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The DIMENSIONS Counted Cross-Stitch Stocking Kit comes with everything you need to make your own personalized stocking, including a needle, detailed instructions, thread and wool yarn, and felt for the backing. The kits come in a variety of patterns, so stitchers can choose from nostalgic Christmas scenes in muted colors, like this Candy Cane Santa design, or more whimsical prints in cheeky hues, like this Santa’s Sidecar design. Plus, they’re budget-friendly, starting at just $19....

Between January 6 and March 1, New Orleans-native Brendon Oldendorf ate 106 king cakes from 80 different bakeries across the South. Why, you ask? Perhaps a better question is, why not? “To me, there is nothing more quintessentially Mardi Gras than a king cake,” Oldendorf wrote in an essay for USA Today. “I normally eat 10 or so in a season, but this year I wanted to do it bigger than ever before....

Rescue pets are just one vote away from receiving a very special designation in The Sunshine State. Senate Bill 240, a measure that would make rescue animals Florida’s official state pet, was unanimously approved in by a Senate committee on Monday. Democratic Senator Kevin Rader told the Associated Press that he filed the legislation after learning that rescue animals have become the official state pet or animal of a handful of other states, including California, Colorado, Tennessee, Georgia, Illinois, and Ohio....

Marchelle and Peter Falkner didn’t buy their first home for its looks. The dark and dated 1949 redbrick cottage was a fixer-upper at best, but the pair wanted to set down roots and raise their two sons in this Vestavia Hills, Alabama, neighborhood. “It was in really bad shape at first,” says Peter. “You’d turn the water on, and it’d come out of the walls.” A landscape designer and owner of Falkner Gardens, Peter knew he could bring the run-down home, located on a prime corner lot, back to life....

Jonah Handler fell from the 10th floor of the Surfside condo that collapsed a year ago killing 98 people, including his mother. His rescue, by a man who saw his hand poking through the rubble, was nothing short of a miracle. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, his father Neil likened his teenage son’s story to his Old Testament namesake. “Plucked from the jaws of death,” Neil said, referencing the tale of Jonah and the Whale....

In this week’s episode, Sid Evans talks to singer/songwriter Tenille Townes about the long road from Canada to Nashville, her charity work for at-risk youth, and some unforgettable moments she’s had with heroes like Shania Twain and Keith Urban. Episode 16: September 29, 2020 Tenille Townes grew up in the spacious farmland of Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada. At just 19 years old, she loaded up a pick-up truck with her dad and made a 45 hour journey to Nashville, to make her dreams of being a singer/songwriter a reality....

This island jewel in Key West, Florida, was built in 1839, its mansard roof, gables, and many beautiful architectural details added a few decades later. Today, it houses apartments, offices, and a bar, but it was once home to Florida’s first public health officer, Dr. Joseph Yates Porter. His father bought the house in 1845. Porter—who was born and died in the same bedroom—lived there for 80 years. He was renowned for his role in discovering how yellow fever spread and for his contributions to its eradication in Florida....

Spending so much time at home amidst the coronavirus pandemic has been hard, but one bright spot for people has been the downtime it’s afforded us to tackle long overdue household tasks. Some have finally painted that dresser with the teal paint that’s been sitting in the closet since last fall. Others have gotten their pantry organized like a Marie Kondo superstar. Many have taken to reminiscing over old family photos....

Recently, we’ve all been dreaming of Chick-fil-A’s orange-flavored Frozen Sunrise, which made its nationwide debut earlier this month. Since we first slurped on this new icy delight, it’s been a vortex of frosted ponderings as we think of other Frosted drinks that we adore at the Chick. The signature frosted beverages (you dare not call them smoothies or milkshakes) are all made by combining a beverage like coffee or strawberry-lemonade with the eatery’s Icedream — their version of soft serve —into one delectable drink....

Yes, it’s a stereotype—Southerners have and love big hair. But this is one stereotype that’s absolutely true and we’re not ashamed to admit it. Southerners have been making waves with their oversized hairdos for decades and—we’d argue—have been the biggest hairstyle trendsetters to date. Southern women love their big hair. Here’s what to know about the love of big hair and how to pump up the volume to create your own voluminous ‘do....

Stylish New Orleanians and savvy Instagram shoppers will recognize Mariah Walton Bencik as the owner and curator of West London Boutique, a tiny gem of a shopping destination on Magazine Street; and if you’ve read our August issue, you’ll also recognize her as one of our 2020 New Southern Tastemakers. This summer, Bencik is adding another title to the list: author. “We are not to sit on our gifts and talents; we are to share them,” says Bencik....

Christmas traditions may be tough to uphold this year (at least, in person with loved ones), but that doesn’t mean there won’t be Christmas lights. Lots and lots of Christmas lights. Especially if you happen to be in the Atlanta, Georgia, area where Marietta is about to welcome a new Christmas-and-candy-themed light show, called Candy Rush. Located at Six Flags White Water in Marietta, the World of Illumination attraction will consist of millions of lights that change colors in sync to festive holiday tunes as you drive through the beautiful show in the socially distanced safety of your car....

Leftovers are a beloved tradition after holidays like Thanksgiving, but we know they come in handy on busy weeknights too. Sometimes it’s just nice to have something homemade and delicious you can simply heat up and eat. Unfortunately, not all foods lend themselves equally to reheating—this is something anyone who has ever tried to reheat french fries knows all too well. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing anything wrong, it just means that some foods lend themselves better to reheating and others require special preparation....

Ah, Bacon Ranch Salad with Buttermilk Crispy Chicken, how we love thee. Or how about a Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad? A side salad to round out our meal? Sometimes, you just gotta get your greens at the Golden Arches. And while you may already know they can be calorie bombs, here’s one thing you may not have considered: How much salt is lurking in your bowl. In a Reader’s Digest article, writer Jennifer McCaffery took a thorough look at salads at the fast food giant....

No matter how you look at it, this year has been anything but friendly to our brides. From postponed wedding dates to cancelled bachelorette parties, the coronavirus pandemic sent an entire year’s worth of celebrations spiraling. A virtual bridal shower just isn’t quite the same… trust us. We’ve tried. Just because everything has changed doesn’t mean you can’t shower your loved ones with well wishes and gifts from afar. While some are grabbing their stamps to send a sweet note on what would have been a couple’s wedding day, most wedding guests are still marking the occasion by sending a gift now–not waiting until the postponed date....

It’s easy to take powdered sugar for granted…until you don’t have it. The quietly dependable ingredient can add just the right touch of airy sweetness to your baked goods and frostings. When it isn’t there, it really puts a damper on your baking plans. This is especially true when you’re pressed for time and can’t drop everything for an emergency trip to the store. If this has ever happened to you, you probably eyeballed your pantry in search of any easy substitution....

Chapel Hart is hitting the road on their first headlining concert tour! The newly announced “Glory Days Tour” will bring the country trio and their opening act, Lucas Hoge, to more than 60 cities across the nation between January 26 and July 15. “We are so excited to meet alllll of our new and forever fans!” the America’s Got Talent alums wrote on Instagram. “We can’t wait to see you, and don’t forget to check out which cities have VIP packages and get up close and personal with us!...

Dolly Parton joined the chorus of elated Tennessee fans following the Vols’ 52-49 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday night. “I said it’s great to be a Tennessee Vol! What a win last night,” Parton wrote on Twitter Sunday. “If I wasn’t out of town it would have been a treat to have been there, and I heard there were some rumors that I would be. Nobody was more disappointed than me to not be there....

Yesterday, HGTV’s “Home Town” star, Erin Napier took to instagram to share a heartwarming post in honor of Mother’s Day. Grab the tissues. “We found out she was coming one year ago today. Mother’s Day morning. I didn’t even realize what day it was when I woke up and took the test. We cried because we were so afraid and so relieved and so happy. This morning they gave me breakfast in bed, a book to record her hand and footprints every year on Mother’s Day....

He’s the one that learned how to tie a bow and use a hair dryer so he could help you get ready for school. He coached you through the hard times and passed along as much wisdom as he could (when you would listen, that is). He even had the honor of twirling you around the dance floor on your wedding day. From the big moments to the small, daily smiles, he’s been there for you every step of the way....