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Being unprepared for a hair appointment is a gamble only a few brave individuals take. On a great day, all goes well. On a not-so-fabulous day, two inches turns into four—plus bangs. If unprepared for the trip, the road to discovering the rulebook for pre-cut and pre-color proceedings at the salon is fraught with potential misgivings. Luckily, we have tips straight from the stylist’s mouth to help you get your most flattering strands....

This summer, travel plans are looking pretty different in light of the coronavirus outbreak. In lieu of long-distance getaways, many would-be travelers are becoming reacquainted to the natural wonders in their own backyards. Sometimes, that expression is meant in the most literal sense—as in, their own physical space. This year, we’re all about enjoying special experiences at-home, whether that means nurturing some new potted herbs on our windowsill or hosting a stargazing session outside on blankets after dinner....

Since at least as long as Rachael Ray coined the short-hand EVOO, olive oil has been a kitchen staple. It’s touted for its healthy omega 3’s and is the foundation of many Mediterranean dishes. Although it’s a flavorful oil used in everything from caesar salad dressing to cakes (and is even great for cleaning), olive oil has its limitations and isn’t always the best option when cooking. From the different types of olive oil to its low smoke point, we breakdown all you need to know about cooking with this popular fat and when it’s time to reach for something else....

When I was 12, I received my first camera, and I fell in love," says Alice Park. “That got me through adolescence and high school and gave me a different lens to see life.” Growing up in the small, quiet city of Valdosta, Georgia, Alice had her eye on Atlanta, about 230 miles to the northwest. “I was that daughter in my family who knew she was not going to live in a small town the rest of her life,” she says....

The Better Business Bureau has issued a warning to Americans to be on the lookout for scammers capitalizing on the surge in pet adoptions due to the coronavirus pandemic. “Scammers frequently take advantage of the news to find new avenues for targeting victims. The uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, along with some quarantined families’ decision to adopt a pet sight unseen, has created fertile ground for fraudsters,” the trusted non-profit explained in a news release....

Blake Shelton wore his heart on his sleeve at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville last month. In addition to sharing how wife Gwen Stefani’s strong faith has bolstered his own relationship with God, the crooner also opened up about becoming a stepfather to her three sons from a previous marriage. Shelton said that he’s fortunate to have had a model stepfather in his own life: his dad, who served as a stepdad to his older brother, Richie....

Drew Brees may have retired from playing football for the New Orleans Saints but he’s still very much part of the sport. Rather than calling plays on the field, he now gives fans his unique take on the game from the broadcast booth. Recently, Brees spoke with Southern Living and reflected on his new chapter. “It’s basically a way for me to show my love and passion for the game just in a different way,” he said....

Vines can be beautiful additions to the garden, but some of them are rampaging monsters. Here are five vines you should NEVER plant if you value your home, your environment, and your sleeping cat. Monster Vine #1: Japanese or Chinese Wisteria I know, I know—wisteria in bloom is just so beautiful. It’s deliciously fragrant, too. How could Grumpy be so boorish to label it a monster? Because I’ve seen what both of these Asian species, Wisteria floribunda and Wisteria sinensis, can do....

We’ve made it to Thanksgiving week, which means that we’ve gotten here with the thanks of a month’s worth of Hallmark holiday cheer already. Thank goodness! Since late October, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries have been dishing up their signature holiday cheer through the annual Countdown to Christmas and Miracles of Christmas, respectively. The two networks have been all things holly, jolly, and bright 24/7 with new movies premiering every Saturday and Sunday night....

If you still refer to beans as string beans or snap beans, then at some time in your life you probably spent summer afternoons on the back porch, stringing and snapping and swapping stories with your siblings. And you surely learned the difference in a bush bean (such as Blue Lake or Royal Provider) and a pole bean (such as Rattlesnake and Kentucky Wonder), and relished the aroma of walking in Grandma’s kitchen when she was making a pot of Southern-style string beans....

Peppers are an amazingly diverse group of vegetables, with varieties ranging from unbearably spicy, to sweet and mild. Jalapeño peppers are the most popular variety among gardeners looking for a bit of heat. They are a featured ingredient in a variety of cuisines from around the world. Jalapeños are also very easy to grow. Learn how to grow jalapeños in your garden or patio containers. The spiciness of a jalapeño is produced by a compound called capsaicin, which is produced in the seeds and the cream-colored membrane found inside the fruits....

With the decluttering movement in full force, we’ve been eyeing our boxes, stacks, shelves, and closets. Is it time for a clean-out? What gets to stay, and what should be packed up and moved on to a better home? What will survive this year’s spring cleaning? They’re tough questions, ones whose answers change by the day. While it seems like everyone and their sister is cleaning up and cleaning out, there’s one particular genre of stuff we’re convinced you should never toss in a flurry of tidying, and that’s the family heirlooms....

As a young girl growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, Stephanie Synclair recalls daydreaming about the far-off places she’d seen depicted in Victorian paintings. Even as an adult, she never gave up on her goal of seeing the world. In 2012, Synclair and her then seven-year-old son Caden spent a year traveling through Europe and Asia. In Thailand, Bali, and Singapore, the Southerners who were used to sipping on sweet tea were introduced to tea as a ritual—as an experience ingrained in the culture....

On a warm spring day, sipping good old-fashioned iced tea is nothing short of heaven on earth. If you’ve ever tried making iced tea from scratch, you know it typically requires multiple kitchen tools, including a kettle, a pitcher, and a tea strainer. But why use several tools when the Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker takes care of the whole ordeal in one compact appliance? Tea lovers say it’s the best thing for making the “perfect Southern-style sweet tea every time....

This is a story all about a toaster, vacuum, and charcoal. Just kidding. Well, sort of. Ask any dad who likes to grill, and he’ll agree that waiting on the charcoal to heat up can really grind a good man’s gears, especially when all of his family members (ahem, mainly me and my little sister) come out every two seconds asking when dinner will be ready, even as adults. The solution?...

For the Month of Simple Suppers Challenge, I made the Ham and Lima Bean Fried Rice. This is a delicious one-dish meal for dinnertime. It truly only takes 30 minutes from prep to plate (thanks in part to the microwavable rice), and probably much less if you enlist help with the chopping and stirring. For this recipe, I used Fordhook lima beans instead of baby limas because that’s what I had in the freezer, and it was oh so tasty....

Tetrazzini is one of the South’s favorite casserole recipes. It’s easy, comforting, and kid-friendly. At the base of a classic tetrazzini recipe is turkey, chicken, or seafood, sliced mushrooms, pasta, cream sauce, cheese, and some kind of topping—from these ingredients there are many variations and additions, making this dish flexible, popular, and delicious. Our Favorite Turkey Tetrazzini Our favorite Turkey Tetrazzini recipe requires minimal effort that yields big rewards. This recipe is easier than ever before thanks to convenience products like jarred Alfredo, cream of mushroom soup, packaged sliced mushrooms, pre-shredded cheeses, and seasoned croutons....

While many folks continue to pine after tiny houses, there are probably more of us looking around our spaces and wishing they were just a bit bigger. If that sounds familiar—or if you’re one of the people regretting downsizing to a tiny house—there are a few ways to make a room seem bigger and all they require is a little elbow grease and a trip to the paint store. Steer Clear of Dark Shades Aubergine and brown may be big paint trends this year, but they may not work for small spaces....

As Southerners, so many of us have a soft spot for Pyrex dishes. Maybe we remember their omnipresence at neighborhood potlucks while growing up, or maybe our families always had a full set featuring beautiful vintage patterns on-hand in the kitchen. However you Pyrex, the high-quality storage containers are a must-have for any home chef. Now, as Valentine’s Day approaches, the parent company, Corelle Brands—which also makes another one of our kitchen favorites, CorningWare, with that familiar blue cornflower design—has released a new line of love-themed Pyrex decorative storage....

It seems like just yesterday we learned that Ree Drummond’s daughter Alex was engaged to her boyfriend Mauricio Scott (at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas!) and now a walk down the aisle is less than three months away. Ever-sentimental, Drummond took to her blog on ThePioneerWoman.com to share some exciting details about the event, along with some reflections on the planning process. First off, after looking for a wedding venue around Tulsa, the couple ultimately decided to wed at the family’s famed ranch in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, a place particularly dear to Alex’s heart, having grown up on the property....