent will be a source of support and strength....

While we love pink, purple, and blue hydrangeas—and have tried our hands at changing their colors—this summer, we’re gravitating to something a little different. Enter the reblooming Invincibelle Limetta Smooth Hydrangea from Proven Winners, which has gorgeous green-and-white blooms. The flowers first appear in lime green hues and then turn green-white before finally fading to a deeper jade green. These dwarf hydrangeas thrive in full sun (hello, Southern gardens!) with well-drained soil, and they are best grown in zones 3-8....

If there’s one person we can count on to make us smile in the middle of multiple national crises, it’s Jennifer Garner. The quirky actress, who famously walked her pet chicken, Regina George, on a leash in 2017, struck again last week, only this time she was photographed walking another unlikely animal: her family cat. In photos shared by Harper’s Bazaar, the 13 Going On 30 star and her three children can be seen pushing a fluffy feline through their Brentwood neighborhood in its own little stroller....

Some may say there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing, but when it comes to a beloved brand teaming up with one of our favorite Southern style mavens, we’ll have to agree to disagree! This morning, Savannah-based LAKE Pajamas launched their latest collection—a collaboration with Julia Berolzheimer, a mom and influencer who shares daily gorgeous snaps of her charmed Charleston life to her Instagram audience of well over one million followers....

Another busy hurricane season is on its way. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center released its forecast for the upcoming hurricane season today, and it looks like we’re in for yet another doozy. Forecasters are predicting above-average hurricane activity this year, marking the seventh above-average hurricane season in a row. NOAA’s outlook for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season—which lasts from June 1 to November 30—predicts a 65% chance of an above-normal season, a 25% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of a below-normal season....

You can take the guy or gal out of Waco, but you can’t take the hankering for Chip and Jo’s Silos Baking Co. treats out of our bellies. That’s why were so excited to see that Chip and Joanna Gaines’ much-lauded bakery is shipping their treats directly to your doorstep. “Since Silos Baking Co. is still closed here in Waco, we wanted to find a way to send you some of our treats!...

We pile mountains of Parmesan cheese on our favorite pasta dishes, use it with breadcrumbs to create deliciously salty casserole toppings, and fold it into vegetable sides, so that you actually want to eat your veggies. The Italian cheese is packed with nutty, sharp flavor that adds a savoriness to a wide range of recipes. But once you have grated it down to the rind, think twice before tossing out that hard outer skin....

When it comes to decorating our homes, Southerners believe that first impressions always begin outside the front door. We can style a party-worthy porch in a pinch and pull off killer curb appeal just as well as any old home on the local garden tour. But for many, 2020 kicked things into high gear. Our outdoor spaces, once perhaps only used for looks and leisure, suddenly became multifunctional. They’ve doubled as offices and classrooms, workout spots and all-around sanity savers....

Around eight years ago, Tenesha Carter’s son was diagnosed with a mild case of eczema. “As a new mom, I wanted to try everything to help him cope,” recalls Carter, who lives in Montgomery. “I started doing research and making creams and oatmeal baths to clear it up.” What began as an experiment to relieve her son’s symptoms expanded into Aqualime (@aqualimeskincare), a Southern-made, organic bath-and-body line. “A lot of people don’t realize that their skin is one big organ,” she notes....

Some things are quick. Brunswick stew is not one of them, but the results are worth every minute. You wind up with enough to feed a crowd, or enough to freeze for several great meals to come. Raconteur and humorist Roy Blount Jr. quips that Brunswick stew is what happens when small mammals carrying ears of corn fall into barbecue pits. It’s true that Brunswick stew was once made with a variety of wild game, particularly squirrels and rabbits, but it’s now usually made with chicken and pork....

Homemade dinner rolls and loaves of bread will take any ordinary weeknight meal to the next level. While it takes some skill to get your bread recipe down to a science, it’s a task that’s worth your time since it will keep fresh bread on your table day after day. If you have a bread recipe you like to follow and are looking for how to create an impressive shape when it comes to preparing your loaves and rolls, look no further....

Some people like it with the crust off. Others want it cut diagonally or straight across. But no matter how you slice it, everyone loves a good peanut butter sandwich. Some people, however, like it with a little somethin’ somethin’ added to it: Thick, creamy, tangy mayonnaise. Yes, that’s right, there are people in this world who really do love a peanut butter sandwich smothered with Hellman’s or Duke’s. And those people are likely from the South....

If you’re required to wear prescription glasses or an over-the-counter pair for reading, there’s a certain set of challenges for those of you among the four-eyed group. Short-range vision? Nearsighted or farsighted? Looking for sun protection? Doesn’t matter—the struggle to keep those frames from slipping down is real. Summer, especially, poses a unique challenge. When you’re sweaty and your makeup is melting, keeping said frames on your face is virtually impossible....

During these difficult times, music can be a light spot in the long days at home. This past Saturday, April 11, Willie Nelson, and several other beloved musicians, helped raise our spirits and simultaneously raise funds for a worthy cause with the “At Home with Farm Aid” benefit concert. For the hour-long broadcast in partnership with AXS TV, fans were treated to performances by Farm Aid Board Members Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, and Dave Matthews, all to support these family farmers in this time of crisis....

One of Grumpy’s two favorite native trees (white oak is the other), American beech (Fagus grandifolia) lights up the landscape like no other these days. That’s why I just planted a pair of them in my small woods out back. In nature, American beech is a grand tree, growing 90 feet tall and 60 feet wide after many years and developing a massive trunk. It sports smooth, silvery-gray bark into which intellectually challenged individuals carve their names and provide proof of their idiocy for generations to come....

Joy of Cooking has gone down in history as one of the greatest cookbooks of all time. This complete guide to home cooking, self-published by Irma S. Rombauer in 1931, has endured as a tentpole of culinary education for generations. Almost 100 years after its publication, Joy of Cooking remains a steadfast source for many home cooks. An All-Time Classic What’s the secret to this cookbook’s staying power? “Since its debut in 1930, versions of this tome have earned a permanent spot in many kitchens,” writes Sheri Castle, listing Joy of Cooking as one of Southern Living’s 100 Best Cookbooks of All Time....

You can’t think about the 1970s without conjuring up a distinct memory of a certain iconic hair moment. Sure, blunt bangs á la Jane Birkin and wild curls á la Diana Ross come to mind, but there is one style that Farrah Fawcett single-handedly made eponymous with the decade: feathered hair. Without it, the 1970s would be just a blur of disco and bell bottoms. Feathered hair differs from other decades-past hair trends—that often feel too far of a stray from modern day to be recycled—by virtue of the many interpretations that can be taken from the style’s signature flips and curls....

Memorial Day weekend might conjure up images of backyard cookouts with burgers and hot dogs, nights by the beach, and afternoons by the pool with a refreshing cocktail in hand, but it should also be exciting for those looking to snag end-of-season deals. The weekend ushers in the unofficial beginning of summer and marks the time when retailers slash prices on many items you’ll need from June through September. It can be overwhelming to sift through the massive sale for the best deals, but don’t fret: We’ve done the work for you!...