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Trips to the farmers’ market on Saturday mornings in the summer are fun and all, but there’s nothing more satisfying than growing the bounty right in your own backyard. From tomatoes and okra to peppers and squash, the seasonal produce options to choose from seem endless. Strawberries are another one of our summertime favorites that are (actually) easy to grow in your garden. Once they’re ripe, pluck these juicy gems off the vine to use in sweet deserts like Strawberry Dream Cake or savory appetizers like Strawberry Caprese Salad....

We may live in an increasingly digital world, but there are certain things that should always be done the “old-fashioned way,” if you ask us—one being sending formal (as well as informal) correspondence in the mail. If sending handwritten thank-you notes, holiday cards, and wedding invitations in the mail are traditions you intend to continue, it’s important to make sure you’re adhering to proper etiquette guidelines each step of the way, especially if you’ve gotten out of the habit....

’90s kids, rejoice. Slap bracelets and Furbies may not be back in town but Felicity is! In fact, for Hulu subscribers, Felicity and a lot more ’90s fun is in store, all leading up to the Friday, March 12 premiere of Soliel Moon Frye’s new Hulu Original Documentary about growing up in the ’90s, kid 90. First, on Monday, March 8, the Blossom will start streaming, which centers around teen Blossom Russo and her family, as well as her unforgettable best friend, Six....

J.J. Watt is at it again with the do-gooding. The defensive lineman for the Houston Texans known for his philanthropy efforts is giving back to veterans through his latest collaboration with Reebok. The black and camo JJ III Valor training shoe was inspired by Watt’s grandpa, James, who served in the Korean War. It pays tribute not only to his grandfather’s service, but to all of our nation’s veterans. To honor the veterans that inspired the shoe, Reebok will be donating $5 per pair (up to $25,000) to the Honor Flight Network, a non-profit dedicated to providing veterans with closure and honor by transporting them to Washington, D....

Scrolling through social media brings to your attention all sorts of shaky proposals on how you and we can better our environment. You know, kill poison ivy with vinegar; plant prairies on our rooftops; and line city streets with apple, peach, and plum trees to feed hungry people and coat the sidewalks with putrefying, smashed, fallen fruit. Here’s the latest lame idea to cross my screen – instead of raking up the fallen leaves blanketing your lawn now, just let them be....

Long prized as a destination for birders and shoppers, the Texas border town of McAllen has evolved into a city with an impressive dining scene, a bounty of outdoor recreation opportunities, and enriching museums and entertainment. McAllen is located at the southernmost tip of Texas in the Rio Grande Valley, second only in size to the city of Brownsville in the region. Though McAllen is a bustling cosmopolitan city, drive just a few minutes out of town and you’ll find charming, small Texas towns such as Edinburg and Weslaco, to get a slower slice-of-life perspective....

There’s one song that immediately transports me to my parents’ living room in Dallas, and it’s “Must Be Santa” by Peter Price and the International Children’s Choir. An unexpected choice, sure. Also, there are hundreds of covers of this particular Christmas tune. But this version, with its melodic undercurrents that sound like carousel music and the juxtaposition of the twee chorus against Price’s deep, boom box of a voice, is distinct....

We know what you’re thinking: Aren’t all chicken pot pie recipes relatively the same? You’ve got your chicken, pie crust (whether homemade or store-bought), maybe some peas, carrots, onions, and a good, saucy base. How much better can one recipe be than the next? I know where you’re coming from. Just a few weeks ago my thoughts on this homestyle classic consisted of shuffling recipes into two categories—those with and those without potatoes (I prefer without, for the record)....

When was the last time you had poppy seeds in a casserole? If the answer is never, you’re in for a surprise. This Turkey-Noodle-Poppy Seed Casserole from our November 1990 issue, is an old-school favorite (poppy seed casseroles date way back beyond the ’90s) that deserves a comeback. Originally created as a way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey, this homey casserole tastes just as great with shredded leftover or rotisserie chicken, which makes it ideal for busy weeknights....

We’re already calling it. Ranch water is going to be the drink of the summer. Haven’t heard of the fizzy tequila cocktail? For starters, it hails from Texas and is perhaps the most popular bar order and house cocktail throughout the state, especially in the summertime. And who wouldn’t entrust a Texan with finding the best way to cool down in 100-degree heat? We’ll take their word for it. If you’ve never tasted or made the tequila-based drink before, know that it’s insanely simple, requiring just three ingredients....

If you hate wearing jeans or trousers all day but need something a little dressier than leggings for work or going out, you should definitely try this pair from Spanx. With flexible fabric that you can move in, the Spanx Faux-Suede Flare Pants don’t sacrifice comfort and look put together when wearing them to the office. And you’ll want to check them out now because they’re currently on sale for 30 percent off....

The morning Ralph F. woke up to find an extra $1,200 dollars in his bank account, the Korean War army veteran hopped in his car and hightailed it to his local animal shelter. “Ralph pulled up out front of Brother Wolf and told me that he wanted to use his stimulus check to help harder-to-adopt dogs find their forever homes,” Leah Craig Fieser, Executive Director of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, North Carolina, said in a news release....

And he’s off! The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Naples Zoo are celebrating the successful return of a rescued Florida panther back to the wild last month. The panther, nicknamed “Logan” by zookeepers, is the fifth Florida panther rescued by FWC and Naples Zoo and the first to be successfully rehabilitated and released. According to a FWC release, the previous four were either too young, or their injuries were too severe to be returned back to the wild....

A senior South Carolina couple has started locking their doggie door at night after the wrong kind of canine made its way into the kitchen of their Spartanburg home earlier this month. Sandie Ferguson told WSPA that she didn’t even realize they had a visitor until one of their dogs began barking “like there was a mouse or something.” “When I first saw him, I thought ‘It’s a coyote. Then I thought, ‘No, it has to be a dog....

Some hotels have raised the bathtub to an art form. It’s understandable that after a long day of travel you just want to drop into a bubble bath with a glass of wine. Before you do, though, a word of caution. As you may know, hotel bathrooms —even at five-star hotels—can be dirtier than airplanes, which is probably not what you want to be thinking about while luxuriating in the tub....

I’m not the type to fall in love with a stranger, but a nameless woman has become one of my most beloved kitchen companions. She’s the frowning lady on a jar of chili sauce that has won my heart. At first glance, Laoganma’s Spicy Chili Crisp is less than appealing—the label’s design is, well, outdated—and the contents are an ominous shade of red with (very) visible white seeds from an unknown chile that my subconscious automatically judges as too spicy....

Here’s a helpful guide for all of your 2022 Idea House decorating inspiration. Throughout Windows and Exterior Doors: Marvin Elevate® collection, Marvin Signature® Collection Ultimate product line – Stone White exterior.Windows and Exterior Door Distributor: Windows & More.Engineering Services: Southern Consulting & Engineering, Inc.Hardwood Flooring: Eastern Wood Products – French White Oak.Interior Door Hardware: Emtek – Orb knob with Brass Disc Rosette in Unlacquered Brass, Pocket Door Tubular Round in Unlacquered Brass....

Southerners know the importance of proper etiquette and good manners. It’s essential to treat everyone with respect and put your best foot forward in word and in deed. We start learning these lessons from a very young age, and we take these rules with us through life. Some of them require practice, and others become second nature. If you’re practiced in holding doors and shaking hands but still have questions about the essential tenets of a vocabulary of good manners, let us offer you building blocks for proper etiquette, words, and phrases that you should know like the back of your hand and use freely....

Cayden Sweatt wanted to seal his future while sitting in his happy place. Sweatt, an offensive lineman from Bremen, Georgia, signed his National Letter of Intent contract to play football at Appalachian State University at the local Waffle House. In a post shared on social media, Sweatt signed on the dotted line while ensconced in one of Waffle House’s booths. “Thank you to every school and coach who has given me the opportunity to play at the next level,” he wrote in a caption....

In the South, Easter is a holiday that puts preciously preserved traditions on full display, from the spread of baked ham and macaroni-and-cheese to the seersucker suits seen in the church pews or on the lawn of the egg hunt. And the most widely practiced Easter tradition is undeniably dyeing hard-boiled eggs. Nowadays, Easter eggs can go beyond classic pastel with marbled, speckled, and other creations, but they’re still a mainstay along with the candy-filled plastic eggs at the celebration....