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In theory, most of us can agree that we love the look of a full pajama set—be it flannel, silk, or otherwise. It basically begs to be worn while watching a Hallmark movie and is best paired with a glass of wine or mug of Sleepytime tea. (A few of our favorite things.) But like most things in theory, it doesn’t always work out in practice. Because in the South, sleeping in a full flannel pajama set is made possible only when the house is kept five degrees below frigid....

When we think of modern-day country music couples we adore, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw have well earned their spot on our list. The couple’s sweet story never fails to make us smile—McGraw asked his now-wife out over a bowl of homemade chicken and dumplings. And things have only gotten better from their comfort food origin story: Over the years, the husband-and-wife team has recorded a joint album together, filmed music videos together, and toured together, in addition to maintaining solo careers, never ceasing to amaze us at every step along the way....

It was a moment that made college football history, but after Texas A&M’s Seth Small kicked a 28-yard field goal to defeat Alabama on Sunday, it’s his family that’s making headlines. While the rest of America was watching the senior’s attempt to end a tied game with just two seconds on the clock, Cameron Worthy, a photographer and videographer for Texas A&M’s 12th Man Productions, had her camera trained on his family in the stands....

Matthew McConaughey is a leading man in Hollywood, but at home in Texas, he’s a family man, a proud mama’s boy, and a whiskey-loving Longhorns diehard. The laidback star is the epitome of a Southern charmer with a sly smile, a positive attitude, and a willingness to go the extra mile to lend a helping hand. This year, the star has managed to have an “alright, alright, alright” time by connecting with fans, giving back to his community, hanging with his family, fundraising for good causes, and even releasing Greenlights, a new memoir where he reflects on his Hollywood days and his Southern upbringing....

It’s not everyday that you find yourself discussing the nitty-gritty of hat etiquette. However, there are moments when it becomes relevant, such as when you’re about to walk into a wedding or when you’re attending a religious service. While etiquette in general has evolved greatly over the course of generations and has become much more fluid than rigid in recent years, many of the rules are still observed today, especially in the South, no matter if the rules are tweaked to fit a modern situation....

A historic downtown, vintage train station, and lots and lots of Christmas lights—what else could you need for a magical holiday escape? When it comes to small-town Christmas charm, Apex, North Carolina, has all its bases covered. Founded in the 1860s, Apex is considered one of the most intact turn-of-the-century railroad towns in the area. Located just 20 minutes west of Raleigh, the town of just over 60,000 is filled to the brim with Yuletide spirit....

When the going gets tough, the tough get baking. In recent months, many of us have been baking up a storm. We’ve made countless cakes from scratch. We’ve churned out dozens upon dozens of cookies. We’ve even mastered the strawberry swirl cream cheese pound cake we’ve been hoping to pull off since 1983. But on some nights—especially the ones that follow long, hard days with no shortage of stress-provoking news—we simply feel like throwing on our apron, and letting a baking kit do the grunt work for us....

When you first hear about Paducah, Kentucky, your initial thoughts wouldn’t be that this small town in western Kentucky is a total creative mecca of artists, performers, craftsmen, writers, and world-class quilters, but that’s exactly what this historic river town is at the core. And to further hammer home the point, it was named a UNESCO Creative City by the United Nations in 2013. Take that, Telluride. Between the historic walkable downtown and its 19th-century architecture, as well as the ultra-hip LowerTown district that’s home to art galleries, craftsmen studios, and the Paducah School of Art & Design campus, Paducah is a place you never knew needed to be on your weekend getaway bucket list....

Annabelle Turner, 6, has always dreamt of being a firefighter when she grows up. “Ever since she could talk!” her mom Aubrey, from Prosper, Texas, told KTVT. “Every time she would pass a firetruck, she would comment on it.” So, when Annabelle learned that her Dallas-area town had a female firefighter/paramedic of its own, she became determined to meet her. That dream came true last week when little Annabelle got a VIP tour of the Prosper fire station courtesy of her hero, Autumn Verhoef....

To prepare your home for guests this season, pick up the Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30C Robot Vacuum, which is $120 off when you apply the on-page coupon. It starts cleaning at the press of a button on your phone and can transition from vacuuming tile to carpet without a snag. And for the guest bedroom, consider the Easeland All Season Down Alternative Comforter. The duvet has a breathable, no-clump design that will keep its user comfortable yet snuggly-warm for just $50....

One of the top fashion trends is the return of the ballet flat. Effortlessly chic and comfortable to boot, the ballet flat has been seen on runways across various fashion weeks over the past few months. However, in the South, ballet flats are a closet staple. From our very first ballet shoes as children to our go-to office and church footwear, ballet flats are a lifetime Southern selection. A Brief History of Ballet Flats The history of the ballet flat dates well before the time of Audrey Hepburn....

The South is no stranger to small-batch spirits. Moonshiners were microdistilling long before such a word existed. The clear (often questionable) spirit was available only if you knew someone who knew someone. But the landscape of legal moonshine has changed dramatically. Now, this grain distillate sits conspicuously in stores—all taxes paid. Here are some of our favorite “moonshines” to come out of the woodwork. And they actually taste good. Best Legal Moonshines...

Drop those vegetable peelers, y’all, there’s a new kitchen hack in town that’s guaranteed to change your relationship with potatoes and that dreaded tool for good. We’re forever indebted to YouTube user Foody Tube, whose amazing potato hack video demonstrates how to skip the pre-boil peeling process, and simply squeeze the skin straight off the potatoes after they’ve been cooked. Spoil alert: it’s a total game changer. WATCH 6 Mistakes You’re Making With Mashed Potatoes:...

While celebrating the return of the housedress and the effortlessly stylish caftan for ourselves this summer, we’ve gone on an equally practical sartorial journey where Dad is concerned. We’ve written an ode to a highly-reviewed mosquito net hat, sung the praises of $12 mesh mosquito pants, and now, we cordially invite you to join us in embracing Floafers: the antimicrobial, buoyant loafers that guarantee business-casual style with out-of-office-level comfort. It’s officially the summer of Dad fashion....

Vacuuming may be part of your regular cleaning schedule, but how often do you give those carpets a major deep clean? It turns out, cleaning or shampooing your carpets is one of the most important household tasks on your list, as our carpets—be they wall-to-wall or a stylish area rug—can harbor loads of unwanted guests.“Your carpet can actually hold up to 200,000 bacteria per square inch,” says Kelley Melchior, Hoover’s senior group product manager....

Most Southerners grew up knowing that when company came for dinner, it meant the good china, polished silver, and a properly set table. That meant the right glasses, salad plates, dinner plates, and dessert plates and all the proper silverware for the meal, from salad forks to soups spoons to corn cob holders to oyster plates and glasses for dessert wine. When the table was set, it was a thing of beauty, although learning to navigate it correctly required many reminders....

John Hiatt joins Sid Evans to share his thoughts on making music with his daughter, his mother’s cooking and having his songs covered by legends like Buddy Guy and Bob Dylan. Get to Know John Hiatt Since his debut album in 1974, John Hiatt has received nine Grammy nominations and a lifetime achievement award for songwriting from the Americana Music Association. His most recent release, 2018’s The Eclipse Sessions, marks the 25th album of his long and acclaimed career....

There’s no doubt that Dolly Parton makes an impression. Reba McEntire remembers the exact date (September 17, 1977) that she met the country icon and can recall every moment of their passing encounter. Keith Urban remembers his first time meeting Parton, too, calling the whole experience “surreal”. Urban stopped by the set of the Ellen show to pay his respects and bid farewell to the long-running talk show as it wraps its final season....

And they’re off! On August 1—a month and a half after the “leatherbacks only” heat of the annual Tour de Turtles set off on their “migration marathon”—the chelonian (hard shell) competitors began their own race. This year, the chelonian heat includes two very familiar names. Miss Piggy, a loggerhead sea turtle sponsored by Disney Cruise Line, and Kermit, a green sea turtle sponsored by Disney Conservation. Both turtles departed from their nesting sites at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort in Vero Beach, Florida, and were named in honor of the release of Muppets Now on Disney+....

Long before farm-to-table became a movement, Bryant Terry was living the lifestyle in his hometown of Memphis. “My family owned farms in rural Mississippi and kept home gardens in Memphis, so I always had the freshest local food that was grown and cooked by people I love,” he says. Naturally, the chef and cookbook author’s version of traditional soul food is deeply rooted in the garden. His five cookbooks celebrate this veggie-centric upbringing in creative ways while also shining a light on the side of soul food that few identify as traditional....