Posts

If the implications of the novel coronavirus outbreak have you feeling out of sorts, you’re not alone. This nagging sense of uncertainty has many people looking for ways to help those in need—an urge complicated by social isolation and stay-at-home orders. Fortunately, Americans are anything if not resourceful. Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service founded by former president George H.W. Bush, has come up with a way for people to help others from the comfort of home....

When someone told 17-year-old Alison Appleby that she couldn’t compete in beauty pageants because of her disability, the Texas teen committed to proving them wrong. And that she did. On October 9, Appleby participated in her first pageant, Miss Dallas Teen 2022. And with Brady, her service dog in training, by her side, it was she who took home the crown. Appleby, who lives in Sherman, was diagnosed with epilepsy two years ago....

The holiday season is coming quickly, and as the Halloween decor comes down, Christmas trees begin to go up. Whether you fall in the camp of no tree until after Thanksgiving or on the side of it’s never too early to celebrate the season, scoring early deals on holiday decor is always welcome—even if it’s going in storage for a bit before the appropriate time to decorate arrives. Even though Black Friday is still days away, that doesn’t mean there aren’t already tons of great holiday decor deals you can shop now....

If you ask us, the best part of fall is filling our homes with seasonal decorations and enjoying the sweet smells of fallen leaves, bonfires, and spiced treats. But who says you have to bake a pie or visit a pumpkin patch to get a whiff of those delicious scents? With its assortment of signature autumnal aromas, Homesick candles will bring the essence of fall indoors. Homesick specializes in natural soy candles and reed diffusers inspired by cities, states, countries, and memories....

Ask anyone about their favorite houseplant, and there’s a good chance they’ll begin to wax poetic about a philodendron. Philodendrons are easy-care houseplants that thrive in low light environs and can be counted on to bring life to indoor spaces. Lately, we’ve noticed one kind of philodendron that’s been gaining lots of buzz among houseplant enthusiasts. It’s the Birkin, and it’s everywhere this year. (Luckily, it’s also much easier to acquire than the famed bag that shares its name....

When it comes to vacuum cleaners, cords are a thing of the past. But if you’re not quite ready to immerse yourself in the futuristic realm of robot vacuum cleaners, you can still upgrade your tried-and-true upright model to a sleek cordless option. Moosoo’s four-in-one cordless vacuum cleaner is a great place to start: It has thousands of five-star reviews, works on all floor types, includes a handheld vacuum cleaner, and happens to be on sale right now....

There is a moment in Breakfast at Tiffany’s where Holly Golightly (played by Audrey Hepburn) feels blue, so she pulls out a guitar, settles down on her fire escape, and softly sings, “Moon River.” It’s a funny song for a New York socialite to choose, but it perfectly sums up the public party girl who is a small-town sweetheart in her quieter moments. Here’s the story behind “Moon River” and how it became an Oscar-winning song recorded by some of the most well-known artists....

About 25 minutes north of Dallas, Frisco is a suburban city shaking things up. Yes, we know the word suburb usually comes with an eye roll, but not in Frisco. Here, you’ll find family activities, educational museums, nightlife, elevated and casual eateries, plenty of outdoor arts and adventure, endless shopping, and the stunning campus of the Dallas Cowboys. Whether you’re in town for a short airport layover or here for a long weekend of family fun, Frisco spoils visitors with choices galore....

In many Southern cities and towns, some of the places with the most authentic food and friendly service don’t look especially fancy. The atmosphere and the people matter just as much as the meal itself. Enter The Historic Waysider Restaurant, known simply as The Waysider, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Waysider has been serving Southern dishes since 1951, and touts itself as the oldest continuously operating restaurant in West Alabama. Be prepared to wait for a table on the old wooden church pew that sits on the red house’s porch, especially if you visit on a home football game weekend in the fall, but it’ll be worth it....

Simple things like threading a needle and sewing a stitch are valuable skills to have, and it’s never too early to learn. Knowing the sewing basics helps when it comes to reattaching a button or mending a seam later in life—and that’s priceless. We found a cute kit that will help kids learn these basics while making sweet stuffed animals. The My First Sewing Kit from Peachy Keen Crafts helps kids learn simple sewing skills while making six fun felt animals—a monkey, bird, giraffe, zebra, hippo, and lion—and a palm-leaf pin cushion....

When you think of summer, you may think of fresh lobster tails for dinner or lobster rolls from seaside shacks, but are the warmer months really the best time to enjoy the succulent shellfish? Savvy lobster shoppers know you can certainly buy lobster in the summer, but when it comes to getting the biggest bang for your buck, fall and winter just might be the best seasons for lobster. Here’s why....

Nicknames come in all shapes and forms, but the pet names that you call the love of your life should always be unique and swoon-worthy. These nicknames may come into play almost immediately once you start dating, and your actual name is soon forgotten. In fact, many consider it to be a clear indicator that you are in some kind of trouble when your significant other calls you by your first name instead of the pet name they have given you....

A wise Alabama high schooler Anna Kate Warner recently wrote, “Loving you is like the Alabama weather / Storms or sun, cold or whatever / Will this pass or is this thing forever?” As Alabama residents well know, these song lyrics are indeed true with the ever-fickle nature of the weather in the Yellowhammer State. Unfortunately, some threatening weather forecasts are impacting two upcoming drive-in concerts Alan Jackson had planned in Alabama on June 5 in Cullman, at York Farms and on June 6 in Fairhope on the grounds of Oak Hollow Farm....

Just because you’re trying to be more health-conscious, it doesn’t mean that dessert is off the table. As my mother would say, “dessert is never, ever off the table.” At least, that’s always been the motto of those lower-calorie ice creams out there like Halo Top, Enlightened, and Yasso. Don’t skip dessert. Just get strategic. I’m no stranger to a large helping of homemade peach cobbler in the summer, and a big slice of apple pie in the autumn....

Southerners don’t play around when it comes to our mayonnaise. If you ever wondered the secret behind classic Southern cooking, it’s really no secret at all. It’s mayonnaise. Most every famous recipe comes with a heaping helping of this Southern kitchen staple. The secret to Mama’s famous broccoli salad? Mayonnaise. Her delightfully creamy potato salad? Mayonnaise. (If you haven’t noticed, the words ‘salad’ and ‘mayonnaise’ are more-often-than-not mutually dependent on one another when it comes to Southern cooking....

Ayanna Tatum wasn’t about to let her son Derrick Williams’ graduation from Baylor University go by without a celebration. When Williams’ graduation was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the single mother of two decked out a stage in her Houston backyard and invited a small group of family and friends to celebrate his achievement. “He’s a really sweet kid and he works really, really hard so whatever I could do—whatever was in my power, whatever was in my budget—I was gonna do it,” Tatum told Southern Living sister site People....

Accidents happen, we get it. When wet paint lands on your carpet, your first reaction might be to freak out, but getting it out of your new white rug is easier than you might think. Below, Samantha Hodges, Director of Digital Marketing at Rugs.com in Charlotte, North Carolina, explains how to remove paint effortlessly. What You’ll Need The key to cleaning anything is to be prepared. “Make sure supplies are stocked so that when a spill happens, and spills do happen, you are ready,” says Hodges....

If you’ve never planted garlic in your garden, you’re missing out! Garlic (Allium sativum) has been cultivated for centuries and is one of the easiest crops to grow. It’s not finicky, has few pests and diseases, and rabbits and deer tend to ignore it. Just plant your garlic in the fall, then wait until early summer to harvest. Garlic is divided into two main types: softneck and hardneck, which has a stiff stem, or scape, that grows up through the center of the bulb....

In the past, most dogs have been willing to sit or stay for a doggie biscuit, but don’t be surprised if the next time you want your dog to lie down, they expect a doughnut instead. Krispy Kreme knows how to mark a special occasion. So to celebrate National Dog Day, Krispy Kreme is unleashing (get it??) a doughnut designed just for very good dogs. The nut-based Doggie Doughnuts are inspired by favorite Krispy Kreme flavors like the beloved strawberry iced with sprinkles....

Last week, Mike Rowe proved that yes, you can go home again. No, he’s not back in Baltimore with his equally recognizable parents (although one might argue that mom Peggy is eclipsing her son’s fame, as she is now a best-selling author. Have you read her latest book, yet?) But no, he’s not back in his hometown of Baltimore quarantining with mom and dad. Instead, Rowe, along with the entire original crew of Dirty Jobs returned to their television home on the Discovery Channel for a special four-episode revisit, Dirty Jobs: Rowe’d Trip....