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Seafood boil.

October is National Seafood Month! Mississippi is proud to have a vibrant costal community supported by the seafood industry. 


Person with teal gloves planting tree.

Landscape Checklist for January

January 6, 2023

Curb appeal is what everyone aims for, but how do you get that great looking yard? We all want a landscape that looks like it’s straight out of a magazine, and 2023 is the year to make it happen! Each month, we’ll put out a quick checklist of tasks to stay on top of yard maintenance. Here’s January’s list:

  • January is a great time to plan, audit, and assess what’s going on in your landscape. What do you want to plant in your landscape? What did you plant in the past that didn’t grow as planned? Think about what you’ve accomplished and what you want to see get done. You can
  • ...
Red northern cardinal.

Bird of the Month: Northern Cardinal

January 3, 2023

Northern cardinals are a commonly spotted bird during winter months. If you’re like me, you’ve seen cardinals featured on various holiday décor items. It’s almost like they’re the official bird of winter.

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

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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