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Frayed Daffodils

For a few short weeks, daffodils grace the planet with their beauty and remind us of warm weather right around the corner.


close up of cinnamon spice candied pecans

The Food Factor: Cinnamon Spice Candied Pecans

December 20, 2022

Candied pecans are one of those quintessential holiday goodies. They are great for parties, visitors, or just to snack on. Try these Cinnamon Spice Candied Pecans if you are looking for a candied nut recipe.

Red Nandina berries.

Are Nandina Berries Toxic to Birds?

December 16, 2022

Heavenly bamboo, commonly referred to as nandina, is a popular, evergreen landscape plant that produces vibrant red berries and resembles hollies. 

Qula Madkin

3 Wellness Tips for Holiday Travel

December 13, 2022

Don’t put your health and fitness goals on the backburner this holiday season just because you’re traveling. There are plenty of ways to practice wellness and keep your family and yourself on track. 

Green garland on a table.

How to Decorate with Evergreens

December 9, 2022

I love Christmas decorations. There’s just something about the twinkly lights and greenery that makes my heart flutter. Over the years, I’ve experimented with making my own garland and arrangements from evergreens and other plants.

Four mini wonton quiche sit on a plate.

The Food Factor: Mini Wonton Quiches

December 6, 2022

Do you need an easy dish for the office get-together or an upcoming party? If you are a fan of eggs, you’re in luck! Mini Wonton Quiches make tasty appetizers and come together in a flash.

Gardening tools.

Gifts for Gardeners

December 2, 2022

The holiday season is officially upon us, and Christmas shopping is probably at the top of your to-do list. To me, it’s important to gift people with something thoughtful, meaningful, and that they will enjoy.

Close up view of a person ordering merchandise from a laptop computer in front of a Christmas tree.

How to Avoid Holiday Scams

November 29, 2022

‘Tis the season for giving and receiving. But beware of scammers who want to steal your holiday joy and money – and maybe even your identity. Watch out for these common scams during the holidays.

Lush green plants.

Plants for Privacy

November 22, 2022

If you have an area in your yard where you want to create a border between property lines, reduce noise from busy streets, or soften a fence line, we have a solution

Close up of a space heater sitting on a hardwood floor

How to Use Heating Equipment Safely

November 18, 2022

The temperatures have dropped drastically in the last week. If you’ve taken out your space heater or you’re using your fireplace, it’s important to use some safety precautions.

Heaters and fireplaces are nice ways to help keep you comfortable during cold weather. However, you should also be aware that heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

So, make safety a priority and take precautions when you use any type of heating equipment. Whether you use a fireplace or an electric or...

Green Bean, Cranberry and Nut Salad in a bowl

The Food Factor: Green Bean, Cranberry and Nut Salad

November 15, 2022

For this holiday season, I was looking for a way to mix up the menu a little bit and offer something a little lighter. This Green Bean, Cranberry and Nut Salad is perfect.

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About Extension for Real Life

Extension for Real Life is a product of the MSU Extension Service’s Office of Agricultural Communications.

That’s a long way of saying we are professional communicators who get to talk about food, families, 4-H, flowers, and farming for a living.

Blog content is created by a core team of communicators, including Susan Collins-Smith, Ellen Graves, Natasha Haynes, Qula Madkin, Michaela Parker, and Jonathan Parrish. But we get by with a lot of help from our friends in Ag Comm and Extension!

You can reach us at 662-325-2262 or extreallife@msstate.edu