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Children at Stars Early Learning Academy in Fairhope, Alabama, treated their next-door neighbors to the cutest socially distanced Mardi Gras parade last week. Led by a trumpeter, the pint-sized merrymakers circled the Country Place Senior Living Community. In lieu of floats, the children pushed decorated strollers, Cozy Coupes, and even plastic shopping carts. They danced, cheered, and waved to the residents who watched through their open windows. “Another big thank you to our neighbors, Stars Daycare for helping put together our social distanced Mardi Gras parade!...

Right now there are a lot of things that make us Southerners happy: Our first snow, a royal engagement, Georgia, Clemson and Alabama all making it to the college football playoffs, and the fact that there are only thirteen days till Christmas. Another thing that is contributing to our holiday cheer? That it’s the time of year where it’s socially acceptable to embrace all glitter everything. From heels to nail polish to makeup, there are endless ways to sparkle....

When Covid-19 hit the U.S. shuttering businesses and schools alike, students were abruptly taken from the comfortable routines they knew. Parents suddenly found themselves trying to juggle their own jobs from home and homeschooling their kids. Kids had to accept that music class would be over Zoom and birthday parties were parades of cars for now. It has been a rough few months for everyone. But as the virus is still very much a threat, many summer camps are cancelled as well, and the question of “what now?...

The keys to successful baking this holiday season have a lot to do with the recipes you choose, quality ingredients, and your skill as a baker. However, don’t forget this one factor: timing. If you want to bake a delicious holiday pumpkin pie, think about baking ahead and freezing. When your oven is overcrowded with Thanksgiving sides and holiday hams, you can rest easy knowing your holiday pie is already baked....

Paul Gilbert Anchondo, the youngest survivor of the El Paso Walmart shooting, celebrated his 1st birthday over the weekend. He was just two months old when his parents died shielding him from the shooter who took the lives of 23 people on August 3, 2019. What began as a small celebration for family and friends, swelled as more community members learned about it. On Saturday, hundreds of El Paso residents participated in a parade honoring the child’s miraculous survival....

If you’ve been watching Fixer Upper: The Castle, you know this season is dedicated to one project, and one unlike anything Chip and Jo have ever taken on before. “When we said yes to this project, when I stepped up the first day, I was like I’m about to go to school. This thing is going to teach me some stuff because we’ve never done anything like this,” Joanna Gaines recently told Southern Living....

As we mourn the loss of country singer Joe Diffie, who died from complications from coronavirus on March 29th, we’re finding comfort in this incredible rendition of “Amazing Grace,” sung by his daughter Kara Diffie. Performed at the Grand Ole Opry during one of her dad’s gigs there in 2016, Kara’s voice soars in the classic gospel tune. With powerful belting and a soothing upper register, it’s clear that musical talent runs in the family....

Sometimes, it’s great to whip up holiday cookies from scratch. On that front, we’ve got you covered with our easy Christmas cookies, our vintage delights, and our freezer-friendly delights. Sometimes the idea of preparing your dough from scratch is enough to make you throw your hands up in the air, stress eat chocolate chips from your freezer, and call it a day. If you’re not up for a baking project this year, you can call on Keebler’s elves for a sweet dose of Christmas inspiration....

I couldn’t even count how many different mascaras I’ve tried over the years if I tried, but one thing I have learned is that when deciding to try out a new formula, I’m more likely to place the bet if it isn’t going to cost an arm and a leg. Mascaras can cost upwards of $40, and so on a trip to Sephora, I’m going to snatch a tried-and-true more often than choosing a gamble....

It’s only right that the best eggnog comes from New Orleans, we suppose. Between the Sazerac and the Hurricane and the Vieux Carré, the historic city has a knack for turning out boozy masterpieces. Except this raved-about eggnog we’re speaking of isn’t a recipe only found in some New Orleans dive (though there is bound to be a hidden gem), but from a distillery that was born there. Ever heard of Southern Comfort?...

Police in South Carolina found the most adorable - and cuddly - stolen goods over the weekend. Burglars stole four wrinkly face puppies from a home and led police on a high-speed chase that started in Charlotte, North Carolina, and ended in a crash in York County, South Carolina. A successful pursuit usually ends with no injuries and a suspect’s arrest. This successful pursuit also ended with the rescue of puppies....

Over the past year, my wardrobe has definitely been made up of more and more athleisure wear as my nicer clothes just hang in my closet and dressier shoes collect dust. Thus, began my search for a pair of casual shoes that were a little more polished than my Adidas Ultraboost but still provide the same level of comfort. My search took me longer than anticipated because many pairs of sneakers were well over $100 and I wasn’t sure I wanted to commit to such a high price tag....

After waking up too many times to a strained, tight neck over the years, I’ve come to never take a decent pillow for granted. It wasn’t until I got my very first memory foam pillow that I realized this kind of squishy, supportive feel is unmatched by any other kind of material. But like most things, my pillow wasn’t meant to last forever, and my search for the perfect memory foam option recently began again....

Every day is a new adventure for Matt Nestheide and his three daughters. During the coronavirus pandemic, the contract analyst from Fort Thomas, Kentucky, is taking homeschooling to a new level, dressing up to treat the girls to unique, educational experiences while they’re stuck in the house. So far, Nestheide has dressed up as a mad scientist, a fitness instructor, Bob Ross, and even Guy Fieri to teach his daughters—Cole, 8, Sydney, 6, and Mila, 3—a different lesson each day while their schools are closed....

Country star Thomas Rhett Akins has a knack for expressing his feelings to music, but it also turns out he can perfectly sum up life truths in the form of a brief Instagram caption, too. Last week, the father-of-three and husband to Lauren Akins, wrote, “As a parent you talk about alone time a bunch. Then you get it. 12 minutes in you say, ‘wow I miss my kids,” alongside a photo of him and Akins lazying in beach chairs....

When we were learning about oxymorons in school, teachers would point to “jumbo shrimp” and get a few easy laughs. Little did we know that jumbo shrimp was just the beginning. Turns out there’s “extra jumbo shrimp,” “colossal shrimp,” and even “super colossal shrimp.” These aren’t just even more examples of oxymorons, but a way that shrimpers categorize their catch when setting their price—and a useful guide for buying the right amount of shellfish the next time you’re whipping up a batch of Shrimp Cakes....

Summertime in the South means plenty of fresh fruit picked at its peak. Since we all know fruit doesn’t stay fresh for very long, many Southern homemakers turn to the art of preservation to keep some of that summer goodness around all year. You can find pickled okra skewered atop a Bloody Mary drink or stuffed with pimiento cheese. Everything from tomatoes to jalapeños can be pickled and used to elevate a salad, a cocktail, or a sandwich....

Well, we’ve got excellent news for fans of the hit late ’80s and early ’90s sitcom: A new reboot is landing on NBC’s PeacockTV streaming service on Wednesday, November 25, starring Mario Lopez back as A.C. Slater, who’s gone on to become a gym teacher at Bayside High, and Elizabeth Berkley once again as Jessie Spano, who’s now the mom to Jamie, captain of the school’s football team. Other actors from the original series you know and love will also appear on the show, including Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who returns as Zack Morris, and Tiffani Thiessen, who returns as Kelly Kapowski, as California’s Governor and First Lady, respectively....

Back in June, we reported on the fire that destroyed B’s Cracklin’ Barbecue in Savannah, Georgia, a promising newcomer on the Southern barbecue scene. Owners Bryan and Nikki Furman had launched their restaurant in the fall of 2014 in a modest wood-sided building on Coffee Bluff Villa Rd. just south of Savannah. Their whole-hog, heritage-breed barbecue impressed plenty of diners right out of the gate, winning them a loyal local following as well as write ups in nationally-distributed magazines, including Southern Living....

While it’s hard to find the silver lining in a situation as dire as the coronavirus pandemic, one sliver of a saving grace is the extra downtime at home affording us the opportunity to read more. Personally, we’ve been taking a walk in the classic lane with these 50 Books from the Past 50 Years Everyone Should Read at Least Once mixed in with some breezy summer romance novels (Lauren K....