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Epic summer weather deserves epic summer treats, and in these parts, we’ve risen to the occasion. From Jerry’s Sno Cones in Memphis to Hansen’s Sno-Bliz in New Orleans, we’ve perfected the craft of icy inventions to provide a moment of sweet relief from the relentless heat. But when the idea of burning your hands on the steering wheel just to make it down the street to your favorite snoball stand is just too much to bear, there’s a simple solution: have a snow cone at home....

Cheryl Day is a serial optimist. It’s a trait she got from her mother, Janie Hanson (aka Janie Queen or Janie Q), who could see the silver lining in just about everything. And if ever there were a year to count positivity chief among one’s character assets, 2020 was it. Cheryl and her husband, Griff, have owned and operated Back in the Day Bakery in Savannah since 2002. It’s a warm, jovial space in the city’s Starland District beloved for its handmade Southern baked goods and communal spirit....

A good cast iron skillet is a staple in any kitchen. Whether you’re sauteing, pan-frying, baking, roasting, or searing, these heavy-duty multitaskers earn their keep and are hard to match in terms of both versatility and durability. As long as you properly season your cast iron, a well cared for cast iron pan can be passed on through generations and become something of a family heirloom. Cast iron skillets come in a wide variety of sizes, all with slightly different uses....

Times are tough. If you’re anything like us, that calls for a little bit of tequila and a whole lot of George Strait. Well, fellow country music enthusiasts and tequila aficionados, you’re in luck. George Strait and his tequila brand, Código 1530, are giving you, dear fan, the opportunity to score a virtual happy hour with the Texas native and country music great, with an amazing philanthropic component, to boot. Every donation made through the charity fundraising platform Omaze at Omaze....

Quiz any aficionados of Louisiana-area cuisine, and they can describe the differences between Creole and Cajun food down to the dish. A rule when talking about these two cuisines: While the two styles share some influences and ingredients and claim a few of the same dishes—including jambalaya, gumbo, and crawfish étouffée—they are distinct. Synonyms, they are not. There are as many subtle differences as there are similarities between the two cuisines, but the biggest difference can be boiled down to place of origin....

This past weekend was a very special one for Hoda Kotb, who turned 56 on Sunday, August 9, and had the chance to reunited with her mom for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic erupted stateside. We’re sure it was quite the memorable time for Kotb, her mom Sameha, her fiancé Joel Schiffman, and the couple’s two adorable daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine. Now, as icing on the cake, the TODAY show co-host got quite the birthday surprise from Dolly Parton, as Carson Daly recapped on the morning talk show yesterday....

An air horn silences the crowd at Hi-Fi Rooftop Bar and patrons turn their attention towards the man with the noisemaker. It’s 5:37 p.m. on the dot. “Another beautiful sunset in Dunedin!” bartender Jordan Hensley bellows. A bar-top drumroll is followed by three claps of cymbals and drinks are lifted in high-saluting cheers. I can’t think of a better way to end an idyllic Florida day. I find this city of sherbet-colored houses instantly welcoming....

It’s been a long 18 months, but as communities across the country ease Covid-19 precautions, Disney parks have begun to slowly return the magic to pre-pandemic levels. Disney announced on Tuesday that its beloved fireworks spectaculars will return to Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort in July. At Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, nightly fireworks performances at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT are set to resume on July 1. “A Disney tradition since 1957, fireworks shows are what Walt Disney called the perfect ‘kiss goodnight’ at the close of a magical day, and this summer the skies above Disney theme parks will sparkle with color once more,” a Disney Parks Blog post reads....

With their 24th wedding anniversary approaching next month, it’s safe to say Harry Connick Jr. and wife Jill Goodacre know a thing or two about marriage. Wed in 1994 and now the parents to three girls, the duo has kept their love going strong despite demanding work schedules and constantly being in the spotlight (Goodacre is an actor and former Victoria’s Secret model). In a recent Fox News interview, the New Orleans native shared his best advice for a happy and lasting marraige....

Getting perfume just right can be a challenge. Put on too much and your perfume will enter the room before you do. Put on too little, and you might as well have saved your money on that French fragrance. The know-how needed doesn’t stop at volume. You also need to know exactly where to spray perfume to get the biggest impact, and how to apply it to make it last all day....

Deep in the woods of Rappahannock County, Virginia, a tiny red house languished dilapidated and vine covered until Joe Svatos bought the 200 surrounding acres. Planning to tear it down, he examined what he assumed was a 1930s shack with a local salvage expert and made a startling discovery. Underneath the siding, one section of the house had late-18th-century log construction. Another section, a clapboard addition, had the circular saw marks and nails of pre-Civil War construction....

There’s nothing quite like a fresh lemon. Its brightness adds a pop of color to the kitchen, while its tangy juice perfectly complements the fluffy topping of a lemon meringue and the frosting on a lemon-lime poke cake. But when you buy a few lemons (or a whole bag), you want to make sure you get every last drop of juice and every last inch of zest from them. That starts with storing lemons properly....

Though the sheer volume of clothes that come out of our dryers on a daily basis may be daunting, using a dryer is not. Well, at least we thought. It may seem basic, but it turns out there are a few things we may all be doing wrong–even if you’ve been doing laundry for decades. If, like us, you’re tired of wrinkled loads or just don’t have the time to air-dry, take a moment to learn how to use your clothes dryer correctly....

Jenna Bush Hager and her family had a lot to celebrate over the weekend. In addition to Mother’s Day and her husband Henry’s birthday on Sunday, Saturday also marked the couple’s 13th wedding anniversary. In the studio Monday, the Today co-host recalled a particularly emotional wedding-day moment she shared with her father, former president George W. Bush, all those years ago. “I think my dad picked me up in a pickup truck, in his pickup truck, and he said, ‘You look beautiful, baby,’ and then we both just wept,” Bush Hager told Hoda Kotb....

Dolly Parton’s appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last night was full of hilarious moments, but Fallon recalling an Uber drive in Parton’s hometown just might be our favorite. The late night host was in town over the summer to film scenes for Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas. Before heading to Dollywood, Fallon said he stopped in Sevierville, Tennessee, to do some quick sightseeing. The comedian explained to Parton that he wanted to see when she grew up and even stopped for a photo with her statue in the center of the Sevier County Courthouse lawn....

Jon Pardi joins host Sid Evans to talk about his recent digital series for CMT, his California roots, and how his grandmother influenced his track to becoming a country star. Get to Know Jon Pardi Jon Pardi is a native of California, but his style of country music revels in the old-school charm of Nashville. Since his breakout year in 2017, when he took home ACM and CMA awards for Best New Male Vocalist and Best New Artist, Jon has been making his mark with top-notch songwriting and a huge personality....

With all the glitz and glamour that celebrity entails, it’s hard to remember that many famous folks start from quite humble origins. Such is the case for country star Kane Brown, who grew up in poverty. This year, amidst the coronavirus pandemic the need to help those struggling is even greater as millions of Americans are enduring homelessness and food insecurity. Now, Brown is looking forward to performing at the Dallas Cowboys halftime show honoring The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign—which dates back to 1891—to help promote the worthy cause to help so many of our neighbors in need....

As so many grieve the loss of musical icon Kenny Rogers, who passed away at 81 of natural causes on Friday, our hearts also hurt for his dear friend and frequent collaborator, Dolly Parton. During this mourning period and particularly trying moment in history, we’re looking for as much light and hope as we can find. That’s why we decided to comb through the duo’s archives of hits to share a few of our favorites....

It wouldn’t be spring without Peeps, the ever-popular Easter candy that was first manufactured in 1953. But this past March, we reported that Just Born, the Pennsylvania-based candy manufacturer that makes Peeps, had temporarily halted production in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. In early May, they were able to resume their operations with limited production. However, the Just Born team then had to make the difficult decision to forgo production of Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day seasonal candies to focus on meeting the expected resounding demand for Peeps during the Easter season....

Indeed, wood floors can be gorgeous (especially if you clean them regularly!). But here’s the reason real estate agents covet wood paneling on the walls of a home they’re selling: It can add a stunning element of visual interest. “There is beautiful wood paneling in modernist homes that provides warmth and depth to rooms,” George Case, a real estate agent with Warburg Realty, told Apartment Therapy in an article on the topic of why realtors adore wood paneling....