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At various points throughout the spring and summer, Southern beachgoers are treated to the strange experience of finding thousands of small, gelatinous, crystal-clear blobs washed up on the sand. Though they’re often referred to as “jellyfish eggs” these weird little creatures are called salps, and they have more in common with people than they do with jellyfish. Though they resemble jellyfish, “the only thing salps and jellyfish have in common is that both are gelatinous and both float around in the ocean,” Larry Madin, executive vice president and director of research at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, told National Geographic....

With the outbreak of the novel coronavirus shuttering schools and businesses all over the world and grinding everyday life to a halt, one man managed to find a bit of joy in the new normal. Relegated to working from home, Mark Polchleb found inspiration in his new colleagues: his two dogs. At the outset of the coronavirus crisis, Polchleb, a brand manager from Melbourne, Australia, set up an Instagram account, @dogsworkingfromhome, featuring photo submissions of pups from all around the world adjusting to having their homes turned into offices....

Want to save on home décor costs? This simple painted lampshade can be customized with the pattern and color of your choosing. A simple DIY, this project can be completed in a day and the décor added right into your room. It’s a great project if you’re looking to revamp a room with a pop of color without having to commit to any big-ticket items. For our painted lampshade we chose to do stripes as they are a little easier for spacing around the lampshade, but try experimenting with a color block base or chevron look if you’re feeling extra crafty....

When picking a mascara, it can seem overwhelming to differentiate between all the wand shapes, formula types—volume, length, or curl—drugstore steals, and designer splurges. No matter your preferences, you’ll be able to find one that fits your ideal lash look, whether it be a drugstore staple that boasts epic volume or a classic department-store tube that feigns the most unbelievable lump-free length. Today, we’re concerned with the latter, not only because it is a longtime favorite that never goes out of style, but because it is also part of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale....

Spruce up your lawn for spring with the South’s favorite flowering shrub. Southern Living regularly show off pink, blue, and white hydrangeas in its articles. We’re branching out with a fresh color to wake up a front yard. The petals of the Let’s Dance Rave hydrangea turn a vibrant shade of violet when planted in acidic soils. Better yet? Gardeners can find this selection at their local Home Depot or purchase one online....

Houston, Texas is the 4th largest city in the country. Its geographic footprint is immense and intimidating, much like how people feel about the talent of its more famous hometown hero Beyonce. Perhaps that’s why, on a recent trip to the city, I was shocked to look up from my Tacos Al Carbon at Ninfa’s on Navigation only to see someone I knew not even an hour after checking into my hotel....

Many aspiring bakers would say that the person who coined the phrase “As easy as apple pie” has clearly never tried to make one. Double crust apple pie, whether the top crust is lattice or solid with slits to release steam, can be tricky. The pastry should be golden brown and flaky. The apples should be tender, but not mushy, and the juices no longer runny. It’s a big ask....

Like all decent individuals, you love butterflies. That’s why you filled your garden this spring with nectar-laden plants to attract these winged beauties – flowers like butterfly bush, butterfly weed, Joe-pye weed, lantana, pentas, zinnias, salvias, asters, blazing star, goldenrod, and summer phlox. But few of your invited guests ever showed up at the table. How come? There are several possibilities, only one of which could possibly count as a moral lapse on your part....

Looking for a dose of Christmas cheer? If you’re on the road, swing by Santa Claus, Georgia, a tiny hamlet located just about halfway between Macon and Savannah, and pretty near the South’s onion capital, Vidalia. Whether it’s July or December, fans of Santa Claus (and who isn’t?) will appreciate this town of just around 200 people that’s Christmas-themed all year round. Before you pass through, learn about this community’s unique origin story, and how to make the most of your visit, from making your list and checking it twice, exploring Santa’s garden, collecting a Christmas ornament, and more....

The biscuit is a simple thing. It’s one of the cornerstones of American comfort food, evoking basic ingredients, simpler times, and perhaps an auntie who had a special flair in the kitchen. Such qualities are hard to reproduce on a mass, drive-thru scale. Things like flakiness, crispiness, and moisture are even more difficult to attain at a fast food spot. But should you awake one morning craving a rustic kitchen biscuit and find yourself surrounded only by franchise plastic, here are your options, listed from worst to best....

A warm bowl of soup during the winter months is always a welcome comfort. This holiday season, one recipe we’ll be coming back to time and time again is Alton Brown’s Christmas Soup. The host of the Food Network’s series Good Eats and Iron Chef knows a thing or two about executing a flawless recipe, and this sausage soup does not disappoint. “Sausage, potatoes, and kale make a hearty soup for a cold winter night....

Every time we get off a plane in Memphis (where I grew up) coming from New York (where we live), I tell my two oldest children the same thing: “Turn on your Memphis manners.” When they were younger, it was my shorthand for: Look adults in the eye when they speak to you; remember to say “please” and “thank you”; use a fork; and do not, under any circumstance, utter the word “pee” (my mother prefers “tinkle”)....

On December 1st, four-year-old twins Luna and Gianella Gonzalez released a set of balloons from their backyard in Liberal, Kansas. The two pink, star-shaped balloons—one for each girl—carried their letters to Santa. “It was something different for the girls—a memory they could keep after a rough 2020,” their mom Leticia told Good Morning America. “It was just so cold and windy. I didn’t expect them to go that far.” A few weeks later, Leticia heard from a friend that someone had shared a photo of Luna’s balloon on Facebook....

While they’ve managed to keep their exact wedding date and location tightly under wraps, Tim Tebow and Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters have been more than open with the planning process. From asking for hashtag help to offering a sneak peek at their first dance moves, fans of the professional athlete and his South African beauty queen have been in on the action from day one. Now, with their wedding set to unfold at any moment, Tebow and Nel-Peters have revealed their wedding gift registry on The Knot Registry....

He’s only a few days old, but a young colt named Bravo is already giving Corolla Wild Horse Fund (CWHF) herd managers a run for their money. Bravo, who was born Saturday afternoon, somehow managed to escape the next morning. The North Carolina nonprofit recounted the scary few hours that followed on Facebook Monday. “They gave us quite a scare Sunday morning when we went out to check on them,” the post reads....

Do you love eggs? Are hard-boiled eggs one of your favorite ways to have ’em? Do you typically make a batch of a half-dozen or dozen hard-boiled eggs and then store them in your fridge so you can grab them for easy consumption when hunger strikes? Well, we’re glad you’re savvy with time-saving meal prep techniques, but you might not be aware of the following basic food safety guidelines for hard-boiled eggs....

Cleaning windows and mirrors are one of those chores that can fall to the bottom of the to-do list—forever. When you do get around to doing it, the streaks never seem to end. When you think you’re done, there’s always a stray streak that shows up and you have to start the whole process over again. It’s so aggravating, that back in 2018 nearly 40% of the chore-doing population called it their least favorite household task....

Garlic is one of those grocery list staples that many home cooks use on a daily basis. Whether it’s making a fresh pot of soup, tomato sauce, a weeknight dinner, or a veggie side dish, garlic is a kitchen essential for adding rich flavor and an array of health benefits to your family’s meals. According to the Cleveland Clinic, garlic is a great immune booster, fights inflammation, and is an anti-bacterial, and is loaded with antioxidant power to keep your household healthy through back-to-school, flu season, and beyond....

Almost exactly a month after my college graduation, I found myself moving into a one-bedroom apartment in Birmingham, Alabama. After my mom and I finished assembling IKEA furniture, hanging family photos, and filling the fridge with groceries, I announced that I had to go get a cast-iron skillet. My mother, who typically cooked with stainless steel, stared at me for a moment. She’s dropping her 22-year-old off at her first solo apartment and cast-iron is her urgent request?...

Home cooks love cast iron cookware for so many reasons. Flavor-wise, a well-seasoned cast iron skillet will infuse incredible flavor into your meats and vegetables. For even heating, it’d be hard to find something that browns a piece of chicken as well as a superiorly made cast iron grill. And aesthetically, nothing says rustic-chic as much as a vintage cast iron skillet that’s been in the family for years. BUY IT: $19....