Buy It: $12 (orig. $15); amazon.com Setup is easy: You can attach it to any umbrella holder that measures between 0.86 and 1.181 inches in diameter by pulling either side of the device to open it and then clamping it around the pole. The flexible springs in the disc make it adaptable to different umbrella poles, while the two hanging hooks mean you can also attach it to an overhang (just add an S hook)....
The importance of lodging on vacation—a historic legacy property on the shore, a room with a view, or something pretty in pink—can’t be overstated. And in your search for the perfect place to post up, the terms “hotel” and “motel” will most certainly cross your screen. Here we’ll go over the differences between a hotel versus a motel and explore the history that gave us these two travel-lodging terms. The Difference Between a Hotel and a Motel First and foremost, there are many similarities between hotels and motels....
Before we begin, I have a confession: I’ve never been much for the ballet. Maybe it’s the slowness, the lack of dialogue, or the difficulty in following the storyline, but every time I’ve tried to sit through a performance of Romeo and Juliet or Swan Lake—which is, admittedly, once each—I find myself kinda wishing I’d bought tickets to see Wicked or Hairspray (again) instead. Which is why it might come as a surprise to hear that the only theater production I actually see with any regularity is a ballet....
I love entertaining. Whether it’s a special celebration or a Wednesday night dinner, you’ll find me setting the table with my favorite candles, bringing out fun linens, dusting off unique glassware, and filling the kitchen with delicious aromas. For larger gatherings, I’ll break out a cheeseboard (or three), whip up a big batch cocktail, and serve my favorite bottles of wine with my prettiest stemware. For me, the prep work is half the fun of entertaining—topped only by my favorite part, which is spending time with the people who show up....
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year. This year, gather with friends and family over delicious home-cooked meals. It’s a day inspired by gratitude, to give thanks for all we have, and celebrate with the people who mean the most in our life. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite quotes to commemorate this relaxing holiday that captures the season’s true spirit. We have Thanksgiving quotes for every mood, from profound expressions of gratitude to funny remarks on your family....
There’s an art to naming a barbecue joint, especially one that will stick around for decades and become a Southern classic. For starters, it doesn’t pay to get cutesy. Recent years have brought a rash of restaurant names with slightly-risque anatomical puns, like “Rubbin’ Butts” and “Smoky Butts” and all sorts of other butts. Pit wits like to put “Bone” in their restaurant names, too, since they can pair so many verbs with it and make people giggle....
Just ahead of Thanksgiving, McCormick brand has teamed up with Kansas City native and Emmy-award winning actor, Eric Stonestreet, to honor local heroes through their Tiny Kitchens x Big Meals campaign. They have initially selected three worthy individuals who stepped up and answered the call to help their communities during the ongoing pandemic. Each of the honorees will receive a Tiny Kitchen that will come with everything they need to cook a large, joyful meal for their loved ones....
The Hallmark Channel is ringing in the New Year with a brand-new slate of feel-good movies. Starting January 1st, every Saturday will celebrate fresh starts and new beginnings. As part of the “New Year New Movies” TV event, Hallmark Channel has lined up five movie premieres to help usher in 2022: The Perfect Pairing; The Wedding Veil: Avery’s Story; Love is Trending; Butlers in Love; and Romancing the Birthday Girl. Viewers can also look forward to a new premiere on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries....
Around this time each year, we remember to send our thanks to the Chesapeake Bay, the region that perfected our favorite summertime meal: crab cakes. We have a few favorite crab cake recipes—Gulf Crab Cakes with Lemon Butter, for example—and almost all of the preparations we love involve popping the cakes into a hot skillet to cook until they’re golden brown. There’s another way to prepare crab cakes, though, and it’s high time we all tried it....
Most all of our big holiday meals revolve around a centerpiece main dish. There is the Thanksgiving Turkey, the Christmas Roast, and the Easter Ham. Along with a mouthwatering dessert, guests will usually remember (and talk about) the main dish: Whether it was dry and tasteless or moist and flavorful really matters. Ham, which comes from the leg of the hog, is really a simple piece of meat to prepare, but if you aren’t sure how to prepare your holiday main, we’re here to help....
Late last fall, I made the trip down to Waco, Texas, for a visit with Joanna Gaines, the Fixer Upper star who has almost single-handedly redefined the aesthetic of Southern homes. Driving up to the pretty white farmhouse (which she and her husband, Chip, began restoring in 2012), I was struck by how understated and approachable it is. The simple frame house with its wide porches, modern lines, and tin roof is tucked in the shade of huge oak trees under a big blue Texas sky....
As the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc across our country, more and more, we’re taking solace these days in celebrating the little things. A pretty sunset. An unexpected phone call from an old college friend at the exact moment our spirits plateau particularly low. Our favorite Dolly Parton song popping up on a playlist in shuffle mode. What would life be right now without all these precious micro moments? And barbecue. Of course, barbecue....
Most of us grew up eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, while some ate a banana and peanut butter sandwich, or banana and mayonnaise sandwich, or all three. Some of us grew up with pineapple sandwiches. Yes, we really did. Ask around. Some of us still enjoy them. Yes, we really do. Ask around. Southerners are known for making sandwiches out of unlikely things. There are collard sandwiches and bean sandwiches and so forth....
There are bookstores. And then there hop in your car, drive hundreds of miles, and plan a long weekend around spending quality time there kind of bookstores. William Chrisant and Sons’ Old Florida Book Shop in Dania Beach, Florida, just outside of Fort Lauderdale, falls into the latter category. This antique book store specializes in buying and selling old and rare books and prints, along with vintage magazines and historical maps, and is the kind of place that bookworms will want to hole up in for days on end....
Located in the southwest corner of Virginia, the small town of Wytheville (pronounced WITH-ville), is an inviting getaway with plenty of things to do and places to explore. From the largest pencil in Virginia—located downtown at Wytheville Office Supply—to the Edith Bolling Birthplace Museum, which commemorates the life of the former First Lady, there’s always something interesting to discover in and around Wytheville. Adventures here usually start in the great outdoors....
It all started when I was 22, about two months after moving to Birmingham, Alabama. I was sitting on a park bench, writing in my journal, when a big, clumsy lab with soft white fur trotted up to me and nuzzled his head in my lap. The dog’s owner chased after him and apologized. “It’s no problem,” I said, patting the dog’s temple. As I watched the owner and his lab recede on the park path, I jotted a note down in my journal: “Maybe I should adopt a dog....
The Bagsmart Large Hanging Toiletry Bag is suitable for multi-day trips, and it will easily fit inside your suitcase. Unlike some bags that are oddly shaped or not quite big enough, the Bagsmart design rolls open to reveal four separate compartments—and it’s spacious (it measures 12.6 by 9.1 by 4.3 inches when closed and 12.6 by 33.5 inches when opened). Plus, it comes with an additional clear bag that’s TSA approved for carry-on toiletries....
Learning to braid is usually one of those things that people either get the hang of immediately or are left hopelessly confused, which is why typically those who learned to do more advanced types of braids, like a French braid, when they were younger already have a leg up on the competition. In the spirit that it is never too late to learn how to do absolutely anything—certainly including braids—we’re breaking down the difference between two of the most popular braid hairstyles: French braids and Dutch braids....
Planning The Spread The only reason I throw a game day party is for the food, and I’m convinced that it’s my undying commitment to making unusually good snacks that brings my other friends who are generally disinterested in football. The remaining guests (who sit very close to the television) appreciate the food, but we’re both happy acknowledging that we’re there for different reasons. They watch the game and I watch the table (and commercials!...
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is receiving rave reviews for a witty message displayed on highway signs throughout the state last week. “Driving fast and furious? That’s ludacris,” the digital signs read. VDOT’s punny reminder for drivers to slow down was a not-so-subtle tribute to rapper and actor Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, known for his role in the Fast and Furious movies. The message just so happened to correspond with the highly anticipated release of F9: The Fast Saga, the ninth installment in the popular film franchise....
