Posts

It’s no secret that the heat can be brutal during Southern summers. These top-rated cooling bed sheets will help you stay cool and keep your body temperature regulated so you can sleep comfortably no matter how hot it may be outside. They’ll allow you to fall asleep faster, sleep like a baby, and wake up each morning eager and energized to take on a new day. Cooling sheets are available in a variety of sizes, colors, and fabric types so you can choose the perfect set to match your bedroom....

On Christmas Day, we were saddened and shocked to learn of the news of an RV bombing in Nashville. While the suicide bomber was the only fatality, several buildings in the area were directly impacted with residents losing their homes and business owners losing their livelihoods. One such resident was local musician Buck McCoy, who lost his belongings in the bombing, and initially thought he also lost his cat, Molly. Thankfully, Nashville authorities were able to track down Molly—who must have escaped during the loud noises of the explosion—but the 2nd Avenue resident was still without his car, musical instruments, clothes, and personal belongings, all destroyed in the bombing....

Alan Jackson has a lot of titles to his name. He’s a Grammy winner, CMT’s Artist of a Lifetime, and CMA’s Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award winner, just to name a few. But the country star has a new title that he might just love even more: Grandfather. Jackson’s daughter, Ali, and her husband Sam Bradshaw welcomed Jackson Alvie Bradshaw to the world early this month on December 13, and Jackson couldn’t be more thrilled....

When we were young, my mom would fill our Christmas stockings with all sorts of trinkets: plastic costume jewelry and small toys and books. These days, the loot is a bit more practical (think shaving cream, razors, and moisturizer) and appreciated all the more. One of her stocking stuffer staples is a tube of mascara—always CoverGirl LashBlast in the shade Black Brown—and it’s something I’ve grown to rely on. I don’t remember the last time I needed to buy mascara....

Singer, actor, songwriter, novelist, philanthropist, perfumer, businesswoman, legend… Dolly Parton is many things, and now, at the age of 76, the Tennessee songbird can add confectioner to her ever-growing list of titles. Parton, who recently launched a line of cake mixes with Duncan Hines, was discussing her love for baking with Good Morning America this week when the conversation inevitably turned to the artist with whom the she’d most like to bake and sing a duet....

Nearly eight years ago, I shared my mom’s recipe for a pretty unconventional Banana Pudding. It’s a layered, uncooked variety that relies on boxed pudding mix, some whipped topping, and even throws in some mini marshmallows for good measure. It’s different for sure, but is something that everyone always enjoys despite its unorthodox list of ingredients. It’s also super easy (it only takes 15 minutes to make) and perfect for potlucks....

In a 2020 Instagram post, Erin Napier addressed the reason visitors find the goods sold in her and hubby Ben’s two stores—Laurel Mercantile and Scotsman General Store—a “little more expensive than they expected.” The Home Town star relished the opportunity to explain the pricing, as it’s a source of considerable pride for the couple. The main reason for the heftier price tags? Erin and Ben specifically source locally made goods, which tend to come at a premium compared to their imported counterparts....

Christine Bomlitz watched in horror from thousands of miles away as Hurricane Ian battered southwest Florida Wednesday. She’d lost contact with her 84-year-old mother, Shirley Affolter, shortly after Ian made landfall as a deadly Category 4 storm, cutting service to the landline at her Englewood home. Hours passed without a word and Bomlitz was becoming increasingly concerned. Desperate, she turned to Facebook for help. Bomlitz posted on countless pages asking if anyone could check on her elderly mother who relies on a walker to get around....

Need a break from books and TV? The American Quilter’s Society based in Paducah, Kentucky, is here to help. In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the American Quilter’s Society, the largest quilting membership organization in the world, decided they want to bring the joy of quilting to everyone at home during these difficult times. To that end, they are now offering anyone one free virtual class through their professional-quality online quilting tutorials on their website iquilt....

Chick-fil-A has been making a list and checking it twice and has figured out what customers want this holiday season—free milkshakes. For the last three years, the beloved chicken chain has celebrated the holidays in style. This year are gifting us all with an adorable animated short film and interactive web experience ready for visitors at EvergreenHills.com. This holiday season though, they have sweetened the deal. Folks who visit the site and play all their reindeer games get a free Peppermint Chip Milkshake plus one to share with a friend, because the holidays are all about giving....

Do you gulp down every drop of milk after you finish a bowl of cereal? Then this news is for you. Krispy Kreme is partnering with Cinnamon Toast Crunch to infuse its iconic glaze with cereal milk flavor. Beginning April 25 at participating shops across the U.S., customers can experience three delicious new doughnuts made with Krispy Kreme’s all-new Cinnamon Milk Glaze: Cinnamon Milk Glazed Doughnut: A light and airy doughnut covered in all-new Cinnamon Milk Glaze made with real Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal....

In times of crisis, we’ve gotten used to several familiar faces stepping up to the plate to help out their fellow Americans. One such face? Houston Texans defensive linesman, J.J.Watt, of course. Watt has made generous donations to help Houston get back on their feet after Hurricane Harvey, and used the proceeds from his Reebok shoe to fund honor flights for veterans. Just last month, Watt and his wife, Kealia Ohai, donated $350,000 to the Houston food bank....

I’m a smoothie person. My drive to the office is the first time I have a minute to consume a few calories—mornings with two little ones has made my casual a.m. coffee-and-breakfast routine a thing of the past. Now it’s all, “Where are his shoes? Have you seen my laptop? Are you picking up or dropping off today?” Forget the eggs over easy with a side of perfectly toasted five-grain. Before I set you into a panic, we do feed the children....

In the past few years, we’ve seen homeowners and decorators alike embrace all-gray and all-white everything, but while we’ll always love a soothing gray bedroom or clean white kitchen, we’re itching to trade the old standbys for more creative hues. Before you hit panic mode, recognize that “more creative hues” don’t have to mean a full-on commitment to electric teal or zippy chartreuse (though power to you if that’s your thing)....

If Faith Hill and Tim McGraw told us the secret to their beautiful marriage is eating toast with almond butter for breakfast every day, we’d probably consider it. But they may have very well let us in one of their real-life blueprints for marital bliss: Having a practical policy when it comes to exchanging gifts. As many couples know, picking out a perfect gift for your spouse can be a big stressor....

You may know Koolickles (or Kool-Aid pickles) as a TikTok trend that involves soaking pickles in Kool-Aid, but did you know that the traditions of this colorful snack hack actually lie in the Mississippi Delta? Yes, these delicacies have origins deep in the South, where they were famous and beloved long before they became a food trend on social media. The exact origins of Kool-Aid pickles are hard to pin down....

Although this year will look different due to the coronavirus pandemic, Americans across the country will pause to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebrations will be muted and socially distanced but in some form, the tradition of honoring the late Civil Rights icon through community events and acts of service will continue. However, Bernice King, the daughter of Dr. King, has suggested taking a moment during the holiday to recognize and celebrate the work of her mother, Coretta Scott King....

If there’s one thing you can say about Southerners, it’s that we don’t do anything halfway. Around the holidays, we pull out all the stops. We don’t dabble in traditions, we follow them to a T. We don’t try out a few new recipes, we make the entire cookbook. And at Thanksgiving, we don’t have one turkey, we have two. On my Turkey—or should I say Turkeys—Day, I usually sample four different birds from three different celebrations....

There’s nothing more satisfying than crawling into a well-made bed at the end of a long day: You peel back the layers of blankets, burrow down into your linen-covered cloud, and stay there until your alarm goes off the next morning. Ah, serenity. For a long time, I wasn’t satisfied with the way my bed looked. The biggest thing in my bedroom, the focal point of my little retreat, just felt blah....

Mashed potatoes are a perfect food. That doesn’t mean you can’t make them better. You’re already adding butter, cream, and salt, but there’s so many more ways to make this dinner staple even more flavorful. Many pantry items can easily doctor up this starchy side, from herbs, to store-bought sauces, and condiments. In fact, one of the South’s favorite condiments is the secret to extra creamy potatoes. If you’re bored by your mashed potatoes, here are some of our favorite ways to enhance them....