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A new podcast is repurposing archived audio of former first lady Barbara Bush doing what she loved most—reading to children—to inspire the next generation of young book lovers. We’re giddy to announce that The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is launching a new podcast for families called Mrs. Bush’s Story Time. The podcast features original recordings from the radio program of the same name that aired while Bush served as First Lady of the United States (from 1990 to 1994)....

So, you’ve got a carton of eggs in the fridge that has gone well past its sell-by date. Now what? All is not lost, as the printed date on the packaging isn’t the definite expiration date. In fact, most store-bought eggs kept in the refrigerator remain fresh for weeks beyond the stamped date. You can’t rely solely on your eyes and the “best by” date to determine if an egg is still good enough to eat....

We’ve partnered with online home-improvement network Porch.com to give you the skinny on how to master your remodel. Here, Porch Editor in Chief Anne Reagan shares her best tips. Sometimes it’s the smallest remodeling projects that cause the biggest headaches. The bathroom may only account for a small percentage of your home’s square footage, but the amount of labor, as well as the expense, can sometimes make this room painful to renovate....

There’s nothing like spreading out the newspaper, bringing all those pots of water to a boil, and setting up shop for a shrimp or crawfish boil to enjoy under the hot Southern sun, preferably with a refreshing beer or glass of sweet tea. But sometimes, life gets in the way, and let’s be honest, preparing a seafood boil from scratch can be a lot of work. Well, it’s time to meet your new best friend, your partner in crime, your antidote to just-another-Saturday-afternoon in coronavirus quarantine: Aldi is now selling Fremont Fish Market Seafood Boil in the frozen food aisle for $9....

For many Latin American families, says Yesenia Stark, tamales are associated with the holidays. At Teresita’s Tamales, her family’s food truck in Madison, Alabama, it feels a bit like Christmas year-round. “Usually, tamales are made during the Christmas season,” says Stark, whose family emigrated from Mexico to the U.S. in 1995. “That’s one of our favorite times of year. Our family comes from out of town and all us ladies get around the table and make tamales and that’s a tradition that we have … But usually the rest of the year, you don’t see many people [making or] selling tamales because it is such a long, laborious process....

The massive sale includes savings on a favorite drugstore mascara with nearly 160,000 ratings, a top-rated sunscreen for everyday use, and a “knockout” eyebrow gel from Anastasia Beverly Hills. You can find discounts on classic brands like Covergirl and discover new favorites like skincare brands Belei, I Dew Care, and Cosrx. Oh, and did we mention that you can save on a multipurpose moisturizer that’s suitable for your lips, cuticle, and everywhere else?...

With a sleek and modern design, the indoor grill has easy-to-use controls and controls and a digital display that shows the temperature and timer. It comes with non-sticking grill plates that are dishwasher-safe and a scraping tool for easy cleanup. Buy It: $99.95; amazon.com The griddle is compact in design but mighty in its temperature, which can reach 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The high heat makes it great for everything from pressing paninis to grilling chicken to cooking burgers quickly and without a big mess to clean up....

With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to devastate our country, this summer is going to be a lot different than what we’re used to doing during the season. But just because we’ve swapped block parties for our backyard video chats or Disney World for discovering a new favorite local hike, doesn’t mean we can’t have fun. And with concert tours on hold, country icon Garth Brooks wants to do everything in his power to make sure we still have music in our ears and joy in our hearts....

Girl Scout Cookies are the kind of things we rank up there with dozing off in the afternoon sun, getting an unexpected postcard in the mail from a dear friend, and crickets chirping as you fall asleep in a cozy mountain home. That is to say, they really hit the spot. Well, it should be fairly simple to get your hands on some cookies, whether you’re team Thin Mints or Tagalongs....

My Uncle Jon was a big man with an even bigger smile, who liked to drink “sweet tea” (read: bourbon) when he cooked. He was born and raised a few blocks from the water, and his culinary know-how shined brightest when it came to Lowcountry coastal classics like red rice, shrimp and grits, and oyster pie. Conversely, the food memory that still lingers on my taste buds is a more universal one—the Easter ham....

We’ve been trained to plan our big cleaning sprees and annual purges for the spring, but that doesn’t mean that’s the only (or even the best) time to make a concerted effort to clean out your house. The end of summer is a great time to take stock of what you have and get rid of unnecessary items before the fall. With school starting soon, it feels like the beginning of a new year, and what better way to start fresh than with a clutter-free house and the knowledge that you successfully rid yourself of things you don’t like or need....

Homemade turkey gravy is a point of pride for Thanksgiving cooks and the favorite part of the feast for many of us. It’s the rich, velvety, finishing touch for the entire plate. Now that many cooks are salt-brining their turkeys to ensure the meat is moist and well-seasoned, our pan drippings and homemade stock—the core elements of homemade gravy—can turn out saltier than we expect, which can result in gravy that’s too salty....

An old-fashioned pass-along plant, the angel’s trumpet has long found favor in the South’s coastal and frost-free climates. In these regions, mature plants reach 15 feet tall, with their heaviest flowering time extending from late summer into fall. Gardeners in cooler temperatures can have the same results by growing one in a container. Before the first frost, move the pot to a heated garage or basement to wait out the cold winter months....

To make a house feel like a home, we often add throw pillows, accent walls, or family heirlooms. One of the best ways to add warmth to a home, though, just might be below our feet. Layered rugs can help add dimension and texture while helping to shape a space. Doubling down allows for a more lived-in yet polished feeling no matter the room. Not to mention, this designer trick can also add an unexpected touch and personality to just about any place, from a rental apartment to a beach bungalow to your forever home....

Fried chicken may be the all-time favorite way to consume poultry, but a piece of roasted, crispy-skinned chicken is a close second. While we appreciate the convenience of using a deli chicken when making chicken salads and casseroles, you just can’t beat the crunchy, savory, juicy goodness of freshly roasted, skin-on chicken. How do you get that crunchy skin instead of an unappealing, soggy mess? Read on to discover the not-so-secret to crispy chicken skin....

The best weeknight dinners should not only be delicious and quick to prepare, they should also make the most of whatever random ingredients happen to be hanging out in your refrigerator—like leftover pasta. Which is why I love this recipe for Baked Shells and Greens. It checks all those boxes and more. Sure, you could just toss leftover pasta with some melted butter and cheese and call it a meal. No shame in that....

In the fight to idealize our homes, dining rooms have been a devastating casualty. For many eager to embrace wide, free spaces and opportunities for family time, the dining room fell victim to open floor plans. For others, world events forced the dining room’s transition from a space for family dinners to one meeting newfound homebound needs like home offices, homework stations, or even makeshift home gyms. Before our very eyes, dining rooms have disappeared....

The Mississippi dog that was set on fire by a 12-year-old child in April is still looking for the “perfect” forever home. The Tunica Humane Society shared on Facebook this week that they had hoped to have Buddy in a loving home by the holidays, “but things haven’t worked out that way.” “Our search still continues to find Buddy a family,” the shelter wrote alongside a recent photo of the Labrador retriever mix....

Perched on a hillside in the historic Forest Park neighborhood of Birmingham is Shoppe, a garden-and-gift store housed in a restored bungalow. Beside it, an English-style greenhouse anchors a rambling outdoor area that’s alive with annuals, evergreens, and perennial blooms. “There’s something to discover around every turn,” says Mark Thompson, who cofounded the store with his partner, Jay Draper, in 2017. It’s a happy destination for many people within (and outside) their tight-knit community....

Although it’s small, this Shenandoah Valley burg has big appeal, starting with its postcard-perfect Main Street. Even on a gray December day a few years ago, the white church steeples and historic brick buildings twinkling with lights and fellowship sold Valerie and John Thomas. After a five-year search for a new home as they wound down two decades in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, the empty nesters chose Lexington. It checked all the boxes....