Universal Officially Announces Plans For A New Family Friendly Theme Park In Texas

Orlando is getting a little competition in the theme park game. Universal Parks and Resorts has revealed that its newest theme park won’t be in Florida or even California. Instead, amusement park fans will be heading to the Lone Star State for an immersive new experience. Universal Parks & Resorts just announced that it is taking over a 97-acre stretch of Frisco, about 30 miles north of Dallas, and transforming it into a one-of-a-kind destination for fun-loving families....

May 30, 2022 · 2 min · 298 words · Joyce Schlick

Why You Ll Love New Smyrna Beach

Even if you never leave the handful of blocks between Indian River North and the Atlantic Ocean, you’ll still find plenty of things to do in New Smyrna Beach. That’s this town is tailor-made for flip-flop adventures. This quirky little town is so much fun! Flagler Avenue dead-ends at a popular beach access point, where 10 bucks will get you and your vehicle onto the sand. Truth be told, most people don’t drive very far....

May 30, 2022 · 3 min · 560 words · Lawrence Pearsall

10 Steps To The Perfect Pound Cake

Pound cake is a Southern baking favorite, available in a seemingly endless variety. Whether you want a light berry dessert for a summer picnic or a rich spice cake to kickstart fall, there is a pound cake recipe for everyone. Pound cake, typically made in a Bundt mold or loaf pan, shares the core ingredients of flour, butter, eggs, and sugar. Whether covered in powdered sugar, glazed, or iced, pound cake is a staple dessert every baker should know how to make....

May 29, 2022 · 4 min · 669 words · Michael Isom

12 Ways Only Southerners Decorate Their Christmas Trees

They say everything’s bigger in Texas, but when it comes to Christmas decor, that can be said for just about every corner of the South. We’re known for going all out when it comes to decking the halls. There’s no nook or cranny forgotten, which of course includes the star of the show: a Christmas tree brimming with ornaments and garlands from top to bottom. We’re also firm believers that you can never have too many holiday trees!...

May 29, 2022 · 5 min · 867 words · Brent Smith

5 Mistakes Curly Haired Gals Should Never Make

If you’re one of the lucky ones who has beautiful natural curls, you’ve probably heard “I wish I had curly hair” more times in your life than you could ever count. However, with that luck comes the responsibility of caring for your delicate curls in a way that allows them to look their best. From one curly-haired gal to another, here are the mistakes I’ve made along the way, and what you should do instead to put your best curls forward....

May 29, 2022 · 3 min · 524 words · Elizabeth Porter

6 Year Old Tennessee Boy With Cystic Fibrosis Wins Battle With Covid 19

Joseph Bostain is a member of a population considered to be one of the most vulnerable to the dangers of the novel coronavirus. The six-year-old boy from Clarksville, Tennessee, has cystic fibrosis, a hereditary disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. According to his mother, Sabrina, Joseph was quarantined at home after developing a fever and cough and was later taken to the hospital. On March 19th, the test results came back: he was positive for COVID-19....

May 29, 2022 · 1 min · 157 words · Harold Greene

Actor Michael O Neill Talks Covid 19 Quarantine Victory Garden

As the hard-nosed Richard Barkley of the FDA, he went head to head against Matthew McConaughey’s equally as determined Ron Woodroof in the multi-Academy Award winning film, Dallas Buyers Club. As Secret Service Agent Ron Butterfield he faithfully protected Martin Sheen’s President Bartlett on NBC’s The West Wing, memorably declaring, “I would never let you not let me protect the President.” And most recently, he has returned to NBC as the endearing elder of the Council of Dads, Larry, giving fatherhood a second shot....

May 29, 2022 · 7 min · 1355 words · Lorna Jordan

Are Easter Lilies Poisonous To Pets How To Keep Dogs And Cats Safe

The Easter lily has long been prized for its beauty and fragrance. It has white, trumpet-shaped flowers that appear in spring and has long been a popular perennial bulb for gardeners. The flower has become a holiday mainstay synonymous with Easter because it symbolizes purity and innocence. Despite its popularity, the Easter lily, also known as Lilium longiflorum, can be hazardous to pets. According to the ASPCA, Easter lilies are toxic to cat species, though they are not known to harm dogs....

May 29, 2022 · 2 min · 350 words · Tracey Szerszen

Better Together

“I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for my sister. I had a built-in playmate and best friend from the day I was born,” says Jenna Bush Hager. Any woman with a sister—or a dear friend who’s like a sister—can relate. On the surface, the 34-year-old fraternal twin daughters of President George W. and First Lady Laura Bush seem very different, but their connection to one another runs deep....

May 29, 2022 · 5 min · 963 words · Bobby Conners

Can I Substitute Baking Soda For Baking Powder

A well-stocked pantry is not complete without a fresh box of baking soda and a container of baking powder, essential ingredients for baked goods. Both are chemical leavening agents—that is, they both break down in the presence of moisture or heat and release carbon dioxide bubbles. The gas bubbles are trapped by the starch in the batter or dough and cause the baked good to expand while in the oven. In other words, these simple ingredients are responsible for making your baked cakes, homemade breads, and holiday cookies light, porous, and fluffy....

May 29, 2022 · 4 min · 713 words · Christopher Spriggs

Can T Make It To The Salon Over 1 500 Amazon Shoppers Swear By This At Home Wax Warmer Kit

Women are strong, and I don’t know this because of those stories about mothers lifting cars in a moment of panic. I know this because there are women out there able to give themselves a wax at home, and those women deserve the last biscuit in the basket and much, much more. Really, I aspire to be one of these women and teeter ever the inch closer with my electric brow trimmer and at-home haircutting adventures....

May 29, 2022 · 2 min · 279 words · Sandra Howard

Dad Who Grew Up Without A Father Starts Dad How Do I Youtube Channel

Rob Kenney knows what it’s like to grow up without having a dad around. He was 14 years old when his own father abandoned him and his seven siblings. Now, having raised two children to become successful, well-adjusted adults, Kenney is on a mission to become the Internet’s dad. With his new YouTube channel “Dad, How Do I?” the Washington resident shares weekly tutorial videos where he demonstrates how to do everything from fixing a faucet to jumping a car—awkward dad jokes included....

May 29, 2022 · 2 min · 360 words · Clyde Rippee

Everything You Need To Know About Heirloom Tomatoes

We Southerners have a special kinship with heirloom tomatoes. They star in so many of our favorite seasonal dishes, from stunning tomato pies to humble tomato sandwiches. One of the many beautiful things about heirloom tomatoes is that you don’t need to do much for them to taste great. A dash of salt, a crank of fresh pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil or vinegar will accentuate the rich, vibrant flavor of the tomato....

May 29, 2022 · 3 min · 611 words · Neil Baldwin

Grits Bar

Here’s to the dads! When it comes to planning a perfect day for all the special men in your life–father, husband, grandfather, brother, uncle–it can look very different. Maybe he will spend the day on the golf course, or out on the boat fishing, or spending time with the grandkids. Or maybe he’d prefer to spend time lounging in the yard. Regardless of how he decides to spend his day, it will start with something extra delicious....

May 29, 2022 · 2 min · 343 words · Dino Barajas

Harry Connick Jr Teaches Hoda Kotb Jenna Bush Hager To Play Piano

Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager took their show on the road yesterday for a special New Orleans-themed episode of Today. The pair set up in Jackson Square, where jazz musicians and a crowd of screaming fans welcomed them with plenty of Southern hospitality and a touch of Cajun flair. “Let me tell you this is the best place on earth,” Kotb, a native of Norman, Oklahoma said. “It’s my very first real love affair with a city and it maintains that....

May 29, 2022 · 2 min · 384 words · Brenda Greathouse

How My Grandmother Got Me Hooked On Benefit Cosmetics Precisely My Brow Pencil

Growing up, we learn no shortage of beauty secrets and truths from our grandmothers, whether it be to use lipstick as blush in a pinch or to blast your eyelash curler with the blow-dryer to make the curl last longer. In all accounts, proceed with caution. (Nobody likes burnt lashes, and five to eight seconds is the sweet spot.) My grandmother knew how to put on a face of makeup like a pageant queen with her eyes closed, and because of her, I know the power of finding your signature lipstick—hers was Revlon Orange Flip; mine is Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk—and that eyebrows are meant to be sisters, not twins....

May 29, 2022 · 3 min · 528 words · Christopher Hendrix

How To Go Gray With Grace

There was a time when going gray was something only the rare Southern woman would brave. Coloring gray roots came as natural to her as swiping on red lipstick in the drive-thru line or wearing her pearls to the grocery store. But in our humble opinion, naturally, gray hair just hasn’t been given its due credit. Silver strands mark a Southern woman who has seen, done, and cooked it all—with superb style and etiquette to boot....

May 29, 2022 · 4 min · 681 words · Krista Namisnak

How To Repot An Orchid

Once the specialty of only an exclusive group of gardeners, moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are, more and more, becoming a familiar, common houseplant. As exotic as they look, they are relatively easy to grow as long as you maintain the right conditions, but almost every new orchid grower gets a little skittish when it comes time to repot their plant. As a general rule of thumb, orchids should be repotted every one to two years to keep the plant healthy and help it grow....

May 29, 2022 · 4 min · 748 words · Tommie Samples

Ina Garten Shares Her Perfect Holiday Cocktail Recipe With A Little Inspiration From Julia Child

After you’ve set the table, fired up the background music, and carefully placed the poinsettias on the mantel, there’s one last thing you can do to kick off your holiday party on the right note: Make a few rounds of Ina Garten’s signature sidecar cocktails. The Barefoot Contessa took to Instagram to share one of her favorite wintry cocktails. “To paraphrase Julia Child - ‘A party without cocktails is just a meeting!...

May 29, 2022 · 2 min · 242 words · Lynn Johnson

It S Here Watch The Biltmore S 35 Foot Christmas Tree Come To Life

It’s here! After months of planning and anticipation, the 35-foot tall Fraser fir tree is in its spot in the Banquet Hall at Biltmore House, where it will reside as the estate’s grand holiday centerpiece. The ceremonial raising of the Christmas tree is one of the most beloved Biltmore holiday traditions, attracting visitors to the home’s front lawn to see it make its way up to Biltmore House on a horse-drawn carriage....

May 29, 2022 · 2 min · 382 words · Cheryl Middleton